Can I use two VPNs simultaneously?

Yes, you can. In principle, nothing prevents the use of two different VPN networks concurrently. However, you could encounter compatibility issues and other technical complications in practice. But these problems can be overcome as described elsewhere in this guide.

Is a double VPN worth it?

If your line of work is such that you must be sure that all your online communications and activities are safe from even the most advanced surveillance on the planet, then yes, double VPNs are an option. However, that being said, double VPNs are something of an overkill option. With a good vendor, a single VPN connection is already encrypted with AES-256, which nobody has managed to crack. Therefore, single VPNs are perfectly safe already and already impossible to hack. But, if your peace of mind requires it, go for it.

Is a double VPN safer than Tor?

A Tor browser over a VPN connection is safer than a double VPN. The reason is that the Onion network routes your traffic through many nodes in the network, three nodes at least. So in Tor, the chain is longer, making it safer.

Can a kill switch work along with a double VPN?

Yes, in most configurations, both features will work together perfectly well.

Yes, they can be traced. VPNs aren't magical invisibility cloaks that can make you utterly invisible on the Internet. VPNs won't hide their traffic from ISPs and other snoopers without obfuscated technology. But the fact remains that a good VPN service will significantly enhance your online privacy, security, and anonymity.

What happens if I use 2 VPNs?

In the best-case scenario, if you run two VPN clients simultaneously on the same device, your traffic will be encrypted twice, and your IP address will be masked twice. But this is unlikely. The most probable result is that both VPNs work in parallel, not serialized. Unfortunately, this is terrible news because both VPNs will work incorrectly, so you must be careful. If you want to set up a double VPN by hand, the shortest path is to set up a virtual machine, then run a VPN client inside the virtual machine and the second one on your regular environment.

What is a Double VPN? When and Why Should You Use It?

Ruheni Mathenge - Streaming Expert

Last updated: December 4, 2023

Read time: 21 minutes

This is an estimated reading time to let you know how long it will take you to read all the content on this particular PrivacySavvy.com page. However, it has a sneak peek, easy guide steps, and/or a quick list providing quick in-page navigations and easily-found answers if desired.

Know what a double VPN is and how it works. Is It better than VPN over VPN or Onion over VPN? Its advantages and disadvantages. Find that all out.

Sneak peek at Double VPN

Double VPN, or Multi-Hop, is a unique feature that doubles the data encryption. Undoubtedly, it is a much-needed option for journalists, political activists, and those associated with sensitive jobs. However, Double VPN is still not included in the “must-have options list” because of its inherent limitations and alternative options available with most quality VPNs.

A double VPN feature consists of a VPN connection routed through two consecutive VPN servers instead of one. It’s also known as “multi-hop.” The feature adds an extra layer of encryption to the user’s traffic, thus increasing security, privacy, and anonymity. Unfortunately, most VPN networks do not support multi-hop connections. Why don’t they? Which are the ones that do? In this article, we will answer those questions and many more.

How to configure a Double VPN – Quick steps

Sign up for a VPN service that supports double VPN. We recommend NordVPN for its speed even after routing your traffic twice and employing AES 256-bit encryption.
Activate the multi-hop feature. For NordVPN, find the ‘Speciality servers’ and tap double VPN. This process may differ from other VPNs.
Browse securely. You will be connected to the fastest available server to surf the web anonymously and securely.

What is a Multi-hop or Double VPN?

As the name suggests, the double VPN feature enables users to route their traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. In this way, traffic encryption happens twice (once on each server), thus providing an extra layer of security for your online activities. However, one significant difference from the regular connections is that even in the VPNs that support such a feature, not every server within the network is suitable, so your choices are limited to those nodes that can be paired together.