Panda Dome VPN Review 2023 — Is It Safe to Use?

Panda Dome VPN is a lousy VPN service, which I recommend avoiding since there are much better options out there in 2023 like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.

Panda Dome VPN has military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, the very secure Hydra protocol, a good free antivirus (Panda Dome Antivirus), and it allows torrenting on all servers and has fast speeds on nearby servers. But I don’t like that it’s missing a kill switch, which is an essential VPN security feature that protects you from traffic leaks. Also, Panda Dome VPN leaked my DNS data in my tests (so my ISP could see my browsing).

In addition, Panda Dome VPN doesn’t work with top streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime, doesn’t publish its server count and only has servers in 20+ countries, is missing extra features like split-tunneling and an ad blocker, and provides pretty bad customer support.

Panda Dome VPN allows 5 simultaneous connections, has a weak free VPN plan, and only has yearly premium plans (most VPNs also offer monthly plans). Panda Dome VPN backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Panda Dome VPN is also bundled with Panda Dome Antivirus plans — the cheaper antivirus plans include the free VPN, while the most expensive antivirus plan includes the paid VPN. However, if you’re looking for the best antivirus with a VPN, I recommend TotalAV because its VPN service and antivirus are significantly better.

Panda Dome VPN Full Review

I spent the past weeks testing and researching Panda Dome VPN, and I wasn’t impressed with its security or performance.

Even though Panda Dome VPN uses Hydra (a secure protocol that obfuscates VPN traffic and uses perfect forward secrecy) and provides free access to a good antivirus (Panda Dome Antivirus), I can’t recommend using this VPN. This is because it’s missing a kill switch (without it, your real IP and location are exposed when the VPN disconnects), and it leaks DNS data, which reveals your browsing history.

Panda Dome VPN also doesn’t work with Netflix and Amazon Prime, is missing useful extras like split-tunneling, and provides terrible customer support — other top VPNs like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access simply provide much better value. And if you want a good VPN that’s bundled with an antivirus, check out TotalAV.

Panda Dome VPN Features

Panda Dome VPN has the following industry-standard VPN security features:

• 256-bit AES encryption — Panda Dome VPN uses bank-grade encryption to make your data unreadable.
• No-logs policy — Panda Dome VPN doesn’t collect your IP address and traffic (visited sites and downloaded files).

However, Panda Dome VPN is missing a kill switch, which is a must-have security feature that disables online access if the VPN disconnects to prevent traffic leaks. Without a kill switch, you risk having your real IP address (and location) exposed if the VPN connection drops. I think this is unacceptable since all the top VPNs in 2023 come with a kill switch on most of their apps.

Panda Dome VPN only uses the Hydra protocol (developed by AnchorFree, which owns Hotspot Shield). Hydra is based on OpenVPN, and it’s very fast and very secure (it comes with perfect forward secrecy, which changes your encryption key for each VPN session to prevent hackers from compromising your traffic). In addition, Hydra provides obfuscation, which makes your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic (that’s useful in restrictive countries).

Panda Dome VPN doesn’t say if it provides protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. I reached out to customer support about this, but they couldn’t provide me with helpful information. I ran leak tests while connected to servers in 10+ countries, and I experienced DNS leaks in every leak test! This means my internet service provider (ISP) could see what sites I’m accessing even though I was using a VPN. This issue alone is enough for me to completely not recommend Panda Dome VPN.

Unlike other top standalone VPNs, Panda Dome VPN doesn’t come with extra security features like split-tunneling or an ad blocker. However, it includes a subscription to its antivirus software:

• Panda Dome Antivirus. It’s one of our top antiviruses in 2023. You only get the free antivirus version with the Panda Dome VPN subscription, but it’s one of our top free antiviruses for Windows and Android — it comes with a really good antivirus scanner (it detected nearly 95% of fake malware files in our tests), limited dark web monitoring, USB malware protection, and more. To get access to the paid antivirus and the paid VPN, you need to purchase Panda’s most expensive antivirus plan (none of the VPN packages include the premium antivirus), which costs $53.60 / year — but if you’re considering that, check out TotalAV instead because its antivirus and VPN are better. TotalAV’s paid antivirus plans have a state-of-the-art malware scanner, which detected 100% of our malware files. It also comes with real-time malware detection, anti-phishing protection, system tune-up tools, a browser manager and cleaner, and a disk cleaner. TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN has all of the essential security features, including a kill switch and full leak protection, it works with a ton of streaming services, and allows torrenting in all 30+ locations.

Panda Dome VPN Privacy & Security

Panda Dome VPN has a no-logs policy, but the privacy policy doesn’t address what data the VPN collects. So I reached out to customer support about this, and they confirmed that the VPN doesn’t log your IP address and traffic (what sites you browse and what files you download). It only collects your email address (needed to create an account and communicate with you), bandwidth usage (to enforce data limits on the free plan), and connection timestamps (needed for troubleshooting errors).

That said, I’d have an easier time trusting Panda Dome VPN’s no-logs policy if it’d undergo an independent security audit like ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN.

Panda Dome VPN is headquartered in Spain, which is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances (a group of countries that share surveillance data with each other). But even if the authorities ask Panda Dome VPN for user data, it can’t provide anything since it has a no-logs policy.

Overall, Panda Dome VPN has a no-logs policy (but it’s not audited) and is located in a country that’s under the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.

Panda Dome VPN Speed & Performance

I ran speed tests on my Windows 10 PC on a server in all 20+ countries where Panda Dome VPN has servers. I had the fastest speeds on local servers in Romania (my country), but I experienced noticeable slowdowns while streaming on distant servers in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and Australia (but my browsing and torrenting speeds were still fast).

First, I ran a speed test without being connected to the VPN to get a baseline for my speeds:

Next, I used Panda Dome VPN’s quick-connect feature (Automatic) and it connected me to the fastest server for my location, which was in Romania — here are my speeds:

Finally, I ran a speed test on a distant server in the US — these were my speeds:

On nearby servers in Romania, my speeds didn’t slow down at all — sites loaded instantly, HD videos loaded instantly and didn’t buffer, and I downloaded a 13 GB file in 10 minutes, which is very fast. On distant servers in the US, websites continued to load instantly and I downloaded the same 13 GB file in 11–13 minutes, but HD videos took 4–5 seconds to load and there was noticeable buffering while skipping through them.

Overall, Panda Dome VPN provided me with fast speeds on nearby servers, but I experienced some noticeable slowdowns while streaming on distant servers.

Panda Dome VPN Servers & IP Addresses

Panda Dome VPN has servers in 20+ countries, which is significantly smaller than top competitors like ExpressVPN (90+ countries) and ProtonVPN (60+ countries). Panda Dome VPN mostly has servers in Europe, North America, and Asia, so users in other parts of the world will have a hard time finding a nearby server to get fast speeds.

I’m disappointed that Panda Dome VPN doesn’t publish its total number of servers. I asked a support rep about this, but they couldn’t give me a clear answer — they just said there’s no information about the total server count.

And while Panda Dome VPN supports torrenting on all of its servers, you still only get P2P servers in 20+ countries. Other top torrenting VPNs have better P2P server networks — for example, Private Internet Access comes with P2P servers in 80+ countries.

Overall, Panda Dome VPN’s server network is much smaller than other top VPNs.

Panda Dome VPN Streaming & Torrenting

Panda Dome VPN is pretty bad for streaming because it doesn’t work with popular streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. It can only access HBO Max and BBC iPlayer,

If you’re looking for a good Netflix VPN, I recommend ExpressVPN — it can access Netflix 24/7 and also works with 65+ other streaming services (including Amazon Prime and Disney+).

However, I don’t recommend Panda Dome VPN for torrenting — it works with top P2P apps like Vuze and uTorrent, but it only has P2P servers in 20+ countries, lacks a kill switch, and suffered data leaks in all of my tests. There are much better P2P VPNs out there, like Private Internet Access, which allows torrenting on servers in 80+ countries, comes with a kill switch, and also has port forwarding (lets you connect to more peers to get faster downloads).

Overall, Panda Dome VPN works with BBC iPlayer and HBO Max (but can’t access Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+) and is not safe for torrenting.

Panda Dome VPN Plans & Pricing

Panda Dome VPN comes with a free plan and paid yearly plans. It allows 5 simultaneous connections (the industry average is 5–7 connections).

I’m not a big fan of Panda Dome VPN’s free plan. While it has fast speeds, it only lets you use the quick-connect feature (so you can’t choose which server to connect to), and it limits you to a measly 150 MB per day (which is barely enough for 1 hour of basic web browsing). There are much better free VPN plans out there — ProtonVPN is my favorite because it comes with unlimited data, high-end security, and fast speeds.

And I really hate that Panda Dome VPN only has yearly plans — most top VPNs have monthly plans, which are more expensive but also more convenient because you can test the VPN without having to commit to a long-term subscription. Also, Panda Dome VPN’s prices, which start at $77.34 / year, are really expensive for what this VPN offers. Top competitors like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access provide significantly better value.

Panda Dome VPN is also available through Panda’s antivirus plans — Panda Dome Essential ($19.20 / year), Panda Dome Advanced ($22.80 / year), and Panda Dome Complete ($34.40 / year) include the free VPN, and Panda Dome Premium ($53.60 / year) includes the paid VPN.

But if you’re looking for a really good antivirus that comes with a VPN, I recommend getting TotalAV.

Panda Dome VPN accepts credit/debit cards and PayPal. It backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Panda Dome VPN Ease of Use: Mobile & Desktop Apps

Panda Dome VPN has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. If you’re looking for a VPN that also has apps for Linux and smart TVs, check out ExpressVPN.

I tested the Panda Dome VPN Android app on my Samsung Galaxy device, and I found it very easy to use — there’s a quick-connect feature, it’s easy to select servers, and the interface is simple to navigate. The mobile apps also come with the free antivirus and extra features like Anti-Theft (lets you locate and wipe your phone if it’s stolen) and Privacy Auditor (shows you which apps can access sensitive data, like your location, accounts, or messages).

I also tested the Windows app on my Windows 10 PC — the VPN is simple to use and the app design is intuitive, but I don’t like how some antivirus settings are missing explanations. For example, some people might not know what enabling or disabling Behavioral blocking and Behavioral analysis does, so they might have to contact customer support to ask, which is inconvenient.

Overall, Panda Dome VPN has user-friendly mobile and desktop apps that provide access to a free antivirus in addition to the VPN. That said, I think top VPNs like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access have much better apps because they’re more intuitive and also have more VPN security features (like a kill switch and split-tunneling).

Panda Dome VPN Customer Support

I wasn’t happy with Panda Dome VPN’s customer support — it has 24/7 phone support, email support, a forum, and a few frequently asked questions (FAQs), but it’s missing live chat and most of the customer support isn’t very helpful.

There’s a support library, but it’s very bare-bones — there are only 4 VPN-related FAQs, there are no troubleshooting guides for the VPN service, the setup guides are extremely simplistic, and most tutorials don’t feature in-app screenshots.

Panda Dome VPN doesn’t offer live chat support, so I tried its 24/7 phone support instead. I connected to a rep in under a minute, which was great, but they lacked knowledge about the VPN and couldn’t answer my questions about split-tunneling or leak protection.

I also tested Panda Dome VPN’s email support (which requires you to complete an annoying form) by sending multiple support tickets at random intervals of the day. However, I never received a reply.

Overall, Panda Dome VPN’s support is pretty much useless — there’s no live chat, email support is unresponsive, the support library barely addresses VPN questions, and the phone support reps don’t know much about the VPN. ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN provide excellent customer support platforms, including 24/7 live chat, email, and an extensive library of thorough troubleshooting and setup guides.

Is Panda Dome VPN Safe to Use in 2023?

I don’t recommend getting Panda Dome VPN because it’s not a good VPN — there are significantly better VPN services on the market in 2023 like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.

While it has bank-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, the Hydra protocol, a good free antivirus (Panda Dome Antivirus), P2P support on all servers, and good speeds on nearby servers, it’s missing a kill switch and always leaked my DNS data in my leak tests.

On top of that, Panda Dome VPN can’t access Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime, doesn’t publish its server count, only has servers in 20+ countries, lacks extra security features like split-tunneling or an ad blocker, and has really bad customer support.

Panda Dome VPN comes with 5 simultaneous connections and offers a free plan and paid yearly plans (but no monthly plans). Panda Dome VPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

You can also get the free version of Panda Dome VPN with Panda’s antivirus plans, and the paid VPN is bundled with Panda’s most expensive antivirus plan. However, if you’re interested in a really good antivirus-VPN bundle, I recommend TotalAV instead because its antivirus and VPN offer a better value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panda Dome VPN safe?

No — while Panda Dome VPN has bank-grade encryption and a no-logs policy (and comes with Panda Dome Antivirus), it’s missing a kill switch, which is an essential VPN security feature (without it, your real IP address is exposed if the VPN disconnects). Also, Panda Dome VPN leaks DNS data, meaning your ISP can see your web browsing.

If you want a really secure VPN, I recommend ExpressVPN — it has industry-standard VPN security features (including a kill switch and an audited no-logs policy), blocks malicious trackers and sites, and has advanced security features like full leak protection and RAM-only servers (each server reset wipes all data).

And if you’re looking to bundle the VPN with an antivirus, I’d go with TotalAV because its VPN is feature-rich, works with all of the top streaming apps, and is very secure.

Is Panda Dome VPN free?

Yes, but I don’t recommend Panda Dome VPN’s free plan — it only lets you use the quick-connect feature (you can’t pick which servers you connect to) and limits you to just 150 MB per day, which allows you to browse for about an hour or two.

If you’re looking for a good free VPN, I recommend ProtonVPN because it comes with unlimited data and also provides fast speeds and excellent security features.

Does Panda Dome VPN work with Netflix?

No, Panda Dome VPN can’t access Netflix. It also doesn’t work with Amazon Prime and Disney+, but it can access BBC iPlayer and HBO Max.

If you need a very good Netflix VPN, I recommend ExpressVPN because it consistently works with this streaming service, it can also access 65+ other streaming apps, and it has blazing-fast streaming speeds.

Is Panda Dome VPN good for torrenting?

No — it allows torrenting on all servers and works with top P2P apps like qBittorrent and Vuze, but it lacks a kill switch, which is critical for torrenting because it protects you from traffic leaks (which reveal your real IP address) if the VPN disconnects. What’s more, Panda Dome VPN suffers DNS leaks, which means your ISP can see which P2P sites you access.

If you’re interested in a good P2P VPN, my top pick is ExpressVPN — it allows torrenting on 3,000+ servers in 90+ countries, provides high-end security and privacy features (including a kill switch, an audited no-logs policy, full leak protection, and a feature that blocks malicious P2P sites), and has very fast download speeds.