CactusVPN 2022 — Great for Streaming + Large Households

CactusVPN Cheapest Price Review: Quick Expert Summary

CactusVPN offers great security and is simple to use. It connects to local servers quickly.

CactusVPN’s servers network is small with only 39 servers located in 22 locations. However, I love how evenly distributed they are around the globe. This gives most users access and speeds up to the nearest server.

CactusVPN claims to be able to access more than 340+ streaming websites in over 10+ countries. My team tried CactusVPN Smart DNS. It allows you to stream content from streaming sites in 10+ countries. It was possible to access streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and many others.

CactusVPN provides industry-standard security features such as 256 bit AES encryption and an automatic kill switch. Secure VPN protocols are available.

• Dedicated Servers CactusVPN is compatible all popular torrent clients, such as qBittorent/Deluge.
• Proxy servers — An proxy server replaces your IP with the IP address of the destination you’re connecting to. Proxy servers do not support encryption.
• Perfect Forward Secrecy is (PFS) – This feature changes your encryption keys every time you open new sessions on the internet. It stops hackers from accessing your data in a future session or a past session.
• Separate tunnel You can select which apps will travel through your VPN tunnel, and through your local network. This is only for Android, Android TVs and Amazon Fire Stick.
• and more…

CactusVPN offers many great features, but there are some things that I don’t like about it. It also has slower connections to remote servers than top VPN providers. CactusVPN is unable to bypass firewalls in China.

CactusVPN has three payment plans: a 1-month, 3-month, and 1-year plan.

CactusVPN Full Review

CactusVPN was a top choice for a VPN. It was tested over several weeks and it passed my tests.

CactusVPN’s ability to access hundreds streaming services is a well-respected feature.

This provider fulfills its promises to provide access to tons of streaming sites as well as easy-to-use apps. They offer excellent internet connectivity, good apps, and an exceptional online experience for torrenting or browsing.

CactusVPN features

CactusVPN offers these security features:

• Multiple encryption methods CactusVPN safeguards your data with industry-leading AES encryptions of 256 bit, 192 bit and 128 bit AES.
• CactusVPN has no logs policy . CactusVPN will not log traffic history or personal data.
• CactusVPN’s Kill Switch cuts off internet access if the VPN connection drops.

CactusVPN supports 7 VPN protocols including L2TP/IPSec and PPTP. It’s open-source, fast, and secure. Anybody can view its code and see if it has any security holes.

CactusVPN has many more features like Smart DNS, split tunnelling proxy servers and Tor support.

Smart DNS

SmartDN works better than VPNs to access streaming content

SmartDNS works better with streaming services than VPNs, and provides faster streaming speeds.

CactusVPN SmartDNS is so easy to use. It’s built into the CactusVPN application, so it doesn’t require any setup. CactusVPN Smart DNS can be switched between the VPN and Smart DNS with one click. However, Smart DNS cannot simultaneously be used. We were able streaming HD movies and TV shows via sites like Crunchyroll or Amazon Prime.

Smart DNS services are offered by ExpressVPN VPN and CyberGhost VPN. But, they can’t access the same number sites as CactusVPN SmartDNS.

CactusVPN smart DNS does an excellent job accessing streaming service. It’s easy to use, fast, and allows you to stream clear and crisp content anywhere.

Split-Tunneling

CactusVPN split tunnelling works only on Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick and Amazon Fire Stick. But I love the flexibility it provides.

All apps have the option to use VPN (the default setting), although some apps can either bypass it entirely or only use VPN tunnels.

CactusVPN’s split-tunneling feature was tested when I connected to a dedicated Romanian VPN server to download a large file. Because many banks block VPN traffic, I had to exclude my bank’s mobile application.

Split-tunneling works in the exact same way as TunnelBear’s split tunnelling or ExpressVPN’s split tunnelling. Both allow you to exclude particular apps. ProtonVPN split-tunneling works just like TunnelBear’s or ExpressVPN’s split tunnelling. It allows you to redirect web browsers, IP addresses, and apps using the VPN. You can, for example, exclude Chrome and Firefox from torrenting via a VPN connection to get faster browsing speeds.

While I love CactusVPN’s Split Tunnelling feature, it is not available on Windows.

CactusVPN’s split tunnelling function for Android is very good. CactusVPN needs to add split-tunneling support for Windows. The Android app is great because you can customize the route of your apps through the VPN.

Obfuscation

CactusVPN protects your internet traffic by using layer encryption. This protects your VPN traffic and prevents prying eyes.

Although your ISP may see that your VPN is being used to conduct online activities, they are unable to see which sites you visit and what files you download. Your ISP will assume that you are using a normal internet connection.

CactusVPN has no obfuscation tools built in for Windows apps. But, you can manually configure it for Linux and macOS.

Obfuscated connections may be slower than regular VPN connections, due to the additional layer of encryption. I experienced some lag also when streaming sites were enabled.

CactusVPN offers decent obfuscation. This VPN is ideal for hiding your VPN connection with your ISP. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux and MacOS.

Proxy Servers

CactusVPN doubles in proxy servers

Proxy servers act in the same way as VPN servers and replace your IP. CactusVPN provides excellent tutorials on setting up proxy servers.

Proxy servers let you surf faster and torrent easier because they don’t encrypt your traffic. They were faster than my local network speed.

CactusVPN VPN server works as proxy servers. It’s very convenient for torrenting, browsing the internet, and other activities.

Tor Support

CactusVPN’s servers let you connect to The Onion Router(Tor).

Tor browser, a privacy network that hides IP addresses and encrypts all traffic, is free to use. Connect to any CactusVPN server to start browsing.onion.

Tor is extremely secure but IP addresses can still be accessed. CactusVPN gives you extra protection.

Noting that Tor networks slow down internet connections is crucial. It encrypts your information multiple time. This causes slow internet connections.

CactusVPN offers Tor Support that is very impressive. But there are many VPNs, which provide better Tor access. ProtonVPN lets you access.onion sites using your browsers Chrome and Firefox.

CactusVPN support for Tor is great for anyone who uses.onion site.

CactusVPN Privacy & Security

CactusVPN offers transparent policies

CactusVPN does not log your IP address or sites visited. CactusVPN logs just your email address (for registration), your payment details (to issue refunds, process orders) and support tickets (to provide service).

CactusVPN moved its headquarters to Canada from Moldova. Canada does have no mandatory data retention laws. CactusVPN is part of 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances that shares intelligence data.

CactusVPN needs to be audited on its no logs policy. This would be similar to what TunnelBear has done and ExpressVPN did.

CactusVPN follows a strict no-logs policy. CactusVPN is based in the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. It does not log any user information and would not be able to give it to the government.

CactusVPN Speed & performance

I did speed testing by connecting to servers in 22 countries that CactusVPN hosts to determine average VPN speeds

My average speed was down 75%. This isn’t bad. To get an accurate report on CactusVPN speeds, I asked my American colleague for speed tests. His results were impressive at 43%.

The Romanian server had the fastest speeds. I was able browse and torrent in the US with good speed, but I noticed a noticeable slowdown when connecting from Asia. Japan was particularly concerning as YouTube videos and websites took longer for me to load. I experienced a lot buffering.

The first speed test that I did was when I was connected to my ISP.

Next, I connected manually via CactusVPN to a VPN server in Romania. CactusVPN does have quick connections features, but other VPNs such as ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN allow you to choose the fastest server.

Although I had a slower download speed of 68%, I was still connected to the internet and able to make international VoIP calls (Voiceover IP), even though I was not connected via VPN. This is quite impressive.

Then, I connected to a VPN server located in the US. While I was watching YouTube videos, there was some buffering.

Finally, I tried a Japan-based server. The speed dropped 82%. Websites take between 8-10 seconds, and HD videos on YouTube take between 15-20 seconds.

It would be unfair to compare my results against those of other countries.

To set a baseline for his internet speeds, my colleague performed an initial speed test using a standard connection.

The next step was to connect with a VPN server in New York. He was able surf the internet quickly and didn’t experience any glitches or freezing during Zoom calls.

My colleague then connected with an Italian server. He saw a 24% drop on speed. Also, he was able download a 30GB file in under 20 minutes. That’s quite remarkable.

He finally connected with an Australian server. He was able browse websites in between 6-8 seconds. YouTube videos took 3 seconds.

CactusVPN speeds were great on both local and medium range servers. My colleague, I, and we were able to surf the internet, make VoIP calls, and download files at lightning fast speeds during speed testing. While I experienced buffering while watching YouTube videos my colleague didn’t. Torrenting was slow.

CactusVPN Servers & IP Adresses

CactusVPN hosts 39 servers across 22 countries. These servers are located in North America as well as Europe.

CactusVPN has a small server network but does a good job spreading out the servers to various locations across the globe. The highest load percentage I could see was 30 percent.

CactusVPN supports p2p traffic from 12 servers across 7 different countries. ExpressVPN lets you torrent on all 3000+ server.

CactusVPN can be used to serve as proxy servers. They must be manually configured. I was always able to get very high speeds.

CactusVPN has no dedicated IPs. These unique IP addresses are provided for free by PrivateVPN, while Private Internet Access and CyberGhost VPN cost an additional fee.

CactusVPN’s limited server network shouldn’t make it difficult for users find servers that are fast and near them.

CactusVPN Streaming & Torrenting

Smart DNS by CactusVPN allows you to access streaming sites. CactusVPN SmartDN is said to work with over 340+ sites from 10+ countries. It worked with Hulu. ABC, Hulu. Hulu. ABC. HBO Max.

SmartDNS is fast, easy-to-use and doesn’t encrypt traffic.

CactusVPN provides decent P2P support. They have servers in Malaysia, Spain and Germany as well as Latvia. I tested it with most popular torrent clients, such as qBittorrent or uTorrent. ExpressVPN allows torrenting traffic on its 3000+ servers. CactusVPN, however, does not permit port forwarding.

DNS leak testing was performed to verify that my IP address is secure.

CactusVPN SmartDNS is my favorite streaming tool. It claims to be able to access over 340 streaming sites. My team was able to access content on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Disney+. CactusVPN supports torrenting with dedicated P2P server. It can also be used with the most popular torrenting client.

CactusVPN bypassing censorship

CactusVPN’s Obfuscation Tool is not always compatible with internet firewalls.

CactusVPN claimed it was unable to guarantee that it would work in countries with online restrictions.

CactusVPN makes it possible to hide Windows. It is also possible to manually configure it for Linux and macOS.

PrivateVPN and ExpressVPN are great options for those who live in restricted areas.

CactusVPN Plans & Pricing

CactusVPN offers flexible payment plans. There are options for 1-month, 3-month, and 2-year payments.

The 2-year plan costs D90,000.370 per month, which is comparable to top VPNs. It offers the best value. But, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access offer a better value than CactusVPN. They offer faster speeds and better security.

CactusVPN supports many payment options, including PayPal and credit/debit cards. PayPro supports more than 25 payment options including Alipay, Trustly, and iDEAL.

CactusVPN Terms of Service state that they will only refund you if it does not work. CactusVPN support representatives confirmed that a full reimbursement could be made if the service was not satisfactory.

CactusVPN has many other VPNs with better pricing than CactusVPN, but the 2-year contract is still very affordable. Although it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, there are restrictions.

CactusVPN Easy of Use: Mobile and Desktop Apps

CactusVPN offers apps that are compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows. On my iPhones and Android smartphones, the installation took less than a minute. It took just 2 minutes on my MacBook Pro and Windows 10 computers.

Android

CactusVPN Android application isn’t my favorite.

The Android app does not have a kill switch. There isn’t a kill option on most VPN apps.

CactusVPN’s Android app has an intuitive interface, maintains fast speeds, and offers split-tunneling. You can also choose split-tunneling or WireGuard from the Android app. CactusVPN lets you sort servers by speed to help you find the fastest one.

You can also access the tab for P2P server. The app makes it easy to switch between SmartDNS and VPN.

There’s better Android apps.

iOS

CactusVPN iOS Application is better than Android App.

It is very similar to the Android app. However, the iOS also includes a kill button for WireGuard (the only protocol that is available in the iOS App). CactusVPN, which is one of very few VPNs, has an iOS kill option.

CactusVPN’s iOS app is very simple to use. It is easy to use and a great choice for VPN new users.

Overall, I like CactusVPN’s iOS application. It is fast, intuitive, and secure.

Windows/Mac (Desktop)

CactusVPN offers great Windows and macOS applications with a similar layout to the mobile apps.

CactusVPN desktop apps do not have a quick connection feature. CactusVPN desktop apps don’t have a fast connection feature. It’s located in the top right hand corner of your main window.

CactusVPN may not list many features under the Settingtab Tab, but I believe it would still be helpful for CactusVPN’s users to give explanations of their features so they can quickly understand what each function does.

Windows offers multiple VPN protocols. WireGuard is one option. OpenVPN is another. L2TP/IPSec options are also available. PPTP should not be used as it could lead to insecurity.

Only the Windows App offers obfuscation, which is only available with OpenVPN. The process can be confusing for people not familiar with technology.

The kill switch can be used in both macOS and Windows apps. It is a pity that the Windows app doesn’t allow you to use it with WireGuard, OpenVPN or other security tools.

The Windows app performs better than the macOS version. Both the Windows and macOS CactusVPN apps can be used with ease.

CactusVPN Apps – Is CactusVPN easy to use?

Yes. CactusVPN applications for Android, iOS, Windows and Mac are all user-friendly. They share a common design. They support Smart DNS.

Although Windows offers more features (including obfuscation and protocols), it is not compatible with OpenVPN and WireGuard. The iOS application also includes a kill switch that can be used with IKEv2/IPSec.

Customer Support for CactusVPN

CactusVPN customer service is excellent.

This tutorial explains how to set up your CactusVPN app. It also contains frequently asked questions (FAQs), most commonly asked question (FAQs), and an extensive Learning Center. This Learning Center includes in-depth articles and live chat support, as well as support via email.

These tutorials explain how to use CactusVPN Smart DNS, VPN and apps.

CactusVPN offers livechat, but it’s not available 24/7. CactusVPN offers live chat, but it is not available 24/7. However, the automated translator allows you to communicate with support staff in other languages. The connection took less than 10 seconds each time that I tried it. I was answered all of my questions by the support representatives who were professional and friendly.

CactusVPN also received several emails. I received replies in under 2 hours.

I was able to request a return via live chat. My refund was processed within hours.

CactusVPN is a great service provider. CactusVPN has many useful guides and responsive email support.

CactusVPN: Is it one of the most popular VPNs in 2022?

CactusVPN is fast and secure. It can also be used with over 340+ streaming websites and allows unlimited simultaneous connection.

CactusVPN provides torrenting via dedicated servers for P2P from 39 countries. It offers easy-to use apps that can be used on iOS, Android Windows, Windows, and macOS.

CactusVPN had faster than average speed on its local servers, according to speed tests. I was able to surf, torrent, and view YouTube videos. But, CactusVPN’s performance abroad disappointed me.

CactusVPN offers industry-standard security measures such as 128-bit AES encryption, 256-bit AES encryption, and a kill switch.

CactusVPN is not perfect. Split-tunneling only works on Android.

CactusVPN has four payment options. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Can CactusVPN be used in China?

CactusVPN works in China. CactusVPN customer support representatives said that CactusVPN’s encryption software does not work reliably around China’s Great Firewall.

ExpressVPN, or PrivateVPN, is recommended for people who live in countries with restricted internet access.

Can CactusVPN get Netflix access?

CactusVPN SmartDN accesses streaming websites such as Netflix. This allows HD content to be viewed without any buffering.

Is CactusVPN reliable?

CactusVPN offers a high level of security. It changes your encryption key each time you open a new session online. CactusVPN offers obfuscation which allows you to hide your VPN traffic as well as your ISP from anyone.

Is CactusVPN available for free?

CactusVPN offers no free plans. However, all payment plans come with a 30-day guarantee. CactusVPN immediately issued a refund to me after I expressed my dissatisfaction with the product.

CactusVPN offers 1-month to 3-month, 1-year or 2-year plans. The 2-year plan offers the most savings.

Source : #safetydetectives
Editor by : BEST Antivirus KBS Team