Article Summary
- Easy-to-use apps with quick setup and simple interface.
- Up to 8 device connections on a single account
- Solid security with AES-256 encryption and WireGuard protocol
- Drawbacks: Extremely limited VPN features
- Affordable annual plan: $1.59/month + 30-day money-back guarantee
Total VPN is a small, budget-focused VPN brand that has changed hands a few times and keeps a fairly low profile today. It targets simple privacy rather than power-user features, with a limited server list and basic apps.
We signed up as paying customers and ran Total VPN through our full test bench. That covers standalone and integrated app setups, encryption and leak tests, speeds across multiple regions, streaming access, P2P policy, pricing, and support responsiveness.
Below is our 2026 review that shows where Total VPN performs well for casual use, where it trails larger providers, and whether it earns a place in your daily toolkit.
Total VPN Overview
Total VPN is a budget VPN from Total Security Limited (the UK company behind TotalAV). It targets first-time users with simple apps and very affordable intro pricing. On paper, you get a large global footprint and solid baseline security; in practice, it’s a mixed bag with some important caveats around privacy and renewals.
Pricing & refunds. Intro deals start from $1.59/month for the first year when paid annually, then renew at ~$99/year. A monthly plan is available at a higher rate. Refunds are 30 days on the annual plan and 14 days on the monthly plan (per Terms).
Servers & locations. Total VPN advertises thousands of servers on its website, but hides the real number. According to our previous research, it had 1800+ servers in 80+ locations on its site. Some third-party reviews quote “90+ countries,” and we counted 85 countries in app, so expect a broad list either way, but not top-tier scale.
Security & protocols. Apps support modern encryption and tunneling with a kill switch and DNS leak protection. That’s the right foundation for day-to-day privacy, though there’s no public security audit of the apps.
Logging & jurisdiction. Marketing materials reference “no logs,” but the Privacy Policy allows collection of device identifiers, IP addresses, and usage-related data, and there’s no independent no-logs audit. The service is operated by a UK company, which sits inside the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. If strict privacy is your top priority, note this carefully.
Streaming & P2P. During our tests, Total VPN unblocked Netflix and several other platforms reliably. P2P is allowed, but there are no specialty P2P servers. Since our last tests, Total VPN has greatly improved streaming performance, which is crucial in an otherwise limited app.
Apps & devices. Native apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, with up to 8 devices you can use Total VPN on. There are no dedicated apps for Linux, routers, smart TVs, or browser extensions, which limits more advanced setups.
Support. Help Center articles cover setup and billing basics; you can submit a ticket through the Total VPN/TotalAV website, with the usual caveat that billing/renewal complaints are common – read the renewal terms before buying.
| OVERALL RANK: | #16 Out of 30 VPNs |
| USABILITY: | Very Easy, Supports Major Devices |
| LOG FILES: | Dubious Privacy Policy, No Audit |
| LOCATIONS: | 80+ Locations, 1800+ Servers |
| SUPPORT: | Email & Phone Support, No Live Chat |
| TORRENTING: | Supported |
| NETFLIX: | Unblocks Major Regions |
| ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL: | AES-256, ChaCha20/WireGuard, OpenVPN, HYDRA, IPSec |
| COST: | From $1.59/mo |
| OFFICIAL WEBSITE: | www.totalVPN.com |
Bottom line.
Total VPN is easy to use and inexpensive up front, with workable speeds and streaming access for beginners. For stricter privacy (audited no-logs, non-Five-Eyes jurisdiction), broader platform support, or more consistent P2P performance, services like NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN remain stronger picks.
Total VPN Pros
1. Straightforward Apps With Quick Setup
Total VPN is easy to get running and even easier to live with day to day.
Install the app, sign in, hit Connect, and it auto-picks the closest low-latency server so you’re online in seconds.
The home screen keeps everything you actually need on one panel: a large Connect button, the current location, and a clearly positioned server list you can toggle without digging through menus.
If you want more control, you can mark chosen servers as favorites, and they will appear at the top of the list. You can also pop into Settings to pick a protocol: WireGuard, HYDRA, IPSec, or OpenVPN.
You can also use split tunneling, but it’s a bit different than usual. Instead of apps, you can specify which websites utilize a VPN tunnel, and which ones use the original ISP connection.
It’s a clean, predictable UI on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS that gets out of the way once you’re connected. However, it comes at a price of more features, which we’ll discuss in the Cons section.
2. Works on Up to 8 Devices
Total VPN lets you protect from 3 to 8 devices at the same time, depending on your plan. That’s enough for a phone, laptop, tablet, and a couple of shared household devices, but it isn’t “unlimited” and heavy multi-device homes may bump the cap.
Also, keep in mind that there are two TotalVPN versions. One is a standalone app that we are reviewing now. The other one comes bundled with TotalAV cybersecurity suite and includes its antivirus, password manager, and adblock.
However, the bundled VPN is even more limited. But if you require malware protection that’s been verified by independent labs like AV-Comparatives, the TotalAV bundle covers all the basics.
3. Works With Major Streaming Platforms
Total VPN performed very well, unblocking 8 out of 9 tested streaming sites. It only failed to unblock Japanese Netflix, which was also challenging for a dozen other VPNs.
Otherwise, we were very satisfied with the performance and recommend Total VPN to unblock online content. On the first try, we were able to access Pulp Fiction on US Netflix, but sadly, it was removed from the platform on March 1, 2026.
Here is our proof that we successfully unblocked German Netflix content.
Total VPN also worked with Netflix UK, Disney+, Amazon Prime/HBO MAX, BBC iPlayer, and Paramount+.
If streaming is high on your list, plan to favorite the servers that work for you and keep a couple of backups handy – this puts Total VPN ahead of many low-cost rivals that fail at first contact, but still a notch behind the very top tier that maintain dedicated streaming routes.
4. Competitive Introduction Pricing and 30-Day Refund
Total VPN’s best rates are promo prices for the first year – as low as $1.59/mo.
The annual plan is often advertised at a deep discount for year one, then renews at a much higher standard rate (typically around the $99/year mark). Monthly pricing is in line with the category, but the real value depends on how you handle renewal.
All annual and multi-month plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee (shorter terms may offer a 14-day window).
Our advice: check the renewal line at checkout, set a reminder before your term ends, and negotiate or switch plans if the renewal jumps.
5. Good Connection Speed
Like most VPNs that implemented WireGuard, Total VPN has excellent speed retention on that protocol. There’s not much to add here because the numbers speak for themselves.
To test Total VPN’s capabilities, we marked our baseline speed without a VPN. Then, we connected to six popular locations and compared the results. Here they are:
Baseline:
- Download: 251.08Mbps
- Upload: 251.20Mbps
- Ping: 1ms
Fastest Server:
- Download: 239.03Mbps
- Upload: 240.29Mbps
- Ping: 36ms
Europe Server:
- Download: 239.01Mbps
- Upload: 237.72Mbps
- Ping: 26ms
US East Server:
- Download: 226.18Mbps
- Upload: 230.59Mbps
- Ping: 97ms
US West Server:
- Download: 219.73Mbps
- Upload: 223.80Mbps
- Ping: 179ms
Asia Server:
- Download: 210.94Mbps
- Upload: 227.10Mbps
- Ping: 254ms
Even on the most distant Asian server, Total VPN kept over 84% of the initial connection speed. Its ping also remained within great norms, so even if some lag is natural when using a server that’s across the whole continent, browsing and streaming with Total VPN was a breeze.
6. Passed Security Tests
No matter how streaming-friendly and fast, we wouldn’t recommend a VPN that leaks your information to the web. That’s not the case with Total VPN.
Firstly, we checked for IP leaks on ipleak.net. No issues there.
We then looked for WebRTC leaks on browserleaks.com/webrtc. Once again, no troubles.
Another test on browserleaks.com/dns proved it does not have DNS leaks.
We noticed only one issue, which we are very picky about. Total VPN is another VPN that uses a reactive kill switch. In the picture below, you can see how our connection defaults to the original ISP connection (with a latency lower than 1 millisecond) when we terminate the Total VPN app.
Considering the lack of features like auto-connect, this poses a real risk.
We only recommend this VPN as a streaming companion with a huge first-year discount, but devoted privacy proponents should check our top best VPN picks that have persistent kill switches that work even when the VPN app crashes.
Total VPN Cons:
1. Too Limited Features
Making your VPN beginner-friendly is one thing, but Total VPN really pushes this to the limit. On a standalone app, there is no auto-connect option. Many fully-developed VPNs include an adblock, which is a separate TotalAV service.
You won’t find advanced features like dark web monitor, double-VPN servers, dedicated IPs, or any specialty servers. Luckily, it has the HYDRA protocol, which is server obfuscation to bypass censorship. However, that’s not nearly enough, especially considering its higher price once the first-year discount ends.
2. Limited Torrenting Capabilities
Total VPN supports torrenting in a basic form, but it lacks several features that power users often expect. There are no clearly marked P2P-optimized servers or built-in port-forwarding functionality, which means peers in a torrent swarm may have trouble connecting to you, reducing speeds.
During tests, we observed that downloads sometimes stall or underperform compared to VPNs that offer full P2P support across multiple server locations.
3. Jurisdiction Raises Questions
Total VPN operates out of the United Kingdom, which is part of the 5 Eyes intelligence alliance. This matters because member countries can legally compel companies to share data and may cooperate on surveillance requests.
The jurisdiction itself is not as privacy-friendly as Panama, Switzerland, or the British Virgin Islands – all common homes for top VPN providers. Unlike most other VPNs, Total VPN doesn’t explicitly claim a no-logs policy, although they have done so in the past. Also, we found the following statement in its Privacy Policy, which got us worried.
For everyday users who mainly want to stream or secure public Wi-Fi, this risk may feel minor. But for privacy-focused users, activists, or journalists, this statement is far from compelling.
If maximum independence from government data-sharing treaties is your priority, providers like NordVPN (Panama) or ProtonVPN (Switzerland) remain safer bets.
Total VPN Pricing, Cost & Payment Methods
Total VPN advertises monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual subscription options. However, at the time of writing, their pricing page only shows the annual plan, which suggests that shorter-term plans may either be phased out or limited to certain regions.
Pricing Highlights
- The best first-year deals begin at $1.59/month (billed annually) with “introductory pricing”.
- After the initial year, renewal prices jump substantially (up to ~$99/year in many regions) – so the cost benefit is mostly front-loaded.
Refund & Guarantee Policy
- Annual and biannual plans are eligible for a 30-day money back guarantee.
- Monthly and quarterly plans have a 14-day refund window.
- To get a refund, you need to fully terminate the subscription (i.e. cancel and submit a refund request) – turning off auto-renewal alone does not trigger a refund.
Payment Methods & Auto-Renewal Info
- Total VPN accepts credit/debit cards, PayPal, and other common online payment methods.
- Subscriptions renew automatically at the standard rate unless canceled before the end of the current term. Introductory prices do not lock in beyond the initial billing period.
Do We Recommend Total VPN?
Total VPN has improved since its relaunch and is worth a try, but it remains a mid-tier option in 2026.
On the plus side, it is beginner-friendly, supports up to 8 devices, and works with major streaming platforms. For casual users who just want a simple VPN to cover multiple gadgets at once, that combination makes sense.
But compared to the very best services, Total VPN falls short.
The significant lack of features and its UK jurisdiction will give privacy purists pause. Pricing is reasonable but not exceptional, especially when providers like NordVPN, Surfshark, or ProtonVPN pack in more features for similar or lower costs.
What’s more, its renewal price is $8.25/month, which is way above market average and totally not worth considering what’s on the table.
Best suited for:
- New users who want straightforward apps
- Families or households looking for basic cybersecurity apps
- Casual streamers who don’t mind otherwise limited capabilities
Not ideal for:
- Heavy torrenters needing consistent P2P performance
- Privacy purists who avoid 5 Eyes jurisdictions
- Power users looking for a router setup