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Ariel Hochstadt
Ex-Google, International tech speaker
Astrill VPN and PrivateVPN are two very popular VPN providers known for their emphasis on innovative security features and ease of use. Both providers offer dedicated apps for MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android and use strong 256-bit encryption across all platforms. Astrill and PrivateVPN also both have 24/7 live chat support in place in case you ever hit a snag. While PrivateVPN provides around 100 servers in 56 countries, Astrill offers 326 in 63 countries. However, PrivateVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, compared to Astrill’s restricted 7-day refund policy. PrivateVPN also offers very fast server connections that Astrill can’t quite match. Furthermore, PrivateVPN allows up to six simultaneous device connections per account, whereas Astrill allows only five. In terms of keeping you completely anonymous, it’s important to know that Astrill may store some use logs, whereas PrivateVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy. This might be starting to sound like a one-sided contest. But Astrill battles back with features like split tunneling and Onion over VPN protocol, which are absent in PrivateVPN. Read on to see more details and find out which provider eventually wins the contest.
Features
8.5
Pricing
6.0
Ease of Use
8.8
Reliability & Support
8.4
Features
9.2
Pricing
8.0
Ease of Use
9.4
Reliability & Support
9.0
Rating
Features
8.5
9.2
0.0
Pricing
6.0
8.0
0.0
Ease of Use
8.8
9.4
0.0
Reliability & Support
8.4
9.0
0.0
Reviews
Review by our expert
Katie Kasunic
Technology Researcher
8.0
Astrill’s marketing team does a great job of advertising it as one of the best VPNs out there — but are they telling the truth about how good it is?
I went ahead and tested its every feature and analyzed its privacy policies and security measures to see if it’s good enough to recommend. I also paid good attention to its server network, speeds, torrenting support, gaming, streaming and fi...
Been using it for a long time.. but have to goI have been using Astrill for more than 10 years. Never had a problem. A couple of times I used the chat for support and it was excellent.
However this is probably going to be my last year. Reason .... price.
With the virus crisis I am unemployed and can not afford it. They do not give any kind of discount and keep raising the price year after year.
I am not in China so I suspend it, I do not need all those features.
Latest negative user review
Chris
2.0
Astril are not interested in keeping regular customersI agreed. Astrill increases the price year after year. I have been using Astril for 5 years. I paid 75 USD to 120 USD. I have a friend that paid 400 USD one time! If you don't delete history and cookies they show the high price. Tricky! They don't have a special price for regular customs. THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN KEEPING REGULAR CUSTOMERS. Too greedy! Done with them too!
PrivateVPN is a growing provider that claims to be a great VPN for security and privacy, as the name implies.
Instead of offering a long list of unique features, this VPN sells itself as a simple but high-performing service.
We put PrivateVPN through a series of tests to find out how it performs in each category and whether it will truly keep you safe and private.
PrivateVPN’s strength...
Good customer supportI found some bad comments regarding customer support. Just want to say that in my case everything was ok, customer support was helping me and spent a lot of time fixing the problem. So I have no complaints regarding customer service.
Latest negative user review
Ben
2.0
False GuanrateMy OS is too old for the VPN, found that out AFTER I PAID, downloaded and tried to install. No mention beforehand of versions of OS. Have been trying for several days to get my money back but no luck. They have stopped answering my emails requesting the “30 day money back guarantee”.
AVOID THIS COMPANY. THIEVES!!!!!!
Astrill’s marketing team does a great job of advertising it as one of the best VPNs out there — but are they telling the truth about how good it is?
I went ahead and tested its every feature and analyzed its privacy policies and security measures to see if it’s good enough to recommend. I also paid good attention to its server network, speeds, torrenting support, gaming, streaming and fi...
PrivateVPN is a growing provider that claims to be a great VPN for security and privacy, as the name implies.
Instead of offering a long list of unique features, this VPN sells itself as a simple but high-performing service.
We put PrivateVPN through a series of tests to find out how it performs in each category and whether it will truly keep you safe and private.
PrivateVPN’s strength...
Been using it for a long time.. but have to goI have been using Astrill for more than 10 years. Never had a problem. A couple of times I used the chat for support and it was excellent.
However this is probably going to be my last year. Reason .... price.
With the virus crisis I am unemployed and can not afford it. They do not give any kind of discount and keep raising the price year after year.
I am not in China so I suspend it, I do not need all those features.
Anonymously
10.0
Good customer supportI found some bad comments regarding customer support. Just want to say that in my case everything was ok, customer support was helping me and spent a lot of time fixing the problem. So I have no complaints regarding customer service.
Latest negative user review
Chris
2.0
Astril are not interested in keeping regular customersI agreed. Astrill increases the price year after year. I have been using Astril for 5 years. I paid 75 USD to 120 USD. I have a friend that paid 400 USD one time! If you don't delete history and cookies they show the high price. Tricky! They don't have a special price for regular customs. THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN KEEPING REGULAR CUSTOMERS. Too greedy! Done with them too!
Ben
2.0
False GuanrateMy OS is too old for the VPN, found that out AFTER I PAID, downloaded and tried to install. No mention beforehand of versions of OS. Have been trying for several days to get my money back but no luck. They have stopped answering my emails requesting the “30 day money back guarantee”.
AVOID THIS COMPANY. THIEVES!!!!!!
PrivateVPN’s emphasis on speed and security makes it one of the most reliable VPN services available today. Its generous refund policy and strict no-logs policy are additional reasons why we consider it a better VPN overall. Nevertheless, Astrill has made many improvements over the years and now includes numerous advanced security features. It’s also a reliable service for bypassing geo-restrictions worldwide.
PrivateVPN’s emphasis on speed and security makes it one of the most reliable VPN services available today. Its generous refund policy and strict no-logs policy are additional reasons why we consider it a better VPN overall. Nevertheless, Astrill has made many improvements over the years and now includes numerous advanced security features. It’s also a reliable service for bypassing geo-restrictions worldwide.
PrivateVPN is our ideal choice for torrenting, as it offers dedicated, high-speed P2P servers and favorable terms of service for complete anonymity. Astrill also supports P2P on its servers, but has a less favorable privacy policy for torrenting.
PrivateVPN is our ideal choice for torrenting, as it offers dedicated, high-speed P2P servers and favorable terms of service for complete anonymity. Astrill also supports P2P on its servers, but has a less favorable privacy policy for torrenting.
Access to high-speed servers and features like Stealth VPN and 2048-bit encryption are some of the ways that PrivateVPN’s dedicated app provides a truly reliable VPN for Windows. Astrill competes with an attractive, feature-packed service for Windows that also includes a Stealth VPN protocol, along with split tunneling.
Access to high-speed servers and features like Stealth VPN and 2048-bit encryption are some of the ways that PrivateVPN’s dedicated app provides a truly reliable VPN for Windows. Astrill competes with an attractive, feature-packed service for Windows that also includes a Stealth VPN protocol, along with split tunneling.
PrivateVPN’s dedicated app for Android uses OpenVPN as the default protocol and includes robust features like protection from leaks and tracking. With Astrill VPN’s service for Android, you get an intuitive app and features like Onion over VPN. A dedicated streaming feature with optimized servers gives you easy access to geoblocked content worldwide.
PrivateVPN’s dedicated app for Android uses OpenVPN as the default protocol and includes robust features like protection from leaks and tracking. With Astrill VPN’s service for Android, you get an intuitive app and features like Onion over VPN. A dedicated streaming feature with optimized servers gives you easy access to geoblocked content worldwide.
PrivateVPN provides an excellent service for MacOS that features advanced leak protection, strong encryption, and a Stealth VPN protocol for seamlessly bypassing tough geoblocks. Astrill competes with an app that’s easy to learn and use. The app features split tunneling and leak protection.
PrivateVPN provides an excellent service for MacOS that features advanced leak protection, strong encryption, and a Stealth VPN protocol for seamlessly bypassing tough geoblocks. Astrill competes with an app that’s easy to learn and use. The app features split tunneling and leak protection.
By providing leak protection, Stealth VPN, and access to very fast servers suitable for streaming HD content, PrivateVPN has become an ideal VPN choice for iOS users. Astrill competes closely with its own iOS app that features a Smart Mode, which allows you choose which apps on your device should connect via the VPN.
By providing leak protection, Stealth VPN, and access to very fast servers suitable for streaming HD content, PrivateVPN has become an ideal VPN choice for iOS users. Astrill competes closely with its own iOS app that features a Smart Mode, which allows you choose which apps on your device should connect via the VPN.
For its connection speeds and overall reliability for unblocking streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, we recommend PrivateVPN as an excellent VPN for accessing American content from any location worldwide. Meanwhile, Astrill also provides a reliable US service that seamlessly unblocks US Netflix. It only comes up short against PrivateVPN in speed.
For its connection speeds and overall reliability for unblocking streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, we recommend PrivateVPN as an excellent VPN for accessing American content from any location worldwide. Meanwhile, Astrill also provides a reliable US service that seamlessly unblocks US Netflix. It only comes up short against PrivateVPN in speed.
This is a pretty close contest in terms of feature availability, but PrivateVPN wins it by providing a faster and more secure service. a strict no-logs policy, ultra-secure apps, and outstanding customer support. While both VPNs offer 24/7 support via live chat, PrivateVPN takes things a step higher by providing free remote help when you install the VPN app. Only the most elite VPNs, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, can truly threaten PrivateVPN in a comparison.
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