PrivadoVPN Review in Hong Kong [Updated 2024]

Need a fast, secure VPN for streaming without spending too much? PrivadoVPN might be just what you’re looking for. It’s affordable and promises great speeds, but since it’s new (launched in 2019), you might wonder if it can compete with the bigger VPNs.

I decided to test it myself. I checked the speed, tried different streaming platforms, and reviewed the security features. During my PrivadoVPN review in Hong Kong, I also took a close look at the privacy policy to ensure your data stays safe.

Here’s what I found: PrivadoVPN is a fast, secure, and budget-friendly option. However, its smaller server network limits access to some streaming platforms, and there’s no 24/7 live chat support. For full streaming access and round-the-clock help, you might want to explore premium VPNs.

PrivadoVPN Review in Hong Kong [9 Key Findings]

Here are the nine key findings for the PrivadoVPN review in Hong Kong:

1. Pricing – How much does PrivadoVPN cost?

PrivadoVPN offers three main plans. Here’s a quick breakdown of it’s pricing plans and their key features:

PrivadoVPN doesn’t offer a free trial, which I usually expect from premium VPNs. If you want to test a service risk-free, I recommend the 7-day ExpressVPN free trial in Hong Kong for mobile devices.

2. Server Network – How many servers does PrivadoVPN have?

PrivadoVPN provides 338 servers across 49 countries, which may seem small compared to larger VPNs like ExpressVPN, which offers servers in 105 countries. However, I found that the connections remained consistently reliable throughout my testing.

Most of PrivadoVPN’s servers are based in Asia, Europe, and North America. There are also servers in South America, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East, including one in Turkey, a country known for its strict internet restrictions.

Here are the locations you’ll get access to with a paid PrivadoVPN subscription:

The PrivadoVPN server network isn’t that big, but it’s sufficient.

3. Security and Features – Is PrivadoVPN secure?

PrivadoVPN keeps your data safe with AES 256-bit encryption, one of the most trusted methods for online security. It also offers:

You can connect up to 10 devices with one account, and it also supports split-tunneling and offers an ad blocker—although some features are unavailable on certain devices.

Device Compatibility and Split Tunneling

While PrivadoVPN includes split-tunneling (which lets you control which apps use the VPN), it’s not available on iOS or macOS. But it works smoothly on Windows, Android, and Amazon devices. This feature is handy if you want faster speeds but still want to secure specific traffic.

Physical Servers for Added Security

Unlike many VPNs that use virtual servers, PrivadoVPN relies on physical servers. This adds an extra layer of safety and gives the company full control over the servers, meaning fewer third parties and faster responses to issues.

Important Note on the Kill Switch: Though the kill switch is a key feature, it’s off by default. You’ll need to activate it yourself, and it doesn’t work on OpenVPN TCP or mobile devices, so keep that in mind if you use those settings.

Missing Features?

PrivadoVPN offers strong security, but it lacks a malware blocker or dedicated IP addresses. If these features are must-haves for you, it may be worth checking out other VPNs.

Protocols: What’s Under the Hood?

PrivadoVPN supports multiple protocols to keep you secure, including:

• OpenVPN (TCP and UDP)
• WireGuard
• IKEv2

If you’re unsure, the app can automatically pick the best protocol for you, but OpenVPN is a strong choice for online protection.

Leak Test Results

I tested several servers across different regions, including the US, UK, Germany, France, and Brazil, using ipleak.net during my PrivadoVPN review in Hong Kong. No IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks were found, meaning your personal information stays private from your internet service provider and any other third parties.

4. Your Privacy is Protected

PrivadoVPN claims to follow a strict zero-logs policy, meaning no online activity can be traced back to any individual account. Additionally, the company is based in Switzerland, which is outside the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliances. This is a good thing, as they aren’t required by law to share your personal information with authorities.

However, some basic details are collected, such as:

• Email address and username
• Payment info (not including your credit card number)
• Support tickets
• Device information (like the operating system you’re using)
• Cookie ID

While PrivadoVPN offers solid privacy, an independent security audit would improve trust. They can store collected data indefinitely, with no clear deletion timeline, and their ownership remains unclear since the company is fairly new, founded in April 2019.

Though they don’t keep data that personally identifies you, this uncertainty affects their trustworthiness. For VPNs with a proven no-logs policy, see my trusted recommendations.

5. Speed and Performance – Is PrivadoVPN fast?

When checking how fast PrivadoVPN performs, I used tools like SpeedTest, Measurement Lab, and Cloudflare to test speeds from both the UK and US using a fast 1 Gbps internet connection.

First, I measured the internet speed without the VPN, and then I tested it again using two protocols, WireGuard and OpenVPN. I ran multiple tests to ensure accuracy, conducting over 120 speed tests in total.

With OpenVPN, the speeds I recorded were around 120-130 Mbps. This is fast enough for browsing and streaming, but other VPNs, like Hide.me and Mullvad, performed better, reaching up to 500 Mbps.

On PrivadoVPN’s US servers, I received a download speed of 86.5 Mbps and an upload speed of 57.87 Mbps on our 100 Mbps internet connection. As you can see, I only faced a speed drop of 13.5%.

PrivadoVPN’s US servers provided faster speeds than distant servers in Hong Kong.

PrivadoVPN provided less fast speeds on its UK servers.

5. Streaming – Does it Unblock streaming Platforms?

PrivadoVPN lets you watch your favorite content by unlocking Netflix US, HBO Max, Disney+, and more. However, it couldn’t give me access to Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or BBC iPlayer.

Although it doesn’t offer streaming-optimized servers, it wasn’t a problem. The servers I tried worked well and provided superfast speeds, so I didn’t experience any lag. Still, I wish it could unlock more platforms.

PrivadoVPN also has a free version with a 10 GB data cap each month. With this limit, you can stream about 6 hours in HD before running out of data.

Unblocked Platforms: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, YouTube, and More

I easily accessed Netflix US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, and 10 other libraries. Movies and shows loaded quickly, and I enjoyed Ultra HD streaming without any delays.

After that, I tested HBO Max, and it worked great. I could watch Euphoria with no issues.

Using PrivadoVPN’s New York server, I also streamed Disney+ Hotstar and YouTube without problems.

Platforms Blocked: Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video

Unfortunately, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer didn’t work with PrivadoVPN. When I tried to log in to Hulu, the VPN got detected right away.

PrivadoVPN couldn’t unblock Hulu for me.

I was disappointed that PrivadoVPN couldn’t access these major streaming platforms since most premium VPNs can. If you’re looking for a VPN that unlocks everything, check out this list of top options.

6. Torrent – Is PrivadoVPN good for torrenting?

I experienced fast speeds while torrenting with PrivadoVPN. When I connected to its server in Paris, France, my download speed reached 1.5 MB/s. The VPN also follows a no-logs policy, meaning you can safely torrent files. For even faster seeding, you can use a SOCKS5 proxy, but I don’t recommend it because it doesn’t encrypt your traffic.

I had similar speeds when testing its servers in the UK and Germany. However, the VPN does not support port forwarding, which might have helped increase download speeds during P2P file sharing. Still, its entire network supports P2P connections.

Keep in mind that while torrenting is legal in many places, downloading copyrighted files is not. It’s important to check your country’s torrenting rules before downloading anything.

PrivadoVPN still has some ground to cover before competing with top-rated VPNs like ExpressVPN, which is known as the best VPN for torrenting in Hong Kong due to its all-around performance.

7. Device Compatibility — Which devices work with PrivadoVPN?

PrivadoVPN is available on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and more. You can even set it up on routers like pfSense, DD-WRT, and Asus models, making it perfect for watching shows on the big screen.

Even though PrivadoVPN doesn’t have browser extensions, its support for so many devices, including TVs, routers, and all major operating systems, is impressive. It’s not often you find such a wide range of options for a VPN at such an affordable price.

Setup & Installation — Quick and Simple

Getting PrivadoVPN up and running is really easy. I just clicked on download PrivadoVPN for Mac,” and the software started right away. In less than 2 minutes, I had the app installed on my MacBook.

Removing the VPN was also a breeze. I simply moved the PrivadoVPN app to the trash and emptied it.

8. Simultaneous Device Connections – Connect Up to 10 Devices 

With PrivadoVPN’s paid plans, you can connect up to 10 devices at once. However, the free plan only allows one device connection.

I tested its performance by streaming Netflix on multiple devices, including an iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, and MacBook. The speeds were smooth across all devices, and I didn’t notice any lag, which shows it works just as expected.

9. PrivadoVPN Customer Support

PrivadoVPN’s customer support team always responds within 24 hours, but unfortunately, there’s no 24/7 live chat option. Although their website mentions chat support, my experience shows that the only way to reach them is through email.

The answers I received were clear and helpful. For instance, when I asked about the missing kill switch while using OpenVPN, they explained that this feature is unavailable when using OpenVPN TCP.

PrivadoVPN offers good customer support in–Hong Kong.

While the customer service team is responsive, the lack of a 24/7 live chat can be frustrating, especially if you need help during a live event. If you prefer faster support, I suggest considering VPNs that offer 24/7 live chat such as ExpressVPN.

More VPN Guides By VPNRanks:

1. ExpressVPN review – The expert-choice VPN with guaranteed protection
2. NordVPN review – A wide server network VPN to offer vast security
3. Surfshark VPN review – A VPN with the best value for money
4. CyberGhost VPN review – A secure VPN with a 45-day money-back guarantee
5. VyprVPN review – A low-price VPN with impressive services
6. IPVanish review – A reliable VPN with excellent speeds
7. PureVPN review – A decent-sized server network VPN with improved features
8. ZenMate VPN review – A budget-friendly VPN for average use
9. Windscribe VPN Review – A trustworthy VPN with a widely used free plan

FAQs – PrivadoVPN Review in Hong Kong

Final Words

After going through this PrivadoVPN review in Hong Kong, I found that PrivadoVPN is a fast, secure, and easy-to-use VPN with a no-logs policy that keeps your data safe. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly VPN for torrenting and gaming, PrivadoVPN is a solid choice.

However, if you need a VPN with more server options, 24/7 live support, or reliable access in countries like China, there are better premium alternatives such as ExpressVPN that offer stronger performance and trusted money-back guarantees.