Atlas VPN Review 2024: Navigate the Online World With Confidence

Atlas VPN was a fast and secure virtual private network (VPN) that hid your local IP address with military-grade encryption while browsing the web, streaming videos, joining audio and video conference calls, gaming, or even torrenting. It was owned by Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN.

Tthe Atlas VPN free version was a great choice for basic web browsing but it wasn’t ideal for streaming due to its 10 GB monthly limit. For more data-intensive activities, we recommended the premium version of Atlas VPN, which worked quickly and successfully for us thanks to its unlimited bandwidth and other features.

Find out more in our full Atlas VPN review below.

Customizable Coverage That is Simple to Use

4.9

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

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VPN

NordVPN

Up to 66% off 2-year plans + 3 months extra

• Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
• Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
• 3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices
• Too many confusing plans

Atlas VPN overview

Who is Atlas VPN best for?

• Recommended for anyone on a tight budget who values their digital privacy and is seeking a free VPN for browsing or an affordable premium VPN for more bandwidth-heavy applications

If you care about your online privacy but are on a tight budget, Atlas VPN was a great option because it had both a generous free plan and a subscription premium plan that starts at just $1.64/mo. It also had a wide range of features that enhanced privacy and security and it offered unlimited simultaneous connections.

Additionally, Atlas VPN claimed to have a strict "no-logs" policy in its privacy policy. While this is great for those who value privacy, Atlas VPN collected 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, couldn’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 could be used to switch between different VPN server locations without being disconnected, which allowed you to take advantage of deals on airline flights or hotels that are not available in your region.

Atlas VPN pros and cons

Atlas VPN features

Atlas VPN was fast, secure, and had hundreds of servers to choose from worldwide. It also offered a wide range of features that made 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 was 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 made it a great choice for watching content on Netflix and other streaming services.

Atlas VPN also had 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.

Server count and countries

• 1,000 servers in 49 countries

Atlas VPN had 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.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• Atlas VPN logs policy: No logs
• Atlas VPN headquarters: New York, United States

Atlas VPN hada no-logs policy, meaning it didn't 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 was 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 ensured that they didn't 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 did collect device information to monitor and improve its service, as was stated in its privacy policy, this data wasn't associated with your online activities and it's 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, couldn't be independently verified.

Kill switch

Atlas VPN's kill switch feature was 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.

Split tunneling

Atlas VPN also had 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.

Encryption

The Atlas VPN app employed military-grade encryption to safeguard your internet traffic and protect your data. Its encryption options included AES 256-GCM cipher, known to be one of the most secure encryption standards available. The VPN also used SHA-384 and BLAKE2s hashing algorithms as well as the Poly1305 with ChaCha20 encryption protocol, which offers excellent security and performance.

Additionally, Atlas VPN implemented 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, ensured that your data remains private and secure.

VPN protocol

Atlas VPN used 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 used 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 offered powerful encryption that was difficult to penetrate and provided a fast, reliable, and secure VPN experience.

VPN bonus features

Atlas VPN had unique bonus features that ensure comprehensive online security and privacy. 

• SafeSwap servers allowed you to switch server locations without disconnecting your VPN connection. 
• SafeBrowse blockeds malicious websites (e.g., phishing) or ads and third-party trackers. 
• MultiHop+ doubled your encryption protection by routing traffic through two servers. 
• Data breach monitoring regularly scanned public databases to identify if any email addresses have been compromised by a data breach.

These bonus features catered to a variety of online security needs. For example, SafeSwap was ideal for users who need to switch server locations frequently, such as those who travel or work remotely. SafeBrowse gave people who want to keep their online privacy safe an extra layer of protection. MultiHop+ was 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.

Atlas VPN test results

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.

Speed tests

• Atlas VPN speed test results: Atlas VPN passed its speed test results.

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]

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.

Atlas VPN speed test results

Atlas VPN Netflix tests

• Atlas VPN Netflix test results: Atlas VPN passed its Netflix tests.
  

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 didn't work with Netflix in the U.K., even when we connected using a server in London. Despite this, Atlas VPN was still a great option for streaming Netflix in multiple countries.

Atlas VPN Netflix test results

DNS leak tests

• Atlas VPN DNS leak test results: Atlas VPN passed its DNS leak tests.

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 was a safe and secure VPN to use.

WebRTC leak tests

• Atlas VPN WebRTC leak test results: Atlas VPN failed its WebRTC leak test.

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.

Atlas VPN compatibility

Atlas VPN is compatible with the following operating systems and devices:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux Ubuntu
• Android TV
• Amazon Fire TV
• iOS
• Android

Atlas VPN customer support

Atlas VPN offered a comprehensive range of 24/7 customer support services. Customers could contact its customer support team via ticketing, email, or live chat.

Atlas VPN’s website also had 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 prices and subscriptions

Atlas VPN had two subscription plans: a free plan and a Premium plan. The free version included 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 offered 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.

The Premium plan started for as low as $1.64/mo for a 2 Years + 6 Months Extra and $3.29/mo for a 1 Year.

In addition, Atlas VPN offered 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 received three extra months of service and a 30-day money-back guarantee, which was great for budget-conscious students who use the internet often for their needs.

Atlas VPN offered a variety of payment options, so you can choose one that suits your needs. It offered a 1-month plan, a 1-year plan, and a 3-year plan, which is detailed below. Atlas VPN accepted major credit cards, PayPal, and Google Pay as payment methods.

Atlas VPN cost

Atlas VPN FAQs

Bottom line: Is Atlas VPN good?

Atlas VPN was a reliable and user-friendly VPN service that offers both a free and premium version. The free version was limited in terms of server locations, connection speeds, and data usage, but the premium version provided 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 was a great option for those who want a simple and effective VPN solution that provides fast and secure internet access. 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.

Limited-time offer: 86% off 2-year VPN plan + 6 months extra

4.6

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Atlas VPN's website

Atlas VPN

• Budget-friendly
• Fast and reliable for streaming
• Doesn’t bypass all streaming services

Author Details

Mars Groves

About the Author

Mars is a California-based cybersecurity professional and writer currently pursuing a B.S. in Cybersecurity. With interests ranging from OSINT to ethical hacking and threat intelligence, Mars leverages his two years of writing experience to produce informative content on topics such as Internet guides and VPNs.