UPDATE: Service Discontinued
On April 24, 2024, Atlas VPN will be merging with NordVPN, a well-respected virtual private network (VPN) provider owned by the same parent company. Existing Atlas VPN users will be migrated to the NordVPN platform. Customers can find more information about the discontinuation on the Atlas VPN blog here: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/announcement
If you are looking for an alternative provider, you can read our review of NordVPN here.
Founded in 2019, Atlas VPN is a bit of a newcomer to the VPN industry.
While the provider may be a relative youngster, it has quickly grown, claiming to have over 6 million users. Nord Security, the maker of my top-ranked VPN, NordVPN, acquired Atlas VPN in 2021, which gave the fledgling VPN instant credibility.
This provider is a reliable VPN that provides comprehensive online privacy and security, while doing an excellent job of providing access to numerous popular streaming services.
In my review, I’ll share with you how Atlas VPN keeps your online travels undercover, protects your privacy and delivers access to geo-controlled content. I’ll also cover if their connections can keep up with your favorite online activities.
I’ll provide a look at the following VPN features, as well as other factors.
- Does Atlas VPN deliver reliable access to streaming services around the globe?
- Does Atlas VPN provide fast enough connections for popular online activities?
- Does Atlas VPN provide strong enough online security and privacy protection?
- Does Atlas VPN offer apps for popular devices?
In addition, we’ll also take a look at the provider’s overall offerings and performance.
Is Atlas VPN the VPN for You
Atlas VPN offers top-notch online security, while also doing an excellent job of protecting your privacy on the most popular device platforms. The provider offers comprehensive access to geo-controlled content around the globe.
Although the provider’s 1-month asking price is a bit expensive, you’ll appreciate its bargain rates for its extended subscription options.
Atlas VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee is a risk-free way to give the VPN a try.
My Verdict
Atlas VPN is a great VPN option, but it may not be for everyone.
The provider delivers fast connections to geo-controlled content in numerous locations around the globe.
While the provider allows unlimited simultaneous connections, the number of device platforms it supports is a bit limited when compared to other VPN providers. The provider’s online security is comparable to most other VPN services, but its privacy policy could be a bit clearer.
| OVERALL RANK: | 4.5/5 |
| Speed: | 4.5/5 |
| Tested Speed: | 247 Mbps average download speed (independently tested) |
| Streaming Support: | HD & 4K HDR |
| Streaming Score: | 4.5/5 |
| Unblocks Netflix?: | Yes – reliably for numerous countries |
| U.S. Streaming Services Supported: | Netflix U.S., Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, more |
| U.K. Streaming Services Supported: | Netflix U.K., BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, others |
| Security Score: | 5/5 |
| Privacy Rating: | 4/5 |
| Supports Torrenting: | Yes, the provider’s kill switch feature keeps torrenting activity safe from exposure. |
| Value for the Money: | 4.5/5 |
| Money-Back Guarantee: | 30 days |
| Website: | www.atlasvpn.com |
Pros:
- Unblocks Netflix and numerous other streaming services
- Strong online security
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Fast connections
- No identifying server logs
Cons:
- 1-month subscription option is a bit expensive
- Privacy policy could be clearer
- No Linux, browser or router support
Features
Atlas VPN puts no limit on the number of devices that you can simultaneously connect to the service on a single account. It offers app options for the most of the popular platforms, but unfortunately lacks a few “extra” device support options that many other providers offer.
The provider’s native app options includes offerings for the Windows (10 and 11), macOS (10.15 or later), Android (version 6 or later), Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and iOS (13 or higher) device platforms.
However, the provider lacks native support for Linux (although it says it is coming soon), provides no browser extensions (so no support on Chromebooks) and lacks support for routers (also supposedly on the way).
The provider’s desktop and mobile apps are simple to use, providing fast, one-click or one-tap access to VPN protection. In addition, you won’t need to remember a password to login, as the provider sends a one-time passcode to the email address you use to sign in. This could be a pain in the butt if you don’t have immediate access to your email account.
You’ll have to check a box saying that you’re not interested in emails from Atlas VPN each time you log in. If you fail to click or tap that box each time you log in, it’ll result in more fodder for your spam catcher.
At the time of this writing, Atlas VPN has a decent-sized global server network, boasting 750+ servers in 32 countries. Server counts and locations can vary from day-to-day, so check with the Atlas VPN website for the current server counts.
In addition to its paid services, Atlas VPN offers free VPN service. However, free servers are available only in the Netherlands and United States, and streaming and SafeSwap are unavailable on those servers. (I’ll fill you in on SafeSwap in the Security and Privacy section.)
While most top-rated VPNs offer around-the-clock customer support, including always-available live chat, Atlas VPN was a bit disappointing, as it lacked live chat of any kind, offering only email, a contact form and a searchable help library.
I will say Atlas responds quickly to inquiries from their contact form. Using their Zendesk-based “Submit a Request” form, I sent a question in the afternoon during the week about whether Atlas VPN worked from inside of China. The company replied in less than an hour.
As you can see below, their reply was “our service should fully work while in China,” which is good news for anyone planning to make a trip in the near future. (Always be sure to check with a VPN provider before purchasing a subscription if you’re going to use the VPN in a restrictive country like China.)
Streaming
Let’s face it, we’re all doing much more streaming in this time of pandemic-related restrictions, and if you’re like me, you’re curious about what type of shows and films might be available on Netflix and other streaming services in other countries. This curiosity may even be the reason why you’re considering a VPN subscription.
In the early days of the streaming industry, it was a simple matter to use a VPN to access geo-controlled streaming services. It seemed that you could use just about any VPN to access the content of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN and other streaming services in foreign countries.
You see, a VPN assigns a new IP address in the country of your choice to your connected device. This makes it look as if you and your connected device are residing in the country you connected to. That opens up access to international content intended only for viewing (or listening, in the case of streaming music services) in that country.
However, streaming services soon got hip to the VPN-unlocking trick, and they quickly became adept at detecting and preventing access from VPN-using viewers. This is due to the contracts they signed with TV and movie producers, which requires them to block access to their content from outside of the area designated in the licensing contracts.
Atlas VPN provided reliable access to Netflix content in both the U.S. and the U.K. through the providers streaming-optimized servers. I also had great success in viewing content on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. and the U.K. as well. I also found Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and HBO Max were also accessible using Atlas VPN servers.
In every streaming test, Atlas VPN provided more than enough bandwidth to enjoy HD and, when available, 4K content with little to no buffering and no extreme amount of artifacts.
Torrenting
When it comes to sharing files via P2P torrenting, Atlas VPN doesn’t offer any downloading-optimized servers such as what CyberGhost offers.
However, every server I connected to in order to perform file sharing testing (legal files only, of course) worked quite well, providing fast connections.
Atlas VPN’s apps offer kill switch protection, which means that if your VPN connection should fail for any reason, the kill switch will halt all internet traffic to and from your device until the VPN provider can once again restore the VPN connection.
What this means is that your real IP address will not be exposed to the world, which, if it was, could lead to outsiders seeing your online activities.
Security and Privacy
Atlas VPN does an excellent job of protecting your online security and privacy, although I wish the provider’s privacy policy was a bit more explicit about a few things it collects. The provider mentions only that it collects “basic analytics.” With a little investigation, I found out most of what it collects, and I list the analytics a bit later in this section.
The provider uses two connection protocols, WireGuard and IKEv2. Both are proven protocols, and you can’t really go wrong with either option.
However, you should use WireGuard when possible, as that protocol is a more recent addition to the protocol arsenal, providing better protection and performance.
The provider’s “SafeSwap” servers allow you to access the internet via an ever-changing IP address. Your IP address changes with each new information request your device makes, increasing your security and keeping your browsing data hidden even more than usual.
As mentioned above, the provider’s apps offer a kill switch option that disconnects you from the internet if you lose your connection to Atlas VPN’s servers, preventing your online antics from being exposed to nosy types. DNS/IP leak protection also makes the list of protective features.
Plus, the provider offers a “Tracker Blocker” that blocks dangerous websites and ads. Atlas VPN’s Data Breach Monitor can detect when your personal details have been compromised online.
For more information, check out my VPN Security Features article.
The provider has a no-logs policy, not recording your online travels or your real IP address.
The only information the provider collects is some basic analytics, including when you change app settings or start a trial. Atlas VPN creates a random identifier for your device, and the provider collects device data, including device type, model, brand, operating system version, device ID time zone, advertising IDs and language.
That’s still a bit more information than I’d like to see my provider collecting.
Luckily for users, Nord Security acquired Atlas VPN.
Nord Security’s NordVPN has an excellent policy on logging and undergoes third-party audits on a regular basis. Nord Security has said that going forward, it will require Atlas VPN to adhere to the same core principles that other Nord products set. The VPN provider will also be undergoing regular third-party audits, just like its sister firm, NordVPN.
Connection Speed
All VPN services will slow your connection speed a bit at the very least. The rerouting of your connection, along with the encryption overhead involved, as well as how many other users are connected to the same server, are just a few of the things that can slow your VPN connection.
However, when using a quality VPN provider, you probably won’t notice a large slowdown. Atlas VPN is a quality provider.
Before we take a look at the download speeds that Atlas VPN delivers, let’s take a quick look at Pixel Privacy’s connection speed testing method.
We perform all VPN connection speed tests on a test machine boasting a gigabit Ethernet connection located in the United States. We connect via OpenVPN over UDP when available. For Atlas VPN’s testing, we used WireGuard, as the provider doesn’t offer OpenVPN as a protocol option.
We connect to 3 different VPN server locations (in the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong). We perform tests 3 times in a single day, with at least 4 hours in between each round of testing (morning, noon and evening).
Atlas VPN’s download speeds are certainly nothing to sneeze at, averaging in at 247.0 Mbps, earning a spot in the top 5 in my most recent speed tests. The provider’s connections can easily handle online gaming, file sharing, HD and 4K video streaming, and any of your other favorite online pastimes (depending upon your usual, ISP-provided connection speeds).
Test results broken down by region are:
- North America: 349 Mbps
- Europe: 180 Mbps
- Hong Kong: 212 Mbps
Your speeds will vary according to your location, your normal, ISP-provided connection speeds, your choice of VPN server, and the current internet traffic volume between here and there. (That’s why we perform testing at various times of the day.)
Cost
Atlas VPN’s 1-month subscription option is a bit expensive, weighing somewhere around the price of a large combo meal at your favorite hamburger joint.
However, the price per month drops down to the price of large fries or a soft drink if you’re willing to commit to a 1-year-long, or better yet, a 3-year-long, subscription.
A 30-day money-back guarantee is available for all subscription plans.
Alternatives
You’ll find that Atlas VPN is an excellent option for most VPN-related needs.
However, no VPN provider is a one-size-fits-all solution. For instance, your needs may require better global server coverage, or you may need protection for a Linux machine, or you may want to protect all of your connected devices by installing the VPN on your wireless router.
If Atlas VPN is not quite right for you, give one of the following VPN providers a try.
NordVPN
Atlas VPN’s stable mate NordVPN is a well-established and well-respected VPN service provider. I consider it my top provider for just about anything you need to do online. The firm is one of the most reliable providers in the VPN industry.
NordVPN offers top-notch VPN services at a reasonable price. If you’re looking for premium service at a budget-friendly price, this could be the provider for you.
The provider’s global server network is quite impressive thanks to its 5,200+ servers stationed in 60 countries around the globe. The provider is moving to a fully owned-and-operated network, which will keep outside contractors away from your personal information.
NordVPN’s connection speeds (369.3 Mbps) ranked it as some of the fastest speeds in my most recent connection speed tests. That means that just like Atlas VPN, NordVPN can easily handle whatever you throw at it.
The provider protects those fast connections with banking-grade encryption, a kill switch, IP/DNS leak prevention, and much more. The provider’s NordLynx connection protocol is designed to provide added security and improved performance.
NordVPN saves no logs on its servers, and the provider also accepts cryptocurrency to help keep your payment info incognito. All NordVPN servers are run 100% from volatile RAM, writing no data of any kind to a physical hard drive. This ensures that all data is completely wiped each time a NordVPN server is rebooted.
NordVPN offers excellent native app support, with most popular device platforms covered, including Linux. It also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox, while also offering comprehensive support for Linux, along with router support. An impressive global server network provides reliable access to geo-controlled content around the globe.
Read my full review of NordVPN.
Surfshark
Surfshark is the best option for users on a tight budget. The provider delivers champagne services at a beer-bottle price.
The provider delivers fast, well-protected connections, boasting an average download speed of 323.6 Mbps. Streaming video, gaming and sharing large files are no problem for this no-data-caps provider.
All Surfshark connections are protected with banking-grade encryption, a kill switch, a way to disguise your VPN activity as normal browser traffic, and much more.
The provider’s easy-to-use apps are available for most popular device platforms, including Linux, and Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available, as well as extensive router compatibility.
The provider offers reliable access to numerous video streaming services. It also puts no limit on the number of simultaneous connections to its servers.
Read my full review of Surfshark.
