Tom's Guide Verdict
Atlas VPN free offers excellent connection speeds and a decent monthly data limit, and also surprises with impressive streaming unblocking power. However, its limited feature-set and wide range of small issues means it can’t quite challenge the very best – yet.
Pros
- +
Unblocks Disney Plus
- +
Decent speeds
- +
10GB monthly data limit, and 2GB per day on Mac
Cons
- -
Limited server locations
- -
Some privacy concerns
- -
A little clunky to work through
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- Specs
- Privacy
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- Speed
- Verdict
Atlas VPN is a relatively new service, having been founded in 2019. However, it is part of the ever-growing security programs under the Nord Security umbrella, the same parent company responsible for NordVPN and, recently, Surfshark. However, this free VPN service works independently from other parts of the company.
Atlas VPN Free only has three server locations, with two of those located within the United States. The third is in the Netherlands. For paying customers this increases to over 750 servers in 37 countries.
Atlas VPN is compatible with PCs and Mac, both Android and iOS smartphones, and also Android TV and Amazon Five TV. While premium users can unblock all the popular TV streaming apps, we were able to unlock Disney Plus with Atlas VPN Free. Some users have even reported success being able to access Netflix – and although we wouldn’t rely on it, this is a very nice bonus to have.
- Click to head straight through to the Atlas VPN website
Atlas VPN Free review: specs
Number of servers: 3
Number of countries: 2
Platforms supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Simultaneous connections: 2
Split tunneling: Android
Kill switch: Yes
Supported protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec
Country of registration: USA
Support: email, knowledgebase
Atlas VPN Free review: Privacy and logging
Atlas VPN uses the highest encryption available to ensure anything you send through its servers is well scrambled and hard to trace back to you. It has DNS protections, which are especially helpful when using public internet connections because it keeps snoops from hacking into your connection and swiping personal information. Atlas VPN also has a kill switch that quickly disables your internet connection if the VPN ever drops or is compromised in any way.
We tested Atlas’s security, and for the most part, it did well. The kill switch blocked our activity when the VPN failed, and we didn’t detect signs of DNS leaks. However, the kill switch does have some hiccups. You need to disable it every time you stop using Atlas VPN, otherwise, internet access remains blocked even with the VPN inactive.
Atlas VPN has a no logging policy, but there are a few concerning aspects of this company. For instance, we tested its ability to detect third-party trackers (which isn’t a feature available with the free version), and it blocked three trackers on its own website, including Google Analytics and Facebook. Also, the cookies used on its website aren’t easy to bypass. The notice itself only has an option to “Accept.”
It’s also important to note that Atlas VPN is based in Delaware, USA. This means while it may have a strict no-logging policy, it may be subject to some information gathering based on local laws, though the information doesn’t need to be kept for longer than 30 days.
Atlas VPN has put itself through an independent audit to help it find weaknesses and other issues. However, this audit has only been done on iOS devices, so there really isn’t any transparent or third-party information to verify its security on other devices.
(Image credit: Atlas VPN)Atlas VPN Free review: Windows and Mac apps
Atlas VPN's free tier gives you access to some important features, like a kill switch, P2P capabilities on every server, and the WireGuard protocol. However, you can’t set the app to automatically connect when you start up your computer. Also missing is split tunneling capability. This means you can’t decide to funnel specific data through the VPN while leaving others unaffected. This isn’t the biggest deal breaker, but it does mean your data limit may be reached faster.
On that note, there is a monthly data limit, but while it’s 10GB a month for Windows users, Mac users get an excellent 2GB a day. Save for Proton VPN’s unlimited free plan, that’s about as generous as any free provider gets. Another perk is that Atlas VPN lets you connect two devices at the same time.
It takes a little work to find a free server. This is because locations are listed in alphabetical order and not with available servers listed first, and you can’t add servers to a Favorites list to speed this process up. Plus, the dashboard isn’t the most intuitive, so it may take a while to figure out where all the features and functions are located.
(Image credit: Atlas VPN)Atlas VPN Free review: Android and iOS apps
The Android app is very, very basic and looks like a clunky version of the desktop program. But being stripped back means it’s easier to find the functions you’re looking for. One advantage the Android app has over the other Atlas VPN version is split tunneling.
The iOS app is much more appealing because it has been nicely designed with a mobile device in mind. The Connect button is front and center with locations and other important functions clearly marked and easy to find.
With both mobile apps, we found that you still get great connection speeds and protection. The kill switch works as it should and there aren’t any indications of DNS leaks.
Atlas VPN Free review: Performance
For a free service, Atlas is a pretty fast VPN. We were able to connect at an impressive 320Mbps. On average, internet download speeds of 200Mbps are considered fast for most applications, so Atlas VPN is good enough to watch some high-definition videos without experiencing lag or buffering.
We tested Atlas VPN’s claim of P2P support and were able to verify that it does allow this and does it well. We were able to download torrents through each of Atlas VPN Free’s three server locations.
If you need a little help getting up and running, Atlas VPN has a couple of options. First, there is a help section on its website with the most common problems listed under topics to make them easier to find. You also have an email option. When we tried it out, we got a pretty quick response - under 2 hours. The information we got was very detailed and easy to understand and follow. Atlas VPN does have a live chat option, but it’s for paying customers only.
(Image credit: Atlas VPN)Atlas VPN Free review: Final verdict
Overall, Atlas VPN Free does a decent job of protecting your privacy, though there are a few problems with the apps, the kill switch in particular. Also, because of its use of third-party trackers on its own website, we’re not fully convinced of its anti-logging policy.
However, you do get great connection speeds, P2P support, split tunneling for Android devices, and a very generous data cap on Mac. Overall, it’s a decent service that’s evidently improving, and could be a great choice for a casual user who’s not looking for advanced features.
Nikki Johnston
Commissioned Editor
Nikki is a commissioned editor for Future Plc covering internet security including antivirus and VPN. With over 18 years of research and writing experience, and 11 years of testing and reviewing internet security solutions, Nikki knows how to dive deep to get the information consumers need to make better buying decisions. She is also a mom to 10 children, and personally uses many of the products she reviews to ensure the safety of her own family.
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Atlas VPN Free Review
Atlas VPN is a relatively new VPN service that was founded in 2019. It is part of the Nord Security umbrella, which is the same parent company responsible for NordVPN and Surfshark. However, Atlas VPN works independently from the other parts of the company [[1]].
Server Locations
Atlas VPN Free has three server locations: two in the United States and one in the Netherlands. However, for paying customers, the number of servers increases to over 750 in 37 countries [[1]].
Compatibility
Atlas VPN is compatible with PCs and Macs, as well as Android and iOS smartphones. It also supports Android TV and Amazon Fire TV. While premium users can unblock popular TV streaming apps, Atlas VPN Free is able to unlock Disney Plus. Some users have even reported success in accessing Netflix, although this is not something that can be relied upon [[1]].
Privacy and Logging
Atlas VPN uses strong encryption to ensure that user data is well scrambled and difficult to trace back. It also has DNS protections to prevent snooping on public internet connections. In the event of a VPN failure, Atlas VPN has a kill switch that quickly disables the internet connection. However, the kill switch has some hiccups and needs to be disabled when not using the VPN, otherwise, internet access remains blocked even when the VPN is inactive [[1]].
Atlas VPN has a no-logging policy, but there are some concerning aspects. During testing, it was found that Atlas VPN blocked three third-party trackers on its own website, including Google Analytics and Facebook. Additionally, the cookies used on the website are not easy to bypass. Atlas VPN is based in Delaware, USA, which means it may be subject to information gathering based on local laws, although the information does not need to be kept for longer than 30 days. It is important to note that the independent audit conducted on Atlas VPN's security has only been done on iOS devices, so there is limited third-party information to verify its security on other devices [[1]].
Desktop and Mobile Apps
The Windows and Mac apps of Atlas VPN Free provide access to important features such as a kill switch, P2P capabilities on every server, and the WireGuard protocol. However, the app cannot be set to automatically connect on startup, and split tunneling capability is missing. The monthly data limit for Windows users is 10GB, while Mac users get 2GB per day. Atlas VPN allows two simultaneous connections for its free users. The server selection process can be a bit cumbersome as locations are listed in alphabetical order, and there is no option to add servers to a Favorites list [[1]].
The Android app is basic in design but easy to navigate. It offers split tunneling, which is not available in other versions of Atlas VPN. The iOS app is well-designed for mobile devices, with a clear interface and easy access to important functions. Both mobile apps provide good connection speeds and protection, with no indications of DNS leaks [[1]].
Performance
For a free service, Atlas VPN offers impressive connection speeds. It was able to connect at 320Mbps, which is considered fast for most applications. Atlas VPN also supports P2P connections and allows torrent downloads through its three server locations. In terms of customer support, Atlas VPN provides a help section on its website and offers email support with quick response times. However, live chat support is only available for paying customers [[1]].
Verdict
In conclusion, Atlas VPN Free offers decent privacy protection and good connection speeds. However, there are some issues with the apps, particularly with the kill switch. The use of third-party trackers on the Atlas VPN website raises some concerns about its anti-logging policy. Nevertheless, Atlas VPN Free could be a suitable choice for casual users who are not looking for advanced features [[1]].
Overall, the information provided in the article suggests that Atlas VPN Free has limited server locations, some privacy concerns, and a few usability issues. However, it offers decent connection speeds, unblocks Disney Plus, and provides a generous data limit for Mac users [[1]].
