PrivadoVPN Review – Zero-log VPN with free 10GB monthly

PrivadoVPN is a relatively new VPN provider based in Switzerland with a zero-log policy that appeals to anyone that requires the best possible privacy.

Being a Swiss VPN, they fall outside the “14-eyes” countries which that Switzerland is not part of the intelligence alliance that originally consisted of 5-core nations (Five Eyes) but has been extended to 14 countries with SIGINT Seniors Europe. These alliances give governments the power to compel a VPN to share user data.

Therefore, PrivadoVPN has no legal obligation to share any user data requested by these 14 countries.

On top of this, PrivadoVPN also has a compelling free VPN service. It is much more limited than the premium service, with 10GB available per month and 12 global servers but it should be useful if you only ever need to use a VPN once in a while.

Sign up to PrivadoVPN

VPN Features

• Free VPN option (10GB of data every 30 days)
• Swiss-based
• Zero-log policy
• 256-bit-AES encryption
• Up to 10 simultaneous connections
• Unlimited devices

Servers & Countries Available

• 335 servers
• 48 countries
• 61 cities
• Countries
  • America: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
  • Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
  • Asia: Australia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan.
  • Middle East & Africa: Israel, Turkey, and South Africa.

Available Platforms & Installation

Like most VPNs, you have a wide range of installation options.

There are dedicated apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Fire Stick and Android TV.

You then OVPN files that can be used for routers and SOCKS5 for various download clients for Torrents.

For Windows, it is just a case of downloading and installing the app and then login in with your account.

Windows Settings & Performance

The Windows app is similar to most VPN apps, it is basic but easy to use.

Within the settings, you can set it up for the app to auto-start when Windows loads and also auto-connect. You can also have a Kill Switch enabled, which disables all connectivity if the VPN disconnects. Therefore, it is quite easy to stay secure 100% of the time.

Connecting to a VPN is generally very quick, and the performance is excellent depending on where you connect.

• UK default connection: 524/35 Mbps DL/UL and 13ms ping
• Amsterdam: 520/35 Mbps DL/UL and 25ms ping
• NYC, USA: 476/34 Mbps DL/UL and 107ms ping
• Mumbai, India: 88/15 Mbps DL/UL and 354ms ping
• Hong Kong: 256/18 Mbps DL/UL and 257ms ping

I am on a Virgin 500Mbps connection, and using a UK server has no significant impact on anything. The main difference is the ping increasing from 8ms to 13ms.

Some servers are slower than others, and I have found this is the case with all VPNs. The ping obviously increases dramatically based on the distance.

Argentina was the slowest server I could find, with speeds of 20/20 Mbps. I only checked this server as it is sometimes cheaper to sign up to streaming services such as Netflix and Disney when going via a foreign country.

Similarly, I checked the performance and accessibility of streaming services in other countries. I predominantly used Netflix for this test and experienced no problems.

For the VPN protocols, the app will select the best option, but you can manually select your preferred option, including WireGuard. For that, it is currently classified as a preview feature, but I experienced no problems with it at all, and speeds remained the same.

Forcing the connection to use OpenVPN slows down the speeds considerably. Using Manchester, UK, my speed dropped down to around 200Mbps with a 19ms ping. It’s a perfectly acceptable speed and it is classed as the most secure while being more combined devices than WireGuard, but I’d stick with WireGuard if possible.

Mobile App

The mobile app offers essentially the same experience, and it is the speed of your WiFi or mobile connection that will be the limiting factor here.

The one difference between this and the Windows app is the ability to do split tunnelling. This allows you to select which apps you want or do not want to use the VPN.

Price

Pricing of PrivadoVPN is as follows:

• Free plan – limited to 10GB every 30 days and reduced server availability
• One Month – $7.99 (£6.45)
• 12 months – $59.88, working out as $4.99 (£4.03)

Sign up to PrivadoVPN

Overall

I have been impressed with PrivadoVPN. Performance has been at least as good as the best VPNs I have tried in the past, and the pricing is attractive.

It has all the server locations I need, especially countries that allow me to access cheaper streaming services, as well as a local connection that has no perceived drop in speeds from my ISP connection.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.