VyprVPN Review 2020

VyprVPN is a mainstay in the industry and is part of Swiss company GoldenFrog.
Although GoldenFrog is a privacy-centric company, in the past, VyprVPN’s logging policy has turned away more privacy-conscious users.
I’ve had reservations about VyprVPN, but with a revamped service I was intrigued to see if my concerns had been addressed, not least this VPN’s attitude towards torrenting (more on this later).

In my VyprVPN review I’ll dig in to the details of what I like about this provider and what concerns me.

But first here’s the key data and performance scores we compiled on VyprVPN.

VyprVPN key data

* Average speed over multiple global locations based across multiple speed tests per day.

I’ve been using VyprVPN day-to-day over recent months to see how it compared to the dozens of other VPNs I’ve used. As part of the process I’ve subjected the service to the usual barrage of tests I put VPNs through. These include:

• Speed tests
• Leak tests (IP leaks, DNS leaks etc)
• Streaming compatibility
• Customer service knowledge and speed of response
• Reading logging policies and checking small print
• and much more….

Like many other providers, VyprVPN claims to be the “world’s fastest VPN.” I’m always skeptical of such brazen claims so was particularly keen to run our speed test tool over this provider.

Other burning questions I answer in this VyprVPN review are:

• Can I stream popular region-locked content using VyprVPN (Netflix, BBC, Hulu, Amazon etc)?
• Has VyprVPN’s approach to torrenting changed and is it now allowed?
• How well does VyprVPN protect the security and privacy of its users?
• Are there any nasty surprises hiding in the small print of VyprVPN’s new logging policy?
• What does VyprVPN do that lower priced VPNs can’t?

I’ve been testing VyprVPN on both desktop and mobile to help you discover everything you need to know about this service, including speed, unblocking content, leak protection, and plenty more. I’ve summed up the pros and cons below before diving in to the full review.

VyprVPN overview

VyprVPN is a solid all-round VPN, especially since it’s reformed its logging policy. VyprVPN can unblock a selection of streaming platforms, making it a good option for those looking to watch geo-restricted content from abroad. It’s also a fairly reliable VPN for users in China, though it does run into issues at times.

VyprVPN Pros and Cons

Below is a summary of the strengths and weaknesses I discovered during the time I spent reviewing VyprVPN. I’ll cover these in more detail later.

Speed: How Fast is VyprVPN?

With the bold claim of being “the world’s fastest VPN,” I had high expectations that VyprVPN would perform well when pitted against its competitors.

Before I get to the results it’s worth understanding why VPN speed test results need to be taken with a pinch of salt.

The easy but unreliable way to test VPNs is to use an online speed tester. This is the method used by the majority of publications reviewing VPNs. This gives a rough approximation of VPN performance but is flawed in many ways.

We use a more sophisticated (but still far from perfect) method of testing VPN speed using a virtual machine.

We measure the download speeds of VPNs on a gigabit ethernet connection in North America. We connect the VPN to three different locations—United States, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong—at three different times per day, and at minimum four hours apart.

Contrary to its claims, VyprVPN was actually one of the slowest VPNs in our latest round of testing.

It gave an average download rate of 37 Mbps across all times and locations. It was still quite a bit faster than the slowest VPN we tested, but the average speed was less than half that of the fastest VPN (ExpressVPN pegged an average speed of over 100 Mbps)).

That being said, VyprVPN’s average speed is fast enough for SD, HD, and live HD streaming, and should even be okay for 4K UHD.

Test servers were located in North America, Asia, and Europe. If location isn’t an issue, VyprVPN gives you the option to connect to the fastest server for your location. In the server dropdown list, you can see the ping speed for each server. This denotes the latency and shows how long it takes to send and receive a request from that particular server.

I streamed 1080p HD video with no buffering, using servers in various parts of the globe. I was also able to play online games without any issues. Switching between servers rarely took more than a few seconds and I didn’t experience any dropped connections while testing.

It’s worth noting that these tests should be viewed as a general indicator of the performance you’ll actually see when using these services. They’re by no means definitive as the nature of the internet means there is always room for random deviations. Depending on the speed of your internet service, you may see smaller or larger discrepancies.

Apps: Which devices will VyprVPN work with?

VyprVPN has apps for most major operating systems, including Windows, iOS, MacOS, and Android. A notable omission here is Linux, although there aren’t many VPNs that offer Linux apps, and VyprVPN can be manually configured with the OS.

The Basic VyprVPN plan allows for three simultaneous connections while subscribers of the Premium can connect five devices at a time.

Once you’re signed up to VyprVPN, you have access to a network of more than 700 servers spanning over 70 countries.

The desktop VyprVPN app is a little dated and the server selection screen in particular is a little clunky. However, it’s intuitive and lightweight, and it gets the job done. The mobile app (the iOS app is shown below) is a little more refined.

You can set up VyprVPN on select routers. This requires manual configuration, but enables you to protect every device on your home network. For routers on the Tomato MIPS/ARM Framework, a router app lets you select which devices to connect through the VPN and which use a direct internet connection.

Streaming, Netflix and Kodi?

Does VyprVPN work with Netflix?

Yes.

VyprVPN works with Netflix, although it may not unlock the library you want. Of 30 countries tested, VyprVPN was able to unblock Netflix US and Netflix Australia. With most users looking for Netflix US (as it has the largest selection of shows and movies), VyprVPN is keeping the majority crowd happy.

If you’re looking for other catalogs, such as Netflix UK, Japan, Canada, or Spain, then you probably won’t have much luck. However, VyprVPN does work with other platforms that impose geo-restriction measures.

When I asked about unblocking geo-restricted content, a representative stated that VyprVPN doesn’t test services against its IP addresses, something that other providers do on a regular basis.

The streaming section of the VyprVPN website does give help instructions for accessing the following sites, although it doesn’t guarantee they’ll all always work:

• US Netflix
• US Hulu
• US Amazon Prime Video
• BBC iPlayer
• Sky Go UK
• Sky Go Italy

These are some of the most popular and notoriously difficult to unblock sites, but there are many more platforms from various regions across the globe that you’ll have access to once armed with a VyprVPN subscription.

While speeds aren’t the fastest, you should have a stress-free streaming experience with no lag or buffering for 1080p HD.

VyprVPN offers minimal support for Kodi, but it does work with the platform via manual setup. You will need to have a Premium VyprVPN account as the Basic plan won’t allow for manual setup.

Does VyprVPN allow torrenting?

VyprVPN does allow torrenting and provides users with unlimited data and bandwidth and shared IP addresses.

But I had to really dig in to the small print to understand exactly what it’s policy is.

Here’s what I found…

This service doesn’t promote its use for P2P in the way that some VPNs do but it does explicitly state on its FAQ page: “Because our service treats all traffic equally, peer-to-peer and BitTorrent traffic is allowed.”

Note that the VyprVPN terms of service prohibit “copyright, trademark, and patent infringement.”

I wanted to do a little more digging in to just what this means for users so trawled through Reddit where VyprVPN employees have been answering questions on it’s torrent policy.

This Reddit thread sheds some more light on what VyprVPN’s policy means in practical terms for its customers.

In short VyprVPN’s claims to have no way of determining if someone has breached that particular component of the terms of service so torrenters are unlikely to face issues.

So what else does VyprVPN offer to keep your online activity private?

Traffic can be protected by a kill switch in the desktop apps and there’s protection against DNS leaks, but VyprVPN doesn’t guarantee IPv6 or WebRTC leak protection. That being said, IPv6 and WebRTC can both be disabled if needed.

Security, and privacy and logging

Many VPNs claim not to log but the reality does not always match the marketing hype.

If you care about your privacy you should care about your VPN’s logging policy.

We’ve had reservations about VyprVPN’s logging policy in the past.

I was keen to see if its recent improvements had addressed my concerns.

VyprVPN is based in Switzerland, a country known for its strong privacy laws. As such, there has never been any need for the VPN provider to retain logs of user data. However, until late in 2018, VyprVPN company policy was to record some identifying metadata including “the user’s source IP address, the VyprVPN IP address used by the user, connection start and stop time and total number of bytes used.”

Although IP addresses aren’t typically considered Personally Identifiable Information (PII), they can and have been used to identify individuals through their Internet Service Provider (ISP). As such, we try to avoid recommending providers that retain such logs.

I wanted to look at VyprVPNs updated logging policy in detail to see if matched up with its ‘no log VPN’ claims.

Here’s what I found..

Thankfully, VpyrVPN overhauled its policy in 2018 and now keeps no logs whatsoever. The company even subjected itself to an independent audit to prove that no logs are maintained.

Encryption details are as follows:

• 256-bit AES-CBC encryption
• 2,048-bit RSA keys
• SHA256 authentication
• Perfect forward secrecy (this ensures that a compromised encryption key can’t be used to view past sessions)

VyprVPN is different from most providers out there in that it owns all of its own servers. Most providers rent their servers from third-party hosting services. Owning its servers gives the provider greater control over security as well as ensuring reliable speeds and excellent uptime. VyprVPN also uses its own private DNS servers, although the app does allow you to switch to a third-party DNS if you wish.

VyprVPN protects against DNS leaks by default. The provider doesn’t claim to offer IPv6 or WebRTC leak protection, and indeed we found an issue in our testing. The below screenshots of a browserleaks.com IP test with no VPN (left) and VyprVPN (right) shows that there is a persistent IPv6 WebRTC leak.

This is a concern in the sense that my real IP address could be revealed. However, this specific leak isn’t an issue for most people, namely because not many people have IPv6, and also because not many webpages use WebRTC. What’s more, both IPv6 and WebRTC can be disabled if needed. Based on my tests, VyprVPN isn’t leaking IPv6 outside of WebRTC, and it’s not leaking my IPv4 address over WebRTC.

Additional features include a kill switch in the desktop apps which will cut my connection to the internet in case the VPN connection drops for some reason. This ensures I’m never browsing unprotected, but note that the kill switch is disabled by default.

An automatic wifi protection feature in the desktop and mobile apps means I can set the VPN to turn on every time you connect to an untrusted network. This service uses a NAT firewall which prevents unsolicited requests or data packets from entering your system, although these do have their limitations.

VyprVPN gives you a choice of protocol options:

• ChameleonTM
• OpenVPN
• L2TP/IPsec
• PPTP

PPTP is not considered secure, so OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec are the better options in most cases. The ChameleonTM protocol uses cloaking technology to mask VPN traffic, so is the better option for unblocking restricted content in locations such as China or the UAE.

VyprVPN uses shared IP addresses. This means that every user connected to a given server is assigned the same IP address. This makes it more difficult for anyone trying to trace activity back to an individual.

One more feature that comes with a VyprVPN Premium plan is VyprVPN Cloud. This is a deployment solution that gives you extra security when accessing cloud servers. It currently works with Digital Ocean, VirtualBox, and Amazon Web Service (AWS).

Does VyprVPN work in China?

Not many VPNs can escape detection from China’s internet police so I was interested to see if VyprVPN lived up to its reputation of evading the great firewall.

One of the things VyprVPN is known for is its ability to work in China. It has run into some issues fairly recently, but at the time of writing, many users are having success using the VPN in China.

VyprVPN uses proprietary software and the premium plan gives you the option of using Chameleon™ metadata scrambling technology. This helps to mask VPN traffic, making it less likely to be identified as such by the deep packet inspection technology utilized within China’s Great Firewall.

The provider reports that some users in China get by with a Basic plan, but recommends using Chameleon for Windows, MacOS, and Windows. IKEv2 is recommended for iOS, but I was informed that at the time of writing that the iOS app isn’t working in China.

VyprVPN keeps users up to date on China issues in the service status update page on its website. Here, you’ll be informed if users in China are having issues and how they’re being addressed.

To give you an idea of the ongoing struggle to keep the service up for users in China, there has been at least one post per month on the service status page since December 2018 that pertains to China VPN bans.

This battle is also exemplified by numerous Reddit threads on the subject.

As a clear nod to Chinese users, VyprVPN accepts Alipay, which is a payment gateway similar to PayPal and extremely popular in China.

Is VyprVPN’s customer service any good?

Support documents are available in multiple languages including Spanish, French, and Turkish. If you need a quick response, live chat customer support is available 24/7 via the website. This is in-house, as is email support, which will be welcome news to more privacy-conscious users.

Via live chat, I got a quick and knowledgeable responses on topics including security, privacy, payment, and more.

Servers and Locations

With some providers operating a huge network of servers, I was interested to see what VyprVPN had to offer.

Overall, it has a pretty solid network. VyprVPN operates around 700 servers, which is a fairly small network when you consider some VPN providers offer upwards of 3,000 and even 5,000 in some cases. However, VyprVPN’s network does span 64 countries, which gives users plenty of choice.

There are servers in lots of European, North American, and Asian locations, as well in two African countries (Algeria and Egypt), four locations in Oceania, and four South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay).

Server lists show you the ping speed for each server, and you can add specific locations to a favorites list.

VyprVPN Pricing

VyprVPN used to have two pricing tiers but has decided to pare down to one. The monthly pricing is fairly high at $12.95 per month, but there are steep discounts if you go for a longer term. A one-year plan costs $45 ($3.75 per month) and a two-year term is $60 ($2.50 per month).

Overall, VyprVPN isn’t considered a budget provider and is more expensive than many rivals. As with other providers, discounts are available when you sign up for a longer term (12 months is the maximum term).

VyprVPN offers a few different payment methods, including major credit cards, Alipay, and PayPal. I was disappointed not to see the option of bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, as this can offer a little more privacy.

Coupons

Should I buy VyprVPN?

After thoroughly testing VyprVPN, would I recommend it to others?

In short, yes.

VyprVPN offers okay speeds and can unblock Netflix US and other popular sites, making it a solid choice for streaming. Although it’s not the cheapest VPN out there, it’s secure and reliable, and has a decent number of options for both beginners and more advanced users. Premium customers can avail of the ChameleonTM cloaking technology which makes this a fairly solid option for users in China and the UAE.

VyprVPN has overhauled its privacy policy and keeps no logs, but there are still some privacy concerns an IPv6 WebRTC leak and no option to pay via cryptocurrency. With other, more private VPN providers available, this might not be the best option for torrenters.

Alternatives

VyprVPN is definitely one of my top ten favorite providers, especially since it has retracted its old logging policy. However, there are some great alternatives available.

ExpressVPN is comparable to VyprVPN as far as pricing and meets it in it in terms of strong security and ability to work in China. ExpressVPN has the edge when it comes to streaming, as it boasts faster speeds and unblocks more of the most popular Netflix libraries, including catalogs from the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, and Spain.

If price is an issue, NordVPN is my top budget option. It offers a huge server network, lots of extra security features, and great unblocking abilities. It also works in China and offers above-average speeds.