TorGuard VPN Review

• Ping: 120ms
• Download: 31.66 Mbps
• Upload: 31.16 Mbps

• Ping: 46ms
• Download: 38.56 Mbps
• Upload: 47.78 Mbps

The Hong-Kong-based server suffered a lot in download speed, so if you plan on routing through Asian servers, you may want to take that into account. Otherwise, the numbers are pretty good all around.

3. Commitment to Torrenting

Lots of people use VPNs for torrenting, but it can be difficult to know whether or not you could be punished for it. No VPN provider is going to intentionally shield illegal activity, but some are more torrent-positive than others. TorGuard is one of them—it’s right in the name.

The fact that you can get a bundle with a proxy meant solely for torrenting at higher speeds than you might get on a VPN is indicative of the company’s dedication.

TorGuard also states that their servers are “optimized for the best possible performance when downloading torrents.” They don’t say what that means, and there’s a decent chance that it’s just marketing-speak, but it’s still a good sign.

And while it’s difficult to tell how many servers and how many countries TorGuard represents (because there are different numbers all over their website), they do have a wide international selection, which should help you optimize your torrent speeds.

4. Dedicated IP Addresses for Streaming

If you plan on using TorGuard for getting access to Netflix or another streaming service, you can take advantage of their dedicated IP addresses. This lets you access the streaming service from an IP address not linked to TorGuard… which means you should get very consistent access without proxy errors.

That’s great, right?

Yes, but it’s going to cost you. When you pay for your VPN, you can choose a dedicated IP address as an add-on for an additional $16.

It’s not a lot, but it does add to the bill. That could be considered a positive thing, because the dedicated IP address is extremely useful; but other VPNs offer successful Netflix streaming without the extra cost. So you’ll have to weigh the cost for yourself.

5. Solid Security and Stealthing

A range of VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, solid encryption, and the ability to disguise VPN traffic as regular traffic to get around VPN blockers all make this a good choice for anyone worried about surveillance or censorship. Hiding your VPN traffic isn’t always 100% effective, but I like to see VPNs giving it a shot.

It also tends to help with things like streaming Netflix in other countries.

6. No Leaks Detected

TorGuard is another leak-free VPN according to our tests.

We put it through the same series of checks that all of our VPNs face. And TorGuard passed with flying colors.

This is clearly a company that cares about leaks. They’ve gone out of their way to create a secure product, and backed that up with a built-in kill switch. Think of a kill-switch like an escape pod on a starship. (Where you Trekkies at?)

If the ship comes under fire, the crew is jettisoned to safety using the escape pod. A kill-switch is a similar concept. If a leak is detected, the kill-switch activates, ending your session and preserving the integrity of your browsing.

Plus, the installation files were also as clean as they come!

7. No Logging

TorGuard is very clear about its logging policy:

TorGuard.net does not store or log any traffic or usage from its Virtual Private Network (VPN) or Proxy.

The service collects information from you when you buy their products, but that’s it. Which means they won’t be selling your information to advertisers or handing it over, even if law enforcement shows up with a warrant.

And while it wasn’t easy to find out where TorGuard is headquartered (and can’t actually be confirmed), I found out that they’re located in the US, Florida which makes me scratch my head a little…

8. 24/7 Live Customer Support 

There are few things that I hate more than sucky customer service.

I have (quite literally) boycotted brands with high-quality products simply because I found their customer service to be ineffective and downright rude.

Luckily, the customer service offered by TorGuard is some of the best that I have seen in the industry. They offer 24/7 support through a call center, live chat, and support tickets.

And unlike some companies in the industry (PIA) TorGuard actually offers 24/7 support, not just a glorified support ticket system.

I decided to test out TorGuard’s 24/7 live chat system for myself to see if they can live up to their promises and I was pleasantly surprised.

At around 7:37 p.m. my time, I submitted a generic support query to gauge the companies response time. And only 5 minutes later, I was pleasantly surprised to receive the following response.

While their support team might not be quite as fast as Buffered or ExpressVPN, if you can stomach the 5 minute wait time, TorGuard provides excellent and efficient customer service that sets a benchmark for the entire industry.

9. Netflix Will Cost Extra, But One Out of Four Worked

Their basic VPN doesn’t work with Netflix (nor does their proxy service).

It’s a shame because when I was using their VPN, I couldn’t get access to Netflix either. I got the following error:

When I contacted their customer support, they told me that I need to buy “dedicated IP” which cost $7.99/mo extra in addition to the expensive VPN.

Seriously?

Almost $30/mo just to access Netflix which you can do with NordVPN and it only costs $3.49.

Here’s what the support agent wrote me:

Ok. But here’s the issue.

It still didn’t work on the following servers:

TorGuard Cons –

1. Potentially Stolen Code

Back in 2015, VPN.ac posted a detailed blog about the similarities between their own browser extension and TorGuard’s extension. The code was almost exactly the same, suggesting that TorGuard may have copied it.

However, VPN.ac also pointed out that TorGuard’s version of the extension had some notable security vulnerabilities that weren’t present in their own extension. These vulnerabilities could have led to users’ data being leaked. Fortunately, that didn’t happen (as far as anyone knows, anyway).

TorGuard quickly made some changes to their extension, but never made any satisfying public comment to explain their actions or apologize.

While this particular lapse in judgment isn’t likely to affect your security or privacy when using TorGuard, it’s still worrying. If they incorrectly copied the code from one company, they could do it again. It seems unlikely that they’d make the same mistake twice, but it wouldn’t be the first time.

You’ll just have to decide for yourself how big of a deal this one is.

2. Third-Party Apps Required on iOS and Android

To use TorGuard’s VPN services on your mobile device, you’ll need either the iOS or Android app. But you’ll also need the OpenVPN Connect app.

Is that a big deal? No, probably not. But the fact that you need an entirely different app to get the VPN to work is annoying, and it adds another step to what we’d prefer to be a very simple process. Other VPNs that offer mobile apps usually find a way to make them work without requiring a third-party app.

3. Jurisdiction Inside 14-Eyes

As I mentioned a moment ago, TorGuard is a VPN provider and has nothing to with TOR, the deep web browser. TorGuard states that the “Tor” in their name is a reference to torrents, and protecting your computer while you use BitTorrent.

However, TorGuard appears to be owned by a company called VPNetworks LLC:

Vpnetworks, LLC
618 E South St
Orlando, FL 32801

Sadly, this means they’re located in the US that can request VPN companies to handle over the information they have about their clients (hint: HideMyAss).

It’s much safer to use a VPN that is located in the BVI, Panama or even Switzerland.

Read more about the importance of 14 Eyes alliance here.

TorGuard Pricing, Plans & Facts

It’s not easy to find all of these prices on the TorGuard website, and if you want to purchase a bundle plan for more than a month, you may find it difficult. But if you get in touch with TorGuard’s customer support, they should be able to hook you up with the plan you’re looking for.

Here are your options (which aren’t exactly clear on the TorGuard site) for VPN pricing:

• Monthly VPN plan: $9.99
• Quarterly VPN plan: $19.99
• Semi-annual VPN plan: $29.99
• Annual VPN plan: $59.99
• Biennial VPN plan: $99.99

As you might expect, the biennial plan is the most economical, working out to just over $4 per month. Payment methods are done through PayPal, Credit Cards, Cryptocurrency, and more.

All in all, TorGuard has solid prices. They’re not the cheapest, but they’re not the most expensive, either. If you want a proxy in addition to your VPN, this is a tough service to beat.

All of their plans come with a 7-day money back guarantee. Here’s a quick recap of what you can expect from TorGuard:

• No logging: Yes.
• Ease of the VPN software: Not the best usability, a bit old school 3/5.
• Hidden fees & clauses: None.
• Upsells: Proxy and Anonymous email upsells.
• Instant access after payment: Took ~20min to verify PayPal payment.
• DNS leaks: None.
• Jurisdiction: Florida, US.
• Protocols: OpenVPN, IPSec, PPTP & L2TP.
• Kill-switch: Yes.

Do I Recommend TorGuard?

Despite a number of notable strengths, I don’t recommend using TorGuard.

On the other hand, I don’t caution you against using it, either. It’s not that TorGuard is bad; it’s just that there are a lot of VPNs out there that are better.

TorGuard has great security, but so do most other major VPNs. It has decent speed, whereas you can get blazing fast speeds if you get the right provider. Its prices are good, but not great. It supports torrenting, which is nice, but will cost you extra if you want a dedicated IP address for Netflix streaming (and still only 1/4 worked). Then there are the inconveniences (and potential immoralities) in the cons column.

Alternative VPNs

We’re sure the TorGuard team is trying to hard to put out the best product they possibly can. And I applaud them for that. But it’s not quite there yet, especially at the price they charge. It’s possible that focusing on proxies, a VPN, and a secure email service makes it more difficult to perfect any one of those systems.