SHORT ON TIME? HERE’S A QUICK SUMMARY
With all the buzz surrounding this VPN, it's surprising to know that it's only been operational for more than a year. Part of the hype is mainly because of it being the "world's best free VPN." Is there some truth to this, or is it nothing more than a marketing ploy? We'll find out below.
With all the buzz surrounding this VPN, it's surprising to know that it's only been operational for more than a year. Part of the hype is mainly because of it being the "world's best free VPN." Is there some truth to this, or is it nothing more than a marketing ploy? We'll find out below.
👍 PROS:
- Strict no-logs policy
- Uses military-grade encryption
- Offers unlimited simultaneous connections
- Easy and fast setup
- Safer, cleaner, and ad-free online experience with SafeSwap
- Simple easy-to-use apps
- Track any data breaches with its built-in Data Breach Monitor
- Nice extras like Best Location Detector, security shields, and more
- Enjoy fast, stable, and interruption-free connections anywhere
- Offers one of the best free version on the market
- Best value for money
- 30-day money-back guarantee
👎 CONS:
- Doesn't work in China
- Based in the US, which is a founding member of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances
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Server Locations
ATLASVPN KEY DATA
Jurisdiction: US
Member of intelligence-sharing alliances: YES
Servers: 700+
Server location: 32 countries
Simultaneous connection: Unlimited devices
Desktop apps: Windows, macOS
Mobile apps: iOS, Android
Encryption: AES 256-bit
Protocols: IPSec/IKEv2, SHA-384, PFS
DNS and IP leak protection: YES
Automatic kill switch: YES
Notable Features: Ad, malware, and tracker blocker, SafeSwap servers, Advanced Leak Protection (IPv6), data breach monitor, private DNS, No-log policy, and Kill Switch
SEE WHAT USERS HAVE TO SAY
“Since I'm not exactly a tech-geek, I appreciate the simplicity of this app. My son, who's a senior developer and knows this stuff, recommended me this app and said it's safe enough to protect me so I think I'm good to go.”
“I am genuinely surprised with this VPN. I feel like this is by far one of the best VPNs I have used. The speeds are great and premium access is totally worth the small price you pay. I'd like to see google chrome support in the future.”
“I have been using Atlas VPN Premium for the last few months on my Android Smartphone. It works awesome. The speed, UI, and affordability are some of the strong points of Atlas VPN.”
“Loving the simplicity of it! After using a few premium VPNs for the last year or so, with confidence I can say that Atlas VPN performs just as well. Looking forward to the desktop apps.”
WILL IT KEEP ME SAFE AND ANONYMOUS ONLINE?
On the surface, AtlasVPN doesn't seem to be a good choice for anyone looking to boost their online privacy. After all, it is based in Delaware, USA. Yup, a founding member of 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance alliances. As an average user, what exactly does this mean for you? It means the government can access your online data and share them among the other member countries.
Alarming? Yes, if it means AtlasVPN has no qualms handing your data over to the authorities. But such is not the case. AtlasVPN has a strict zero-logs policy, so there's nothing to share in the first place. Besides, the US has no mandatory data retention policies, so US-based VPNs are not obligated to store user data.
In terms of security, AtlasVPN ain't a slacker either. They use a military-grade AES 256-bit encryption — the same one used by government and private sectors, including the NSA. Even with the latest technology, this encryption method is still impossible to break or brute-force, so your data is safe against unauthorized access. This is a critical security measure because cybercriminals are always looking for weak links to break and crack.
However, we're a bit surprised and disappointed that AtlasVPN does not support an OpenVPN connection. Instead, they utilize an IPSec/IKEv2 mechanism. It's probably because the latter is more suited to the average user. After all, setting up the OpenVPN protocol isn't a walk in the park and requires some technical knowledge. On the other hand, IPSec/IKEv2 is just as secure but more straightforward and less CPU-intensive. It's faster than OpenVPN too!
As far as additional security and privacy features are concerned, Atlas VPN has a few more tricks up its sleeves. The SafeBrowse feature blocks malicious websites, trackers, and ads to protect you against phishing, malware, and other virus-distributing sites. Of course, they also have the standard Kill Switch feature, which cuts off your internet when your VPN connection drops out. The new security tool Data Breach Monitor helps you check if your personal information has been compromised or leaked online. While it doesn't provide a Multi-Hop feature, it offers something similar in the form of SafeSwap. When connected to SafeSwap servers, your VPN IP address periodically changes without you having to disconnect.
HOW FAST IS IT?
Since it is still relatively new, AtlasVPN only has a small network of 700 servers in 32 different countries. Why does this matter in terms of speed? It's because the closer you are to the server (and the lower the server load), the faster your connection will be. So how did AtlasVPN fare during our speed tests? First of all, the tests were done in London with a base speed of 53.2Mbps. Connecting to several local servers resulted in an average speed loss of only 10% or around 48Mbps. We then tried connecting to servers across the pond, specifically, New York and Miami. Surprisingly, our speed didn't drop as much as we've expected. In fact, our speeds were still averaging 41Mbps. This is excellent news for those who love gaming and browsing. Despite its small number of servers, you're still assured of decent speeds wherever you go.
PRICING AND PLANS
It's rare to see a free VPN service these days, especially one with no data cap and no ads. But that's what you get with AtlasVPN. However, keep in mind that using the free tier gives you access to only 3 servers located in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and New York. If you want to enjoy additional servers and features, you can upgrade to one of its paid plans. Even then, it's still ridiculously cheap considering what you get in return, such as:
• 700+ servers worldwide
• Unlimited number of devices
• Block trackers and Ads
• 24/7 Support
• Data leak protection
• Military-grade encryption
The month-to-month plan costs $9.99, which drops to only $2.49 when you subscribe for a year. If you love getting discounts, you're in for a treat! Click on our link above to get 86% off with a 3-year plan. That lowers your monthly fee down to $1.39! All of these plans are covered with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
AtlasVPN performed so well in every aspect, so we were a bit disappointed to learn that they don't offer 24/7 live chat support. Anyway, it's barely even two years old, so we're sure a live chat option is in the works. Currently, they are on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube), and you can also send them an email at support@atlasvpn.com. We tried sending them a generic question via Twitter and email to test their response time. Turns out we didn't have to wait for long since we got a reply in less than an hour. Despite our initial apprehension, we were happy to know that they won't leave you hanging should you require any assistance.
THE VERDICT
So, are we going to recommend AtlasVPN? Absolutely! The security features are top-notch, and the free version makes it great for students, beginners, or those on a tight budget. Despite its small fleet of servers, it performed well for what it's intended. All in all, AtlasVPN is an affordable one-click solution to improving your privacy and online experience.
ATLASVPN KEY DATA
Jurisdiction: US
Member of intelligence-sharing alliances: YES
Servers: 700+
Server location: 32 countries
Simultaneous connection: Unlimited devices
Desktop apps: Windows, macOS
Mobile apps: iOS, Android
Encryption: AES 256-bit
Protocols: IPSec/IKEv2, SHA-384, PFS
DNS and IP leak protection: YES
Automatic kill switch: YES
Notable Features: Ad, malware, and tracker blocker, SafeSwap servers, Advanced Leak Protection (IPv6), data breach monitor, private DNS, No-log policy, and Kill Switch
SEE WHAT USERS HAVE TO SAY
“Since I'm not exactly a tech-geek, I appreciate the simplicity of this app. My son, who's a senior developer and knows this stuff, recommended me this app and said it's safe enough to protect me so I think I'm good to go.”
“I am genuinely surprised with this VPN. I feel like this is by far one of the best VPNs I have used. The speeds are great and premium access is totally worth the small price you pay. I'd like to see google chrome support in the future.”
“I have been using Atlas VPN Premium for the last few months on my Android Smartphone. It works awesome. The speed, UI, and affordability are some of the strong points of Atlas VPN.”
“Loving the simplicity of it! After using a few premium VPNs for the last year or so, with confidence I can say that Atlas VPN performs just as well. Looking forward to the desktop apps.”
WILL IT KEEP ME SAFE AND ANONYMOUS ONLINE?
On the surface, AtlasVPN doesn't seem to be a good choice for anyone looking to boost their online privacy. After all, it is based in Delaware, USA. Yup, a founding member of 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance alliances. As an average user, what exactly does this mean for you? It means the government can access your online data and share them among the other member countries.
Alarming? Yes, if it means AtlasVPN has no qualms handing your data over to the authorities. But such is not the case. AtlasVPN has a strict zero-logs policy, so there's nothing to share in the first place. Besides, the US has no mandatory data retention policies, so US-based VPNs are not obligated to store user data.
In terms of security, AtlasVPN ain't a slacker either. They use a military-grade AES 256-bit encryption — the same one used by government and private sectors, including the NSA. Even with the latest technology, this encryption method is still impossible to break or brute-force, so your data is safe against unauthorized access. This is a critical security measure because cybercriminals are always looking for weak links to break and crack.
However, we're a bit surprised and disappointed that AtlasVPN does not support an OpenVPN connection. Instead, they utilize an IPSec/IKEv2 mechanism. It's probably because the latter is more suited to the average user. After all, setting up the OpenVPN protocol isn't a walk in the park and requires some technical knowledge. On the other hand, IPSec/IKEv2 is just as secure but more straightforward and less CPU-intensive. It's faster than OpenVPN too!
As far as additional security and privacy features are concerned, Atlas VPN has a few more tricks up its sleeves. The SafeBrowse feature blocks malicious websites, trackers, and ads to protect you against phishing, malware, and other virus-distributing sites. Of course, they also have the standard Kill Switch feature, which cuts off your internet when your VPN connection drops out. The new security tool Data Breach Monitor helps you check if your personal information has been compromised or leaked online. While it doesn't provide a Multi-Hop feature, it offers something similar in the form of SafeSwap. When connected to SafeSwap servers, your VPN IP address periodically changes without you having to disconnect.
HOW FAST IS IT?
Since it is still relatively new, AtlasVPN only has a small network of 700 servers in 32 different countries. Why does this matter in terms of speed? It's because the closer you are to the server (and the lower the server load), the faster your connection will be. So how did AtlasVPN fare during our speed tests? First of all, the tests were done in London with a base speed of 53.2Mbps. Connecting to several local servers resulted in an average speed loss of only 10% or around 48Mbps. We then tried connecting to servers across the pond, specifically, New York and Miami. Surprisingly, our speed didn't drop as much as we've expected. In fact, our speeds were still averaging 41Mbps. This is excellent news for those who love gaming and browsing. Despite its small number of servers, you're still assured of decent speeds wherever you go.
PRICING AND PLANS
It's rare to see a free VPN service these days, especially one with no data cap and no ads. But that's what you get with AtlasVPN. However, keep in mind that using the free tier gives you access to only 3 servers located in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and New York. If you want to enjoy additional servers and features, you can upgrade to one of its paid plans. Even then, it's still ridiculously cheap considering what you get in return, such as:
• 700+ servers worldwide
• Unlimited number of devices
• Block trackers and Ads
• 24/7 Support
• Data leak protection
• Military-grade encryption
The month-to-month plan costs $9.99, which drops to only $2.49 when you subscribe for a year. If you love getting discounts, you're in for a treat! Click on our link above to get 86% off with a 3-year plan. That lowers your monthly fee down to $1.39! All of these plans are covered with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
AtlasVPN performed so well in every aspect, so we were a bit disappointed to learn that they don't offer 24/7 live chat support. Anyway, it's barely even two years old, so we're sure a live chat option is in the works. Currently, they are on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube), and you can also send them an email at support@atlasvpn.com. We tried sending them a generic question via Twitter and email to test their response time. Turns out we didn't have to wait for long since we got a reply in less than an hour. Despite our initial apprehension, we were happy to know that they won't leave you hanging should you require any assistance.
THE VERDICT
So, are we going to recommend AtlasVPN? Absolutely! The security features are top-notch, and the free version makes it great for students, beginners, or those on a tight budget. Despite its small fleet of servers, it performed well for what it's intended. All in all, AtlasVPN is an affordable one-click solution to improving your privacy and online experience.
