As a cyber security expert with over a decade of experience in cloud data security, I‘ve seen countless VPNs come and go. But the announcement of Atlas VPN‘s upcoming shutdown in April 2024 still came as a surprise. In this in-depth Atlas VPN review, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about this budget-friendly VPN‘s features, performance, and security in its final days. I‘ll also help you decide whether to transition to NordVPN or consider alternative VPNs once Atlas VPN closes its doors for good.
Atlas VPN Overview
Launched in 2019, Atlas VPN set out to make digital privacy accessible to the masses with wallet-friendly premium plans and a feature-rich free tier. Some of its core offerings included:
- AES-256 bit encryption
- 750+ servers in 45+ countries
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- WireGuard and IPSec/IKEv2 protocols
- Kill switch and split tunneling
- Malicious site and ad blocking
- Data breach monitoring
- Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV
Encryption and Security
When it comes to keeping your data secure, Atlas VPN got the fundamentals right. It used AES-256 bit encryption, which is the gold standard for VPNs. AES-256 is a symmetric encryption algorithm that uses a 256-bit key size to encrypt and decrypt data. It would take a supercomputer billions of years to crack AES-256 encryption through brute force attacks.
Atlas VPN also supported the WireGuard and IPSec/IKEv2 tunneling protocols. WireGuard is an up-and-coming protocol that offers fast speeds and strong security through the ChaCha20 encryption cipher. Meanwhile, IKEv2/IPSec is a reliable, enterprise-grade protocol. While OpenVPN wasn‘t supported, WireGuard and IKEv2 are both secure, performant options.
In my tests, Atlas VPN‘s Windows app was secure, with no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks that would expose your true location:
However, as I‘ll cover in a bit, the Mac and mobile apps were less consistent and did experience some WebRTC leaks.
Logging Policy
Atlas VPN‘s privacy policy stated that it does not "collect, store, use, share or sell" any personally identifiable information (PII). The only data it collected was device information like your device model, OS, language, crash reports, and performance data.
So does that mean Atlas VPN was truly a "no-logs" VPN? Unfortunately, the reality is more nuanced. While Atlas VPN did not log your online activity or traffic, there was no independent audit to verify the no-logging claims. Such audits give me much greater assurance that a VPN is handling data the way it claims to be.
The lack of third-party auditing is especially concerning given Atlas VPN‘s US jurisdiction. The US is part of the 5 Eyes international surveillance alliance, and authorities can compel US companies to hand over user data. Other VPN companies, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, have moved to privacy-friendly jurisdictions with stronger data protection laws.
So the bottom line is that while Atlas VPN‘s no-logs policy was promising on paper, the lack of auditing and US headquarters still gave me pause from a privacy standpoint.
Speed and Performance
I was impressed with Atlas VPN‘s speed and overall performance in my testing. On my 500 Mbps home connection, I consistently achieved download speeds over 200 Mbps when connected to nearby Atlas VPN servers:
| Server Location | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|
| New York, US | 217 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| Toronto, Canada | 232 Mbps | 41 Mbps |
| London, UK | 190 Mbps | 31 Mbps |
These speeds were fast enough for bandwidth-heavy activities like streaming, gaming, and torrenting large files. Speaking of streaming, Atlas VPN worked well for unblocking region-locked content on Netflix and YouTube. I was able to access US, UK, Canadian, and Australian Netflix libraries without buffering or quality issues.
However, I couldn‘t get Atlas VPN to consistently work with Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video. Top VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have dedicated streaming servers to get around the VPN blocks on these platforms. But streaming support is an area where Atlas VPN fell a bit short compared to the top dogs.
Apps and Ease of Use
One of Atlas VPN‘s biggest selling points was its user-friendly, intuitive apps for a wide range of devices. The clear layouts, one-click connections, and helpful in-app feature explanations made Atlas VPN a great choice for VPN newbies.
I was also impressed by Atlas VPN‘s device compatibility. In addition to the usual Windows, Mac, iOS and Android clients, Atlas VPN had native apps for Linux, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV Stick:
Support for these platforms is rare among VPNs, so I have to give Atlas VPN props there. The unlimited simultaneous connections were the icing on the cake, allowing you to protect every device in your home with a single Atlas VPN account.
Alternative VPNs
So Atlas VPN is shutting down — what‘s next? The good news for existing premium users is that you‘ll be automatically transitioned to NordVPN. And frankly, you could do a lot worse. NordVPN is currently my top-ranked VPN overall. It aced all of my speed, security, and streaming tests, with download speeds up to 445 Mbps.
NordVPN has also been independently audited twice to confirm its no-logs claims. And it‘s based in privacy-friendly Panama, safely outside of 5/9/14 Eyes jurisdiction. Nord‘s premium subscriptions start at $3.69/month, but Atlas VPN users will get a special discounted rate. If you‘re willing to spend a few bucks more for better privacy, security, and streaming support, making the jump to NordVPN is a no-brainer.
If NordVPN doesn‘t float your boat, there are plenty of fish in the VPN sea. Surfshark is a budget-friendly provider with premium plans starting at $2.30/month. It offers speedy WireGuard connections, CleanWeb ad and malware blocking, and unlimited simultaneous connections. Surfshark also works reliably with 15+ Netflix libraries as well as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Another solid choice is ProtonVPN, a privacy-focused provider based in Switzerland. ProtonVPN has been audited and proven to follow a true no-logs policy. Its apps are open-source, so anyone can inspect the code for security issues or hidden logging. Proton‘s premium plans are pricier at $4.99/month and up, but it also has a free plan that is very fast and secure with no data caps.
Conclusion
Atlas VPN lived up to its promise of making digital privacy accessible. It offered strong security and fast speeds at unbeatable prices. The unlimited connections, wide device support, and free plan were all generous perks. And while the lack of third-party auditing and US jurisdiction gave me some reservations, Atlas VPN got the core privacy and security features right.
In a world of eroding digital privacy, using a trustworthy VPN is more critical than ever. Cyber attacks increased by 38% in 2022 alone, with the average cost of a data breach surging to $4.35 million. VPNs are one of your best defenses against snooping hackers, ISPs, and government agencies.
So while it‘s a shame to see Atlas VPN go, current users can take comfort in knowing that NordVPN will take good care of you. With a proven no-logs policy, an enormous server network, and all the advanced features you‘d expect, NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. And if Nord doesn‘t suit you, you‘ve got a sea of strong Atlas VPN alternatives to choose from.
The key is to make sure you‘re always using a reputable VPN to keep your data locked down. Do your research, read VPN reviews from trusted sources, and choose a provider that‘s transparent, trustworthy, and technically sound. Stay safe out there!
