What Is PlanckVPN? A New Independent VPN — Promises and Gaps (2026)

Editorial note: This is a news/analysis piece. PlanckVPN is not in our Top 10 VPNs list. We have not run independent speed, streaming or leak tests and we are not assigning a score. The goal is to explain what this new independent VPN claims in 2026 — and which evidence is still missing against our methodology.

PlanckVPN launched in 2026 as a WireGuard-based iOS VPN marketed as independent and zero-log. It documents competitor ownership (Kape Technologies, Nord Security) from public sources, openly funds its free tier with ads, and lists what a VPN cannot do — all of which is editorially interesting.

Is it truly independent? Is it relevant for everyday users? Where does it stand against our criteria?

What PlanckVPN offers (on paper)

From the provider's site and App Store listing:

Area	PlanckVPN claim
Founded	2026, Virginia (USA)
Legal entity	Everly Hill LLC
Platforms	iOS only (Android "soon")
Protocol	WireGuard
Servers	~60 servers, "multiple countries" (no public country list)
Free tier	Yes — Google AdMob ads, no time cap
Premium	$2.49/mo (annual), $4.99/mo (monthly)
Affiliate programme	None visible

App modes include "Maximum Security" (network-level threat blocking), "Ad Block" and standard VPN routing. Premium removes ads and unlocks all server locations.

The independence pitch

PlanckVPN's core story is consolidation: large VPN brands bought by data companies or holding structures. The site explains Kape and Nord Security mergers with cited public records, and references events such as ExpressVPN and Project Raven — without alleging wrongdoing, but arguing that ownership context matters in high-risk environments.

That aligns with ownership transparency, which VPN Advisor also cares about. The difference: we already list options such as Mullvad with no affiliate tie and years of evidence. PlanckVPN has not reached that evidence level yet.

Founder and company: The about page features Kuzzat Altay (Virginia, USA). The App Store developer is Everly Hill LLC. "No investors, no parent company" is stated — we have not independently verified corporate filings; readers can check Virginia business records themselves.

Privacy policy: zero-log marketing vs legal text

Marketing is blunt: "Zero logs. Period." The privacy policy is more nuanced:

No logging of traffic, DNS or destination IPs inside the tunnel is claimed.
Source public IP may be processed temporarily for routing; device type and OS version are mentioned as session metadata.
The free tier uses Google AdMob; an "air-gap" between the ad SDK and the VPN tunnel is claimed.

That split is common in the industry — "no tunnel logs" is not the same as "no metadata at all". Mullvad and Proton VPN back their claims with repeated third-party audits. PlanckVPN has no public independent no-log audit yet.

Terms of Service and privacy policy wording on connection timestamps may not fully align — worth scrutiny before trusting high-risk use cases.

Our methodology checklist (no score)

We applied our six criteria using public information only — no hands-on testing:

1. Privacy policy and jurisdiction

Plus: Readable policy; AdMob funding disclosed.
Minus: Virginia, USA — Five Eyes context applies. Less favourable than Panama (NordVPN) or Sweden/Mullvad for jurisdiction-sensitive users.

2. Independent audits

Minus: No public third-party no-log or security audit. Behind established picks on this axis.

3. Speed (real-world tests)

Unknown: Not tested by us. ~60 servers is a small network; no Turkey performance data.

4. Streaming compatibility

Unknown / likely weak: No streaming-first marketing; no data for Netflix, Disney+ or regional Turkish services.

5. Pricing transparency

Plus: Prices on-site are clear. Subscriptions via Apple — provider does not see payment details (per terms).

6. Ease of use

Plus (iOS): "One tap connect" — consistent simple UX promise.
Minus (broad audience): iPhone/iPad only. Android and desktop users are out of scope today.

Free tier: honest funding, open questions

PlanckVPN funds its free tier with AdMob and says so openly — a straightforward answer to how free VPNs make money.

Caveats:

Ad SDKs run at device level; we cannot verify the "air-gap" claim without independent review.
Free tier gets "core server locations" only.
As a new brand, clone/fake apps are a general risk — install only from the official App Store listing.

See our trustworthy VPN guide for free-VPN red flags.

Who might look early vs who should wait

Early interest may fit:

iOS user prioritising ownership transparency
Wants WireGuard and a simple UI
Willing to accept ads on the free tier
Does not need streaming or Turkey-specific servers

Waiting makes sense for:

Android, Windows or macOS users (not available yet)
Anyone requiring audit reports — Proton VPN or Mullvad are more mature
BluTV / Exxen / diaspora streaming scenarios
High-risk journalism or activism (insufficient evidence today)

Why it is not on VPN Advisor yet

PlanckVPN is on our watchlist. A full review page (/inceleme/planckvpn) or Top 10 entry would need several of:

Android (and ideally desktop) clients
Independent no-log or security audit
Transparent server list, country map and corporate structure
VPN Advisor hands-on tests: DNS/WebRTC leaks, speed, kill switch behaviour
Meaningful user base and incident history

No affiliate programme could be a positive impartiality signal — as with Mullvad — but it is not enough alone.

Conclusion

PlanckVPN offers a clear, documented counter-narrative to VPN industry consolidation; WireGuard, a real free tier and pricing transparency are consistent claims. In mid-2026 it remains very young: no independent audit, a small network, iOS-only, US jurisdiction, and no testing from our side.

Bottom line: An interesting candidate on ownership transparency — watchlist, not a recommendation today. We will reassess after Android launch and independent audits.