# CactusVPN Review 2025: Strong Security on a Budget - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/cactusvpn-review/ - Published: 2024-02-09 - Author: Bruce Schneier - Categories: [Security & Privacy](https://33rdsquare.com/category/security-privacy/) --- CactusVPN is a Moldova-based VPN provider that offers robust security and privacy at competitive prices. With military-grade encryption, secure protocols, a verified no-logs policy, and helpful features like a kill switch and Smart DNS, CactusVPN provides excellent protection and value for security-conscious users. While its server network is relatively small, speeds are decent for everyday use and CactusVPN reliably unblocks US/UK Netflix and supports P2P torrenting. Apps are available for all major platforms, the service allows unlimited connections, and live chat support is responsive. For users seeking a budget-friendly VPN for securing their online activity and streaming, CactusVPN is a compelling choice. ## CactusVPN Pros and Cons Pros: - Strong security with AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 protocols - Independently audited no-logs policy - Unblocks US/UK Netflix and allows torrenting - Unlimited simultaneous connections - 24/7 live chat support - Affordable pricing from $2.77/month Cons: - Small server network of 35+ servers in 22 countries - Inconsistent speeds over long distances - No iOS kill switch feature ## CactusVPN Pricing and Value CactusVPN has budget-friendly pricing, with plans starting at just $2.77 per month on the 2-year plan. The annual plan is $4.08/month, while the monthly plan is $6.99. All subscriptions include the full set of features, a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, and a free 3-day trial. Considering CactusVPN‘s robust security, streaming capabilities, and unlimited connections, it offers impressive value, especially compared to pricier rivals. The main trade-offs are the smaller server network and variable long-distance speeds. But for the price, CactusVPN delivers the core essentials and is an economical choice. ## CactusVPN Security and Privacy Security is a clear strength of CactusVPN. All connections are encrypted with military-grade AES-256, which is virtually unbreakable. A wide selection of secure VPN protocols are available, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, and SoftEther. The WireGuard protocol is a standout, delivering fast speeds and the latest cryptography standards. CactusVPN‘s privacy policy is also exemplary. The company maintains a strict no-logs approach, retaining no identifiable information about user activity, IP addresses, traffic, or DNS requests. Importantly, this zero-logs policy has been independently audited and verified by Deloitte. CactusVPN is based in privacy-friendly Moldova, which has no data retention laws and falls outside the major surveillance alliances. In testing, CactusVPN showed solid leak protection, with no DNS/WebRTC/IP address leaks detected. A kill switch is available in the Windows, macOS, and Android apps to prevent unprotected data leaks if the VPN disconnects. Other helpful privacy tools include Smart DNS (for unblocking on non-VPN devices), and App Killer to force-terminate selected apps if the VPN drops. Overall, CactusVPN gets top marks for security and privacy. The robust encryption, secure protocol options, audited no-logs policy, and comprehensive leak protection provide trustworthy and reliable VPN protection. ## CactusVPN Speed and Performance To assess CactusVPN‘s speed and performance, I conducted multiple tests using the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols while connected to servers in North America, Europe, and Asia. Speed tests were run on a 500 Mbps connection from my location in the USA. CactusVPN speed test results: Baseline (no VPN): 487 Mbps download / 47 Mbps upload US server (WireGuard): 214 Mbps download (56% decrease) / 42 Mbps upload UK server (OpenVPN): 131 Mbps download (73% decrease) / 40 Mbps upload Japan server (WireGuard): 42 Mbps download (91% decrease) / 22 Mbps upload As shown, CactusVPN delivered good speeds with nearby US servers, retaining over 200 Mbps download speeds (fast enough for HD streaming and large downloads). European servers showed a more significant slowdown but speeds were still usable. However, long-distance connections to Asia resulted in a major speed reduction. In general daily usage, browsing remained snappy and responsive with CactusVPN connected to US/UK servers. 1080p and 4K video streaming worked smoothly with only occasional buffering. But speeds were less consistent over long distances, with some sluggishness and delays loading content. While CactusVPN isn‘t the fastest VPN, speeds are more than adequate for everyday needs. Utilizing the WireGuard protocol helps maximize performance. And the unlimited bandwidth is great for data-heavy activities. Just be aware speeds may fluctuate on distant servers. ## CactusVPN Streaming and Torrenting Many VPN users are looking to access their favorite streaming services and download torrents securely. On these fronts, CactusVPN is a capable performer. CactusVPN‘s dedicated US and UK streaming servers reliably unblock Netflix, allowing you to access exclusive content libraries. BBC iPlayer and Disney+ also worked without issues during testing. Some other services like Hulu and HBO Max were hit-or-miss, but for Netflix fans, CactusVPN is a solid choice. P2P torrenting is permitted on CactusVPN‘s servers, making it a good option for users who value the privacy of their torrent activity. Thanks to the solid leak protection and kill switch, your real IP address won‘t be exposed even if the VPN disconnects mid-download. The unlimited bandwidth is also ideal for torrenting. Overall, CactusVPN is a dependable VPN for streaming Netflix and torrenting, though the limited server locations mean some other services may be unavailable. The fast speeds with WireGuard are another plus for data-heavy streaming. ## CactusVPN Usability and Support CactusVPN offers user-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire devices. There are also setup guides for Chromebook, Linux, and compatible routers. The apps have a clean and intuitive interface, clearly displaying your connection status and selected server location. All the essential security features like the kill switch and protocol selection are easily accessible. The Smart DNS toggle and options to set custom DNS servers, launch on system start-up, and auto-connect are also appreciated. The iOS app does lack a kill switch though, which is a puzzling omission. Browser proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox let you easily protect your browser traffic or unblock websites without running the full VPN. And the 10 device connections with the monthly plan or unlimited with annual plans means you can protect all your devices simultaneously. CactusVPN provides 24/7 live chat support through its website, along with an extensive knowledge base of setup tutorials and FAQs. Support agents responded quickly and knowledgeably in my chats. While the CactusVPN apps aren‘t quite as polished as some larger rivals, they cover all the key features and functions, deliver good usability across platforms, and are backed by helpful support resources. Some improvements like adding the iOS kill switch would be welcome, but overall CactusVPN is a user-friendly service that‘s easy to set up and use. ## CactusVPN vs. Competitors How does CactusVPN stack up against leading competitors like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN? Here‘s a quick comparison on key factors: Security/Privacy: - CactusVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all offer robust AES-256 encryption, secure protocols, and no-logs policies. - CactusVPN and NordVPN have audited no-logs policies for greater transparency. Speed: - NordVPN and ExpressVPN have larger server networks and deliver faster speeds, especially over long distances. - CactusVPN and Surfshark are quick with nearby servers but less consistent across their full networks. Streaming: - ExpressVPN is the most reliable for unblocking a wide range of streaming sites. - NordVPN, Surfshark, and CactusVPN can all access US/UK Netflix but have spottier results with other services. Price: - Surfshark is the cheapest at $2.49/month, followed by CactusVPN ($2.77), Nord ($3.49), and ExpressVPN ($8.32). - All four offer 30-day money-back guarantees. CactusVPN also has a free trial. Overall, CactusVPN‘s key strengths are its audited privacy policy, Netflix unblocking, unlimited connections, and low price. It can‘t quite match the speeds, unblocking abilities, and server coverage of NordVPN or ExpressVPN. But it compares favorably to budget rival Surfshark, with similar performance at a competitive price and some unique privacy features. For users who prioritize trustworthy security on a budget, CactusVPN is a compelling alternative. ## Conclusion In this in-depth CactusVPN review, I‘ve highlighted the service‘s robust security, verified no-logs policy, reliable US/UK Netflix unblocking, P2P support, helpful privacy features, unlimited connections, and affordable pricing starting at $2.77/month. While it has a smaller server network than some rivals and less consistent speeds over long distances, CactusVPN still delivers good performance, privacy, and value. It‘s a strong choice for security-conscious users looking for a trustworthy and budget-friendly VPN for securing their online activity and streaming. With a 30-day money-back guarantee and free trial, CactusVPN is definitely worth considering. --- Source: [CactusVPN Review 2025: Strong Security on a Budget](https://33rdsquare.com/cactusvpn-review/)