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Panda Dome VPN Review
[Presented by BestCloudBest.com]
If you want to protect your privacy and security while browsing the Internet, then you need a VPN (Virtual Private Network). You might find it hard to choose a VPN though since there are many VPN providers. Panda Dome VPN is one of them. Panda Security, a well-known cybersecurity company provides this VPN service as part of its overall Panda Dome suite of products. WatchGuard, an American cybersecurity provider has acquired Panda Security in 2020.
VPNs claim to offer privacy, security, speed, user-friendliness, and compatibility. Some of them claim to unblock geo-restricted streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. Many VPNs claim to offer secure access to P2P/torrenting services. Most VPNs also promise to offer great customer support and a reasonable price.
We have evaluated Panda Dome VPN using all of these yardsticks. Does this VPN meet your requirements and should you buy a subscription? Read this review to find that out.
The features of Panda Dome VPN
To start with, let’s review the features that Panda Dome VPN offers.
Can Panda Dome VPN provide sufficient privacy?
You want a privacy-friendly VPN. If a VPN successfully masks your IP address, encrypts your Internet traffic, and follows a “zero-logs” policy, then it can protect your privacy.
Panda Dome VPN masks your IP address and encrypts Internet traffic. It follows a “no logs” policy. The company explains its policy in one of its knowledge base articles. Panda Dome VPN states that it doesn’t collect any personally identifiable information about its VPN users. It states that it doesn’t collect the IP address of users, moreover, it doesn’t keep activity logs.
Panda Dome VPN collects your email address, first name, last name, postal code, and country when you buy a VPN subscription. We don’t find any privacy risks with respect to this.
This VPN commits to protect your privacy. Panda Security is a Spanish company, whereas WatchGuard is an American company. Since the acquisition by WatchGuard is recent, it’s not entirely clear whether Panda Dome VPN is subject to the jurisdiction of Spain or the USA.
Both countries are parts of the “14 Eyes” coalition of countries that conduct mass surveillance. These countries aren’t ideal for a privacy-focused VPN, however, Panda Dome VPN doesn’t keep logs. This eliminates privacy risks to its users.
We find that Panda Dome VPN can protect your privacy. The company follows an effective “no logs” policy.
Is your internet traffic safe with Panda Dome VPN?
Most VPN users consider security as an important factor, and you probably consider it too. You need a VPN that supports secure VPN protocols, provides strong encryption, prevents data leaks, and offers advanced security features.
Panda Dome VPN supports OpenVPN, the most secure VPN protocol. OpenVPN doesn’t have any known security vulnerabilities. This VPN provider supports IPSec and L2TP, which are secure VPN protocols too.
Panda Dome VPN provides AES-256, which enjoys the reputation of being the most secure encryption algorithm. AES-256 is military-grade encryption, and we are happy to see that Panda Dome VPN provides this.
This VPN provider prevents IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. We see no reference to a kill switch though. A kill switch blocks your Internet connection as soon as the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. All leading VPNs offer a kill switch, however, Panda Dome VPN doesn’t offer this. Panda Dome VPN lags behind its competitors in this regard.
While Panda Dome VPN offers all basic security features, it doesn’t offer top-of-the-line security features. It can’t match leading VPNs in the area of advanced security features.
Note: We checked whether Panda Dome VPN offers the “Perfect Forward Secrecy” (PFS) feature. This feature changes the encryption key regularly. Even if hackers get hold of your encryption key once, they can’t use it for long. PFS will soon change it. Leading VPNs offer this feature, whereas Panda Dome VPN doesn’t. There you have one more example of Panda Dome VPN offering basic security features but not advanced ones.
Server locations of Panda Dome VPN
Most VPN users want good speed in addition to privacy and security. VPNs that have enough servers in all key geographies and invest in high-quality infrastructure can offer good speed.
Panda Dome VPN doesn’t specify the number of servers it has. This VPN has its server infrastructure in 23 countries. Panda Dome VPN offers good speed since it invests in high-quality infrastructure.
Devices supported by Panda Dome VPN
You want a VPN that works with all kinds of devices that you have. Panda Dome VPN supports Windows, Mac, and Linux, among desktop platforms. Among mobile platforms, this VPN supports Android and iOS.
Panda Dome VPN provides custom VPN apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. While this VPN doesn’t provide a custom VPN app for Linux, it provides a manual configuration guide for Linux. Panda Dome VPN asks you to use the OpenVPN client for this, which is easy to use.
Panda Dome VPN doesn’t specify whether it supports routers. We don’t see any manual configuration guide for routers. During our review, we didn’t find any manual configuration guides for smart TVs, gaming consoles, or any other platforms. You can use this VPN on 5 devices simultaneously.
Panda Dome VPN supports key desktop and mobile platforms, which is good. However, it doesn’t support routers, smart TVs, etc. In this regard, it lags behind leading VPNs.
Can Panda Dome VPN unblock streaming platforms?
Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and a few more popular streaming companies impose geo-restrictions on their content due to business reasons. Many people want to bypass these restrictions by using a VPN. These streaming companies know that and they aggressively block VPNs.
Not many VPNs can unblock these streaming services. Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer regularly analyze the technologies used by different VPNs to unblock their content.
Naturally, if a VPN is well-known, then these streaming services get more data points to analyze. Panda Dome VPN is offered by Panda Security, which is around for 30 years. It appears that Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer knows and Panda Dome VPN well enough.
Panda Dome VPN can’t unblock these streaming services, and it doesn’t make any promise either. If you want a VPN to consistently unblock these streaming services, then explore other leading VPNs.
Does Panda Dome VPN allow for P2P/torrenting?
Many VPN users buy a VPN subscription since they want to securely access P2P/torrenting sites securely. Not all VPNs allow P2P/torrenting, however, Panda Dome VPN allows it. The company states this on its knowledgebase.
However, we don’t recommend you use this VPN for P2P/torrenting. You need a VPN that doesn’t keep any logs. Many countries have banned P2P/torrenting, moreover, you can face copyright issues even in countries that allow them. What if you inadvertently break laws? You need a “zero-logs” VPN to cover for you.
Furthermore, hackers regularly target users of P2P/torrenting sites. This is the second reason for people to use VPNs while accessing such sites. However, you need a VPN that provides a kill switch. This will prevent hackers from snooping on you when the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. Panda Dome VPN doesn’t provide a kill switch, therefore, we don’t find this VPN ideal for P2P/torrenting.
Bypassing the “Great Firewall” of China using Panda Dome VPN?
Panda Dome VPN doesn’t make any commitment that it will work in China. That’s not surprising since the Chinese government uses advanced technologies as part of its Internet-censorship regime. Many people want to use a VPN to circumvent this Internet censorship. The Chinese government uses technologies like “Deep Packet Inspection” (DPI) to identify and block VPNs.
Only the VPNs that use advanced technologies like “Stealth VPN” to disguise the fact it’s a VPN can bypass the “Great Firewall” of China. If you want a VPN that works in China, then you need to explore other leading VPNs.
How much does Panda Dome VPN cost?
You would like to pay a reasonable price for a VPN subscription. Panda Dome VPN offers the following pricing plans:
Free: This free plan is always free. It comes with limitations, as you would expect. The free plan is available for Windows and Android only. You can use only one server location, which is the default location. Furthermore, you can transmit 150 MB per day.
· Monthly: You pay $9.99 per month.
· Yearly: This plan costs you $77.34 once every year, therefore, your monthly average cost is $6.45.
· 3-years: This plan costs you $106.80 once every 3 years, therefore, your monthly average cost is $2.97.
You can pay for a VPN subscription using popular credit cards or PayPal. Panda Dome VPN offers a secure payment process.
Note: You can buy a subscription for Panda Dome, which is a suite of multiple products from Panda Security. Panda Dome VPN is one of those products. The pricing plans for Panda Dome are different, and we are reviewing the VPN pricing only.
Panda Dome VPN offers a 30-days money-back guarantee. Since it offers a free plan, it doesn’t offer a free trial for its paid plans.
The monthly plan of Panda Dome VPN is expensive. The company offers a competitive price in its 3-years plan.
The pros and cons of Panda Dome VPN
Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of Panda Dome VPN now. This VPN offers the following advantages:
· Panda Dome VPN follows a “no logs” policy and it protects your privacy.
· This VPN supports secure VPN protocols.
· It provides strong encryption and prevents data leaks.
· With servers in 23 countries, Panda Dome VPN provides good speed.
· This VPN supports Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux.
· It offers user-friendly custom apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, whereas, it provides an easy-to-use manual configuration guide for Linux.
· Panda Dome VPN allows 5 simultaneous connections.
· This VPN offers good documentation and robust customer support.
· This VPN offers a free plan with some limitations.
· Panda Dome VPN provides a 30-days money-back guarantee.
The disadvantages of Panda Dome VPN are as follows:
· Panda Dome VPN doesn’t provide a kill switch.
· This VPN can’t unblock Netflix.
· While it allows P2P/torrenting, we don’t recommend you use this VPN for this purpose. We say this since Panda Dome VPN doesn’t provide a kill switch.
· This VPN doesn’t work in China.
· Panda Dome VPN doesn’t support routers.
· This VPN doesn’t provide live chat support.
· Its monthly plan is expensive.
A few quick facts about Panda Dome VPN
We now summarize a few quick facts about Panda Dome VPN, which are as follows:
· Panda Security, a Spanish company offers Panda Dome VPN. WatchGuard, an American cybersecurity company acquired Panda Security in June 2020.
· Panda Dome VPN follows a “no logs” policy.
· This VPN supports secure VPN protocols and strong encryption, however, it doesn’t provide a kill switch.
· With servers in 23 countries, Panda Dome VPN offers good speed.
· Panda Dome VPN can’t unblock Netflix.
· While this VPN allows P2P/torrenting, it’s not suitable for this purpose due to the lack of a kill switch.
· Panda Dome VPN supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. This VPN offers custom apps for all of these platforms except for Linux.
· You can connect 5 devices simultaneously using one paid account.
· This VPN doesn’t work in China.
· Panda Dome VPN offers a free plan.
· This VPN offers a 30-days money-back guarantee.
· Panda Dome VPN provides robust documentation and customer support, however, it doesn’t offer live chat support.
Is Panda Dome VPN user friendly?
Panda Security offers a user-friendly website for its entire suite of products. This includes pages for Panda Dome VPN, and these are very user-friendly. You can easily find kay menu options and “Call To Action” (CTA) buttons.
The website prominently displays the pricing plans. You can buy a VPN subscription easily, and the process requires only a few steps. Panda Dome VPN offers user-friendly custom apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
This VPN offers a manual configuration guide for Linux, and it asks you to use the OpenVPN client. You will find the OpenVPN client easy to use. Panda Dome VPN is a user-friendly VPN.
The customer service at Panda Dome
You want good customer service when you buy a VPN subscription. Panda Dome VPN provides user-friendly custom apps for most of the key platforms, and it provides a useful manual configuration guide for Linux. This VPN provides stable services. You might not need too much customer support.
Having said that, Panda Dome VPN takes customer support seriously. The company provides a searchable knowledge base. We find the articles in the knowledge base useful and informative.
You can contact the customer support team of Panda Dome VPN through the contact form on its website. The company responds promptly and it has a knowledgeable customer support team. Panda Dome VPN doesn’t provide live chat support. Considering the price it charges, we feel that it should provide live chat support. In the overall analysis, we find that Panda Dome VPN provides good customer support.
Where is Panda Dome VPN located?
Panda Security offers Panda Dome VPN, and it’s a Spanish company. In June 2020, WatchGuard has acquired Panda Security. WatchGuard is an American company. The acquisition is recent, therefore, it’s not clear whether this VPN is subject to the jurisdiction of Spain or the USA.
Both countries are parts of the “14 Eyes” coalition of countries, therefore, they aren’t ideal for a privacy-friendly VPN. However, Panda Dome VPN doesn’t keep logs, which is good for its users.
Does Panda Dome VPN keep any logs?
Panda Dome VPN doesn’t keep logs. The company doesn’t record any information like IP address about its VPN users. It doesn’t keep activity logs. We find that Panda Dome VPN is a privacy-friendly VPN.
Protocols and encryption used by Panda Dome
Panda Dome VPN supports OpenVPN. Experts consider OpenVPN as the most secure VPN protocol since it doesn’t have any known security vulnerabilities. Panda Dome VPN also supports L2TP and IPSec, which are secure VPN protocols too.
Since Panda Dome VPN provides AES-256 encryption, it can protect your sensitive data. AES-256 is the most secure encryption algorithm. Panda Dome VPN prevents IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
This VPN doesn’t offer a kill switch. It doesn’t offer advanced security features like PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) either. While Panda Dome VPN provides basis security, it lags behind its leading competitors in the area of advanced security features.
The conclusion of our review
If you want a basic VPN, then Panda Dome VPN fits the bill. It follows a “no logs” policy, therefore, it can protect your privacy. While it offers basic security features including strong encryption, it doesn’t provide a kill switch. You can’t stream Netflix using this VPN. Panda Dome VPN allows P2P/torrenting. It’s not the best VPN for this purpose though since it doesn’t have a kill switch.
With servers in 23 countries and a robust infrastructure, Panda Dome VPN offers good speed. It supports Windows, Mac, Linus, Android, and iOS. This VPN offers user-friendly custom apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It uses the OpenVPN client for Linux and offers a manual configuration guide. This VPN allows 5 simultaneous connections, however, it doesn’t support routers.
Panda Dome VPN offers very good documentation, and it offers good customer support. It doesn’t offer live chat support though. Its monthly plan is expensive, however, its 3-years plan is competitively-priced. This VPN offers a free plan, moreover, it offers a 30-days money-back guarantee.
Panda Dome VPN can meet the basic privacy and security requirements of a VPN. If you need a VPN for basic needs only, then it’s a good buy. If you want a feature-rich VPN, then explore other leading VPNs.
