Established in 2011, CactusVPN is a well-rounded service that focuses on improving online browsing privacy and security. The small yet successful Moldovan VPN provider offers access to 36 servers across 22 countries and places emphasis on maintaining user anonymity at all costs. CactusVPN adheres to a strict privacy policy and so will never hold onto user data.
Although Netflix is unstable with the service and no gaming servers are available, the provider does offer cutting-edge apps for multiple platforms – and all at an affordable price. Each plan includes all possible features, and the company’s free trial also provides an expansive taster of everything the service has to offer.
Plus, there are numerous intriguing features, such as several European servers that allow P2P, the choice of seven VPN protocols, and a free proxy. Such advanced security features help put CactusVPN at the frontline of the industry and prove that even small packages can be mighty.
| Bandwidth | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| # connected devices | Unlimited |
| Kill switch |
Finding and installing CactusVPN is quick and easy. User-friendliness and convenience are core characteristics of the service, and this is most evident with the straightforward VPN connection page. You don’t need to be a tech expert to establish a connection, as any information is clearly presented, and it’ll take no time at all to find your way around and start customizing.
Among the advanced settings are options to instantly connect to a server on launch, automatic reconnection, and, most importantly, Smart DNS leak protection. Since all accounts use a shared static IP address, protecting your only resource is vital.
Another of the service’s critical features is the Apps Killer, which automatically shuts down a predetermined selection of apps – like social media, banking, or torrenting services – if the VPN connection is dropped or disrupted. The best part is that these apps can shut down without your device being disconnected from the internet, like a kill switch would do. Once the connection is re-established, the apps will automatically restart. This advanced security measure is especially handy if users plan to use P2P or similar networks. CactusVPN also offers a kill switch, which protects you while browsing potentially harmful sites by cutting the internet connection if the VPN drops, stopping you from inadvertently sharing your actual location.
While Smart DNS is usually offered as a separate software, with CactusVPN, it’s included with every VPN package. Smart DNS helps users access websites and content streaming services that are normally geo-restricted in their country.
This is especially useful when accessing the U.S. and UK, where users can tap into a sizeable list of sites that may usually be blocked in their country, such as Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc. Additionally, the service allows clients to decide how often the IP address refreshes, choose the streaming regions, and select the location of the DNS servers. Moreover, you can further hide your locations by choosing from website regions and where your DNS server is located.
| Countries | U.S., UK, RU, AU, CA, CH, BR, HK, JP… |
|---|---|
| # countries | 20+ |
| # servers | 35+ |
| # IPs |
CactusVPN covers the main global geographic locations with the possibility to connect to servers in 22 countries. The U.S. and UK offer the longest list of options, and while Canada and Australia may be less popular, sports fanatics may welcome their addition.
Asia is another well-represented region, with servers in Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. As for Europe, there are options to connect to servers in several countries, with most supporting P2P torrenting. However, when testing Netflix on a variety of servers in different countries, the connections did appear to be unstable.
One of CactusVPN’s most remarkable features is the availability of seven different connection protocols. While there are the more common ones, such as OpenVPN, L2TP, and PPTP, the VPN provider takes the win with WireGuard, IKEv2, and open-sourced VPN protocol SoftEther. However, experienced customers may not be thrilled to know that CactusVPN uses a shared static IP to ensure the security and privacy of its users.
CactusVPN’s speed is also impressive, with little loss even when connecting to farther countries. It’s clear that the company chooses quality over quantity by ensuring that its 36 servers perform at optimum capacity.
| SSL | |
|---|---|
| OpenVPN | |
| PPTP | |
| L2TP |
CactusVPN places huge importance on security. It offers end-to-end and AES-256-GCM encryption under OpenVPN, meaning that wrongdoers will have a hard time bypassing the military-grade protection of its connection. WireGuard and other security protocols offer similarly strong protection but produce faster connection speeds. It’s worthwhile trying them all to find the one that suits your needs.
But the real strength of CactusVPN lies in its privacy policy, as it doesn’t log any personal data. The company claims not to record any information that could be used for user identification, such as tracking traffic, Smart DNS requests, IPs, or bandwidth use.
It’s also worth highlighting Moldova’s importance as its headquarters location. While in Europe, it’s not a member of the EU, meaning that the data retention laws don’t apply to the service.
CactusVPN offers an extensive range of support. Windows 11 through to XP are supported, as are macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux. As a nice little bonus, you can also extend the VPN shield to your Smart TV (Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Apple TV), as well as Roku, XBOX, and PlayStation. For mobile, the options are equally familiar, with all Android and iOS platforms supported.
The service is just as pleasant to use with the mobile app as on desktop. Other less common platforms are also available, such as BoxeeBox and DD-WRT, with Asus routers also compatible. But the most striking aspect of this VPN service is the fact that one subscription provides access for an unlimited number of devices. With a multitude of tutorials, CactusVPN is suitable for users of all technical abilities.
| Web app | |
| Mobile optimized | |
| macOS | |
| Linux |
| Xbox One | |
|---|---|
| PlayStation | |
| Apple TV | |
| Chromebook |
CactusVPN‘s pricing model is straightforward – all plans come with the same features, and costs can be reduced by opting for a longer subscription. For example, signing up for a monthly plan costs $9.99 but opting for the 2-year subscription ends up being 60% cheaper, translating into only $3.95 per month.
Even better, CactusVPN offers a free 3-day trial, where you can enjoy every single one of its features. Payment methods include standard options like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal along with less common choices like Bitcoin, Altcoin, Alipay, and iDEAL.
All plans include the full list of CactusVPN features, with each customer having access to the free Smart DNS, Apps Killer, WireGuard protocol, data encryption, and unlimited bandwidth and speed. On top of this, each subscription covers unlimited devices, which is particularly handy for families or small businesses.
It’s hard not to be satisfied with the available feature set, especially since a few of these tools can greatly help with the security of your server connection. The company also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, ensuring the experience remains risk free for all customers, helping them decide whether this VPN service truly suits their needs.
| Visa | |
| Mastercard | |
| American Express | |
| Discover |
| 24/7 | |
| Live chat | |
| Phone |
CactusVPN’s customer service is ready to tackle any question head-on. Besides the option to submit a ticket, customers can contact the help desk via the in-app live chat, which is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays (GMT+2). While the live chat has an average response time of under three minutes, it is a shame it’s not available 24/7.
The company also has extensive knowledge resources that offer a whole range of information, from basic troubleshooting in its FAQs to instructions for advanced settings. It even provides video tutorials for every step of the installation process for a stress-free experience.
Although CactusVPN may have a widespread social media presence – Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedln – this seems to be largely for providing general news and not customer support.
Since it arrived on the scene, CactusVPN has only gotten better. The company has a diverse range of device support plus helpful guides for installation and use – which is particularly beneficial for the less common platforms. The service’s wide variety of security protocols will appeal to users who want to truly customize their privacy level.
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