PrivadoVPN brings SmartRoute multi-hop to iPhone and iPad

PrivadoVPN has added its SmartRoute multi-hop feature to iPhone and iPad in its latest iOS update. The feature sends data through two VPN servers instead of one. Android users have had SmartRoute since version 4.1.13, released in the summer.

SmartRoute first connects a device to an entry server, then relays encrypted traffic to a second server that acts as the exit point. Websites and online services see the exit server’s location and IP address. Users choose the exit country, while PrivadoVPN selects the entry server automatically based on network performance.

The feature offers the same options on iOS and Android. “All Traffic” routes data from every app through both servers. “Web Traffic” sends only browser traffic through the two-server route, while other apps use a standard single-server VPN connection. Users can also choose the exit country and set SmartRoute as the default across devices or start a one-off session.

PrivadoVPN says a regular single-server connection is usually better when speed and low latency matter, because the extra hop adds a routing step. In its review, TechRadar reported noticeably higher latency than most rivals and said PrivadoVPN’s mobile apps lagged behind its desktop clients. The publication also noted that the service’s no-logs policy had not been independently audited.