Users are increasingly using VPNs to maintain their safety on the web, as well as to protect their private information. Among several VPN services available online, VPNBook is a small freemium service that doesn’t require that you create an account. It rather publishes the details needed to connect to its VPN so that anyone can use the software with it.
Despite its limited server capacity and the lack of dedicated applications, it is known to offer average speeds and unblock geo-restricted video streaming services.
VPNBook Overview
- Domain Name: vpnbook.com
- VPN server locations: Europe/North America
- VPN Servers: 7
- Encryption: AES-256-bit
- Offered Protocols: OpenVPN, PPTP
- Speed: Average
- Compatibility: Windows, Android, Apple
VPNBook Review
Its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland – VPNBook reminds of a traditional VPN service. There is no customized software provided on the site. The service can either be accessed via the built-in PPTP protocol of the majority of operating systems, as well as via the open-source, free software OpenVPN or other apps that support it.
Using VPNBook services, you will be able to bypass state censorship of social media and news sites. Streaming media services like Hulu and Netflix can also be unblocked with it.
With VPNBook, you get a totally free VPN connection. The service has no subscription fee. Ads and donations support the service. However, you must update your network password regularly to continue using the service. The password changes every week or every two weeks. Their FAQ explains that this is for server security & to ensure only active users can take advantage of the free service.
VPNBook offers both VPN and proxy services.
VPNBook Servers
Currently, VPNBook has seven servers located in 5 distinct countries. Three of these servers are located in North America, while four are in Europe. Every server has its own custom hardware, which has been optimized for speed. Cloud-based IP content delivery networks (CDNs) are part of their network, which allows them to route Internet traffic intelligently to offer “maximum speed” to their customers. Additionally, they have a local backup in case their CDN fails.
Below are the server locations:
- North America – United States (US1 and US2), Canada (C.A.),
- Europe – France (F.R.), Romania (Euro2, Euro1), Germany (D.E.), Poland
OpenVPN and PPTP protocols are supported by the VPNBook servers network. However, P2P traffic can only be sent through the company’s Euro VPN servers, located in Romania. That is due to their favorable laws regarding the Internet. Additionally, you can use them to bypass censorship imposed by ISPs and enjoy a more relaxed Internet experience.
The other servers provide quick accessibility to geo-restricted websites and offer optimal performance for web surfing. With them, you can access streaming content on websites like Netflix and Hulu in the U.S. and other countries that restrict access to streaming media.
VPNBook Security
AES encryption and OpenVPN connectivity are the only additional security features that VPNBook offers. Generally, VPN providers offer and support a wide range of protocols, but VPNBook only offers OpenVPN and PPTP here.
Although not all devices support OpenVPN, it is a popular and secure protocol. PPTP, on the other hand, is not secure and can be avoided due to its age. If you choose the OpenVPN protocol, VPNBook lets you select between 128-bit and 256-bit encryption. When connecting via PPTP, VPNBook uses the old AES-128-bit encryption.
VPNBook Speed
In terms of speed, VPNBook surpasses other free VPN services. However, free VPN services, in general, perform less effectively than paid VPN services – and VPNBook is not an exception. It has an average speed. Speed and performance are metrics that require serious investment in software, and these are the least to be expected from free VPN providers.
Still, VPNBook states that it has no bandwidth limit and that its VPN servers are built for performance. The VPN servers run on their own dedicated hardware, which aids in achieving optimum connection speed. The company claims that its VPN servers are properly optimized to maximize your connection speed while allowing you to browse the Internet anonymously.
VPNBook Policies & Logging
Security policies protect the provider’s customers. VPN providers create comprehensive protection policies that enhance the safety and security of their clients. VPNBook offers the following customer protection policies:
Privacy policy
VPNBook collects no personal information. The only information it collects is your I.P. address and the time your connection started. Logging this information helps prevent fraudulent activities and ensures that legitimate users have access to services.
Refund policy
For its dedicated VPN services, VPNBook offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
No-logging policy
VPNBook does not monitor any information about your online activity. It does, however, record the time and I.P. address when you connect, which is automatically removed every week.
VPNBook has a no-logging policy and doesn’t store a lot of your personal information; however, it doesn’t state whether or not it shares your personal information with third parties. As VPNBook’s VPN services are based on advertisements and donations, this can be a potential problem.
No applications
Despite its lack of applications, VPNBook’s simplicity, and functionality can sometimes be considered an advantage. It is a good tool for users who know how to use a file system.
However, if we view VPNBook as a simple and convenient way to protect data and mask I.P. addresses, by using it, users are putting themselves at a serious disadvantage. As VPNBook is quite difficult to use. You have to download it, unpack it, and copy something in contrast to other VPNs that can be accessed in a matter of seconds. Also, VPNBook may not be configured in some cases if an archiving decompressor is not present in the user’s computer or if user rights are restricted.
VPNBook Proxy Service
In addition to their free VPN service, VPNBook offers a web proxy service that is also free of charge. VPNBook’s proxy servers encrypt your data using 256-bit SSL and use the proxy server’s I.P. address as yours. To use the VPNBook Proxy:
- Open your browser and navigate to https://www.vpnbook.com/webproxy.
- Enter the website’s address you want to unblock in the URL bar displayed on the next page.
- To establish the connection with the proxy server, select it from the drop-down menu. There are five choices: Random Proxy, Canada Proxy, U.S. Proxy, U.K. Proxy, and France Proxy.
- Click on the Go button. The proxy server connects you to the requested website.
VPNBook Pricing and Plans
VPNBook is a free (freemium) service that offers multiple features without additional charges. The VPN does not require any subscriptions or pricing plans, and users do not need to register. With just a click, you can connect to the “Free” service and choose the protocols you want to use.
The plans include a:
- OpenVPN
- PPTP VPN
P2P servers can also be added to these plans.
Dedicated IP VPN Services
There is a feature of VPNBook that is monetized. The company offers dedicated IP VPN services for businesses, commercial enterprises, and premium consumers. With this service, you get a separate CPU core, memory, and a dedicated bandwidth of 500GB or more per month for each user. Additionally, you can concurrently connect up to 5 devices, such as computers, tablets, mobile phones, and all supported devices.
For this service, VPNBook bills $7.95 per month with a 30-day refund policy. Almost any major credit card can be used to purchase it: American Express, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard. Additionally, you can also pay with a PayPal account.
It is compatible with P2P, VoIP, and online games. In addition, the service supports user-defined OpenVPN protocols (default ports: UDP53/TCP443). Server locations include
- Canada
- Netherlands – P2P not permitted.
- United States – P2P not permitted.
- United States – P2P not permitted.
VPNBook Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, VPNBook doesn’t do a very good job. There is no live chat support, and you can only reach the company via email on their contact page. You must provide your name and email address if you submit a query via the contact form. Only the following sections provide content-based support:
- FAQ
- Set up guides
- News
Since VPNBook lacks a blog, live chat, and knowledge base, we can only conclude that its customer support is below-average.
Conclusion
With VPNBook, you get more than a free VPN service. There are some great features VPNBook offers as a free VPN service. For starters, you can use it to hide your online activity. However, since it runs its services based on advertising, personal information probably won’t be kept private.
As its downsides, a few major features are missing from VPNBook, such as a kill switch and leak protection. Besides, they don’t have a large server network. And due to the small number of servers it has, it is unsuitable for geoblocking. Customer support is insufficient. VPNBook does not disclose whether it shares your data with third parties despite its no-logging policy.
Overall, VPNBook is an okay VPN provider but not reliable enough to consistently rely on.