PrivateVPN Review 2025: Is It Still a Good Choice?

Introduction

As we step into 2025, the VPN landscape continues to evolve, with new technologies and user expectations shaping the market. In this PrivateVPN Review, we’ll explore how this well-established player remains a strong contender, particularly for users interested in downloading, streaming, and privacy. But with the advent of newer VPN technologies and competitors, is PrivateVPN still a good choice in 2025? This comprehensive PrivateVPN Review will delve into its features, performance, and overall value, providing a thorough assessment of where PrivateVPN stands today.

PrivateVPN Security Features

PrivateVPN has built its reputation on strong security features, and in 2025, it continues to uphold this standard. The service employs 256-bit AES encryption, which is the industry standard for securing data. This level of encryption is practically unbreakable, ensuring that your online activities remain private.

One of the key security features in this PrivateVPN Review is the kill switch, which automatically disconnects your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your data from being exposed to your ISP or other third parties. PrivateVPN also offers protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, ensuring that your IP address and DNS requests are not exposed outside the VPN tunnel.

However, PrivateVPN does have some limitations. While it supports older protocols like L2TP/IPSec and PPTP, it lacks support for WireGuard—a newer, faster, and more secure protocol that many top-tier VPNs have adopted. The absence of WireGuard could be a deal-breaker for users looking for the latest in VPN technology.

PrivateVPN also includes an Application Guard (an app-based kill switch), which allows you to specify which apps should be closed if the VPN connection drops. Additionally, it offers perfect forward secrecy, a feature that changes your encryption keys frequently, further enhancing security. However, the absence of RAM-only servers, which automatically erase data after each session, is a notable omission in an era where data privacy is increasingly important.

PrivateVPN Privacy Features

Privacy is a significant concern for VPN users, and this PrivateVPN Review highlights its no-logs policy, designed to address this. The policy ensures that your IP address, browsing history, and connection timestamps are not recorded. This means that even if the company were compelled to share user data, there would be nothing to hand over.

However, in 2025, users are increasingly looking for independent audits of VPNs’ no-logs policies to verify their claims. As of now, PrivateVPN’s policy has not undergone such an audit, which could be a drawback for privacy-conscious users.

PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, a country that is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance—an international surveillance alliance that could potentially share user data between member countries. However, Sweden’s strong privacy laws provide some reassurance, as they limit the extent to which the government can access user data. Nonetheless, users should be aware of this potential risk when considering PrivateVPN.

PrivateVPN Additional Features

PrivateVPN offers several additional features that enhance its utility, particularly for users in restrictive environments. One such feature highlighted in this PrivateVPN Review is Stealth VPN, which provides obfuscation to bypass censorship in countries with strict internet regulations, such as China, Egypt, and Turkey. This feature disguises VPN traffic as regular internet traffic, making it harder for authorities to detect and block the VPN.

The service also supports Tor traffic across all servers, adding an extra layer of privacy for users who require the highest level of anonymity. This combination of VPN and Tor is particularly useful for activists, journalists, and others operating in high-risk environments.

A unique feature of PrivateVPN is its offering of free dynamic dedicated IP addresses in over 10 countries. Unlike shared IP addresses, which are used by multiple users and can be blocked by certain websites, dedicated IP addresses are unique to you, reducing the likelihood of encountering CAPTCHAs and improving access to sites that block shared IPs.

PrivateVPN Streaming and Torrenting Support

One of PrivateVPN’s strongest selling points in 2025, as noted in this PrivateVPN Review, is its continued support for streaming and torrenting. The service works reliably with popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. It unblocks multiple Netflix libraries, though it occasionally struggles with the highly sought-after US and UK libraries due to frequent changes in Netflix’s geo-blocking measures.

Torrenting is another area where PrivateVPN excels. The service allows P2P traffic on all its servers, meaning you can torrent from any location without restrictions. For users who prioritize speed and security while torrenting, PrivateVPN offers features like port forwarding and a SOCKS5 proxy, which can improve download speeds and add an extra layer of privacy.

PrivateVPN Gaming and Server Network

Gamers often look for VPNs that offer low latency and stable connections, and PrivateVPN performs decently in this regard. This PrivateVPN Review finds that the VPN provides stable ping on distant servers, allowing for a smooth gaming experience even when connected to servers far from your physical location.

PrivateVPN allows manual router setups, making it suitable for console gaming where VPN apps are not directly supported. However, the service lacks support for cloud gaming platforms, which could be a limitation for some users.

With over 200 servers in 60+ countries, PrivateVPN’s network is smaller compared to some of its competitors, but it is well-distributed. The network’s size might seem limited, but its strategic placement allows users to find nearby servers for optimal speeds. However, users who need access to a vast number of server locations might find this a drawback.

PrivateVPN Speed Tests

In terms of speed, this PrivateVPN Review shows that PrivateVPN delivers solid performance, particularly on local and nearby servers. Users can expect reliable speeds for most online activities, including HD streaming and gaming. However, as with most VPNs, there is a noticeable slowdown when connected to distant servers, particularly when streaming 4K content or engaging in data-heavy activities.

PrivateVPN’s speeds are generally consistent, but users seeking the absolute fastest VPN might want to consider other options, especially those that support WireGuard, which is known for its speed advantages.

PrivateVPN Censorship Bypassing

PrivateVPN’s ability to bypass censorship remains one of its key strengths in 2025. The Stealth VPN feature is particularly effective in countries with stringent internet censorship laws. This PrivateVPN Review finds that PrivateVPN continues to work well in China, Egypt, and Turkey, allowing users to access the open internet in these regions.

However, the service does not currently bypass censorship in Russia, which may be a limitation for users in or traveling to that country. Additionally, the lack of server coverage in some regions might limit its effectiveness in bypassing censorship compared to larger VPN networks.

PrivateVPN Apps and Ease of Use

PrivateVPN offers user-friendly apps for major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Fire TV. As noted in this PrivateVPN Review, these apps are easy to install and navigate, making them accessible even for VPN beginners. The interface is intuitive, with straightforward options for connecting to servers, adjusting settings, and activating features like Stealth VPN.

However, PrivateVPN lacks a dedicated Linux app and browser extensions, which might be a drawback for more advanced users or those who prefer a seamless VPN experience across all their devices. The lack of these features could make the VPN less appealing to users who rely heavily on Linux or browser-based privacy.

PrivateVPN Pricing and Customer Support

PrivateVPN continues to be one of the most budget-friendly options on the market in 2025. It offers flexible pricing plans, including monthly, quarterly, and annual subscriptions. As highlighted in this PrivateVPN Review, users can take advantage of a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing them to test the service risk-free.

Customer support is available through live chat and email, with responses generally being prompt and helpful. The service also provides a comprehensive FAQ section and setup guides, which can be particularly useful for users who are new to VPNs or encounter technical issues.

Final Words

In 2025, this PrivateVPN Review concludes that PrivateVPN remains a solid choice for users focused on downloading, streaming, and privacy. Its affordability, ease of use, and robust security features make it a valuable option in the competitive VPN market. However, for users seeking cutting-edge features like WireGuard or RAM-only servers, other VPNs might be more suitable. While PrivateVPN may not be the most advanced option available, it offers a reliable and secure service that meets the needs of most users.

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FAQs

1. Is PrivateVPN safe to use in 2025?
Yes, PrivateVPN is safe to use. It offers strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch to protect your online privacy. However, the absence of an independent audit of its no-logs policy and RAM-only servers might be a concern for some users.

2. Can PrivateVPN unblock Netflix in 2025?
PrivateVPN can unblock Netflix, including multiple libraries like those in Japan and Germany. However, it sometimes struggles with accessing the US and UK libraries due to Netflix’s advanced geo-blocking measures.

3. Does PrivateVPN support torrenting?
Yes, PrivateVPN supports torrenting on all its servers. It offers additional features like port forwarding and a SOCKS5 proxy to enhance your torrenting experience.

4. What platforms does PrivateVPN support?
PrivateVPN offers apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Fire TV. However, it lacks dedicated apps for Linux and browser extensions.

5. How much does PrivateVPN cost in 2025?
PrivateVPN remains one of the most affordable VPNs, offering flexible pricing plans and discounts

on longer-term subscriptions. It also provides a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

6. Can PrivateVPN bypass censorship in China?
Yes, PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN feature is effective at bypassing censorship in countries like China. It disguises VPN traffic as regular internet traffic, making it harder for authorities to detect and block.

7. Does PrivateVPN offer WireGuard support?
No, as of 2025, PrivateVPN does not support the WireGuard protocol. It relies on older protocols like OpenVPN, which are secure but not as fast as WireGuard.