Atlas VPN Quick Info
Our score: 3.50 stars out of 5
Pricing: Begins at $4.08 per thirty days
Key options:
- IP tackle swapping function.
- Limitless system connections.
- Has a free model.
Atlas VPN has introduced that it’s going to “sundown” its service on April 24, 2024 and migrate its customers to NordVPN on the identical day. It cited technological calls for, stiff competitors and escalating prices as the primary causes for the shutdown.
On April 24, NordVPN — Atlas VPN’s sister firm — will achieve all Atlas VPN paid subscribers for the rest of their subscription interval. The switch contains every consumer’s current subscription and all equal premium service add-ons. The assessment beneath displays our ideas on Atlas VPN in 2023. When you’re serious about understanding extra about NordVPN, you’ll be able to verify our full NordVPN assessment right here. |
Based in 2019, Atlas VPN is without doubt one of the newer digital non-public community providers out there at present. It boasts a powerful IP-address swapping function that privateness fans will recognize, quick general pace and limitless system connectivity — one thing even the most important VPNs don’t at the moment supply.
It even has a free model that provides customers entry to servers in three totally different places. Regardless of this, there are tough edges resembling the dearth of safety audits and in-app bugs that hinder Atlas from being a flawless VPN choice.
Atlas VPN Pricing
Atlas VPN Free | Atlas VPN Premium | |
---|---|---|
1 yr | Free | $4.08 per thirty days |
3 years | Free | $1.83 per thirty days |
1 month | Free | $11.99 per thirty days |
Essential options |
|
|
Atlas VPN free model
Atlas VPN’s free model presents servers in three totally different places: the Netherlands, New York, and Los Angeles (Determine A). It additionally provides customers the power to attach a limiteless variety of units, in addition to one server for streaming.
Whereas the free model is good to have, particularly for many who solely plan to make use of the VPN sparingly, it’s very restricted. You solely get 5GB of month-to-month knowledge, which may add up quick. You additionally don’t get most of Atlas’s standout safety features such because the specialised Privateness Professional servers.
The excellent news is that the Atlas VPN Premium plans are comparatively inexpensive. At $4.08 per thirty days (for the annual plan), it’s probably the most inexpensive VPN subscriptions on the market. The premium model nets you the quickest speeds they provide, its SafeSwap IP swapping function, limitless knowledge and the complete server community.
If in case you have the choice to go for the premium tier, I might advocate it over the free model.
Is Atlas VPN protected?
Atlas presents two safety protocols, IPSec/IKEv2 and WireGuard. Whereas these newer protocols supply good safety, it’s a disgrace that OpenVPN isn’t out there. As probably the most safe and extensively used protocols, it’s a downside that will sway some customers altogether.
Atlas does present a no-logs coverage for its service, which means it doesn’t monitor, accumulate or log any consumer info. This covers issues resembling IP addresses, searching historical past, outgoing site visitors and different important consumer knowledge.
Nevertheless, Atlas is but to have an unbiased audit that corroborates this coverage. This doesn’t make Atlas an outright dangerous choice, particularly as a result of it’s a more recent VPN and the corporate has dedicated to finish extra unbiased assessments sooner or later. However for customers who desire a full portfolio of safety audits at present, Atlas might not be the best choice.
Proper now, Atlas VPN does have two audits underneath its belt: one on its iOS utility and one other on its Home windows model. Whereas each audits discovered no high-level vulnerabilities, the iOS model did have a couple of low-to-medium degree threats that the corporate stated are already being addressed.
Lastly, Atlas VPN was acquired by Nord Safety (Nord VPN proprietor) proper after these audits. That is essential as a result of, as a part of the Nord household of merchandise, Atlas will now be topic to the identical safety and transparency requirements held by the extra well-known, Nord VPN.
Key options of Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN provides customers a very good quantity of privateness and security-focused options at an inexpensive worth. This contains an IP swapping function, a kill change, assist for limitless units, and a knowledge breach monitor.
SafeSwap servers
Atlas VPN’s SafeSwap servers is probably the most notable safety function it brings to the desk. It provides customers a number of IP addresses (Determine B) that rotate when you browse the web, making it more durable for dangerous actors to trace down your exercise.
This can be a must-have for customers that wish to defend themselves from advertisers (and customized adverts), in addition to customers who need as little monitoring of their exercise as attainable.
Knowledge Breach Monitor
Atlas additionally has a Knowledge Breach Monitor instrument (Determine C) that checks whether or not your e-mail is included in any publicly leaked databases. With the monitor, you’ll get an prompt alert on any attainable safety breach associated to your account and even have the ability to verify your account’s breach historical past. This can be a sensible instrument because it covers knowledge not essentially linked to your use of the VPN itself.
Limitless System Connection
Atlas VPN provides its Premium customers the power to attach a limiteless variety of units concurrently, together with the options within the free model. Which means your laptop computer, smartphone, and desktop PC can all benefit from the safety of a VPN.
Atlas’ limitless system connection is a win from the useability standpoint, as customers received’t have to fret about exceeding the variety of units they’ve linked to the VPN. It’s additionally a plus for Atlas in comparison with its rivals, as different providers solely enable a most of six to eight simultaneous system connections without delay.
Pace and efficiency: How briskly is Atlas VPN?
For pace, Atlas VPN was comparatively quick for day-to-day use. In my testing, the VPN dealt with social media searching, watching on-line movies, downloading pictures and utilizing Google providers with no downside in any respect. I didn’t really feel any noticeable distinction within the pace whether or not utilizing my very own web service supplier or Atlas.
I did, nevertheless, have a couple of situations the place the VPN couldn’t correctly join after I tried switching servers. Whereas a fast reconnect resolved the problem, it did occur greater than a pair instances throughout testing. There have been additionally moments the place the app itself lagged or took a second to load — however these weren’t so excessive as to destroy the entire expertise.
For area title system leaks, I examined Atlas VPN’s free model for utilizing a public DNS leak instrument, and located no leaks after a number of runs.
Atlas VPN servers and places
On the time of publication, Atlas presents 1,000 servers in over 49 places. This can be a smaller server suite than most, so when you worth having probably the most intensive server community, there are higher choices.
Nevertheless, Atlas does give customers a diversified selection of specialised servers for its premium customers. It has speed-optimized servers that give customers as much as 10Gbps. So when you plan on utilizing a VPN for streaming or torrenting, this may serve you nicely.
However, Atlas additionally presents two Privateness Professional servers: SafeSwap and MultiHop+. SafeSwap servers assist you to have a number of IP addresses without delay. MultiHop+ robotically rotates your connection between totally different VPN places. Each server sorts add one other layer of safety and anonymity that shall be priceless for privacy-focused customers.
Execs
- IP tackle swapping function.
- Limitless system connections.
- Specialised server sorts for various customers.
- Spectacular pace throughout use.
- Has a free model.
Cons
- Comparatively small server fleet.
- Lack of unbiased audit on no-logs coverage.
- A couple of bugs throughout testing.
- 5GB month-to-month knowledge cap on the free model.
Who’s Atlas VPN finest for?
Atlas VPN is finest for customers who desire a budget-oriented VPN with specialised servers for various use circumstances. The mixture of its affordability and limitless simultaneous connections make it a sensible choice for patrons on a decent price range and a number of units.
Though Atlas remains to be growing its portfolio of third-party safety audits, it’s a good decide for customers who wish to attempt a brand new participant within the VPN area. You simply must pay attention to its younger safety audit portfolio and the few bugs its app could proceed to have.
Options to Atlas VPN
Whereas Atlas VPN presents a compelling and inexpensive VPN package deal, it could not have the right combination of options you want. We’ve listed a couple of VPN alternate options beneath which may be higher for you as a substitute.
NordVPN
As Atlas VPN’s huge brother within the Nord household, NordVPN is finest if you would like a VPN that has already handed quite a few unbiased safety audits for its claims. It has round 6,315 servers in 111 nations, a singular Meshnet safe file-sharing function and risk safety in opposition to malware and adverts.
CyberGhost VPN
When you’re searching for a extra intensive server suite, CyberGhost is without doubt one of the finest choices. It presents round servers from 100 nations and 126 places — double than what Atlas VPN provided. Whereas extra servers don’t at all times imply a greater expertise, it does assist you to entry extra geo-restricted content material at steady speeds.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is finest if you would like a VPN that specializes in opposition to authorities surveillance and knowledge requests. It operates underneath Swiss legal guidelines, which has a few of the strictest privateness and safety protections on the planet. It additionally presents different encryption-based providers resembling Proton Mail and Proton Drive.
Assessment Methodology
My assessment of Atlas VPN concerned a complete evaluation of its safety features, product documentation, value, and real-world efficiency. I used Atlas VPN’s free model extensively and supplemented my findings with consumer testimonials and respected opinions for each its free and premium tier.
For pace, I examined Atlas VPN Free utilizing a Home windows pc and ran it by means of Ookla’s Speedtest. As a disclaimer, VPN speeds will fluctuate relying in your web service supplier, your machine, your location and the actual server you select. In the meantime, I examined Atlas VPN’s DNS leak safety by operating it by means of DNS leak check a number of instances.
Lastly, I scored Atlas on all the pieces from its pricing to its protocols primarily based on an inner algorithm to get a remaining score of three.50 out of 5 stars. The scoring on the rubric was primarily based each on Atlas VPN by itself and in relation to different VPNs out there at present.