Is Planet VPN Safe? Yes, It is! [But It's Slow]

Is Planet VPN safe? I’m sure you’ve been stuck with this question for quite some time.

And I don’t blame you! 

Most free-tier VPNs, like this one, have strings attached. These can include data logging, ad targeting, malvertising, and more.

Lucky you! I thrive in benchmarking VPN providers. Doing so helps to keep readers like you safe from dodgy services.

So, follow my lead, and let’s determine whether Planet VPN is safe for you. Shall we? 

What is Planet VPN?

Planet VPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service based in Romania. It operates on a freemium model with free and premium tiers.

The vendor controls 1,260 endpoints across 60 countries. These include ordinary, alongside specialty servers like P2P, double VPN, and onion-over-VPN. 

Planet VPN is compatible with major platforms, including Windows PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android. You can also use its browser extensions or configure it on your router.

Let’s dive deeper for more. 

Pros and cons

Below are the upsides and downsides of Planet VPN.

Pros

Here are the advantages of using this service:

• No registration: Planet VPN requires no sign-ups to use its free version. Just download, install, and run the service.
• Free premium locations: The VPN offers five premium regions on its free tier. They comprise the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.  
• Multiple protocols: Planet VPN has privacy-friendly protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and StarGuard. The vendor also provides its proprietary PlanetX option. 
• 256-bit encryption: This is a traffic encryption standard commonly used by banks and the military. It jumbles your data, making it complex for hackers to intercept and read. 
• Kill switch: The Planet VPN app can disconnect web access whenever it fails. Doing so prevents your data from leaking during unexpected service interruptions.
• Zero-logs policy: The vendor doesn’t monitor or gather user data. This policy maximizes privacy and prevents users from becoming prey to intruders.
• Multiple platforms support: Planet VPN supports various operating systems and devices. Popular ones include Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and web browsers. 

Cons

Planet VPN also has its fair share of flaws:

• Average speeds: My tests show that Planet VPN delivers half the speeds of my non-VPN connection. But we’ll return to this later.
• Slow connection: Launching a connection on this VPN takes about three minutes. It’s the slowest I’ve ever encountered in my years of benchmarking VPNs.
• Occasional disconnections: Planet VPN occasionally drops the connection. Luckily, it has a kill switch to prevent accidental data leakages. 
• Fewer regions: The VPN provides about 60 server locations. It lags behind industry leaders like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark, which boast coverage in 100+ countries.  
• Ad-supported free version: Planet VPN displays ads to free users of its service. However, they appear on the app, causing no interference with browsing.

Let’s roll up our sleeves!

Planet VPN performance

Before writing this review, I used Planet VPN’s free tier for about a month. While I was impressed with its simplicity, the performance wasn’t impressive.

My connection averages 20Mbps, give or take. However, I got about half of these speeds when using this VPN.

Here’s the per-region breakdown:

• Without VPN:

• United States:

• United Kingdom:

• Germany:

• Netherlands:

Germany is the fastest server region. Still, it’s about 25% slower than when I’m not using a VPN.

Such speeds should be adequate for daily browsing and occasional downloads. However, you may experience buffering when streaming content in 4K ultra-high definition.        

But:

Is Planet VPN safe?

My preliminary checks show Planet VPN is a safe location spoofing service. As noted, it supports 256-bit encryption alongside industry-standard connection protocols.

A quick online search also shows nothing alarming in customer reviews. Moreover, despite its free ad-supported version, no incidents have been reported.

Still, I had to conduct some tests to affirm its safety. The first was a DNS leak test, which showed no signs of leakage.

I also ran a WebRTC leak test to see if Planet VPN exposes user IP addresses. Again, the results were positive, and I couldn’t find anything alarming. 

Browsing the web is a breeze since I didn’t encounter annoying security CAPTCHAs. It shows Planet VPN’s IPs are spam-free, guaranteeing smooth internet access.

Verdict – Is Planet VPN safe?

Planet VPN is a safe VPN service. All security tests show that it doesn’t leak data or use unsafe protocols.

It has a network kill switch to prevent data leaks during unexpected interruptions. The vendor also upholds a strict no-logs policy, guaranteeing user privacy.

However, the slow speeds and occasional disconnections can be a deal-breaker. Regardless, it’s a handy service for users who need a simple VPN that works.