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Encrypt.me offers simple services and powerful protections for an affordable price.
Check out more recommendations from the SafeHome team:
Editor’s Note: Encrypt.me has recently been acquired by StrongVPN, and based on our research, StrongVPN is a top contender in the VPN space.
If you’re online, you have to assume people are watching you. And I’m not just talking about hackers and other bad actors — although they are a threat. Your internet service provider knows an eerie amount about your personal browsing behaviors and sells that information to the highest bidder.
That is unless, of course, you’re accessing the internet through a virtual private network. A growing number of people are using VPNs these days to protect themselves from malicious intentions and prying eyes. Some of these services are unwieldy and difficult to deploy, while others are extremely simple, nimble, and effective. Today we’re talking about Encrypt.me, one of the services that fits squarely in the latter category.
FYI: Another simple VPN option is TunnelBear. The service has a neat mobile app and their branded bear makes using it a “roaring-good time.” Learn more about it in our full TunnelBear VPN review.
While Encrypt.me VPN doesn’t offer much by way of bonus features and add-ons, it does offer powerful protections with an easy-to-use interface. But before we get down to Encrypt.me’s pricing structure, subscription plans, and overall value, let’s first take a quick look at their features.
Encrypt.me dashboard
Encrypt.me is one of the simplest VPNs I’ve ever worked with, but that simplicity can be deceiving. Don’t think that Encrypt.me’s basic nature makes it less worthy of your consideration — it still offers powerful protections where it counts. I really dig into the features and protections in my review of Encrypt.me VPN, but here’s the highlight list:
While you’re not going to see the extensive feature list of, say a ProtonVPN or a NordVPN, Encrypt.me is still going to get the job done for most folks. And one thing you don’t need to be concerned with is paying for features you don’t need.
So with that in mind, what does the Encrypt.me VPN price structure look like?
True to form, Encrypt.me pricing couldn’t be easier. Let’s start with “passes.”
Passes are just like subscriptions, but they don’t automatically renew. Encrypt.me offers three levels of passes — one for a week, one for a month, and one for a year:
Pass Duration | One Week | One Month | One Year |
---|---|---|---|
Private Endpoints | Yes | Yes | Yes |
International Servers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Free Mobile App | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cost | $3.99 | $9.99 | $99.99 |
There are no data limits on passes, and you can use as many devices on a pass as you please. Passes are great options for folks who might be traveling internationally who don’t want to sign up for a long-term plan.
Speaking of Encrypt.me’s long-term plans, next we have subscriptions. Again, no limits to the number of devices you can hook up, and no data caps, but these will renew at the end of the subscription duration. Here’s the breakdown:
Subscription Duration | One Month | One Year |
---|---|---|
Private Endpoints | Yes | Yes |
International Servers | Yes | Yes |
Free Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
Cost | $9.99 | $99.99 |
And finally, Encrypt.me also offers family plans that cover all of the devices for up to five people. Again, these subscriptions are either month-to-month or annually.
Duration | One Month | One Year |
---|---|---|
Price | $12.99 | $149.99 |
As you can see — there are a lot of options available, and they are all pretty affordable. If these numbers are making you flinch a little, though, maybe check out VyprVPN’s pricing. They’re one of the most affordable brands on the market today.
And you know we’re not just going to leave it there. Let’s talk about a few more ways to save on Encrypt.me.
Right off the bat, we have to talk about the Encrypt.me VPN trial period. Unlike what we saw with ExpressVPN’s plans and pricing, whose 30-day trial period requires a purchase, Encrypt.me is free to try for up to two weeks. That’s a pretty bold move on the company’s part; this means they’re confident enough in their service that after using it, you’re going to want to plunk down your credit card and sign up for the long haul.
Encrypt.me’s server options.
That said, there are other opportunities to save with Encrypt.me as well. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are always great times to purchase software, and it’s no different with VPNs.2 In the past, we’ve seen Encrypt.me go on sale for up to 40 percent off, as well as offer a three-year subscription term at a deep discount.
Holidays are also a great time to go shopping for a VPN. Christmas deals are extremely common, and other major holidays will usually bring savings with them, too.
This is a common question, but one that is a little difficult to answer. The starting point is to identify what you’re looking for and for how long you wish to remain protected. Luckily, Encrypt.me offers so many options that you’re likely to find something that fits your digital security needs and your budget.
If you’re going on a business trip to China and want to make sure no one’s snooping on what you’re doing, you might consider getting a weeklong pass from Encrypt.me. If you’re concerned about your teenagers exposing sensitive data online, you might want to get an annual family plan. The point is that the Encrypt.me VPN subscription packages are flexible enough that no matter the scenario, it’s not hard to find a “best” option.
FYI: Encrypt.me also has business packages available, and they can scale their solutions to the size of your team. For instance, for 250 employees, a license is about $1,500 per month.
There’s not much more to discuss regarding Encrypt.me’s pricing and service plans. However, before we discuss whether or not I think the service is worth the cost, let’s talk about my favorite aspect of Encrypt.me VPN.
There are very few frills with Encrypt.me. Aside from an integrated kill switch and the ability to shuffle between TCP and UDP OpenVPN protocols, there’s not much else there. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take some time to talk about their app.
Encrypt.me Mobile App
Encrypt.me is nothing but direct. They explicitly say they are a service designed specifically for securing devices connected to unsecured networks, and that prioritization is clearly present in their mobile app. It’s beautifully designed, and almost elegant in its simplicity. Out of all the apps I’ve tested, this is definitely in my top 10.
FYI: Encrypt.me will work on both Mac and Windows computers, Android and iOS devices as well as Amazon Fire Sticks.
So with all this in mind, what’s the final word? Is Encrypt.me worth it?
Despite its very simple approach, Encrypt.me is definitely worth the money, regardless of whether you pick a month-to-month or an annual subscription plan.
That said, it’s not the right service for everyone. Privacy hawks won’t like their logging policy or the fact that they are headquartered in the U.S., obligating them to cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to share data. Again — we appreciate that Encrypt.me is up front with this information and doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a VPN that’s a little more privacy-minded, check out my review of ProtonVPN. Proton is headquartered in Switzerland, and their no-long policy coupled with their state-of-the-art server technology makes this an ultra-secure VPN option.
At the end of the day Encrypt.me is going to satisfy most folks who use it. Now, if you’re a professional who really requires online anonymity or an activist whose safety depends on privacy, you might want to look elsewhere. But for the average person looking to protect themselves online, Encrypt.me could be the right call.
Although the service is a little bare-bones, Encrypt.me is still worth the affordable monthly or annual costs.
Yes, in my test of Encrypt.me, there was nothing to indicate it had critical vulnerabilities.
Although their logging policy can store data up to 16 days, Encrypt.me is
up front about their privacy and standards.
Encrypt.me’s server network is on the small side, and their speeds do suffer slightly.
Any Encrypt.me subscription package will secure an unlimited number of devices.
Ray, Goddy, (2020, Nov 27). Your master guide to VPN usage statistics. Surfshark.
https://surfshark.com/blog/vpn-users
Friedman, Noah. (2020, Nov 25). The true story behind the name ‘Black Friday'. Business Insider.
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-is-it-called-black-friday-2017-11