Our Verdict
Overall, PrivateVPN is an excellent VPN: scoring 9.1/10 based on our test measurements. Most notably, it’s one of the very best VPNs for accessing geo-blocked video content. It unblocks 10 Netflix regions and other services like Hulu and BBC iPlayer. However, we experienced server congestion issues, so its long-distance speeds may not always be sufficient for HD streaming.
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- Regular privacy & security audits
- Works with US Netflix, Hulu & more
- Offers IP addresses from more countries than alternatives
- Fast connection speeds with NordLynx
- Intuitive apps for every platform
- IP addresses in 106 countries
- Retains connection timestamps for 15 minutes
- Dedicated IP feature is a privacy risk
- Renews at a much higher subscription price
- No GUI app for Linux
- Doesn’t work in China
Launched in 2009, PrivateVPN has been around longer than many of its competitors. In that time, the VPN has never suffered from any controversies and has proven itself to be a safe and trustworthy option.
Miss Group, a Swedish internet services company, acquired PrivateVPN in 2022. Despite initial concerns about the acquisition’s impact, PrivateVPN’s excellent performance has remained unchanged.
For this PrivateVPN review, we put its software through our comprehensive testing process. You can see a summary of PrivateVPN’s key specifications in the table below, or compare it with other alternative options later in this review.
Who Should Get PrivateVPN ?
Get PrivateVPN if:
- You want an excellent all-around VPN. ExpressVPN is a well-polished option that performs exceptionally well in all of our testing categories.
- You want to access geo-blocked streaming services. ExpressVPN works to unblock every popular streaming service, including US Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, and BBC iPlayer.
- You haven’t used a VPN before. ExpressVPN’s apps are easier to use than all other VPN software we’ve reviewed. It requires no learning curve, so you can get started without prior experience.
Avoid PrivateVPN if:
- You’re on a tight budget. ExpressVPN is the fourth most expensive VPN of all 65 VPNs that we’ve reviewed.
- You want an all-in-one cybersecurity product. ExpressVPN only includes a VPN, a poor tracker blocker, and a password manager. It won’t protect you from viruses, malware, or ads.
- You need to seed torrent files. ExpressVPN doesn’t support port forwarding, so you won’t be able to connect directly to other users’ torrenting clients.
- You’re on a tight budget. ExpressVPN is the fourth most expensive VPN of all 65 VPNs that we’ve reviewed.
Streaming
Works with Netflix, Hulu & More
PrivateVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming. The VPN’s dedicated IP servers unblocked every streaming service we tested it with, including 10 Netflix regions. It doesn’t have a Smart DNS feature, which is disappointing, but it does have a fully-featured app for Amazon Fire TV.
Ranked #2 out of 65 VPNs for Streaming
Streaming Platform
- Amazon Prime Video
- BBC iPlayer
- Channel 4
- Disney+
- Hotstar India
- Hulu
- ITVX
- Max
- Netflix US
- YouTube TV
Works with ExpressVPN
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
Speed
Fast on Local Connections, but Slow on Long-distance Ones
When connected to a nearby server, our test results show that PrivateVPN is fast. Our download speeds dropped by just 5%— meaning the VPN is fast enough for streaming, gaming, and almost everything else. However, PrivateVPN’s global speeds are less impressive, and its congested servers often lead to slowdowns.
Ranked #24 out of 65 VPNs for Speed
Privacy & Logging Policy
Doesn’t Store Any User Data
PrivateVPN is a verified no-logs VPN service that has never supplied user data to a third party. A minor downside is its base in Sweden, which is a 14 Eyes jurisdiction, but this is offset by its private logging policy.
Ranked #5 out of 65 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy
Private VPN Details
