TorGuard VPN review 2024: Cost, features and more

TorGuard VPN review 2024

Virtual private networks (VPNs) play a key role in keeping businesses secure. A TorGuard VPN protects online data by routing it through a secure tunnel. It’s our top pick for advanced users wanting customizable subscriptions and configurations. 

TorGuard business plans allow administrators to oversee accounts, set passwords and put staff on allowlists. With advanced configurations, you can ensure compliance with corporate security policies. 

TorGuard helps prevent data leaks by letting organizations create scripts and customize settings. You can manually configure protocols and enable kill switches to stop employees from accessing business apps when not connected to the VPN.

If your IT team needs help resolving an issue, business plans include a dedicated account manager with a direct line for support. Moreover, the subscriptions have dedicated IPs, reducing CAPTCHAs (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) and allow users to access email and applications quicker.

But you’ll need to wade through TorGuard’s complicated website to find the right plan. Additionally, its VPN apps are less intuitive than the others we tested. Employees new to VPNs may find the installation and user experience frustrating.

It’s also not the best VPN for streaming or torrenting. TorGuard restricts torrenting in the U.S. due to a settled lawsuit. And many streaming services block TorGuard’s VPN, although you can purchase dedicated streaming bundles at a higher price. 

Lastly, TorGuard’s U.S. headquarters, lack of independent audits and limited data about server security make it less transparent than competitors when it comes to data security.  

TorGuard VPN overview and facts

TorGuard VPN receives praise from users and reviewers alike for its responsive technical support, speed and reliability. It provides several services, including business VPNs and an anonymous email platform. 

Benjamin Van Pelt founded TorGuard VPN in 2012. He is the CEO of several related businesses, including Data Protection Services LLC, PrivateMail.com, Private Router LLC and VPNetworks. 

In 2017, a compromised server impacted TorGuard VPN, NordVPN and VikingVPN. Only TorGuard used secure private key infrastructure (PKI) management, which prevented hackers from accessing its certificate authority (CA) key.

TorGuard’s Orlando, Florida headquarters reside within the five-eyes intelligence alliance, a data-sharing agreement among five countries that could impose government jurisdiction on a VPN provider’s data logs.

But TorGuard maintains a no-logs policy, meaning it does not keep data about your VPN or proxy usage. It uses military-grade AES-256 encryption with SHA-512, and users can configure protocols like WireGuard, Stunnel, Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) and OpenVPN.

However, TorGuard’s website offers less information about its servers, uptime status and security measures than competitors. While customer service through ticketing remains stable, TorGuard rarely responds to messages on its community forum and has not published blog posts since the summer of 2022. 

TorGuard VPN pricing

Although the majority of VPN providers offer a single plan with monthly or annual billing, TorGuard takes a different approach with many subscriptions and billing options. 

As with competitors, monthly rates are higher than longer-term billing plans. For Anonymous VPN plans, prepaying for three years offers the best value, costing $3.89 monthly. 

Business subscriptions cost the same per user regardless of whether you pay quarterly, every six months or annually. Set up auto-renew and choose a payment cadence that suits your cash flow objectives.

TorGuard offers the best value for small teams with five or fewer members. With quarterly, six-month or annual prepayment, a business VPN costs $4.40 monthly per user for five people. 

However, the per-user price increases to $5.63 per user for 20 people. In comparison, Private Internet Access bulk licenses cost $3.16 monthly per user with annual prepayment, regardless if you have five or 20 users.

Anonymous VPN plans

TorGuard has five Anonymous VPN packages. Its website also mentions an Anonymous VPN Premium subscription. But when you click “Buy Premium,” TorGuard’s shopping cart does not list this option. 

The lowest-priced plan costs less when paid monthly than several competitors, including CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. Its yearly subscriptions align with the cheapest VPN services. Still, TorGuard costs more than Private Internet Access and IPVanish.

With a bundled plan, users pay about double the standard cost but receive PrivateMail email services in addition to the VPN. TorGuard prices its email and VPN packages higher than ProtonVPN’s. 

It’s also more expensive for streaming or 10 gigabytes per second (Gbps) servers. TorGuard competitors allow users to select streaming servers and have optimized next-gen servers, but Torguard charges a premium.

Secure business VPN subscriptions

TorGuard business VPN plans are generally a good value for the price and features. As with other subscriptions, monthly packages cost more than quarterly, semi-annually or yearly billing. It’s less than $5 per user for five, 10 or 15 employees. The price climbs to $5.63 monthly for 20 seats. 

Tunnelbear charges $345 per year (with monthly billing) for five employees versus $263.99 for TorGuard with annual prepayment. Likewise, NordLayer (NordVPN’s business service) costs $420 yearly for five users. 

Tunnelbear’s refund policy is case-by-case, whereas NordLayer provides a 14-day money-back guarantee. TorGuard VPN users only get seven days to cancel and request a refund.

Private cloud subscriptions

Although some VPN providers offer cloud storage, only TorGuard has private cloud subscriptions, costing $15.99 per month. Or, you can choose quarterly, semi-annually, yearly, biennial or triennial billing.

Paying two years upfront is the best deal at $199.99, or $8.33 monthly. The three-year option costs more, requiring $329.97 prepayment, totaling $9.17 per month.

TorGuard VPN plans

TorGuard packs VPN subscriptions with plenty of popular features and tools. It provides a kill switch, multiple protocols and unlimited bandwidth. Depending on the plan, users can connect up to 12 devices to the VPN at once. 

Unlike competitors offering dedicated IPs as add-ons, TorGuard includes one or more with certain personal and business plans. It also has more dedicated IP server locations than Private Internet Access or VPN Unlimited.  

However, TorGuard does not mention multi-hop functionality, although the stealth VPN has options for second-layer encryption. Also, only Android users can restrict or allow apps (split tunneling). 

Create custom scripts to ensure corporate policy compliance and seamless experiences for remote and on-site staff. You can automatically connect employees to your file server or configure a kill app switch to exit select programs if the VPN connection fails. 

Business VPNs come with additional perks like an account manager, email accounts and versatile server setups. TorGuard is an excellent solution for companies that want central control for overseeing a global workforce.

Anonymous VPNs

Select an anonymous VPN subscription to access business apps and send confidential files from any device or location. It has a built-in Shadowsocks proxy and OpenVPN obfuscation, which scrambles traffic and allows you to bypass firewall detection.

The ad and malware blocker prevents unwanted online tracking, while custom settings let users select the best protocols for speed, security or both. In addition, Anonymous VPN Pro users get a dedicated IP, typically costing an extra $5 per month through TorGuard competitors.

VPN and email bundles add:

• Five or 20 email aliases.
• OpenPGP encryption when using email in any browser.
• 10GB or 20GB encrypted email storage.
• 10GB to 20GB encrypted file storage.

Yet, none of the Anonymous plans provide unlimited simultaneous connections. If you need unlimited concurrent connections, check out our Surfshark review.

Business VPNs

Secure all corporate transactions and streamline network management with a TorGuard business VPN subscription. It includes private email accounts and 12 simultaneous connections. Plans have one, three, five or 10 dedicated IPs with your choice of location.

Account administrators can add or remove users and update passwords from the central dashboard. Like Anonymous VPN plans, business services offer two-factor authorization security options, preventing unauthorized account access. 

Configure TorGuard’s allow listing settings to enforce VPN usage. It requires employees to establish a VPN connection or use a dedicated IP before accessing corporate networks or applications. 

Private cloud

Mitigate online risks by connecting up to three desktop and mobile devices to TorGuard’s encrypted VPN cloud. It features a unified control panel and 250 GB bandwidth.

After installing the Wireguard app, you can configure devices to use the cloud for internal communication only or as a default gateway. The gateway routes device traffic through the Wireguard tunnel to the cloud. All three devices share the same anonymous VPN IP address.

You can access your office or home networks and connected devices anywhere. Similar to other TorGuard VPN services, the company provides 24/7 support via its email ticketing system. 

TorGuard add-ons and optional features

TorGuard subscriptions are highly customizable. Along with 10 plans and four to six billing options, TorGuard provides many add-ons and optional features. Choose from dedicated IPs, branding tools and VPN-compatible hardware. 

However, TorGuard does not have additional security add-ons, like CyberGhost’s Security Suite for Windows or Antivirus by Private Internet Access. VPNs boost your security posture but businesses should still use antivirus tools.

You can configure business VPN accounts by adding more users without upgrading your package. It costs about $3.33 per user monthly with annual billing. Or purchase optional features by clicking one or more options in your shopping cart or selecting them from your account portal.

TorGuard’s flexible solution is best for organizations wanting to add dedicated IPs and branding to the VPN app. 

IP addresses

Dedicated, streaming, and residential IPs range from $7.99 to $13.99 per month. TorGuard designed the streaming IPs to work with major streaming services and aren’t shared among users. 

TorGuard has active peering agreements with U.S. streaming platforms and internet service providers (ISPs). These allow users to stream using residential VPN IPs with fewer errors.

Unlike PIA, you can change your dedicated IP location. TorGuard charges a $5 switching fee per change. 

Here’s how the IPs differ:

• Dedicated IP: It costs $7.99 monthly, more than the $5 average cost from TorGuard competitors. They’re available in 38 locations, including nine U.S. cities.
• Dedicated streaming IP: TorGuard charges $7.99 monthly (or $13.99 for Singapore), and it’s non-refundable. There are 15 dedicated IPs in seven U.S. cities and 14 in 10 non-U.S. locations.
• Residential IPs: These cost $13.99 per month and are non-refundable. TorGuard’s residential IPs reside on bare metal servers managed and operated by TorGuard in Tampa, Florida and Dallas, Texas. 
• Dedicated VPN instance: TorGuard offers a dedicated virtual machine or physical server for $14.99 a month. It includes a dedicated IP, firewall, instance, and line. This is available in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands and Canada.
• AnyConnect TX: This solution works for people living in locations where VPNs are banned or the government has removed the apps from Google Play, or the Apple App Store. AnyConnect is a secure sockets layer (SSL) version, costing $13.99 per month.

Business VPN branding

Getting employees to consistently use VPNs is challenging. Security policies and VPN settings (like requiring users to connect to the VPN before they can open business applications) can improve compliance. 

TorGuard’s business VPN branding takes it a step further. Administrators can upload their corporate logo in the unified management portal under the User Accounts tab. Once complete, your logo appears in all TorGuard apps, including mobile and desktop versions. 

Employees who click on the VPN service will see your familiar business logo. This option isn’t common among VPN providers, and it costs $19 per month. 

Hardware

TorGuard’s parent company also owns PrivateRouter, which sells VPN routers, WiFi adapters and other accessories. You can buy devices separately or add them when purchasing a virtual private network. The routers are pre-flashed, meaning PrivateRouter installs VPN firmware, greatly reducing installation time.  

You can choose from the following devices when buying VPN services: 

• ALFA AC wifi adapter: $40.00.
• BPI Berry M2 OpenWRT and docker router: $69.99.
• Intel Celeron OpenWRT and docker router: $189.00.
• Intel Celeron VPN Router: $115.00.
• Rpi4 4GB OpenWRT and docker router: $149.00.

TorGuard VPN customer support and experience

Like other VPNs we tested, establishing the VPN is relatively straightforward: Select a server and click “connect.” But you can’t access the settings or server lists while connected. Instead, you must disconnect the VPN, which felt odd since we’re used to keeping the VPN running throughout our workday.

TorGuard does not add explainer text or links to further information, unlike PIA which briefly describes terms. New users will need to spend time in TorGuard’s knowledge base to learn how to optimize their configuration for security and speed. 

We appreciated the ability to automatically connect the VPN to your favorite servers when launching TorGuard. But the Windows version lacks split tunneling, so we had to route all traffic, including our Spotify app, through the VPN tunnel.  

TorGuard did not offer live chat at any time during the seven days we accessed the website. Nor does it list average support ticket response times or have a status update page. The community forum, while active, has no recent responses from the company. 

TorGuard VPN lacks live chat, but technical support responds to help tickets quickly, and business plans provide a dedicated account manager. 

In short, if you rely on customer support, you may feel more comfortable with providers offering live chat. 

TorGuard VPN vs. NordVPN

TorGuard and NordVPN offer personal and business VPN services. NordVPN is faster and has more servers. NordVPN provides split tunneling on most devices and specialized servers for multi-hop functionality (double VPN) and torrenting. 

In contrast, split tunneling is only available on TorGuard’s Android app, and U.S.-based customers can’t use the peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol.  

NordVPN resides in privacy-friendly Panama, and independent audits confirm it has safeguards to implement its no-logs policy. TorGuard isn’t forthcoming about server security and hasn’t been audited. This is concerning since it’s headquartered in the U.S., part of the five-eyes intelligence alliance.

Yet, TorGuard allows more simultaneous connections and protocols. Technology-savvy users appreciate TorGuard’s custom scripts and configurations, whereas beginners find NordVPN’s uncluttered user interface easier to navigate. 

TorGuard VPN vs. ExpressVPN

TorGuard and ExpressVPN are top-rated providers catering to different users. ExpressVPN is easier for beginners, whereas TorGuard allows advanced customization.

The ExpressVPN Smart Location tool automatically considers latency, download speed and distance to select the best server. The VPN apps and extensions support 17 languages and agents are available via live chat 24/7.  

In contrast, TorGuard VPN users must choose a server and submit a support ticket for assistance. It does not mention language options. 

However, TorGuard provides an extensive dedicated IP server collection with certain subscriptions or as an add-on. You can also select a business VPN for custom setups and centrally managing connections. 

ExpressVPN lacks dedicated IP addresses and does not have business plans with a unified dashboard.

Check out our full ExpressVPN review for more information.

Is TorGuard VPN right for your business?

Advanced users appreciate the versatility of TorGuard VPN services. You can customize subscriptions, installation and settings. However, beginners may find the user interface difficult to navigate.

TorGuard supplies apps for all devices and provides browser-based account portals for individuals and businesses. Speed wasn’t an issue while using the VPN, but streaming activities require a higher-priced subscription. 

It offers the most dedicated IP options and locations, and several plans include one or more dedicated IPs. Tech-savvy users can manually configure several protocols that many competitors don’t offer.

We also appreciate the branding add-on and being able to choose what components to install. Yet, new users may prefer a solution that explains different settings or provides live chat services. We recommend Private Internet Access, as the installation and configuration process was simpler than TorGuard’s. Or consider Surfshark or ExpressVPN, as both have live chat.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Does TorGuard offer a free trial?

Yes, TorGuard provides a seven-day free trial. You must enter payment details, but TorGuard won’t charge your payment method until the trial ends.

The trial period is on par with competitors, except for those offering a free version with no credit card required. TorGuard does not refund dedicated IP fees or cryptocurrency or gift card payments.

Where is TorGuard based?

TorGuard is a U.S.-based business. It’s owned by VPNetworks, with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. The United States is a five-eyes country, part of an international intelligence-sharing alliance.

Although the U.S. does not mandate data retention, some VPN users feel more comfortable with providers outside the five eyes regions.

Where are TorGuard’s VPN servers?

TorGuard has more than 3,000 servers located in 50 countries. In comparison, CyberGhost operates more than 7,000 servers across over 90 countries. TorGuard’s 68 server locations include 11 based in U.S. cities, fewer than Private Internet Access which has servers in all 50 states.

How secure is TorGuard VPN?

TorGuard’s no-log policy and military-grade 256-AES encryption provide a secure experience. It has an integrated kill switch, leak protection and supports two-factor authentication.

Additionally, TorGuard encourages users to submit reports to its bug bounty program and patches known vulnerabilities. However, it offers fewer server security details on its website than competitors.

What VPN protocols does TorGuard offer?

TorGuard uses OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols. The AES-256 encryption with SHA-512 is military grade.

Stealth VPN users can enable Stunnel or use a Stealth Proxy with Shadowsocks for double VPN coverage. You can also manually configure point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP), layer two tunneling protocol (L2TP), internet protocol security (IPsec) and secure socket tunneling protocol (SSTP).

Other top-rated VPN services like CyberGhost rely on open-source protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN but don’t support manual configurations.

How do I connect to TorGuard’s VPN?

Download desktop or mobile apps to connect to a TorGuard VPN. Alternatively, you can add an extension to your Firefox, Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser.

Log into the app or open the extension, choose a server, and click to establish a VPN connection. You can use eight or more devices simultaneously, depending on your subscription.

Does TorGuard keep logs?

TorGuard does not collect or store data from VPN or proxy services. However, TorGuard’s U.S. location and lack of independent audits are concerning; however, the company says it has no logs, only an operating system.

How fast is TorGuard VPN?

TorGuard VPN’s download speeds are average compared to other VPNs we reviewed. However, its upload speeds are significantly quicker than many of its competitors.

Only three services (NordVPN, ProtonVPN and Windscribe) performed better. But speed differs among protocols, servers and personal internet connections.

What devices work with TorGuard VPN?

TorGuard VPN works on Mac, Windows and Linux desktops. It’s compatible with Windows 7 or later and macOS 10.12 or higher. For Linux users, TorGuard supports Ubuntu 14-plus, Redhat, Arch and Arm Arch.

You can also use iOS (V2.2.8) and Android (v1.60.12) devices and VPN routers like Tomato, DDWRT and pfsense firewalls.