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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

CactusVPN Review (2024): Good, But Some Drawbacks

Our Score: 7.9/10
Ranked 57th out of 305 VPNs
Mary Kihoro Published on 1st February 2024 Cybersecurity Researcher

CactusVPN is a small VPN provider that claims to help you hide your IP addresses, bypass geo-restrictions, and browse anonymously. But doesn’t every other provider do that? So, I took time to scratch the surface and find out what makes CactusVPN tick.

A key selling point of the VPN is its Smart DNS feature that helps you unblock 340 global streaming sites. It should also help access blocked content when in China.

I love the fact that it takes your security seriously. It has features such as military-grade AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and an app killer. But, the VPN has a questionable no-logs policy that makes me wonder whether it’s safe to give this VPN provider my personal information.

A great thing about Cactus VPN is that it’s compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and multiple routers. You can also connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, including your Amazon Firestick and Android TV.

You can try out the reasonably-priced VPN using its 3-day free trial. Better yet, you can use a wide range of payment options, including cryptocurrencies, which helps with anonymity.  After compiling this comprehensive data-driven review, I recommend these VPNs with a better server network and immense global coverage.

Try Out CactusVPN Risk-Free For 3 days Today!

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Money-Back Guarantee: 30 Days

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CactusVPN Features — 2024 Update

8.4
💸 Price 3.95 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 36+
🛡 Kill switch Yes
🗺 Based in country Moldova, Republic of
🛠 Support Live Chat Support
📥 Supports torrenting Yes

Streaming — Unblocks Netflix and Most Major Streaming Sites

CactusVPN allows you to stream from Netflix libraries in the US, the UK, and Australia; BBC iPlayer; Hulu; Disney+; HBO NOW; Amazon Prime Video; Roku; and YouTube.

Other sites that you can also access using Smart DNS include NBC, NBC Sports, BBC Sport, BBC Bitesize, ITV Player, CBS, CNNgo, and almost every other popular streaming site that is out there.

I couldn’t unblock Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime video on CactusVPN’s normal servers — I could only stream using its Smart DNS service. Smart DNS on CactusVPN changes your DNS to make it look like you’re in another country, which helps you unblock streaming sites from the US, Germany, Sweden, France, the UK, Russia, and Italy.

However, it doesn’t change your IP address or encrypt your data. I was concerned about using smart DNS at first because it meant that my browsing activity wasn’t protected, so I only used smart DNS for streaming and not for torrenting or regular browsing. I was impressed by the feature since I could stream from Netflix US as a live news report on CNN ran in the background.

Unblocked: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

Since I wanted to have a feel of streaming using CactusVPN, I subscribed to its VPN + Smart DNS package. I unblocked Netflix US when connected to its server in Los Angeles. I watched Atypical from the Netflix US library without any lag or buffering.

I also ran 6 more tests and unblocked Netflix libraries in the UK, Australia, and Japan without any problems.

However, every time I connected to the Smart DNS feature, I would lose my internet settings. This feature was tampering with the DNS settings on my laptop. I found this annoying because I had paid extra for the service.

A screenshot of a show on NetflixA screenshot of Atypical on Netflix

I unblocked YouTube when connected to its server in Los Angeles. I didn’t experience any buffering as I watched the latest episode of America’s Got Talent.

A screenshot of America's Got Talent on YouTubeA screenshot of America’s Got Talent on YouTube

Blocked By: Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer

I tried to log into HBO Max when connected to a server in Manassas, but it didn’t work. I was met with an error page instead. I even changed to a server in the UK, but a similar message appeared stating that the service wasn’t available in my location.

A screenshot of error message from HBO MaxError message from HBO Max

I also failed to stream an episode of Baptiste on BBC iPlayer when connected to its London server. Every time attempted to log in, iPlayer blocked me and displayed an error.

A screenshot of BBC iPlayer error messageAn error message when trying to log into BBC iPlayer

I connected to the Los Angeles server, but Hulu blocked my attempts to log in. I didn’t bother to log into Disney+ and ESPN since they belong to the same parent company as Hulu, so they use the same VPN blocks.

While CactusVPN claims that using smart DNS is a plus, I didn’t enjoy the service due to the technical issues I experienced during my tests.

Speeds — Decent Speeds

CactusVPN’s speeds are fast enough for browsing, streaming, and torrenting. I tested CactusVPN’s speeds using the OpenVPN protocol. Before I started, I tested my base speeds without the VPN to see if I lost any speed.

I am in Nairobi, Kenya, and my baseline speed was 3.5 Mbps (download), 3.5 Mbps (upload), and 37ms (ping) without a VPN connection. I first connected to a nearby server and then tested the speed when connected to international servers. I tested 10 of its servers, and at most, I lost 24% of my original speed.

Server Location Download speed (Mbps) Upload speed (Mbps) Ping
(ms)
Nairobi 3.45 (2% loss) 3.42 (2% loss) 85
US Manassas 2.82 (19% loss) 2.84 (18.8% loss) 250
US New York 2.82 (19% loss) 2.90 (17% loss) 265
US Los Angeles 2.91 (16.8% loss) 2.81 (19% loss) 330
UK 2.75 (21% loss) 2.87 (18% loss) 270
Netherlands 2.94 (16% loss) 2.86 (18% loss) 322
Germany 2.87 (18% loss) 2.90 (17% loss) 199
India 2.73 (22% loss) 2.78 (20% loss) 336
Hong Kong 2.66 (24% loss) 2.75 (21% loss) 350
Australia 2.86 (18% loss) 2.81 (18.8% loss) 380
Japan 2.79 (21% loss) 2.74 (20% loss) 340

I also tested 3 servers with the Smart DNS feature, and there was a minimal loss in speed. I was impressed with the consistent speeds I got across all servers, even on far-away servers that are often slow.

On the downside, CactusVPN advocates for the AES-128 encryption that has faster speeds. However, this encryption is less secure than the AES-256 encryption. It seems the platform sacrifices a little security for speed.

Are CactusVPN’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Yes

CactusVPN has fast speeds when playing online games, especially on the local servers. However, due to the high ping on most of the servers on the network, it may prove impossible to play some online games.

I played a game of Dragon City when connected to its server in Germany. While the connection dropped a couple of times, I didn’t experience considerable speed loss when playing.

A screenshot of gaming on CactusVPNPlaying Dragon City using CactusVPN

Server Network — Limited but Stable

CactusVPN has a limited server network of 37 IP addresses, with 36 servers in cities spread across 22 countries in America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. This gives you a good selection of locations, so chances are there’s a server in the country you want to unblock content from. I connected to 5 of its servers in the US, and they remained stable throughout my browsing.

Server Location Countries/ Cities
America US (New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago 一 2 servers, Dallas, KansasCity 一 2 servers, Manassas), Montreal (Canada) and Franca (Brazil)
Europe UK (London 一 4 servers), Netherlands (Amsterdam 一 6 servers), Switzerland (Zurich), Spain (Barcelona), Latvia(Riga), Romania (Iasi), Italy (Ponte San Pietro), Portugal (Tomar), France (Paris), Poland (Warsaw), Russia (Moscow), Sweden (Stockholm)
Asia Pacific Hong Kong, Australia (Sydney), Japan (Nagano), Singapore, India (Faridabad), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

CactusVPN leases all its servers instead of owning them (it’s the common trend in the industry). You get a static shared IP address. This means that many people are using the same IP address as you, and nobody can tell who is accessing which websites, which means nobody can trace activities back to you.

6 of the servers on the VPN are labeled P2P and are all in Europe. You can sort the servers based on speed from the client area on the app, which helps pick a dependable server. I found that the fastest server was the P2P one located in Amsterdam.

Information about the load on each server is available on the client area server list. This information helps you know the percentage number of people using each server, enabling you to avoid overcrowded servers that may be slow during peak hours. I went for the UK server that showed a load of 2% and was impressed with the speed I got.

Switching between the servers is fast and easy. I connected to servers in different cities and found the speed decent enough for everyday browsing and streaming even HD videos. I also didn’t experience any connection drops.

There were lags during peak hours since there was overcrowding on the few servers on the network. To solve that, CactusVPN advocates for you to connect to its Smart DNS feature, which doesn’t depend on the servers but works by altering your DNS. I tried this, and it worked.

Security — Solid Security Features

CactusVPN is very secure. It has military-grade security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, SHA256 authentication, 2048-bit DHE-RSA key exchange, making your browsing history completely unhackable. The encryption prevents your ISP and government from tracking your online activity and keeps you safe from hackers by scrambling any text you send or receive. I felt safe using CactusVPN because this is the highest level of encryption available.

It has Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), which ensures that you are assigned a different encryption key for every new session you start. So, if a hacker were to get hold of your encryption key, they'd only be able to see what you did during one session and not all of the activity you've done on the VPN. I don't think this is an important feature when I'm streaming; it’s vital for torrenting and sending sensitive information.

You can choose from 7 protocols; OpenVPN (TCP & UDP), SSTP, SoftEther, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and WireGuard. With these many protocols, you can choose how to route data and customize your connection based on your needs.

I prefer OpenVPN since it’s highly secure, with a minimum of 128-bit encryption. Because many third parties audit it, it has no faults for hackers to exploit. OpenVPN is an excellent go-to protocol because it is very secure, and you don't have to worry about a complicated setup process. I found it to be stable and easy to set up.

You can use IKEv2 when experiencing sluggish connections since it’s faster than the other protocols. CactusVPN provides a detailed guide on the available protocols in the FAQ section on its site, which makes it easier for you to choose a protocol based on the activity you are doing. I found the guides easy to understand.

I was glad to learn that CactusVPN supports WireGuard on all its apps. WireGuard is a newer protocol that gives you the same security as OpenVPN but with faster speeds. I connected to it and was impressed by the fast speeds I got.

Unfortunately, I experienced DNS leaks on all the servers when I enabled my Smart DNS feature. DNS leaks occur when your data isn’t encrypted or when the VPN reveals information about your IP address. Such a leak is terrible since it exposes you to unwanted scrutiny, and anyone can easily intercept your data. I was glad to learn that I could fix it by turning the DNS leak protection toggle on my settings. I feel that CactusVPN should turn the leak protection by default to protect your security.

CactusVPN doesn’t provide any protection against IPv6 or WebRTC leaks. Without such protection, you're vulnerable, which nullifies the purpose of using a VPN. The VPN recommends using third-party providers to prevent such leaks.

A screenshot of CactusVPN settings pageDNS leak protection toggle on CactusVPN app

Additionally, its app has a kill switch that disconnects you from the internet when your connection drops. That way, your actual IP address is always secure. However, you will need to activate the kill switch using a toggle on the app’s settings. The process takes only a few seconds and can save you from revealing your identity. I got temporarily disconnected when using this VPN, but the kill switch kicked in, protecting me from leaks.

Like the kill switch, CactusVPN has an ‘app killer’ that lets you select the apps you would like closed if your VPN connection drops. You can choose the programs you want the app to close by clicking on the app killer button on the top far right of the app. It’s helpful since you won’t lose access to the internet on your browser while you await reconnection. I lost my VPN connection, but I could still access several sites that I hadn’t included to be closed by the app killer.

It has a TCP Port 443 that reroutes all incoming connections to bypass firewalls. This helps mask using a VPN when browsing HTTPS sites. Using Port 443 helps encrypt sensitive information such as your bank details to prevent anyone from intercepting it. I felt safe sharing my credit card details when paying for the VPN due to this feature.

CactusVPN has split tunneling, which is a feature that allows you to route some of your traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel and the other through the open network. You can use this feature to protect sensitive information using the VPN while still accessing. your local network devices. You will also save some bandwidth since unencrypted data travels faster. I activated the split tunneling feature and accessed my bank’s website, which usually doesn’t work when a VPN is on.

I also ran a quick scan of the VPN on VirusTotal to check for viruses or malware. After several hitches, it passed. No vendors flagged the VPN as malicious.

A screenshot of CactusVPN results on VirusTotalCactusVPN results on VirusTotal

Privacy — Questionable

CactusVPN has a questionable privacy policy with major red flags when it comes to the privacy of your personal information.

CactusVPN is in privacy-friendly Moldova, which is a good step towards protecting your privacy. The Eastern European country isn’t part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance; therefore, you don’t have to worry about government surveillance.

Better yet, Moldova isn’t part of the European Union (EU) or data sharing groups such as SIGINT. Moldova has pro-consumer legislation on data protection, which means there’s no legal requirement for VPNs to log your information.

CactusVPN also claims that it has a guaranteed no-logs policy. Such a policy means that it doesn’t track, collect or store any of your information, including IP addresses, traffic logs, DNS logs, and connection timestamps. It also doesn’t keep records of any metadata of your connections, whether hashed or anonymized. This way, third parties can’t use such information to identify you.

A screenshot of CactusVPN's privacy policyAn excerpt of CactusVPN’s privacy policy

It worries me that CactusVPN doesn’t audit its network, which makes its guarantee suspicious since there’s no verified evidence that it’s doing everything it claims.

On the downside, CactusVPN stipulates in its privacy policy that it holds the sole discretion to hand over your personal information to law enforcement when the situation arises. That’s not comforting since the VPN collects your email during registration and other personal details when making payments.

A screenshot of CactusVPN privacy policyA section of CactusVPN’s privacy policy

CactusVPN accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and altcoins. This is an excellent option if you want to remain anonymous when making payments. I paid for my one-month subscription using Ethereum, and the process was hassle-free.

Torrenting — Limited

CactusVPN allows torrenting but limits it to 6 servers on the network.

These servers are in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Latvia, and Romania. Each of the torrenting servers is clearly labeled P2P on the app.

A screenshot of CactusVPN P2P serversThe P2P servers are clearly labeled

Since all the torrenting servers are in Europe, you may experience lags and connection instability if you are far away from them. There’s also overcrowding on the servers since they are so few. I connected to their P2P server in Germany and was impressed with how fast I torrent large files.

CactusVPN has torrent-friendly features such as a kill switch, no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection which help ensure your anonymity when torrenting. However, before torrenting, you have to configure the DNS leak protection feature. It should have that active by default!

Unfortunately, I felt that torrenting is expensive on CactusVPN. Only 2 of its packages allow P2P, so you will have to pay more to torrent.

Does CactusVPN Work in China? Yes

CactusVPN’s support confirmed that the VPN works in China, even though it doesn't provide that information on its website. The network uses obfsproxy, a technology that changes the way your online traffic flows by adding encryption around the said traffic. Therefore, you can safely unblock content in censored regions since the obfsproxy will make ISPs or governments think it’s regular harmless HTTP traffic. I contacted support to find out if the VPN works in China, and they confirmed that it does.

A screenshot of CactusVPN customer support responseCactusVPN’s customer service response

There’s also a detailed guide on manually setting up the SoftEther Protocol, which helps those using it bypass the Great Firewall of China. However, you need to download and install it before you travel to China to avoid inconveniences when trying to do it from there.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Unlimited

You can connect an unlimited number of devices under a single subscription on CactusVPN. That’s welcome news since most VPNs limit the number of devices that one can connect to simultaneously. That’s fantastic since you get value for money, especially if you have a family with many devices.

To confirm this, I contacted support, and they confirmed that the VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Further, I connected my phone and PC simultaneously, and they both worked without any lags or connection issues.

Device Compatibility — Compatible with Many Devices

CactusVPN works on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, AndroidTV, Amazon Fire TV, a Chrome extension, and a Firefox extension. You can also manually set up the VPN on Ubuntu, Chromebook, Safari extension, and Boxee Box.

By configuring the VPN to connect with a router, it becomes possible to utilize gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Additionally, the VPN is compatible with Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and the Tor browser. To personally assess its functionality, I tested the VPN on my PS4 and enjoyed my favorite Spotify playlist while playing God of War.

  • Windows 一 The VPN is compatible with any device using Windows Vista and above. You will find detailed setup tutorials on its website on installing the VPN on your Windows device. It took me a few seconds to install the app, and I found it easy to use.

    A screenshot of CactusVPN Windows appThe layout of the CactusVPN Windows app

  • macOS 一 The app for macOS is similar to the one for Windows. You can easily download apps for macOS Version 10.11 (El Capitan) or newer. Those using older versions may need to install the app manually.
  • iOS 一 You can find the CactusVPN app for your iPhone or iPad on Apple Play Store. The app is easy to use and straightforward to install.
  • Android 一 CactusVPN is compatible with Android devices. You can easily download and install the app from Google PlayStore.
  • Android TV 一 You can also use the VPN on your smart TV since it’s compatible with Android TV. The setup is easy and fast.
  • Amazon Fire TV 一 You can download a CactusVPN for your Amazon Fire TV from its website. The process takes seconds.
  • Browser extensions 一 You will also find apps to use on your Chrome or Firefox browser extensions. There’s a detailed set-up tutorial on its website for both extensions. Unfortunately, there’s no app available for the Safari extension.
  • Routers 一 You can also configure routers to connect to the VPN. It’s compatible with DD-WRT, ASUS, MikroTik, D-Link, T-Link, Linksys, Tomato, Tenda, and OpenWRT routers. You can find a detailed guide on setting up each of these routers, including configuring various protocols on them.

Installation & Apps

8.3

Set-Up & Installation — Straightforward and Fast

Installing and uninstalling CactusVPN is easy. I was impressed with the amount of information on CactcusVPN’s website about setting up the app on compatible devices.

It has a section with valuable details to help with Smart DNS configurations and manual setup for different protocols. All its apps are user-friendly and have a simple layout.

I decided to install its app on my Windows device, and the process was straightforward. I went to its website and clicked the visible ‘Get VPN’ button. After landing on its pricing plans, where I picked the 1-month plan.

Upon paying using PayPal, I received my login details for the client dashboard. I then proceeded to click the Windows app download button.

Once I downloaded the setup files, I opened them and followed the prompts. The set-up wizard is similar to setting up other software.

A screenshot of CactusVPN setup wizardCactusVPN's set-up wizard

I kept clicking next, and the process finished without any hitches. The whole installation process took less than 2 minutes. I then entered the login details, which were different from the ones on the client dashboard.

Once I logged in, I clicked on the drop-down menu to reveal the server list. There’s no search button for the servers, which is understandable since there are so few of them.

A screenshot of CactusVPN server listDropdown menu with the server list

I also enabled the Smart DNS feature. Unfortunately, this made my internet connection act up. I contacted support, which efficiently guided me on how to set up the Smart DNS feature.

The layout of the app is similar on all the devices. There are 4 tabs on the app, including the app killer button. The settings section has toggles to activate the DNS leak protection and kill switch.

Upon configuring CactusVPN, the default protocol is IKEv2, known for its relatively fast and stable performance. Nevertheless, I would suggest switching to WireGuard for enhanced security while maintaining excellent speed.

If you prefer using the SoftEther protocol, you will need a separate SoftEther VPN client since it’s not readily available on CactusVPN. You can download SoftEther at no cost and prevent Man in the Middle (MITM) attacks that happen when malicious parties intercept your communication when online. It will also help you access content in China,Turkey, and Russia that uses Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to censor online activity since it’s undetectable. I used a guide on CactusVPN to download and set up SoftEther protocol and was impressed with the results.

Connecting and disconnecting from the servers takes seconds. To connect, you need to click the green button, while clicking the blue button disconnects you. I found the process of changing servers annoying since I had to first disconnect from the current one. Always ensure you have activated the kill switch to prevent your traffic from leaking during the temporary disconnection as you change servers.

The mobile app has a similar layout as the desktop app. To access the settings, you need to click the 3 lines on the right. The app’s simplicity is great for beginners, but advanced users may feel short-changed due to the VPN’s limited network settings.

A screenshot of CactusVPN's mobile appUser-friendly mobile app layout

Uninstalling CactusVPN is easy. All I did was go to my settings on my laptop, click Apps & Features, choose CactusVPN and click uninstall.

Pricing

6.4
2 Years
$ 3.95 / month per month
1 Year
$ 5.83 / month per month
1 Month
$ 9.99 / month per month

CactusVPN has a rather complex pricing plan; there are 4 main packages, each with 5 smaller specific subscriptions. The four main plans are a 1-month plan at $9.99/month, a 3-month plan at $7.99/month, a 1-year plan at $5.83/month, and a 24-month plan at $3.95/month.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. For each of these plans, you can subscribe to smaller plans depending on your needs. They are:

  • US VPN 一 If you are looking to unlock American content only, go for this plan which gives you access to its 9 servers in the US. However, no P2P is allowed, and you can’t use its Smart DNS feature.
  • UK VPN 一 Similar to the US VPN, this plan lets you access content in the UK only. It also doesn’t allow you to torrent or access the Smart DNS feature.
  • Liberty VPN 一 This plan is designed for torrenting since it lets you access 9 servers in Europe, including the 6 servers marked P2P. However, it doesn’t give you access to Smart DNS.
  • Smart DNS 一 If you are only interested in using the network’s Smart DNS feature, you can go for this plan. However, you won’t have access to any of the VPN’s servers.
  • VPN + Smart DNS 一 This package is complete and allows access to all the servers, Smart DNS and P2P. I chose this one since I wanted to experience all the services on CactusVPN.

All the pricing plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, on condition that the software for either the VPN servers or Smart DNS doesn’t work.

However, CactusVPN won’t refund you for speed issues. Instead, the network advises you to take advantage of its 3-day trial period to get a feel of the CactusVPN experience.

There are 30 payment options available on the platform. They are:

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover PayPal Alipay UnionPay WebMoney
Bitcoin and altcoins iDEAL Przelewy24 Hong Leong Bank Transfer Boleto Bancario
Trustly DragonPay FPX OP-Pohjola Solo
Giropay MrCash POLi ToditoCash Sofort
Nordea CarteBleue EPS Multibanco-SIBS Finnish Banks
CIMB Clicks Maybank2U Danske Konbini AmBank

You can also use Yandex Money and Qiwi to make payments. If you are keen on remaining anonymous when paying, then the crypto option is the best. However, payments made using cryptocurrencies aren’t eligible for a refund.

All the plans have unlimited bandwidth to enjoy decent speeds, a no-logs policy, and simultaneous usage on unlimited devices.

Reliability & Support

8.4

CactusVPN’s customer service is excellent.

The VPN has 5 support options to cater to your needs. They are:

  • Set-up tutorials 一 This section contains guides to help you get support quickly without having to wait for a reply from the live chat . I found the information therein detailed and helpful.
  • FAQ section 一 There were helpful answers to the VPN service, smart DNS, account settings, and troubleshooting. I referred to the section many times.
  • Ticketing system 一 You can also reach support by sending them an email with your query. Once sent, a ticket opens to track your interactions with support.
  • Learning center 一 It also has aa learning center with beginner guides about VPNs and smart DNS.
  • Live chat 一 It has an in-house live chat that provides informative and professional responses to any queries. However, the live chat isn’t 24/7; it’s only available 16 hours a day. It’s also not available during weekends which is a bummer.

The response time on its emailing system and live chat are lightning-fast. The support team uses native English and gives you precise answers. CactusVPN is one of the most efficient and professional VPN for responding to queries that I have come across.

A response on its live chat takes less than 30 seconds, while an email takes an average of 4 minutes. Support answered all my queries, and I was satisfied with the quick responses. However, the answers seemed scripted, and large corporate clients may find them inefficient since their queries may require more detailed replies.

Compare CactusVPN With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
Our Score: 9.7
Our Score: 9.5
Our Score: 9.4

The Bottom Line

Fast, simple, low cost, and reliable service with some limitations

Final Verdict

I recommend CactusVPN to anyone looking for a provider with fair prices and advanced security features.

While its server network is limited, the VPN is compatible with many devices. Better yet, you can connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously under one subscription.

I was impressed with the VPN’s professional customer support, which was lightning-fast in responses and helpful information. Its set-up tutorials are useful and easy to follow.

Its most significant selling point was the ability to unlock over 340 websites using the Smart DNS feature.

However, the VPN should work on its refund policy since it’s too conditional and rigid. Also, a more customer-friendly privacy policy wouldn’t hurt!

FAQs on CactusVPN

Is CactusVPN safe?

Yes. It has military-grade security features, 7 protocols, including WireGuard, a kill switch, and an app killer for improved safety.

Can CactusVPN unblock Netflix?

Yes. You can only unblock Netflix with its Smart DNS feature that comes at an extra price.

Will CactusVPN slow my speeds down?

No. CactusVPN has consistent speeds that are ideal for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 30
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: Unlimited
VPN Plans: cactus_vpn.com
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
CactusVPN User Reviews (User reviews are not verified)
6.4
Based on 10 reviews in 2 languages

Write a Review on CactusVPN

Please rate VPN.

All Speed Streaming Security Сustomer service
Mr X
Mr X
2/10
Was with them for about five years

They're not based in Moldova, they moved to Canada (part of Five Eyes) several years ago. That alone is a reason to stay far away. They have a handful of servers but only something like five of them works for p2p, and their speeds were always lousy.

Ben
Ben
10/10
Best VPN i have ever used.

Been using this now for about 8 years without any issues, regular updates that improve the service.It Can sort servers by speed and gives you a kill switch to end programs in the event of a dropped connection but more also on reconnecting relaunch your apps something other providers don't have not even NordVPN has this functionality.

M Hern
M Hern
2/10
Refund policy bogus

Ordered this service and worked well on ipad, But no app on fire tv. Support kept saying download from google play store but play store is not easily accessed from fire tv so service is useless to me. Contacted Cactusvpn and asked for refund as they have a so called 30 day refund policy but so far NO refund. Beware not for Amazon fire tv and DO NOT expect refund.

    About the Author

    Mary is a seasoned content writer in the fields of technology specializing in cybersecurity, information systems, and network security. She's passionate about data privacy and online safety.

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