App Name | AdGuard VPN — private proxy |
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Latest Version | v.2.6.25 |
Last Updated | Nov 2, 2023 |
Publisher | AdGuard Software Limited |
Requirements | Android 7.0 |
Category | Tools |
Size | 25 MB |
Mods | Premium Unlocked |
Google Playstore |
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AdGuard VPN has apps available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. This article will focus specifically on reviewing the AdGuard VPN app for Android.
We will examine the various features, performance, user interface, privacy protections, pricing, and overall user experience of using AdGuard VPN on an Android device.
AdGuard VPN for Android comes packed with useful features that enhance privacy and security:
AdGuard VPN operates under a strict no-logs policy. This means the service does not monitor, log, or store any user activity data or connection logs. This prevents the VPN provider or third parties from being able to view your browsing history and online activities.
The kill switch feature automatically cuts off your internet access if the VPN connection unexpectedly drops. This prevents your real IP address and location from being exposed if the VPN disconnects.
Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps send traffic through the VPN tunnel and which apps send traffic through your regular internet connection. This allows flexibility to use the VPN only when needed.
AdGuard VPN uses its own custom stealth protocol that is designed to evade VPN blocking. This proprietary protocol helps mask that you are using a VPN in restrictive regions.
There are no bandwidth restrictions on the VPN service. You get unlimited data usage regardless of which subscription plan you choose.
You can use AdGuard VPN for torrenting and P2P file sharing. There are no restrictions on protocols.
To evaluate the performance of AdGuard VPN, I tested download speeds across local and international servers on a 100 Mbps home WiFi network.
Here are the speed test results:
Local Server (New York)
There was only a 7% drop in download speed when connected to a local New York server, which is excellent.
International Server (London)
When connected to an international server in London, the download speed dropped to 62 Mbps, which is a 35% reduction. This is pretty typical for VPN services when connecting to distant servers.
Video Streaming
I tested streaming HD video content on YouTube and Netflix while connected to various AdGuard VPN servers. Video started instantly and I did not experience any lag or buffering issues in Full HD 1080p resolution.
Gaming
I played various online mobile games like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile with AdGuard VPN enabled. Gameplay was smooth without any noticeable latency or lag spikes.
Overall, the performance of AdGuard VPN for Android is solid. Speeds remain quick for general browsing and streaming media, although they take an expected hit when connecting to far away servers. Gaming performance was also unaffected.
The AdGuard VPN app for Android has an intuitive and clean user interface. The main screen displays a map showing all available VPN server locations.
Tapping on a location icon connects you to the fastest server in that city or country. A colored dot indicates current connection status – green for connected and red for disconnected.
The main menu at the bottom provides access to your selected location, settings, and the server list. There is also a prominent ON/OFF toggle to quickly connect and disconnect from the VPN.
In the Settings menu, you can enable useful options like the kill switch, auto-connect on startup, split tunneling, and more. These settings are easy to understand toggle switches that you can enable or disable with a single tap.
The Server List menu displays all available VPN servers sorted by country and city. You can tap a server to manually connect to it. Helpful data like current load percentage and ping time is shown for each server.
There is no clutter or confusing options. Everything is neatly laid out for easy access. The map UI provides a great visual overview of server locations.
AdGuard VPN implements standard security and privacy features:
However, it should be noted that AdGuard VPN uses its own proprietary VPN protocol rather than the OpenVPN protocol used by many other VPN services. The company claims their custom protocol provides better security, but there is less transparency and auditability compared to open-source protocols.
AdGuard VPN is based in Cyprus, which is subject to European GDPR privacy laws. But the parent company AdGuard Software originated in Russia, which raises some questions about the potential for government surveillance.
Overall, AdGuard VPN provides adequate privacy protections for most threat models through standard encryption and a no-logs policy. But users seeking maximum anonymity may want to opt for a service based entirely outside of Russia.
AdGuard VPN offers 3 subscription options:
The longer 1-year and 2-year plans offer significant discounts compared to the monthly pricing.
A notable restriction is that AdGuard only accepts PayPal or credit card payments. Other top VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN support anonymous cryptocurrency payments.
There is a 30-day money back guarantee on all plans, allowing you to test the service risk-free.
One AdGuard VPN subscription allows connecting up to 5 devices simultaneously. This is less than some competitors that permit 10 devices, but should suffice for most individual users.
Getting started with AdGuard VPN on Android is quick and straightforward:
That’s all there is to it! The entire connection process takes just a few seconds.
The clean UI makes it simple to find all the settings. Features like split tunneling and auto-connect can be toggled on or off with just a single tap.
The server list provides a handy overview of all available VPN servers along with useful metrics like current load and latency.
Overall, AdGuard VPN offers effortless usability. The app is intuitive enough for VPN beginners, while still packing advanced features useful for tech-savvy users.
AdGuard VPN provides customer support through several channels:
Unfortunately, AdGuard VPN does not offer 24/7 live chat support. Email and social media support is limited to business hours.
The company should strongly consider adding live chat, which has become an expected standard among leading VPN providers like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark.
AdGuard VPN provides a fast, secure, and easy-to-use VPN experience on Android devices. It excels at unblocking streaming content and provides great speeds when connecting to nearby servers.
Useful features like split tunneling, kill switch, and the ability to torrent securely makes AdGuard VPN suitable for both casual and power users. The clean interface is beginner-friendly but doesn’t skimp on advanced options.
While AdGuard VPN meets all the core requirements of a good VPN, there is still room for improvement when it comes to server count, connection limits, and customer support availability.
But for those seeking an affordable and user-friendly VPN for Android, AdGuard VPN is definitely a strong contender worth considering. The 30-day money back guarantee also makes it easy to test it out risk-free.
Overall, AdGuard VPN provides excellent value for privacy-conscious Android users looking to encrypt their web traffic and access restricted content.
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