Our Verdict
TorGuard is an ideal VPN that helps you to stay safe and maintain your privacy while accessing your favorite content without restriction. But this virtual private network (VPN) stands out from the best VPN services for its flexibility and customization. We tested TorGuard VPN to verify its privacy and security capability and examined its features and their peculiarities, benefits and fine print to help you determine if it suits your privacy needs.
Table of Contents
- What Sets TorGuard VPN Apart?
- TorGuard VPN’s Core Features
- TorGuard VPN’s Pricing and Plans
- TorGuard VPN Setup
- TorGuard VPN Ease of Use
- TorGuard VPN Security and Privacy
- TorGuard VPN’s Customer Service and Support
- TorGuard VPN’s Device Compatibility
- TorGuard VPN for Streaming
- TorGuard VPN Alternatives and How They Compare
- Is TorGuard VPN Right for You?
- Our Expert Take on TorGuard VPN
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is TorGuard VPN?
TorGuard VPN is one of the best and cheapest VPNs, costing as low as INR 415.40 ($4.99) per month on an annual subscription. TorGuard VPN has over 3,000 servers, and a subscription to its lower plans allows eight to 12 simultaneous connections. TorGuard’s primary offerings include:
- Secured encrypted tunnel for your online traffic protection
- Anonymous browsing through websites and applications
- Access to georestricted content, even in places with extreme firewalls
- Multidevice compatibility
What Sets TorGuard VPN Apart?
TorGuards security features are strong enough to break through firewalls, making it suitable for international travelers that want to maintain their privacy and access the internet without limits even when they are away from their locations. Notably, TorGuard’s Stealth protocol combines with Stealth proxy to combat firewalls in countries such as China, Russia, India and Turkey with repressive internet policies.
Pros
TorGuard VPN provides users with multiple layers of privacy and security. It also has a dedicated IP address, which isn’t shared by others. This VPN is highly customizable—it provides a series of subscription plans. Plus, you can jump on a trial to test its features for free.
Cons
On the downside, TorGuard VPN lacks an independent auditing process, which we like to see in VPNs. Also, the company is in the U.S., under the Five Eyes alliance. So, the government can request TorGuard to hand over your information for investigative purposes.
Also, TorGuard’s split tunneling feature is only available on Android devices, and TorGuard doesn’t allow streaming on its Standard plan unless you pay extra for a dedicated IP address. The VPN app is also not as user-friendly as other VPNs.
TorGuard VPN’s Core Features
TorGuard VPN offers features such as anonymous browsing, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, a kill switch and dedicated IPs to provide users with optimum privacy and security when using the internet.
Anonymous Browsing
TorGuard VPN hides your actual IP address and assigns you an anonymous one to keep you safe from others tracking by websites, ads and other online services, thereby keeping your activities and locations hidden. That way, your location and identity remain private, and you can browse websites and download or upload content without restriction or feeling insecure.
DNS Protection Measures
The Domain Name System (DNS) sends requests through your internet service provider (ISP) whenever you visit a website. This transfer leaks valuable information, including your IP address and browsing activities. However, TorGuard VPN protects your IP address by conducting relevant transfers through its tunnels.
TorGuard VPN offers users multiple DNS and IPv6 leak protection measures, including OpenDNS, Level3 and Cloudflare. We ran DNS test leaks on TorGuard VPN and confirmed that you’re leak-safe connecting to this VPN.
Dedicated IP
At additional costs, choose dedicated, shared, residential, streaming or sports IPs for more anonymity and privacy. TorGuard VPN also allows you to earmark IP locations and switch between dedicated and shared IPs in only a few clicks.
TorGuard VPN’s dedicated IP offers users a unique IP address, removing CAPTCHAs and other delays that accompany the use of shared IPs. TorGuard’s handpicked streaming IPs are compatible with popular streaming services, giving you access to restricted content from the regions you purchase. For TorGuard’s residential IP, you will get IP addresses from ISPs in the U.S. and U.K., so it looks like you’re connecting from home.
Kill Switch
When your VPN disconnects, TorGuard’s integrated kill switch feature shuts down your internet connection. You can further choose the apps and extensions you need closed. TorGuard VPN also offers users a “network kill” feature that shuts down their internet once the VPN is disconnected. That way, the internet on your device stays encrypted and secured.
Split Tunneling
TorGuard VPN’s split tunneling feature is available on Android devices. Users can select “Restricted apps” to choose the apps they want to allow or restrict on the VPN app. To do this, open the feature to view the apps on your smartphone. Then, toggle on/off. This feature is handy when you want only specific apps to connect through the VPN.
TorGuard VPN’s Pricing and Plans
TorGuard VPN offers three packages—Anonymous VPN Standard, Anonymous VPN Pro and Anonymous VPN Premium—as per streaming ability and the number of devices you can connect simultaneously. Also, TorGuard offers multiple Business plan options with additional features, such as private email, user management, IP management and an isolated secure network. And if you want more security, TorGuard also offers anonymous email, which provides email security alongside multiple email aliases and email scheduling.
TorGuard VPN Tiered Pricing
TorGuard VPN Standard plan further allows users multiple billing options, which include:
- Monthly: INR 831.62 ($9.99)
- Quarterly: INR 1,664.08 ($19.99)
- Semiannually: INR 2,496.53 ($29.99)
- Annually: INR 4,993.90 ($59.99)
- Biennially: INR 8,323.72 ($99.99)
- Triennially: INR 11,653.54 ($139.99)
You can pay for TorGuard VPN with debit cards, credit cards, gift cards, cryptocurrency and PayPal.
TorGuard Free Trial
TorGuard VPN offers a seven-day free trial, but you must email [email protected] the most recent bill from your current VPN provider. That means you need to have an existing VPN account. After TorGuard VPN verifies your account, you will get seven days to navigate the VPN. After seven days, you can email proof of canceling the competitor VPN service to get 30 free days on any TorGuard VPN plan subscription.
Money-Back Guarantee
If it doesn’t meet your expectations, TorGuard VPN promises a 100% refund. However, you only get a refund if you complain within seven days. This period is shorter than what most VPNs offer and it limits your experience with the privacy software. Also, you won’t get refunds for payments made on dedicated IPs or subscriptions you paid for with cryptocurrency or gift cards.
TorGuard VPN Setup
TorGuard VPN setup only takes a few minutes. On the website home page, click “Join” to create an account and select your preferred plan, billing cycle and add-ons. After entering your email address and selecting a payment method, choose the suitable app for your device. You can also choose from the available browser extension options.
The next thing to do is to run the installer. Then, click on the app and log in with your sign-up details. TorGuard VPN is ready for use. However, we recommend removing your previous VPN app before installing TorGuard VPN, to avoid glitches.
TorGuard VPN Ease of Use
TorGuard VPN is customizable, and offers multiple features and options. You can bookmark your preferred servers and sort the list alphabetically or according to proximity and current usage. However, TorGuard VPN is quite challenging to navigate. For example, TorGuard payment takes longer than most VPNs, and you need to decide which app to download. Other VPNs show you the app suitable for your device.
Opening TorGuard VPN for the first time can be overwhelming as the VPN apps are not easy to navigate. The macOS app has the basic and advanced settings scrambled together and won’t even appear on your entire screen. Also, the app requires you to log in each time you want to connect to the VPN. You will also need to disconnect from the VPN to switch between servers.
TorGuard VPN Servers and Locations
TorGuard has over 3,000 VPN servers in 68 VPN server locations in 50 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. TorGuard VPN keeps updating its network and asks users to recommend more connections. TorGuard VPN’s availability in Europe, North America, South America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East means you’ll get more spoofing locations and are more likely to find a server near you.
However, we would love for regions such as North America and Africa to get more coverage. For example, Africa has only one server location, which is in South Africa.
TorGuard VPN’s Speed and Performance
TorGuard VPN lets you browse the web, stream music videos and play video games without sacrificing speed for privacy and access to restricted content. TorGuard VPN provides users unlimited bandwidth and won’t throttle connection speed, allowing you to upload and download as many files as you want. When we conducted speed level tests on TorGuard, using the Ookla speed test we pulled 160.87 Mbps download speed, and 2.10 Mbps upload speed. While that is not the fastest you will see on other VPNs, it is fast enough for browsing and streaming.
Select the closest location and switch between tunnel types and protocols for optimal speed and performance. When we used the WireGuard tunneling protocol and connected to closer servers, we achieved 219.36 Mbps download content and 6.17 Mbps when uploading.
TorGuard VPN Security and Privacy
TorGuard VPN protects your privacy with multiple professional security protocols and features. It combines strong security protocols with many privacy features and a no-logs policy that assures you of your safety when using the VPN.
Strong Encryption and Tunneling Protocols
TorGuard VPN supports multiple protocols. You can choose from AES-128 or AES-256 encryption, Blowfish encryption, SHA-512, WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), OpenConnect and SSTP. TorGuard VPN also supports IKEv2/IPsec, PPTP and L2TP/IPsec, but you’ll need to set them up manually if you’re not a Pro or Premium user.
No-Logs Policy
TorGuard doesn’t store your browsing history or logging sessions. TorGuard VPN only collects basic information such as email addresses during sign-up. So, you can be sure it won’t sell your information to advertisers or hand over incriminating information to law enforcement agents.
Multifactor Authentication
TorGuard VPN’s multifactor authentication security feature makes it challenging for hackers to log in to your account, even with brute force attempts. You can activate the authentication and use apps such as Google Authenticator and Authy to further protect access to your activities.
Our Concerns with TorGuard VPN
TorGuard VPN is based in Florida, U.S., so it is subject to the Five Eyes alliance, which requires service providers to hand over your information when necessary. Also, TorGuard VPN has not undergone any independent audits. While public audits and transparency reports can be imperfect, they are valuable assurances of a VPN company’s privacy and security commitment.
TorGuard VPN’s Customer Service and Support
TorGuard offers support including a categorized and searchable knowledge base, answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), a community forum and email support. You can also contact TorGuard’s support team through a ticket request system. However, TorGuard says there is 24/7 support, which implies a live-chat option, but we didn’t find that option.
To create a ticket, you will need to indicate your operating system and VPN client (specific app or extension). You can also add screenshots to support your written complaint. What impressed us about TorGuard VPN’s customer support is that they respond even during weekends, and as soon as two minutes, with clear and detailed responses.
TorGuard VPN’s Device Compatibility
TorGuard VPN provides multi-platform compatibility, enabling security on several operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux. TorGuard also supports VPN routers such as DDWRT and Tomato, and browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox.
You can secure eight to 30 devices simultaneously using the same account, depending on your subscription. TorGuard provides users with a list of compatible devices and software versions and keeps updating this list to allow you to connect to your favorite devices.
TorGuard VPN for Streaming
You can surf the web and stream your favorite content without restriction with TorGuard VPN. TorGuard allows you to unblock geo-restricted content (websites, apps and games), even in countries that block VPN ports. However, to stream on TorGuard, you will need the streaming IP, which is available for TorGuard Pro and Premium versions. You’ll need to pay an additional fee for your chosen location if you’re on TorGuard’s Standard plan.
TorGuard streaming IPs are compatible with popular streaming services so you can access your favorite content regardless of location. You can access YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, we had difficulty streaming BBC iPlayer and Hulu using the Anonymous VPN Pro.
TorGuard VPN Alternatives and How They Compare
TorGuard VPN vs. NordVPN
TorGuard and NordVPN offer their VPN services at similar rates. They also share close offerings, including anonymous browsing, DNS protection and multifactor authentication. The two VPNs promise zero logging of customer information.
TorGuard VPN beats NordVPN by offering dedicated IP at lower rates, and also allows eight to 30 simultaneous connections, whereas NordVPN offers only six. Meanwhile, users who also want split tunneling on their Windows and Android TVs will prefer NordVPN to TorGuard, which provides split tunneling on only Android devices. Also, NordVPN has more servers, almost double that of TorGuard’s number.
TorGuard VPN vs. CyberGhost VPN
Both VPNs offer similar security features, such as the split tunneling feature being available only on Android. These features come at similar rates, with TorGuard’s monthly rates slightly lesser than CyberGhost’s. However, CyberGhost’s annual subscription costs less. Also, it has more than 9,000 servers, while TorGuard VPN boasts only about 3,000.
TorGuard VPN is better for users who want to connect several devices to their VPN at the same time. The least you can connect on TorGuard is eight devices, whereas CyberGhost enables only seven devices each time.
TorGuard VPN vs. PIA VPN
PIA’s monthly basic rate is more expensive than TorGuard’s. But it has a vast server list, up to 35,000, whereas TorGuard has only 3,000. PIA VPN’s split tunneling feature is also available on all desktop apps, providing privacy on your favorite devices.
However, TorGuard enables more simultaneous connections, with as many as 30 devices on its business plan. PIA allows up to 10 and requires additional fees to add more devices. Also, TorGuard VPN’s dedicated IP is cheaper than PIA VPN’s.
Is TorGuard VPN Right for You?
TorGuard VPN is customizable, and has a vast suite of privacy and security features. It also has several pricing plans and options, making it a good choice for anonymity and security, but is it right for you?
TorGuard VPN for Personal Use
TorGuard VPN is suitable for anyone who wants to customize their VPN experience, with flexible payment options and the opportunity to add as many IP addresses as you want. However, if you don’t want to spend more money on streaming or miss out on features such as split tunneling, which is available only on Android devices, you might want to consider another VPN.
TorGuard VPN for Business Use
TorGuard VPN is the best VPNs for businesses, and offers users up to four packages. They all offer maximum security and are Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant. TorGuard allows you to customize your plan with the Starter, Small, Medium and Large tiers offering different numbers of email accounts, dedicated IPs and user capacity. You’ll also get a dedicated user management portal and a 24/7 dedicated account manager, guaranteeing your business optimum security, regardless of size.
Our Expert Take on TorGuard VPN
Despite its many notable strengths, including robust security features that give you the freedom to customize your experience, and the ability to break through strong firewalls, TorGuard is not the best VPN. Many VPNs have more servers, are more reliable and better suited for streaming, and offer better support and more straightforward navigation. They are also safer in terms of privacy and trustworthiness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is TorGuard good for torrenting?
TorGuard is good for torrenting. It allows peer-to-peer traffic on its network and uses AES-256 encryption to secure your connection. TorGuard VPN also offers a SOCKS5 proxy if you’d rather torrent without a VPN.
What add-ons are available with TorGuard?
You can add several features to TorGuard’s basic VPN offering. Among them are multiple residential internet protocols (IP addresses) in the United States, ideal for streaming videos, and dedicated physical servers or encrypted virtual machines for VPN use.
Does TorGuard work in China?
Yes, TorGuard VPN works in China thanks to its powerful untraceable stealth system that can break through the firewalls of countries with repressive internet policies. TorGuard VPN also has special China DNS servers, so you can browse and stream as much as you want. However, the connections can be slow.
Are VPNs safe?
In general, yes, VPNs are safely used by millions of people all over the world. The vast majority of users are able to browse the web anonymously and without issue. However, there have been times in which VPN providers have been compromised and had their customers’ information stolen. It is also worth noting that, depending on the provider’s country of origin, the VPN might be beholden to government surveillance programs.