Professional’s Ranking
Professionals
- Cheap subscriptions
- Limitless connections
- Nice connection speeds total
Cons
- Small community
- Doesn’t unblock all streaming providers
- Primarily based in US, with no third-party audit
Our Verdict
Atlas VPN could also be low cost, however that’s mirrored within the service. If privateness isn’t excessive in your want checklist and also you solely need to unblock main streaming providers it would tempt you. However finally there are higher VPNs for those who’re ready to spend a bit extra.
Atlas VPN is owned by Nord Safety, which additionally owns NordVPN and Surfshark. It’s positioned because the finances providing, and is the one one of many three providers that has a free tier.
Initially, the free model gave you limitless bandwidth, however that was lower to 10GB per 30 days and now it’s simply 5GB.
Nonetheless, we’re not reviewing the free providing right here; we’re specializing in the paid-for Premium tier which supplies you entry to all servers and a lot of different advantages such because the quickest speeds and apps for Amazon Fireplace TV, Android TV and Linux.
Because you’re studying this, likelihood is you’re tempted by Atlas VPN’s low-cost subscriptions. Whether or not or not it’s good worth relies upon upon what you desire a VPN for.
That’s why we’re going to have a look at each side of Atlas VPN to see precisely the way it stacks up towards the massive names, together with NordVPN and Surfshark.
Options & apps
- 38 international locations lined by 750+ servers
- WireGuard protocol
- SafeSwap servers
- Two Multihop+ routes
As you’d count on from a comparatively new VPN service which expenses little or no, Atlas VPN doesn’t have the hundreds of servers in as many international locations all over the world as those who cost extra and have been round for lots longer.
You’ll additionally discover that among the extra superior options are lacking from its apps. However for those who’ll primarily use servers in fashionable international locations such because the UK and US, you won’t want an even bigger alternative.
Atlas VPN has a alternative of seven areas within the US and two within the UK. It doesn’t supply a alternative of areas in some other nation, and has no servers in Africa in any respect.
None are digital, which implies servers are bodily positioned within the international locations listed. Within the Netherlands, you get the choice of connecting to Atlas VPN’s 10Gbps server – the one location it at the moment presents that quicker uplink velocity.
There are apps for Home windows, Android, iOS and macOS. As talked about, you additionally get entry to the Android TV, Fireplace TV and Linux apps if you signal as much as Atlas VPN Premium. Linux help isn’t graphical: you register and join utilizing the command line.
There aren’t any browser extensions, however that’s no drawback as a result of nearly all VPN providers (in addition to ExpressVPN) with Chrome and Firefox extensions don’t really present a VPN service via these extensions. They’re proxy providers, which isn’t the identical factor.
Weirdly, there is no such thing as a option to ‘favorite’ a server within the apps. There’s a ‘latest’ part which is an affordable different, nevertheless it’s an uncommon alternative by Atlas VPN. No info is supplied subsequent to every location: you’ll be able to’t see particular person servers, which implies you’ll be able to’t select by how busy they’re or discover one with the bottom ping.
There’s an on/off kill swap in the primary 4 apps, however solely the Android app presents break up tunnelling. Which means you’ll be able to select which apps do or don’t join by way of the VPN. It’s not a characteristic everybody will need, so it’s not an enormous drawback that it’s lacking within the apps for different units.
You may’t get a devoted or static IP tackle with Atlas VPN however, once more, these aren’t options many individuals want.
There’s no restrict on the variety of units you should use with Atlas VPN on the similar time, in contrast to most VPNs which both power you to make use of only one machine at a time or 5-10.
What you can see are SafeSwap servers. These can be found within the US, Singapore and the Netherlands. As an alternative of assigning you only one IP tackle and sticking with it for the entire time the connection is energetic, SafeSwap repeatedly adjustments your IP tackle from the out there pool, and this makes it even tougher to establish you, which is nice for privateness.
The opposite factor you’ll see within the Privateness Professional tab is Multihop+. This routes your connection via three servers as a substitute of 1, which is even higher for privateness, however you’ll be able to’t select the route: you’ll be able to solely click on on ‘Europe’ or ‘North America’. The precise routes are Netherlands > Germany > France and, within the US, New York > Dallas > Miami.
Jim Martin / Foundry
The interface is replicated nearly precisely on cell, making Atlas VPN very straightforward to make use of.
Lately, a pause button has been added to the Home windows app, permitting you to quickly disconnect (and use an internet site or service which doesn’t work correctly with a VPN, for instance) and routinely reconnect so that you don’t overlook.
Jim Martin / Foundry
You may set the apps to auto-connect to your alternative of server when Atlas VPN begins, and you’ll select what occurs if you push the Fast Join button, akin to connecting to the closest or quickest server, a selected server or a Multihop+ route, or SafeSwap server.
Logging into the apps is just required for those who’re a paying buyer. Sadly, this may be annoying. As an alternative of a password, you enter your e-mail tackle to be despatched despatched a “magic hyperlink” or a six-digit code. This will take a few minutes to reach, and we’d choose the choice of with the ability to set a password (and maybe 2FA).
The excellent news is that there’s no restrict on the variety of units you should use with Atlas VPN on the similar time, in contrast to most VPNs which both power you to make use of only one machine at a time or 5-10.
Safety features
Beneath the oddly named Assistant menu (which is now included within the macOS app) are Breach Scanner and SafeBrowse. The primary screens e-mail addresses and notifies you in the event that they ever seem on the darkish internet. Including an e-mail tackle gained’t begin a scan for historic breaches, although, so that you’ll see a message saying “Your accounts are protected!” which could be false. You’ll solely get notified of future breaches. Which means you’d nonetheless want to make use of an internet site akin to haveibeenpwned.com to see if that you must take any motion (akin to altering passwords) instantly.
Additionally, you’ll be able to enter any e-mail tackle with out verifying that you simply personal it.
The Home windows app has an additional part for Superior Data, together with Credit score Card, Social Safety Quantity and ID paperwork. Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a option to enter any of this: you’ll simply get notified if these particulars had been leaked alongside together with your e-mail tackle and password.
SafeBrowse warns you of doubtless harmful web sites, and likewise makes an attempt to cease monitoring cookies and different technique of monitoring your behaviour on-line. It really works solely when the VPN is related, in fact.
Privateness
If you already know something about VPNs, you’ll know that they’re typically registered in international locations with beneficial privateness legal guidelines, even when their precise places of work are elsewhere. Altas VPN relies within the US the place authorities can ask VPNs at hand over no matter information they’ve.
This is the reason they’ve ‘no-logs’ insurance policies so there’s no information at hand over. Atlas VPN clearly explains what this implies.
“We don’t log your searching exercise, searching historical past, information of IPs assigned, authentic IP, websites visited, outgoing visitors, content material, or information accessed. So, even when compelled, we can not present such information as we do not need it within the first place.
We attempt to reduce the gathering of any information. Nonetheless, we have to accumulate some info to supply our Service for you, enhance and optimize it, ship you related info, create new and higher privateness providers and adjust to our authorized obligations.”
You may learn the privateness coverage in full to see precisely what information is saved. Primarily, it’s nothing uncommon or untoward.
It’s normal follow to log some information as a way to optimise and develop the service the corporate likes to know which servers individuals are utilizing, roughly the place they’re positioned on the earth and what machine they’re utilizing to entry it, which choices they alter in settings, and so on. None of that is alleged to be personally identifiable: it’s nameless.
You may discover ‘VerSprite Verified Safety’ talked about within the App Retailer and Google Play Retailer. Nonetheless, this doesn’t imply Atlas VPN’s privateness coverage has been audited: it hasn’t (but). As an alternative, its Home windows and iOS apps have been audited to ensure they’re safe.
You’ll need to take Atlas VPN’s phrase for it that it doesn’t log any of your information, and that’s why its USA location is much from excellent.
If you would like a VPN merely to unblock movies, web sites and for safety on public Wi-Fi, none of this actually issues. However in order for you one for privateness, we’d suggest Surfshark, NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
Efficiency
We examined Atlas VPN on a full fibre gigabit connection in San Francisco. On the time of testing, SpeedTest reported a obtain velocity of just below 800Mbps and an add of 950Mbps.
These are the add and obtain speeds we noticed from – going clockwise – New York, London, Tokyo and Sydney.
Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry
As you’ll be able to see, speeds are excellent contemplating the worth Atlas VPN expenses. The one poor connection was Tokyo: we re-ran the check a number of occasions (after disconnecting and reconnecting) to ensure it wasn’t a one-off, and bought an identical consequence each time.
Usefully, Atlas VPN has supported IPv6 from the get-go, which means you’re protected out of your actual IP tackle being uncovered even you probably have an ISP that has already converted from IPv4 (akin to BT within the UK).
We discovered no DNS leaks in our checks both, which was good.
The kill swap is the everlasting sort. In different phrases, if the VPN connection drops, you’ll lose web entry till it’s restored. That’s accomplished for defense, however could be complicated, which might be why the swap isn’t enabled by default.
Utilizing the streaming-optimised servers, unblocking is a bit hit or miss.
Mathilde Vicente / Foundry
We had been in a position to watch titles unique to Netflix US and Japan, in addition to different reveals on Disney+ and HBO Max. However this time round, neither the Manchester nor London servers would allow us to watch BBC iPlayer or ITV X from France, even when tried utilizing an incognito browser tab.
We additionally examined the Australia server, however discovered it didn’t unblock 9now.
Jim Martin / Foundry
Help
Atlas VPN presents 24/7 reside chat for Premium subscribers. That is solely out there in an online browser if you’re logged into your Atlas VPN account, versus within the apps themselves.
Nonetheless, after we examined this, the response was speedy and technical questions had been answered rapidly and precisely, together with a repair for when the Home windows app wouldn’t set up resulting from an error.
For those who’re on the free tier, you’ll be able to search the FAQ on Atlas VPN’s web site (the place there are plenty of up-to-date guides) or e-mail help@atlasvpn.com.
Pricing & plans
For those who sign up to Atlas VPN for 2 years and also you’ll pay $49.19, or £36.21 within the UK. That’s loads cheaper than shopping for it one month at a time, which prices $10.99 / £8.09.
Now you can pay anonymously by way of cryptocurrencies. however it’s also possible to select PayPal, Google Pay and credit score/debit playing cards.
Simply word that when the subscription expires it can auto-renew yearly, and also you’ll pay extra per 30 days at that time.
Jim Martin / Foundry
If discovering an affordable VPN is your prime precedence and also you don’t thoughts committing to a five-year subscription, it’s price studying our overview of Ivacy.
Ivacy limits you to 5 units, however has significantly extra servers in roughly twice the variety of areas and helps OpenVPN (however not but WireGuard). It’s additionally primarily based in Singapore, which is a extra privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
You can too see different suggestions in our roundup of the perfect VPN providers.
Verdict
Atlas VPN has come a good distance since launched a few years again. It could not have many superior options, and a few aren’t out there in all variations of its apps, nevertheless it ticks plenty of containers for these with comparatively undemanding wants.
Which means it’s good worth for those who simply desire a VPN to unblock fashionable US streaming providers, or for a bit of additional privateness and safety on-line. It’s a disgrace its unblocking is comparatively restricted, although, and it didn’t allow us to watch BBC iPlayer, or 9now.
And with out an unbiased audit of its no-logs coverage, it’s tough to suggest Atlas VPN to anybody whose prime precedence is privateness.
Efficiency is best than you’d count on however, finally, you get what you pay for with Atlas VPN.