CactusVPN Review 2026
By ChrisFounder & Lead AnalystSmall Moldovan VPN with Smart DNS
CactusVPN is a small Moldovan provider that punches above its weight in two areas: protocol variety (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SoftEther, SSTP) and Smart DNS inclusion. Unlimited device connections sweeten the deal.
The server network is tiny -- just 40+ servers in 22 countries. Moldovan jurisdiction is privacy-friendly but the company lacks independent audits and has limited resources compared to major providers.
- Users wanting wide protocol support
- Smart DNS users
- Users who prefer Moldovan jurisdiction
Performance Scores
Privacy & Security
Security and Protocols
Protocol range is CactusVPN's least advertised strength. Alongside WireGuard and OpenVPN it keeps IKEv2, SSTP and SoftEther available, which is a longer list than most providers of any size maintain. SoftEther and SSTP in particular are the ones that sometimes get through a network that blocks everything else, so having them is a practical advantage rather than a spec-sheet flourish.
Encryption is AES-256 and the apps carry a kill switch. There is nothing unusual in the fundamentals, which for a security product is the right answer.
For how protocol support and audit evidence combine into the scores above, see our scoring methodology.
The Securitum Audit
CactusVPN states plainly that it does not keep logs, and its site displays a no-logs audit badge naming Securitum, a firm that has audited several larger providers.
We do not currently count that as a confirmed audit, and the reason is specific rather than a general suspicion. CactusVPN has not published a report, a summary, or a date to go with the badge, and recent reviews elsewhere, including at least one where the reviewer put the question to CactusVPN support directly, report that no audit has taken place. A claim on a marketing page with no document behind it and contrary accounts from people who asked is not evidence we can pass on to a reader as verified.
The position is therefore that CactusVPN claims a Securitum no-logs audit, has not published a report, and the claim remains unverified by third parties. If a dated report is published we will credit it. Providers in our best VPNs for privacy guide publish reports you can read, on a recurring cycle, which is what the claim needs to match.
Smart DNS and Unlimited Devices
Smart DNS is included rather than sold separately, and every CactusVPN server doubles as a proxy. That combination matters for one specific job: getting a region-locked service onto a device that cannot run a VPN app, such as a smart TV or a games console, without paying a second subscription for the privilege.
Smart DNS does not encrypt your traffic, so it is a geo-unblocking tool rather than a privacy one. Used for what it is, it is a genuine convenience, and pairing it with unlimited simultaneous device connections makes CactusVPN unusually easy to deploy across a whole household. See our best VPN for streaming guide for how the dedicated streaming providers compare.
Server Network
This is where the size of the company shows. CactusVPN covers 25 countries, against the ninety or hundred the largest providers advertise, and the server count behind that is small in absolute terms.
For most people that matters less than it sounds, since what you usually need is a nearby server and a handful of specific countries. It matters a great deal if the country you need is an unusual one, so check the current location list before subscribing rather than assuming coverage.
What You Actually Pay
CactusVPN prices its longer terms with a rate lock, advertising that the annual and two-year rates hold for the life of the subscription rather than jumping at renewal. That is worth more than it first appears: the standard industry pattern is a low first term followed by a substantially higher renewal, and a locked rate removes the step change.
The monthly plan is priced well above the market, which is the trade being made for the locked longer terms. The pricing above was re-checked against CactusVPN's own site for this update. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies, and CactusVPN describes it as full access for the period rather than a feature-limited trial.
Who CactusVPN Is For
CactusVPN suits a household that wants Smart DNS and a VPN on one subscription, values a locked renewal rate, and either needs an unusual protocol or does not need an unusual country.
It suits you less if you need broad geographic coverage or a large network with headroom at peak times. For those, see the full VPN rankings.
Pricing & Plans
Pros & Cons
- Excellent protocol variety
- Smart DNS included
- Unlimited devices
- Moldova jurisdiction
- Affordable
- Tiny server network (40+)
- Only 22 countries
- No independent audit
- Limited resources
- Small company
Bottom Line
A niche pick for protocol enthusiasts and Smart DNS users. The tiny server network limits its appeal for general use.
CactusVPN FAQ
Has CactusVPN been independently audited?
CactusVPN claims a Securitum no-logs audit and displays a badge for it, but it has not published a report, a summary or a date, and reviewers who have asked the company directly report that no audit has taken place. We treat it as an unverified claim rather than a confirmed audit, which is why the checklist above does not credit it.
Does CactusVPN include Smart DNS?
Yes. Smart DNS is part of the subscription rather than a paid extra, and all CactusVPN servers double as proxies. Smart DNS unblocks region-locked services on devices that cannot run a VPN app, but it does not encrypt your traffic.
How many devices does CactusVPN cover?
Unlimited simultaneous connections on one subscription, which is the same allowance Surfshark and Private Internet Access offer and more than most small providers.
What protocols does CactusVPN support?
WireGuard and OpenVPN, plus IKEv2, SSTP and SoftEther. That is a wider list than most providers maintain, and the older protocols occasionally get through networks that block the modern ones.
Does CactusVPN offer a free trial?
Its pricing page describes a 30-day money-back guarantee rather than a trial, stating that you get full access for the period and a real refund if you are not satisfied.
Is CactusVPN's server network big enough?
It covers 25 countries, which is small against the largest providers. That is usually fine if you need a nearby server or a common country, and a problem if you need an unusual one.
Where to Go Next
Builder, tinkerer, privacy advocate. I believe privacy is a right, not a product feature.