PandaVPN is a relatively new entrant in the VPN industry. It is operated by Panda Security, a renowned IT solutions company, which confirms it is a legitimate service. One of its biggest perks is the extensive network with servers worldwide. Besides, some of its servers offer reliable connections, and the drop in your speed will be barely noticeable.
The VPN guarantees to keep you safe and maintain your online privacy. It is compatible with all operating systems, meaning you can use it on all your devices.
So, is PandaVPN worth giving a try? Read this unbiased review of PandaVPN to find out what it offers.
Short on time? Here are our PandaVPN key findings
- Extensive network – Surprisingly, PandaVPN has a large number of servers in different locations worldwide.
- Advanced security – The service safeguards your connections and data with ECC encryption. Although not commonly used in the VPN industry, it is safe enough to keep off intruders.
- Impressive speeds – PandaVPN offers incredible upload and download speeds. It is enough for most tasks, and you won’t suffer buffering or lagging.
- Compatibility – Offers apps for all major devices. Unfortunately, the VPN allows you to connect only three devices simultaneously.
- Pricing: It offers a tremendous annual plan deal with its price starting at $2.49 per month plus 12 months free.
- Streaming: PandaVPN unblocks the most popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and more.
- Torrenting: The VPN service provides dedicated torrenting servers, but they failed to establish a connection and access any torrent clients during our testing.
- Circumventing censorship: The service allows you to bypass censorship in countries like China and Russia easily.
- Usability: PandaVPN’s app is amazingly easy to use, from downloading to installing and then connecting to a server.
- Customer support: Unfortunately, it does not offer reliable customer support services.
PandaVPN pros and cons
- It does not limit bandwidth or data, so you can surf the internet and perform other activities without restrictions
- You can easily use PandaVPNPro for free, although it has certain limitations
- This unique feature will protect your devices from all common viruses
- We tried contacting them through live chat and email but couldn’t respond promptly
- ou will only have seven days to test the service risk-free. This is very low compared to its rivals, like CyberGhost VPN, which offers up to 45 days
PandaVPN features
| Server network | 3000+ servers in 80 countries |
| Encryption | ECC encryption |
| Logging policy | Explicit zero-logs |
| Simultaneous connections | Three devices |
| Free trial | NIL |
| Money-back guarantee | 7-day money back guarantee |
PandaVPN speed
PandaVPN offered us decent and consistent speeds during our test. We mainly consider a seamless VPN connection with slight speed drops while testing the speed of any VPN. In addition, the fastest VPNs should strike a balance between performance and encryption strength.
We summarized our speed test result of PandaVPN as follows:
- The service provided good speeds and stable connections.
- We experienced some issues while testing the speed on specific servers.
- The daily access was smooth and lag-free.
Speed test results for PandaVPN
We tested the speed of its Windows app from our location by recording our base speed without a VPN and comparing it to our results on PandaVPN’s servers. The table below outlines our final report:
| Server | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Ping (ms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 89.74 | 89.87 | 8 |
| Fastest location (Bulgaria) | 85.78 | 87.89 | 116 |
| Italy (Milan) | 88.79 | 88.46 | 50 |
| Germany (Dusseldorf) | 91.32 | 90.78 | 12 |
| Netherlands (Amsterdam) | 90.21 | 88.54 | 7 |
| France (Paris) | 88.92 | 91.02 | 17 |
| Spain (Madrid) | 70.12 | 86.95 | 69 |
| Canada (Toronto) | 88.34 | 44.67 | 95 |
| United States (Los Angeles) | 82.95 | 54.16 | 145 |
| United States (New York) | 75.54 | 64.49 | 102 |
| United Kingdom (Coventry) | 83.45 | 90.03 | 24 |
| Brazil (Sao Paulo) | 75.14 | 42.35 | 195 |
| Portugal (Lisbon) | 70.91 | 59.98 | 47 |
| Japan (Tokyo) | 62.11 | 10.05 | 266 |
| Argentina (Buenos Aires) | 63.09 | 52.94 | 234 |
| Australia (Sydney) | 62.47 | 15.12 | 267 |
Our results show that PandaVPN is relatively fast, with only minor speed drops. Except for the Australian and Japanese servers, which slowed down our uploads, we experienced no lags. In addition, the pings were tolerable because we rarely encountered high rates on nearby servers. Therefore, we recommend selecting close servers to your location for gaming to avoid lags.
However, speedtest.net blocked some VPN servers during the test, including those in South Africa and Mexico. We do not advocate allowing PandaVPN clients to select a server automatically. This is because it constantly picks the Bulgaria location, even though other servers offer better speeds.
To enjoy blazing-fast speeds ideal for streaming, gaming, and torrenting, you should use a reliable VPN service like ExpressVPN.
Speed during daily use
We tested PandaVPN’s speed across multiple streaming and gaming sites. We began by watching some of the best Netflix content, anime, Twitch streams, and YouTube clips. However, PandaVPN lacks optimized streaming servers and has failed to access top platforms, including Crunchyroll and Netflix US.
Fortunately, we encountered no issues accessing online games such as Minecraft sessions and multiplayer Diablo II: Resurrected. Furthermore, the service offers a gaming proxy server in Japan, allowing you to access most Japanese online games.
PandaVPN server network
The provider operates an extensive network of over 3,000 servers in 80 countries across 170 locations. This is similar to established brands like ExpressVPN, which offers 3000+ number of servers across 94 countries.
The best part is that PandaVPN offers servers in hard-to-reach places like Russia and China. However, these two countries have heavy internet censorship, so you should be careful when using those servers. (Its competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark provide an obfuscation feature to mask your VPN activities.)
It has the best coverage in Europe, especially Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and the UK. Then, Asia comes second with the most PandaVPN servers in Japan, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. Plus, it has servers in North America, Australia, and Brazil. Moreover, the provider has recently introduced servers in Africa in countries like Tanzania and Burundi.
PandaVPN does not have physical servers and only uses virtual servers. The IP addresses are not based on the advertised server location. Regular users may not find any problem with this arrangement, but it’s a significant concern for people who mind their privacy.
Another major issue with the PandaVPN service is that its dedicated servers do not function properly, as we noticed during our review. Maybe that’s why the VPN is not ideal for bypassing censorship, torrenting, or gaming.
Streaming – Does PandaVPN unblock streaming platforms?
A good VPN service allows users to access content libraries from other locations and unblock streaming platforms that are unavailable in their region.
Despite offering fast streaming speeds, PandaVPN had many connectivity issues and could not access popular platforms. In addition, it was nearly impossible to unblock streaming sites such as Netflix and Hulu using the free trial. This implies that you may not be able to thoroughly test its services unless you subscribe to one of its plans.
Moreover, the VPN service has a limited 7-day money-back policy on premium subscriptions. Fortunately, PandaVPN unblocked various streaming platforms using a premium account. We recommend using a top-notch VPN service like ExpressVPN for a smooth streaming experience.
Does PandaVPN work with Netflix?
One reason that has caused the popularity of VPNs to soar is entertainment. Many streaming services use geo-blocking mechanisms to limit their content to specific geographic locations. Specifically, some platforms, like Netflix, employ advanced technology, making it difficult to access its content.
PandaVPN claims to bypass geo-restrictions of all major streaming services on its website.
Unfortunately, this seems like a marketing strategy. During our extensive testing of PandaVPNPro for this review, it did not unblock any of the popular services. None of the streaming sites worked, even with dedicated streaming servers.
So, if you are looking for a reliable streaming VPN, choose a service with a proven unblocking track record like ExpressVPN.
Does PandaVPN support torrenting?
PandaVPN offers specialized servers dedicated to downloading torrents. They are only a few optimized servers but offer fast upload and download speeds.
Moreover, it safeguards your online activity when using torrent clients. This is helpful as ISPs usually assume that torrenters violate copyrights even when accessing legal content and may charge you for it.
During our test, we could torrent some large files quickly. This proved that PandaVPN is a suitable VPN service provider for torrenting.
Is PandaVPN safe?
The service claims to offer a kill switch, which, disappointingly, we could not activate. A kill switch disconnects you instantly from the internet to avoid data leaks if your VPN connection falls. Moreover, the service uses robust AES 256-bit encryption, the leading standard encryption on the market.
PandaVPN protocols
PandaVPN employs various protocols. It offers an option called ‘route selector, ‘ which helps you select the most appropriate protocol based on your usage reason. The following are some of the protocols available and their importance:
- Smart Mode: Shadowsocks is a private VPN derived from the Socks 5 proxy technique, which provides the best possible speed transfers. It would be best to switch to a more private protocol when engaging in confidential usage that requires complete anonymity.
- PAC Mode: While using the PAC mode, some platforms may be blocked from being accessed over VPN. Luckily, you can choose which sites should use the VPN tunnel and which should not in the settings.
- Proxy All: This protocol works similarly to PAC mode. However, unless you specify otherwise, all the web traffic is rerouted via the VPN by default.
- OpenVPN Mode: It is safer compared to Shadowsocks but weaker than other protocols. The option is ideal for demanding privacy requirements.
- Wireguard: This is an advanced protocol that is rapidly gaining momentum. It offers robust security that is comparable to and even beyond OpenVPN. In addition, it is the best option to enhance your anonymity and the experience.
- Global VPN: Selecting this protocol means that all internet traffic is routed via the VPN, making it difficult to control the websites that travel through the proxy. Unfortunately, no information regarding the encryption protocol employed in this configuration is provided in the PandaVPN guidelines.
PandaVPN kill switch
PandaVPN does not have a kill switch, which is considered a drawback in its security strategy. Despite their claims, we could not access the feature while using its app on multiple platforms. Most VPN service providers offer a kill switch that disconnects your network connection automatically if the VPN connection drops. This tool keeps your data safe by preventing it from leaking due to unstable connections or other errors.
PandaVPN privacy
Logging and privacy
The VPN service is based in Seychelles, which is outside the Eyes Alliance and cannot be targeted by the authorities to hand over user information. In addition, it is GDPR-compliant for EU users, allowing you to access, transfer, update, and delete any recorded data.
Furthermore, PandaVPN follows a rigorous zero-logs policy, implying that it does not record the sites you visit, your IP address, connection time stamps, or any other information that may compromise your privacy.
However, information about the PandaVPN firm is typically unavailable. They have a Twitter account with minimal engagements, a Facebook account with many complaints, and a subdued LinkedIn account, and its official account offers no helpful information.
Moreover, you should be wary of this VPN because Seychelles is a popular base for shell corporations.
Does PandaVPN leak your data?
We did not encounter any DNS or IP leaks with PandaVPN during our tests. The VPN maintained our actual IP addresses, and DNS queries were well-masked during our various tests.
However, some PandaVPN servers gave mixed outcomes. For instance, while testing a UK server on Android, we got a French IP address. This can be an issue since you may fail to unblock content from a specific location without realizing the cause.
Furthermore, you might get a different version of Netflix from the one you expect to access. PandaVPN should resolve this problem so that every server location assigns the proper IP addresses.
What information does PandaVPN need?
To access PandaVPN’s premium service, you only require a valid payment method. You can create an account and purchase a plan without providing your email address.
In addition, you may share your email if you want to receive promotional messages, but we do not recommend it. However, the service records your email address when you contact customer support, which is unnecessary because they rarely respond.
We recommend creating a new anonymous email for VPNs that require an email address. This is because sharing your personal emails with VPN providers may put you at risk of being tracked.
Will PandaVPN work in China?
PandaVPN claims to have servers in China and uses advanced technology to unblock content. Both desktop and mobile apps feature a Smart Mode that bypasses local area networks (LAN) and Chinese websites. However, our respondents in China say it does not work there.
PandaVPN compatibility
When PandaVPN started, it was only available on the Windows operating system. However, it has opened to a broader audience by offering Android, macOS, iOS, and Android TV apps. Besides, the company plans to add support for more devices, especially routers, so that you can cover every device in your household.
Nonetheless, we were disappointed that the VPN allows you to connect only three devices simultaneously. It is a significant downside, considering many VPNs offer at least 5 simultaneous connections. Some, like Surfshark and IPVanish, do not limit the number of devices you can connect.
Set-up and installation
Perhaps the best part of PandaVPN is its seamless installation process, which was demonstrated during our review. You only need to go for their website’s “PandaVPN free download” option and follow the installation prompts.
After downloading and installing the app, log into your account with the previously generated random numbers. Then, click the connect button to connect to the most optimal server available automatically.
Alternatively, you can connect to the server manually, which is a bit difficult. You must try numerous connections before finding the right one, which is time-consuming. Making matters worse, the interface isn’t even user-friendly. The auto-connect feature is the only thing that salvages the user experience.
PandaVPN pricing
Price is another top consideration for most VPN users. So, how much does PandaVPN charge for its services?
The pricing structure is simple and clear, with four straightforward plans.
If you want the month-to-month plan, you will pay $9.99 per month, slightly cheaper than the industry standard. For the 3-month bundle, you’ll pay $6.99 per month, while the 6-month plan cuts it even further to $3.99. Finally, choose the annual plan to get the best deal at only $2.49 plus 12 months free.
The provider backs all the packages with a 7-day money-back guarantee so that you can test the service risk-free.
PandaVPN reliability and support
Since we strived to create an honest review of PandaVPN, our team tested its performance and customer support and found it unimpressive. Unfortunately, we found PandaVPN very unstable and unreliable.
At first, PandaVPN didn’t circumvent many streaming site restrictions and suffered downtimes and dropouts on many server locations. Moreover, maintenance and server timeout also occur frequently.
Furthermore, customer support is undependable. It offers a 24/7 live chat and email address methods to contact them. But you can’t expect to get a response via live chat.
Likewise, they didn’t reply promptly through live chat or email when we requested a refund. We also tried to contact PandaVPN support via Twitter but didn’t hear back. The support took a whole week to respond to our request.
PandaVPN alternatives
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a blazing-fast, highly secure, and user-friendly VPN provider that values your privacy. The service is great at bypassing geo-restricted content on popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. Additionally, it offers impressive extra features and reliable customer support. However, the service is a bit costly compared to other VPN providers.
2. Private Internet Access (PIA)
Private Internet Access has been on the market for a long time and has consistently upheld its users’ privacy and security. It offers useful additional features as well as solid apps for multiple operating systems. In addition, the service has an extensive network of over 29650 servers with decent and stable speeds. Also, it provides customizable encryption of 128-bit and 256-bit, a reliable kill switch, and a verified no-logs policy to boost your online privacy and security.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN has an impressive reputation in the industry due to its top-tier privacy, superfast speeds across most servers, and remarkable security. Furthermore, the VPN service includes advanced features such as double VPN, Tor over VPN, RAM-based servers, a reliable kill switch, and a zero-logs policy, all of which improve your anonymity and security. The service also offers a 30-day money back guarantee, allowing you to test its services risk-free. In addition, it has knowledgeable customer support via a live chat feature and emails.
Conclusion
Summing up this review, we can say that PandaVPN is a simple but solid VPN service. The apps are effortless to use and offer a free plan and affordable paid packages. Also, it provides reliability that you can get with other alternatives at the same price or even cheaper.
However, PandaVPN also exhibited numerous weaknesses during our review. For instance, despite an extensive server network and incredible speeds on some servers, it couldn’t bypass the geo-restrictions of many streaming services. Moreover, its customer support seemed poor, and we had to wait for a week to get a response.
Nonetheless, PandaVPN is a growing service, so we hope it will improve existing issues to compete with the leading rivals.
FAQs
The VPN works well with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can use it on your laptop, smartphone, tablet, and PC. But, disappointingly, it only supports three simultaneous devices.
You can only contact PandaVPN support through email and live chat. However, it is a slow process, and you must wait up to a week or more. It is a letdown as most of its competitors respond to users’ queries immediately.
Yes. PandaVPN is one of the few VPNs that offer a free plan. Although it has limited features, you will get security and anonymity like paying customers. Upgrading to the premium plan is easy, and you’ll get better speeds and access to more servers.
All VPNs will affect your speeds because of traffic routing through encrypted tunnels. PandaVPN counteracts this to provide outstanding speeds. However, the speed is useless as the VPN does not unblock streaming or torrenting sites.
A physical server is a tangible machine in a physical location. On the other hand, a virtual server is based in the cloud. Hence, it offers more flexibility of use, although some users might be concerned with the pathway of their traffic for privacy.