ClearVPN Review 2025: Is It a Clear Choice for a VPN?

ClearVPN might be one of the easiest virtual private networks (VPNs) to use for your everyday activities, like streaming. The Ukrainian service is a blend of the best encryption protocols out there at a low cost.

ClearVPN also features a well-designed interface that provides everything needed to get you up and running quickly, including a location changer, a smart connection option, and a streaming tool.

When we tested ClearVPN, it unblocked every international streaming service we threw at it, although it didn't perform well in speed tests. We also experienced performance issues when ClearVPN tried to connect to the "Optimal location."

Based on our experience, we wouldn't say ClearVPN is one of the best VPNs for the price. But it's an easy-to-use VPN with some merits. Let's take a look.

At a glance

We last tested ClearVPN on May 30, 2025.

Why Settle for Less Than the Best?

5.0

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 NordVPN's website

2025 Editor’s Choice

Best Overall VPN

VPN

NordVPN

Save up to 76% off

• #1 rated VPN with over 7,000 ultra-secure, high-speed servers in 125 countries
• Reliably unblock popular streaming services like Netflix with a single click
• All-in-one security product with antivirus, ad blocker, password manager, and more

Our experience

Installing ClearVPN was straightforward and simple. Once we purchased our subscription for the trial and downloaded the Windows app, all we needed to do was log into the client.

We could pick from any of the 50 countries to connect to. ClearVPN provides the option to scroll, search, and sort the list by name and speed. Additionally, ClearVPN suggests servers based on various categories, including cost, censorship, and privacy.

A unique feature of ClearVPN is the ability to receive recommendations based on the specific streaming service you want to connect to by selecting Streaming services. We also had the option to choose Optimal location to achieve the fastest speeds.

Initially, we had a positive experience connecting to the optimized server in New York from our East Coast location. But then our experience started getting a little weird. ClearVPN had difficulty maintaining a stable connection to the optimized server, so it automatically connected to a server in Panama City. 

During the reconnecting process, it tanked our system performance. This also happened again later during testing, to which ClearVPN automatically reconnected us to a server in the Netherlands. It seemed that whenever ClearVPN couldn't connect to our desired server, it would redirect us to an alternative location without displaying an error message. 

Once we started testing the VPN's speed, this issue worsened, as we experienced some of the worst speeds yet among all the VPNs we tested. We'll discuss that further in our test results below.

Aside from poor speed performance and unstable server connections, our experience with the app was okay. We think the user interface could be more intuitive, such as displaying the kill switch more clearly. And we'd also like to see less app lag overall. Otherwise, ClearVPN is a good option for streaming. 

Who is ClearVPN best for?

• Recommended for beginner VPN users who are interested in privacy and ease of use.

Ease of use is one of ClearVPN’s main highlights. It's clear that MacPaw, the developer, took time to assess what is necessary in a VPN interface. While the design looks simple, it is very inviting and lays out everything in big clickable icons.

The settings are also clear and understandable, with no cumbersome jargon getting in the way of your privacy. That makes ClearVPN an excellent choice if you’re a VPN newbie — or if you prefer a simple approach instead of a features-packed service.

The service’s privacy aspect is equally as important. ClearVPN utilizes the same AES 256-bit encryption as the best VPNs, such as NordVPN. It has a no-logs policy, keeping your most private data out of anyone's hands.

This all comes at a competitive price that’s based on the length of the plan you subscribe to. Paying for a plan with a longer subscription length is one way to easily save money on a VPN if you intend to use it for an extended period.

ClearVPN pricing

ClearVPN's subscriptions are either monthly or annual, with the latter offering the best savings. However, even the annual rate is higher than other premium competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark, which offer more specialty servers, security features, and bundled security software. 

ClearVPN features

With a paid subscription, you unlock ClearVPN's full server network, with locations in 50 countries. You can also connect up to 6 devices, which isn’t as many as top premium VPNs, but it may be more than enough for you.

ClearVPN comes with a kill switch, split tunneling, an ad blocker, and a smart connection tool, which we'll dive into as well.

Server count and countries

• 50+ servers in 50 countries

ClearVPN operates 50+ servers servers in 50 countries, which is relatively few compared to top VPNs like NordVPN, which boasts 7,800+ servers servers.

Why does this matter? A high server count can be necessary to limit server congestion, as it gives you more servers in the same location to choose from. If you connect to a congested server and experience slow internet speeds, you can hop over to the next nearest server to see if your connection improves.

But as mentioned in our experience, it was cool to see a list of optimized servers by streaming platform. We utilized the Netflix servers during our testing by selecting Netflix US from the Streaming services list.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• ClearVPN logs policy: No logs
• ClearVPN headquarters: Kyiv, Ukraine

ClearVPN is a product of MacPaw, a company focused on creating Apple-based solutions. Based in Kyiv, Ukraine, MacPaw and ClearVPN therefore operate outside of the Five, Nine, and 14 Eyes Alliances. These alliances enable certain countries to collect and share surveillance data, which may include VPN logs.

In this case, Ukraine is not obligated to retain or disclose any records of your activity. And ClearVPN doesn’t collect any logs outside of the information necessary to create your account, upholding its strict no-logs policy.

However, at this time, ClearVPN hasn’t completed a logs audit by an independent company, something we’d like to see it address in the future.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is a common VPN feature that allows you to choose which websites you want to be routed through your VPN and which ones you don't. This is useful for people who want to be protected while using certain apps (like their browser), but want full speed for other apps (like video games).

With the VPN disconnected, we could toggle on the feature via the Split tunneling tab. Now, ClearVPN automatically enables its beta protocol Hysteria2 when split tunneling is active. 

Once toggled on, we can specify which domains should use the VPN and which should bypass it, which is more extensive than most split-tunneling features we've seen.

Kill switch

If your VPN service drops for any reason, a kill switch disconnects your device from the internet until the VPN connection is secure again. This is important to keep your connection encrypted and not leak your IP address or other data if the VPN stops working.

Since this is an important security feature, it's fortunate that ClearVPN does have it. It took us a beat to find this important feature, and we didn't like that the kill switch was buried in the System settings tab, which is accessible from Settings.

VPN protocols

When we strip away the fun streaming aspect, a VPN is, at its core, a cybersecurity tool. The encryption and protocols do a lot of the heavy lifting to keep you safe.

ClearVPN offers two strong protocols, IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN. The best option is to let the service choose the protocol, which is easy with the "auto" option.

ClearVPN also offers a new Hysteria2 (beta) protocol that automatically connects when split tunneling is enabled.

Ad blocker

ClearVPN includes an ad blocker called ClearWeb. You can enable it in your VPN app to work while you're connected, or you can install a free browser extension.

We tested this feature by visiting a few sites notorious for having a lot of ads. While it was able to block sponsored Google results and all the banner ads on Forbes, it's unable to block YouTube video ads.

Still, it's a nice and lightweight addition to an affordable VPN.

ClearVPN test results

A VPN is a great tool to use when you want to keep your data private while using the internet. But routing your IP address through servers far away to disguise it can slow down your internet speeds. That's why we test VPNs beforehand to know how much they affect performance.

We also verify that the extra features they claim to offer actually work as intended.

Speed tests

• Speed test results: ClearVPN slowed down our internet speed by an average of 91.5%.

For real-world speed tests, we used a Windows 11 laptop from a physical location (Pennsylvania) in the United States. Our baseline speed (without a VPN connection) was 737 Mbps for downloading and 35 Mbps for uploading. Then we turned on ClearVPN to see whether it slowed our connection, and it definitely did. 

The download speeds slowed down considerably in all servers, coming in at an average speed reduction of 91.5%. Though some loss is expected when connected to a VPN, ClearVPN unfortunately showed some of the worst speeds we've seen during our tests.

To be fair, ClearVPN's internet speeds when connected to an optimized NY server were still good for someone looking to video conference or stream a show. It's not like you wouldn't be able to browse or conduct regular activities. 161 Mbps is not a bad download speed by itself, but it is relatively bad compared to our baseline speed of 737 Mbps. Comparatively, our speeds clearly tanked when we connected to servers in Vancouver, London, and Sydney.

Even still, ClearVPN didn't totally prevent us from streaming Netflix.

Netflix tests

• Netflix test results: ClearVPN successfully unblocked every Netflix library we tried

Watching Netflix with ClearVPN was possible, but not totally seamless. We connected to servers in New York, Vancouver, London, and Sydney to see if we could unblock geo-restricted content on Netflix and other streaming services. We had the most trouble connecting to the U.K. server, and it took a few tries until we received a stable connection.

DNS and WebRTC leak tests

• DNS leak test results: Pass
• WebRTC leak test results: Pass

We tested ClearVPN for both a DNS leak and a WebRTC leak using the trusted site Browserleaks.com. Testing a VPN for leaks is crucial, especially if you plan to use it to maintain online anonymity.

DNS (Domain Name System) is the link between you and a website. IP address information is exchanged with a DNS and can be seen by your internet service provider (ISP) or by unwanted third parties, such as hackers.

What we wanted to know is if ClearVPN would hide or leak information about our DNS, and fortunately, it passed the test. 

WebRTC facilitates peer-to-peer communication on a website, particularly for video conferencing. We tested this, and the WebRTC came up leak-free as well.

Kill switch test

• Kill switch test results: Pass

To ensure a kill switch is working, we visit IPleaks.net while connected to a server and let it run while we connect to a new server. If our real IP shows up between the first and second servers, then the kill switch isn't working as intended.

Thankfully, ClearVPN passed the kill switch test, as our real IP address in Pennsylvania didn't show up when we switched servers.

ClearVPN compatibility

Even though MacPaw specializes in Mac products, ClearVPN can handle most device types. Which is great if you have six devices on different operating systems. These include:

• macOS
• Windows
• iOS
• Android

It also has a Chrome web extension.

ClearVPN customer support

ClearVPN provides 24/7 customer support through live chat, email, and an online help guide. If you can't find the information you need in the guides, you're encouraged to reach out for your answer.

Online guides

We navigated to the ClearVPN support page, where a search bar and several drop-down categories are available to help you find answers to your questions.

Most of these guides were very brief, with some of them consisting of only one sentence. That said, we were able to find some of the answers to our questions during our research for this review, so it wasn't completely unhelpful.

Live chat

To access the live chat, we navigated to the support page. From there, we clicked on the small chat bubble at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. On the bottom right of your screen, in the support section, should be a small chat bubble. 

Email

You can email the ClearVPN support team by completing a form on their website. During our previous testing, we needed verification on how many servers ClearVPN operates, so we contacted customer support via email. 

We received a reply a day later, and the support team was very nice and provided help. A short while afterward, we received another email checking in on us and asking if we needed any further assistance. This was a sign of great customer service.

Top alternatives

ClearVPN has its merits, but it also has its flaws. If you're looking for more reliable VPN connections, faster download speeds, and advanced security features like obfuscation, consider our top-tested recommendations. 

Award	Best overall VPN	Best value VPN	Best Apple VPN
Star rating	5.0 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.	4.8 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.	4.8 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.
Price	$3.39–$17.99/mo	$2.19–$20.65/mo	$2.19–$12.99/mo
Max # of connected devices	10	Unlimited	7
# of servers	7,800+ servers in 125 countries	3,200+ servers in 100 countries	Unlisted in 100 countries
Netflix access
Learn more	Get NordVPN	Get Surfshark	Get CyberGhost

ClearVPN FAQs

Bottom line: Is ClearVPN any good?

ClearVPN is a good VPN service that unblocks Netflix and offers a reasonable price. We like that it has a strict no-logs policy, strengthened by its headquarters in Ukraine. ClearVPN also has great streaming connectivity and responsive customer service.

At the same time, when we tested for speed, ClearVPN was slower than other VPNs we've tested. That's something that could cause concern. We also found its self-help articles not expansive enough to help with potential problems. (We recommend talking to customer service instead.)

So while ClearVPN has a few flaws, that doesn't mean we don't recommend it. Although it's not as fast or reliable as NordVPN or Surfshark, ClearVPN is still worth considering, especially since it supports Ukraine by offering a free VPN app to all residents.

4.0

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 ClearVPN's website

VPN

ClearVPN

• User-friendly interface
• Streams Netflix and other services

Author Details

Sameer Narain

About the Author

Sameer M. Narain is a freelance writer with a foundation in systems, software, and hardware. With over 10 years of experience in testing various antivirus programs, data encryption programs, VPNs, and drive defragmentation software, he is adept at synthesizing information for the everyday reader and tech enthusiast. He has a special interest in staying secure for big team-related projects where confidentiality is king, therefore his writing often attempts to solve the bigger picture with easily accessible programs.

Kate Quinlan