Atlas VPN Quick Details
Our score: 3.50 stars out of 5
Pricing: Begins at $4.08 monthly
Key options:
- IP deal with 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 principle causes for the shutdown.
On April 24, NordVPN — Atlas VPN’s sister firm — will acquire all Atlas VPN paid subscribers for the rest of their subscription interval. The switch consists of every consumer’s present subscription and all equal premium service add-ons. The evaluate beneath displays our ideas on Atlas VPN in 2023. Should you’re concerned with realizing extra about NordVPN, you may test our full NordVPN evaluate right here. |
Based in 2019, Atlas VPN is without doubt one of the newer digital non-public community companies accessible at present. It boasts a formidable IP-address swapping function that privateness fans will admire, quick total pace and limitless system connectivity — one thing even the largest VPNs don’t at present provide.
It even has a free model that provides customers entry to servers in three completely different areas. Regardless of this, there are tough edges similar to the shortage of safety audits and in-app bugs that hinder Atlas from being a flawless VPN possibility.
Atlas VPN Pricing
Atlas VPN Free | Atlas VPN Premium | |
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1 12 months | Free | $4.08 monthly |
3 years | Free | $1.83 monthly |
1 month | Free | $11.99 monthly |
Primary options |
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Atlas VPN free model
Atlas VPN’s free model affords servers in three completely different areas: the Netherlands, New York, and Los Angeles (Determine A). It additionally provides customers the flexibility to attach an infinite variety of gadgets, 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 might add up quick. You additionally don’t get most of Atlas’s standout security measures such because the specialised Privateness Professional servers.
The excellent news is that the Atlas VPN Premium plans are comparatively reasonably priced. At $4.08 monthly (for the annual plan), it’s some of the reasonably priced 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.
When you have the choice to go for the premium tier, I’d advocate it over the free model.
Is Atlas VPN secure?
Atlas affords two safety protocols, IPSec/IKEv2 and WireGuard. Whereas these newer protocols provide good safety, it’s a disgrace that OpenVPN isn’t accessible. As some of the safe and broadly used protocols, it’s a disadvantage that will sway some customers altogether.
Atlas does present a no-logs coverage for its service, that means it doesn’t monitor, accumulate or log any consumer info. This covers issues similar to IP addresses, looking historical past, outgoing site visitors and different essential consumer knowledge.
Nevertheless, Atlas is but to have an impartial audit that corroborates this coverage. This doesn’t make Atlas an outright unhealthy possibility, particularly as a result of it’s a more recent VPN and the corporate has dedicated to finish extra impartial checks sooner or later. However for customers who need a full portfolio of safety audits at present, Atlas will not be the best choice.
Proper now, Atlas VPN does have two audits below 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 vital 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 superb quantity of privateness and security-focused options at an reasonably priced worth. This consists of an IP swapping function, a kill swap, help for limitless gadgets, 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 unhealthy actors to trace down your exercise.
This can be a must-have for customers that need to defend themselves from advertisers (and personalised adverts), in addition to customers who need as little monitoring of their exercise as potential.
Knowledge Breach Monitor
Atlas additionally has a Knowledge Breach Monitor instrument (Determine C) that checks whether or not your electronic mail is included in any publicly leaked databases. With the monitor, you’ll get an prompt alert on any potential safety breach associated to your account and even be capable to test 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 Machine Connection
Atlas VPN provides its Premium customers the flexibility to attach an infinite variety of gadgets concurrently, together with the options within the free model. Which means that 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 gadgets they’ve linked to the VPN. It’s additionally a plus for Atlas in comparison with its rivals, as different companies solely permit a most of six to eight simultaneous system connections directly.
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 looking, watching on-line movies, downloading photographs and utilizing Google companies with no drawback 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 difficulty, 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 wreck 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 areas
On the time of publication, Atlas affords 1,000 servers in over 49 areas. This can be a smaller server suite than most, so for those who worth having probably the most intensive server community, there are higher choices.
Nevertheless, Atlas does give customers a various selection 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, this can serve you effectively.
However, Atlas additionally affords two Privateness Professional servers: SafeSwap and MultiHop+. SafeSwap servers can help you have a number of IP addresses directly. MultiHop+ mechanically rotates your connection between completely different VPN areas. Each server sorts add one other layer of safety and anonymity that might be helpful for privacy-focused customers.
Execs
- IP deal with 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 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 finest for?
Atlas VPN is finest for customers who need a budget-oriented VPN with specialised servers for various use circumstances. The mixture of its affordability and limitless simultaneous connections make it a sensible possibility for purchasers on a decent finances and a number of gadgets.
Though Atlas continues to be growing its portfolio of third-party safety audits, it’s a good choose for customers who need to strive a brand new participant within the VPN area. You simply should be aware of its younger safety audit portfolio and the few bugs its app might proceed to have.
Alternate options to Atlas VPN
Whereas Atlas VPN affords a compelling and reasonably priced VPN bundle, 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 need a VPN that has already handed quite a few impartial safety audits for its claims. It has round 6,315 servers in 111 international locations, a singular Meshnet safe file-sharing function and menace safety towards malware and adverts.
CyberGhost VPN
Should you’re on the lookout for a extra intensive server suite, CyberGhost is without doubt one of the finest choices. It affords round servers from 100 international locations and 126 areas — double than what Atlas VPN provided. Whereas extra servers don’t all the time imply a greater expertise, it does can help you entry extra geo-restricted content material at secure speeds.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is finest if you need a VPN that specializes towards authorities surveillance and knowledge requests. It operates below Swiss legal guidelines, which has a few of the strictest privateness and safety protections on the earth. It additionally affords different encryption-based companies similar to Proton Mail and Proton Drive.
Assessment Methodology
My evaluate of Atlas VPN concerned a complete evaluation of its security measures, product documentation, price, and real-world efficiency. I used Atlas VPN’s free model extensively and supplemented my findings with consumer testimonials and respected evaluations for each its free and premium tier.
For pace, I examined Atlas VPN Free utilizing a Home windows pc and ran it via 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 via DNS leak take a look at a number of instances.
Lastly, I scored Atlas on every part from its pricing to its protocols based mostly on an inner algorithm to get a ultimate score of three.50 out of 5 stars. The scoring on the rubric was based mostly each on Atlas VPN by itself and in relation to different VPNs accessible at present.