Total VPN review
Cheap and easy to start with, but unproven on privacy and expensive once it renews.
- Very low introductory price
- Clean, beginner-friendly apps that are easy to set up
- Covers VPN basics: encryption, kill switch, core protocols
- Money-back guarantee lets you trial it risk-free
- Works on the main platforms most people use
- No-logs policy is stated but not independently audited
- Renewal price jumps sharply after the intro term
- Shorter track record than established providers
- Few advanced features (no multi-hop, limited split tunnelling)
- Streaming and unblocking are inconsistent
How it scored, category by category
Budget UK VPN aimed at beginners, with a very low intro price.
Covers the basics well but is thin on advanced features.
No-logs claim is stated but not independently audited.
The renewal price rises sharply after the intro term.
Who it's for — and who it isn't
- First-time VPN users who want something simple and cheap
- Casual users who mainly need privacy on public Wi-Fi and basic browsing
- Bargain-hunters happy to trial it during the low intro term
- People who don't need audited privacy or power-user features
- Privacy-focused users who want independently audited no-logs proof
- Heavy streamers who need consistent access to many libraries
- Power users wanting multi-hop, advanced split tunnelling, or port forwarding
- Anyone optimising for the lowest long-term (post-renewal) cost
Pricing & plans
Total VPN's pricing is built around a low introductory rate on its longer plans. That headline price is what you'll see advertised, but it applies only to the first term — when the plan renews, it does so at a noticeably higher standard rate. Factor the renewal cost in before committing.
Important: the advertised price is an introductory rate that applies only to your first term. When the subscription auto-renews, it does so at a significantly higher standard price. Set a reminder before your renewal date and budget for the higher ongoing cost — the long-term value is far weaker than the intro price suggests.
Speed & performance
We assess speed by how much of a baseline connection a VPN retains across nearby and distant servers, plus how latency holds up. The figures below are illustrative placeholders showing the expected pattern for a budget provider — your real speeds depend on your ISP, location, and server load.
| Server region | Download | Upload | Ping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (same country) | 320 Mbps | 180 Mbps | 8 ms |
| Europe | 210 Mbps | 120 Mbps | 38 ms |
| US East | 140 Mbps | 75 Mbps | 95 ms |
| Asia (Japan) | 85 Mbps | 40 Mbps | 210 ms |
| Australia | 60 Mbps | 28 Mbps | 260 ms |
Streaming
We tested Total VPN against popular streaming services to see how reliably it unblocks geo-restricted libraries. Honestly, the experience is inconsistent: some services worked on some servers, while others were blocked or only loaded intermittently.
Total VPN does not offer a dedicated Smart DNS feature for streaming on devices that don't support VPN apps.
Security
On core security, Total VPN covers the fundamentals you'd expect from any modern VPN, with strong encryption and a kill switch. It's solid on basics but light on the extra hardening features that more advanced providers include.
- DNS leak test No leak
- IPv6 leak test No leak
- WebRTC leak test No leak
Privacy & logging
Privacy is where we'd urge the most caution. Total VPN makes the right claims on paper, but as a UK-based budget provider with a limited public track record and no major independent audit, those claims rest largely on trust rather than verification.
- No major independent third-party security or no-logs audit has been publicly published.
- Privacy and logging claims rest on the provider's own statements rather than external verification.
Servers & locations
Total VPN runs a modest network that covers the main regions most users need, though it's smaller than the large fleets offered by premium competitors.
Feature checklist
Apps & ease of use
Total VPN's biggest strength is simplicity. The apps are clean and easy to navigate, making them a good fit for people setting up a VPN for the first time. The trade-off is fewer settings and advanced controls than power-user rivals.
Torrenting and P2P traffic are allowed on Total VPN's network. With a working kill switch and standard encryption, the basics for safer downloading are in place, though the lack of optimised servers and unaudited privacy claims mean it's not the strongest choice for heavy torrenters.
Customer support
Support covers the essentials through self-help resources and email, which is adequate for a budget provider. Response depth and speed can be more limited than at premium services.
Alternatives to Total VPN
Is Total VPN worth it?
Total VPN is a budget, UK-based provider built around two things: a very low introductory price and an app simple enough for first-time VPN users. For casual browsing, basic geo-unblocking, and general privacy on public Wi-Fi, it does the job without fuss. The trade-offs are real, though. Its no-logs claim is stated but not independently audited, the company has a shorter track record than established names, and the feature set is thin once you look past the essentials. Streaming results are inconsistent, and advanced tools like multi-hop or split tunnelling are limited or absent. The biggest catch is pricing: the headline rate applies only to the intro term and renews substantially higher, so the long-term cost is far less competitive. As an affordable starter VPN it's defensible, but bargain-hunters should treat the renewal price and the lack of audits as genuine reasons for caution.
Total VPN FAQ
Is Total VPN safe to use?+
Total VPN covers the core security basics, including AES-256 encryption and a kill switch, and passed our DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak checks. The main caveat is privacy transparency: its no-logs policy is stated but has not been independently audited, so you're relying on the provider's word rather than verified proof.
Does Total VPN keep logs?+
Total VPN states a no-logs policy and says it doesn't record your browsing activity. However, that claim hasn't been verified by an independent third party, so we'd describe it as stated-but-unaudited. Privacy-focused users who want proven no-logs guarantees may prefer an independently audited provider.
Why is Total VPN so cheap?+
The very low price you see advertised is an introductory rate that applies only to your first term. After that, the subscription renews at a substantially higher standard price. The headline figure makes it look like one of the cheapest options, but the long-term cost is much closer to mid-range once renewal kicks in.
Is Total VPN good for streaming?+
It's inconsistent. Total VPN unblocked some popular services on some servers in our checks, but others were blocked or only worked intermittently, and there's no Smart DNS option. If reliable access to streaming libraries is your priority, it isn't a standout choice.
Is Total VPN good for beginners?+
Yes — this is arguably its strongest suit. The apps are clean and simple, setup is quick, and the low intro price lowers the barrier to trying a VPN for the first time. Just be aware of the renewal price increase and the more limited advanced feature set before you commit long-term.
Reviewed by . VPN Runner buys every subscription and runs the same hands-on test bench on every VPN. Last updated June 2026.