PrivateVPN review

PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN Review – Balanced Look by 2CryptoGuys

PrivateVPN is a Sweden-based VPN service that offers strong encryption, solid speeds, and user-friendly apps, at a budget-friendly price. Let’s break down whether it lives up to expectations in 2025.

Legitimacy & Trust

Yes, legitimate. It holds a 4.7★ rating on Trustpilot from over 4,000 reviews :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. Users praise timely support and reliability, while a few report occasional outages or auto-renewal issues :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.

Security & Privacy

  • AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN, IPSec, PPTP, IKEv2 support :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
  • No-logs policy: never retained browsing data, confirmed by lack of breach reports :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
  • Built-in kill switch (not available on iOS), DNS/IPv6 leak protection :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
  • No third-party audits or RAM-only servers—some pro privacy users flag this :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Server Coverage & Speed

Operates ~100–200 servers across 60+ countries :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}. Not massive, but enough for reliable performance. Tests show ~40% speed drop—acceptable for streaming and torrenting :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

Streaming & Torrenting

Consistently unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}. Torrenting works well with port forwarding on all servers :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}. Users appreciate P2P reliability :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

User Experience & Support

  • Beginner-friendly UI with “Simple” and “Advanced” modes :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
  • Mobile and desktop apps work well overall; iOS lacks kill switch :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
  • Live chat available but inconsistent; email support reliable :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
  • Community feedback shows mixed performance—some praise customer help, others cite access issues :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
  • “Fast service sorted my problem…” :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15} “...struggled… when I requested a refund, they flat out denied it” :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

Pricing & Plans

  • $9.90/month, or $$6 for 3 months, or just $2.00/month on a 36-month plan :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
  • Accepts crypto, PayPal, credit cards; 30-day money-back + 7-day free trial :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
  • Supports up to 10 simultaneous connections :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

Tips to Maximize Value

  • Choose a long plan for best savings
  • Use port-forwarding for torrent clients
  • Enable kill switch on desktop apps
  • Opt for “Advanced” mode if you need customization
  • File billing/account issues before auto-renew

Conclusion – Is PrivateVPN Worth It?

Yes—if you want a secure, affordable, and user-friendly VPN. It ticks key boxes: encryption, streaming support, P2P, and privacy practices. It’s not the fastest or feature-rich, but it offers strong value, especially for casual users and small households.

Pros:
  • Strong encryption and no-logs
  • Supports Netflix, Disney+, BBC
  • P2P-friendly with port forwarding
  • 10 device connections
  • Inexpensive long-term plans
  • Mobile Support
Cons:
  • Smaller server network
  • No audits or RAM-only servers
  • iOS missing kill switch
  • Live chat isn’t 24/7
  • Reports of billing and auto-renew issues