TotalVPN review 2025: Just a basic add-on for TotalAV?

Ever seen that tempting “Add VPN Protection” button when buying antivirus software? That’s exactly what TotalVPN is – the VPN service bundled with the popular TotalAV security suite, promising an all-in-one digital shield.

In today’s market, where companies pack features together to offer seemingly unbeatable deals, knowing what’s a genuine tool versus a marketing gimmick is crucial. The convenience of a single purchase is appealing, but it often comes at the cost of quality, especially for the “add-on” components.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in the cybersecurity industry, I’ve tested countless security bundles. My biggest finding? The included VPN is almost always the weakest link. It’s my job to determine if TotalVPN breaks that trend or falls into the same trap.

Don’t commit to a subscription based on a flashy offer. Let me give you the hard facts you need to make a smart decision for your online security.

1. Quick verdict: Is TotalVPN good enough on its own?

If you’re short on time, here’s the bottom line. After putting TotalVPN through its paces, my conclusion is clear: It is not a good standalone VPN.

Think of TotalVPN like the basic, wired earbuds that used to come free in a new smartphone box. They technically work if you need to take a quick call, but you would never rely on them for high-quality music, and you certainly wouldn’t go out and buy them separately. That’s TotalVPN in a nutshell.

Here is Safelyo’s official verdict, broken down by the key areas I tested.

Safelyo's review summary: TotalVPN

• Overall rating: 6.0/10
• Performance: 5.5/10
• Features: 5.0/10
• Trust & transparency: 4.0/10
• Value (as an add-on): 7.0/10

WHO IT’S FOR:
Current TotalAV subscribers who get the VPN as part of their bundle and only need simple encryption for occasional use on public Wi-Fi (like at a coffee shop or airport).

WHO IT’S NOT FOR:
Anyone looking for a primary VPN for streaming movies, securely downloading files, online gaming, or anyone who has serious privacy concerns.

As you can see from my ratings, the low score for “Trust & Transparency” is a major red flag that we’ll dive into later. For now, just know that while it might be a “good enough” freebie if it’s already included in your antivirus plan, you should absolutely not purchase it on its own.

2. What is TotalVPN? Understanding its place in the totalav ecosystem

To properly review this service, it’s crucial to understand that TotalVPN is not primarily sold as a standalone product. Instead, it is the VPN component – often called the TotalAV VPN – built into the company’s flagship “Total Security” software suite.

I see this strategy all the time in the cybersecurity world. It’s like buying a fast-food combo meal. You’re there for the main burger (the antivirus), but the bundle comes with fries and a drink (the VPN and other tools). The fries might be okay, but the restaurant’s reputation is built on the burger. This is TotalVPN’s role in the TotalAV ecosystem.

2.1. The VPN as a primary upsell tool

The main business purpose of TotalVPN appears to be as a powerful upsell tool. Here’s how it typically works: You see a basic antivirus plan advertised for a low price. But right next to it, for “just a few dollars more,” is a premium plan that includes the antivirus plus a VPN, a password manager, and an ad blocker.

Suddenly, that more expensive plan looks like an incredible value proposition. This is how many users, who were initially just looking for antivirus protection, end up paying for a full suite of tools. From my experience analyzing the industry, this is one of the most effective strategies to increase the average order value. The goal isn’t necessarily to create the best VPN – it’s to create the most compelling upgrade path.

2.2. The appeal of the “all-in-one” promise

So, why do we as consumers find these bundles so attractive? The answer is simple: They promise simplicity and perceived value.

In our busy lives, the idea of getting a full security suite with one click and one payment is incredibly appealing. It eliminates “decision fatigue” – the stress of having to research, compare, and manage multiple subscriptions. We feel like we’re getting a great bargain and saving ourselves a lot of hassle.

But here’s the trade-off I’ve seen time and time again: This convenience often comes at a price – quality. The company pours its best resources, engineers, and support into its main product. The add-ons, like this VPN, often receive far less attention. They just have to be “good enough” to be a selling point. Our job now is to find out if “good enough” is actually good enough for you.

3. Trust and transparency: Addressing the “scam” accusations

A VPN isn’t just a piece of software – it’s a service you entrust with your most sensitive data. That’s why the company’s reputation and business practices are just as important as its server speeds. After digging into TotalVPN and its parent company, I found several issues that give me serious pause.

3.1. The protected.net group and user complaints

We cannot ignore the significant volume of user complaints on platforms like Reddit and Trustpilot. Reading through them, a clear pattern emerges. Users frequently report aggressive upselling tactics, confusing auto-renewal policies, and extreme difficulty when trying to cancel TotalVPN or TotalAV subscriptions.

This reminds me of those gym memberships that are incredibly easy to sign up for online, but require you to show up in person on a Tuesday between 2 and 4 PM to cancel. It feels designed to be frustrating. These complaints are often directed at the parent company, Protected.net Group Limited, which operates a whole ecosystem of similar products.

As a reviewer, this is a major red flag. While the VPN product itself may function, these business practices cast a dark shadow over the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction and transparency. A trustworthy company makes it just as easy to leave as it is to join.

3.2. Our take on its privacy policy

So, is TotalVPN safe from a technical standpoint? The company claims to have a “no-logs policy“, meaning it doesn’t store records of your online activity. This is the absolute minimum requirement for any VPN worth considering.

However, there’s a huge catch: This policy has never been independently audited by a reputable third party.

In the VPN world, an unaudited claim is just a marketing promise, not verified proof. Think of it this way: You wouldn’t buy a house based solely on the seller’s promise that the foundation is solid. You’d hire a professional inspector to verify it. In my years of reviewing VPNs, I’ve learned to treat unaudited policies with extreme skepticism. The industry leaders (like NordVPN and ExpressVPN) regularly hire top auditing firms like PwC or Deloitte to tear apart their systems and publicly prove their claims.

Without this independent verification, we have to take TotalVPN’s word for it. And given the other transparency concerns, that’s a risk I’m not comfortable recommending.

4. Hands-on testing: How TotalVPN performs in the real world

Marketing promises are one thing, but the real test is how a VPN performs on the open road. To give you the facts, I put TotalVPN through a series of real-world tests on my home network, focusing on the three things that matter most: speed, security, and its ability to unblock content.

4.1. Speed tests: Basic protection, not a performance leader

Every VPN will slow down your internet connection to some degree. That’s the price of encryption. Think of it like taking a more secure, scenic detour instead of the main highway – it’s safer, but it adds time to your journey. A great VPN makes this detour so efficient that you barely notice it. A poor one feels like a traffic jam.

To measure this, I first tested my baseline speed without a VPN, which was a stable 100 Mbps. Then, I connected to a TotalVPN server in the US and compared it to NordVPN (our performance benchmark) on the exact same server location. The results speak for themselves.

Connection Type	Download Speed (Mbps)	Speed Loss
Baseline (No VPN)	100 Mbps	0%
TotalVPN (US Server)	38 Mbps	~62% Loss
NordVPN (Same US Server)	89 Mbps	~11% Loss

4.2. Security features and leak tests

Speed is useless if the VPN is leaking your data. A data leak is when your real IP address or DNS requests accidentally bypass the VPN’s encrypted tunnel, exposing your location and activity.

To check this, I used ipleak.net while connected to TotalVPN. I am happy to report that TotalVPN passed our basic IP and DNS leak tests. The test site only saw the IP address of the VPN server in Chicago, not my actual one. This confirms it provides a fundamental layer of protection.

It also includes a Kill Switch, which is a crucial safety feature. Think of it as an emergency brake for your internet. If the VPN connection suddenly drops, the kill switch instantly blocks all internet traffic, preventing any data from leaking out. This is a standard, must-have feature, and it’s good to see it included here.

4.3. Streaming performance: A hit-or-miss experience

One of the biggest reasons people get a VPN is for streaming. Can TotalVPN Netflix access work? I connected to a US server and tried to access the American Netflix library.

The result? Immediate failure. I was greeted with the infamous “You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy” error message from Netflix. Streaming platforms are in a constant battle with VPNs, and only the top providers have the resources to consistently win. I had the exact same experience when trying to watch content on BBC iPlayer.

5. TotalVPN vs. A standalone VPN

To truly understand the gap between a bundled service and a dedicated one, let’s put TotalVPN vs NordVPN head-to-head. In my experience, this is like comparing a generic multi-tool screwdriver that comes free with flat-pack furniture to a professional-grade power drill. Both can turn a screw, but they are built for entirely different purposes, levels of performance, and reliability.

One is a convenient extra – the other is a serious tool designed to be the best at its job. The following table breaks down the crucial differences I’ve observed between TotalVPN and a market-leading standalone service like NordVPN.

Feature	TotalVPN	NordVPN (Standalone Leader)
Primary Function	Add-on for the TotalAV suite	Dedicated, standalone privacy tool
Speed	Basic (~60% speed loss)	Excellent (~10-15% speed loss)
Audited No-Logs Policy	No (Just a marketing claim)	Yes (Verified multiple times)
Streaming	Unreliable (Blocked by Netflix)	Excellent (Works with most services)
Advanced Features	Few (Just the essentials)	Many (Threat Protection, Onion over VPN)
Trust Signals	Low (User complaints, no audit)	High (Audited, strong reputation)

My conclusion from this comparison is simple: 
They are in completely different leagues.

The table makes it crystal clear. This isn’t just about a few missing features. It’s a fundamental difference in quality, performance, and most importantly, trustworthiness. What’s often surprising to users is that a top-tier, standalone VPN isn’t necessarily more expensive than the high-tier security bundles that include TotalVPN.

When you can get a premium, dedicated service for a similar price, choosing the limited add-on simply doesn’t make sense for anyone who is serious about their digital privacy and performance.

6. Should you use the VPN from your antivirus?

After all the tests and comparisons, you might still be wondering: “Okay, but is it good enough for me?” It’s a fair question. As a security professional, I believe the right tool always depends on the job.

So, let’s cut through the complexity. To figure out if TotalVPN is a reasonable choice for your specific situation, just ask yourself these three simple questions. Your answers will give you a clear verdict.

Ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Am I already a happy TotalAV customer, and the VPN simply came included with my plan for free?
2. Is my main goal to unblock streaming services like Netflix, or to download and share files securely (torrenting)?
3. Is having a proven, independently audited no-logs policy from a transparent company my absolute top priority for privacy?

Now, here is how to interpret your answers.

• If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 1 and ‘No’ to questions 2 and 3, then TotalVPN might be a convenient, “good enough” option for basic protection. It’s better than using nothing on public Wi-Fi.
• For everyone else, a dedicated, standalone VPN is the smarter, safer, and more effective choice. If performance, streaming, or verified privacy are important to you, you have to look beyond a bundled add-on.

7. FAQ about TotalVPN

I get a lot of specific questions about services like TotalVPN, especially when they’re bundled with other products. Here are quick, direct answers to the most common ones I’ve encountered during my research and testing.

8. Conclusion

Our TotalVPN review concludes that it should be viewed exactly for what it is: a supplementary feature of the TotalAV ecosystem, not a serious contender in the competitive VPN market. Thinking of it as the freebie in the box is the most accurate way to assess its value. It works, but you wouldn’t choose it on its own merits.

For anyone considering this service, here are the most important takeaways from our hands-on testing:

• It’s an Add-On, Not a Primary Tool: TotalVPN’s main purpose is to make the TotalAV security suite more appealing, not to be a best-in-class VPN.
• Trust is a Major Concern: Widespread user complaints about billing and the lack of an independent security audit on its no-logs policy are significant red flags.
• Performance is Lacking: With slow speeds that cut our bandwidth by over 60% and a complete failure to unblock major streaming services like Netflix, its performance is far below the industry standard.
• Only for Existing TotalAV Users: The only people who should consider using it are those who already have it included in their antivirus bundle and only need basic encryption for non-sensitive browsing on public Wi-Fi.

Do not buy TotalVPN as your primary VPN service. Your digital privacy, security, and online experience are worth more than a ‘good enough’ add-on. Here at Safelyo, we believe in empowering you with the facts to choose tools that truly protect you without compromise.

If you need a real VPN that delivers on speed, security, and trust, explore Safelyo’s definitive guide to the Best VPN services of 2025.