Atlas VPN is a virtual private network that enables its users to browse the internet as well as access websites anonymously. Additionally, it provides privacy and security protection for a user’s online activity. This can be useful in gaining access to typically geo-restricted content such as BBC iPlayer, Pandora, Netflix, and more.
Atlas VPN also offers protection against online surveillance, an important feature in nations such as Uzbekistan, Russia, and China. This Atlas VPN review aims to go into depth discovering what this service offers, its features, shortcomings, and how it stacks up against other VPN services. You will also get answers to questions like “is Atlas VPN safe?”
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This article was last updated on 9 April 2024
Presentation: Atlas VPN Review
Atlas VPN was created in 2019 and forms part of a highly secure freemium VPN service with the aim of ensuring the internet remains open and safe to anyone. In 2021, Atlas VPN was purchased by Nord Security, a market leader in providing digital security and privacy solutions.
Atlas VPN is headquartered in Hong Kong and has servers located in more than 37 countries all over the world, such as Ireland, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Denmark, to name a few. The AtlasVPN trademark is owned by Peakstar Technologies which is an organization based in the United States.
As with most modern VPNs today, AtlasVPN offers a decent free version coupled with user-friendly applications. Additionally, users can also enjoy the premium version which provides access to faster servers and specially tuned servers for streaming. One of the major differences between the free version and the premium version is that the premium version provides VPN Atlas users access to extra security features. They can also select from any of the 37 server locations rather than being limited to just 3.
Over the course of this Atlas VPN review, you will also discover that the premium version doesn’t have a limit on the number of devices allowed per license. There is also a kill switch to automatically shut off the VPN service and VPN Atlas utilizes IKEv2 Protocols to ensure the security of its users.
Shortcomings
The truth is, there is no such thing as a perfect VPN connection or provider. VPN Atlas does have its shortcoming, with one being the fact that it has limited configuration options. With a VPN, you want to have various configurations to suit your use at the time. Additionally, some desktop users state that the Windows app does leave a lot to be desired. This is down to the application being slow, as well as having an awkward user interface.
Another drawback to being wary of is the fact that there are no third-party audits of AtlasVPN’s policies or infrastructure. This makes it difficult to verify that it is indeed providing the service it claims it is.
Plans and Prices
Free Plan
VPN Atlas is one of the few VPN providers that offers access to a fully-fledged free subscription. Every free VPN comes with limitations to make it distinct from the premium plan, however, the features provided on the Atlas VPN free download are quite generous. For one, free subscribers can enjoy unlimited bandwidth and access to 3 server locations, namely: New York, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam. They also get 2 simultaneous connections. That being said, VPN Atlas does limit the amount of data free users can consume, placing MacOS, iOS, and Android users at 2 GB per day and Windows users at 10GB per month.
Premium Version
When it comes to purchasing AtlasVPN, there are a plethora of Atlas VPN offers. For one, you can choose to pay for the premium version of the Atlas VPN app monthly, or yearly.
- For one month’s service, you pay £8.09 per month
- For a year you pay £2.42 per month*
- For 3 years you pay £1.34 per month*
You should note that the yearly plans are charged once at £34.89 for a year and £52.63 for 3 years so long as you utilize the Atlas VPN coupon deal. With the premium version, users can have 4K streaming, WireGuard Protocol, Email Protection, Ad blocker, 24/7 support, and an unlimited number of devices.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Does this provider have a no-log policy? | Yes, this provider doesn't log your activities |
| Is this VPN service good for P2P? | Yes, it is good for torrenting |
| Netflix catalogues availability | US, UK, CA, DE, FR, ES, IT |
| How many devices can be connected simultaneously? | This provider allows ∞ simultaneous connections |
| Server locations | 45+ |
| Supported apps and devices | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV/FireStick |
| Any refund policy? | Yes, the money-back guarantee lasts 30 days |
| VPN protocols? | WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Bandwidth? | Unlimited |
| VPN encryption? | Most secure VPN encryption: Military AES 256 bits |
| How many IP addresses does this service provide? | This provider doesn't disclose that information |
| VPN Servers? | 750+ |
Using the VPN
Using AtlasVPN regardless of if it is the free version or the premium one provides users with optimized servers that enable them to enjoy unlimited and fast streaming platforms. This makes Atlas VPN Netflix ready. Unlike other VPN services that place a limit on the number of devices you can connect per license, AtlasVPN doesn’t do that as users can use any device on the VPN service be it on Windows, Android, Mac or iOS, atlas VPN android. All clients on VPN Atlas can enjoy a safe torrent downloading and file sharing experience thanks to VPN Atlas supporting all the major P2P clients.
VPN Features
Data Breach Monitor
The Data Breach Monitor is another important feature to highlight in this Atlas VPN review. The feature helps alert Atlas users when their data has been included in a data breach. This service was created to enable users to browse the internet securely and privately. At the time of writing, the Data Breach Monitor by AtlasVPN is available on Android, iOS and Windows apps only.
Atlas VPN Split Tunnelling
The AtlasVPN split tunneling enables users to selectively route certain traffic through the VPN service and others through regular connection. This means that users of this VPN service access the servers and other blocked content whilst maintaining their regular internet connection for other devices in the network.
WireGuard Protocol
The AtlasVPN WireGuard Protocol is an open-source VPN protocol that has been created to provide higher yet safer connections. When you use the WireGuard Protocol, you simplify and speed up your VPN experience. The protocol utilises state-of-the-art cryptography that makes this VPN service a lot more reliable for gaming, browsing, and streaming.
SafeSwap
This Atlas VPN review cannot be complete without highlighting SafeSwap. The SafeSwap feature was launched by AtlasVPN, making it a unique VPN service. Each SafeSwap provision comes with a host of IP addresses assigned to it. Since IP rotations are shared by various users they can be unpredictable. You are unlikely to know if your IP address has changed unless you actively verify it. This however doesn’t have any effect on download speeds. In order to accomplish such a feat using Proxy servers, you will need to first disconnect from your server and then reconnect to another.
With SafeSwap, you don’t have to disconnect as the IP address switching happens while you surf the internet. You should also note that this feature is only available to premium users.
SafeBrowse
The first feature to explore in this Atlas VPN review has to be SafeBrowse. The SafeBrowse or SafeBrowse Plus on iOS and macOS switches can be found in the security settings menu. This feature is an optional one that safely blocks nefarious websites. Typically, if you use VPN Atlas to browse the internet and then come across a blacklisted website, you won’t be provided access. You should note that this feature is a paid one, so you will need to subscribe to the premium version to access it
Windows Client
Installing the Windows app is quite easy. At first, there is a bit of confusion on how to log into the application. Atlas never actually prompts you to create or enter a password. Rather you simply get a link in your email, that connects you after paying for your subscription. It is a great feature but would be better if the company explained it better.
Once you log in, the app has a friendly user interface. For the over 700 server locations, there is a naming system that highlights the difference between the servers in a particular location. There are options such as SafeSwap, Privacy Pro, Streaming Servers and All Servers.
One thing to note is about the interface is that while the colours were brighter with some visual tweaks, the window is not resizable, and the texts could be larger. However, this is something that can change in the future.
While testing, we noticed that AtlasVPN tended to route our traffic through a particular server that wasn’t the best anytime we reconnected. That being said, there is a massive Connect button which makes getting online quite easy. There are no extra options to go through which is a great feature for those that aren’t quite as computer literate as others.
Test Results
This Atlas VPN review is not complete without highlighting just how good or bad its speed is. For the most part, using a VPN tends to lower your upload and download speeds, whilst increasing latency. That being said, there are a host of factors that affect speed. For one, you have to take into account the distance between the VPN server and your device. You also have to consider the processing power of the device, regional bandwidth restrictions, if any and the number of users on that particular VPN service.
While speed will vary depending on these factors, we discovered that Atlas VPN when compared to its competitors offers the fastest service, which makes it suitable for streaming, gaming and more. You can see this in this Atlas VPN review.
Customer Service
VPN Atlas offers assistance via a platform on its website. There, users can chat with customer support using the Chatbox. There is also a FAQ section for users to discover fixed for themselves. For in-depth information concerning some features, VPN Atlas has a blog that provides important industry articles. Customer assistance is not only available via web form. Users can also connect to the service via Facebook, Twitter, Discord, YouTube and Instagram. Atlas claims its customer service is available around the clock and when we tested it, we were able to get prompt replies to our enquiries.
Competitor Comparison
In every respect, VPN Atlas offers a fine VPN experience. The features it has are features users want in a VPN, however, the execution particularly for the windows client requires a bit of help. The app is a fairly designed one, however, there needs to be more control and information given to users.
Where this VPN provider excels compared to its competitors has to be its free subscription and the fact that users can connect via simultaneous connections. One thing to note is that while the free service on Atlas is of great value, users are likely to find better value when upgrading to premium versions.
Two of the top VPN providers in the world are ExpressVPN and NordVPN. In reality, Atlas falls a bit short of what these providers have to offer, however, this is down to the fact that it is still relatively new. Users can expect the gap to be breached, especially since Atlas was purchased by Nord Security, the operators of NordVPN.
FAQ
What is Atlas VPN?
Atlas VPN is a VPN provider that offers its VPN protocol to users to connect to geo-blocked content.
How to use Atlas VPN for Netflix?
All you have to do is connect to your preferred server (one that enables you to access Netflix) and then begin watching.
How to get an Atlas VPN for free?
The great thing about this VPN is that you simply need to search for Atlas VPN free download and follow the instructions on the link. Once you download, ensure you select the free option.
Conclusion
Atlas VPN is a great challenger to the notable names and this Atlas VPN review reveals that, since it has a larger server network (over 700 servers from Los Angeles to New York), and a lot more features compared to what you get with the big names.
Its affordable rates and fast download speeds help it attract customers, particularly those looking to unblock BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and Atlas VPN torrenting. Overall, it provides a lot of features for how much it charges, making it one of the best VPN services to purchase. You can’t go wrong with protecting your internet connection with Atlas VPN.
