"No-logs" is one of the most popular phrases in the VPN industry. It sounds reassuring. It implies your activity is private.
But here's the truth: the term is used loosely, inconsistently, and sometimes dishonestly. Understanding what it actually means is one of the most important things you can do before choosing a VPN.
Activity Logs vs Connection Logs
Activity Logs — the dangerous ones
These track what you actually do while connected: the websites you visit, apps you use, files you download, searches you run, timestamps of those actions. If a VPN keeps activity logs, it knows your browsing history. A truly privacy-first VPN never collects these.
Connection Logs — still a concern
These track the mechanics of your session: when you connected, which server you used, how much bandwidth you used, your real IP address. Some VPNs keep connection logs while claiming to be "no-logs." The argument is that connection data doesn't reveal what you did — only that you connected. It's a grey area worth knowing about.
What a Truly No-Logs VPN Doesn't Store
- Browsing history — no record of which sites you visited
- Traffic content — no record of what data was transmitted
- DNS queries — no record of the domains you looked up
- IP addresses — no record of your real IP or assigned server IP
- Connection timestamps — no record of when you were online
- Session duration or bandwidth — no per-user records
How to Spot Fake No-Logs Claims
Vague or evasive language
Privacy policies full of phrases like "we may collect" or "minimal data" or "aggregated, anonymised information" should raise questions. A genuine no-logs policy is specific.
Logs buried in the terms
Some providers make a bold "no-logs" claim on the homepage — then bury exceptions in the privacy policy. Always read the policy, not just the marketing headline. Watch for: "diagnostic data," "performance data," "anonymised usage data."
No third-party audit
Any serious privacy-focused VPN should be willing to have its no-logs claims independently verified by an external security firm. Without an audit, a no-logs claim is just a marketing statement.
What Clear View VPN Does — and Doesn't — Log
We'll be direct about this, because transparency is the whole point.
Clear View VPN does not collect:
- Your browsing history or the websites you visit
- Your DNS queries
- Your real IP address linked to your session
- Connection timestamps or session duration
- Per-user bandwidth data
What we do hold:
- Your email address, to manage your account
- Payment information, handled securely by Stripe
- Aggregate, anonymised diagnostics that cannot be linked to individual users
That's it. We don't have anything to hand over — because we don't collect it in the first place.
Ready to Choose a VPN You Can Trust?
Clear View VPN is built on a simple principle: we don't collect what we don't need. 30-day money-back guarantee on every plan. Full privacy, zero complexity.