Quick summary: PrivadoVPN is a Swiss VPN service that stands out with one of the best free versions on the market and extremely low prices on paid plans. I tested it for you and can confirm: for everyday users looking for reliable protection at a reasonable price, it is a solid choice.
What is PrivadoVPN?
PrivadoVPN is a VPN service launched in April 2019 by Privado Networks AG, based in Switzerland. From a privacy perspective, Switzerland is one of the most favorable jurisdictions in the world — the country is not a member of the Five Eyes or Fourteen Eyes alliances and has some of the strictest consumer protection laws.
From the beginning, the service has positioned itself as affordable but functionally complete. Instead of massive marketing campaigns, it focuses on what really matters: security, speed, and ease of use. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Fire TV, and the service can also be configured directly on a router.
Pricing and plans
PrivadoVPN offers three paid plans plus a free plan with no time limit. Current prices are as follows:
| Plan | Price / month | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $10.99 | monthly |
| Annual (12 months) | ~$2.99 | charged yearly |
| 2-year (24 months) | ~$1.99 | charged every 2 years |
| Free | $0 | no fee |
The 2-year plan is among the cheapest premium VPNs on the market — some current promotions bring it down to as low as $1.11 per month. The monthly plan, on the other hand, is overpriced and does not include a 30-day money-back guarantee. The free plan is limited to 10 GB of data per month, 13 server locations, and one device.
Tip: You can find all current discounts and coupons in the discounts section.
Payment is possible by credit card, PayPal, or cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum). The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to annual and 2-year plans, but not to the monthly subscription or cryptocurrency payments.
Features and specifications
PrivadoVPN covers all the basic features you expect from a modern VPN and adds several practical extras you will not find with cheaper competitors.
Encryption and security
The service uses standard AES-256 encryption, considered practically unbreakable. Three VPN protocols are available: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 — the app can automatically choose the most suitable one for your connection. DNS leak protection is included, as is a kill switch that immediately cuts the internet connection if the VPN connection drops.
Server network
PrivadoVPN operates around 380 servers in 47 countries and 60 cities worldwide. Servers are represented in all global regions, with most located in Europe. In countries such as India and Russia, virtual servers are used for legal reasons — a practice that prevents local mandatory logging laws from applying to real infrastructure.
Split tunneling (SmartRoute)
SmartRoute lets you decide which apps should use the VPN tunnel and which should not. You will appreciate this for online banking or local streaming services, where you do not want your traffic routed through a foreign server.
SOCKS5 Proxy
The premium plan also includes a SOCKS5 proxy server — a feature most cheap VPNs do not offer. SOCKS5 proxy is especially useful for torrenting, where it hides your IP address without encryption, which can significantly improve download speed.
Control Tower
Control Tower is a feature for blocking ads, tracking scripts, and malware. It works at DNS level, so it can be used even without running the VPN client. It also includes parental controls — the ability to block social networks and inappropriate content for children.
Number of devices
The premium plan allows up to 10 simultaneous device connections — more than the average competitor. For most households, this is fully sufficient. The free plan is limited to one device.
Pros
- One of the best free versions on the market — 10 GB per month, no ads, no time limit
- Extremely low price on the 2-year plan (~$1.11 – $1.99/month)
- Swiss jurisdiction — strong legal privacy protections
- SOCKS5 proxy included for free with premium — rare among cheaper competitors
- Support for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2
- Kill switch and DNS leak protection on all platforms
- Split tunneling (SmartRoute) for flexible setup
- Support for up to 10 devices at the same time
- Reasonable speeds — average downloads of around 180–225 Mbps in tests
- 30-day money-back guarantee (for annual and 2-year plans)
Cons
- No independent no-logs audit — no verified audit has been published yet
- Smaller server network (~380) compared with NordVPN or CyberGhost (thousands of servers)
- Unstable streaming unblocking — Netflix works, but Prime Video and Hulu are unreliable
- WireGuard performed worse than OpenVPN in some tests — an unusual and unpleasant issue
- The monthly plan ($10.99) is overpriced and does not include the 30-day guarantee
- No browser extensions
My experience
I tested PrivadoVPN for you on Windows and Android. Installation and first launch literally took just a few minutes — the app is clear, intuitive, and automatically recommends the server with the lowest latency.
The connection speed pleasantly surprised me. On servers in Europe, the speed drop was minimal, which is more of an exception at this low VPN price. On more distant servers (USA, Australia), the drop was more visible, but still acceptable for regular browsing or streaming.
Control Tower worked reliably for ad blocking. I also appreciated SmartRoute, which let me set the torrent client to go through the VPN while the browser connected directly. SOCKS5 proxy is a nice bonus you will appreciate when downloading larger files.
The only real reservation remains the lack of an independent no-logs audit. For regular use, I do not consider this a major problem — Swiss jurisdiction and a clean history since 2019 are strong guarantees. However, if you work with sensitive data or live in a country with internet repression, I recommend considering an audited alternative.
User reviews
Users on Trustpilot and G2 rate PrivadoVPN mostly positively. They most often praise ease of use, reliable speed, and favorable pricing. Recurring criticism includes limited customer support for more complicated technical issues and occasional outages on distant servers.
On GetApp, business users praise functionality across multiple devices under one subscription. Some advanced users, on the other hand, point to the smaller server network and missing audit as reasons why they eventually switched to a competitor.
Alternatives to PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN is an excellent choice for price-conscious users, but it is not the only one. Here are the most important alternatives I compared for you.
NordVPN
NordVPN is among the absolute top services on the market. It offers a network of more than 7,000 servers in 118 countries, an independently verified no-logs policy, and advanced features such as Threat Protection, Double VPN, and Onion over VPN. The price is higher — the long-term plan costs around $3.09/month — but you get verified security and reliable streaming unblocking. If an audited no-logs policy is not optional for you, NordVPN is the clear choice over PrivadoVPN.
Surfshark
Surfshark is a direct alternative for users looking for a cheap VPN with unlimited devices. Its long-term plan costs around $2/month, while you get unlimited simultaneous connections, Camouflage Mode (obfuscation), and a larger server network than PrivadoVPN. Surfshark has completed a no-logs audit. If you have many devices at home or want to share one subscription with family, Surfshark beats PrivadoVPN in comfort and coverage.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is for users who care about maximum transparency and verifiable security. Like PrivadoVPN, it is based in Switzerland, but it also has open-source apps and has passed independent security audits. Proton VPN’s free plan has no data limit — unlike PrivadoVPN’s 10 GB — but it is limited by speed and to three countries. Proton VPN’s premium plan is more expensive (around $4–5/month on an annual plan), but for privacy-focused users or journalists it is a smarter investment.
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN offers a huge network — more than 11,000 servers in 100+ countries — and specially optimized servers for streaming specific platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video). If PrivadoVPN is not enough for reliable unblocking of foreign content, CyberGhost is a direct solution. Its long-term plan is similarly cheap to Surfshark. The downside is Romanian jurisdiction and a slightly more complicated interface.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the premium choice for users who want the best without compromise. It offers its proprietary Lightway protocol, a server network in 105 countries, and the most reliable streaming unblocking in the industry. The price is significantly higher (~$8/month on an annual plan) — in direct contrast with PrivadoVPN — but you pay a premium for premium speed and reliability. For everyday users, the price difference is hard to justify; for demanding travelers and professionals, it makes sense.
Tip: you can find all compared VPNs in our article on the best VPNs.
Support and contact
PrivadoVPN provides customer support 24/7 via live chat and email. The website also includes an extensive knowledge base with installation guides for all platforms, including routers, NAS devices, and Raspberry Pi. Phone support is not offered.
During testing, I found that live chat responds promptly to simple questions. More complicated technical questions require more patience — an email response may take several hours.
Summary and rating
Rating: 7.5 / 10
PrivadoVPN is an excellent VPN for everyday users looking for reliable protection at the lowest possible price. The free version is truly one of the best on the market — 10 GB per month, no ads, no time limit, with a kill switch and split tunneling. The premium 2-year plan at ~$1.99/month is simply hard to beat in price/performance.
I recommend it for: Everyday users who want a cheap and functional VPN. Users who first want to try a free version without risk. Those who torrent and appreciate SOCKS5 proxy. Households with multiple devices (up to 10 simultaneous connections).
I do not recommend it for: Users who need a verified no-logs policy with an independent audit. Those who primarily unblock streaming beyond Netflix (Prime Video and Hulu are unreliable). Advanced users requiring a large server network or Tor over VPN.
Frequently asked questions
Is PrivadoVPN free?
Yes, PrivadoVPN offers a free version with no time limit. The free plan includes 10 GB of data per month, access to 13 server locations, AES-256 encryption, and a kill switch. It is limited to one device. The premium plan starts at ~$1.99/month with a 2-year commitment.
Is PrivadoVPN safe?
PrivadoVPN uses AES-256 encryption, a zero-logs policy, and is based in Switzerland — one of the best jurisdictions for privacy protection. The weak point is the lack of an independent no-logs audit, which is standard among premium competitors such as NordVPN or Proton VPN.
Does PrivadoVPN work with Netflix?
Yes, it unblocks Netflix. Results with other streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video or Hulu are unreliable, however — PrivadoVPN is not primarily a streaming-focused VPN. For reliable unblocking of multiple streaming platforms, I recommend considering CyberGhost VPN or NordVPN.
How many devices can I connect with PrivadoVPN?
The premium plan allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. The free plan is limited to one device. If you configure the VPN directly on a router, the entire router counts as one device, allowing you to protect devices that do not have a native app.
What is PrivadoVPN’s money-back guarantee?
The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to annual and 2-year plans. It does not apply to monthly subscriptions or cryptocurrency payments. You can request a refund by contacting technical support — based on available user experiences, the process works without issues.
Does PrivadoVPN work in Europe?
Yes, PrivadoVPN works in Europe without restrictions. The app includes servers in nearby countries such as the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, which are usually fast for Central European users. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
