Total VPN Review 2024: Safe and Simple

Total VPN is a good virtual private network (VPN) service for people looking to stay safe from hackers on public Wi-Fi or generally mask their online activities. 

It uses IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols and offers 50-plus VPN servers. The Ultimate VPN plan comes with TotalAV antivirus and Total Adblock at a great introductory price. The functionality was seamless and offered leak protection on all of the server locations we tested. 

There’s no free plan but there’s also no data cap, which means you can use it unrestricted. You’ll likely not be able to use Total VPN to unblock streaming, but that doesn’t mean it can’t help keep you safe online. 

Let’s explore TotalVPN's features and functionality and see if they’re what you need in a VPN.

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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.

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• At home and on the go secure VPN protection with worldwide server network and VPN killswitch
• OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols available to tailor for increased privacy or better speeds
• Includes adblockers and award-winning antivirus and malware protection, even on smartphones and tablets
• Doesn't unblock Netflix

Total VPN review at a glance

Who is Total VPN best for?

• Recommended for anyone who wants a no-frills VPN wrapped into their antivirus.

Formerly known as the Safe Browsing VPN, TotalAV’s VPN is wrapped into its antivirus software. If you want to use it, you can purchase Total VPN, which includes TotalAV antivirus as well as Total Adblock, or you can opt for one of TotalAV's premium tiers. 

If you're looking to simply protect your device from malware, hackers, invasive ads, and other cyberthreats, Total VPN's got you covered. However, it may not be best for other activities, like streaming and gaming. Netflix detected and blocked TotalVPN regardless of the server location we used. Its server options are limited, but at least the ones we used worked well.

TotalAV VPN pros and cons

Total VPN prices and subscriptions

TotalVPN only has one plan, which comes with TotalAV antivirus and Total Adblock included. You can also opt for one of TotalAV's antivirus plans, but only the Internet Security and Total Security plans include the VPN. 

The best deal is to either purchase the Total VPN package or the Total Security plan. Both come at a decent price for the first year, but Total Security costs a bit extra and comes with extras like a password manager. Total Security also allows for double the amount of devices.

As far as pricing goes, if you’re comparing antivirus software to see which one offers the best VPN, this is definitely one of the better options we’ve seen. And the yearly pricing model is great for the first year.

Additionally, you’ll receive the ad blocker that’s included with TotalAV. That means you’ll have antivirus, ad blocking, and a VPN, all at your fingertips for one price and in one dashboard. 

TotalAV + VPN cost

You can purchase any of these plans with a credit card or PayPal.

TotalAV Safe Browsing VPN features

Because this VPN began as part of an antivirus package, it doesn’t have as many features as a standalone VPN providers, like Surfshark or CyberGhost. What it does offer is strong encryption and a nice list of servers as well as a user-friendly dashboard, where you can toggle quickly between TotalAV features.

Server count and countries

• 50+ servers in 30+ countries

TotalAV doesn’t offer a lot of servers, but that’s okay as long as the ones available work well, which they do. The number and locations of the servers offered are pretty good. We'd love to see additional servers added across Asia, Europe, and Africa, but Total VPN has a good spread of countries so far.

If you’re looking to access content from different countries, you’ll have plenty to choose from with this VPN. Total VPN offers server locations in Canada, Germany, Japan, and more. It also offers servers in major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• Total VPN logs policy: No logs
• Total VPN headquarters: U.K.

There isn’t a ton of information on Total VPN’s no-logging policy and the language in the privacy policy dances around a little bit. The most we know is that the VPN claims to not log your metadata, but there may be IP information logged. We also know that TotalAV has been tested, at least with its antivirus product, by independent testing labs.

Unfortunately, VPNs aren’t checked for logging, so the most information we have is that the privacy policy is unclear, but it doesn’t really log your data.

Making sure your VPN doesn’t log your data is important when choosing a VPN. Data logs can be traced back to you. Since TotalAV’s headquarters is in the U.K., and England is a Five Eyes alliance country, there’s always a chance that the government can demand any logged data that any company within its borders has on you.

Security features

• Split tunneling: No, Total VPN doesn’t have split tunneling.
• Kill switch: No, Total VPN doesn’t have a kill switch.
• VPN protocols: OpenVPN and IKEv2

There are several features that are useful in any VPN. Although Total VPN doesn't offer a kill switch or split tunneling, we hope it adds those features in the future. 

Split tunneling routes traffic through multiple VPN servers or no server at all, depending on what you choose. You would need split tunneling when you log in to your mobile banking app, for example. Most mobile banking sites don’t like VPN-encrypted traffic, so split tunneling allows you to encrypt all your traffic while also logging in to your bank quickly.

A kill switch severs your internet connection in the event your VPN connection drops. This keeps your IP address hidden even if the VPN isn’t active.

This may elicit some wild imaginary story where you’re a secret agent racing against the clock to smuggle political refugees out of hostile territory, but your adversary is trying to find you. They’re able to take down all of the VPNs everywhere, but your kill switch activates, and your location is safe. 

In real life, though, it’s much more likely that someone is trying to hack you, but they need your IP to do it. A kill switch saves you in both situations.

VPN protocols are what power the encryption. There are old ones and new ones. Some VPNs build their own. What matters is that it’s secure. It’s even better if you have some options, so you can choose which one you want, as they do have some benefits in various situations. 

OpenVPN is an excellent protocol to enhance your online privacy while IKEv2 is a solid backup.

Our experience with TotalAV's Safe Browsing VPN

We tested Total VPN on our MacBook with an M2 chip. We were able to download the TotalAV antivirus with no problem, and connecting to the VPN within the antivirus dashboard was extremely easy. 

The only real issue we ran into was trying to find information on the VPN and its features. TotalAV isn’t forthcoming with all of that, and we wish it offered more VPN-specific language.

Using the Total VPN app was pretty simple. There isn’t much to it, but it does protect you well and won’t slow down your internet connection. We weren’t able to unblock Netflix, so we tried going to Hulu. Hulu also detected the VPN.

When we did the WebRTC and DNS leak tests, we found that the servers aren’t hiding the fact they’re VPN servers. This means you’ll likely not be able to use them with any streaming service to unblock geo-restricted content.

TotalAV VPN test results

Most people use VPNs for safety, security, and the ability to unblock geo-restricted content on streaming sites. Of course, none of those matter if the VPN slows your internet connection down past the ability to be viable. 

That’s why we test for speed, the ability to unblock streaming, and IP address leaks. Total VPN passed two out of the three with flying colors.

Speed tests

• Total VPN speed test results: Pass

When testing your VPN for speed, you'll need to look for download speed, which determines how fast you can view things on your end, like streaming video or webpage loading. You also need to keep an eye on your ping number: the higher it is, the more likely you’ll notice a lag. Upload speed is important if you’re working and need to do things like add screenshots to your VPN review. If it takes forever to upload a piece of media, it can slow down your workday a lot.

When we tested Total VPN, even with the high ping rates for the U.K. and Australia, we didn’t notice too much of a slowdown. It’s a fraction of a second difference that shouldn’t hinder your ability to use the internet. Overall, we were glad to see that TotalAV’s VPN is great for everyday use.

TotalAV VPN speed test results

TotalAV VPN Netflix tests

• TotalAV VPN Netflix test results: Failed

We had high hopes for Total VPN’s ability to unblock streaming sites. When we first logged in to Netflix, everything looked good. About 15 seconds in, however, we received a message letting us know Netflix saw the VPN and wasn’t about to let that malarky slide.

Subsequent tries with other countries’ servers yielded the same results. We even went over to Hulu to see if it was a Netflix-specific issue, but we still had no luck there. 

If you’re hoping to unblock geo-restricted content, we suggest going with a service like Surfshark or CyberGhost, which both use obfuscated servers. Obfuscated servers hide your VPN use, which makes it harder for sites like Netflix to see your VPN and block you. This means you can watch Netflix with a VPN and enjoy all the benefits of global content.

Total VPN Netflix test results

DNS and WebRTC leak tests

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

Domain Name System (DNS) is the internet’s phonebook. It translates the language we speak into computer language and back again, so what we type into our web browsers takes us to the page we’re looking for online. This also means that personal information like your IP address is shared in these online interactions.

When you use a VPN to encrypt your traffic, it hides that personal information so anyone spying can’t see what you’re doing. Total VPN passed with no leaks, but the site we used to test was able to see we were on a Mac and using a VPN. You don’t need to worry about your IP address leaking, but this kind of information is likely why all attempts to unblock streaming services will fail.

Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) communicates similarly to DNS by trading information, but when you’re establishing a phone or video connection. In this capacity, there’s also the potential that your IP address is leaked, so making sure your VPN masks it is essential for privacy.

Since so much of the internet uses video and audio now, WebRTC is not just for Zoom meetings and Signal calls. Total VPN was able to successfully encrypt data when tested for WebRTC leaks. So go ahead and FaceTime your mom. She misses you.

Total VPN compatibility

TotalAV is compatible with The Big Four: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. The site says it has downloads for Windows and Mac as well as apps available in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store, so you can also get an iPhone or Android app to protect your smart phone.

Since you can connect up to three devices simultaneously, Total VPN is good for a single person or couple who have a few devices each, or a family who each are using it only on one device. If you need a VPN that covers more, we suggest one like Surfshark or Private Internet Access (PIA), which offer unlimited simultaneous connections.

Total VPN customer support

For the VPN, you need to visit Total VPN site and select the Support button. From there, you can select categories for technical product support, account support, and billing support for further information. 

We found a note in TotalAV's terms of service that it offers 24/7 chat support, but when we clicked on the link, it just led us to the same Support page. We explored the Help Center thoroughly, and all we could find were self-help guides. 

There wasn’t a chat box, community forum page, or email where we could ask specific questions. There wasn’t even a search bar where we could type in a question. And the only phone number we found was in reference to billing support (833-201-8681).

If your issue doesn’t fall within one of the three categories on the support page, you're kind of stuck. This is a huge con for us. A cybersecurity product needs to offer at least one method of asking specific questions, even if that’s organized community forums and nothing official from the site itself.

Total VPN alternatives

Whether you’re looking for a clearer privacy policy or a VPN that can let you watch content from all over the world, we've listed some VPNs that are proven to be safe and effective.

ExpressVPN is a safety powerhouse, Surfshark allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, and NordVPN is known for beating the VPN blockers on streaming sites. Whichever you choose, we think you’ll be happy with the features offered by all of these top VPN choices.

• NordVPN: NordVPN offers several products, like a password manager, cloud storage, and even Nord Threat Protection, which can be bundled together to give you a full security suite. Everything is located in a handy dashboard that gives you access to all of your Nord products, so you don’t have to worry about searching for them. It’s also great at unblocking streaming so you can watch geo-restricted content from anywhere.
  
  Get NordVPN | Read Our NordVPN Review
• Surfshark: Surfshark offers a variety of plans and pricing depending on the features you choose. You could go with just the VPN or go all the way up to Surfshark One+, which includes a VPN, identity theft protection, and cybersecurity. Surfshark also offers obfuscated servers, which help hide your VPN usage and unblock geo-restricted content on streaming platforms.
  
  Get Surfshark | Read Our Surfshark Review
• ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN might be a little bit pricier than its competitors, but it comes with proven security to back up its cost. It’s the only VPN to release a proprietary router that will cover your entire internet connection on every device, including smart speakers, to make sure all of your activity is concealed. ExpressVPN is so committed to security that it even built its own VPN protocol, Lightway, so it can ensure its security is top-notch.
  
  Get ExpressVPN | Read Our ExpressVPN Review

Total VPN FAQs

Bottom line: Is Total VPN good?

Total VPN is good as an add-on for TotalAV’s antivirus offering. We liked that it’s fast and secure, and we could switch it on without any difficulty. We were also impressed with the amount of servers and countries offered, given it’s wrapped into an antivirus product.

Overall though, we wouldn’t purchase TotalAV just for the added VPN, but we would definitely use it bundled into our TotalAV product. VPNs that are wrapped into another product are extremely useful to switch on in a pinch.

If you need to encrypt your Wi-Fi connection in a hurry and prevent your data from leaking, Total VPN does the trick. But if you’re looking for the ability to unblock regional content on streaming, torrent large files securely, or even split-tunnel your traffic, we would suggest using a different, well-regarded VPN service.

Antivirus and Adblocking Included For Free

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 TotalVPN's website

VPN

TotalVPN

Save 85% off

• At home and on the go secure VPN protection with worldwide server network and VPN killswitch
• OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols available to tailor for increased privacy or better speeds
• Includes adblockers and award-winning antivirus and malware protection, even on smartphones and tablets
• Doesn't unblock Netflix

Author Details

Mary James

About the Author

Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.