In This Article
Atlas VPN closed for good, and the apps stopped working overnight. Here is what happened and where to go next, sorted by what you actually liked about Atlas.
Quick answer
Atlas VPN no longer exists. Nord Security shut it down, the apps stopped connecting, and the website now redirects to NordVPN. Any “Atlas VPN” download you find today is not the real app.
If you used the free tier, switch to Proton VPN Free: unlimited data, no account, no card. If you want a paid replacement, NordVPN is the natural move (Atlas’s parent, and where migration credits went). If you want the opposite of Atlas, Mullvad charges a flat fee with no upsells and no marketing.
This article first went up years ago, when Atlas VPN was a scrappy freemium underdog with a generous free tier. We kept it online through the Nord Security acquisition. We have now rewritten it from scratch, because the product is gone and an old review pretending otherwise helps nobody.
Below is the honest story of what Atlas VPN was, why Nord killed it, and seven replacements worth switching to. The picks are sorted by what you originally liked about Atlas: the free tier, the low price, the device count, a mainstream all-rounder, or a strict privacy stance.
Where most former users should go
For most people the choice comes down to three apps. Free-tier users should install Proton VPN Free, the closest thing to what Atlas’s free tier did well. Paid users who want a mainstream all-rounder should look at NordVPN, which is also where Atlas migration credits landed. Anyone who wants to leave the freemium-funnel model entirely should pick Mullvad.
The rest of the list covers the edge cases: unlimited devices for a household, a flexible build-your-own paid plan, or a free tier that can still reach streaming servers. Match the pick to what mattered to you about Atlas, not to a generic “best VPN” label.
At a glance: the seven replacements
| VPN | Free tier | Independent audits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Unlimited data, no account | Open-source apps, regular audits | Free-tier replacement, privacy on a budget |
| NordVPN | No (short trial via Play) | Six consecutive Deloitte no-logs audits | Default migration, full-featured all-rounder |
| Mullvad | No | Cure53 audits, transparency reports | Maximum anonymity, no upsells |
| Surfshark | No | Deloitte and Cure53 audited | Households, unlimited devices |
| Windscribe | 10 GB per month | Cure53 audit history | Free backup, build-a-plan flexibility |
| PrivadoVPN | 10 GB per month | Audited, refresh overdue | Free tier that reaches streaming servers |
| hide.me | Unlimited data (cap removed) | Independent audit history | Free unlimited data outside Proton |
Before you reinstall anything
Atlas VPN is dead. Typing “atlas vpn download” or “atlas vpn apk” into a browser leads to a NordVPN signup page or to a third-party file that is not Atlas VPN. An app that calls itself Atlas VPN today is being distributed by someone with no connection to the original team. Do not install it. Pick a replacement from the list below instead.
What happened to Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN announced the shutdown about a month ahead of time, and it took effect on . On that date the apps stopped functioning, the servers were decommissioned, and the website began redirecting to NordVPN’s signup funnel. TechRadar’s coverage of the closure walked through the same timeline.
Paid subscribers were given two options: a prorated refund, or NordVPN credit worth their remaining Atlas time, often paired with a discount on a NordVPN long plan. The transfer was something you had to claim, not an automatic switch. Free-tier users got nothing. They simply lost VPN access overnight.
Nord’s stated reason was the “insurmountable challenges” of running two consumer VPN brands at once, alongside rising costs and competitive pressure. That is the official line. The deeper context is that three pressures stacked up, and you can read the full reasoning in Nord Security’s shutdown announcement.
- A security scare. A flaw in the Linux client exposed users’ real IP addresses. It was disclosed publicly before Atlas was notified, which made the reputational hit worse. Atlas patched it, but the trust damage lingered.
- Brand cannibalization. Atlas’s free tier competed directly with NordVPN paid signups. Running a free product that converted poorly was a margin drag for a paid-first parent company.
- Consolidation math. Nord Security already ran NordVPN and Surfshark. Atlas was the smallest of the three brands and the easiest to fold. Maintaining duplicate apps, servers, and support across three properties did not add up.
The Atlas VPN name is now just a marketing asset that funnels search traffic to NordVPN. The brand is dead as a product. Treat any “Atlas VPN” listing you find as a red flag, not a download.
What Atlas VPN was, while it lasted
For the record, and because people still search the name, here is what Atlas VPN actually was, drawn from its documented company history.
- Founded: by a Lithuanian team, with a Delaware and Lithuania footprint.
- Positioning: an aggressive freemium VPN. A generous free tier and very low long-term pricing were the whole pitch.
- Acquired: by Nord Security a few years before the shutdown, terms undisclosed. Nord publicly promised Atlas would stay independent.
- User base: around six million at acquisition, and still cited at roughly six million at shutdown. Growth had stalled.
- Features: WireGuard support, a kill switch, split tunneling, MultiHop, a tracker blocker, and a data-breach monitor. Atlas was not a scam. The features were credible, which is why the shutdown caught users off guard.
That is the honest history. Atlas was a real product that worked well for its users until the parent company decided otherwise. The lesson is structural: VPN recommendations age fast, and an ownership change can void one in months. It is the reason we re-audit this category instead of trusting an old bookmark.
1. Proton VPN
Proton VPN is the closest thing to what Atlas’s free tier did right, and then some. The free plan has no data cap, no speed throttling, and no account gymnastics. You install it, you connect, you are protected. Most “free” VPNs cap you at 10 GB a month or push a trial in disguise; Proton’s free tier is genuinely free.
The reason it can do this is the same reason Atlas could not. Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar subscribers subsidize the free VPN tier. Atlas had no such cross-product cushion, so its free users were pure cost. Proton is also Switzerland-based, outside the major intelligence-sharing alliances, and its apps are open source on every platform.
The honest catch: the free tier will not unblock Netflix or other regional streaming libraries, and free servers slow down at peak. The paid plan removes both limits and adds the NetShield ad and tracker blocker plus Secure Core multi-hop routing.
Highlights
- ⭐ Best for: former Atlas free-tier users who want a credible no-cost VPN.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: no streaming and slower speeds on the free tier.
- 💰 Pricing: free unlimited tier, or around $3 per month on the long plan.
Key features
- Unlimited free data: no cap, no speed limit, no credit card required.
- Open-source apps: the Android, iOS, and desktop clients are public and independently audited.
- Secure Core: paid routing through hardened servers in privacy-friendly countries.
Get it on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is Atlas VPN’s parent company, and it is where the migration credits went. If you opted in when Atlas closed, log in and check your NordVPN account before you pay for anything: there may still be transfer credit sitting on it.
Beyond the migration angle, NordVPN is one of the safest mainstream picks on independent verification. It has passed six consecutive Deloitte no-logs audits, plus a Cure53 source-code review. That audit cadence puts it ahead of most competitors. The Android app runs the fast NordLynx protocol, and Threat Protection blocks ads, malware, and trackers.
The honest catch: renewal pricing off the long plans is steep. Lock in a two-year term, set a calendar reminder before it renews, and decide again then.
Highlights
- ⭐ Best for: Atlas paid users with migration credit, and anyone who wants the safe mainstream pick.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: a sharp price jump when a long plan renews.
- 💰 Pricing: from roughly $3 to $4 per month on a two-year plan, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Key features
- NordLynx protocol: a WireGuard-based protocol that stays fast on Android.
- Threat Protection: blocks ads, trackers, and known malware domains.
- Audited repeatedly: six Deloitte no-logs audits plus a Cure53 code review.
Get it on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
3. Mullvad VPN
Mullvad is the opposite of Atlas in every way that counts. No free tier. No discounts. No upsells. No marketing partnerships with review sites. You pay a flat fee, you get an anonymous account number instead of an email login, and you can pay with cash mailed in an envelope if you want to.
If Atlas’s shutdown made you distrust the freemium-funnel model, Mullvad is the clean exit. It runs RAM-only servers so nothing persists to disk, publishes regular Cure53 audits, and ships open-source apps from a Sweden base with a real transparency record.
The honest catch: Mullvad dropped port forwarding, which broke some torrent-seeding setups, and it has no streaming-optimized servers. The network is smaller than NordVPN’s or Surfshark’s. This is a privacy tool, not an everything tool.
Highlights
- ⭐ Best for: users who want to leave the freemium-funnel ecosystem entirely.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: no port forwarding, no streaming servers, a smaller network.
- 💰 Pricing: a flat 5 euro per month, the same rate for one month or ten years.
Key features
- Anonymous account numbers: no email, no name, no signup data.
- RAM-only servers: nothing is written to a disk that could be seized.
- Flat pricing: one price, no sales, no renewal surprises.
Get it on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
4. Surfshark
Surfshark is the other Nord Security property, but unlike Atlas it still runs under its own brand with its own apps. Its standout feature is unlimited simultaneous connections: one subscription covers every phone, tablet, laptop, and smart TV in the house.
For a household replacing Atlas, that math is hard to beat. Surfshark also bundles CleanWeb ad and tracker blocking and MultiHop double-VPN routing, and it has been audited by both Deloitte and Cure53. The Surfshark One add-on layers in antivirus and identity-leak monitoring for a small extra cost.
The honest catch: like NordVPN, renewal pricing climbs after the intro term. Some users also prefer Mullvad’s anonymous-number approach over Surfshark’s standard email signup.
Highlights
- ⭐ Best for: multi-device households replacing Atlas’s unlimited-connections feature.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: renewal pricing rises once the intro term ends.
- 💰 Pricing: around $2 per month on a long plan, with the Surfshark One bundle a little extra.
Key features
- Unlimited devices: a single account covers every device you own.
- CleanWeb: blocks ads, trackers, and malicious pages.
- Surfshark One: an optional bundle adding antivirus and identity-leak alerts.
Get it on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
5. Windscribe
Windscribe is the pick for anyone who liked Atlas’s freemium model and wants something like it back. Its free tier gives you 10 GB a month, which is less than Proton’s unlimited allowance but enough for light, occasional use as a backup.
The paid side is where Windscribe gets interesting. Its build-a-plan option lets you pick exactly which countries you want and pay only for those, which is genuinely useful if you need, say, Japan and the UK and nothing else. R.O.B.E.R.T., its server-side blocker, filters ads, malware, and trackers with custom rules. It operates from a privacy-friendly Canadian base with an audit history.
The honest catch: the standard paid tier costs more than Surfshark or Mullvad. Build-a-plan is a niche tool, not a default.
Highlights
- ⭐ Best for: people who want a freemium VPN back, or who have unusual country needs.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: the standard paid tier costs more than its cheaper rivals.
- 💰 Pricing: free 10 GB per month, a paid Pro tier, or build-a-plan from about $1 per country.
Key features
- 10 GB free tier: a usable monthly allowance for a backup VPN.
- Build-a-plan: pay only for the specific countries and static IPs you need.
- R.O.B.E.R.T.: a customizable server-side ad and malware blocker.
Get it on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
6. PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN earns its spot on one specific strength. Its free tier, 10 GB a month across a dozen-plus cities, is one of the few free VPNs that can still reach streaming servers. Most free VPNs are blocked by streaming platforms outright; PrivadoVPN is an exception, at least for now.
If the only thing you used Atlas for was occasional region access without paying, PrivadoVPN’s free tier is the closest match on this list. It is Switzerland-based and keeps a no-logs policy.
The honest catch: 10 GB disappears fast when you stream, so it suits short sessions, not a binge. Its last public independent audit is several years old and overdue for a refresh, and the server network is smaller than the bigger names.
Highlights
- ⭐ Best for: free users who specifically want streaming-capable servers.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: a 10 GB monthly cap and an audit that is overdue for a refresh.
- 💰 Pricing: free 10 GB per month, with paid plans from a few dollars a month.
Key features
- Streaming-capable free tier: rare among free VPNs, the free servers can still reach common libraries.
- Switzerland-based: a privacy-friendly jurisdiction with a no-logs policy.
- Simple apps: a light, beginner-friendly Android client.
Get it on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
7. hide.me VPN
hide.me removed the data cap from its free tier, which makes it the only standalone free VPN besides Proton that offers unlimited bandwidth. If you want a no-cost VPN but would rather not use Proton, this is the realistic alternative.
The free server selection is smaller than Proton’s, but the apps are clean, the no-logs policy is backed by an independent audit history, and unlimited free data is a genuine rarity. It is a credible choice if Proton’s free servers have let you down or you simply want variety.
The honest catch: the smaller free network means fewer location options, and the paid tier is fine without standing out against the cheaper, better-known rivals on this list.
Highlights
- ⭐ Best for: users who want unlimited free data but would rather not use Proton.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: a smaller free server network than Proton.
- 💰 Pricing: free unlimited tier, with paid plans from a few dollars a month.
Key features
- Unlimited free data: no monthly cap on the free tier.
- Audit history: the no-logs claim is backed by independent reviews.
- No signup friction: the free tier is quick to set up on Android.
Get it on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
What the shutdown says about the VPN industry
Atlas VPN did not fail because it was a bad product. It failed because two consolidation groups now dominate the consumer VPN market, and a small free brand is the easy thing to cut. Android Police noted that NordVPN grew its subscriber base directly off the Atlas wind-down.
- Kape Technologies owns ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and ZenMate. It also owns several VPN review sites, a long-standing conflict-of-interest concern, and it has since gone private, which removed public visibility into its operations.
- Nord Security owns NordVPN and Surfshark and absorbed Atlas VPN. It runs a holding-company structure with named leadership and multiple recent independent audits.
Between them, these two groups control a large share of the consumer VPN market. The independent operators that remain, including Proton and Mullvad, increasingly position on transparency and clear ownership as their main differentiator. When you pick a VPN now, ownership is part of the product.
Here is what a trustworthy VPN should show you, whichever replacement you choose. Aim to hit at least four of these.
- An independent third-party audit of its no-logs claim, dated within the last 18 months.
- Transparent ownership: a single jurisdiction, named leadership, no holding-company opacity.
- RAM-only servers, so nothing sensitive persists to disk.
- Open-source clients that anyone can inspect.
- A warrant canary and published transparency reports.
- A privacy-friendly jurisdiction, such as Switzerland, Sweden, or Panama.
Atlas had some of these signals but not all of them. If you want help weighing the no-cost options against each other, our guide to the best free VPN options for Android and iOS covers what is worth downloading and what is not.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it matters | Better move |
|---|---|---|
| Installing an “Atlas VPN APK” from a third-party site | The real app is gone, so the file is something else entirely, often adware or worse | Pick a replacement from this list and install it from an official store |
| Auto-renewing on a VPN long plan without checking | Renewal pricing on most paid VPNs jumps well above the intro rate | Set a reminder before the term ends and re-decide |
| Choosing a VPN on price alone | A cheap VPN with no audit and murky ownership is a privacy risk, not a bargain | Check the audit date and the ownership before the price |
| Trusting a VPN review you bookmarked years ago | Ownership changes can void a recommendation in months, as Atlas proved | Re-check the current audit status before you subscribe |
Key takeaways
- Atlas VPN shut down for good. Any “Atlas VPN” download today is not the real app.
- Free-tier users should switch to Proton VPN Free: unlimited data, no account, no card.
- Paid users who want a mainstream all-rounder should look at NordVPN, and check for leftover migration credit first.
- Mullvad is the privacy-first pick if you want to leave the freemium-funnel model behind.
- Judge any VPN on its audit recency and ownership transparency, not on price alone.
The verdict
There is no single winner here, because the right pick depends on what you used Atlas VPN for in the first place. Match your old reason to the move below.
The verdict
Bottom line: if you used the Atlas free tier, install Proton VPN Free. It is the closest spiritual successor: unlimited data, no account, no card.
Paid user with migration credit: log into NordVPN and check whether your transfer credit is still active, then use it.
Paid user chasing value: Surfshark on a long plan for unlimited devices, or Mullvad at a flat 5 euro per month if you would rather pay for clean privacy with no marketing.
Privacy purist: Mullvad, full stop.
Skip: any site offering an “Atlas VPN” download. The brand is dead, and the file is not Atlas.
For the wider case on why a VPN still earns its place on your phone, see our explainer on why you need a VPN on Android.
Questions former Atlas VPN users ask
- Is Atlas VPN still working?
No. Atlas VPN was shut down by its parent company, Nord Security. The apps stopped connecting that day, the servers were decommissioned, and the website now redirects to NordVPN. Any “Atlas VPN” download offered today is not the original app. - Why did Atlas VPN shut down?
Nord Security cited the “insurmountable challenges” of running two consumer VPN brands at once. The deeper context: a security flaw that exposed user IPs hurt Atlas’s reputation, and its free tier cannibalized NordVPN paid signups. Nord chose to consolidate on NordVPN. - Did Atlas VPN users get refunds?
Paid users with subscription time left were given two options: a prorated refund, or NordVPN credit worth their remaining time, often paired with a discounted NordVPN offer. Free-tier users got nothing. The transfer was something you had to claim, not an automatic switch. - What is the best free Atlas VPN replacement?
Proton VPN’s free tier. It has no data cap, needs no account, and asks for no card. It is one of only two standalone free VPNs with no data limit, the other being hide.me. Proton’s free tier survives because Proton Mail and Drive subsidize it. - Should I just switch to NordVPN since Nord owned Atlas?
It is the obvious migration path and a strong VPN, with six consecutive independent audits and RAM-only servers. But NordVPN has no free tier, and it is not your only option. If price matters, Surfshark is cheaper on long plans. If you want to leave the Nord ecosystem after Atlas, Mullvad or Proton are stronger picks. - Is the Atlas VPN app safe to download now?
No. There is no legitimate Atlas VPN app anymore. Anything labeled “Atlas VPN” on a third-party store or APK site is published by someone unconnected to the original team, and it should be treated as untrusted. Install a replacement from an official store instead. - Can I trust any VPN long-term after this?
Yes, but pick on structural signals: a recent independent audit, RAM-only servers, open-source clients, transparent ownership, and a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. Mullvad and Proton score highest on those. The real lesson is to re-check a VPN’s audit status periodically rather than trusting an old recommendation forever.
How we tested
Each VPN on this list was used on Android, on a Pixel 9 Pro running Android 16 and a Galaxy S25 Ultra running One UI 8, over a two-week window. We checked connection time, kill-switch behavior during simulated network drops, and DNS-leak results, and we cross-referenced each provider’s published audit materials. Pricing was verified against each provider’s own site; VPN promotional pricing changes often, so confirm the current rate before you subscribe.
One last note for budget-minded readers: not every free VPN is worth installing, and a few are worth actively avoiding. Our roundup of free VPNs for Android worth using separates the safe free options from the ones that monetize your data.
This article was originally published years ago as a review of Atlas VPN. It has been rewritten to reflect Atlas VPN’s shutdown and to recommend current alternatives. Some links are affiliate links. They do not change which VPNs we recommend, and if you subscribe through one we may earn a commission.
