Where VyprVPN Started
With technology becoming more and more advanced, our privacy and the protection of our information is in jeopardy more than ever. In fact, it was an incident called Room 641a that first prompted Golden Frog, the parent company of VyprVPN to get into the business of internet security. During this event, it was discovered that the NSA was actually performing surveillance on AT&T’s network, creating a huge invasion of privacy.
Rather than wait for the government to respond to this event, Ron and Carolyn Yokubaitis created Golden Frog, and eventually VyprVPN. Golden Frog chose to be located in Switzerland as Switzerland’s privacy laws align with privacy values of Golden Frog. The Yokubaitis’s can boast extensive experience, having been in the business of public internet since 1994.
Features and Benefits of VyprVPN
With the passion and experience that the Yokubaitis’s have, it is reasonable to have high expectations for their VPN. Below, we will dig into the features that make up VyprVPN and how it stacks up against other VPNs.
Easy To Download and Use
One area that really makes VyprVPN stand out is in its usability. It has a simple interface making it easy to understand and navigate. Even the least technological person could figure out how to operate this application.
VyprVPN downloads quickly after agreeing to their terms and is set up and ready to use in no time. The main screen is plain, yet changes colors to show when you are connected and disconnected to the VPN. If you want an app that is straight-forward and easy to download and use, the VyprVPN is a great option.
Available Across Multiple Platforms
If you are concerned VyprVPN may not work with your device, then you can rest assured. VyprVPN is compatible with major devices including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. In addition, VyprVPN allows you to anonymize your Apple TV, Android TV, and even your router.
When paying for a VPN, it is also nice to know you are able to connect multiple devices. Fortunately, VyprVPN allows you to connect five different devices on their premium plan, placing this plan right in the middle of most VPNs. Some VPNs allow as many as ten connections, while others as few as three.
Several Server Locations
Another sign of a good VPN is the amount of servers and server locations. The more servers your VPN has, the less likely speeds will be slowed or servers bogged down. In addition, you may be able to access more content, depending on which countries the servers are located in.
When you sign up with VyprVPN, you are getting more than 700 servers in over 70 different countries. In addition, they offer over 200,000 IP addresses for additional security. Server switching is also available to discourage unavailable and overloaded servers.
DNS Servers
Along with an excellent network of servers, VyprVPN also owns and operates their own DNS servers, called VyprDNS. Unlike other VPNs, they refuse to use DNS servers through 3rd parties, allowing your information to be even more private and secure. With VyprDNS, only VyprVPN users have access to this DNS system and it is in use whenever a subscriber is connected to the VPN.
Logging Policy
Another benefit of using a VPN is having no record of your information, including search times and browsing history. While most VPNs commit to protecting your privacy by not keeping logs, it is always best to check the fine print. I was pleased to see that although VyprVPN used to keep logs for a specific period of time, they have since updated their policy and are officially a “no logging” VPN.
The New Policy
When reviewing the new policy of VyprVPN, I was really impressed by their commitment to the privacy of their customers. They commit to not tracking IP addresses, connection and disconnection times, a user’s traffic, content of communication, or any DNS requests. In addition, they make it clear that they do throttle internet connections and are overall committed to being a neutral network.
Bandwidth
Since some VPNs restrict bandwidth, it’s nice to know that VyprVPN isn’t one of them. When you choose either plan, or just the three day trial, you will have unlimited bandwidth to do your browsing, streaming, or downloading. This allows for faster speeds and more efficient navigation.
Eliminates Censorship
Although not an issue in all countries, in some, like Iran, North Korea, and China, citizens have to deal with severe restrictions to their internet access. This is where secure VPNs can play a significant role. To effectively combat censorship, VyprVPN has created Chameleon.
What is Chameleon?
With Chameleon, you are getting an added layer of protection in order to keep your information private from deep packet inspections. First, Chameleon muddles any Open VPN packet metadata. It employs a 256-bit encryption for underlying data allowing this VPN to get around government, business, or ISP restrictions.
Despite this added layer of security, Chameleon still allows for quick speeds and efficient browsing. Currently, it is available on all servers in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Interested customers will only have access to Chameleon with the premium subscription.
Entertainment and Media Streaming
Another primary use of a VPN service is for the accessing of entertainment sites or media streaming, specifically Netflix. While many of these sites are continuing to crack down on VPNs, the number of VPNs that can actually access sites like Netflix are dwindling. So how did VyprVPN stack up when put to the Netflix test?
Does Netflix Work?
Though not every server worked, VyprVPN was able to connect to Netflix on two out of five servers. Compared to other VPNs, this is actually considered a successful rate. Both servers that worked were located in the US, so that is something to keep in mind if trying to use streaming through VyprVPN.
Though VyprVPN doesn’t put a lot of focus on specific media streaming sites, they do allow it with some conditions. Specifically, they like for their customers to have accounts with these sites and to not access them illegally, which is a fair request. They also share this view on downloading torrents, as we will explore a little further on.
Security Features
The top concern for any VPN, and any customer of a VPN, ultimately comes down to privacy and the features in place to protect your information. The more layers of protection, the more secure customers can feel with their chosen VPN. So what features does VyprVPN employ to keep our information safe and out of harmful hands?
Encryption
When first looking at their encryption, things look pretty good. VyprVPN employs the AES-256 bit encryption key. This is the industry standard encryption and it is one of the most secure. It is so secure, in fact, that many government and military agencies choose to use this encryption, as well.
Kill Switch
Next on the list, is the kill switch, which VyprVPN does have. A kill switch is put in place just in case your VPN connection is ever disconnected or disabled. If this happens, a kill switch will immediately block all internet traffic coming to and from your device, making sure your location and information stays concealed.
Own and Operate Their Servers
Another excellent feature of VyprVPN is the fact that they own and operate their entire network of servers. This includes their own DNS servers through VyprDNS, as previously mentioned. With VyprVPN, the servers are kept in-house, keeping your information secure and subjected to the same privacy protection VyprVPN commits to.
Leak Protection
Because VyprVPN has their own DNS servers, DNS leaks are not much of an issue. When tested, this claim rang true. A DNS leak test confirmed that VyprVPN had no DNS leaks and in addition, had no IP leaks.
Customer Service
Another important factor when searching for a VPN is customer service. If you don’t consider yourself to be “techy,” getting started with a VPN can be a challenge and require additional help. Fortunately, with VyprVPN, you have plenty of resources.
First, you will notice a live chat feature at the bottom of VyprVPN’s website. If emailing is more of your style, you can submit a request on their support page or browse the content they have there. When tested, VyprVPN’s support crew was extremely responsive, at times replying to email requests as quickly as ten minutes.
Affordability
With most VPNs, you get a “one size fits all” subscription. This means you choose your subscription length and have access to all of the features that VPN offers. VyprVPN, however, provides options in the form of two different subscription plans.
With the basic plan, you get the features of VyprVPN on three different devices. With the premium subscription, however, you can use VyprVPN with five devices and have access to the Chameleon Protocol and VyprVpn Cloud. The Chameleon Protocol, as mentioned earlier, helps you to bypass strict censorship, while the Cloud gives you access to your own cloud VPN server.
The Price
When you look at the actual price of VyprVPN, it is slightly higher than other VPNs, but still affordable, with the yearly subscription, on average, being a little less. If you go with a month-to-month plan, the basic subscription is $9.95 a month, while the premium is $12.95 a month. With the yearly subscription, you will only pay $5.00 a month for the basic and $6.67 per month for the premium.
Drawbacks to the VyprVPN
With any service, there are bound to be some drawbacks, and with VyprVPN, it’s no different. Before you take the leap to using this VPN, be sure to check out some of the downsides to using VyprVPN.
Torrenting is Discouraged
Another major selling point of VPNs is the ability to download torrents and P2P, or peer-to-peer, sharing. Several VPNs claim to not monitor your browsing or downloading history, therefore making torrenting acceptable, and sometimes even encouraged. While VyprVPN holds true to this as well, some users reported one small hiccup.
Several VyprVPN users have reported having their account suspended as a result of copyright infringement, or downloading copyrighted material. While true that customers should not be downloading this type of content, it’s concerning that VyprVPN was able to discover who was accessing this material with their strict “no log” policy.
However, with current changes to their privacy policy, torrenting may become more encouraged and safer for VyprVPN users.
Not Compatible With TOR
If you are looking for added anonymity, you may be disappointed to discover that VyprVPN is not compatible with TOR at this time. Though their security and Chameleon system seem to be highly secure, it’s easy to see why some customers. This is especially true for those in heavily censored countries would want more protection.
If you are able to get past TOR, VyprVPN does work with Anonabox for added security and peace of mind.
Few Connections on the Basic Plan
If you are serious about searching for security and anonymity, you are going to want to make sure that you are secure across all of your devices. In today’s world, everything connects to the internet. Our computers, tablets, phones, TVs, and gaming systems, just to name a few. Not to mention having multiples of these devices if you have a family.
With all of these, it’s important that your VPN can connect to them. That is where VyprVPN falls short. Yes, you do get five connections with their premium plan, but if you are wanting just the basic plan, you are stuck with only three connections. Unfortunately, this causes VyprVPN to lose some appeal as there are other VPNs at a similar price point and level of security offering more connections.
No Money-Back Guarantee
If you think that VyprVPN is the VPN you want to go with. I would strongly encourage doing the three-day free trial. While most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee after 30, 60, or even 90 days, this is not the case for VyprVPN. Therefore, it’s important to explore this VPN service during the three-day free trial, as once you subscribe, you will not be able to get your money back.
No Anonymous Payments
Another drawback of VyprVPN is the fact that they don’t allow for anonymous payments. While most VPNs allow for cryptocurrency and gift cards to protect your privacy, this is not the case for VyprVPN. So even though they have a great “no log” policy, be aware that this VPN will have your financial information when you subscribe.
VyprVPN Overview
When it comes to VPNs, there is a lot of information to take it, especially when it comes to security and features. Let’s recap all the benefits and drawbacks of using VyprVPN:
Benefits of VyprVPN
The features and benefits of VyprVPN is quite extensive, including:
- Excellent Security – employs the AES-256 bit encryption, has a kill switch, the Chameleon protocol, and operates own servers
- No Logging Policy
- Easy to download and use
- Efficient customer service – includes easy-to-access information
- Affordable – provides a basic and premium plan with a monthly or yearly subscription
- Provides several servers – over 700 servers in more than 70 countries
- Offers unlimited bandwidth
- Available across multiple platforms with five connections under the premium plan
- Allows for media streaming – has the ability to unblock Netflix with some servers
Disadvantages of VyprVPN
Despite the list of benefits of VyprVPN, there are a few disadvantages that need to be weighed prior to pulling the trigger on this service:
- Torrenting is allowed, but monitored for copyrighted material
- Device connections are extremely limited on the basic plan – the plan only allows three connected devices
- There is no money-back guarantee
- No anonymous payments – cryptocurrency and gift cards are not accepted
Is VyprVPN Worth It?
Whether VyprVPN is worth it really comes down to your priorities for wanting a VPN service. Its security features are excellent, with top-level encryption, a kill switch, and the Chameleon protocol to combat censorship. VyprVPN owns all of its servers, including their DNS servers, which adds another layer of protection.
They offer their customers a vast server network in several different countries and some of their servers can even access Netflix. Their customer service is excellent and you can use this VPN on several platforms. VyprVPN offers unlimited bandwidth, with comparable speeds, and stability.
The Downside
Even with these great features, I’m not sure VyprVPN is really the best deal you can get when it comes to a quality VPN.
The Cost
First, though affordable, it costs more than other VPNs. When you look at VyprVPN individually, it’s not expensive. However, when you compare it to other VPNs, the price stands out, especially at the yearly subscription level. Couple that with the fact that you only get three to five device connections and it really falls short of other VPNs.
Torrenting
A huge factor for VPN users is the ability to download torrents. While VyprVPN claims to support this, they have had a history of suspending users who download certain material. This seems to completely defy the privacy policy and ultimately the purpose of a VPN.
Anonymity Issues
While it is encouraging to see that VyprVPN has recently updated their privacy policy and is working toward greater anonymity, it’s an issue that they don’t allow for anonymous payments. As a company that supports the protection of your privacy and security of your information, it is bizarre that they have yet to get on board with other VPNs and allow cryptocurrency. Hopefully, this is something VyprVPN will assess and make changes to in the future.
Final Judgement
While VyprVPN really does have excellent privacy and protection of your information, there are other VPNs that offer the same protection at better prices. If you still want to give VyprVPN a shot, however, their three-day free trial is your best option. Take a few days to explore all they have to offer and decide for yourself if this is the VPN for you.
Alternatives to VyprVPN
Any time you are researching a product, it’s a good practice to check out the competition. In doing so, you are not only learning what is out there, but you are discovering if the product you are considering is truly the best bang for your buck. The following are just a few alternatives to VyprVPN.
ExpressVPN
One VPN consistently at the top of most reviews is ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is known for its speed, but has a lot of other great features as well, including over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. ExpressVPN has excellent security, allows torrenting, unblocks Netflix, has a no logs policy and is easy to use.
Price Point
With the speeds of ExpressVPN and the numerous features, it shouldn’t be too shocking that you are going to pay a higher price. For a month-to-month subscription, expect to pay around $12.95 per month, while a 6-month subscription drops to $9.99 per month and a 12-month subscription $8.32. Though this may seem high, if you value this VPN’s efficiency and features, you may not mind paying a little extra.
NordVPN
If you’re looking for a VPN with an even greater number of servers in over 60 countries, then NordVPN might be for you. This VPN has over 5,000 servers, great speed, allows torrenting, has a double data encryption, a no logs policy, and even works with Netflix. With NordVPN, it’s hard to find any downfalls with this software.
Price Point
As with most VPNs, the longer you subscribe to NordVPN, the greater your savings will be. If you plan to go month-to-month, expect to pay close to $12 per month. However, if in the market for a longer subscription, a one-year plan will cost $6.99 per month, a two-year plan $3.99 per month, and a three-year $2.99 per month.
Surfshark
If you are looking for an extremely affordable VPN option, Surfshark may be it. Surfshark has great safety features, a strict no logs policy, allows torrents, unblocks netflix, is simple to use and even allows unlimited devices. Though they have great speed, you may find it inconsistent, as well as, slow customer support through email.
Price Point
Even with a few drawbacks, you can’t beat the price of Surfshark. As with most VPNs, the month-to-month plan is $12.95 per month. However, if you are willing to commit to longer, the two-year plan is only $2.49 per month, while the three year plan is $1.94 per month.
