PotatoVPN

PotatoVPN is a small VPN provider that’s gained some attention for its free mobile version and beginner-friendly interface. My team and I put PotatoVPN through real-world tests to see if it’s worth your time and money. Spoiler: It can’t compete with the top premium options.

Is PotatoVPN a good free VPN? Although studies have shown 47% of users pick free VPNs, PotatoVPN is an example of why that’s usually a bad idea (Brave, 2024)¹. I experienced frequent disconnects even after paying for the premium version, and it’s almost unusable for gaming, streaming, and torrenting due to its slow speeds and poor security. You can get a top-tier VPN at a lower price.

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Streaming — Works With Some Platforms but Too Slow for HD Streaming

PotatoVPN has limited streaming capabilities compared to other VPNs we’ve tested. While it works with several streaming platforms, the video quality is poor, with frequent buffering and long load times.

While it’s been reported that 50% of all VPN users connect while enjoying entertainment (Exploding Topics, 2024)², other studies have found that only 46% use them for streaming (Demandsage,2024)³. Either way, PotatoVPN is missing out on many customers with its streaming performance issues.

The VPN does include several streaming-optimized servers, but they performed the same as the regular ones in our tests. There are no advanced streaming features like Smart DNS, dedicated IPs, or auto-optimized servers that you’d find with top-tier VPNs. If consistent compatibility and quality are priorities, there are other VPNs capable of safely accessing all the top platforms from anywhere.

Popular Streaming Platforms We Tested

While PotatoVPN works with Netflix, Max, and Prime Video, the overall experience was underwhelming. Netflix technically worked, but the connection was so slow that videos constantly buffered, and the quality dropped to SD, even with a stable internet connection. Max and Prime were slightly better, though not completely smooth.

Hulu would not load at all. BBC iPlayer instantly detected the VPN and blocked access. Disney+ went a step further — it showed a security warning saying attackers might be trying to steal data, which was concerning and likely caused by the VPN’s flagged IPs or poor server configuration.

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Overall, I don’t recommend PotatoVPN for streaming. While it does work with platforms that usually block VPNs, like Netflix, the slow speeds, poor video quality, and frequent disconnects make it unreliable.

Speed — Decent Ping Rates but Slow Download Speeds

PotatoVPN reduced our connection speeds by over 90%, regardless of whether we connected to a nearby server or one across the globe. While local servers usually offer faster speeds with most VPNs, PotatoVPN didn’t show a noticeable improvement, even when connected to a server just a few hundred kilometers away.

The app does include a quick-connect feature that claims to automatically find the fastest available server. However, in practice, this didn’t improve performance. PotatoVPN also doesn’t have 1Gbps or 10Gbps servers, which may explain the poor speed results. Overall, it’s not a good choice if you’re looking for a VPN to maintain fast and stable internet speeds.

To provide consistent and fair comparisons, we test all VPNs from the same location in the US, using the same internet connection. Our speed expert connects to nearby and distant servers and records download and upload speeds for each connection. We then compare them to baseline speeds without a VPN to measure how much each VPN affects performance across different server distances.

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Some slowdown is expected when using a VPN since encrypting your data and routing it through remote servers adds overhead. However, the performance drop we experienced with PotatoVPN is far beyond what’s considered normal. Many top VPNs deliver strong security with only a minimal impact on speed.

Gaming — Too Slow for Smooth Gameplay

I can’t recommend PotatoVPN for gaming. Although our ping results were solid on nearby servers, staying under 50ms (well within the acceptable range for competitive gameplay), we couldn’t play any game with the VPN.

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PotatoVPN’s extremely low download speeds remain a problem. I tried it with Roblox, Overwatch, and PUBG, and none of those games could load while connected to the VPN. The game would sit on the loading screen forever, and just when I thought it was about to start, it would crash back to the home screen. If you’re looking for a gaming VPN, there are better options.

Server Network — Decent Coverage but Frequent Disconnects

PotatoVPN offers 100 free servers and 5 000 premium servers across multiple countries. Free users can connect to 15 locations, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, India, and Australia, while premium subscribers get access to a significantly larger selection of 6 locations. The premium version provides a VIP option with streaming-optimized servers and a Fastest Server Selection feature.

In terms of global reach, PotatoVPN covers a decent number of regions. It has a presence in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia, but lacks servers in Africa and the Middle East.

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While the VPN offers city-level server selection, the list is ordered randomly, with no option to sort alphabetically or per country, making it harder to find a preferred location quickly. On the plus side, you can use the History feature to see and connect to your previously used servers. However, this option isn’t available on desktop apps.

All of PotatoVPN’s servers are virtual, meaning they don’t operate from physical hardware in a fixed location. Instead, they run on shared cloud infrastructure, which can affect performance, privacy, and location accuracy. Additionally, the VPN doesn’t offer dedicated IP addresses, so you can’t get a consistent, private IP for secure access to specific services.

Does Potato VPN work? While it usually connected quickly, we had frequent disconnects. We’ll elaborate on why this is so unsafe when we delve deeper into its lack of security features. For better reliability, there are superior VPNs with thousands of secure and private servers worldwide.

Does PotatoVPN Work in China? No

According to support, PotatoVPN does not work in China. It doesn’t have any special features, such as obfuscation technology, stealth protocols, or mirror links, that are typically recommended for using a VPN in China. Additionally, it lacks advanced tools often used to evade detection, such as OpenVPN with obfuscation or Shadowsocks.

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While many VPNs are banned in China, there have been no publicly reported cases of individuals being penalized for using one. The primary targets are VPN providers, not everyday users.

PotatoVPN also doesn’t work in other heavily censored countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Russia. If you need a VPN for such countries, it’s better to choose one that offers obfuscated servers, stealth protocols, and a proven track record of working in restrictive environments.

Security — Solid Encryption but Lacks Crucial Features

Is PotatoVPN safe? Like most VPNs, it uses AES 256-bit encryption, estimated to take 3.31 x 10^56 years to crack (North Dakota Information Technology, 2019)⁴.

However, I can’t recommend PotatoVPN if your primary concern is online security. It offers only basic security features and falls short in providing robust protection compared to top-tier competitors. Its apps barely have any options — all you can do is switch protocols.

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PotatoVPN doesn’t offer a kill switch — a critical security feature that blocks your internet if the VPN connection drops. Although I didn’t detect DNS and IP leaks with the VPN on, I got disconnected pretty often, meaning that anyone could see my real IP address and activity in those moments. PotatoVPN didn’t even inform me that I wasn’t protected anymore. This defeats the purpose of using a VPN, as your data could get exposed any time.

Security Protocols

The only security option in PotatoVPN’s apps is to choose a protocol. However, none of the options it lists are standalone VPN protocols. They’re either transport-layer protocols, web protocols, or potentially proprietary tunneling layers. Here’s what each of them actually is:

• UDP (User Datagram Protocol). Fast, connectionless transport protocol. Often used by OpenVPN/WireGuard, but not a VPN protocol itself.
• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). A reliable, connection-based protocol. Again, used with VPN protocols like OpenVPN TCP, but not a VPN protocol.
• TCP+. Likely a marketing term or proprietary tweak; not an official or known protocol.
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Not related to VPNs at all. It’s used for transferring files over a network and is very outdated and insecure unless wrapped in encryption.
• STP (Shielded Twisted Pair or Spanning Tree Protocol). Either way, this has nothing to do with VPNs. It’s a physical cable type or a network switch protocol.
• HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). The basic web protocol. If used in VPNs, it’s probably a weak HTTP proxy.
• HTTP CONNECT. A method used by HTTP proxies to tunnel traffic. It can be used to initiate an HTTPS connection through a proxy, not a VPN protocol.
• HTTP+. Likely a proprietary enhancement, but again, not a recognized protocol.
• WS (WebSocket). A protocol for real-time, full-duplex communication over a single TCP connection. Sometimes used in VPN tunneling or obfuscation.
• TLS (Transport Layer Security). Used to encrypt data in VPN protocols like OpenVPN. It’s a component, not a full VPN protocol.
• TLS+. Likely a proprietary version or an obfuscation layer built on TLS. Not standard or publicly vetted.

PotatoVPN relies on custom or repurposed transport/web protocols rather than trusted VPN standards like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKEv2/IPSec. That’s risky for privacy and performance. For safe, secure, and reliable streaming or privacy, stick with open-source, audited, and widely trusted protocols.

In-App Private Browser

​PotatoVPN offers a Private Browser feature exclusive to its premium users. This browser is only available in its mobile apps, and it’s designed to automatically eliminate cookies, browsing history, and trackers after each session. It’s not a bad feature, but it’s probably no better than your favorite browser’s incognito window.

Privacy — Not Ideal for Anonymity Online

PotatoVPN’s privacy policy raises some concerns due to its data collection practices and lack of independent audits. While it claims it doesn’t store your personal data, it logs a bit of anonymized information. Plus, having its headquarters in Singapore is a bit concerning since it’s not the most privacy-friendly country.

Does PotatoVPN Keep Logs? Partially

PotatoVPN retains limited usage data, including protocol selection, connection timestamps, and network type, for up to 24 hours. It also collects application data like city-level geolocation and device information. It also logs your email (if you sign up with one), registration date, and billing information for account management and support.

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Was PotatoVPN Audited? No

PotatoVPN has never undergone a third-party audit, and it doesn’t publish transparency reports. That means there’s no external verification of its no-logs claims or how user data is actually handled.

Based in Singapore

PotatoVPN states that it will share user data with the authorities if legally mandated, which may be concerning if you prioritize absolute privacy. While ​Singapore is not a formal member of the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence alliance, it collaborates with surveillance networks as a “third-party contributor,” engaging in intelligence-sharing activities with member countries.

Although the VPN operates from Singapore, its data is stored in the EU, which has strict data protection regulations. However, the company has not disclosed how it ensures compliance with privacy standards.

Torrenting — Slow Speeds and Weak Security Make It Unsuitable for Torrenting

While you can download torrents with PotatoVPN, its slow speeds make this a hassle. A file that normally takes around 5 minutes to download took nearly 50 minutes while connected to the VPN. The service is not optimized for P2P traffic and doesn’t support port forwarding or SOCKS5 proxy, so you can’t configure it for better speed and privacy.

Additionally, PotatoVPN frequently disconnects and doesn’t provide a kill switch, meaning your DNS and IP address can leak anytime. If you’re serious about protecting your privacy, there are VPNs that keep your data hidden from third-party exposure while maintaining incredible speeds.