Encrypt.me

absorbed
126 of 158 criteria sourced · 20 % unsourcedProvider websiteView in the matrixJSON export

vpn-matrix.com earns nothing from this entry. The link to the provider website is a source, not a recommendation.

Who owns this

Parent company

Ziff Davis

Brands in the same group

Further brands according to the source: StrongVPN, IPVanish

This group also owns review and comparison sites

Ziff Davis owns PCMag, Mashable, IGN (among others)

If the same group tests its own service, that review is not independent. That is noted here as ownership only.

Audits and incidents

Sourced facts with dates only, no judgements. Ongoing proceedings are marked as such.

Tested in court or by authorities

trust.court_tested

noneprovider claim

Security incidents and data leaks

trust.breach_history

none documentedprovider claim

No-logs audit details

trust.nolog_audit_details

No public audit identified before mergerprovider claim

App and client audits

trust.app_audits

noneprovider claim

Infrastructure and server audits

trust.infra_audit

noneprovider claim

Transparency report

trust.transparency_report

noneprovider claim

Warrant canary

trust.warrant_canary

noneprovider claim

Acquisition history / former name

company.acquisition_history

J2 Global/Ziff Davis acquired IPVanish, StrongVPN and Encrypt.me from StackPath in April 2019; Encrypt.me combining with StrongVPN and not selling new subscriptionsconfirmed

Documented misleading advertising claims

company.misleading_claims

none_knownprovider claim

Discontinuation date

company.discontinued_date

01/01/2023provider claim

User base migrated to

company.user_base_migrated_to

StrongVPNconfirmed

All criteria

Empty cells mean we lack the source.

Company and ownership

21/21 sourced

Legal company name

company.legal_name

Cloak Holdings, LLC (a Ziff Davis company)provider claim

Trademark holder, if different

company.brand_owner

StrongVPN / VIPRE ecosystem (migration)provider claim

Year founded

company.founded

2011provider claim

Headquarters (country)

company.hq_country

USprovider claim

Other relevant jurisdictions

company.jurisdictions

United States (Cloak Holdings, LLC Seattle WA; Ziff Davis New York); EU representative J2 Global Ireland Limitedconfirmed

Intelligence alliance of the home country

company.eyes_alliance

Five Eyesconfirmed

Parent group / holding

company.parent

Ziff Davisconfirmed

Beneficial owners publicly known

company.ubo_public

partly knownconfirmed

Ownership structure

company.ownership_type

publicly listedprovider claim

Leadership team publicly named

company.team_public

noprovider claim

Verifiable postal address for legal service

company.address_verifiable

yesconfirmed

Sister VPN brands in the group

company.sister_vpn_brands

StrongVPN, IPVanishconfirmed

Group owns VPN review and comparison sites

company.owns_review_sites

Ziff Davis owns PCMag, Mashable, IGN (among others)provider claim

Runs an affiliate programme

company.affiliate_program

noprovider claim

Typical commission rate

company.affiliate_commission

none — service discontinuedprovider claim

YouTube and influencer sponsoring

company.influencer_sponsoring

noneprovider claim

Documented misleading advertising claims

company.misleading_claims

none_knownprovider claim

Acquisition history / former name

company.acquisition_history

J2 Global/Ziff Davis acquired IPVanish, StrongVPN and Encrypt.me from StackPath in April 2019; Encrypt.me combining with StrongVPN and not selling new subscriptionsconfirmed

Operating status

company.status

merged into another brandconfirmed

Discontinuation date

company.discontinued_date

01/01/2023provider claim

User base migrated to

company.user_base_migrated_to

StrongVPNconfirmed

Logging and data collection

16/16 sourced

Core statement of the logging policy

logging.policy_summary

Collects personal session info: connecting IP, assigned virtual IP, source port with start/end times; retained at most 16 days then deleted. Lifetime aggregate bytes/time per account kept. Account registration: name, email, billing via Stripe. Android crash/behavior via Fabric.io and Firebase (opt-out in app).confirmed

Activity and traffic logs

logging.activity_logs

unclearconfirmed

Connection logs

logging.connection_logs

per sessionconfirmed

Storage of the real IP address

logging.source_ip_stored

storedconfirmed

Storage of the assigned VPN IP

logging.assigned_ip_stored

storedconfirmed

Precision of stored timestamps

logging.timestamps_stored

to the secondconfirmed

Recording of transferred data volume

logging.bandwidth_logged

per accountconfirmed

Enforcement of the device limit

logging.concurrent_conn_enforcement

Trueprovider claim

Minimum account data required

logging.account_data_minimum

name, email, billing address; credit card via Stripe (Encrypt.me never sees card details)confirmed

Telemetry in the apps

logging.app_telemetry

on by defaultconfirmed

Trackers and SDKs in the Android app

logging.thirdparty_sdks_android

N/A — service migrated to StrongVPNprovider claim

Trackers in the iOS app

logging.thirdparty_sdks_ios

N/A — service migrated to StrongVPNprovider claim

Trackers and cookies on the website

logging.website_trackers

Google Analytics; DataDog; DoubleClick; LinkedIn; Twitter ads; Firebaseconfirmed

Data shared with third parties

logging.data_shared_with

Stripe (payments); analytics/ad partners listed in policy; Ziff Davis affiliatesconfirmed

Retention periods stated in the policy

logging.retention_period

Personal session info ≤16 days; account/billing while subscribed; aggregate usage indefiniteconfirmed

EU representative named under GDPR

logging.gdpr_representative

yesconfirmed

Evidence, audits and track record

16/17 sourced

Independent no-logs audit

trust.nolog_audit

noprovider claim

No-logs audit details

trust.nolog_audit_details

No public audit identified before mergerprovider claim

Audit report published

trust.audit_report_public

not publishedprovider claim

App and client audits

trust.app_audits

noneprovider claim

Infrastructure and server audits

trust.infra_audit

noneprovider claim

Audit frequency

trust.audit_cadence

never auditedprovider claim

Tested in court or by authorities

trust.court_tested

noneprovider claim

Transparency report

trust.transparency_report

noneprovider claim

Warrant canary

trust.warrant_canary

noneprovider claim

Security incidents and data leaks

trust.breach_history

none documentedprovider claim

Bug bounty programme

trust.bug_bounty

noneprovider claim

Handling of reported vulnerabilities

trust.cve_handling

unknownprovider claim

Open source clients

trust.opensource_clients

someprovider claim

Open source server side

trust.opensource_server

noprovider claim

Reproducible builds

trust.reproducible_builds

noprovider claim

Available on F-Droid

trust.fdroid_available

We have no source for this criterion.

Listings by independent bodies

trust.independent_recommendations

noneprovider claim

Protocols and cryptography

11/17 sourced

WireGuard

crypto.wireguard

noprovider claim

OpenVPN over UDP

crypto.openvpn_udp

yesprovider claim

OpenVPN over TCP

crypto.openvpn_tcp

yesprovider claim

IKEv2/IPsec

crypto.ikev2

yesprovider claim

Proprietary protocol

crypto.proprietary_protocol

noprovider claim

Legacy protocols still offered

crypto.legacy_protocols

noneprovider claim

Default data cipher

crypto.data_cipher_default

AES-256provider claim

Weakest accepted cipher

crypto.data_cipher_weakest

AES-256provider claim

Key exchange and authentication

crypto.handshake

OpenVPN/IKEv2provider claim

Perfect forward secrecy

crypto.pfs

yesprovider claim

Post-quantum key exchange

crypto.post_quantum

not availableprovider claim

Own DNS resolvers

crypto.own_dns

We have no source for this criterion.

DNS leak protection

crypto.dns_leak_protection

We have no source for this criterion.

IPv6 handling

crypto.ipv6_handling

We have no source for this criterion.

WebRTC protection or guidance

crypto.webrtc_guidance

We have no source for this criterion.

Obfuscation methods

crypto.obfuscation

We have no source for this criterion.

Usability behind the Great Firewall

crypto.works_in_china

We have no source for this criterion.

Features

16/20 sourced

Kill switch

features.killswitch

per applicationprovider claim

Permanent lockdown

features.killswitch_permanent

noprovider claim

Split tunneling

features.split_tunneling

Falseprovider claim

Multihop

features.multihop

not availableprovider claim

Tor integration (Onion over VPN)

features.tor_integration

noprovider claim

Port forwarding

features.port_forwarding

not availableprovider claim

Surcharge for a dedicated IP

features.dedicated_ip

€0.00provider claim

SOCKS5 proxy

features.socks5

noprovider claim

HTTP proxy

features.http_proxy

noprovider claim

Smart DNS

features.smart_dns

noprovider claim

Ad and tracker filtering in DNS

features.adblock_dns

not availableprovider claim

Malware and phishing filter

features.malware_filter

noprovider claim

Custom DNS servers allowed

features.custom_dns_allowed

noprovider claim

Local network access toggle

features.lan_access_toggle

noprovider claim

Auto connect rules

features.autoconnect_rules

noprovider claim

Private device network (mesh)

features.mesh_private_net

noprovider claim

GPS location override (Android)

features.gps_spoofing

We have no source for this criterion.

Traffic analysis defence

features.traffic_analysis_defense

We have no source for this criterion.

IPv6 inside the tunnel

features.ipv6_tunnel

We have no source for this criterion.

Obfuscation without configuration

features.stealth_default

We have no source for this criterion.

Servers and network

12/12 sourced

Number of servers

network.server_count

950 Serverprovider claim

Number of countries

network.country_count

35 Laenderprovider claim

Number of cities

network.city_count

0 Staedteprovider claim

Virtual locations

network.virtual_locations

no virtual locationsprovider claim

RAM-only servers (diskless)

network.ram_only

noprovider claim

Hardware ownership

network.ownership

rentedprovider claim

Own AS (autonomous system)

network.own_asn

noprovider claim

10 Gbps ports

network.10g_servers

noprovider claim

P2P and file sharing

network.p2p_servers

entire networkprovider claim

Public server list

network.server_list_public

yesprovider claim

Public status page

network.status_page

noprovider claim

Known upstream hosting providers

network.hosting_providers

not disclosedprovider claim

Apps and platforms

15/16 sourced

Windows app

apps.windows

native appprovider claim

macOS app

apps.macos

native appprovider claim

Linux app with GUI

apps.linux_gui

native appprovider claim

Linux command line

apps.linux_cli

not availableprovider claim

Android app

apps.android

native appprovider claim

iOS app

apps.ios

native appprovider claim

Android TV app

apps.androidtv

not availableprovider claim

Apple TV app

apps.appletv

not availableprovider claim

Fire TV app

apps.firetv

native appconfirmed

Browser extension

apps.browser_ext

not availableprovider claim

Type of browser extension

apps.browser_ext_type

no extensionprovider claim

Router support

apps.router_support

noprovider claim

Native build for Apple Silicon

apps.macos_arm_native

yesprovider claim

Command line documented

apps.cli_documented

noprovider claim

Simultaneous devices

apps.simultaneous_devices

Unlimited on personal plans (historical marketing)provider claim

Usable without an account

apps.no_account_needed

We have no source for this criterion.

Account, pricing and payment

13/17 sourced

Data required at signup

pricing.signup_email_required

any email addressprovider claim

Account model

pricing.account_model

email as loginprovider claim

Cash by mail

pricing.cash_by_mail

We have no source for this criterion.

Monero

pricing.monero

noprovider claim

Bitcoin

pricing.bitcoin

noprovider claim

Lightning

pricing.lightning

We have no source for this criterion.

Retail gift cards

pricing.retail_giftcards

We have no source for this criterion.

PayPal

pricing.paypal

yesprovider claim

Credit and debit card

pricing.credit_card

yesconfirmed

SEPA payment

pricing.sepa

noprovider claim

Monthly price

pricing.monthly_price

€0.00provider claim

Effective price on the longest term

pricing.effective_price_longest

€0.00provider claim

Price change at renewal

pricing.renewal_price_hike

same priceprovider claim

Flat pricing without permanent discounts

pricing.flat_pricing

yesprovider claim

Free tier and its limits

pricing.free_tier

We have no source for this criterion.

Money-back window

pricing.moneyback_days

30 Tageprovider claim

Cancellation path

pricing.cancellation_ease

cancel in accountprovider claim

Usage and performance

2/10 sourced

P2P policy in the terms of service

usage.p2p_policy

not permittedprovider claim

Streaming unblocking officially advertised

usage.streaming_officially

We have no source for this criterion.

Netflix regions reported

usage.netflix_regions_reported

We have no source for this criterion.

Other streaming services

usage.other_streaming_services

We have no source for this criterion.

Bandwidth cap

usage.bandwidth_cap

no limitprovider claim

Data cap

usage.data_cap

We have no source for this criterion.

Speed measurement references

usage.speed_references

We have no source for this criterion.

Latency and gaming suitability

usage.latency_gaming

We have no source for this criterion.

SMTP and port 25 handling

usage.smtp_policy

We have no source for this criterion.

Official support in restrictive countries

usage.restrictive_countries_support

We have no source for this criterion.

Support and documentation

2/7 sourced

24/7 live chat

support.livechat_247

noprovider claim

Email or ticket support

support.email

yesprovider claim

Telephone support

support.phone

We have no source for this criterion.

German-language support

support.german_language

We have no source for this criterion.

Documentation assessment

support.docs_quality

We have no source for this criterion.

Self-hosted chat widget

support.selfhosted_chat

We have no source for this criterion.

Self-service account deletion

support.account_deletion_easy

We have no source for this criterion.

Provider website hygiene

2/5 sourced

SSL Labs grade of the website

site.ssl_grade

A+confirmed

Tracker load of the website

site.cookie_privacy_impact

We have no source for this criterion.

URL of the warrant canary

site.canary_page

We have no source for this criterion.

Length and readability of the legal documents

site.tos_readability

moderateprovider claim

Marketing claims contradicting the provider's own terms

site.claims_vs_reality

We have no source for this criterion.

Something wrong here?

If a value is wrong or outdated, report it with evidence. Every change is reviewed and then appears publicly in the changelog.