Panda Security VPN Review

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50%
Features Read more toggle icon
45%
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Panda Dome VPN is a small Virtual Private Network add-on for existing antivirus users. The add-on is simple and easy to use; however, it does not offer the strength or enough features to suit more advanced users. Panda Security is well-known for its internet security and antivirus solutions. Like other companies such as Avast and Bitdefender, Panda has introduced a VPN product as an add-on for its other products.

The basic VPN comes with Panda's standard antivirus product, and there is no additional cost. However, it is necessary to note that you likely will not be able to use the VPN in combination with another antivirus solution, as they will likely be incompatible. The VPN comes with simple, easy-to-use clients, 23 server locations, a simple automatic connection feature, and little else. There is no integrated kill switch or the option to switch protocol.

    Pros

  • pro icon Free VPN add-on
  • pro icon Unblocks Netflix
  • pro icon Zero-logs

    Cons

  • con icon No kill switch
  • con icon No split tunneling
  • con icon Data limits
Price Starting At: 2.96 $ / monthly 77.34 $ / annually
For New Users: 30 -day money-back guarantee
Number of servers: 23+
General information
Type of IP offered: Shared
Simultaneous connections / Users: 5
OS support: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows
VPN Promotion: Get VPN from Panda Security VPN for 2.96$ per month
Capabilities
Unlimited Bandwidthcross iconKill Switchcross iconSplit Tunnelingcross iconZero Data Loggingcross iconFree Version / Trialcross iconMobile Appcross iconFirestick Compatiblecross icon
Payment options
  • American Express
  • Mastercard
  • Mastercard Debit
  • Paypal
  • Visa
  • Visa Debit
  • Visa Electron
Geolocations available
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Panda Security VPN Security

50%

Panda Security is popular for its standard internet security and antivirus products. In recent years, it has followed the likes of Avast and Bitdefender to introduce a VPN add-on. The Panda VPN is part of a bundle of the company's standard antivirus, for no additional cost.

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is an important piece of internet security. It will re-route your internet connection through several secure VPN servers, encrypt it, and hide your real IP address so that your online activity remains completely anonymous.

Without the protection of a VPN, your identity and sensitive online data are exposed to the eyes of your Internet Service Provider (ISP), your government, as well as cybercriminals, hackers, and malicious advertisers. Activating a VPN is the only way to ensure your internet connection remains completely private and secure.

The Panda VPN is extremely basic and focuses on ease of use rather than advanced features. There are just 23 server locations and very simple clients for mobile and desktop. When it comes to security features, there is room for improvement. There is no option to switch between protocols and no integrated kill switch.

The VPN operates similarly to most other VPNs on the market and is extremely easy to navigate. To get protected, all you need to do is click the 'Automatic' button to enable the client to automatically select the best available VPN server in terms of proximity. There is a disconnect button too.

The settings section is largely empty. It simply includes the option to have the VPN automatically connect when you launch Windows. There are few additional features here. The Panda Dome VPN does not come with a reliable kill switch, nor does it have a notification to alert you when the VPN has disconnected. This is disappointing, as a kill switch is arguably one of the most important features of any VPN.

Without a kill switch, your real IP address and any unencrypted information may become exposed if the VPN connection drops for any reason. A kill switch works to cut your internet to prevent the transfer of data without VPN protection. Since Panda VPN does not offer a kill switch or a disconnection notification, you may be unprotected.

The VPN comes as part of Panda's free antivirus product. The client includes options to launch on-demand device scans or schedule the client to complete a scan when it is convenient. There is also a USB Protection feature that prevents USB keys from becoming infected by malware.

There is a Process Monitor tool that works as a powerful Task Manager, allowing you to easily monitor all processes and a useful Rescue Kit that can create a rescue USB key to resolve an infected device.

According to AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, which was carried out in 2020, Panda's VPN product ranked 5th out of 17. It was awarded an impressive rating of 99.9% effective. However, this does mean that it lags slightly behind some of the best security products like Norton and F-Secure that received a 100% rating.

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Panda Security VPN Features

45%

Panda Dome is a security company that is best known for its antivirus products but now also offers a VPN service. The VPN add-on comes as part of Panda's basic antivirus product, which is available for free. However, this does mean that you will likely be unable to use the Panda VPN in combination with any other antivirus apps, as they probably won't be compatible.

Panda's VPN is one of the simplest products on the market, and it focuses on ease of use rather than advanced features or functions. The server network features just 23 locations, significantly less than almost every premium VPN on the market.

A lack of VPN locations may mean that particular servers will become overwhelmed or congested by too many VPN users at one time, resulting in slower server speeds and buffering. Also, if a VPN does not offer a wide range of locations worldwide, you may be forced to connect via a long-distance server if there are no locations in your region. There is unlimited bandwidth, though, meaning that VPN users can stream without worrying about data consumption.

The desktop and mobile apps are extremely simple, with few features at all. There is no option to switch between VPN protocols or activate a kill switch, which is somewhat worrying in terms of your internet security and anonymity. There is the option to have the VPN automatically activate when you launch your computer, though, but this is far from the advanced features offered by premium providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

However, it is not all negative. The VPN product is straightforward to use, making it a great choice for beginner users looking for simple VPN protection. There is protection for up to 5 simultaneous connections, which is industry-average and likely enough for the typical user. This means that you can protect your mobile phone, computer, tablet, and more at the same time.

Moreover, Panda VPN is based on Hotspot Shield's service, meaning that server speeds should typically be good. You could sign up for Hotspot Shield too, but Panda VPN is slightly cheaper. Panda VPN also comes as a free option; however, this does come with a meager 150MB data allowance, which is enough for a little more than the simplest of browsing activities. The free version comes with an even smaller choice of VPN servers, though. The client will also automatically choose the server for you, as there is no option to choose a location.

The VPN comes with Panda's Free Antivirus product which offers decent security for Windows operating systems. However, there is, unfortunately, no support for macOS or Android. Customer support is extremely disappointing, too, despite that there is a live chat.

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How Much Does the Panda Security VPN Cost?

The Panda VPN is available as part of Panda’s antivirus product for no additional cost. However, this does mean that you probably can’t use another VPN in combination with the antivirus solution, as they will likely be incompatible. The antivirus product offers decent protection for Windows, but there is no support for Android and iOS devices which is disappointing.

Panda Dome VPN is also available as a free product. However, like any free VPN, it comes with limits- a meager 150MB of data, which is hardly enough for even the simplest of online activities. There is also no choice of server location with the free option as the client will automatically choose the best available server in terms of speed and proximity for you.

Users can purchase the VPN as a stand-alone product too, however, this is much trickier than you might expect. Once you find the correct product page, Panda VPN offers the option of one, twelve, and thirty-six-month plans. It will be necessary to enter your email address, name, and postcode too.

Panda offers just two payment methods- credit cards and PayPal. There is no support for anonymous payments with cryptocurrency, which is disappointing for users that want to remain completely private online. Once you have entered your personal information and payment details, Panda will email you an activation code with a client download link.

Like all of the best VPN services, Panda VPN comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. This means that you can test the VPN service for 30 days and request a refund if you are not completely happy with the service provided.

We would recommend using the trial period to test the Panda VPN on a range of devices such as Windows and Android to ensure compatibility. Also, use this time to test the VPN across a number of servers and with your favorite streaming services to ensure it offers the service you require.

Is Panda VPN Easy to Set Up?

Panda VPN is relatively quick and easy to set up. Once you have signed up to Panda VPN and entered your payment details, you will receive an email with an activation code as well as a download link. Use the installer to download the software on your devices, enter the activation code when requested, and the client should be running in a matter of minutes.

What is Panda Dome Antivirus?

Panda Dome’s VPN comes as part of the company’s free antivirus product, meaning that the client interface is somewhat more difficult to navigate than usual.

There is a button to start an on-demand system scan and the option to schedule a scan whenever it is convenient for you, such as at night. There is also a USB Protection feature that will protect your USB keys from infection by malware, as well as a Process Monitor Task Manager, which offers a simple overview of all running processes.

Is Panda VPN Secure?

As part of the AV-Comparatives’ Real-World Protection Test, Panda VPN was rated 5th out of 17 products and received a protection score of 99.9%, which is impressive, although not the absolute best on the market.

It is also necessary to note here the Panda VPN lacks a reliable integrated kill switch, which is disappointing and concerning when it comes to your online safety and security. Without this feature, if the VPN drops for any reason, your real IP address, identity, and any unencrypted information may be exposed to the prying eyes of hackers and cybercriminals.

Thankfully, Panda VPN offers complete DNS leak protection, which is reassuring. If you use Panda VPN, you will be protected by military-grade AES-256 bit encryption, so you can rest assured that your activity logs and personal information cannot be read or deciphered by anyone, including your ISP.

What Protocols Does Panda VPN Use?

A VPN protocol is a piece of technology that determines how internet traffic data is shared between your device and the internet. Different protocols have varying levels of encryption, security, and speed. Panda VPN utilizes Hotspot Shield’s Catapult Hydra protocol which is significantly faster than even OpenVPN, making it a great option if you want to stream and game in high-definition without buffering. The Catapult Hydra protocol also ensures connections are established quickly.

With Catapult Hydra, long-distance connections are established 2 times quicker than if you were to use OpenVPN. However, Catapult Hyrda, unlike OpenVPN, is not open-source, making it more difficult to complete independent security surveys on the protocol.

Does Panda VPN Have a No-Logging Policy?

When you use a VPN app, the company may collect some personal data to find out who uses it, how it is used, and how it can be improved. Some more malicious providers may even share this private information with third parties for profit. Therefore, it is necessary to consider data logging as part of this Panda VPN review.

Fortunately, the VPN from Panda Security comes with a clear no-logging policy, which means that it will not keep logs or share your internet activity data, browsing history, or personally identifiable information such as IP addresses.

What is Panda VPN’s Jurisdiction?

Every VPN service must be registered in a particular country, and this country is then referred to as its legal jurisdiction. Providers must ensure that their service runs in accordance with local internet security and privacy laws.

Panda VPN is located in Spain and is part of the fourteen eyes surveillance alliance, which is somewhat worrying in terms of user privacy and security. However, Panda VPN offers a no-logs policy that states that the VPN doesn’t store activity logs such as your browsing history and IP addresses. So, even if a government body requested Panda’s logs, there would be no data to share.

Is Panda VPN Compatible with Windows?

The Panda Security VPN product comes with 5 simultaneous connections, which is industry-average and sufficient for the typical user. There is a dedicated Windows app that functions in the same way as almost every other VPN service on the market, despite that it is likely more simple.

There is a typical list of remote locations and an automatic connection option that allows the app to automatically select the best VPN location in terms of speed and proximity. There is also a simple Connect/Disconnect button for ease of use. However, the Settings box is almost empty and offers the option to have the VPN automatically activate whenever you launch Windows. It also includes the option to select your desired location, but that’s it.

The Panda VPN client is one of the simplest on the market. There are no hidden additional features. The server location list is extremely simple too and does not indicate ping time or server load statistics, nor does it come with the option to filter by continent, favorites, or recent. The list is not even alphabetized, suggesting that little attention was given to the app.

Thankfully, the Panda VPN app does connect extremely quickly and takes just 1 second on average, which is much quicker than some other VPN apps, which can take up to 20 seconds or even more. The client also displays a notification to let you know that you’re protected.

However, there is no notification to let you know that you are not connected, which could present issues if the VPN drops for any reason. It is especially worrying as the VPN does not come with an integrated kill switch either. If the VPN connection drops, the app will not alert you, meaning that you may be browsing unprotected for a significant period of time.

Does Panda VPN Have a Good Server Network?

Panda’s VPN service has a relatively small network of 200 servers across 23 locations. This is significantly less than most other VPNs on the market, but it does cover most regions, including the United States, Brazil, Australi, Europe, and Asia. There are disappointing, no servers in Africa.

Is Panda VPN Good for Streaming?

Many users look to VPN providers to enable access to geo-restricted content on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO, and more. Therefore, we considered it necessary to test the streaming performance of Panda VPN.

On its website, Panda VPN claims that it enables secure access to all internet content, including television shows, social media networks, sports channels, news sites, video and audio streaming, dating sites, video games, and more, from anywhere in the world. Panda VPN failed to enable access to a host of sites during testing, including BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. The service did unblock YouTube and United States Netflix, which is a minor positive.

Panda VPN may unlock your favorite streaming services, but there is no guarantee. Thankfully, Panda VPN comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. This means that you can test it in combination with your favorite services to ensure it enables access. If not, you can request a refund and look for alternative VPN services.

Is Panda VPN Fast?

Compared to many other VPNs, Panda VPN from Panda security comes with a minimal number of servers. The VPN offers access to just 23 VPN locations, which is significantly less than the industry average. This means that certain servers are more likely to become congested or overwhelmed by too many users at once. Despite this, it is one of the fastest VPNs available.

If you have downloaded a VPN for streaming or gaming, it must offer fast speeds that are sufficient for accessing your favorite content in high-definition without lagging or buffering. Therefore, we have analyzed Panda VPN’s performance in terms of server speeds. Thankfully, the VPN connects extremely quickly. A typical connection to a Panda VPN server takes 1 second, much less than many VPNs, which can take over 20 seconds.

We also completed a speed test to check the speeds of the provider’s servers. On a United Kingdom connection, the VPN delivered reliable speeds of 67Mbps, which is impressive. Panda VPN is designed based on Hotspot Shield and uses its Catapult Hydra protocol which is much faster than OpenVPN, which explains the fast connection speeds.

Panda VPN is faster than most VPN services and is more than sufficient for most users to stream and game in high-definition, or even 4K without difficulties.

Is Panda VPN Good?

Panda VPN is a decent add-on as part of Panda’s anti-virus products. It is fast, good value for money, and extremely easy to use, especially for beginner customers. However, there is room for improvement when it comes to Panda’s privacy and security features, and we would like to see the introduction of a built-in kill switch.

The bottom line is- the client is elementary, and the lack of features will likely disappoint any more advanced users. However, there is a free version and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee on the paid option, meaning that it is worth a try if you are looking for simple VPN protection.

Author Cliff Durward

Hi, I'm Cliff. I'm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with my wife and two kids. I have a keen interest in cybersecurity and have been writing about it for around a decade now. Due to my background in computer science, I am familiar ...
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