Budget-friendly
Fast and reliable for streaming
Doesn’t bypass all streaming services
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Atlas VPN is a fast and secure virtual private network (VPN) that hides your local IP address with military-grade encryption while you’re browsing the web, streaming videos, joining audio and video conference calls, gaming, or even torrenting. It’s owned by Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN.
Based on our experience, we found the Atlas VPN free version to be a great choice for basic web browsing but isn’t ideal for streaming due to its 10 GB monthly limit. For more data-intensive activities, we highly recommend the premium version of Atlas VPN, which worked quickly and successfully for us thanks to its unlimited bandwidth and other features.
In our Atlas VPN review, we'll talk about its features, pros and cons, pricing, and more.
| Price | $1.64–$11.99/mo |
| Free version | Yes |
| Max # of connected devices | Unlimited |
| # of servers | 1,000 in 49 countries |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, IPSec/IKEv2 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Netflix access | Yes, but it was limited in some countries |
If you care about your online privacy but are on a tight budget, Atlas VPN is a great option because it has both a generous free plan and a subscription premium plan that starts at just $1.64. It also has a wide range of features that enhance privacy and security and it offers unlimited simultaneous connections.
Additionally, Atlas VPN claims to have a strict "no-logs" policy in its privacy policy. While this is great for those who value privacy, Atlas VPN does collect device information such as the device model, operating system, and similar data to monitor and improve their service. Its Warrant Canary, which is a statement that informs its users if it has been issued a government subpoena, can’t be independently verified either.
In our testing, Atlas VPN proved to be fast, secure, and reliable. It excelled in a variety of use cases, including browsing the web, streaming shows, playing online games, downloading torrents, as well as audio and video conferencing.
Furthermore, its SafeSwap servers can be used to switch between different VPN server locations without being disconnected, allowing you to take advantage of deals on airline flights or hotels that are not available in your region.
Atlas VPN is fast, secure, and has hundreds of servers to choose from worldwide. It also offers a wide range of features that make it stand out from other providers, including a kill switch, split tunneling, double VPN encryption with MultiHop+, and malicious website blocking.
In addition, Atlas VPN is compatible with many devices and operating systems. We were delighted with Atlas VPN's support for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV, which is a rare feature uncommonly found in other VPN services. This makes it a great choice for watching content on Netflix and other streaming services.
Atlas VPN also has another rare feature that most VPNs do not offer: data breach monitoring. This feature regularly checks public databases for compromised data linked to your email address.
Atlas VPN has an extensive server network that it continues to expand. In early 2023 it added four new server locations for a total of 1,000 servers in 49 countries, making it one of the largest VPN services available. This means you have a wider range of options to choose from when connecting to a server, reducing the chances of overcrowding and slow speeds.
Moreover, having servers in multiple countries makes it harder to trace your online activity back to a specific location, which helps protect your privacy. The diverse range of countries also allows you to bypass content restrictions and unblock content. And while Atlas previously lacked a server location in Africa, it now allows you to connect to South Africa.
Atlas VPN has a no-logs policy, meaning it does not collect or store any information about your online activities. For example, if a VPN provider is compelled by law enforcement to hand over your data, they will not have anything to share. Without a no-logs policy, VPNs would be like any other internet service provider (ISP) that tracks and logs the online activities and data of its users.
Atlas VPN is headquartered in the U.S., which is part of the Five Eyes Alliance, a group of countries that share intelligence information with each other. Despite being based in the U.S., Atlas VPN's no-logs policy ensures that they do not collect any data that could be shared with authorities or law enforcement agencies.
A VPN's headquarters matters because laws regarding data retention and sharing can vary between countries. For example, the U.S. has laws that allow authorities to access user data with a warrant, while other countries may have stricter laws that protect user privacy.
While Atlas VPN does collect device information to monitor and improve its service, as stated in its privacy policy, this data is not associated with your online activities and it is not personally identifiable. However, some users may prefer a VPN that collects no information whatsoever. Additionally, Atlas VPN's Warrant Canary, a statement saying that it has not received any warrants or requests for user data, cannot be independently verified, so keep that in mind when evaluating its privacy protections.
Atlas VPN's kill switch feature is designed to cut off all internet traffic if the VPN connection is lost or interrupted, protecting you from malicious actors who may intercept and manipulate your data. This feature is critical for safeguarding your online data privacy and helping prevent data leaks.
If you walk into a coffee shop and connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you could be vulnerable to man-in-the-middle (MiTM) attacks. In a MiTM attack, cybercriminals can intercept and capture your personally identifiable information. With a kill switch, you can be confident that your data is secure and that your privacy is protected, even in these scenarios.
Atlas VPN also has a split tunneling feature. Split tunneling allows you to pick and choose which websites and apps are protected by the VPN, which ensures that only necessary data traffic is encrypted.
This also helps conserve bandwidth, as the VPN is only activated when required. When you want to access geo-restricted websites, you can use split tunneling to create a secure tunnel to the website without exposing other activities. You can also access online banking or sensitive work information while still being able to use other applications or websites that don't require a higher level of security without slowing down your internet connection.
A similar feature that Atlas added in early 2023 is the ability to pause your VPN connection for 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, or a custom amount of time. This is a unique feature we haven't seen elsewhere, and it allows you more control over when your VPN is in use so you can optimize your online browsing. Currently, the pause feature is only available on Windows, but we hope to see Atlas add it to other apps in the future.
The Atlas VPN app employs military-grade encryption to safeguard your internet traffic and protect your data. Its encryption options include AES 256-GCM cipher, known to be one of the most secure encryption standards available. The VPN also uses SHA-384 and BLAKE2s hashing algorithms as well as the Poly1305 with ChaCha20 encryption protocol, which offers excellent security and performance.
Additionally, Atlas VPN implements Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), which generates a unique session key for each connection and changes encryption keys regularly. This makes it difficult for anyone to intercept or decrypt the data being transmitted.
These encryption standards provide you with robust security and privacy online, protecting sensitive data from interception, access, or manipulation. This is especially important if you frequently use public Wi-Fi hotspots or work with sensitive information. Overall, Atlas VPN's encryption features, as well as PFS, ensure that your data remains private and secure.
Atlas VPN uses the WireGuard protocol to provide a secure and private internet experience for its users. Developed by Jason A. Donenfeld and released in 2019, WireGuard is a newer and faster VPN protocol that is considered to be more secure than protocols like OpenVPN. It uses UDP to pass network traffic and the encryption protocol ChaCha20 (which is three times faster than AES-256).
WireGuard is also designed to be lightweight and easy to implement, making it a popular choice for VPN providers like Atlas VPN. With WireGuard, you can experience faster speeds and lower latency, making it ideal for activities such as streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing.
Atlas VPN also uses IPsec/IKEv2 encryption. This encryption method is a combination of two protocols that work together to provide strong security and privacy protection. IPsec provides encryption for your data, while IKEv2 manages the encryption keys and handles the negotiation of the connection between your device and the VPN server.
IPsec/IKev2 is also security-focused, utilizing the Diffie-Hellman key exchange algorithm with encryption protocols like AES-256 or ChaCha20. It even supports PFS for data integrity and complete secrecy. Overall, Atlas VPN's use of WireGuard and IPsec/IKEv2 together can offer powerful encryption that is difficult to penetrate and provides a fast, reliable, and secure VPN experience.
Atlas VPN has unique bonus features that ensure comprehensive online security and privacy.
These bonus features cater to a variety of online security needs. For example, SafeSwap is ideal for users who need to switch server locations frequently, such as those who travel or work remotely. SafeBrowse gives people who want to keep their online privacy safe an extra layer of protection. MultiHop+ is particularly useful for individuals who require high-level security and anonymity, including journalists, activists, and researchers who work with sensitive information.
Lastly, we appreciated Atlas VPN’s data breach monitoring for its alerts whenever your credentials have been compromised. That way, you can immediately change your passwords for your own peace of mind.
We tested Atlas VPN on SpeedTest.net to determine its speed, checked if it could stream Netflix effectively from various server locations around the globe, and ran DNS and WebRTC leak tests to make sure it wouldn’t leak our local IP address or ISP. Running tests on VPNs is crucial for helping you decide which one is fast, reliable, and secure enough for your needs before selecting one.
We tested Atlas VPN's speed performance using a 2017 MacBook Pro running macOS Monterey and Spectrum from Los Angeles, California. Our baseline download speed was 383.61 Mbps, our upload speed was 21.43 Mbps, and our ping speed was 12 ms. According to Spectrum, the recommended range for a good download speed is 100 to 200 Mbps for a single or small household, with an upload speed of 5 Mbps being sufficient.[1]
Speed test results without VPN. 
Atlas VPN passed our speed tests in various server locations, with download speeds ranging from 217.84 Mbps to 267.71 Mbps, all within the recommended range for good download speeds. These speeds allow for easy streaming, video conferencing, and gaming on multiple devices simultaneously.
In our testing, we found each server location performed well when browsing the web, downloading torrents, listening to music on Spotify, and playing online games. Joining video and audio conference calls on Discord and Zoom was also a breeze, although we noticed the connection would drop if we ran too many apps in the background. The speeds worked especially well when streaming videos on Netflix, which was a very fast and smooth experience.
While the necessary speed depends on usage habits and the number of devices, other factors, such as network congestion, ISP throttling, and hardware performance, can also affect speed. Overall, our tests showed Atlas VPN's speed performance to be strong and within the recommended range for most households.
U.S. to U.S. (Los Angeles to New York) speed test results. 
U.S. to U.K. speed test results. 
U.S. to AU speed test results. 
| Test type | No VPN | US to US | US to UK | US to AU |
| Download speed | 383.61 Mbps | 217.84 Mbps | 253.95 Mbps | 267.71 Mbps |
| Upload speed | 21.43 Mbps | 16.93 Mbps | 8.96 Mbps | 10.14 Mbps |
| Latency (ping) | 12 ms | 86 ms | 152 ms | 168 ms |
| Download speed % difference | N/A | 55.12% | 40.7% | 35.6% |
| Upload speed % difference | N/A | 23.4% | 82.1% | 71.5% |
| Latency % difference | N/A | 151% | 170.4% | 173.3% |
We tested Netflix speed results with each VPN on Fast.com, which Netflix owns. A speed of 5 Mbps is recommended for streaming Netflix shows.[2]
When we tested Atlas VPN with Netflix in various locations, we found that watching Netflix with this VPN was a quick and smooth experience in multiple countries, including the U.S., Australia, and Canada. It performed reliably without any buffering or lagging. Unfortunately, it does not currently work with Netflix in the U.K., even when we connected using a server in London. Despite this, Atlas VPN is still a great option for streaming Netflix in multiple countries.
U.S. to U.S. Netflix streaming speed results. 
U.S. to Canada Netflix streaming speed results. 
U.S. to U.K. Netflix streaming speed results. 
U.S. to AU Netflix streaming speed results. 
| US to US | US to Canada | US to UK | US to AU | |
| Did it work with Netflix? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Streaming speed | 84 Mbps | 41 Mbps | 290 Mbps | 260 Mbps |
DNS, or Domain Name System, is the method of translating a website's name into its associated IP address. This is necessary for web browsers and other internet-based services to access websites. It is important to ensure that a DNS leak test is passed when using a VPN because it indicates that the VPN is securely encrypting data, protecting you from revealing your local IP address, ISP, or location.
Atlas VPN passed the DNS leak test when we tested it with various server locations in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K. It did not leak our local IP address, ISP, or location, confirming that it is a safe and secure VPN to use.
U.S. to U.S. DNS leak test results. 
U.S. to Canada DNS leak test results. 
U.S. to U.K. DNS leak test results. 
U.S. to AU DNS leak test results. 
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a technology that enables browsers to make real-time peer-to-peer connections, allowing for audio and video streaming and file sharing. WebRTC leak tests are used to check for vulnerabilities that could leak private information, such as IP addresses, audio and video device IDs, and ISP information.
We used an Atlas VPN server in Canada and ran our WebRTC leak test with Chrome and Firefox, which revealed that both audio and video device ID information was leaked. However, Apple’s Safari browser did not leak any of our audio or video device information. While our local IP address and ISP information were not leaked, audio and video device leaks can be of serious concern, making users vulnerable to various cyberattacks.
Audio and video device leaks can lead to cyberattacks like eavesdropping, data theft, data manipulation, and more. These types of attacks occur when malicious actors gain access to vulnerable audio and video devices, such as computers and mobile phones. With this access, they can listen to your conversations, obtain confidential information, view personal files, and even control user accounts.
These bad actors may also be able to manipulate data by altering or adding audio and video content or by redirecting audio and video streams to unauthorized locations, among other malicious activities. To protect user privacy and security, testing for WebRTC leaks and using a reliable VPN service is crucial.
Firefox U.S. to Canada WebRTC leak test results. 
Chrome U.S. to Canada WebRTC leak test results. 
Safari U.S. to Canada WebRTC leak test results. 
Atlas VPN is compatible with the following operating systems and devices:
Atlas VPN offers a comprehensive range of 24/7 customer support services. Customers can contact their customer support team via ticketing, email, or live chat.
Atlas VPN’s website also has a dedicated help center with a wide selection of articles and FAQs to help customers troubleshoot issues and find answers to their questions quickly.
Atlas VPN has two subscription plans: a free plan and a Premium plan. The free version includes access to three server locations (Netherlands - Amsterdam, USA - Los Angeles, and USA - New York), military-grade encryption, and 5 GB of data.
The Premium plan offers access to more than 750 servers in 45+ countries, streaming-optimized speeds, data breach monitoring, SafeSwap servers, SafeBrowse for malicious website and third-party ad-tracking prevention, Atlas VPN for Linux Ubuntu, unlimited data for browsing, and support for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV.
Currently, the Premium plan starts for as low as $1.64 for a 2 Years + 6 Months Extra and $3.29/mo for a 1 Year. In addition, Atlas VPN offers a student discount for students from the U.S., Mexico, the U.K., and Spain to pay just $1.82 per month for the two-year plan. They also receive three extra months of service and a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is great for budget-conscious students who use the internet often for their needs.
Atlas VPN offers a variety of payment options, so you can choose one that suits your needs. It offers a 1-month plan, a 1-year plan, and a 3-year plan, which is detailed below. Atlas VPN accepts major credit cards, PayPal, and Google Pay as payment methods.
| Plan | 1 Month |
1 Year |
Best Value 2 Years + 6 Months Extra |
| Price per month | $11.99/mo | $3.29/mo | $1.64 |
| Price per year | 143.88/yr | $49.01/yr | $71.49/yr |
| Details | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan |
Atlas VPN provides both free and paid versions of its VPN service. The free version has restricted features, while the premium paid version offers unlimited data usage, faster speeds, more server locations, and enhanced security features like double VPN encryption, malicious website blocking, and data breach monitoring. Users can also opt for the paid version to utilize a VPN that provides extra security, privacy, and faster speeds.
Atlas VPN uses advanced encryption and security protocols to protect user data and maintain privacy. It also has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not track or store user data. Overall, Atlas VPN is considered a safe option for browsing the internet securely and privately.
Yes, Atlas VPN offers a referral program where you can invite up to 10 friends and family to get seven days of Atlas VPN Premium for free per person you refer. You can earn up to 70 free days, but the person you refer must be a new user. Each person you refer will receive three days of Atlas VPN Premium for free once they’ve subscribed to the service and installed the Atlas VPN app.
Atlas VPN is a reliable and user-friendly VPN service that offers both a free and premium version. The free version is limited in terms of server locations, connection speeds, and data usage, but the premium version provides access to a wider range of features, including unlimited data, fast connection speeds, double VPN encryption, malicious website blocking, and more.
Additionally, our testing showed that Atlas VPN performed well for streaming shows on Netflix, gaming, downloading torrents, and joining audio and video conference calls. Although it passed our DNS leak test, it was only partially successful in our WebRTC leak test.
In summary, Atlas VPN is a great option for those who want a simple and effective VPN solution that provides fast and secure internet access. Whether you want to protect your privacy while browsing the web, access geo-restricted content, or improve your online security while gaming or streaming, Atlas VPN has you covered. For the value it brings at its price, we didn’t think Atlas VPN was just good — we thought it was great.
If you're looking for more highly rated VPN options, check out our best VPNs guide.
Budget-friendly
Fast and reliable for streaming
Doesn’t bypass all streaming services
