TorGuard Review (2022) – A Solid VPN Focused on Fast Downloading
Although the name might imply otherwise, there is no connection to the Tor project. The Tor in the name TorGuard refers to the downloading of torrents. This is probably the strongest asset of TorGuard as a VPN provider. They pride themselves on keeping download speeds high. TorGuard has a very decent amount of servers and provides solid protection. On their website they offer extra services, such as VPN plans for businesses and pre-flashed routers.
They might not be the easiest VPN for users that are new to the concept, but for hardcore downloading they are one of the best options out there.
Speed – How fast is TorGuard?
To judge the speed of the connection through the TorGuard servers, we tested it with online speed tests and throughout our daily activities of browsing, streaming, downloading, and gaming. We conducted these tests from the Netherlands, so if you live somewhere else you might get different results.
Speed test results TorGuard
We tested the speed of the TorGuard connection with the tool on speedtest.net. Here are the results from tests without a VPN connection, a connection through a TorGuard server in the Netherlands, and a connection through a TorGuard server in the U.S.
Speed without a VPN (Speedtest.net):
These were the speed results when we tested our regular internet connection without a VPN.
Speed with a local server in The Netherlands (Speedtest.net):
We got the following speed results when connected to the internet through a TorGuard servers in the Netherlands. As you can see the changes in speed are minimal.
Speed with a USA server (Speedtest.net):
These were the speeds when we connected to a TorGuard server in the U.S. The ping and upload speed have changed drastically but the download speed has stayed virtually the same.
Note that speeds can vary when you make changes in the protocols. For the tests above we kept the protocols and settings on default. On one of our computers we could not get TorGuard to work without changing some of the protocols and settings. This affected the speed a lot.
Speed during daily use
Using TorGuard did not affect our regular browsing speed. We noticed no difference during daily use of social media and other websites.
Streaming with TorGuard went well. Loading took slightly longer on some streaming services. Overall we could stream videos and music without any major problems.
Downloading is TorGuard’s strong side. There is no loss in download speeds as you have seen in the speed tests. Downloading torrents is no problem with this provider.
Gaming wasn’t a problem either. Although there was some lag it wasn’t annoying for the game we tested. However, this can be very different for some online games. If you game a lot it’s always a good idea to test your VPN with your favorite game before you commit to a subscription.
Conclusion speed TorGuard
- Good downloading speeds throughout
- No noticeable difference in speed for daily use
- Speed does change when you have to change the settings
- Might show lag with some heavier games
Safety – How secure is TorGuard?
Because the focus of this provider is on anonymous downloading it is essential that they have a watertight security system in place. TorGuard has a lot of security options and does not seem to keep logs of any kind.
Protocols
TorGuard supports OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, IPsec, SSTP, and iKEV2 protocols. For the best security they advise to always use the OpenVPN protocol.
Torguard uses 256 bit encryption and offers, what they call, “stealth protection” against Deep Packet Inspection interference. This way you can access the internet in a secure manner.
Moreover, they have a kill switch that will make sure your data isn’t exposed when you lose your connection.
Logging and privacy
TorGuard says they do not keep traffic logs, connection logs, or IP logs. The provider is situated in the United States. The U.S. is part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Meaning they help each other in investigations by exchanging information they have gathered. However, this does not really matter if TorGuard does not keep logs, because then there is nothing to share.
What information does TorGuard need?
To create a TorGuard account you only need a valid email address and access to one of their methods of payment. As long as you make sure the name in the email address does not trace back to you in any way, you can stay anonymous. TorGuard does not ask for any other contact information.
If you want to remain completely anonymous, TorGuard also offers the option to pay with bitcoin. Other payment methods, such as credit card or PayPal will reveal your identity to TorGuard. By paying with bitcoins you will be able to stay completely anonymous.
Conclusion safety TorGuard
- TorGuard offers 256 bit encryption
- They have a kill switch in case you might lose your TorGuard connection
- TorGuard says they do not keep logs
- They support OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, IPsec, SSTP, and iKEV2 protocols
- You only need an email address to create an account
Usability – How user-friendly is TorGuard?
To see if TorGuard is user-friendly we examined the website, installation process, software, methods of payment, and customer service. We noticed that there can be quite a big difference between user experiences with TorGuard VPN. While it works perfectly well for some, it can be quite a struggle for others. If the service doesn’t work straight away the user-friendliness is even more important.
The Torguard website
The TorGuard website is very clean and minimalistic. You will find a homepage with all the essential information. The tabs at the top of the page lead you to the different products they offer: Anonymous VPN, Anonymous Proxy, Business VPN, Email, and Router. When you click on “router”, a new window will open with their router web shop. The last tab is the “Buy Now” tab, which guides you to their shop. If you already have an account, this is where you find your account page. On your account page you can manage your account.
The website seems clear but when you are looking for more specific information this can sometimes be difficult to find. The website doesn’t have a search function, which is too bad because some information is difficult to find.
They offer minimal information on their additional services. There is more extensive information in the blog section, but this is very difficult to search and navigate.
Instead of a search bar you can use the customer service chat box to get the information you need.
Installing TorGuard
Installing TorGuard on your devices is very easy.
On your PC you can log in on the website and you will find an overview of the programs you can download. On your smartphone you can go to the app store and download their app from there.
Installing TorGuard:
- Choose a TorGuard subscription that you like on the TorGuard website.
- Finish the payment procedure by filling in the necessary information.
- Download the program/application on your device.
- Log in with your account data.
- Select your preferred protocols, or leave it on the default settings.
- Press connect and enjoy TorGuard.
When trying to log into the app we got a notification that our password wasn’t correct, even though we were sure it was the right password. We must note that this apparently happens more often to TorGuard users. We contacted the customer support and they were very helpful. To solve the problem we had to change our password before we could gain access to the app. This also meant that we had to change our information on our computer as well.
TorGuard’s appearance and ease of use
The somewhat clunky look of the applications leaves some room for improvement. It might even feel somewhat outdated, which isn’t wrong, just less attractive. The app also displays some things that most users won’t understand or need. These options clutter the tool that would be cleaner and clearer without them. However, all the functions that regular users will need are available, like a “select server” button and a clear “connect” and “disconnect” button.
The mobile app is slightly clearer but does lack some of the functionalities of the TorGuard application for PC. A regular user won’t miss these option but a security freak might.
Pricing and methods of payment
The costs of a semi-annual and annual TorGuard subscription come down to $5 a month for the standard VPN and $5.96 for the Pro VPN if purchased as a yearly subscription. The monthly subscriptions are the most expensive at $9.99 (VPN Standard) and $12.99 (VPN Pro) a month. Below you will find the differences in features between the VPN Standard and VPN Pro subscriptions.
They offer a 7-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not satisfied with the service you can get your money back.
TorGuard offers the following methods of payment:
- Credit cards
- PayPal
- Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
- Many others options through paymentwall
TorGuard has over 80 different options for payment. This means that you will probably find a suitable method of payment for you.
Customer service
Because the TorGuard website isn’t very easy to navigate the customer support is even more important. It is easier to use the LiveChat service to find your way on the website than it is to look for something yourself. They have a 24/7 customer support service. Sometimes you can talk to someone directly which is nice and works well most of the time. At other moments you need to fill in personal information before you get to talk to someone. This can be quite annoying if you do not want to share this information.
In the LiveChat you get relatively quick responses and the people we talked to were very polite.
You can also submit a ticket to the TorGuard Support or TorGuard Sales or Affiliate Support. When you do this they fill in the information they already have (if you are already using their service). Moreover, you can add pictures and screenshots to your ticket to support your question. They have obviously tried to make this as convenient as possible for the user.
If the default settings do not work on your device, the customer service can help you to change the settings and protocols in a way that will work for your device. However, this does mean that not everybody has the same choices in settings and protocols. For this reason it would be best to use the money-back period of 7 days to test if the service works on all of your devices.
Conclusion usability TorGuard
- The Torguard website could be better.
- Installing TorGuard is fairly easy.
- The software looks outdated but functions fine.
- TorGuard offers over 80 payment options.
Server network TorGuard
TorGuard has a large network of servers. Moreover, they offer dedicated IP addresses for an additional fee.
Number of servers and locations
TorGuard has over 3000 servers in more than 50 countries. This large offer of servers is nicely spread out over the world. Notably, they have servers in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Vietnam, which you normally don’t see with other VPN services. If you are specifically looking for a server in one of these countries, TorGuard might be the VPN for you.
You can select a server before you connect. The application shows you the servers that are available for the protocols and settings you have selected.
Dedicated IP address
TorGuard offers a dedicated IP-address service. This means you’ll get a IP address assigned to you that will only be used by you. Normally, with a VPN you only get access to IP addresses you share with others. In general this doesn’t really matter. However, some streaming services can now detect the amount of users on one IP address and block these addresses. To bypass geographical restrictions on Netflix you need a dedicated IP with your TorGuard subscription.
Moreover, with a normal subscription you switch between different IP addresses. Some websites notice this and ask for extra verification of your identity, to check if it is really you that is trying to access their website. If you are using a dedicated IP address you will access their website from the same IP address every time, causing no suspicion.
Once you have payed for the dedicated IP you can contact the TorGuard support desk with your preferred location. They will assign you an IP address in the country of your choosing. Sometimes they will have to order new IP’s, meaning you might have to wait for 1 or 2 days.
TorGuard also calls these dedicated IP addresses “streaming IPs”. A dedicated IP will set you back $7,99 every month, on top of the cost of your VPN subscription.
Conclusion server network TorGuard
- TorGuard has over 3000 servers
- The servers are spread over more than 50 different countries
- TorGuard offers dedicated IP addresses
TorGuard’s options
Apart from the regular VPN features, TorGuard offers several extras. Below you will find information on TorGuard for businesses and their special pre-flashed routers.
TorGuard and Netflix
TorGuard does not guarantee access to Netflix through their regular service. They do offer dedicated IP address through with which it might be possible to access Netflix. The dedicated IP address will cost you extra. For a VPN provider that outsmarts Netflix you can take a look at our article on Netflix VPNs.
TorGuard and torrents
TorGuard allows the downloading of torrents through peer-to-peer networks. They say they do not block this type of traffic. TorGuard is a good VPN service for downloading and works hard to improve its downloading speeds. In our tests with TorGuard we could download files without delay.
TorGuard for businesses
TorGuard has special plans for businesses. In the business VPN packages, TorGuard offers several accounts and encrypted email accounts. Moreover, these plans come with dedicated IP addresses. The business plans offer everything the regular plans do, and more. For instance, you will get a dedicated account manager that will help you with any questions.
Moreover, every business plan comes with its own easy admin panel. With this panel you can add and remove accounts in your network.
TorGuard routers
On the TorGuard website you can also buy pre-flashed routers. Installing a VPN on your router is ideal if you want to protect all your devices in one go. They sell routers from popular brands like Netgear, TP-link, and Asus. The routers come with 30 days of free TorGuard VPN service. These routers are ideal if you are looking for an easy way to protect all your devices in one go.
Conclusion options TorGuard
- You cannot watch Netflix with a normal TorGuard subscription.
- You can download torrents with TorGuard.
- TorGuard offers pre-flashed routers on their website.
- TorGuard offers subscription plans for businesses.
Conclusion – Our experience with TorGuard
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | Does not work automatically on all devices |
| Easy to install | Website difficult to navigate |
| Fast downloading speeds | Not possible to watch Netflix |
| Download via torrents possible | Clunky software |
| Dedicated IP addresses | |
| Lots of choice in servers | |
| 7-days money-back guarantee |
TorGuard is a good VPN provider for torrent downloading. The speed is good, especially for downloading. They do not keep logs and seem to be a safe VPN. We have found that the user-friendliness of their service varies. Their website could definitely be better and for one of our devices it was difficult to get the application to work. With the help of customer support we did manage but we could not make use of all the protocols and settings.
TorGuard has a large number of servers and offers dedicated IP address. You might need this because with their regular service you will not be able to access streaming services like Netflix. On the plus side they do offer services for businesses and pre-flashed routers that you can use in combination with a subscription.
Personal opinions experts VPNOverview.com
Unfortunately I can’t speak well about “TorGuard VPN”. I have contracted this service since March 2020. My problems with the service began in July until the date of publication of this comment. All the problems I have with this service are the same.
Speed problems. The Dedicated IP that I contracted with them, very big speed problems, example of having a download speed of 100MB brings you down to 5MB. Another problem is to contract a Dedicated IP from Germany and when a few days pass your Dedicated IP is changed without notice to an IP from France. You contact their service department and they give you thousands of excuses. I have to say that the service is very quick, sometimes they solve the problem on the spot but other times they don’t. When they solve the problem, after 2 weeks the problems come back. I’m very disappointed with them. I do not recommend this service. Don’t waste your time and money on “TorGuard VPN”.