Atlas VPN Evaluate (2023): Safety, Pricing & Options

Based in 2019, Atlas VPN is without doubt one of the newer digital non-public community companies out there at present. It boasts a powerful IP-address swapping characteristic that privateness fanatics will respect, quick general pace and limitless system connectivity — one thing even the largest VPNs don’t presently supply.

It even has a free model that offers customers entry to servers in three totally different places. Regardless of this, there are tough edges resembling the shortage of safety audits and in-app bugs that hinder Atlas from being a flawless VPN possibility.

Soar to:

Atlas VPN Pricing

Atlas VPN free model

Atlas VPN’s free model affords 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 gadgets, in addition to one server for streaming.

Determine A

Whereas the free model is sweet to have, particularly for individuals 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 reasonably priced. At $4.08 per thirty days (for the annual plan), it’s one of the reasonably priced VPN subscriptions on the market. The premium model nets you the quickest speeds they provide, its SafeSwap IP swapping characteristic, limitless knowledge and the complete server community.

When you’ve got the choice to go for the premium tier, I’d suggest it over the free model.

Is Atlas VPN protected?

Atlas affords 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 one of the 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, acquire or log any person info. This covers issues resembling IP addresses, shopping historical past, outgoing visitors and different crucial person knowledge.

Nonetheless, Atlas is but to have an impartial audit that corroborates this coverage. This doesn’t make Atlas an outright dangerous possibility, particularly as a result of it’s a more recent VPN and the corporate has dedicated to finish extra impartial assessments sooner or later. However for customers who need a full portfolio of safety audits at present, Atlas might not be the most suitable choice.

Proper now, Atlas VPN does have two audits underneath its belt: one on its iOS software and one other on its Home windows model. Whereas each audits discovered no high-level vulnerabilities, the iOS model did have a number of low-to-medium stage 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 quantity of privateness and security-focused options at an reasonably priced worth. This contains an IP swapping characteristic, a kill change, help for limitless gadgets, and an information breach monitor.

SafeSwap servers

Atlas VPN’s SafeSwap servers is essentially the most distinctive safety characteristic it brings to the desk. It provides customers a number of IP addresses (Determine B) that rotate whilst you browse the web, making it more durable for dangerous actors to trace down your exercise.

Determine B

It is a must-have for customers that need to shield themselves from advertisers (and personalised adverts), in addition to customers who need as little monitoring of their exercise as doable.

Information Breach Monitor

Atlas additionally has a Information 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 instantaneous alert on any doable safety breach associated to your account and even be capable to examine your account’s breach historical past. It is a sensible instrument because it covers knowledge not essentially linked to your use of the VPN itself.

Determine C

Limitless Gadget Connection

Atlas VPN provides its Premium customers the power to attach a limiteless variety of gadgets 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 gained’t have to fret about exceeding the variety of gadgets they’ve linked to the VPN. It’s additionally a plus for Atlas in comparison with its opponents, as different companies solely permit a most of six to eight simultaneous system connections without delay.

Velocity 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 shopping, watching on-line movies, downloading photos and utilizing Google companies 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 number of situations the place the VPN couldn’t correctly join once 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 spoil the entire expertise.

For area identify 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 affords 1,000 servers in over 49 places. It is a smaller server suite than most, so for those who worth having essentially the most in depth server community, there are higher choices.

Nonetheless, Atlas does give customers a diverse alternative of specialised servers for its premium customers. It has speed-optimized servers that give customers as much as 10Gbps. So for those who plan on utilizing a VPN for streaming or torrenting, it will serve you effectively.

Then again, Atlas additionally affords two Privateness Professional servers: SafeSwap and MultiHop+. SafeSwap servers permit you to have a number of IP addresses without delay. MultiHop+ mechanically rotates your connection between totally different VPN places. Each server sorts add an extra layer of safety and anonymity that shall be priceless for privacy-focused customers.

Professionals

• IP handle swapping characteristic.
• Limitless system connections.
• Specialised server sorts for various customers.
• Spectacular pace throughout use.
• Has a free model.

Cons

• Comparatively small server fleet.
• Lack of impartial audit on no-logs coverage.
• A number of bugs throughout testing.
• 5GB month-to-month knowledge cap on the free model.

Who’s Atlas VPN greatest for?

Atlas VPN is greatest for customers who need a budget-oriented VPN with specialised servers for various use instances. The mix of its affordability and limitless simultaneous connections make it a sensible possibility for purchasers on a good finances and a number of gadgets.

Though Atlas continues to be creating its portfolio of third-party safety audits, it’s an honest choose for customers who need to strive a brand new participant within the VPN house. 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 affords a compelling and reasonably priced VPN bundle, it might not have the right combination of options you want. We’ve listed a number of VPN options under which may be higher for you as a substitute.

NordVPN

As Atlas VPN’s large brother within the Nord household, NordVPN is greatest if you need a VPN that has already handed quite a few impartial safety audits for its claims. It has round 5,710 servers in 60 international locations, a novel Meshnet safe file-sharing characteristic and menace safety towards malware and adverts.

CyberGhost VPN

When you’re on the lookout for a extra in depth server suite, CyberGhost is without doubt one of the greatest choices. It affords round 9,200 servers in 91 international locations — virtually 9 instances greater than Atlas. Whereas extra servers don’t at all times imply a greater expertise, it does permit you to entry extra geo-restricted content material at secure speeds.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN is greatest if you need a VPN that specializes towards authorities surveillance and knowledge requests. It operates underneath Swiss legal guidelines, which has a few of the strictest privateness and safety protections on this planet. It additionally affords different encryption-based companies resembling Proton Mail and Proton Drive.

Evaluate Methodology

My evaluation of Atlas VPN concerned a complete evaluation of its safety features, product documentation, price, and real-world efficiency. I used Atlas VPN’s free model extensively and supplemented my findings with person testimonials and respected opinions for each its free and premium tier.

For pace, I examined Atlas VPN Free utilizing a Home windows laptop and ran it by Ookla’s Speedtest. As a disclaimer, VPN speeds will range 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 DNS leak check a number of instances.

Lastly, I scored Atlas on every part from its pricing to its protocols primarily based on an inner algorithm to get a ultimate 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.