ClearVPN 2 Review 2024 – Is ClearVPN 2 Safe and Legit?

8 min. read

Updated on January 2, 2024

updated on January 2, 2024

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Whether it’s bypassing geo-blocked content, avoiding ISP throttling, or protecting your privacy, VPNs are quickly becoming the norm.

ClearVPN 2 is a relative newcomer to the market, having launched towards the end of 2020. In an overcrowded marketplace, what does it bring to the table in its new version?

This MacPaw software works on macOS, Windows, and mobile. It also has a much sought-after free forever plan.

In this ClearVPN 2 review, we put its features, servers, and user-friendliness to the test.

Here’s a quick overview:

Number of regions	40	Kill Switch	Yes
VPN Protocols	IKEv2, OpenVPN, Custom WireGuard	Value for money	6/10
Speed	7/10	Split Tunnelling	No
Torrenting	Yes	Stealth/Obfuscation	No
Apps	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	No Logs	Yes

Features

ClearVPN 2 has all the basics you’d expect from a VPN service, along with a nice extra way to gain access to geo-restricted streaming platforms.

Here’s a rundown of all its features:

Encryption

Like all VPNs worth their salt, ClearVPN 2 uses AES-256 military-grade encryption to hide your internet traffic. It’s considered the most secure option and is used by all sorts of organizations to protect sensitive information.

The “256” in AES-256 refers to the length of the encryption key, which is 256 bits long. This makes it virtually impossible for ISPs, government censors, and hackers to crack.

Kill Switch

If your VPN connection drops, the kill switch feature will automatically block all internet traffic on your device. This prevents your real IP address from accidentally being exposed to websites, apps, and other snoopers.

By default, the kill switch is turned off. To activate it, simply turn the slider on under ClearVPN 2 system settings.

Apps and Usability

ClearVPN 2 covers all the common ground, including apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Simply download the relevant app and all activity on the device is protected.

You can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously, which is more than enough for the average household.

Where ClearVPN 2 falls short is having no clear way to install at the router level, which is a good way of protecting your entire network in one go.

In terms of usability, we did encounter some issues while testing ClearVPN 2. Although the user interface looks much better than in the original version of the app, it still has some small problems.

The program is missing the standard on/off button for turning the VPN on and off. Instead, you have to click on the “Protect me” button, which isn’t that obvious. Once you do that, you can see on top of the main screen that you’ve successfully connected to a server.

In the earlier version of the app, you had to go to the “Browse securely and privately” section. The provider has improved upon this with ClearVPN 2, but it still feels somewhat confusing.

The new “Location changer” looks better than before, and the process of selecting the country you want to connect to is more intuitive.

The “Streaming access” section, which is currently in beta, looks super useful. It lets you choose which streaming service you want to access and takes you to the best location for it. The feature automatically picks the best country for bypassing restrictions and getting maximum speed.

Overall, the interface tries too hard to stand out from the crowd. Some shortcuts make the app less intuitive, even though their aim is to simplify the process. We do like some of the changes introduced in the ClearVPN 2 version though.

Server Network

ClearVPN 2 offers access to servers in 40 countries around the globe. Free users are assigned a location automatically, while paying subscribers can choose the one they want.

The only downside to the ClearVPN 2 server network is that it doesn’t offer multiple locations in one country. This can make unblocking regional content within a single country impossible. For example, local news and sports in New York if you reside in Los Angeles.

Where ClearVPN 2 gets a nod is for the location in Hong Kong, which isn’t that common for VPNs.

ClearVPN 2 Speed

Unless your ISP is artificially throttling, a VPN will always reduce your internet speed as your data is routed through a secondary server. The impact is greater, the further the server is from your real location.

Since everyone’s base internet speed varies, the important measure is how far it drops when the VPN is on and whether it gets lower than you require.

The drop was noticeable when we tested the app, but it wasn’t enough to significantly change our online experience. Download speed went down from 223.44Mbps to 61.34Mbps, while the upload changed from 29.45Mbps to 22.73Mbps.

This is well within the acceptable range and would still allow 4K streaming or multiple users streaming HD.

The minor impact on upload is impressive, making ClearVPN 2 a good choice for file sharing and video messaging.

We also tested the speed using ClearVPN 2 on an Android device. The drop was even lower on mobile. Download speed decreased from 71.73Mbps to 44.56Mbps, which had a minimal impact when we browsed the Web and streamed videos on YouTube.

Protocols

ClearVPN 2 supports IKEv2 and OpenVPN.

OpenVPN uses SSL/TLS security and is widely regarded as one of the most secure and reliable protocols available.

However, you can’t actually select your preferred protocol in the settings. It appears to automate the process, based on the priority you pick in the “Secure browsing” section.

Privacy

ClearVPN 2 has a good privacy policy, and most importantly a no logs one. This means the company doesn’t track or store browsing data.

There’s a bunch of info you can share by opting in, such as mobile device ID and technical information like crash reports. The app asks you how much info you want to share, which is always a good thing.

The only area that might concern you is data collected regardless of permissions. This includes successful and unsuccessful connection attempts, how much bandwidth you use, and device info – operating system, language, etc.

While all that data is anonymized and probably helps ClearVPN 2 improve its apps, it would be better if it wasn’t collected at all.

Fortunately, there have been no public controversies or negative reports regarding this VPN provider’s privacy.

Is ClearVPN 2 safe?

Our tests for this ClearVPN 2 review showed it to be effective when it comes to hiding your IP and assigning a new one based on the server you choose.

The VPN also didn’t leak our DNS addresses, and it always showed another country instead. Ideally, you want these to be the same as your IP address, but this isn’t essential for masking your identity online.

Is ClearVPN 2 good for streaming and torrenting?

The solid speeds ClearVPN 2 offers are further bolstered by support for streaming and torrenting.

Streaming

You have two options here – going with the default server or trying the shortcuts for specific streaming services.

The good news is streaming works well whatever you choose.

Upon testing, there were no performance issues for popular platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Moreover, ClearVPN 2 is quite capable of 4K video, even when using the free version.

Torrenting

ClearVPN 2 doesn’t require any specific settings for using the BitTorrent P2P file-sharing platform – it works by default with no restrictions.

Speeds are fast and stable, as long as the torrent itself is well-trafficked.

We had no problem connecting to peers from all over the world using the QTorrent client.

It’s possible that DNS leaks could expose P2P activity to your ISP, which only matters if it’s particularly strict on torrenting. However, you remain hidden from any other party snooping on the tracker.

ClearVPN 2 Pricing

There are several pricing plans you can choose from when buying your ClearVPN 2 subscription:

Free
1 month – $5.00/month
3 months – $4.00/month
6 months – $3.50/month

Since the free plan doesn’t include an option to connect to multiple countries, you’ll have to purchase the premium version if you want to access something from a specific region.

The speed is good for a free VPN, capable of streaming in 4K.

There’s also a 3-day free trial for the full premium version. However, you must choose a plan and provide billing information before you can actually use it.

Nonetheless, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer support.

You can pay for your ClearVPN 2 subscription using your credit card or PayPal.

Conclusion

Our ClearVPN 2 review proved that the service has a lot going for it.

Now, like any other product, it does have its drawbacks.

The monthly price of $5.00 is a bit steep, especially for a service that’s not yet well-established. We also think that the interface, although better in ClearVPN 2, still has some flaws.

However, it’s a fast VPN and it reliably encrypts your traffic and changes your IP.

Moreover, it has e free version, which most other providers lack.

It’s also suitable for streaming and torrenting, including seeding torrents, thanks to solid upload performance.

Deyan Georgiev

Managing Editor

Deyan Georgiev is the managing editor at VPNCentral. He is a software and technology expert, focused on online privacy and data protection. He's a certified cybersecurity and IoT expert both by the University of London and the University System of Georgia. Furthermore, Deyan is an avid advocate of personal data protection. He also holds a privacy specialization from Infosec.