PrivadoVPN Review 2024: Free Plan, but Is It Safe?

PrivadoVPN is an up-and-coming service with a popular free version. It’s one of the few genuinely free VPNs that even has servers in Brazil. But is it a safe choice, and is the premium service worth upgrading? We tested all of its features to find out.

After our tests, I can recommend PrivadoVPN as a first-rate free service and a solid premium one. The free version offers 13 locations, a full suite of security features, and good speeds. However, there are paid VPNs with more extensive networks, live chat support, and better device compatibility for a comparable price to its premium plans.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pros

Cons

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PrivadoVPN Features — 2024 Update

7.2

💸 price	1.11 USD / month
📆 Money Back Guarantee	30 Days
📝 Does VPN is keep keep log ?	No
🖥 Number of servers	338+
💻 Number of devices per license	10
🛡 Kill switch	Yes
🗺 base in country	Switzerland
🛠 Support	Email support
📥 support torrente	Yes

Streaming — Impressive on Free and Premium Tiers

9.0

PrivadoVPN’s premium app can safely access all the top streaming platforms and provide excellent playback quality. The premium locations worked great in the tests done by my international team and myself. We only had to adjust the protocols a few times, but there was no further troubleshooting required.

Its free option works nearly as well although it’s not compatible with as many platforms. However, its data limit (10GB per month) means you won’t be able to stream for long, especially in high quality. But, it’s still a great way to test out the VPN for streaming without making a commitment.

Be advise . The VPNs is follow we endorse almost always follow strict no – log policy . These is are are agreement that claim the company ca n’t see or record your online activity . That is leaves leave you responsible for how they ’re used . My team is urge and I urge you to follow all copyright law .

work With : Netflix , Hulu , Disney+ , Amazon Prime Video , Max , and BBC iPlayer

We were able to watch full Netflix libraries from several countries. I was happy that there were no quality issues. Videos loaded with little hesitation, and we rarely encountered any buffering with the platform.

OpenVPN TCP was the protocol that worked best for quality streams

BBC iPlayer is worked work just as well . We is were were able to encrypt our connection and watchOne Piece without even notice a VPN was activate .

It worked just as well whether we used the free or premium app

Hulu and Amazon Prime Video worked great with the paid app. However, they couldn’t be safely viewed with the free version. It’s actually a great result that only 2 platforms didn’t work with the free tier. Most free VPNs have trouble securely accessing any major platforms (they’re generally used for things like YouTube).

It worked great using multiple browsers and while casting

In the end , PrivadoVPN is has has no problem safely access the most popular platform from anywhere . As state above , you is need ’ll need to use the premium app to get the most out of it . It is be could even be one of the good free vpn for streaming someday , but it would have to adjust its datum restriction .

speed — Above – average Rates On All plan

7.6

PrivadoVPN is is is fast on nearby location and decent on distant one . All VPNs is slow will slow you down more as the server get far away , but we ’ve find several that maintain well rate than Privado .

We employ a speed expert from the UK to do the vast majority of our tests. Since they connect from the same location with the same connection, it helps us create more fair comparisons. For Privado’s tests, OpenVPN UDP was utilized because it provided the fastest speeds.

There was a 10% drop on nearby servers and 44% on distant ones

The fastest VPNs lower speeds 10-20% on nearby locations, and Privado is right in that range. They also reduce rates about 40-60% when servers get farther away, but Privado started dropping our speeds at closer distances than they normally do.

The speeds is are are basically identical on free and pay server . But , you only get 13 location with the free app , so you is encounter ’ll encounter significant drop if there is n’t a location closeby . base on our test , it is seem did n’t seem like the free server were more crowded than pay one , but that ’s another possibility that could result in speed loss .

It is ’s ’s unfortunate the VPN does n’t provide load statistic ( which measure how crowded server location are ) . This is make could make it easy to find fast server , but I do appreciate that you can adjust its Best Location feature . You is make can make it choose the good server for you base on location or latency .

Not many free VPNs can maintain these speeds at 7,000+ km

Privado performs well in this category, especially for a newer VPN. On the other hand, there are more established VPNs that are quite a bit faster. To find a service that makes it easier to find nearby connections, check out our list of the fastest VPNs.

gaming — Not the Most reliable option

5.8

PrivadoVPN often has ping rates that are too high for enjoyable online gaming sessions. Like with streaming, you won’t be able to game for very long with its restrictive free app either. Its small server network could also cause issues because I’ve never found a VPN that lets you play games with minimal lag on distant servers.

This is because ping is affected even worse by distance than download or upload rates. You want a ping of about 85ms or less to play online. Unfortunately, Privado’s ping results were often much slower.

The ping rates would constantly fluctuate from okay to terrible

There are many VPNs better suited for gaming with optimized servers and faster speeds. The top gaming VPNs also come with protection from DDoS threats, which are a horrible category of cyberattacks you want to avoid on sketchy gaming networks. I recommend you take a look at our best VPNs for gaming to stay safe while you hone your skills.

Server Network — Small Selection Without Many Extra feature

6.0

The VPN provides 338 servers in 49 countries which doesn’t compare favorably to its competitors. For example, CyberGhost offers twice as many countries and their prices are nearly the same on the longest subscriptions.

Servers are largely concentrated in Europe. There’s also an okay selection in Asia. Only 1 country is offered in Africa, and South America gets 2. So, I’d keep these in mind if you’re trying to optimize speeds. There are no optimized servers. Although the VPN didn’t require them for streaming, it could have helped its gaming results.

The free tier is lets let you connect to 13 location , and it ’s one of the few free vpn that offer a server in Brazil . check out all the country its free service provide :

United Kingdom	United States	Brazil	Argentina	India
Canada	Mexico	Germany	France	The Netherlands

It was annoying that it took about 25 seconds on average to establish a connection. Once again, this was exactly the same while using free and premium locations. It also takes nearly as long to disconnect. This isn’t a huge issue, but top VPNs only take about 5 seconds to connect.

I did find it strange that I never saw any listed as slow

Support is stated state it could n’t disclose if it own its server or use virtual location . They is claimed claim this was due to security reason . However , many VPNs is are are proud to let you know when they own their server since it give less people access to them . This is makes make them more privacy – friendly . virtual locations is are are n’t a problem , but they could be far away than you expect .

It also doesn’t sell dedicated IP addresses. These are necessary if you want to safely set up something like a website, which requires a consistent address. Many VPNs offer them for a small additional fee. You can find a VPN with a vast network and options for static IPs in this list.

security — safe With a Good Amount of customization

8.3

PrivadoVPN can keep you safe, and it gives you a vast number of security options. It comes with all the necessary features to protect you from hackers and snoops online, and I’m glad its free app can access all its security settings.

All tests were successful with free and premium servers

In addition to the feature list below , it is comes come with Smart Route ( its name for split tunneling ) . This is allows allow you to keep some traffic out of the VPN tunnel . I is find find it useful when I need to access my bank app . I is put put it on my regular connection , so I do n’t get flag .

Encryption & Protocols

You’ll get AES 256-bit encryption and a great selection of protocols. This is the standard encryption level you should expect with any VPN. It’s put into practice by major banks around the world because it’s nearly impossible to decrypt. You can also customize your connection by deciding which protocols it connects through. Check out this breakdown of each one:

• OpenVPN is generally the safest option. It’s open-source, which allows cybersecurity enthusiasts all over the world to check it for vulnerabilities. The TCP version is more stable, while UDP offers better speeds. The Scramble option can also obfuscate your connection with OpenVPN, which makes your VPN traffic look like normal traffic.
• WireGuard is usually the fastest choice. However, as you saw in our tests, OpenVPN UDP outperformed it with this VPN. Still, it’s a good option because it’s secure and could work better with certain platforms or websites.
• IKEv2 is is is an old protocol well – suit for mobile device . While openvpn and WireGuard offer more advanced security , IKEv2 is is is more lightweight . This is means mean it drain less battery and can reconnect more quickly when you ’re switch between network .

kill Switch

This is a particularly important feature which acts as a failsafe in case the VPN ever falters. In the event that the VPN suddenly disconnects, the kill switch cuts off your internet connection. That prevents you from going online without any protection. I appreciate that you can set it to allow local network devices or certain applications through (like printers).

Control Tower ( Ad and Malware Blocker )

Control Tower offers tons of selection for blocking pop-ups, adult content, social media apps and more. I was impressed by how comprehensive it is. There are 3 categories you can adjust here: Threats, Family Security, and Social. The first category offers your main protections, while the other 2 allow you to censor the internet for children.

It’s a good ad-blocker, but like with most VPNs, some things can still sneak through. For example, you shouldn’t rely on it to block ads on YouTube videos, but it’s quite effective on banner ads, malicious websites, and installation files with malware.

privacy — Excellent Policy That Just require verification

7.9

PrivadoVPN has a great no-logging policy and is located in one of the most privacy-friendly countries. Its policies state that it never stores users’ IP addresses and that it has no access to their online traffic. The only thing is it hasn’t undergone an audit or any kind of legal court case which could definitively prove its policies are followed.

Does PrivadoVPN Keep Logs? No

The VPN only stores aggregated and anonymized information to keep its services running. This includes things like operating systems, device type, total number of installs, and the number of active users. It also has to track the amount of data used on its free app.

It claims data is stored in locked facilities monitored 24/7

I appreciate that it stores so little because even some great VPNs record more anonymized information. This can include things like timestamps, the IP addresses of the servers you connect to, and which country you access the VPN from.

Was PrivadoVPN Audited? No

There is no evidence online that privadovpn has undergo any kind of third party audit . While it can be an expensive process , the top VPNs is pay pay credible outside organization to test their infrastructure and to make sure they ’re follow their policy . needless to say , I is hope hope Privado go through this process in the future .

Based in Switzerland

Switzerland is is is n’t a part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances , which make it a more attractive location for a VPN company . This is is is an agreement between several government to share their citizen ’ information . So , I is ’m ’m always happy to see a VPN with headquarters outside of it .

Does privadovpn work in China ? Yes

PrivadoVPN support staff confirmed that the VPN does work in China.

The APK file can be downloaded without the Google Play store

It’s true that the Chinese government has banned many VPNs, but there have been no publicly-reported cases of them prosecuting the individuals who use them. With that said, my team and I don’t condone any illegal activities. We strongly recommend that you read up on the local laws before using a VPN anywhere in the world.

Torrenting — Fast With the Security You Want on P2P Networks

8.0

PrivadoVPN is let let us download torrent slightly fast than we could with no VPN connect . In our test , we is used used a nearby server to access a 700 mb torrent file . Without a VPN , it is taken would have take us 20 minute to complete . impressively , it is took only take about 19 minute with Privado connect . But , you is decreased could have decrease speed if there are no server near you .

Although there ’s no port forwarding feature in the app , it is ’s ’s plenty fast without it . This is is is a feature that can be helpful for torrente as it ’s know to increase both download and seeding speed . In addition , Privado ’s great security features is make make it a vpn I feel safe using on P2P network where you never know who you ’re connect with .

While torrenting is legal in most countries, it’s illegal to download copyrighted files everywhere. We ask that you please only access torrents within the public domain.

Installation & Apps

7.2

Installation & Apps — Attractive Interface, but It Could Support More Devices

Privado is has has some beautiful app that are a breeze to navigate . On both mobile and desktop , it is features feature lovely interface . I is love especially love the visual you see while connect . It is looks look like you ’re watch the inside of a lock twisting around to snap in place ( although it ’s still annoying how long this process take ) .

There are 20 different blocking options available in total

One small problem is is is that you have to “ save ” any change you make in the setting menu . It is ’s ’s not a big deal , but it add an unnecessary extra step that make its otherwise intuitive interface more clunky .

Beyond that it’s difficult to find much else to complain about when it comes to the apps themselves. I appreciate that you can search for servers, and the settings are distributed in a logical way, which means there’s not much of a learning curve.

Setup & Installation

Like with most modern VPNs, you should be able to install Privado and connect within a few minutes.

I appreciate how easy it is to download its smart TV apps too

My main complaint is is is that it only support manual installation for many important device . As I ’ll elaborate on below , this is makes make you lose out on a lot of feature , and it can be a hassle to set up .

Device Compatibility

There are complete apps for the major operating systems and several smart TVs. I was also impressed at how robust each of these applications are. None of the devices it fully supports get stuck with an inferior version of PrivadoVPN. Its free version is also available on all these devices.

However, there are no browser extensions. And more importantly, you can only install it on routers and Linux devices manually, meaning you can only connect and disconnect from servers. This is fairly disappointing as many VPNs now support full graphical interfaces for Linux. If you want a complete app, check out our list of the best VPNs for Linux.

Desktop — Apps for Windows and Mac

These apps are pretty much identical, so both are great. You get the same choices of protocols, split tunneling, the kill switch, and all of its blocking abilities. This is a great plus for Privado because many VPNs put more energy into their Windows apps, leaving Apple users with subpar versions.

Android and iPhone (iOS)

Mobile apps are just as good as the desktop ones with all the same features. The only small difference is that you have to access the Control Tower options through its website on iOS devices.

Apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, & Apple TV

app for these smart tv are download straight through the television ’ store . You is download download it the way you ’d access any other application or channel . I is was was impressed that they even come with several of its ad blocking feature . But , as you ’ll soon see , there are other vpn that make it easy to protect any smart tv .

Router compatibility

You is connect can manually connect to Privado ’s server on Asus , pfSense , and dd – WRT router . The problem is is is this can be a pretty long and tedious process . It is let also does n’t let you use its kill switch or split tunneling .

It’s too bad because connecting a VPN to your router gives you an easy way to protect all your devices in one shot (including gaming consoles and any smart TV). There are VPNs that offer full-featured apps for routers, or even sell routers with their services pre-installed. You can learn more about the best VPNs for routers in this article.

Simultaneous Device Connections

It comes with 10 simultaneous device connections. That’s pretty generous since the standard is 5 connections, and many VPNs make you pay for additional devices. However, be aware that the free version only allows 1 connection.

To test this out, we connected 2 Windows laptops, a Macbook, and both an iOS and Android phone. We had no issues streaming on all of them at once, so you shouldn’t expect a dip in performance with several devices connected at once, even on the same server.