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VPN Unlimited Review – Why It’s Actually Very Limited
What does the word unlimited mean? Well, you can use VPN Unlimited for a lifetime for only $200.
That’s pretty unlimited to us.
A VPN should be a critical component of almost anyone’s online experience. When VPN Unlimited first launched, it didn’t really live up to what we’d want out of a VPN.
With their 5.0 version, they’ve definitely improved in terms of speed, server uptime, and application experience. This is a fantastic sign from any company as it shows they’ll probably just keep improving more.
The current version of the service won’t blow you away but it does offer almost everything you need out of a VPN. It has a new kill switch and is a great platform for accessing streaming content. Its speeds won’t blow you out of the water but who knows, maybe this time next year it will be the fastest VPN around.
The service definitely shows the most willingness to improve when compared to the dozens of other VPN services out there.
More About VPN Unlimited
VPN Unlimited is a product of an American company called KeepSolid Inc., and the service was launched in 2013.
As is well-known in certain sectors of the online community, the U.S. is a part of the Five Eyes security alliances with partners such as Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand.
Accordingly, the U.S. is not considered to be one of the most favorable countries in which to base a VPN business.
This is because participation in the Five Eyes network makes it possible for other member nations to essentially spy on the citizens of the other consenting countries.
This may make it convenient for countries to get around their own laws against spying on their citizens because another country is doing the actual surveillance and then passing the info along.
Currently, there are no laws in the US to force a VPN service to log data but if there was ever a country to do it, it would be the US.
If you are looking for a VPN, then you are probably placing a premium on security, privacy, and anonymity online. Accordingly, a U.S.- based VPN provider may not be your best bet.
A Logging Policy that Falls Short
One thing that most users do not want when they use a VPN is anyone keeping track of where they have been and what they have been doing online.
An Internet service provider, or ISP, usually keeps copious records of everyone’s online traffic. This data can be vulnerable, and if it gets into the wrong hands, it can wreak havoc.
VPNs are supposed to be different. This is why most of the VPN providers state that they have a “no logging” policy. “No logging” means that no one is retaining vital data such as which websites you visit, who you talk to online and what you may do with the time that you spend on the Internet.
Unfortunately, many of these “no logging” policies aren’t as straightforward as the companies would like consumers to believe. VPN Unlimited’s logging policy certainly falls into this category.
Some of their logging seems to relate to an attempt to provide better performance for users. For instance, the company monitors the number of people accessing their servers to help with troubleshooting and to keep operations secure.
Additionally, they make note of how many clicks users perform while using the VPN software for the purpose of improving the interface. This is not especially troubling, but the rest of their logging policy may be.
Their policy states that the company does not collect and retain user activities while customers are using their VPN. However, the company does maintain records of the date of each session and the total amount of web traffic that takes place during those sessions.
The company’s policy also states that it encrypts and keeps data about the devices that customers have affiliated with their VPN account because only a certain number of devices can be connected.
VPN Unlimited says that they engage in this type of logging solely to provide “detailed information intended solely for each concrete user.” This vaguely stated purpose may raise a red flag for some users, particularly those who only want the best protection when it comes to online anonymity and privacy.
Is VPN Unlimited Secure?
Unfortunately, people who rely on VPN Unlimited to offer them online anonymity may be enjoying a false sense of security. Extensive testing of a number of the company’s servers showed copious leaks.
Even if a user has all of the security and privacy settings enabled on their system, leaks can still occur. A VPN should prevent these leaks from happening.
However, testing revealed that VPN Unlimited users may be subject to WebRTC, DNS and IPv6 leaks. These leaks are occurring despite the presence of robust encryption.
VPN Unlimited uses AES-256 encryption with OpenVPN, which is pretty much the gold standard right now.
It is the encryption method of choice for government agencies around the world, so this is a positive thing for VPN Unlimited users. However, those leaks are an ongoing problem.
KeepSolid Wise
KeepSolid Wise is an extension that customers can add to their VPN service if they need to bypass especially restrictive government protocols.
In totalitarian states, it is not unusual for governments to forbid the use of VPNs.
When they discover someone who is using one of these services, they may interfere with or prevent the user from accessing the Internet.
KeepSolid Wise is designed to make a VPN connection look like an ordinary connection to anyone who may be monitoring Internet traffic. This extension is only available on Linux, Android, Windows and iOS systems. Mac users cannot take advantage of it for now.
Does VPN Unlimited Have a Kill Switch Feature?
Not so long ago, VPN Unlimited did not offer a kill switch feature.
This is important because a kill switch is a failsafe that ensures that users do not unnecessarily expose themselves online.
Essentially, if the VPN connection fails or becomes unavailable during a browsing session, that session is automatically discontinued by the kill switch.
Recently, VPN Unlimited addressed this deficit in their service by adding a kill switch feature.
VPN Unlimited Is Now Reliable
In the past, testing revealed that it was rarely easy to actually connect to VPN Unlimited. This seemed to happen regardless of which server testers tried to use. The Windows client appears to be particularly vulnerable to this failure. With the new version of the software this has completely changed.
Some servers just seemed to randomly be unavailable. Now, they are very clearly stated when available and when not available. In our most recent tests, we tried connecting to every single server and had no issues.
When users are able to connect, there are multiple reports of the connection being lost on a frustratingly frequent basis.
Some customers say that they have to restart their computer multiple times to get reconnected, resulting in some 30 to 45 minutes of time wasted while simply trying to get safely online.
We tell those users to give the VPN another try if they want to. We understand though, if you’ve been burned in the past, why try again? With so many good VPNs out there, those customers probably found an alternative.
Don’t let those reviews dissuade you if you’re a new VPN user as VPN unlimited has definitely fixed those issues.
Restrictive Device Policy
Like many other VPN providers, VPN Unlimited places restrictions on the number of devices that users may connect to the service.
Currently, the company allows each user to connect a maximum of five devices to the VPN.
This doesn’t sound like a drawback, until you look more closely at how VPN Unlimited forces you to restrict the devices you use in connection with their service.
While other companies place limits on how many devices you can simultaneously connect to their VPN, this company gives each customer five slots, each one of which is assigned to a specific device. If you try to log in with a different device that is not assigned to one of these slots, you won’t be able to log in.
You could log in on an authorized device, delete one of the other devices and then add the new device, but this is a great deal of work.
The reason for all of this complication becomes transparent when you realize that you can add extra devices to your account for additional monthly fees. Large families or companies that use a VPN may be interested in adding extra devices, but this feature has little obvious utility for most people.
Average Speed
Whether you’re uploading, downloading or just browsing, speed matters, and that is where VPN Unlimited is average. It sits right in the middle of the pack of the rest of the VPNs we tested. Compared to other VPN providers, this one might be worth it if you like the interface.
A server in Milan, Italy tested at around 60 Mbps on our 100 Mbps connection. That’s okay, but it seems to be about the best that VPN Unlimited can muster.
A server in New York managed just 25 Mbps while downloading. Again, not great but it isn’t the worst. Uploading speeds were much slower but that is kind of the norm when it comes to VPNs.
The Hong Kong server was equally average with downloads at around 30 Mbps and uploads at around 12 Mbps. Needless to say, if you are looking for incredibly rapid uploads and downloads, then you would do better to keep seeking the best VPN for your needs.
Is Netflix Available While Using VPN Unlimited?
Netflix may or may not be available via VPN Unlimited, depending upon the server chosen by the user.
This is normal for VPNs and this service actually has dedicated Netflix VPNs that have worked every time we’ve tried them.
Other servers are more hit and miss. For instance, it appears that the company’s servers in the Netherlands and Hampshire in the U.K. block access to Netflix.
On the other hand, a server located in the U.S. state of California and another one found in Canada both were able to connect to Netflix.
If Netflix is on your “must” list for a VPN provider, then this is much better than other options.
Can I Use Torrent Sites with VPN Unlimited?
BitTorrent and other forms of file sharing are not widely available through VPN Unlimited. The company states in its policies that its main concern is ensuring user privacy as opposed to downloading torrents.
That said, VPN Unlimited does make the use of torrent sites possible with certain servers. These include the server in California in the U.S., Ontario in Canada, and the servers in France, Luxembourg and Romania.
Given the service’s overall unreliability, those looking to use torrent sites with any regularity will likely need to look elsewhere.
Number of Servers and Locations
VPN Unlimited features approximately 500+ servers in 80+ locations. Unlike many other VPN providers, these locations include Africa, Turkey and South America.
Other competitors in the market just offer more when it comes to the number of servers and the diversity of locations.
VPN Unlimited’s parent company, KeepSolid, is not disclosing how many of its servers are physical servers and how many are virtual servers. This may be a problem for some users who are concerned about the ultimate security of their data.
Other VPN providers are far more transparent than VPN Unlimited regarding their use of virtual servers, which can be placed in one location but signal that they are in another. Read more about the best vpns for torrenting here.
VPN Unlimited Customer Support
One of the areas in which VPN unlimited seems to perform extremely well is in customer support. While they do not have a live chat features, they do make it possible to communicate with support staff via email.
Most people seem to receive a relatively efficient response within 20 minutes or half an hour. One potential downside to the customer support department is that it appears to be located in the Ukraine. This may make for some language barriers.
How Much Does VPN Unlimited Cost?
Customers who prefer a pay-as-you-go setup will appreciate the $9.99 monthly plan.
One year of service can be paid for in advance at a cost of $4.99 per month. A better deal is the three-year plan, which costs $79.99.
A “Lifetime” plan is available for about $200, but this is only recommended for those who are certain that VPN Unlimited is right for them.
Should I Choose VPN Unlimited?
It depends. If you need a reminder of what you just read, it has a few security leaks and average speed. If you prioritize Netflix watching as your main VPN task then by all means, try out VPN Unlimited.
In the course of many years, we have reviewed so many VPNs and tested out almost a hundred different VPN providers.
At this point, we can say—with absolute certainty—that there are a bunch of good ones you can choose from, like NordVPN and Surfshark. It all depends on what’s important to you.
If you need a good list to start with, check out the best VPNs. Just go over the options and you won’t be disappointed with what you find.
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