ClearVPN Review 2026: Is It a Clear Choice for a VPN?

ClearVPN is a solid pick if you want a simple VPN with fast downloads. Developed by MacPaw, it stands out with its clean interface and smart server recommendations.

In our latest testing, ClearVPN posted its best download speeds yet and passed our DNS and WebRTC leak tests. Its regular servers unblocked every Netflix library we tried. But its Netflix-specific servers wouldn't load Netflix, and it failed our kill switch test for the second time in a row. ClearVPN also hasn't completed an independent audit of its no-logs policy.

We'll explore ClearVPN's performance, features, pricing, and more in this review.

At a glance

4.3

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.

VPN

ClearVPN

• Streaming-focused VPN that unlocked Netflix in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia in our testing thanks to dedicated streaming servers
• Headquartered in Ukraine, outside the Five Eyes alliance, with a no-logs policy that keeps your browsing private
• Includes a Chrome extension that blocks ads, trackers, and threats while you browse

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Our experience

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

ClearVPN's server list is clean: we could 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 get server recommendations based on the streaming service you want to use. Just select Streaming services. But the Netflix servers we tried didn't work. We cover that in our test results below.

ClearVPN's Optimal location connected us to New York, which we expected to be the fastest option. But it cut our download speeds by over 70%. In the server list, ClearVPN labeled Dallas as the fastest, and several other servers showed lower ping rates.

ClearVPN has also added protection levels to its dashboard to ensure you're making the most of the VPN. You can find these underneath the server list button on the dashboard. Here, you can easily enable toggles for all of ClearVPN's security features like ad blocking, threat protection, and parental controls. 

Our experience with the app was mostly good. The interface is intuitive, and speeds were much better than in past tests. But the kill switch is buried in the settings, and it failed our test again.

ClearVPN prices and plans 

ClearVPN's subscriptions range from $3.75–$9.99/mo. You can purchase a weekly, monthly, or annual plan, with the latter offering the best savings. 

But the annual rate is higher than other premium competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark, which offer more specialty servers, security features, and bundled security software. NordVPN starts at $3.49/mo and Surfshark starts at $2.49/mo.

ClearVPN features

With a paid subscription, you unlock ClearVPN's full server network, with locations in 56 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

• Unlisted in 56 countries

ClearVPN operates servers in 56 countries. Considering we don't know the actual server count, it's hard to determine how it compares to other services. 

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.

We liked seeing a list of servers optimized for specific streaming platforms. Just note that when we tried the Netflix U.S. and Netflix U.K. servers, neither one loaded Netflix. 

No-logs policy and headquarters

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

ClearVPN is a product of MacPaw, a company known for Apple-based solutions. Based in Kyiv, Ukraine, MacPaw and ClearVPN therefore operate outside of the 5, 9, 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 could 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.

It took us a moment to find the kill switch, and we didn't like that it 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 three strong protocols: WireGuard, 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.

Protection levels

ClearVPN has expanded beyond just the VPN service with its protection levels tab. From here, you can enable malicious ad blocking, scam and phishing protection, and parental controls, also known as Kid Safe Mode. You can also add the ClearVPN extension to your browser from here. 

Kid Safe Mode is a new ClearVPN feature created as an extra layer of protection while your children browse online. With this toggle, you can block your child's access to harmful content, defend them from malicious sites, and keep their browsing private. 

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 decreased our download speeds by an average of 23%.

For real-world speed tests, we used our MacBook in a physical location in the United States. First, we determined our baseline speed (without a VPN connection). 

Then we turned on ClearVPN to calculate how several servers around the world would impact our speeds. 

ClearVPN's Optimal Location picked a server in New York, which slowed our download speeds to about 150 Mbps. We decided to manually search for a server in our state and found that the app labeled Dallas as the fastest location, so we switched to that. 

The Dallas server barely touched our speeds. Our download speed dropped by less than half a percent, and our latency didn't change at all. In our last test, the New York server cut our download speed by about 9% and raised our latency by 165%.

Download speeds stayed strong across every server we tried. Our biggest drop was about 21% on the Sydney server, compared to about 45% last time. 

Upload speeds were a different story. They fell by an average of about 61%, and the Canada server cut our upload speed by about 82%. If you upload large files or video call a lot, you might notice this. Still, our browsing never felt slow on any server, even Sydney.

Latency went up as we connected to servers farther away. That's normal for any VPN. For the best results, check which server ClearVPN labels as the fastest.

Netflix tests

• Netflix test results: ClearVPN unblocked every Netflix library we tested, but its Netflix servers didn't work.

We watched Netflix with standard U.S., Canadian, U.K., and Australian servers without any streaming errors.

ClearVPN has dedicated streaming servers for different countries and services. We tried its Netflix servers for the US and the UK, and neither one worked. Netflix wouldn't even load. 

Instead, we got an error saying the site couldn't provide a secure connection. That's a letdown, since those servers exist specifically for Netflix. 

Luckily, ClearVPN's regular servers in those same countries unlocked Netflix with no trouble. If a streaming server doesn't work for you, switch to a regular server in the same country.

DNS and WebRTC leak tests

• DNS leak test results: ClearVPN passed its DNS leak test.
• WebRTC leak test results: ClearVPN passed its WebRTC leak test.

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 WebRTC came up leak-free as well.

Kill switch test

• Kill switch test results: ClearVPN failed our kill switch test.

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.

earVPN failed this test again. Our true location appeared when we switched servers. This issue persisted no matter which server we used, so we consider this a failed result. 

ClearVPN compatibility

Even though MacPaw specializes in Mac products, ClearVPN can handle most device types. This is great if you have 6 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 assistance.

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 the guides still had some value.

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. 

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. That follow-up showed attentive supporte.

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. 

	NordVPN	Surfshark	Proton VPN
Award	Best features	Best value VPN	Best privacy 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.	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.	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.
Price	$3.49–$29.99/mo	$2.49–$21.85/mo	$2.99–$9.99/mo
Max # of connected devices	10	Unlimited	10
# of servers	8,400+ servers in 160+ countries	4,500+ servers in 100 countries	20,700+ servers in 149 countries
Netflix access
Learn more	Get NordVPN	Get Surfshark	Get Proton VPN

Bottom line: Is ClearVPN any good?

ClearVPN is a good fit for beginners who want fast downloads and a simple app. Its regular servers unblocked every Netflix library we tested, and it passed our DNS and WebRTC leak tests. We also like that it's based in Ukraine, outside the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes Alliances.

But it has real flaws. It failed our kill switch test for the second time in a row, so your real location could show when you switch servers. Its Netflix-specific servers didn't load Netflix at all. Upload speeds also dropped by about 61% on average, which you might notice on video calls or big uploads. And we'd feel more confident if a third party audited its no-logs policy.

ClearVPN has come a long way on speed. But if privacy is your top priority, a VPN with a dependable kill switch is the safer choice. Check out our best VPNs for top-tested alternatives.

Change logs

ClearVPN FAQs

4.3

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

See Price

On ClearVPN's website

VPN

ClearVPN

• Streaming-focused VPN that unlocked Netflix in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia in our testing thanks to dedicated streaming servers
• Headquartered in Ukraine, outside the Five Eyes alliance, with a no-logs policy that keeps your browsing private
• Includes a Chrome extension that blocks ads, trackers, and threats while you browse

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