CactusVPN Review 2025: Smart DNS Bonus Makes This Budget Pick Shine
CactusVPN combines solid VPN service with free Smart DNS for streaming. Great value at $2.77/month, but Moldova location raises privacy questions.
Updated:
July 20, 2025
Screenshots Update:
Today
Devices:
Unlimited
Servers:
39+
Countries:
25+
Founded:
2011
Country:
Moldova
Executive Summary
CactusVPN stands out in the crowded VPN market by throwing in Smart DNS and proxy services at no extra cost – something most providers charge separately for. At $2.77 per month on their two-year plan, you're getting decent bang for your buck, especially with unlimited device connections that work great for families or gadget collectors.
The 25-country server network isn't massive, but it covers all the important spots you'd actually want to connect through. Speed and performance seem solid, and the apps are refreshingly simple to use without sacrificing functionality. The big win here is that Smart DNS feature – it's perfect for streaming geo-blocked content without the speed hit that sometimes comes with traditional VPN connections.
The downside? CactusVPN's Moldova location isn't as privacy-friendly as some alternatives, and they haven't done independent security audits to back up their no-logs claims. If you're looking for maximum privacy protection or need servers in obscure locations, you might want to shop around. But for everyday users who want reliable streaming access and basic privacy protection without breaking the bank, CactusVPN delivers solid value.
The 25-country server network isn't massive, but it covers all the important spots you'd actually want to connect through. Speed and performance seem solid, and the apps are refreshingly simple to use without sacrificing functionality. The big win here is that Smart DNS feature – it's perfect for streaming geo-blocked content without the speed hit that sometimes comes with traditional VPN connections.
The downside? CactusVPN's Moldova location isn't as privacy-friendly as some alternatives, and they haven't done independent security audits to back up their no-logs claims. If you're looking for maximum privacy protection or need servers in obscure locations, you might want to shop around. But for everyday users who want reliable streaming access and basic privacy protection without breaking the bank, CactusVPN delivers solid value.
Pros
- Strict no-logging policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 customer support
Features & Performance
CactusVPN might not have the biggest server network out there, but they've got a solid spread across 25 countries that covers all the bases you'd actually need. Think of it like having a reliable friend in every major city – you've got servers in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and plenty of other spots where you'd want to appear to be browsing from.
Speed-wise, these folks seem to know what they're doing. They promise unlimited bandwidth, which is like having an all-you-can-eat buffet for your internet connection – no annoying caps or slowdowns when you hit some arbitrary limit. The encryption they use is what they call "military-grade," which sounds fancy but basically means your data gets scrambled up tighter than a Rubik's cube before anyone can peek at it.
Here's where CactusVPN gets interesting – they throw in Smart DNS for free with every plan. Think of Smart DNS as the cool cousin of VPN that's really good at one specific job: unblocking streaming sites without slowing things down. It's like having a backstage pass that gets you into geo-blocked content at full speed. They claim to unblock 340+ websites, which honestly sounds like they've been busy testing every streaming service on the planet.
What's pretty neat is that all their servers double as proxies at no extra cost. It's like getting a Swiss Army knife when you thought you were just buying a regular knife – more tools in your toolkit for the same price. Plus, you can connect unlimited devices with one subscription, so your whole household can hop on without anyone fighting over connections. Whether you're streaming Netflix, doing some light torrenting (on their P2P-friendly servers), or just want to browse privately, they seem to have the basics covered without any fuss.
Speed-wise, these folks seem to know what they're doing. They promise unlimited bandwidth, which is like having an all-you-can-eat buffet for your internet connection – no annoying caps or slowdowns when you hit some arbitrary limit. The encryption they use is what they call "military-grade," which sounds fancy but basically means your data gets scrambled up tighter than a Rubik's cube before anyone can peek at it.
Here's where CactusVPN gets interesting – they throw in Smart DNS for free with every plan. Think of Smart DNS as the cool cousin of VPN that's really good at one specific job: unblocking streaming sites without slowing things down. It's like having a backstage pass that gets you into geo-blocked content at full speed. They claim to unblock 340+ websites, which honestly sounds like they've been busy testing every streaming service on the planet.
What's pretty neat is that all their servers double as proxies at no extra cost. It's like getting a Swiss Army knife when you thought you were just buying a regular knife – more tools in your toolkit for the same price. Plus, you can connect unlimited devices with one subscription, so your whole household can hop on without anyone fighting over connections. Whether you're streaming Netflix, doing some light torrenting (on their P2P-friendly servers), or just want to browse privately, they seem to have the basics covered without any fuss.
User Experience
Setting up CactusVPN feels refreshingly straightforward – no PhD in computer science required here. They've got apps for pretty much everything you'd want to use: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and even Fire TV and Android TV for your living room setup. It's like they actually thought about where normal people use the internet instead of just focusing on desktop computers from 2005.
The apps themselves look clean and modern without being overwhelming. You're not staring at a dashboard that looks like it belongs in NASA mission control – just simple buttons to connect, pick your server location, and get on with your day. The whole "connect in a few seconds" promise seems legit based on what users are saying. No endless loading screens or confusing menus that make you question your life choices.
One thing that stands out is their customer support game. When people actually need help (and let's be honest, we all do sometimes), CactusVPN seems to respond quickly with answers that actually solve problems. It's not the usual "have you tried turning it off and on again" runaround that makes you want to throw your laptop out the window.
The unlimited device thing is genuinely handy if you're like most people and have approximately seventeen different gadgets that need internet protection. Your phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, your partner's devices – they can all hop on the same account without CactusVPN getting cranky about it.
The interface keeps things simple enough that you won't need to bookmark a bunch of tutorials, but it's not so dumbed-down that you feel like you're using a toy. It strikes that sweet spot where you can just install it, connect, and forget it's there – which is exactly how a VPN should work.
The apps themselves look clean and modern without being overwhelming. You're not staring at a dashboard that looks like it belongs in NASA mission control – just simple buttons to connect, pick your server location, and get on with your day. The whole "connect in a few seconds" promise seems legit based on what users are saying. No endless loading screens or confusing menus that make you question your life choices.
One thing that stands out is their customer support game. When people actually need help (and let's be honest, we all do sometimes), CactusVPN seems to respond quickly with answers that actually solve problems. It's not the usual "have you tried turning it off and on again" runaround that makes you want to throw your laptop out the window.
The unlimited device thing is genuinely handy if you're like most people and have approximately seventeen different gadgets that need internet protection. Your phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, your partner's devices – they can all hop on the same account without CactusVPN getting cranky about it.
The interface keeps things simple enough that you won't need to bookmark a bunch of tutorials, but it's not so dumbed-down that you feel like you're using a toy. It strikes that sweet spot where you can just install it, connect, and forget it's there – which is exactly how a VPN should work.
Features & Security
Security & Privacy
No Logging Policy
Independent Security Audit
RAM-Only Servers
Advanced Features
Dedicated IP Available
Port Forwarding
24/7 Customer Support
Security & Privacy
When it comes to keeping your digital life locked down, CactusVPN takes the "better safe than sorry" approach. Their encryption is the same heavy-duty stuff that governments and big corporations use to protect their secrets – imagine wrapping your internet traffic in an unbreakable code that would take hackers longer to crack than the age of the universe.
The no-logs policy is where things get interesting. CactusVPN promises they don't keep records of what websites you visit, what files you download, or basically anything you do online. It's like having a friend who's really good at keeping secrets – they genuinely don't know what you've been up to because they're not paying attention in the first place. This is huge because even if someone came knocking on their door demanding information, there's literally nothing to hand over.
Now, here's something worth noting: CactusVPN is based in Moldova, which isn't exactly a household name in the privacy world like Switzerland or the British Virgin Islands. Moldova isn't part of the "14 Eyes" surveillance alliance, which is good news for privacy, but it's not as bulletproof as some other locations. Think of it as living in a quiet neighborhood instead of a fortress – generally safe, but maybe not where you'd hide state secrets.
They use multiple VPN protocols, which is like having different routes to get to the same destination. Some are faster, some are more secure, and some are better at sneaking past firewalls. The fact that they offer options means you can pick what works best for your situation.
One thing they could improve on is independent security audits. While they make all the right privacy promises, having outside experts verify their claims would be like getting a report card from an impartial teacher – it just adds that extra layer of "yeah, they're actually doing what they say they're doing."
The no-logs policy is where things get interesting. CactusVPN promises they don't keep records of what websites you visit, what files you download, or basically anything you do online. It's like having a friend who's really good at keeping secrets – they genuinely don't know what you've been up to because they're not paying attention in the first place. This is huge because even if someone came knocking on their door demanding information, there's literally nothing to hand over.
Now, here's something worth noting: CactusVPN is based in Moldova, which isn't exactly a household name in the privacy world like Switzerland or the British Virgin Islands. Moldova isn't part of the "14 Eyes" surveillance alliance, which is good news for privacy, but it's not as bulletproof as some other locations. Think of it as living in a quiet neighborhood instead of a fortress – generally safe, but maybe not where you'd hide state secrets.
They use multiple VPN protocols, which is like having different routes to get to the same destination. Some are faster, some are more secure, and some are better at sneaking past firewalls. The fact that they offer options means you can pick what works best for your situation.
One thing they could improve on is independent security audits. While they make all the right privacy promises, having outside experts verify their claims would be like getting a report card from an impartial teacher – it just adds that extra layer of "yeah, they're actually doing what they say they're doing."
Pricing & Plans
CactusVPN's pricing is honestly pretty reasonable, especially when you look at what you're getting for your money. Their monthly plan runs $6.99, which isn't the cheapest on the market but isn't going to break the bank either. Where they really shine is in the longer-term deals – that two-year plan drops down to $2.77 per month, which is genuinely hard to beat.
The sweet spot seems to be their annual plan at $4.08 monthly. It's like buying in bulk at Costco – you commit to a year and save yourself some serious cash. Plus, they back everything with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you're not happy, you can get your money back without jumping through hoops or explaining your life story.
What makes the pricing even better is that you're not just getting a VPN – you're getting Smart DNS and proxy services thrown in for free. Most companies would charge extra for that combo, but CactusVPN bundles it all together like a value meal that actually provides value.
They accept pretty much every payment method you can think of, including Bitcoin if you're feeling extra privacy-conscious. The fact that they take crypto payments shows they understand that some folks want to keep their VPN purchase as anonymous as their browsing.
For families or people with lots of devices, the unlimited connections feature makes this a no-brainer financially. Instead of paying for multiple accounts or fighting over who gets to use the VPN, everyone can connect simultaneously. It's perfect for households where everyone's got multiple gadgets and streaming habits.
The sweet spot seems to be their annual plan at $4.08 monthly. It's like buying in bulk at Costco – you commit to a year and save yourself some serious cash. Plus, they back everything with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you're not happy, you can get your money back without jumping through hoops or explaining your life story.
What makes the pricing even better is that you're not just getting a VPN – you're getting Smart DNS and proxy services thrown in for free. Most companies would charge extra for that combo, but CactusVPN bundles it all together like a value meal that actually provides value.
They accept pretty much every payment method you can think of, including Bitcoin if you're feeling extra privacy-conscious. The fact that they take crypto payments shows they understand that some folks want to keep their VPN purchase as anonymous as their browsing.
For families or people with lots of devices, the unlimited connections feature makes this a no-brainer financially. Instead of paying for multiple accounts or fighting over who gets to use the VPN, everyone can connect simultaneously. It's perfect for households where everyone's got multiple gadgets and streaming habits.
The Bottom Line
CactusVPN hits that sweet spot where good-enough meets genuinely affordable, especially if streaming access is high on your priority list. The combination of VPN, Smart DNS, and proxy services for under three bucks a month is honestly hard to beat, and the unlimited connections make it perfect for households with multiple devices and users.
Sure, it's not the most privacy-focused option out there, and the server network won't win any size contests, but for most people's everyday needs – streaming Netflix, basic privacy protection, and bypassing geo-blocks – it gets the job done without any fuss. The 30-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of time to test everything out risk-free. If you're budget-conscious and want that Smart DNS bonus for your streaming habits, CactusVPN is definitely worth a try.
Sure, it's not the most privacy-focused option out there, and the server network won't win any size contests, but for most people's everyday needs – streaming Netflix, basic privacy protection, and bypassing geo-blocks – it gets the job done without any fuss. The 30-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of time to test everything out risk-free. If you're budget-conscious and want that Smart DNS bonus for your streaming habits, CactusVPN is definitely worth a try.
Try CactusVPN Risk-Free
30-day money-back guarantee • No questions asked
Our Scores Explained
Overall: 8.1 [22nd of 34]
Our Overall score is simply the average of the four component scores below.
Price: 8.4 [17th of 34]
Competitive pricing structure with 2-year plan at $2.77/month representing good value. Offers 30-day money-back guarantee and includes Smart DNS and proxy services at no extra cost. Monthly pricing at $6.99 is reasonable, and the inclusion of unlimited devices and bandwidth adds value to all plans.
Security: 8.3 [25th of 34]
Located in Moldova (privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside surveillance alliances), claims no-logs policy, uses military-grade AES-256 encryption, and includes DNS leak protection and kill switch. However, lacks independent security audit and doesn't use RAM-only servers, which limits the security score despite the good foundation.
Features: 7.6 [33rd of 34]
CactusVPN offers unlimited device connections, 39 servers across 25 countries, and includes Smart DNS for unblocking 340+ streaming sites. Has kill switch, app killer, and P2P support on select servers. However, lacks premium features like dedicated IP, port forwarding, and split tunneling. Server count is relatively low compared to major providers.
Experience: 8.2 [16th of 34]
Provides apps for all major platforms (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Fire TV, Android TV) with reportedly easy setup. Offers 24/7 support and has positive user testimonials highlighting speed and stability. Smart DNS feature adds value for streaming users, though the overall app ecosystem appears more basic than premium providers.
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