Speed

PrivateVPN aims to provide a high-performing experience with its standard set of features. Coming to speed, PrivateVPN has a small fleet of 200 servers which could limit your server selection. However, upon further testing, we found our internet speed was on par compared with other major VPN providers. The cherry on the cake is that it successfully accessed Netflix with its designated servers without any buffering.

Our standard internet speed before connecting to PrivateVPN marked 60 Mbps. We did see a drop in our speeds but averaged around 55 Mbps with their US server. Although PrivateVPN didn't give us breakneck speeds, it remained consistent across different servers in our experience. However, unlike other providers, PrivateVPN doesn't automatically suggest the fastest server.

Privacy and Security

PrivateVPN comes with the industry-standard security of 2048-bit encryption with AES-256, which to their claim, is used by government militaries. More standard features include masking your IP address and protecting the data with strong encryption. It has privacy-packed features such as IPv6 and DNS Leak Protection. Upon testing, we didn't experience any IP or DNS leaks.

PrivateVPN also includes an automatic kill switch for added security. It consists of an extended range of secure protocols, which include OpenVPN, IPsec, L2TP, IKEv2, and PPTP. Privacy-fanatics will be glad to hear that PrivateVPN comes with a 'No Data Logging' policy. And when it comes to accessing user information, it only stores your account-related information. Most importantly, it works in China! Which would certainly make a massive sum of the population happy!

Servers

PrivateVPN has a limited span of 200 servers across 63 countries, covering major regions, including the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. While the network is still expanding, it does manage to provide a stable, reliable, and relatively fast connection.

Platforms

PrivateVPN has dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It does include a manual guide for Linux. To our notice, the kill switch feature only works with Windows, which to us, is a drawback. PrivateVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, all to unique IP addresses.

Customer Service

You expect better customer service if you intend to use a premium subscription. Much to our surprise, unlike other premium VPNs, PrivateVPN does not have 24/7 ongoing customer support. That is a disappointment, as all major providers provide 24/7 customer support, but it does have limited-time live-chat support.

The standard way to reach them out is through email support. They have a detailed FAQ and support page, including detailed information about basic troubleshooting. One good thing is that they provide a technical representative who will help you troubleshoot your problem through a remote desktop connection.

Pricing

PrivateVPN has three subscription plans on its website. The 1-month plan is priced at $8.99 (USD). If you subscribe to their 3-month plan, the monthly price reduces to $6. The best deal on their website is their 3-year plan, in which the monthly cost drops to $2, making it the most budget-friendly option. PrivateVPN has a 30-day money guarantee if you are unsatisfied with their service.

Our Verdict

PrivateVPN provides a fast, secure, and reliable connection with decent cross-platform support, allowing you to connect up to 10 simultaneous devices. It comes with standard privacy-packed features which ensure a private and safe user experience. It is priced on the higher side compared to other premium VPNs. If you intend for a simple, secure, fast, and reliable VPN for an extended period, PrivateVPN could be a good choice for you.