Atlas VPN Review (2024): A New Freemium VPN That Was Worth It
IMPORTANT:
Atlas VPN will cease to exist beginning April 24, 2024. All existing premium Atlas VPN accounts will be converted to a NordVPN account. It is no longer possible to take out a new subscription with Atlas VPN.
Atlas VPN used to be one of the best freemium VPNs available, as our cybersecurity team frequently testified in this Atlas VPN review. Unfortunately, the provider won’t continue to provide its services.
Instead, all premium Atlas VPN users will be transferred to NordVPN, a sister company and one of the best VPNs on the market.
Below, we tell you everything you need to know about Atlas VPN and how its features compare to NordVPN. To be honest, as much as we loved Atlas VPN, NordVPN is our top pick. Former Atlas users won’t be disappointed with the new subscription, and new users can enjoy a big discount using our link below:
Since NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try out the VPN for yourself and see why Atlas users have lucked out.
Atlas VPN: Pros and Cons
What We Liked:
- Free VPN plan available
- Premium version unblocked Netflix and other streaming services
- No logs of personally-identifiable information
- Decent speeds (but not as fast as NordVPN!)
- Affordable subscription plans
What We Didn't Like:
- Based in the United States (part of the 5 Eyes)
- Not available for routers
- We experienced some technical issues while testing
Atlas VPN used to be one of the best free VPNs that you could find, available for all major operating systems. Unlike most free VPNs, Atlas did not keep logs of any user data. On top of that, you could use it to unblock streaming services and torrent safely — rare for a free VPN!
Unfortunately, the VPN will be discontinued starting April 24, 2024. But we’re here to bring you some good news! Atlas has stated that all premium Atlas VPN users will automatically get access to all of NordVPN’s features, at no extra cost. This includes a wide range of benefits, including:
- NordVPN is faster than Atlas VPN. You’ll be able to browse and stream without even noticing you’re using a VPN.
- NordVPN is more reliable at unblocking streaming sites. You’ll find that all geographical barriers disappear, and you can unblock any streaming platform from anywhere.
- NordVPN has unlimited bandwidth, whereas Atlas VPN’s free version had a data cap of 5 GB. With a premium provider like NordVPN, you never have to worry about your bandwidth being throttled or your access getting cut off.
Atlas VPN was a solid free VPN that will be missed! Below, you can read more about its features. To give you perspective, though, we’ll incorporate some comparisons to NordVPN — that way, you’ll see what else is out there!
| 💵 Price | From $ 3.39 a month |
| 📱 Operating systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux |
| 💻 Connections | 10 |
| 💳 Payment methods | Sofort, Cryptocurrency, Credit card, Other |
| 🔒 Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard |
| 📅 Money-back guarantee | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days |
| 📋 Logs | Zero logs |
| 🌎 Servers in English | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia |
| 📥 Torrent options | |
| 🍿 Netflix | |
| 🏠 Website in English | |
| 📲 App in English | |
| 🎧 Customer Service in English | |
| 🎬 Works with |
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How Much Does Atlas VPN Cost?
Atlas VPN used to offer both a free and a premium version of its service. The free Atlas VPN allowed for 5 GB of monthly daily traffic and access to 3 server locations. On the other hand, the premium plan never had a data cap. It came with more security features, unlimited simultaneous connections, and specialized servers for streaming.
Luckily, you’ll get even more features with NordVPN, including a Dark Web monitor, the option to use a VPN combined with Tor (Onion over VPN), and an optimized streaming tool called SmartPlay.
NordVPN has a trial period of 30 days, so if you’re new, don’t worry! You can always cancel within 30 days and get a full refund.
As for Atlas VPN, these are the subscription plans that used to be available:
- Atlas VPN 24 Months $1.70mth Deal View offer
- Atlas VPN 12 Months $4.08mth View offer
- Atlas VPN Monthly $11.99mth View offer
It was possible to pay via Google Pay, credit card, PayPal, and even crypto. Luckily, NordVPN is also one of the best VPNs to buy with cryptocurrency, should you be looking for that.
Do you get your money’s worth with Atlas VPN?
While the free tier will certainly be missed, overall, you’ll get more value for money with NordVPN.
Besides faster and more reliable servers, NordVPN’s features are designed to elevate your overall online security, not just encrypt your internet traffic. That’s why you’ll see a Threat Protector tool to keep malware at bay, as well as Meshnet, a way to link and secure multiple devices.
Does Atlas VPN Work With Streaming?
Atlas VPN was able to unblock various streaming services:
| Platform | Can Atlas VPN unblock it? |
|---|---|
| Netflix | ✔ |
| Disney Plus | ✔ |
| Hulu | ✔ |
| BBC iPlayer | ✔ |
| Amazon Prime Video | ✔ |
Atlas VPN Premium allowed us to watch the American version of Netflix and enjoy a wide variety of shows. In the past, we’ve also found Atlas to be compatible with other streaming services, thanks to its dedicated streaming servers.
However, the experience has always varied, especially when it comes to the free version of Atlas, which couldn’t reliably unblock streaming sites.
With NordVPN, you won’t ever need to worry about this. Not only does NordVPN have lightning-fast speeds for streaming, but it’s also one of our best streaming VPNs overall.
You can connect to any of NordVPN’s 6441 servers with a single click and stream Netflix, Max, Disney+, Paramount+, Hulu, and more you’d want to unblock.
Torrenting With Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN allowed for P2P traffic and would have kept you safe while torrenting. Speeds on the Atlas VPN servers, however, were not always that impressive.
NordVPN has specialized servers for torrenting — a perk for Atlas users who are making the switch!
When testing Nord, we didn’t experience any speed throttling. We also made sure to test for IP leaks, but there was no reason for concern. NordVPN will mask your real IP address while you’re downloading torrent files.
In fact, it’s such a quick and easy experience that NordVPN is one of our best VPNs for torrenting.
Atlas VPN Servers and Locations
Since Atlas used to be a relatively new VPN, we never expected it to have thousands of servers. However, we were still impressed with the number of sufficient options and the decent speeds we got on Atlas VPN servers.
Atlas used to have 750+ servers across 44 server locations. The free version only allowed for three locations: the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United States.
Here’s an overview of the server locations premium users got access to:
- Americas: Canada and the United States
- Asia-Pacific: Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Singapore
- Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
- Middle East: United Arab Emirates
As you can see, there were no servers in Latin America or Africa — two key regions that NordVPN does provide access to.
With 6441 servers in 111 countries, NordVPN outperforms Atlas VPN when it comes to VPN server network.
Specialized servers
Atlas VPN Premium offered specialized servers for its premium users. By using any of its SafeSwap servers, you could add extra layers of security.
The Atlas VPN mobile apps also offered MultiHop+ servers. Atlas claimed these offered optimal latency and speed designed to “randomly rotate between various gateways.” These types of servers were perfect for bypassing censorship and government surveillance. They offer robust protection in highly restricted countries.
NordVPN also offers this tool: it’s called Double VPN. Double VPN adds an extra layer of security, perfect for bypassing censorship in restrictive countries like China.
Dedicated IP
One of the drawbacks of Atlas VPN was that it didn’t offer dedicated IP addresses. These are private servers that you use exclusively, making it less likely that your traffic is detected as VPN traffic.
NordVPN does offer dedicated IP addresses.
How Fast is Atlas VPN?
Nobody wants to sit and wait while a show buffers, a webpage loads, or a download completes. Atlas VPN offered pretty decent speeds across most servers.
Below, you can find a comparison of Atlas VPN speed test results vs. NordVPN’s current speeds. Both VPNs are tested from the exact same location, using the same devices.
| Server | Atlas VPN Download (MBPS) | NordVPN Download (MBPS) | Atlas VPN Upload (MBPS) | NordVPN Upload (MBPS) | Atlas VPN Ping (MS) | NordVPN Ping (MS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest server | 48.42 | 181.02 | 22.09 | 233.21 | 59 | 9 |
| The Netherlands | 66.82 | 199.25 | 14.95 | 233.21 | 152 | 10 |
| UK | 43.39 | 183.15 | 34.57 | 47.28 | 155 | 15 |
| US (New York) | 32.43 | 175.80 | 44.33 | 26.97 | 212 | 92 |
| Germany | 35.12 | 197.04 | 42.09 | 233.36 | 235 | 13 |
| France | 21.35 | 189.26 | 12.54 | 209.43 | 320 | 18 |
| Japan | 62.38 | 127.21 | 20.31 | 17.36 | 145 | 230 |
As you can see, NordVPN’s speeds are more impressive. Except a few dips on the upload side, you’ve got fantastic results.
Do keep in mind that VPN speeds can be influenced by various factors, like your location and the time of day. Our results just give a general idea of what to expect, but you may well see variations when doing your own testing.
Is Atlas VPN Safe?
The most important aspect of any VPN is safety. Secure protocols and strong encryption will keep your data traffic hidden from anyone trying to see your data.
Atlas VPN scored really well in terms of safety. It offered secure protocols like WireGuard and did not store any user-identifiable data. However, in comparison to NordVPN, Atlas’ features are a bit bare-bones.
With NordVPN, you get access to a wide range of advanced security features, including an ad blocker, DNS leak protection, and browser proxy extensions.
On top of that, Nord is a leader in the security field, offering some of the best cloud storage, password managers, and antivirus solutions. You can have a look at the different packages by visiting the provider’s website right away.
Let’s take a look at Atlas VPN’s former features and see how they compare to NordVPN.
Does Atlas VPN leak your data?
When we review VPNs, we always check to see whether the software suffers from IP/IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks, all of which can risk your privacy.
The good news is that Atlas VPN never suffered from any leaks that could expose your real location. When connected to a Japanese VPN server, each test showed that our IP was being cloaked. Here, you can see that we suffered no IP or DNS leaks while connected to the VPN server:
Our IP address tool agreed with this outcome, showing us that our location was in “Tokyo,” even though we were from the Netherlands.
What does all of this mean? Atlas VPN didn’t leak any data, meaning that you won’t be potentially exposing your location without knowing about it.
Luckily, NordVPN’s testing shows the same results. We don’t experience any data leaks with NordVPN, so former Atlas users won’t have to worry about making the transition.
Can you sign up to Atlas VPN anonymously?
Signing up for Atlas VPN is no longer possible since the VPN is going to be discontinued. In the past, you only needed to provide the following information:
- An email address
- Payment information (credit card, PayPal, or Google Pay)
The provider also used to accept various cryptocurrencies as payment, making it possible to buy a VPN with more anonymity.
NordVPN is actually the #1 VPN to buy with crypto since it offers various crypto options.
Logging and privacy
We were pleased to find that Atlas VPN never logged any sensitive data, including your IP address, location, and internet usage. They did, however, collect some minimal information:
- VPN app use: Changes you made to your settings and the date and time at which you connect and disconnect to the Atlas app
- Device data: What type of device you use, including information about its make, model, and operating system
- Device identifiers: IDs assigned to your device by the OS manufacturer, collected for analytics and marketing purposes
Since Atlas already belonged to Nord Security, they upheld a similar no-log policy as NordVPN’s, with one major difference: Atlas used to be based in the United States, which is part of the 5 Eyes Alliance.
The level of surveillance in the United States is very high. The good news is that NordVPN is based in privacy-friendly Panama. On top of that, NordVPN has RAM-only servers that immediately erase your data.
Protocols and encryption
Atlas VPN used to protect your data with industry-standard 256-bit encryption. It also offered two VPN protocols: IKEv2 and WireGuard.
NordVPN, on the other hand, offers both protocols, plus OpenVPN, which is widely considered to be the most secure VPN protocol in the business. NordVPN also offers NordLynx, a proprietary protocol based on WireGuard. NordLynx has smaller code than OpenVPN, making it less vulnerable than even OpenVPN.
When using the VPN, Nord will automatically connect you to the best protocol for your device, but you can change this manually if you wish.
Kill switch
A kill switch is a vital security feature for any VPN. It “kills” your internet connection if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops or while you’re switching between servers. This allows you to remain anonymous, since none of your data leaks through.
Atlas VPN had a functioning kill switch across all its apps. We did notice, occasionally, that we had to manually reconnect to the VPN after the kill switch would activate. This was somewhat annoying and time-consuming.
NordVPN’s kill switch has no such issues. The NordVPN kill switch worked flawlessly during our extensive testing.
Tracker blocker
Atlas VPN mobile apps had a feature called Tracker Blocker, which stopped third-party trackers from gathering insights about your online activities. The Tracker Blocker could be enabled in the “Assistant” section of the Android or iOS app.
On the other hand, NordVPN offers Threat Protection, a feature that not only blocks trackers and malicious websites but also scans files for malware and blocks ads effectively. This is just one of the reasons NordVPN provides better security than Atlas VPN.
Split tunneling
Another mobile-only feature that Atlas offered was split tunneling. This is a tool that lets you channel part of your internet traffic through the encrypted VPN tunnel while the remaining traffic is routed outside the VPN.
If you’re facing difficulties using certain apps with a VPN, split tunneling lets you separate your traffic. NordVPN also has a split tunneling feature, so former Atlas users won’t miss out!
Data Breach Monitor
With the Atlas VPN premium version, you got access to the Data Breach Monitor. This feature monitored any online breaches containing your personal information. It would scan any leaked databases and let you know if your data was exposed.
NordVPN has a similar feature that specifically scans the dark web: the Dark Web Monitor. You can visit NordVPN to see a full overview of all security features, but we listed the main ones here for you:
- Threat Protection: Keeps ads, trackers, and malware at bay
- Meshnet: Secures different devices in your house at once
- Double VPN: Routes your VPN through multiple servers (double encryption)
- Onion Over VPN: Allows you to combine NordVPN with the Tor browser
- Browser proxy extensions: Connect easily to NordVPN through your browser
Is Atlas VPN Easy to Use?
When testing Atlas VPN previously, we noticed that it had several technical kinks. While the website was well-designed, it lacked detailed information. On top of that, our Atlas VPN Windows app was blocked by antivirus software.
Atlas VPN’s website and installation process
The Atlas VPN website was simple and easy to use. You could easily navigate to different pages, including “Features” and “Pricing.”
Having said that, the information available on the website was always somewhat minimal. Information about certain features was lacking, and we couldn’t always find what we were looking for.
It was always very straightforward to download Atlas VPN app. But since you can’t subscribe to the VPN anymore, we’ll quickly show you how to set up its replacement, NordVPN:
- Go to the NordVPN website by clicking the button below. Using our link automatically applies a 72% discount to your subscription.
NordVPNOur choiceDealSave big with up to 72% off a two-year subscription!
From$ 3.399.3- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
- Enter your payment details.
- Download the NordVPN software for your device.
- Log in with the account you just created.
That’s it! Now all you need to do is connect to a server.
Atlas VPN’s appearance and ease-of-use
Overall, we’ve always found Atlas’s software easy to use. The VPN used to be available for Android (Google Play Store), macOS, iOS (Apple App Store), Windows, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
Connecting to the VPN server network never gave us any issues, and the settings were easily customizable in the Settings menu.
Unfortunately, we did experience some issues with the Atlas VPN Windows app when testing this VPN for the first time. Our antivirus software blocked it initially. To disable this, we had to remove some drivers, restart the computer twice, and turn off the firewall.
Users who make the switch to Nord will likely find NordVPN to function better than Atlas. The provider rarely suffers from any functionality issues and runs seamlessly in the background of your device.
Customer Service
Atlas VPN’s customer service will no longer be functional since the VPN is going to disappear. Previously, users could reach out to them via email, though replies were often slow.
On the Atlas website, you could always find more information in the “Help” section on the website, though information was also limited. Premium users could reach out via “live chat support,” as well, though it wasn’t an actual live chat — just a contact form.
Since Atlas VPN’s former customer service had room for improvement, users who will move on to NordVPN will be happy to know they can reach out to Nord’s support in various ways.
Most notably, NordVPN lets you speak to a live agent via their 24/7 live chat support. This usually provides you with an adequate answer in minutes!
Comparisons With Other VPNs
Atlas VPN provided us with great service, so we’re a little sad to see it go. Thankfully, there are other VPN providers that can fill the void. Here’s how Atlas VPN compares to our other favorite VPNs:
| Editor’s Pick | |||||
| VPN |  |  |  |  | |
| Score | 7.3 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Operating systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux |
| Compatibilities | | | | | |
| Netflix | |||||
| Servers | 1000-2000 | 5000+ | 3000-5000 | 5000+ | Thousands |
| Torrent options | |||||
| Connections | Unlimited | 10 | Unlimited | 7 | 8 |
| Protocols | IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway |
| Logs | Connection Logs | Zero logs | Zero logs | Zero logs | Zero logs |
| Payment methods | PayPal, Cryptocurrency, Credit card, Other | Sofort, Cryptocurrency, Credit card, Other | PayPal, Cryptocurrency, Credit card, Other | PayPal, Cryptocurrency, Credit card, Other | Sofort, MINT, UnionPay, PayPal, Bitcoin, iDeal, Cryptocurrency, Credit card |
| Money-back guarantee | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days | Money-back guarantee, 45 Days | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days |
| Free subscriptions | None Offered | ||||
| Price | $ 1.70 | $ 3.39 | $ 2.19 | $ 2.19 | $ 6.67 |
| Visit Atlas VPN | Visit NordVPN | Visit Surfshark | Visit CyberGhost | Visit ExpressVPN |
What Reddit Users Think About Atlas VPN
The news that Atlas will be discontinued has spread on Reddit, too. While some people emphasize their good experiences with Atlas VPN, the consensus is that the transfer to NordVPN might ultimately be a better choice.
As you can see, Atlas is certainly praised a solid provider, but most people agree that there are better, more reputable VPNs out there.
Do We Recommend Atlas VPN?
Atlas VPN used to offer a great free VPN service plus an affordable VPN plan. Alas, the provider is no more. From April 24, 2024, all premium Atlas users will automatically be transferred to NordVPN.
While we had some technical issues with Atlas VPN at times, overall, the app worked well and let us browse the web safely. We also appreciated its no-logs policy.
Luckily, not all is lost! With the move to NordVPN, users will get access to extra security features, a much faster VPN, and the ability to unblock any streaming service in seconds.
If you’re looking for alternative free options, we recommend having a look at our PrivadoVPN review, which is our best free VPN for Windows and macOS.
Got a question about Atlas VPN? We’ve got you covered with our FAQ section below. Just click on a question to see the answer.
Atlas VPN used to be a solid freemium VPN, albeit a bit unreliable due to some technical issues. As of April, 2024, the provider will no longer exist.
While Atlas VPN used to have some technical issues, it was always one of the best free VPNs in the world. Unfortunately, the provider will no longer exist after April 24, 2024. You won’t be able to access the VPN anymore and all paying users will automatically be transferred to NordVPN.
Atlas VPN used to owned by the same company as NordVPN: Nord Security. However, as of April 24, 2024, Atlas will cease to exist. All premium users will automatically be transferred to NordVPN.
Overall, NordVPN is a better VPN than Atlas VPN. Both are owned by the same company, but Nord offers better speeds and more features.
Now that Atlas VPN will be discontinued after April 24, 2024, premium users will automatically be moved to NordVPN — something of an upgrade, in our opinion.
What Our Experts Think About Atlas VPN
ATLAS is a terrible service
There are hardly any server locations and the speed reduction has been significant from 500mbs down to 80 mbs. The Windows application is full of bugs and Atlas causes my internet to disconnect when my system sleeps and there is no way to reset my network short of a full reboot. Interfered with my printer and application constantly asks to install updates that fail and cause even more problems unless you uninstall manually and then download update and manually install. The streamed video is slow and freezes. I am 45 days into my 3 year subscription and they refuse to cancel my membership and refund the outstanding balance. I will be reporting to credit card company as a fraud. ATLAS VPN is in my opinion is not a viable option. Also they claim that they have live chat support. This is an outright lie. They have circular links that send you in circles trying to find chat support but the ONLY way to reach them is through email.
We're sorry to hear you've been having so many problems with Atlas VPN. We have run into some of their technical issues in the past, too, and hope they will fix those in the long run so the service itself gets a chance to shine.
I bought this program but now I can not log onto my betting app ie Caesars. Why. I need my money back.
It could be that your betting app blocks VPN connections, therefore keeping you from using it with Atlas VPN. IF you turn off the VPN temporarily, you should get your access back. To make sure this doesn't happen again, you can use Atlas VPN's split tunneling option to make sure your betting app isn't using the VPN connection. IF you just want the refund, you'll have to contact Atlas VPN's customer service via their website. We hope this helps!
What I need to know about the annual subscription of the atlas vpn premium because I subscribed annual after the updates it seems like they cut off the unlimited and I had 0MB. I ASSUMED IT IS UNLIMITED but what exactly happened?
As far as we know, Atlas VPN should provide unlimited data, especially if you pay for it. However, if you're running into any trouble with this it's best to email Atlas VPN directly and see what the problem is.
To be completely honest, did not expect a lot when decided to try Atlas VPN. However, now I think it is one of the fasted free VPNs I have tried so far!
I keep turning the VPN on but it doesn't change anything for Netflix, why does this happen?
A friend installed Atlas VPN on my computer a year ago and I have never used it. I have made many attempts over several months to cancel my subscription but get nowhere with their automated replies. It feels like I am being continuously stolen from!
Not to impressed. No clients for routers, TV's, Fire Sticks or Roku's. On their website you can see complete articles on why it is a good idea to have it on these devices. But no client to support them.