Categories
Best VPNs

Best VPNs for School in 2023

Network administrators frequently restrict access to social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as well as streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO in schools. The concept of torrenting on school wi-fi networks is mostly just a daft idea for students.

However, you can get around these limitations in the simplest way possible – by using the best VPN for school. VPNs make it seem like you’re using the internet from a different location. This way, you can access websites that your school restricts quite easily.

But, which VPN should you opt for? ExpressVPN is the best school VPN. It includes good security measures, such as a kill switch. Additionally, it is simple to use, has fast connections, and offers limitless bandwidth.

Want to detailed guide to our best VPN services? Let’s go!

Best VPNs for School; Quick Overview

  1. ExpressVPN – Best premium VPN. Bypasses geo-restrictions like a breeze with its speedy servers.
  2. Surfshark – Affordable School VPN. Offers fast speeds, excellent unblocking capability, and unlimited device connections at a price of only [Surfshark-without-discount url=”https://bestvpncomparisons.com/go/surfshark-bvcomparison/”].
  3. NordVPN – Secure VPN for School. Doesn’t log user data and secures online activities through obfuscation technology and AES 256-bit encryption.
  4. CyberGhost – Easy-to-Use VPN for School. Optimized servers for bypassing school wi-fi restrictions for streaming, gaming, and torrenting purposes.
  5. IPVanish – Great VPN app and Price. Reliable service with good security and speeds at an affordable price.

The Best VPNs for School – Full Disclosure

You will find the best VPN for school wi-fi mentioned below after being tested on multiple factors, such as unblocking, speeds, logging, and device compatibility. Without further ado, let’s get into the list!

1. ExpressVPN – Best premium VPN

expressvpn

ExpressVPN is a premium option for school. It has more than 160 server locations spread across 94 countries. Using these locations, this VPN can be an excellent option to access geo-blocked websites.

ExpressVPN can help you speed up your school network similarly to Surfshark. Thanks to Express’s unlimited bandwidth, you may stream as often as you choose without limitations.

The USP of ExpressVPN is its RAM-only servers, which can bypass even the trickiest censorship and blockades. This means that you can unblock Khan’s Academy, social media sites, and all your favorite streaming platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max easily in school.

expressvpn-works-with-netflix

ExpressVPN by default employs the OpenVPN encryption option with 256-bit AES-CBC. Both perfect forward secrecy and HMAC authentication are supported. Additionally, if the connection drops, an internet kill switch briefly halts online traffic.

expressvpn-kill-switch

ExpressVPN offers simultaneous use on 5 devices. Additionally, you get a wide range of native browser extensions, mobile and desktop apps with this VPN.

If you don’t have a tight budget and want to use a VPN in school, we’d suggest ExpressVPN. Due to its fast connections, it justifies being the most costly VPN on this list.

You can get ExpressVPN at a cost of only [ExpressVPN-without-discount url=”https://bestvpncomparisons.com/go/expressvpn-bvcomparison/”] along with a 30-day money-back guarantee. For a much more detailed analysis, go through our ExpressVPN review.

2. Surfshark – Affordable School VPN

surfshark vpn

Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN that can handle all your school network problems. It can boost connection speed in addition to unblocking websites on your school’s Wi-Fi.

With Surfshark, you can get rid of all throttling and take advantage of your network’s natural speed. In one of our testing, Surfshark significantly increased the network speed by 20%.

For those wishing to view content from Hulu, Netflix, or BBC iPlayer during school breaks, Surfshark is a great option as it offers 3200+ servers in 95 countries.

unblock-bbc-iplayer-with-surfshark

As for security, it also adheres to the AES-256 encryption standard, which we enjoy. With these standards, nobody know what you are accessing online, not even the IT specialist at your school.

Moreover, it has a NoBorders Mode, which is a one-click answer to your unblocking needs, and the MultiHop capability offers multi-encryption.

surfshark-multihop-servers

You can connect as many devices as you’d like with Surfshark. It provides user-friendly software for Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and macOS.

When tested, Surfshark worked flawlessly on every mobile and desktop device. However, the consumer journey on mobile was much better.

As one of the most affordable VPNs available, Surfshark is a fantastic option for students. You can get Surfshark at a price of only [Surfshark-without-discount url=”https://bestvpncomparisons.com/go/surfshark-bvcomparison/”] if you don’t want to blow your entire allowance.

This VPN further offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try the best VPN for school free for a month. For a much more detailed analysis, go through our Surfshark review.

3. NordVPN – Secure VPN for School

nordvpn

NordVPN is a secure VPN for school. It bypass the network firewalls of your school all while keeping you safe and unidentified.

With NordVPN, you get excellent speeds, just like the VPNs above. We were able to enjoy HD streaming to high-bandwidth downloads without seeing any noticeable lag.

More than 5,500 servers spread throughout around 60 countries make up its network. You can unblock the research websites of institutions in other countries, along with streaming services like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, CraveTV and Netflix by using this VPN.

nordvpn-unblocked-hbo-maxAs for security, NordVPN provides a Kill Switch, Double VPN, military-grade encryption, and obfuscation to keep you safe from any attacks on your school Wi-Fi network.

nordvpn-kill-switch

You may connect up to 6 devices at once, so no matter what device you use for school, NordVPN will be compatible. It works on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows desktops.

Priced at [NordVPN-without-discount url=”https://bestvpncomparisons.com/go/nordvpn-bvcomparison/”], you can say good-bye to network congestion and site blockages of all kinds on your campus with a NordVPN membership. For a much more detailed analysis, go through our NordVPN review.

4. CyberGhost – Easy-to-Use VPN for School

cyberghost

CyberGhost is a user-friendly option for all beginner VPN users at school. Even though the UI initially requires some getting used to, CyberGhost is simple to use.

CyberGhost offers specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, so users can get fast speeds while performing any of their favorite activities.

It includes over 7700 in 90 countries. That’s around half of the planet. Furthermore, this VPN can unblock any website or streaming platform you like. These include Hulu, BBC iPlayer, fuboTV, Sky Sports, and Netflix.

unblock-netflix-with-cyberghost

CyberGhost employs the 256-bit AES encryption and has excellent security. You also get a kill switch that is always on to keep you safe. Additionally, the VPN doesn’t record your activity.

cyberghost-no-logs

The VPN works with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and you may connect up to seven devices simultaneously if you have more than one.

Only CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee among all VPN services. This way, you can use this best VPN for school wi-fi free for over a month.

It comes at a price of $2.29/month, which is quite good. While the price is very similar to Surfshark, you might want to check which is the better option through our CyberGhost vs Surfshark comparison.

5. IPVanish – Great VPN app and Price

ipvanish

IPVanish is an all-rounder reliable option for school. It offers more than 2,000 servers across 75+ locations.

For students, this is the best option because to its speed and smooth communication. The drawback of IPVanish is that it occasionally fails to unblock geo-restricted content on well-known streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

However, it’s ideal for students who enjoy listening to music at school.

ipvanish-could-not-unblock-bbc-iplayer

There is zero retention of any data or web traffic records with IPVanish. Standards for encryption are equally strict. It employs DHE-RSA 2,048-bit key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. A kill switch for the internet will stop any data leaks.

ipvanish-kill-switch

It further offers the ability to connect as many devices as you like, similar to Surfshark (Compare Surfshark with IPVanish to see which is better). This means that you can download it on macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS easily.

Being the final VPN on our best VPN for school list, IPVanish is a decent choice. It costs only $3.75/month, and offers a 30-day refund policy, just like the rest.

What to Look for in a VPN for School?

While selecting the best VPN for school, make sure you choose a VPN with advanced encryption standards. Without reducing your speeds or bandwidth, a decent VPN guarantees that your connection remains private.

However, despite using a VPN, you should always exercise caution online. VPNs are powerless to stop you from visiting sketchy websites or downloading malicious software.

While ExpressVPN should be your top choice as a school VPN, if you still desire testing the VPN yourself, then here is a list of factors you should look into when choosing a VPN for school:

  1. Price: Paying for a premium VPN isn’t always necessary given the pressure of student loans. In this case, we do not recommend looking for the best free VPN for school as well. So, select a VPN that provides student plans or something similar to keep your costs low. The majority of providers do provide money-back guarantees. If you want to the fastest VPN in the industry, opt for ExpressVPN.
  2. Servers: For a school VPN, a robust and large server network is essential. You may use it to unblock any website or app on the planet. Therefore, the more servers there are and the more evenly they are distributed, the better.
  3. Unblocking: Not every VPN can get past restrictions. The best VPN for school have thousands of IP addresses, and some can even mask VPN activity as conventional web traffic. They can navigate blocks more reliably as a result.
  4. Speed: If you want to unlock your school’s Wi-Fi, high speeds is a no-brainer. When you watch episodes of your favourite show in between assignments, you don’t want to experience a low-resolution or buffering screen. So, pick a fast VPN app that provides high-speed connections and the most servers nearby.
  5. Security and Privacy: An essential component of a school VPN is security. A feature that improves security is a kill switch. If the VPN malfunctions, it will fully cut off your connection, protecting you from prying eyes and preventing your school from learning what you are up to. Also, ensure that the VPN service provider doesn’t maintain activity logs.
  6. Compatibility: It’s nice for a VPN to offer support for popular operating systems including macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. For a flawless experience at school, the software should work on every common device. The VPN should also permit multiple devices to connect at once.

Why Do You Need a VPN for School?

The security that a VPN offers is its key advantage. You don’t have to be concerned about possibly unsafe public Wi-Fi or network limits at school when your data is encrypted. Your private details will be safe even if the router security at your educational facility is subpar.

The majority of schools in the US and other countries usually impose limitations on their Wi-Fi network. Websites and applications that they believe will not support the purpose of education are blocked from being accessed.

Students are not allowed to visit those websites as a result. Sometimes the network is also subject to bandwidth restrictions to stop students from downloading excessive amounts of data. The main purpose of this is to evenly divide the available bandwidth across all Wi-Fi users in school.

To get around these restrictions imposed by the school administration, you need a VPN. With the best VPN for school on iPhone or any other device, you can increase download speeds and bypass bandwidth limitations. Your device, data, and communication are all well-protected by this excellent privacy tool.

Please note that we do not recommend using the best free VPN for school wi-fi despite a low budget, as it won’t offer any of the features above. Instead, opt for a budget-friendly VPN like Surfshark for school.

Why Do Schools & Colleges put Restrictions on Websites and Apps?

The straightforward explanation for this is to prevent students from being distracted during class. If you’re watching hilarious puppy videos or looking at Snapchat stories, you can’t claim to be entirely focused.

Despite your frustration, even well-intentioned websites get blacklisted by schools. Email servers and educational tools can also get caught in the net.

Blocks are additionally enforced to control bandwidth usage. The network wouldn’t be able to manage it if kids were continuously downloading games like PUBG, streaming videos, or consuming other forms of online entertainment.

The problem of torrenting is another aspect. It is not permitted in schools, and for good reason. Textbook PDFs are frequently shared by students, but schools must abide by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Students who are found to be breaking school rules may face punishment, but a VPN will assist you from being caught.

Wrapping it up!

While you’re at school, you can bypass network restrictions and protect yourself from online threats by using a VPN. However, if you’re a student, finding one that satisfies your demands while staying in your budget can be challenging.

This is why we recommend you the most budget-friendly option on our list – Surfshark.

Despite being affordable, Surfshark offers 3200+ servers in 95 countries, advanced security features like MultiHop, kill switch, and CleanWeb, and ability to stream, torrent, and play games in school without being caught!

We hope you liked our best VPN for school guide. Stay tuned for more!

Best VPN blogs other than School

Categories
Compare

ExpressVPN vs VyprVPN: Which VPN is the Ultimate Champion?

Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, have become an essential tool for internet users in today’s world of increasing online surveillance and hacking attempts. A VPN provides a secure connection by encrypting your online data and hiding your IP address, allowing you to browse the web privately and safely.

With numerous VPN options available in the market, choosing the right one for you can be challenging. In this article, we will compare two of the most popular VPNs in the market – ExpressVPN and VyprVPN.

This comparison aims to help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and preferences.

Key Features

ExpressVPN and VyprVPN both offer a range of features that make them appealing to VPN users. ExpressVPN has a vast network of servers in over 90 countries, providing you with a broad range of options for accessing content and websites worldwide.

ExpressVPN also offers strong encryption and security features, including a kill switch, which will cut off your internet connection if your VPN connection drops to ensure your privacy remains intact. ExpressVPN is also compatible with various platforms and devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

VyprVPN also provides a large server network, with over 700 servers in 70+ countries. VyprVPN’s proprietary Chameleon technology is designed to bypass VPN blocking and censorship, giving you more freedom to access the content you want.

VyprVPN also uses strong encryption and security features, including a kill switch and its own encrypted DNS service. VyprVPN is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and router setups.

While both VPNs offer a range of quality features, ExpressVPN comes out on top in this category. With a wider range of server locations and a more robust security system, ExpressVPN provides a higher level of quality and effectiveness in terms of key features.

Performance

Regarding performance, both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN have their strengths and weaknesses. ExpressVPN is known for its fast speeds, making it ideal for activities like streaming and gaming. ExpressVPN’s servers are optimized to provide stable and fast connections, no matter where you are located.

VyprVPN also provides fast and reliable connections with a strong focus on security and privacy. However, some users have reported slower speeds with VyprVPN, especially when compared to ExpressVPN. VyprVPN’s performance can vary depending on the region you are located in and the type of connection you use.

In this category, ExpressVPN is the clear winner. Its fast and stable connections make it the ideal choice for activities that require high-speed internets, such as streaming and gaming.

ExpressVPN vs VyprVPN Speed Test

Speed is a crucial factor when it comes to VPNs. ExpressVPN and VyprVPN are both known for their fast and stable connections, but which one performs better in a speed test comparison?

To find out, we conducted several speed tests on both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN, measuring the download and upload speeds, as well as the ping. The tests were conducted on different servers, both long-distance and short-distance, to give an accurate representation of their performance.

ExpressVPN showed impressive results in our speed tests, with download speeds ranging from 70 Mbps to 100 Mbps and upload speeds around 20 Mbps. Its ping was also low, averaging around 20ms. On the other hand, VyprVPN had download speeds ranging from 40 Mbps to 60 Mbps and upload speeds of around 10 Mbps. Its ping was slightly higher than ExpressVPN’s, averaging around 30ms.

When it comes to long-distance servers, ExpressVPN continued to outperform VyprVPN. It was able to maintain fast download and upload speeds even when connecting to servers in other continents. On the other hand, VyprVPN’s speeds showed some slight degradation when connecting to long-distance servers.

In conclusion, ExpressVPN outperforms VyprVPN in speed tests, with fast and stable connections, low ping, and minimal speed degradation on long-distance servers. If speed is a top priority for you, ExpressVPN may be the better choice.

expressvpn-vs-vyprvpn-speed-test

Geo-Unblocking Capabilities

Both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN are strong in terms of geo-unblocking capabilities, as they both offer servers in various countries around the world. ExpressVPN has a larger server network with over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, whereas VyprVPN has 700+ servers in 70+ countries. ExpressVPN has more options for users who want to access geo-restricted content from different regions, but VyprVPN also performs well in this regard.

Torrenting

Both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN allow torrenting, but ExpressVPN has a more permissive policy, as it does not log user activity and has a kill switch feature to ensure privacy when downloading. VyprVPN allows torrenting but restricts it on some servers and logs user data. In this regard, ExpressVPN is the better choice for users who value privacy and security while torrenting.

Netflix Unblocking

Both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN are strong in terms of unblocking Netflix, but ExpressVPN has the edge, as it consistently unblocks Netflix libraries from various regions and is less likely to be detected and blocked. VyprVPN also unblocks Netflix but may face occasional issues with the platform detecting and blocking the VPN.

China Unblocking

ExpressVPN and VyprVPN both offer servers in China, but ExpressVPN has a larger server network and is generally more reliable for users who want to access the internet from inside China. ExpressVPN has a stealth server feature that helps users bypass the Great Firewall of China, making it a better choice for those who need to access restricted content from within China.

Gaming

Both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN offer fast and stable connections, making them suitable for gaming. However, ExpressVPN’s larger server network and more advanced security measures give it the edge for gamers who want to avoid lag and protect their online privacy.

Security

Security is one of the primary concerns for VPN users, and both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN take this very seriously. ExpressVPN uses military-grade encryption to protect your online data, and its no-logs policy ensures that your privacy remains intact. ExpressVPN also offers a range of security protocols, including OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2, to provide you with a secure connection at all times.

VyprVPN also provides strong security features, focusing on bypassing VPN blocking and censorship. VyprVPN’s proprietary Chameleon technology is designed to encrypt your online data and protect your privacy, even in countries with strict internet censorship. VyprVPN uses 256-bit encryption and a range of security protocols, including OpenVPN and IKEv2.

In terms of security, both VPNs offer high-quality measures to protect your online privacy.

Logging Policy

Both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN are committed to user privacy, but ExpressVPN has a more permissive logging policy, as it does not log user data or activity. VyprVPN logs some user data but states that it is only used for troubleshooting and improving the service. In this regard, ExpressVPN is the better choice for users who value privacy and want a VPN that does not log their data.

ExpressVPN vs VyprVPN DNS Leak Test

DNS leak tests are an important aspect of evaluating a VPN’s security and privacy protection. A DNS leak occurs when a user’s internet activity is routed through their ISP’s DNS server instead of the VPN’s DNS server, potentially exposing their online activities.

In this section, we will perform a DNS leak test for both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN to see if there are any DNS leaks. We will also compare the results and evaluate the effectiveness of each VPN’s measures to prevent DNS leaks.

ExpressVPN and VyprVPN both have strong security measures in place to prevent DNS leaks. During our tests, we found that both VPNs provided robust protection against DNS leaks. ExpressVPN uses its own proprietary DNS servers to ensure that all user activity is protected, while VyprVPN uses encrypted servers to protect against DNS leaks.

Overall, both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN offer solid protection against DNS leaks, so users can feel confident that their online activities are protected. However, ExpressVPN is the winner in this category due to its proprietary DNS servers and its ability to provide consistent and reliable protection against DNS leaks.

expressvpn-vs-vyprvpn-leak-test

Pricing

ExpressVPN offers three pricing plans: a monthly plan for $12.95, a 6-month plan for $9.99 per month, and a 1-year plan for $8.32 per month. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for all of their plans. On the other hand, VyprVPN offers three pricing plans as well: a monthly plan for $12.95, an annual plan for $5.00 per month, and a 2-year plan for $3.75 per month. VyprVPN also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

When it comes to pricing, VyprVPN is certainly more cost-effective with its annual and 2-year plans. However, in terms of features, ExpressVPN provides more value for money. ExpressVPN offers unlimited bandwidth, a kill switch, and split tunneling, which is not available in VyprVPN’s pricing plans. In addition, ExpressVPN also offers five simultaneous connections, while VyprVPN only allows for three.

Refund Policy

ExpressVPN and VyprVPN both offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, ExpressVPN’s refund policy is more straightforward, as users can request a refund anytime within the first 30 days without any questions asked. On the other hand, VyprVPN’s refund policy states that users must first contact customer support and may need to provide a reason for the refund request.

User Base

ExpressVPN has a larger user base than VyprVPN, as it is a more established and well-known VPN service with a long history and a wider range of features. ExpressVPN has over 30 million users worldwide, whereas VyprVPN has a smaller user base.

Ease of Use

ExpressVPN has a user-friendly interface and a simple setup process. The installation process is straightforward and quick, and the user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. ExpressVPN also offers a variety of tutorials and support resources to help users get started.

VyprVPN, on the other hand, has a more complex setup process, and the user interface can be a bit cluttered. However, they offer various tutorials and support resources and a live chat support option to help users get started.

In terms of ease of use, ExpressVPN is the clear winner. Their user-friendly interface and simple setup process make it a great option for VPN beginners.

expressvpn-vs-vyprvpn-use-interface

Customer Service

Both ExpressVPN and VyprVPN offer excellent customer support, with 24/7 live chat and email support. ExpressVPN also offers a comprehensive knowledge base and a troubleshooting section on its website. VyprVPN offers a user forum where users can ask questions and exchange information with each other.

In terms of responsiveness and helpfulness, ExpressVPN’s customer service has a slight edge, as it is known for providing quick and knowledgeable support.

expressvpn-vs-vyprvpn-live-chat

FAQs – ExpressVPN vs VyprVPN

Is VyprVPN better than ExpressVPN?

The comparison in the blog post determined that ExpressVPN had advantages over VyprVPN in several key areas, such as server locations, speed and stability, security measures, privacy protection, and ease of use.

Is VyprVPN a good VPN?

VyprVPN offers a range of features and security protocols that can make it a suitable option for some users. However, according to the comparison in the blog post, ExpressVPN came out ahead in several categories, such as server locations, speed and stability, security measures, privacy protection, and ease of use.

Which VPN is better than ExpressVPN?

The choice of a VPN ultimately depends on individual needs and preferences. That being said, the comparison in the blog post found ExpressVPN to have advantages over VyprVPN in several crucial areas, including server locations, speed and stability, security measures, privacy protection, and ease of use.

Is ExpressVPN really the best?

The best VPN for individuals will depend on their specific needs and preferences. However, the comparison in the blog post revealed that ExpressVPN had several key advantages over VyprVPN in areas like server locations, speed and stability, security measures, privacy protection, and ease of use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ExpressVPN is the clear winner in this comparison between ExpressVPN and VyprVPN. ExpressVPN offers a wider range of server locations, faster and more stable connections, stronger security measures, and better privacy protection.

ExpressVPN’s user-friendly interface, simple setup process, and value for money make it a great option for VPN users.

If you are looking for a VPN that provides fast, secure, and reliable connections, ExpressVPN is the way to go. Whether you are streaming, downloading, or simply browsing the web, ExpressVPN will provide you with the privacy and security you need to stay protected online.

Read more Comparisons!

Categories
Reviews

Surfshark Review 2023 – Best Affordable VPN

Surfshark is a new, up-and-coming VPN provider that has been making a big splash in the industry.

The service has a lot of great features, and it is very easy to use. Surfshark is perfect for those who want to keep their data safe and secure online.

Here are three reasons why you should buy this VPN as per our Surfshark review 2023:

  1. Surfshark is affordable.
  2. Surfshark has a great selection of features.
  3. Surfshark is reliable and trustworthy.

Overall, Surfshark is a great choice for those who are looking for a reliable and affordable VPN service. If you’re considering buying Surfshark, don’t hesitate – it’s definitely worth it.

This was our verdict. But we at Best VPN Comparison got deep into the nitty-gritties to find out how every feature of this VPN actually works. So, if you want to read a more detailed Surfshark VPN review, make sure to stick around all the way to the end.

Surfshark pros and cons

Surfshark is a top-rated VPN service that has been praised for its user-friendly interface and strong security features. However, Surfshark is not without its faults. Here are the pros and cons of Surfshark:

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Strong security features
  • Excellent customer support

Cons:

  • Expensive compared to other VPNs
  • A limited number of servers

Overall, Surfshark is a great VPN service with some excellent features. However, it offers a limited number of servers compared to NordVPN and CyberGhost.

Can Surfshark unblock streaming services?

In our review of Surfshark, the first thing we tested were its unblocking capabilities.

Surfshark is one of the most popular VPNs on the market and has a strong reputation for being able to unblock streaming services. In this Surfshark review, we’ll take a look at how well it actually performs in this area.

First of all, Surfshark is great for streaming Netflix. It can unblock the U.S. version of Netflix as well as other regional versions, so you can watch your favorite shows and movies no matter where you are in the world.

unblock-netflix-with-surfshark

Surfshark is also good for streaming Hulu and BBC iPlayer. It can unblock both of these services even when they are blocked by other VPNs. Surfshark also has a large number of servers located in the U.S., which makes it a great option for streaming American content.

Overall, Surfshark is an excellent VPN for unblocking streaming services. It has a strong reputation for being able to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. If you’re looking for a VPN that can unblock streaming services, Surfshark is definitely worth considering.

Unblocking Netflix with Surfshark

We conducted a detailed Surfshark Netflix review to see how this VPN works with the streaming service. Netflix is one of the most popular streaming platforms in the world. However, not every country has access to all of its content. If you’re traveling or living abroad, you may find that you can’t watch your favorite shows and movies on Netflix.

This is where Surfshark comes in. Surfshark is a VPN service that allows you to unblock Netflix and other streaming platforms from anywhere in the world. Surfshark is one of the only VPNs that can still unblock Netflix, making it a great choice for anyone looking to stream content from overseas.

unblock-netflix-uk-with-surfshark

With 3200+ servers in 65 countries, Surfshark can help you unblock at least 14 Netflix libraries at super-fast speeds based on our testing.

We were able to stream without buffering because the speeds were fast enough. Even when the server was on the other side of the planet, we never had to wait more than a few seconds for a show or movie to load.

On Netflix France, the only time we saw severe buffering was when we tried to fast forward a long time. Even yet, there were no issues when we watched the show normally rather than skipping forward.

In most cases, the resolution was equally excellent. We only experience buffering issues with Netflix France. However, the quality decrease was not great enough to render it unwatchable.

Unblocking Amazon Prime Video with Surfshark

Surfshark is ideal for accessing popular streaming services like Amazon Prime since it uses robust encryption technology, as well as a GPS spoofing capability and DNS and IP leak protection.

It also works with a variety of platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Firestick, and Smart TVs. This means you can use Surfshark to access Amazon Prime content on these devices.

When we tested it out, we were able to stream a bunch of shows on Amazon Prime without any buffering issues. As for speeds, Surfshark by far offers the fastest speeds we have ever witnessed.

unblock-amazon-prime-with-surfshark

Surfshark also has a Trust DNS function that works in conjunction with the rest of its server network to make switching DNS services easier. Smart DNS, as we all know, is a technology that allows you to unblock geo-restricted websites and services by leveraging your DNS.

For testing purposes, we tried streaming a new show on Amazon Prime Video called “Reacher”. As soon as we clicked on the title, it started playing right away in HD quality.

Does Surfshark unblock other streaming platforms?

Yes, Surfshark unblocks other streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime.

unblock-bbc-iplayer-with-surfshark

However, please be advised that not all streaming platforms are available in all regions. For example, Hulu is only available in the United States. Additionally, some streaming platforms may block Surfshark VPN.

If you experience any issues while trying to unblock a particular streaming platform, please contact Surfshark’s customer support for assistance.

As per our testing, it unblocked every streaming service that we tested it with without any issues. Word of advice, if you can’t unblock any streaming service with Surfshark, just get in touch with Surfshark’s live chat support team and ask for a recommended server.

Is Surfshark good for torrenting & P2P?

Torrenting and P2P file-sharing can be a great way to get your hands on new content, but it can also be quite risky. Your IP address is exposed when downloading files, making you vulnerable to copyright trolls and other threats. A VPN can help protect your privacy by encrypting all of your traffic and hiding your true location.

So, does Surfshark offer good protection for torrenting and P2P?

In short, yes. Surfshark has a strict no-logs policy in place, meaning that your data is never stored or monitored. The company also has a range of features specifically designed to protect your privacy when torrenting, including an automatic kill switch and leak protection.

To test it out extensively, we used Surfshark with a bunch of BitTorrent clients like uTorrent and qBittorrent and found it to offer exceptionally fast speeds. We also didn’t notice any throttling issues when downloading large files for top torrent sites like The Pirate Bay and RARBG.

We did a few tests to check how quick torrenting using Surfshark is. We connected to a Singapore server using the WireGuard protocol. The torrent client we used was uTorrent since it’s the most popular.

surfshark-wireguard-protocol

Without Surfshark, our internet speed was 50 MB/s. We were able to get around 350-380 Mbps using uTorrent. It took us roughly 15-20 minutes on average to download two 20 GB files. Our uTorrent speeds plummeted to roughly 100-120 Mbps when we connected to Surfshark’s Singapore server. The estimated download time also bumped up to an hour or so.

While it may seem as if Surfshark is slow, it is not. Keep in mind that P2P downloading takes a toll on your connection speeds anyway. Pairing it with a VPN is bound to slow down your speeds even more.

Overall, Surfshark is an excellent provider for torrenting and P2P file sharing. The company’s strong security features, combined with its no-logs policy, make it a great choice for protecting your privacy online.

Plans and pricing

Surfshark offers three pricing plans: a monthly plan, an annual plan, and a bi-annual plan. The monthly plan costs $12.95 per month, the annual plan costs $3.99 per month (or 59.76 annually), and the bi-annual plan costs $2.30 per month (or 59.76 billed annually after 26 months). Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its plans, so you can try it out risk-free.

Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPN providers on the market, and it offers some of the best features available. If you’re looking for a quality VPN at an affordable price, Surfshark is definitely worth considering.

Surfshark Server Coverage

VPNs are a great way to stay safe and secure when browsing the internet, and Surfshark is one of the best VPN providers out there. But what many people don’t know is that Surfshark also has excellent server coverage, which means you can access geo-blocked content no matter where you are in the world.

Surfshark has over 3200 servers in 65 countries, so you can always find a VPN server that’s close to you. All of its servers are RAM based, do store any data, and are wiped occasionally. Their server network supports Wireguard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols.

surfshark-server-network

As for server location, their servers are strategically placed all over Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

This is great for streaming content, as it means you’ll get less lag and better speeds. And if you’re traveling or living abroad, Surfshark will let you access your favorite websites and streaming services, no matter where in the world they are.

So if you’re looking for a VPN with great server coverage, Surfshark is definitely a provider worth considering.

Does Surfshark VPN work in & for China?

Surfshark is one of the few VPNs that still work in China. The Surfshark VPN server is specifically optimized for use in China, so you can be sure that your VPN connection will be fast and stable. What we figured in our Surfshark China review is that you can unblock websites and apps like Facebook, Google, YouTube, and more.

How fast is Surfshark VPN?

Surfshark VPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, and it offers servers in 65 countries. In our Surfshark speed testing using speedtest.net, we got some pretty amazing results.

We had no problems with daily use, and we were able to stream HD videos, browse the web, and download heavy files without any problems.

We conducted speed tests on a variety of Surfshark servers. Here are the speeds we received when tested on our 100 Mbps connection:

Server Location Download Speed Upload Speed
Australia 83.28 Mbps 79.24 Mbps
Canada 80.21 Mbps 76.45 Mbps
United Kingdom 85.72 Mbps 71 Mbps
India 79.23 Mbps 74.51 Mbps
United States 84.95 Mbps 70.23 Mbps

As you can see, the speeds are simply fantastic. Surfshark maintained over 80 percent of your actual download speed on average in these five regions.

Surfshark’s performance with other protocols

The total VPN performance is highly dependent on the protocol you pick — here are the average download and upload speeds of Surfshark for various protocols, based on 10 different locations around the world:

By far the best performance came from WireGuard. The smallest decrease was merely 6% in some European countries that provided the fastest servers. So, if you choose a nearby location, it’s almost pointless to switch off your VPN for performance reasons.

Also, the largest download was just 23%. It happened when connecting to Argentina as well, indicating that distance is an issue.

Surfshark’s second fastest option is IKEv2. During our tests, the fastest download speed was 18 percent in adjacent European countries, while the slowest download speed was 45 percent when connecting to an Australian server.

The speed of OpenVPN is mostly determined by whether you use UDP or TCP. The largest reduction on TCP was a whopping 98 percent, while the smallest was only 49 percent. The largest download speed loss using UDP was 64 percent, while the smallest was 54 percent.

Interface and ease of use

Devices Interface and experience
macOS There are two versions of the software, each with limited features
Mobile Efficient applications for Android and iOS
Linux There isn’t a visual interface, only through terminal
Browser Equips browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, along with a cookie blocker
Windows Offers the complete Surfshark experience

These are just the basics. Let’s dive deeper into these apps and versions:

Windows

Surfshark features a modern Windows client that looks great and is easy to navigate. You can choose one of three categories from the main screen: Features, Locations, or Settings.

Each is quite self-explanatory, so even inexperienced users will have no trouble locating what they require. Even when it comes to advanced settings, it’s a no-brainer.

There is no map interface, but there are flags in the nation list and you can use the search bar, so it’s not a major flaw. Each server has a marking that shows how much load it can handle

surfshark-windows-pp-interface-showing-country-flags-as-servers

macOS

The Mac version of Surfshark is somewhat less comprehensive than the Windows version, and it lacks some functions. That, however, may vary depending on the version you downloaded.

Surfshark is available in two versions: one through Surfshark’s own website, and the other from Apple’s App Store.

Surprisingly, the version on the Surfshark website is poorer. On it, only the IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols are supported. While the app store version offers OpenVPN as well.

surfshark-mac-app-version-offers-openvpn

There are other features as well that the Mac app lacks. These include split tunneling and NoBorders.

Linux

The Surfshark app does not provide a visual interface for Linux users. Their sole choice will be terminal, that will show you a number of countries and corresponding numbers to which you can connect.

The connections will be established by putting in the numbers, which isn’t the most efficient technique, but it works.

surfshark-connected-on-linux

On the plus side, the terminal specifies which servers you can choose from. However, if you need to switch servers rapidly, this makes the whole process take more time than it should. Overall, the connectivity was reliable, and the app did not crash or disconnect in any unusual ways.

Mobile Applications

Visually, the Android and iOS applications are nearly identical. They  will adapt and display the appropriate theme if you enable system-wide dark mode.

Our Surfshark VPN Android review confirmed that GPS spoofing is available in the Android version, which is a capability that no other significant VPN offers.

There’s also support for Whitelister (split tunneling), so you’re getting desktop-grade functionalities on your phone.

iOS, on the other hand, appears to be a little more modest. The GPS spoofing and Whitelister functionalities aren’t available. It does, however, have numerous features that are seldom seen on mobile VPNs, including a kill switch and compatibility for the WireGuard protocol for improved security and speed. So, while the iOS version isn’t as stunning as the Android version, it’s still a good app.

Browser extensions

Surfshark also has Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browser extensions.

Basic features include masking your actual IP address, encrypting your connection, and unblocking geo-restricted content. However, there is a new feature that sets this extension apart from the competition.

It’s the cookie blocker, which eliminates one of the most vexing aspects of modern browsing: continuous demands to allow cookies. You may choose which sites are blocked or allowed, resulting in a far less congested browsing experience.

Surfshark features – What USPs does it offer?

Surfshark, which was first launched in 2018, has made great strides since then, and is now a full-fledged VPN that can compete with all the best VPNs. It has a variety of robust features that make this VPN stand out in the lot.

Surfshark Antivirus

The integrated antivirus feature in Surfshark is little more than a basic website blocker tool that many VPN companies offer. The feature can safeguard your device against all varieties of malware, including trojans, worms, backdoors, and other viruses. 

Surfshark AV detects and eradicates the viruses if you scan your device as you would with any other antivirus product.

However, according to our Surfshark antivirus review, this feature is currently only available on Android smartphones and Windows. It will soon be available for Mac users as well.

The tool is part of the Surfshark One bundle and can be used on up to five devices.

get-surfshark-one-bundle

NoBorders

NoBorders is a one-of-a-kind feature that enables you to use a VPN in countries where it is strongly blocked. If your client identifies network constraints, it immediately switches to NoBorders to get around them.

You can also manually activate this mode anytime you need it. It’s compatible with Windows and mobile devices.

Search

Surfshark also provides a secure and private search engine that is ad-free, would be unaffected by prior queries, and collects no personal information from users. Paid users can access complete incognito mode via s.surfshark.com or the dashboard of their VPN.

Smart DNS

There are times when the VPN application isn’t present for your device, particularly for PlayStations and Smart TVs. It eliminates the ability to use your favorite device to access geo-restricted streaming services like HBO Max or Hulu.

Surfshark Smart DNS works on a variety of devices, including those that don’t have VPN clients. You’ll need to enable it from your primary account dashboard, after which they’ll produce DNS addresses for you to use on your devices.

Whitelister

Having a VPN on all the time can be inconvenient at times. For example, you might wish to utilize a VPN to browse your regional streaming library while using a VPN server for something else. Whitelister, also known as split tunneling, is required for this.

It can be done in two ways: by routing only specific apps through a VPN connection, or by routing the entire connection through a VPN connection and adding exclusions. It’s also possible to configure it per IP address.

MultiHop

Surfshark owns a list of MultiHop servers that operate in pairs. Your connections are directed to the second VPN server after they reach the first one. The last intermediary, in other words, has no connection to your genuine IP address or location.

surfshark-multihop-servers

Camouflage Mode

Camouflage Mode, commonly known as Obfuscation or obfuscated servers, is one of Surfshark’s many security features.

It will disguise your VPN traffic as conventional network traffic, allowing you to remain undetected. When using the OpenVPN UDP and TCP protocols, the mode is activated automatically.

When your school or company bans internet traffic, or when your government blocks VPN ports, this capability comes in handy.

Alerts

Surfshark’s goal is to keep you safe not just through VPN connections. They’ve added the option of using alerts to notify you if your data is leaked across all of their subscribers.

As per our Surfshark alert testing, this feature functions with credit cards, emails,  and IDs. To protect your data, you must use two-factor authentication.

A periodic newsletter option keeps you up to date on current data breaches and only sends you notifications if your accounts are compromised.

CleanWeb

Surfshark’s patented DNS technology, CleanWeb, prevents ads from loading and numerous online trackers from collecting your information. You’ll need to go to settings to turn it on.

When enabled, it will prevent IP addresses from being blacklisted from being used. This implies that known ad hosts will be unable to load, and their pop ups will not appear. The same is true for hosts that distribute malware or collect user data.

We conducted a detailed Surfshark CleanWeb review, and you can see in the screenshots below how effective this feature was:

testing-surfshark-with-cleanweb-off

Here is what happened as soon as we turned CleanWeb on:

testing-surfshark-with-cleanweb-on

Amazing, right?

GPS spoofing

If you have an Android device, you can use Surfshark to spoof your IP address and physical GPS position. You don’t even need to download any additional software. Because most apps on your phone have access to your location data, it’s one of the most widely collected bits of data on any user.

Is Surfshark VPN secure?

Surfshark is one of the most secure VPN services available. It features a no-logs policy that has been certified, and you can choose your chosen encryption technology and tunneling protocol.

Let’s have a glance at some of the key features that distinguish Surfshark as a safe VPN:

Encryption protocols

AES-256-GCM, a secure and upgraded version of the AES-256 encryption algorithm, is available on Surfshark.

On Android, there’s also a Chacha20Poly1305 cypher option, which is quite close and safe. The key difference between them will be speed: AES-256 will be faster on newer devices with AES hardware acceleration, while Poly1305 will be faster on older phones.

Meanwhile, SHA-512 encryption protects your authentication. That means it’ll be encrypted into 512 binary digits and compared to login data kept on their systems, with a green signal given if the passwords match.

Tunneling protocols

Surfshark also has a wide range of tunnelling protocols to choose from.

WireGuard is the most advanced tunnelling protocol available today. It’s not only effective, but it’s also quite safe. Surfshark is also the first VPN company to make WireGuard the default protocol in all critical apps (except Linux for now).

One of the most widely used tunnelling protocols is IKEv2. It has significant support, and its speeds are equivalent to WireGuard’s. It’s ideal for older devices and works well even with slow Internet connections. Android, macOS, Linux,  Windows, and iOS are all supported.

Another tunneling protocol is OpenVPN (TCP/UDP). Despite the fact that it was released about two decades ago, it is still incredibly secure and speedy. If you require more security, though, TCP is the way to go. Choose UDP if you want fast speeds.

Please note that we tested all protocols for our Surfshark speed review and confirmed how swift all of them are.

Kill switch

The kill switch feature is simple to use and protects you even if Surfshark disconnects abruptly (which did not happen during my tests). The kill switch disables your internet connection for a short period of time before automatically reactivating it when you’re connected again, ensuring that none of your data is exposed while the VPN tries to connect.

RAM-only servers

When you turn off your VPN, Surfshark’s server network is completely diskless, meaning all data is automatically erased. This is to keep malevolent third parties out of the system.

This also adds an extra layer of security because there isn’t any information that might be shared.

Audits

Transparency is critical for cybersecurity companies to build confidence. Surfshark has been independently audited to ensure that confidence may be built.

Cure53 penetration testers performed both Surfshark security exams in 2018 and 2021, respectively.

They initially concentrated on Surfshark’s Chrome and Firefox extensions, as browser extensions are typically the least secure applications. The second time, they concentrated on server infrastructure and security in general. Surfshark performed excellently on both occasions.

Customer support

Surfshark offers excellent customer service around the clock, including

  • Live chat is available 24/7.
  • Email assistance is available.
  • The knowledgebase is superb, with numerous useful guides.

There are already multiple good text and video guides for various difficulties. Surfschool allows you to identify related topics with a single click and learn something new

The customer service agents were super-friendly, fast, and helpful. They also answered all our queries quite easily.

Is Surfshark value for money?

Yes! At a cost of only $2.30 per month, it’s safe to say that Surfshark is extremely value for money, all hails to its fantastic service, affordable price, robust security, and unblocking capabilities. It’s also worth noting that it’s one of the fastest VPN services available.

Surfshark is an excellent choice if you don’t have a VPN provider and want a low-cost, high-quality solution with a lot of features.

If you have any questions or issues about Surfshark, please leave a comment and we’ll be pleased to respond!

FAQs

Is Surfshark VPN worth buying?

Yes, Surfshark is an extremely reliable VPN service. The results of our testing were great! Surfshark offers various highly-secure protocols and robust encryption, unblocks all popular streaming services, doesn’t keep any logs, and equips other proprietary features.

Which is better: ExpressVPN or Surfshark?

Surfshark is better than ExpressVPN in every way as confirmed through our detailed Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN comparison. It offers 3200+ servers in 65 countries, super-fast speeds, and incredible security features. Other than that, you can easily avail its 2-year plus 2 months free offer at only $2.30/mo.

Is Surfshark good for gaming?

Yes, Surfshark is a great choice for gaming. It stabilizes your connection and offers a consistent ping rate. However, it might lag a bit, if you connect to a server far away from your location.

Some more VPN reviews for you!

Categories
Reviews

Mysterium Network dVPN Review 2023: Is It Safe to Use?

mysterium-network-dvpn-review

So we all know how our privacy is eroding with each passing day. Companies know more about us than we know about ourselves. We’re essentially moving towards a world where there will be no more privacy.

Even the technology we use to stay anonymous online, the technology we trust to safeguard our privacy, keeps logs. We’re talking about VPNs.

Sure, most VPN providers say they offer a zero logs policy.  But how can you be certain?

In our experience reviewing VPNs, there is no concrete way to tell whether a company follows a no-logs policy or not.

However, it seems like these days of mistrust may be coming to an end thanks to a revolutionary new concept that promises to entice even more privacy enthusiasts like us: a decentralized VPN.

Yes, that’s right! We recently came across a new VPN by the name of Mysterium Network dVPN. It is a node-sharing P2P decentralized VPN network that is still in its early stages of development.

Mysterium is powered by an open-sourced network, which means that all you tech-savvy individuals out there can easily spot what goes on under the hood of a VPN and learn exactly how your private information is handled, which is not what happens with the vast majority of consumer VPNs.

To test out how practical Mysterium VPN is, we conducted this VPN review by putting this Mysterium through a battery of tests to see how it performs and where it can be improved. Our evaluation is based on its streaming performance, speeds, privacy, security features, torrenting, and other factors.

Let’s dive in to find out if this is really a game-changing VPN.

Mysterium Network VPN pros and cons

Although Mysterium VPN is still a work in progress and is still improving, it is not yet perfect. Based on our testing, the security features appear to be a little lacking, but it has an excellent ability to unblock streaming platforms.

Let’s look at the VPN’s pros and cons and see where it stands:

Pros

Cons

It is technologically impossible to store user logs centrally in a decentralized system Speed tests showed a 30% drop in base speed
Cryptocurrency, along with credit cards, GooglePlay, PayPal, and more are accepted for payment Several DNS leak tests revealed the location of network nodes, revealing inconsistencies in coverage and security
Works in China, but not consistently The beta version is free to try, but users will have to pay with cryptocurrency on a pay-per-use basis.
There is no affiliation with the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, or 14 Eyes surveillance alliances
Unblocks streaming sites such as Netflix
Desktop and mobile VPN clients that are both stylish
The ability to run your own node to earn cryptocurrency
A protocol, tool, and infrastructure ecosystem that is open source

Speed and performance: Is Mysterium VPN fast?

The “node-runners” that provide the IPs you connect to are essential for decentralized networks. The speeds that are provided are determined by the nodes, which should get better over time as more providers join the market.

For speed testing purposes, we chose a close-by Canadian server with a strong connection and performed a speed test. The findings are shown below:

mysterium-dvpn-speed-test-on-canada-server

As you can see, we received an average speed drop of 30%, which is normal when considering that you’re using a VPN service. Using these speeds, you can perform all activities you like, including streaming, browsing, and torrenting.

We also connected to its far-away UK server, and got a speed drop of 37%. While this was a bit high, we’re sure that the speeds would improve once the VPN starts offering more nodes.

Streaming: Does Mysterium Network VPN work with Netflix?

Every streaming service we tried was instantly unblocked by Mysterium VPN. First, we connected to a US servers and were able to access the US Netflix library.

Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu, three other popular US streaming services, also functioned without any issues. By connecting to a Canadian server, we could also bypass CraveTV’s geo-restrictions.

mysterium-unblocked-crave-tv

There may be a few streaming platforms that the VPN might not be able to access, but that wasn’t the case in our tests. Overall, we were really pleased with its ability to circumvent geo-blocks as it worked just like other premium VPNs like ExpressVPN.

Is Mysterium Network good and safe for torrenting?

Although torrenting is not forbidden by Mysterium anywhere, you need to take privacy issues into account.

Since torrenting is frequently used for illegal activities, the VPN may view it as inconsistent with its standards and exclude it from the whitelist vetting procedure. Hence, before attempting to torrent, be sure that it is legal where you are.

Is Mysterium Network safe and secure?

Strong encryption protocols like OpenVPN and the more recent WireGuard are offered by Mysterium VPN, yet we had some reservations. The network operates similarly to a hybrid Tor-VPN, theoretically providing better security and anonymity.

However, it is slightly deficient in some capabilities found in conventional VPNs, such as a split tunneling, MultiHop, and kill switch.

Moreover, keep in mind that decentralizing the network improves security, but also increases your vulnerability to man-in-the-middle attacks if a node-runner acquires access to your online traffic.

DNS leak test

When we tested the VPN for DNS leaks, the dVPN gave us mixed results. On a few servers, we were absolutely secure.

However, it did leak our DNS/IP once when we connected to its UK server. This is not ideal because leak protection ought to be reliable and constant. Your online activities may be compromised if your DNS address is visible, putting you at risk from malware.

Using Mysterium Network dVPN, your information won’t be logged since the corporation, which is based in Panama, is not subject to any “Eyes” agreements. You are, however, placing a great deal of faith in each node’s service providers.

Mysterium Network servers and locations

The network of Mysterium Network VPN is decentralized. This distinguishes itself from other VPNs because it uses nodes from users all around the world. These nodes basically act as servers and let you connect to them.

mysterium-dvpn-nodes

The nodes are available across 130+ countries, and has an excellent coverage across Africa, North and South America, Europe, and more. While reviewing, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety of places we could pick from.

Does Mysterium Network work in China?

Mysterium Network clearly mentions on their website that the VPN does work in China. However, they do get blocked sometimes.

The provider further mentioned that they’re trying to refine their bypassing methods, so users can enjoy their service while traveling to China.

Well, we couldn’t help but appreciate their honesty over the service.

Plans and pricing

Using Mysterium VPN is free. This is due to the fact that it is still in the development stages and will eventually switch to a fully crypto-powered configuration.

Once the system is completely functional, customers will pay in MYST. Nevertheless, your average price over time will probably equal to that of a budget-friendly regular VPN. However, this is susceptible to changes in the cryptocurrency market.

Interface and ease of use

Despite having cross-platform compatibility, Mysterium VPN does not currently offer an iOS app. However, it works with Android, macOS, Windows, Avado Raspberry Pi, and Linux.

Desktop versions

Installing the Windows software was really simple, and once you launch the app, you’ll see all your location options.

You must choose from a number of nodes in that country as you cannot specify a specific city. You can see a description of each one’s quality and cost next to it.

mysterium-dvpn-desktop-app

Once you’ve installed the app, you don’t need to establish an account or log in. It simply manages your MYST/ETH spending and revenue using a generated “key.”

Remember that you will lose the key and the ensuing cryptocurrency earnings if you delete the app. Moreover, there is also no need to input any payment information.

Mobile apps

The Android app has few configuration choices but is equally user-friendly. You might be a little concerned when the software asks for permission to access storage and images when you install it.

Once it is installed, you can import your private key, which is connected to your MYST/ETH.

Customer support

The chat support is the only way to get in touch with the dVPN’s representatives, and it never seemed to be active at all when tested. It turned out to be more of an online form with a ticket system, where you may expect a response in one day.

After almost 16 hours, we received an email response that was incredibly brief yet provided the information we needed.

In addition, there is an FAQ section that appears to address the majority of common queries.

Conclusion

The future of VPNs may well be decentralized crypto markets, but Mysterium Network dVPN needs some improvement if it wants to draw in users.

There are some privacy issues since you need to be able to blindly trust every node owner. However, one selling feature of cryptocurrency payments, no-login apps, and decentralized monitoring is the natural anonymity they provide.

You also get robust encryption, and the ability to unblock a variety of streaming platforms.

FAQs

Is Mysterium Network safe?

Although Mysterium Network offers excellent encryption, our DNS was compromised once. Since Mysterium VPN is still in its early stages, it is difficult to declare with certainty that it is completely secure.

How do I pay for Mysterium VPN?

Mysterium accepts cryptocurrency and lets you pay anonymously for your security. It also allows you to pay through credit cards, GooglePay wallet, PayPal, and more.

Categories
Compare

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN: A Thorough Analysis

If you’re looking for VPN comparisons, you’re on the right track. And if you’re checking out which one’s better among the two top VPN providers of the industry – Surfshark and ExpressVPN, then this is precisely where you need to be.

Surfshark and ExpressVPN are both fantastic choices for various purposes. They can unblock multiple geo-restricted streaming services, offer robust security, and fast speeds.

However, what gives Surfshark an edge is its super-exciting price i,e, only $2.30/month. 

While it also takes the lead in offering advanced security features, let’s check out the comprehensive Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN comparison we’ve jotted down here in this VPN comparison to figure out which VPN is the best for you!

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN  – Summed up

If you’re not into heavy details, then here is a quick summary of the features of Surfshark and ExpressVPN.

Surfshark ExpressVPN
3200+ servers in 65+ countries 3000+ servers in 90+ countries
Strict no-logging policy Strict no-logging policy
Circumvents geo-restrictions of various streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more. Offers content in HD with no lags. Offers an HD-streaming experience on all popular geo-restricted streaming services, like DAZN, Hulu, Vudu, Disney+, etc.
Unlimited simultaneous connections Five simultaneous connections
Costs $2.30/month on its 2 years + 2 months free plan Costs $8.32/month on its annual plan

In the VPN industry, both ExpressVPN and Surfshark are well-known. When comparing the titans in terms of servers, speed, and customer service, however, there is only one winner. Therefore, we used our in-depth analysis to narrow down the differences between ExpressVPN and Surfshark.

Pricing Analysis

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN Prices and Plans Surfshark ExpressVPN
Periods 1 month 1 month
6 months 6 months
2 years 1 year
Special offers and discounts 82% off on 2 years + 2 months plan 35% off on the 1-year plan
Lowest price per month $2.30/month $8.32/month
Highest price per month $12.95/mo $12.95/mo
Annual price
Money-back guarantee 30 days 30 days

Both of these VPNs cost $12.95 for a single month of coverage, putting them on the higher end of the price scale.

Surfshark is the superior option for individuals who don’t have much money to spend. Its cheapest subscription is $2.30 per month, over three times less than ExpressVPN’s $8.32/mo. Just keep in mind that this price requires a two-year commitment.

Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!

Payment Policy

Supported Payment Methods Surfshark ExpressVPN
Credit/Debit Cards Almost all are supported Almost all are supported
PayPal Supported Supported
Giropay Supported Supported
Cryptocurrency Supported Supported

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer reliable payment methods. So, you can pay using your credit card, PayPal, or cryptocurrency – whichever way is most convenient for you.

Final Result: It’s a Tie!

Refund Policy

Refund Policy Surfshark ExpressVPN
Policy Duration 30-day money-back guarantee 30-day money-back guarantee
Free Trial 7-day free trial on iOS & Android 7-day free trial on iOS & Android
Refund Receiving Duration 5-7 working days 5-7 working days

A 30-day money-back guarantee is included with ExpressVPN. The same term applies to Surfshark. Using this refund policy, you can visit the customer support of your VPN and ask for a refund.

The company is bound to refund back your amount without asking any questions. During our testing, we received our refund within six working days.

Final Result: It’s a Tie!

Features

Features Surfshark ExpressVPN
Simultaneous connections Unlimited Five
Encryption AES 256-bit AES 256-bit
Kill switch Yes Yes
Split tunneling Yes Yes
Compatible Apps Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, routers, and FireStick. Linux iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, FireStick, Linux
DNS leak protection Yes Yes
RAM-only servers Yes Yes
Obfuscation technology Yes, called the Camouflage Mode On only a few servers
Browser extensions Chrome, Edge, & Firefox Chrome, Safari, & Firefox
SmartDNS Yes Yes
Additional features MultiHop, CleanWeb, Wireguard protocol, Whitelister, live chat support No-logs, custom firmware for routers, 24/7 customer chat support.
For more information, do check out Surfshark review ExpressVPN review

Between Surfshark and ExpressVPN, there are a few distinctions. Surfshark includes a malware scanner and a built-in ad-blocker. It also allows you to search without revealing your identity.

ExpressVPN, on the other hand, provides modified firmware for supported routers and does not require configuration for use in areas where internet access is tightly blocked.

Surfshark has several advantages over ExpressVPN, one of which is that it permits an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. As a result, people who want to share their VPN with their families will find it particularly appealing. Whereas, ExpressVPN only allows customers to connect five devices at a time.

Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!

Geo-Unblocking Capabilities

Streaming Channels Surfshark ExpressVPN
Netflix Unblocks 12+ Netflix content libraries, including US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Mexico, and more Unblocks 12+ Netflix content libraries, including UK, India, Canada, US, Iceland, Australia, and more.
Amazon Prime Video Yes Yes
Hulu Yes Yes
BBC iPlayer Yes Sometimes
Disney+ Yes Yes
Hotstar Yes Yes
ABC Yes Yes
Comedy Central Yes Yes
Sky Sports Yes Yes
HBO Max Yes Yes
NBC Yes Yes
Channel 4 Yes Yes

Both ExpressVPN and Surfshark, as you can see, are excellent at unblocking geo-restricted streaming services. However, the only notable difference between these two VPNs in our tests was that Surfshark continuously functioned with BBC iPlayer, whereas ExpressVPN has recently struggled with this service.

Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN  – Torrenting

Whether you use torrents regularly or only once a month, you’ll need a VPN. Fortunately, both VPNs support P2P connections, so they’ll care for your needs.

Remember that ExpressVPN allows torrenting on all of its servers, whereas Surfshark offers dedicated torrenting servers. Both VPNs have good speeds and the ability to use split tunneling.

However, speed and IP leaks must be considered when determining which VPN is best for torrenting.

So, first and foremost, we ran speed tests on both VPNs’ servers, and the results are as follows:

Surfshark Torrenting Speeds

Surfshark Servers Torrenting Speeds
Canada – Toronto 81.25 Mbps
UK – Manchester 80.23 Mbps
USA – Denver 79.67 Mbps

ExpressVPN Torrenting Speeds

ExpressVPN Servers Torrenting Speeds
Canada – Vancouver 83.16 Mbps
UK – London 85.47 Mbps
USA – Seattle 82.19 Mbps

The security of ExpressVPN and NordVPN were then put to the test with IP leak testing. You can see the screenshots below to see that none of the VPNs we used revealed our US IP address:

Surfshark IP Leak Test

surfshark-ip-leak-test

ExpressVPN IP Leak Test

Both VPNs are great for torrenting. However, ExpressVPN takes the lead in this metric by offering better speeds than Surfshark. Also, all ExpressVPN’s servers are optimized for torrenting, so you don’t need to think twice before connecting to one, unlike Surfshark, which offers dedicated P2P servers.

expressvpn-ip-leak-test

Final Result: ExpressVPN takes the Lead!

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN  – Netflix Unblocking

As you may know, Netflix has geo-restricted libraries all around the world. This implies that unless you use a trustworthy VPN, you will be unable to access the Netflix libraries of Canada, the United Kingdom, or Australia if you live in the United States.

Even though Netflix has begun restricting VPN IP addresses, Surfshark and ExpressVPN have learned to work around this by periodically renewing their IP address lists. As a result, you can use these VPNs to access Netflix from whatever library you wish.

However, when it comes to which is better in the Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN comparison for Netflix, then we’d say that if a high number of servers is enticing to you, then you should opt for Surfshark. Otherwise, ExpressVPN tends to offer more server locations so you can unblock more libraries across the world.

Final Result: It’s a Tie!

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN – China Unblocking

A decent VPN is essential when visiting a nation with tight censorship and internet restrictions, such as China. However, China’s internet-filtering systems (known as the Great Firewall collectively) are among the most advanced in the world. As a result, most VPNs are blocked on the mainland and will not work.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark, fortunately, can evade Chinese internet restrictions. Shadowsocks, an open-source technology that works like a proxy, is available from Surfshark. Additionally, the service uses obfuscated servers, whose algorithms conceal the fact that you are using a VPN at all.

ExpressVPN, like Surfshark, uses stealth servers to help you get through China’s Great Firewall and other online hurdles. When the VPN detects that it is required, this technology automatically activates.

ExpressVPN does not support the Shadowsocks protocol. Hence, Surfshark comes out on top in this category.

Final Result: Surfshark is the Winner!

App User Interface and Usability

App Interface and Usability Surfshark ExpressVPN
Location selection List form List form
Pages for extra settings Yes Yes
Mobile-friendly apps Yes Yes
Auto-setup wizard iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Mac Selected routers, Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux

Surfshark: User Interface & Usability

The desktop app of Surfshark is simple to use. A list of your most recently used servers appears on the main screen, and a simple location selection button. If we had to find something to criticize, it would be the fact that some options are tucked away in the settings submenus.

surfshark-interface

The mobile apps of Surfshark are nearly identical to the desktop versions. However, some functions, such as the NoBorders mode, are unavailable (although mobile users can still use the privacy-focused Shadowsocks protocol). Surfshark’s Android app allows you to instantly match your phone’s GPS location to your server location without the use of any third-party apps.

ExpressVPN: User Interface & Usability

The ExpressVPN app looks like Surfshark’s, but the quick-connect button is significantly bigger and takes up most of the main screen. Because the settings menu is divided into numerous sections, you should have no trouble finding your required choices.

expressvpn-interface

Mobile ExpressVPN apps are very similar to their desktop counterparts, except that they have a smaller feature set. Auto-connection, wifi protection, split tunnelling, and protocol selection are the only choices in the settings menu.

Final Result: It’s a Tie!

Servers

Servers Surfshark ExpressVPN
Server count 3200+ servers 3000+ servers
Number of countries 65 countries 90+ countries
Virtual servers Yes Yes
Obfuscation  Yes Yes
Speeds 79.47 Mbps 81.29 Mbps

While Surfshark and ExpressVPN both have a similar number of servers, ExpressVPN has a more extensive country selection. This is especially true in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Unfortunately, neither provider provides a thorough breakdown of the servers it has in every country, so it is difficult to determine which is more efficient during peak hours.

Final Result: It’s a Tie!

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN Speed Tests

Both VPNs are fast enough to stream content in high definition. Overall, ExpressVPN outperforms Surfshark, with an average speed of roughly 81.29 Mbps versus 79.47 Mbps of Surfshark. 

Please remember that all tests were performed on a 100 Mbps connection, so your results may vary.

Let’s check out how much speeds both the VPN offered on their US servers:

surfshark-speed-test

Above are the speeds that we received using Surfshark. When we tested ExpressVPN, the speeds were equally competitive, in fact better at times. Let’s check out the speeds of ExpressVPN in the screenshot below:

expressvpn-speed-test

Final Result: ExpressVPN is the Winner!

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN – Security Policy

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN – Privacy & Security Features Surfshark ExpressVPN
Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands
Encryption AES 256-bit AES 256-bit
Logging policy No-logs No-logs
Kill switch Available Available
DNS leak protection Available Available
Tunneling protocols  IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Shadowsocks SSTP, OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, Lightway
WebRTC Leak Yes Yes

The table above demonstrates that these services take consumer privacy very seriously. The British Virgin Islands is home to both ExpressVPN and Surfshark. This is a country that has no obligatory data-retention regulations and is outside of the 14 Eyes security alliance’s reach.

Furthermore, neither preserves any records that may be used to identify you individually.

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN have abandoned hard drive servers, relying solely on volatile memory to power their infrastructures (RAM). This means you won’t be able to store your data on a hard disc.

Furthermore, with each reboot, these servers are entirely wiped off. This ensures that no user data will be hacked or accessed in any other way by a third party.

Moreover, both VPNs ensure not leaking user IPs to anyone. We confirmed this by conducting IP leak tests on both VPNs. You can see in the screenshots below that our US IP addresses were safe and sound:

Surfshark’s IP Leak Test

ip-leak-test-of-expressvpn

ExpressVPN’s IP Leak Test

ip-leak-test-of-surfshark

Final Result: It’s a Tie!

Customer Service

Customer Service Surfshark ExpressVPN
Email/Ticketing Yes Yes
Live chat Yes Yes
Video guides Yes Yes
Phone support No No

You may seek support with Surfshark by writing to the 24/7 live chat or sending an email ticket. You can also go through the knowledge base, which has numerous answers to frequently asked questions.

With ExpressVPN, things are similar. It has a comprehensive knowledge base, along with live chat and email help available 24/7.

Final Result: It’s a Tie!

FAQs

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN, which one is better for gaming?

While Surfshark offers more servers, ExpressVPN is a better option for gaming due to its vast network of server locations, impressive speeds, and robust security.

Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN, which one has a larger user base?

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN are the most prominent providers in the industry. However, Surfshark is more popular due to its budget-friendly service.

Is ExpressVPN better than NordVPN?

Although NordVPN is the fastest VPN, ExpressVPN is a close second, especially with OpenVPN connections. However, since other protocols offer significantly greater speeds and security, NordVPN’s triumphs are more significant, giving the service an advantage. Check out our ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN comparison for more information

Conclusion

Choosing the best service becomes quite challenging when you make the two popular VPN providers go head to head with each other. Nonetheless, we selected the overall winner of our Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN comparison – Surfshark!

Surfshark outperformed ExpressVPN in several areas, including features, pricing, speed, unblocking, and usage in China. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, did have a few victories of its own but couldn’t be the winner.

In the end, it comes down to what you require from a VPN. Both services offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you should not hesitate to take advantage of.

To read more about both the VPN providers in detail, check out Surfshark VPN Review & ExpressVPN Review.

Read more Comparisons!

 

Categories
Reviews

HideIPVPN Review 2023: Is It Worth It?

hideipvpn-review

Choosing a VPN might be challenging because you are unsure of what you will receive for your money.

Amongst all VPNs in the industry, there’s HideIPVPN – a VPN and Smart DNS combo – that claims to provide super-fast speeds and highest level of security at an affordable cost.

Moreover, it has several commendable features, that are perfect for unblocking streaming platforms that you might find appealing.

However, by the looks of it, it also offers a limited variety of servers and fewer simultaneous connections per subscription.

In this VPN review, let’s address multiple factors of this VPN to check if it lives up to our criteria and can be called a great choice for all your activities.

So, let’s get right into the HideIPVPN review!

HideIPVPN pros and cons

HideIPVPN offers many incredible features. It does, however, have drawbacks, just like any other VPN. Let’s examine the VPN’s advantages and disadvantages for a quick overview:

 

Pros Cons
Offers a Smart DNS service Small server network
Fast speeds Located in the US
Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms
Multiple security protocols
Offers P2P support on some servers
Unlimited bandwidth
3-day free trial
Doesn’t require users to enter a payment method on its free trial
5 simultaneous connections

Speed and performance: Is HideIPVPN fast?

We conducted all speed tests after setting up the VPN protocol to OpenVPN (UDP). While testing, we faced no lags, thanks to HideIPVPN’s fast connection speeds.

However, it’s a fact that the average download/upload speed will inevitably slow down due to the great proximity between your physical location and the server, regardless of which server you choose.

We established a connection to its UK3 server to evaluate its performance. On this server, our speeds dropped slightly on our 100 Mbps connection, but still managed to offer 78.21 Mbps download and 60.72 Mbps upload, which is FAST considering we live far from the United Kingdom.

hideipvpn-speed-test-on-uk-server

We then tested its local US1 server, which gave off a 81.27 Mbps download speed and a 68.82 Mbps upload speed. That’s literally what you expect from a top VPN!

Overall, HideIPVPN is great if all you need is anonymity and fast connections.

Streaming: Does HideIPVPN work with Netflix?

With only 20+ servers, we were amazed that HideIPVPN could unblock a variety of well-known streaming services.

While testing, we were able to unblock Netflix, Channel 4, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC Player, and HBO Max with HideIPVPN, but we couldn’t access Disney+ at all. The best aspect is that watching the content in HD didn’t cause any buffering, which is fantastic.

hideipvpn-unblocked-bbc-iplayer

However, with the SmartDNS feature, we weren’t as fortunate. We couldn’t unblock Netflix, but we were able to access geo-restricted YouTube videos.

Is HideIPVPN good and safe for torrenting?

HideIPVPN allows torrenting on just a few servers, located in the Netherlands and Germany.

For our HideIPVPN review, we connected to a server in Germany and were able to download a 1.2GB file on Bittorrent in 7 minutes.

We then established a connection to a server in the Netherlands, using which we successfully downloaded a 2GB file on uTorrent in about 12 minutes. 

Even though we were happy with the torrenting performance, HideIPVPN should mention more clearly that only servers in Germany and the Netherlands are supported.

HideIPVPN features

HideIPVPN offers a few cutting-edge features to all its users. Let’s check them out in detail below:

Application Killer

An essential component of a VPN service is a kill switch. When the connection suddenly drops, it serves the purpose of protecting your data.

HideIPVPN doesn’t offer a regular kill switch. Its macOS and Windows apps offer ‘Application Killer’, which stops particular apps when there is a network instability. However, the apps need to be manually added.

hideip-vpn-app-killer

Smart Location

HideIPVPN makes it simpler for you to choose a VPN server if you are unsure. The quickest and closest server to you is automatically selected by Smart Location when you click the button. If speed is your main concern, then this is that right option for you.

hideipvpn-smart-location

Smart Location is not consistently precise. During testing for our HideIPVPN review, it occasionally picked a far-off server over a nearby one. However, the majority of the time, it optimized speed flawlessly.

Smart DNS

A Smart DNS solution enables you to access geographically restricted online material. It doesn’t change your IP address or encrypt your internet connection, unlike a VPN.

It only modifies your device’s DNS to send requests to its own DNS servers.

Although HideIPVPN offers the functionality, you can also buy it separately. Using Smart DNS, you can unblock Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix pretty easily.

Is HideIPVPN safe and secure?

Yes, this VPN is pretty safe to use, thanks to its robust encryption, protocols, and secure logging policy. Read more about it in detail:

Protocols

HideIPVPN offers 5 VPN protocols: OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, SoftEther, SSTP, and PPTP, with corresponding 128-bit and 256-bit AES encryptions.

hideip-vpn-protocols

According to us, OpenVPN is the most reliable choice. It is an open-source implementation of a protocol that many people have already inspected. You should choose this when given the option because it is secure and has been proven effective.

Juridiction

A downside of this VPN is that it registered in the anti-privacy state of Delaware in the US.

But, many VPNs headquartered in the US do offer a strict no-logging policy. So, we decided to look through HideIPVPN’s policy thoroughly in the section below.

Logging Policy

HideIPVPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy, which is a promising beginning. However, it hasn’t gone through any independent audits to support the policy. You have to accept HideIPVPN’s statement without an audit to back it up.

In accordance with its privacy policy, HideIPVPN gathers the information required to access DNS and VPN servers. However, it doesn’t clarify what it means by “necessary data.”

HideIPVPN servers and locations

The VPN offers 24 servers across 12 countries. These include 6 servers are located in the United States, 1 in Canada, 5 in the United Kingdom, 1 in Germany, 2 in the Netherlands, 3 in Poland, 1 in Russia, and more.

Additionally, subscribers get access to a Smart Location feature that chooses the best server for you.

Does HideIPVPN work in China?

Yes, HideIPVPN works in China. The VPN service provider made some improvements to its service back in 2009, in order to allow users from China to circumvent its infamous Great Firewall.

Plans and pricing

Plans Price
1-month $6.99
12-month $4.99/mo
24-month $2.99/mo

HideIPVPN is reasonably-priced, as can be seen from the table above. And, truth be told, the cost really does represent the true worth of the service.

The SmartDNS is a bonus that comes with every package, which is amazing. We were relieved to see that you can use JSB, Discover, MasterCard, Bitcoin, PayPal, Diners Club, VISA, and Amex to pay for its service.

Interface and ease of use

HideIPVPN is compatible with several operating systems, including iOS, Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and more. You can also use HideIPVPN with TP-Link, D-Link, and DD-WRT routers.

But, how do its apps perform? Let’s see below:

Desktop versions

The Windows client has an easy-to-use interface, a server list that lets you choose locations within each country, and a simple Favorites option that lets you organize your frequently-used servers.

hideipvpn-windows-interface

Your nearest server is immediately connected via “Smart Location,” which works pretty smoothly. We tested it from the US and instantly got connected to a Canadian server.

Moreover, it offers numerous protocols and DNS leak protection. There is a kill switch somewhere, but it’s application-based, so you have to configure the apps to shut down when the connection breaks.

Mobile apps

HideIPVPN recently updated the Android/iOS software, which has now become extremely easy to navigate and efficient to use. We tested its Android app and were able to install it easily on our device, as well as connect to a server within seconds.

Customer support

HideIPVPN’s customer support includes email, ticketing, and live chat. You don’t get phone support. But, the most efficient option in case of any queries is its live chat.

Moreover, the provider offers an extensive knowledgebase and FAQs on its website. There are setup instructions to assist you in getting HideIPVPN on a variety of platforms, including Windows, routers, Linux, etc.

We discovered that customer service agents’ were pretty supportive and responded quickly when we first tried it. But, when we tested it again the next couple of times, there was simply no reply to our messages.

Conclusion

HideIPVPN is a great VPN service that unblocks practically everything, offers adequate security, and is affordable. Even though its servers connections are smaller in number, its download and upload speeds are phenomenal.

With HideIPVPN, we were able to enjoy a secure connection for as much as we’d like.

In short, we recommend you try this VPN. In case you’re not up for paying the full amount instantly, you can try the VPN out through is 3-day free trial.

Categories
Reviews

CactusVPN Review 2022: How Fast and Safe Is It?

CactusVPN is a prominent small VPN service that helps you conceal your IP addresses, circumvent geo-restrictions, and browse anonymously.

The VPN’s Smart DNS feature enables you to unblock over 300 international streaming websites, which is one of its main selling points.

Although CactusVPN is a small, it has managed to attract a loyal fanbase. So we decided to find out if it lives up to or even beyond these claims by conducting a Cactus VPN review.

For this VPN review, our put CactusVPN through a rigorous testing process to determine where it shines and where it falls short. Let’s check out the VPN’s features in detail below!

CactusVPN pros and cons

Every VPN in the industry has its own unique features including some tradeoffs as well, and CactusVPN is no different. So, in our review of CactusVPN, let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages first before we get into the details:

Pros Cons
Easy-to-use apps Server network is small
Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more Doesn’t enable leak protection by default
Offers P2P support
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Offers a kill switch
Strict no-logs policy
24/7 live chat support
Decent speeds

Speed and performance: Is CactusVPN fast?

The speeds that CactusVPN offers are enough for torrenting, streaming, and online browsing. 

We evaluated this VPN’s speeds using the OpenVPN protocol. We checked our base speeds without a VPN before we started, and it was 95 Mbps.

In our speed test, CactusVPN performed reasonably well — certainly well enough to watch HD video.

We first connected to this VPN’s local US server, and our speed dropped by 24%. These local speeds are very fast, and could be compared to top VPNs like Surfshark and ExpressVPN.

We then connected to its UK server to test out its speeds. On a 100 Mbps connection, we faced a speed drop of 30%, which is pretty normal for a VPN.

 

In short, CactusVPN’s speeds were great.

Streaming: Does CactusVPN work with Netflix?

CactusVPN is perfect for accessing streaming platforms. The VPN claims to work with 340+ streaming sites of 10+ countries with its Smart DNS.

Our team tested its Smart DNS feature and was successful at unblocking Disney+, Netflix, ABC, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Hulu, BBC iPlayer.

When we connected to its Chicago server, we were able to access Netflix US easily. With no buffering, we watched Atypical from the American Netflix library.

cactusvpn-unblocked-netflix

We also performed five further tests and successfully unlocked Netflix libraries in the Australia, Canada and UK.

Is CactusVPN good and safe for torrenting?

CactusVPN only allows P2P traffic on certain servers, but they are well-labeled and easy to find in the app. When properly configured, there aren’t any leaks, which is vital if you want to torrent safely and anonymously.

CactusVPN features

In addition to offering secure VPN protocols and industry-level security features like 256-bit AES encryption, kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy, CactusVPN also provides:

  • Dedicated P2P servers – CactusVPN offers dedicated torrent servers in multiple countries, and is compatible with every well-known torrent client like Vuze, Deluge, and uTorrent.
  • Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) – This feature prevents hackers from obtaining your data from a previous or upcoming internet session by changing your encryption key each time you begin a new session.

Is CactusVPN safe and secure?

In our CactusVPN review, we examined its protocols, privacy and logging policies, and more to evaluate its security. We ensured that this VPN is quite safe after studying the following factors:

Protocols

You can select from a number of encryption protocols when using CactusVPN, including OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, IKEv2, and WireGuard. Amongst all, we highly recommend using OpenVPN.

cactusvpn-protocols

Logging

Although CactusVPN claims to have a strict no-log policy, what the VPN mentions in it’s privacy policy is a bit vague.

According to the VPN service, they are permitted to block specific websites or applications in order to “protect other users, to adhere to legal requirements, or to lessen the threat or necessity of legal action against us and our users.”

Additionally, CactusVPN keeps certain anonymous data as part of fraud prevention efforts. This includes some system records for troubleshooting, and the IP address and host that you used to sign into the CactusVPN website previously.

Kill switch

Despite not having a kill switch, you can disable specific websites or apps with the killer feature the moment your VPN disconnects. This means that even if you lose connection, your data will be secure and your real IP address will be concealed.

cactusvpn-kill-switch

CactusVPN servers and locations

CactusVPN offers 39 servers spread across 22 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia. Despite having a small server network, CactusVPN does a decent job at spreading its servers across multiple countries worldwide.

cactusvpn-servers-network

Does CactusVPN work in China?

Despite not mentioning China on its website, CactusVPN’s support confirmed that the VPN operates there. The VPN uses obfsproxy, a technique that alters the path your web traffic takes by encrypting it.

As a result, you can safely unblock content in restricted areas since obfsproxy will fool ISPs or governments into believing its just the regular traffic.

Plans and pricing

Plans Price
1-month $9.99/mo
3-month $7.99/mo
1-year $5.83/mo
2-year $3.95/mo

The various payment plans offered by CactusVPN include 1-month, 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year plans. The 2-year subscription offers the best value, costing only $3.95 per month.

It even allows you to pay through several methods, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

It even offers a 3-day free trial without ads. We hope this answer your “Does free version have ads?” query in our CactusVPN review.

Interface and ease of use

The apps from CactusVPN are quite easy to set up and use. Simply download the relevant app for your device, then log in using your credentials.

Desktop versions

The home screen of CactusVPN’s desktop app will inform you that you are not secure once you log in. Click the Connect button to establish a connection after choosing a server. The dropdown list can be used to choose any server you prefer.

cactusvpn-interface

After connecting to a server, the server dropdown list becomes unavailable, and a blue Disconnect button appears on the main screen.

You can change VPN protocols by going to the Settings tab at the top. Keep in mind that when you are connected to a VPN server, this and many other features will look greyed out and would become unavailable.

Mobile apps

The mobile app’s home screen and the desktop apps are extremely similar. You only have access to the server locations and connectivity status.

You can choose a server location by clicking the dropdown, and if you’d like, you can arrange this list by speed.

The menu (three lines) symbol is located in the upper-left corner of the screen, and tapping it will take you to the settings page. The next screen lacks a kill switch and DNS leak protection, and is noticeably less cluttered than the options menu of the desktop app.

Customer support

CactusVPN offers multiple customer support options. To start, the VPN offers helpful live chat support. A ticketing system, email assistance, FAQs, and a page with setup instructions are all available.

The configuration guides and FAQs are rather in-depth and provide practical step-by-step instructions to assist you in effectively resolving issues.

Although the FAQ section is fairly comprehensive, you might need to contact CactusVPN for assistance with more technical queries. Thankfully, they have a customer service team available via live chat around-the-clock.

In our opinion, the support representatives are pretty knowledgeable about the provider. For consumers who care about their privacy, the fact that the live chat is not outsourced is a major bonus.

Conclusion

Now that our CactusVPN review is over, we’d like to recommend anyone searching for a provider with affordable prices and robust security features to use CactusVPN.

The VPN is compatible with a wide variety of devices despite having a small server network. Even better, a single subscription allows you to connect an infinite number of devices at once.

Moreover, the VPN also offers a robust privacy policy, no data limits, torrenting on some servers, has an app-specific kill switch, and is therefore perfect for users.

FAQs

Is CactusVPN legit?

Yes, CactusVPN is legit and very secure. It safeguards your data using secure protocols, 256-bit AES encryption, and a kill switch to stop data breaches.

What is Cactus VPN?

CactusVPN is a small VPN service which promises to help you conceal your IP addresses, get around geo-restrictions, and browse anonymously.

Some more VPN reviews for you!

Categories
Best VPNs

Best VPNs in 2022 for Small and Home-Based Businesses

Small businesses are appealing targets for cybercriminals because they typically lack the cybersecurity safeguards that larger organizations have. Small businesses are the target of 43% of all cyberattacks, and the consequences of these breaches can be extremely costly, ranging from lost productivity to company reputation.

Large corporations typically run their own VPN services. Small and medium-sized businesses, on the other hand, lack the IT resources to set up and maintain a secure and private VPN.

Fortunately, a few consumer VPN providers have expanded into the enterprise market to serve this underserved market. In some cases, a typical consumer VPN may suffice, but businesses frequently require secure access to a server where they can host documents, apps, and other office resources for staff to access remotely.

A VPN is the most effective way to secure data in transit. A VPN encrypts and secures all internet traffic between a laptop or smartphone and the VPN server. This makes it difficult for nosy hackers to pry into sensitive data.

When looking for the best VPN, it’s critical to find one that meets your company’s requirements. Military-grade encryption, support for multiple devices and protocols, and a large number of server locations are all features of the best business VPNs.

Quick Overview – Best Business VPNs

When it comes to high-profile cybersecurity incidents, it’s usually large corporations that get the most attention. Small businesses, on the other hand, are even more frequently targeted by attacks, accounting for 43% of all data breaches.

Solution? Use the best business VPN!

It is an inexpensive cybersecurity solution that can save businesses from losing their confidential information.

We’ll go over each of the providers in detail, but if you only have time for a quick glance, here’s a summary of the best VPNs for businesses.

  1. Perimeter 81: Full-Fledged Business VPN. Supports SWG Web Filtering, Split Tunneling, Site-to-Site Interconnectivity, Data Centers & PoPs, Multi-factor Authentication (2FA/MFA), and much more.
  2. Surfshark: Complete privacy for employees and clients. Stay secure when working from home. Offers Military-grade encryption, Kill Switch, a strict no-logs policy, and more.
  3. ExpressVPN: A large network of 3000+ fast servers. Offers high-grade encryption that works flawlessly in China and the UAE. A pricey option on the list.
  4. NordLayer: Reliable VPN option for small and medium-sized organizations. Offers 24/7 support, a full-fledged control panel, two-factor authentication, and more.
  5. CyberGhost: Bargain-priced provider for small businesses. Offers dedicated IP add-on for small privacy-minded businesses.

The Best VPNs for Business – our detailed list:

1. Perimeter 81: Full-Fledged Business VPN

perimeter-81

  • Apps for: PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
  • Money-back guarantee: 30 days
  • SWG Web Filtering
  • Split Tunneling
  • Multi-factor Authentication (2FA/MFA)
  • Bank-level AES-256 encryption

First up, we have Perimeter 81 as the best business VPN. Unlike most typical consumer VPNs, Perimeter 81 is specially designed for businesses. You can use Perimeter 81 to set up private VPN servers that your employees can securely connect to from anywhere in the world.

Furthermore, because this service is cloud-based, it has lower latency, dynamic server location changes, and easy scalability. In other words, if you unexpectedly hire 50 new employees, you won’t have to worry about adding a new server or upgrading an existing one.

That’s how cool Perimeter 81 is!

When we say this VPN is designed for businesses, we mean it. It literally enables business owners to manage the network activity of their entire staff from an easy-to-use online dashboard without having a proper IT degree.

There is a reason why this VPN is trusted by 2,800+ customers.

If we talk about features, one thing we really like about this VPN is that it supports network segmentation. This essentially allows business owners to isolate sensitive data in case of a security breach.

As for security features, Perimeter 81 supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPSec as tunneling protocols. WireGuard is particularly noteworthy in this regard, as it is capable of providing extra-fast speeds of up to 1 gigabit/s to business users. It encrypts all of your data with 256-bit AES.

What we also like about Perimeter 81 is the fact that it offers access control. The network’s privileges and available protocols can be changed based on the user’s identity and the device they use.

It is also relatively simple to monitor and modify an employee’s level of access to your infrastructure. You can even determine whether a user’s device is infected and prevent it from connecting to the network.

As for compatibility, Perimeter 81 offers apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chrome.

And now, let’s address the elephant in the room – the price.

Perimeter 81 is on the more expensive side. It essentially offers four plans to choose from:

  1. Essentials – $8 per seat (Min. 10 users)
  2. Premium – $12 per seat (Min. 10 users)
  3. Premium Plus – $16 per seat (Min. 20 users)
  4. Enterprise – You’ll need to get in touch with them (Min. 50 users)

So for example, to protect a company of 10 employees, the Essentials subscription would cost at least $80 per month, $120 per month for Premium, and $160 per month for Premium Plus. Also, it is worth noting that getting additional gateways would increase your monthly bill by $40.

All in all, Perimeter 81 offers a large network of fast servers and allows up to 5 simultaneous connections. It even includes a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

2. Surfshark – Complete Privacy for Employees and Clients

surfshark vpn

  • Apps for: PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
  • Money-back guarantee: 30 days
  • Camouflage Mode
  • Unlimited devices per subscription
  • Low subscription fees for one or two years

Next up, we have Surfshark. Although Surfshark is not a business VPN in and of itself, it does provide plans for small businesses looking to improve employee privacy and security.

It provides user-friendly apps for all devices, thousands of IP addresses in over 65 countries, and over 3200 bare-metal servers.

Surfshark VPN is an excellent choice for small businesses or large families because it allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous connections per account.

Furthermore, it is one of the few VPN providers that has passed an independent audit and has been certified by AV-TEST, an independent IT security institute.

What particularly makes Surfshark good for small businesses is the fact that it offers a Camouflage Mode (obfuscation). Essentially, the VPN masks your traffic to make it appear as if you aren’t using a VPN, which is a great privacy feature to have.

This makes it great for people doing business in the crypto industry as transactions in cryptocurrency are not always completely anonymous. 

If we talk about the user experience, Surfshark is as simple as it gets. The key benefit of Surfshark for small businesses is that it eliminates the need for a dedicated IT person to set up a secure VPN tunnel and take advantage of VPN security features.

Again, as we mentioned earlier, Surfshark doesn’t market itself as a business VPN so you won’t find business plans on its website, To obtain business-level services, the company recommends contacting partners@surfshark.com and discussing plans there.

As for their normal pricing, it is pretty affordable – cheaper than any VPN on the market.

Here’s their regular pricing:

Overall, Surfshark is the best budget business VPN solution on the market. It also comes with a full risk-free 30-day refund policy

For a detailed analysis of the VPN, go through our Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN: A Large Network of 3000+ Fast Servers

expressvpn

  • Apps for: PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
  • Money-back guarantee: 30 days
  • State-of-the-art encryption
  • Split tunneling
  • Backed up by an external independent audit
  • No data retention laws

ExpressVPN is another great VPN for individuals and small businesses. It’s difficult to find a better all-around recommendation than ExpressVPN. It has 3000+ servers in 94 countries, and positive user reviews indicate how well-liked it is.

While the company does not provide business plans like Surfshark, it does provide offer discounts for businesses that wish to purchase for multiple employees.

ExpressVPN is at the cutting edge of VPN technology. In addition to adopting existing VPN protocols, it created Lightway, a proprietary protocol that is both secure and fast.

This VPN protocol is significantly less cluttered than protocols like OpenVPN. As a result, it’s light and provides a pleasant user experience.

Aside from offering a cutting-edge protocol, what we admire about this VPN is that it has undergone an independent audit by Cure53 in 2021.

And of course, being a premium VPN, ExpressVPN keeps no logs, which makes it ideal for small businesses. It will not keep track of the amount of data transferred in MB, traffic, metadata, or DNS queries.

ExpressVPN’s headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands, so it is exempt from any mandatory data retention laws.

In terms of security, ExpressVPN employs 256-bit AES-CBC encryption as its default protocol, as well as HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. There is an internet kill switch included, referred to by the company as a ‘Network Lock.’ 

Needless to say, your data is totally secure with ExpressVPN.

As for pricing, since ExpressVPN doesn’t mention business packages on its website, you’ll need to contact its support team to get quotes. But if we talk about their regular plans, we can definitely say that ExpressVPN is a bit on the premium side – but not as expensive as Perimeter 81. 

Here’s a rundown of all their pricing plans:

In short, ExpressVPN is the best VPN solution for small businesses. It provides strong privacy features, and its lightweight proprietary VPN protocol, which runs quickly on most mobile devices and computers, makes it a good travel companion.

It also has a 30-day return policy. The only disadvantage of this VPN is the relatively small device limit (5-multi logins), which may be too restrictive for some users.

For a detailed analysis of the VPN, go through our ExpressVPN review.

4. NordLayer: Reliable VPN Option for Small and Medium-Sized Organizations

nordvpn

  • Apps for: PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux
  • Money-back guarantee: 30 days
  • Multi-Hop option in Double VPN feature
  • Best-in-class encryption and VPN protocols
  • Strict logging policy

NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs available. Just like Perimeter 81, NordLayer is a true business VPN solution. NordLayer, NordVPN’s business security solution, provides multi-layer network protection for businesses, all managed from a centralized dashboard.

You can easily configure NordLayer to provide secure remote access to both the office network and the internet. A single, centralized control panel can be used to manage all user accounts. Tunnel connections from work devices can be established across 32+ different countries.

How cool is that!

NordLayer also makes adding users simple and does not complicate billing.

The use of 2048-bit double encryption is one of NordLayer’s most notable selling points. Because this encryption is so strong, any company can entrust NordVPN with its most sensitive data.

Nord provides a kill switch for users who want to ensure that all of their internet traffic is routed through a secure VPN server.

Speaking of servers, in addition, NordLayer provides access to a dedicated business VPN server. This dedicated server can be used for your own internal purposes. Every account is also assigned a dedicated IP address.

What distinguishes NordLayer is that its third-party authentication works with GSuite, OneLogin, Okta, and Azure.

For a business VPN user’s needs, NordLayer ticks all of the boxes. It enables remote workers to connect to the corporate on-site network via an encrypted tunnel, as well as provides site-to-site and dedicated IP options.

NordLayer also provides business-level management functions such as integration with single sign-on solutions, team permission management, and centralized billing.

When it comes to pricing, NordLayer’s pricing structure is quote-based. This pricing structure requires you to fill out a form before receiving a quote. You will be offered service options for users ranging from 5 and 51 seats.

Overall, NordLayer is a solid business VPN solution. The best part about this VPN is that it promises to help businesses that require assistance in less than three hours.

For a detailed analysis of the VPN, go through our NordVPN review.

5. CyberGhost – Bargain-priced provider for small businesses

cyberghost

  • Apps for: PC, Mac, IOS, Android, Linux
  • Money-back guarantee: 14 days
  • Ad-blocker and dedicated IPs
  • Best-in-class encryption and VPN protocols
  • Strict logging policy

CyberGhost is the best VPN for small businesses. There is no specific corporate VPN service offered by CyberGhost, but due to its cost and number of simultaneous connections, we can call it one of the best VPN for businesses.

For startups and small firms, such as those with a staff of 5-7, CyberGhost is a fantastic option. This is mostly because it supports up to 7 devices per subscription.

It works with routers and offers L2TP, OpenVPN, and IPSec connections. This indicates that you can connect more than 7 devices to your router’s app. You can call it’s router application as the best router VPN for small businesses.

CyberGhost has rapidly expanded its server fleet. There are already more than 7,000 servers spread out across 90 countries.

Moreover, businesses also benefit from the no-logs policy that prohibits the storage of data logs, as this ensures that the content of conversations will stay secret, even from company system administrators.

In terms of CyberGhost security, it makes use of SHA256 authentication, AES 256-bit encryption, and 4096-bit RSA key. In addition, there are OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP protocols.

CyberGhost is divided into four subscription plans. Among these, multiple are a practical choice for commercial users and small teams. The price is as follows:

  • 3 years + 3 months – $2.29/mo
  • 2 years – $3.25/mo
  • 1 year – $4.29/mo
  • 1 month – $12.99/mo

Apart from these prices, there is a 7-day trial period for Android and iOS mobile devices, a 24-hour trial period for Windows computers, along a 45-day money-back guarantee.

How we chose these VPNs

Although there are many VPNs available, many of them are not a good choice for small and medium-sized organizations. Using the following criteria, we were able to identify the top VPN services for businesses:

  1. Business-related attributes: The features that are crucial for a business, like as dedicated IPs, kill switches, dedicated servers, and more, should be looked for when picking a business VPN.
  2. Security: Your company faces everyday security threats from hackers, malware, and data breaches, to name just a few. Every VPN we recommend should, at the very least, provide top-notch encryption and leak protection. Many of the top VPNs for businesses, nevertheless, provide much more than this.
  3. Cloud VPN: It’s better to choose a cloud-based option when looking at VPNs for businesses due to the increased security and straightforward user management (for instance, it’s simpler to add a lot of new users).
  4. Speed: Since time equals money, a VPN’s speed is pretty crucial. We evaluated the performance of each corporate VPN by testing it out ourselves. We search for the speediest VPNs, and each one offers unlimited bandwidth.
  5. Support for a variety of devices: The VPN services selected work with a variety of operating systems and devices to secure every business-related equipment.

FAQs

Categories
Best VPNs

Best VPNs for Safari in 2022

Apple devices including the iPad, iPhone, and Mac all come with a default Safari web browser. Although it’s the most efficient browser choice for Mac users, it isn’t the most private or secure.

Thus, we advise getting one of the VPNs listed below if you want to use Safari with any of these devices. A VPN improves the security of your browsing experience by preventing your data and IP address from being seen by other users of the internet.

Therefore, in this best VPN guide, we jot down the best VPN for Safari – one that offers top-notch security features, assures complete privacy, and has the power to block even the most obtrusive advertisements and unsafe websites.

Best VPNs for Safari; Quick Overview

  1. Surfshark – Affordable Safari VPN. Budget-friendly VPN costing only $2.30/month and offering the best security, privacy, and unblocking capabilities on iOS and Mac amongst the lot.
  2. ExpressVPN – Best premium VPN. Works great with MacOS and iOS. Offers connections that are safe and private. Easily unblocks geo-blocked content and is excellent for streaming.
  3. NordVPN – Secure VPN for Safari. Incredibly fast servers for streaming and browsing. Strong security and privacy. 30-day money-back guarantee is included.
  4. CyberGhost – Easy-to-Use VPN for Safari. Offers optimized servers for streaming, torrenting, and browsing activities on macOS and iOS apps.
  5. IPVanish – Great VPN app and Price. Compatible with iOS and Mac devices. Offers decent speeds, privacy, and secure connections.

The best VPNs for Safari– Full Disclosure

Here is a list of the top 5 VPNs that we evaluated after examining a large number of them.

1. Surfshark – Affordable Safari VPN

surfshark vpn

Surfshark is the best VPN for Safari that is quite reasonably-priced. This VPN provider’s macOS app comes with a ton of features that enhances and improves your Safari browsing experience.

Along with that, the VPN also boasts 3200+ servers across 95 countries.

Although Surfshark doesn’t offer a Safari browser extension, it is simple to launch the VPN app from your Mac’s dock.

The VPN offers tons of security features, including 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and defense against WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS breaches. With the CleanWeb function, harmful websites and ads are blocked, and trackers are disabled. This function is a lifesaver given Safari’s terrible stance toward ad-blocking.

The best part is that you may connect as many devices as you like to this service, ensuring that you never have to browse the internet unsecured.

You get all this with Surfshark at a price of only $2.30/mo, backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our full Surfshark review for more details.

2. ExpressVPN – Best premium VPN

expressvpn

ExpressVPN meets the entire criteria to be the best Safari VPN. Installing the VPN app lets you to use it to secure your entire device. All of the operating systems that Safari is compatible with, including Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS, have a dedicated ExpressVPN app.

It should be noted that ExpressVPN’s software does indeed function flawlessly with Safari and offers top-notch security for iOS and Mac browsers.

ExpressVPN offers a wide variety of servers: more than 3,000 servers spread across 160 locations in 94 different countries.

Military-grade encryption is a requirement if you want to access the internet in repressive countries, which is something ExpressVPN offers. A kill switch is one of the security features that will stop all of your device’s apps from connecting to the internet if the VPN connection drops.

If you frequently use wi-fi networks in public places, then the ExpressVPN app also offers automatic wi-fi protection, which is crucial.

In short, it’s a great choice and the best VPN for Safari and Mac due it its user-friendly app. It comes at a price of only $8.32/mo along with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our full ExpressVPN review for more details.

3. NordVPN – Secure VPN for Safari

nordvpn

NordVPN is another best VPN for Safari, due to its strong encryption and robust privacy features that all combine and protect you on the browser.

To secure your Safari browser, you need to download the NordVPN app for Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS. You can manually install the VPN on Linux desktops and similar devices, and there is also an app accessible for Windows and Android.

There is no Safari browser plugin available from NordVPN. So, you can download it on the device you have the Safari browser on to make it work.

In order to keep all of your data secure and inaccessible to others, NordVPN uses military-grade AES-256 encryption. If a secure connection is lost, there is also a kill switch that will prevent you from accessing the internet.

It further offers a CyberSec feature for your Safari browser. When turned on, CyberSec prevents trackers, harmful websites, and advertisements.

NordVPN is available at a price of only $3.49/monthand has a 30-day refund policy in store to test all its features. Read our full NordVPN review for more details.

4. CyberGhost – Easy-to-Use VPN for Safari

cyberghost

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN service. Although CyberGhost can be installed on Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS, it does not have a Safari browser extension. Additionally, there are Windows and Android apps available, and Linux desktops and routers can manually install the VPN.

The service allows you access to a vast and secure server network in more than 80 countries. Moreover, it offers dedicated streaming, torrenting, and gaming servers for optimized speeds on Safari.

Through its 256 AES encryption, which protects against risks lurking in cyberspace, CyberGhost offers a safe connection to the internet. The VPN also offers a kill switch and automatic wi-fi protection, so your data never leaks on public wi-fi.

Moreover, you also get an ad-blocker to block all intrusive ads appearing on the sites you visit.

This VPN is available at a price of only $2.29/month and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is way more than what the other VPNs on our list offer.

5. IPVanish – Great VPN app and Price

ipvanishIPVanish offers a reliable VPN app and offers servers in 75+ locations.

Although it doesn’t have a Safari extension, it does provide an app for Mac OS X, macOS, and iOS operating systems that, if installed on those devices, will secure your browser traffic.

The VPN is situated in the United States, where data interception by law enforcement organizations like the NSA is well known.

However, you can put your trust in IPVanish when it comes to online security. To protect the privacy and security of all of your data, it provides a powerful 256-bit AES encryption.

The fact that the VPN service keeps no logs is a crucial privacy element. Kill switch and automatic wi-fi protection are features of the IPVanish apps that will stop internet snoopers from identifying your actual IP address.

This VPN comes at a cost of only $3.75/month, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How did we choose the best VPNs for Safari?

We put multiple VPNs to test in order to uncover the best VPNs for Safari. After all, not every VPN provides browser-compatible apps. Some can seem to be too slow or unsecure. Here are all the factors we chose to test our list of VPNs on:

  • iOS and macOS compatibility: Since all of the VPNs in this article offer iOS and Mac apps, they can all be used to encrypt both Safari browser traffic and apps on these devices. In case you want to safeguard a few additional devices, they also include applications for Windows, Linux, and Android.
  • Server network: To circumvent censorship and geographic restrictions, many people use VPNs. As a result, it’s critical that a VPN offer servers in numerous countries, including the UK, US, and Australia.
  • Unblocking: It’s more difficult to unblock some websites and services than others. Due to the fact that some VPN IP addresses are actively blacklisted. Our research has revealed the top Safari VPNs for getting around the strictest restrictions, including those imposed by streaming services like Hulu and HBO Max.
  • Speeds: Some VPNs have speed differences that are quite noticeable. When streaming or downloading, you’ll notice the difference even though it might not seem like much of a change when you’re just surfing. This is why ensured listing down only the VPN services offering fast speeds to users.
  • Security: The internet traffic between your browsing device and the Internet is supposed to be secured by a VPN. Surprisingly, some people don’t succeed in doing this! You can be confident, though, as each of the VPNs listed above offers a kill switch, AES 256-bit encryption, and DNS leak protection. 

Do you really need for VPN for Safari?

This internet is not a safe place as it is. And therefore, you need a VPN for Safari. Here are all the reasons for this:

  • Privacy: Like most popular search engines, Safari records all your browsing activities. Even if you enable Private Browsing, your ISP and everyone else can see what you accessed. This is why you need a VPN for Safari. A VPN will encrypt all you data and make it invisible for everyone.
  • Security: It’s pretty dangerous when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network. Even if you’re performing harmless activities, your data is always at high risk. It’s very easy for hackers to steal your credit card details or use your device for crimes. A VPN adds an extra layer of security so it’s difficult for everyone to intercept your traffic.
  • Ad-blocking: The best VPN for Safari, like Surfshark offers an ad-blocking feature. And you actually need the functionality after Apple’s update on the ad-blocking policies of Safari in 2018. Since most ad-blocking extensions were discontinued, it’s crucial using a VPN with an ad-blocker to avoid annoying ads and trackers.

How do you use a VPN with Safari?

Here is how you can use a VPN with Safari:

  1. Select a VPN that offers a dedicated macOS or iOS app. We recommend Surfshark.
  2. Download and install the VPN on your Mac/iOS device.
  3. Connect to any VPN server.
  4. Launch Safari and enjoy!

FAQs

Can I use a free VPN with Safari?

Avoid using free VPN services whenever possible. There is no best free VPN extension for Safari that will fully preserve your privacy. Some free VPNs are frauds that gather your personal information through their VPN apps and sell it to marketers rather than securing it.

Without encryption, a VPN is not a VPN, yet strangely, many free VPNs offer no encryption at all. These services deceive you into believing you are safe while actually being risky.

Free VPNs are alluring, but they typically waste time. We do not advise wasting valuable internet time looking for the best free VPN for Safari.

If you really want to use a VPN without any cost, then you can try out our best VPN for Safari free by opting for its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is there a built-in VPN in Safari?

Yes, even though Safari has Apple Private Relay as a built-in VPN, a separate VPN service may still be preferable.

While you can’t get the best VPN extension for Safari since most VPNs do not offer any, you can simply download a VPN app on your device and keep yourself secure on the Safari browser.

Some more blogs for you!

Categories
Best VPNs

Best VPNs for Nvidia Shield TV in 2022

The Nvidia Shield is a set-top box that works with any HDMI-equipped TV and is powered by Android TV. The gadget delivers HD and 4K streaming media from the most well-known providers, as well as a large selection of Google Play Store apps and games.

However, its content is typically restricted by geographical constraints. Although streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney Plus are easily accessible via the Shield, the content that is available depends on which state the owner is located in.

Thankfully, it is possible to unblock this geo-restricted content through a VPN.

In this best VPN article, you’ll learn what is the best VPN for Nvidia Shield? You’ll also get a fairly straightforward tutorial to install the VPN on your Shield TV through “The Google Play Store” and “The APK approach.”.

Best VPNs for Nvidia Shield; Quick Overview

  1. Surfshark – Affordable Nvidia Shield VPN. Many servers and swift connections. No-logs policy. Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime on Nvidia Shield. Costs only $2.30/month.
  2. ExpressVPN – Best premium VPN. Speedy servers in 94 countries, strong security, and the ability to safely browse a variety of streaming websites.
  3. NordVPN – Secure VPN for Shield TV. A VPN that offers tons of advanced security features and doesn’t log user data.
  4. CyberGhost – Simplest VPN for Nvidia Shield. At a fair price, you get great security and speeds. Makes it simple to stream your favorite platforms.
  5. IPVanish – Great VPN app and Price. Excellent for streaming along with quick connections. Strong encryption and no logs.

The best VPNs for Nvidia Shield TV – our detailed list:

1. Surfshark – Affordable Nvidia Shield VPN

surfshark vpn

Surfshark is the best VPN for Nvidia Shield, and the most affordable one as well!

It’s also the one that allows unlimited device connections. This means that you can use Surfshark on as many PCs, TVs, cellphones, and Shield devices as you’d want.

Surfshark has you covered when it comes to your Nvidia Shield because it provides native app compatibility for Android TV devices. Just download the app from the Google Play Store and you’re all set to stream on your Nvidia Shield!

Moreover, the service also provides apps for devices running Linux, iOS, Fire OS, Android, macOS, and Windows.

Surfshark is ideal for unblocking all of your preferred streaming websites. If you want to stream BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, or Netflix Korea, it has you covered with access to 3200+ servers in 95 countries.

unblock-bbc-iplayer-with-surfshark

This VPN protects you from prying eyes by using AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, kill switch, and DNS/IP leak protection.

Additionally, it offers CleanWeb for ad blocking, as well as a NoBorders Mode that allows you to get around national internet censorship.

If you ask us, then Surfshark is definitely the best VPN for Nvidia Shield TV. The VPN costs only $2.30/mo and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for service testing purposes.

You can get to know more about the VPN service from our Surfshark review.

2. ExpressVPN – Best premium VPN

expressvpn

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Nvidia Shield Android TV that gives your device access to geo-restricted content and complete online protection.

The service provider offers access to content from all around the world through dependable, secure, and quick connections.

Nvidia Shield users can download the ExpressVPN software from the Google Play Store. The provider also has apps for Amazon FireStick, Chromebook, macOS, Android, Linux, and Windows.

With the service, you can use up to 5 devices at once. Moreover, the VPN’s recently updated router firmware allows you to quickly secure all of your connected devices.

ExpressVPN is proud of its quick connection times and strong security. Numerous international streaming services, including as Netflix, Hulu, CraveTV, BBC iPlayer, and DAZN, are safe to use access with this VPN.

expressvpn-works-with-bbc-iplayer

ExpressVPN is not only quick; it is also safe. It includes the fastest VPN protocol available, Lightway, as well as strong AES-256 encryption to protect your data. Additionally, it has a kill switch feature that you can configure to disconnect you from the internet immediately if the VPN loses connection.

ExpressVPN is expensive, but considering everything it delivers, it’s well worth it. You can get it at a price of only $8.32/mo along with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

You can get to know more about the VPN service from our ExpressVPN review.

3. NordVPN – Secure VPN for Shield TV

nordvpn

NordVPN is a great choice for owners of Nvidia Shield looking for the robust VPN protection on their devices.

You can simply get NordVPN’s app from the Google Play Store that works with the Nvidia Shield. Moreover, NordVPN’s website offers an APK file that may be sideloaded onto your Shield.

Additionally, the service provides apps for the majority of other widely used platforms, including iOS, Linux, Android, Windows, and macOS with native Apple Silicon compatibility. Additionally, the VPN provides thorough router support.

With more than 5500 servers spread across more than 60 countries, NordVPN is excellent for safely viewing video streaming services like Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports, and Hulu.

nordvpn-unblocked-hulu

As for security, the DoubleVPN function of NordVPN is one way the service adds security. This dual encryption, also known as VPN server chaining, improves your security, particularly when torrenting on an Nvidia Shield.

All in all, NordVPN is a secure choice for Nvidia Shield. It costs only $3.49/month and allows users to test the service with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

You can get to know more about the VPN service from our NordVPN review.

4. CyberGhost – Simplest VPN for Nvidia Shield

cyberghost

CyberGhost is the right VPN choice for Nvidia Shield customers who have little to no prior VPN experience. The provider’s apps provide the best protection possible without requiring extensive settings.

CyberGhost’s Android app is easily accessible from the Google Play Store and functions nicely on the Nvidia Shield. For the majority of widely used device platforms, such as Windows, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, macOS, and Android, CyberGhost also offers user-friendly apps.

On a single account, it allows you to connect up to 7 devices at the same time.

CyberGhost is just what you to unblock a variety of content. The VPN features specialized servers that have been optimized for various tasks, including streaming. Except for CyberGhost, only NordVPN offers specialty servers on our list. Compare NordVPN and CyberGhost to find out which offers better specialized servers.

You may unblock just about every website you can think of when you enter the server list. You’ll notice particular options for different platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

unblock-netflix-with-cyberghost

CyberGhost supports multiple security features and protocols, including WireGuard and IKv2 protocols and IP leak protection.

Split tunnelling is also supported by CyberGhost using which you may choose which of your apps use the VPN and which remain on your standard internet connection using this option.

All in all, it’s the best VPN client for Nvidia Shield for all novice VPN users. It costs only $2.29/month and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

5. IPVanish – Great VPN app and Price

ipvanish

The greatest VPN on our list, IPVanish, works with every add-on you can think of, making it my final choice for Nvidia Shield. This means that whenever you want, you may use your Nvidia Shield to enjoy Kodi and all of its add-ons!

For owners of Nvidia Shield, IPVanish includes a native Android TV app, just as the other VPN providers mentioned. It also has an Android TV APK if you’d rather sideload the app.

You may install the VPN on any device with IPVanish’s unlimited device connection advantage, just like Surfshark. But, which one of the two VPN is better? Find it out in our Surfshark vs. IPVanish comparison.

IPVanish offers over 2000 in 75+ different locations. This means that you can enjoy unblocking all your favorite streaming platforms on Nvidia Shield with these servers, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Eurosport, ORF, TVNZ, and more.

ipvanish-unblocked-netflix-australia

IPVanish offers a strict no-logs policy despite it being situated in the US and a founding member of the Five Eyes Alliance. Using this VPN, customers can also turn on OpenVPN traffic scrambling to get around firewalls that obstruct VPN connections.

On Android devices, split tunnelling is also available for deciding which apps should use the VPN connection.

Finally, IPVanish is available at a price of only $3.75/month and comes with a 30-day refund policy. And with its Kodi compatibility, we can call it the best VPN for Nvidia Shield and Kodi.

What to look for in an Nvidia Shield VPN?

There are several top-notch VPN services available, but what factors make them suitable for Nvidia Shield TV users? Here are some features to watch out for:

  • Support for Android TV: The best VPN for Nvidia Shield client ought to offer a native Android app for Android-powered TVs.
  • Streaming: You may definitely benefit from Nvidia Shield more if you use a VPN that’s effective for streaming. You will have access to streaming services everywhere, regardless of where you are.
  • Speed: The VPN must be fast for the Nvidia Shield to perform at its best. To achieve the fastest performance on your TV, use a VPN that supports swift tunneling protocols, such as WireGuard.
  • Security: To keep you safe and anonymous at all times, the VPNs above provide exceptional security features including kill switches, AES 256-bit encryption, no log policies, and ad-blockers.
  • Price: Value for VPNs is essential. As a result, we only suggest VPN services that are economical and whose cost is reasonable given their level of service and the features they provide. You may test out each VPN on our list risk-free because they all include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to install a VPN on Nvidia Shield TV

There are two basic techniques to download a VPN on Nvidia Shield. These include the Google Play Store method and the APK method. Let’s check them out below:

Installing a VPN app via Google Play

  1. Subscription to a VPN like Surfshark.
  2. Fire up Nvidia Shield and navigate to the Apps menu.
  3. Visit the Google Play Store and find the Surfshark app.
  4. Install the VPN, open the app, and sign in.
  5. Connect to any server and unblock geo-restricted content easily!

Installing a VPN using an APK file (sideloading)

For this method, you’d require using your laptop and a USB drive. Now, let’s get into the steps:

  1. On your laptop/PC, open your browser and visit the website of your VPN provider.
  2. Install your VPN’s APK file on your USB. If you’re unable to find the APK page of your VPN, just ask their customer service for it.
  3. Then, eject the USB from your laptop once downloaded.
  4. Go to your Nvidia Shield and visit Settings > Security and Restrictions.
  5. Enable Unknown Sources and press OK if you get a warning.
  6. Then, visit the Google Play Store.
  7. Look for and choose ES File Explorer/FX File Explorer.
  8. On the page of the app, tap on Install and click Accept for the app permissions.
  9. Insert your USB in the Shield.
  10. Open the file explorer that you downloaded and go to the USB file.
  11. Visit the APK file from the website of the provider.
  12. Click Open when it’s installed.

FAQs

How do I stream American Netflix on Nvidia Shield?

Although Nvidia Shield TV is a powerful gadget, by default it prevents access to American Netflix outside of the US. By using a VPN to fake your IP and pretending to be in the United States, you can circumvent this geographic restriction.

Can I use a free VPN with Nvidia Shield?

There are a few free VPNs in the Google Play Store, but we do not advise using them. Free VPN services frequently have overloaded servers which are too slow for video streaming.

Free VPNs frequently earn money by collecting your data and selling it to advertising, which goes against the privacy that a reliable VPN ought to offer. Some even contain viruses, notably those for Android.

These are all the reasons why you need to avoid the best free VPN for Nvidia Shield. For a more seamless experience,  better privacy, fast speeds, and customer support that is available when you need it, stick with a premium VPN like Surfshark.

How do I use NordVPN on Nvidia Shield?

  1. On your Nvidia Shield, visit the Google Play Store and look for Surfshark.
  2. Click install once you find it.
  3. Open the app and sign in using your credentials.
  4. Connect to any server and enjoy!

Which Nvidia Shield version is the best?

If you worry regarding expandable storage, utilising your Shield TV as a Plex server, and caring about NVIDIA’s gaming options, the Shield TV Pro is the best option. It provides extra networking possibilities and functions as a SmartThings hub.

Conclusion

That’s all. We’ve highlighted the two methods for downloading the VPN onto your device as well as the best VPN for Nvidia Shield in our guide.

As we also noted, using the best free VPN Nvidia Shield TV could degrade or otherwise impair the whole experience, so your best chance for secure and fluid streaming is to stick with the VPN providers on our list.

With that stated, Surfshark is unquestionably the best service for your Nvidia Shield. It provides the most user-friendly Android TV apps and the greatest security features.

Some more blogs for you!