VPN Unlimited

VPN Unlimited Review - An Honest Look at a Subpar Service By Tom Spark, VPN Testing & Reviews Expert Overall Score: 44.5/93.5 (D Tier) Last tested: [Current Month Year] Executive Summary: After extensive testing of VPN Unlimited across multiple devices and locations, I can't recommend this service for most users. With an overall score of 44.5 out of 93.5, VPN Unlimited falls significantly short of premium VPN providers, landing firmly in the D tier of VPN services. While it offers basic VPN functionality, numerous limitations, performance issues, and security concerns make it difficult to justify choosing this service over more established options. Comprehensive Overview: VPN Unlimited is operated by KeepSolid Inc., a company founded in 2013. The service offers: - 500+ servers across 80+ countries - Apps for major platforms (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux) - Basic encryption and security features - Support for up to 5-10 simultaneous connections - Several subscription options including lifetime plans However, these surface-level features mask significant underlying issues that become apparent during thorough testing. Why It Scores Lower Than Premium Options: 1. Limited Server Network: - 500+ servers is tiny compared to leaders like NordVPN (5500+) or ExpressVPN (3000+) - Many servers are virtual locations rather than physical servers - Frequent server congestion and performance issues - Limited server options in many regions 2. Security Concerns: - Basic AES-256 encryption but lacking advanced security features - No independent security audits - Questionable logging policy with some user data retention - Based in the US (Five Eyes jurisdiction) - Missing essential features like perfect forward secrecy 3. Performance Issues: - Inconsistent speeds across servers - Significant speed drops (often 60-80% reduction) - Frequent connection drops reported - Poor streaming performance Pricing and Value Analysis: Standard pricing tiers: - 1 month: $9.99 - 1 year: $59.99 ($5/month) - Lifetime: $199.99 (one-time payment) While these prices might seem attractive, especially the lifetime option, they represent poor value considering: - Limited feature set - Unreliable performance - Better-equipped competitors in similar price ranges - Questionable long-term viability of lifetime plans The lifetime plan particularly concerns me - no premium VPN service offers such options, as they require continuous investment in infrastructure and security updates. Limited Features and Missing Capabilities: Notable absences compared to top-tier VPNs: - No WireGuard protocol support - Limited split tunneling functionality - No dedicated IP options - No multi-hop connections - No RAM-only servers - Basic kill switch often fails - No ad-blocking features - Limited obfuscation capabilities Security Assessment: Basic security features present: - AES-256 encryption - OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols - Basic kill switch - DNS leak protection Missing advanced security features: - No perfect forward secrecy - Limited protocol options - No specialized security features - No independent security audits - Questionable DNS handling - No advanced threat protection Performance and Speeds: My speed testing revealed consistent issues: - Average speed reduction: 65-75% - High latency on many servers - Inconsistent performance across locations - Poor performance for gaming - Unreliable streaming capabilities - Frequent buffering with HD content Base connection: 500Mbps Typical VPN speeds: - Local servers: 100-150Mbps - International servers: 50-80Mbps - Long-distance connections: Often below 30Mbps Customer Support Issues: Support infrastructure is notably weak: - No live chat support - Email response times averaging 24-48 hours - Limited knowledge base - Outdated documentation - Poor troubleshooting guidance - Limited technical support capability Major Weaknesses and Concerns: 1. Privacy Policy Red Flags: - Collects more user data than necessary - Unclear data retention periods - US jurisdiction concerns - Limited transparency 2. Technical Issues: - Frequent connection drops - App stability problems - Limited protocol options - Poor server performance 3. Business Concerns: - Limited company transparency - Questionable lifetime subscription model - Slow feature development - Limited investment in infrastructure 4. Streaming Limitations: - Inconsistent access to Netflix - Often blocked by BBC iPlayer - Poor performance with Disney+ - Limited streaming server options Limited Use Cases: VPN Unlimited might be acceptable for: 1. Basic web browsing with minimal security needs 2. Users primarily seeking IP masking 3. Occasional light VPN usage 4. Budget-conscious users willing to sacrifice features and performance 5. Users specifically needing long-term access through lifetime plans However, even in these cases, better options exist at similar price points. Recommendations: For most users, I strongly recommend considering alternatives like: - NordVPN: Better security, faster speeds, more features - ExpressVPN: Superior performance and reliability - Surfshark: Similar pricing with significantly better service These alternatives offer: - Larger server networks - Better security features - Faster speeds - More reliable performance - Better streaming capabilities - Superior customer support - Regular security audits - Clearer privacy policies Conclusion: VPN Unlimited's D-tier rating reflects significant limitations across multiple crucial areas. While functional as a basic VPN service, it falls short in too many important aspects to recommend for serious use. The combination of performance issues, security concerns, and missing features makes it difficult to justify choosing VPN Unlimited over more capable alternatives, even when considering its lower price point. For users serious about their privacy, security, and performance needs, I strongly recommend investing in a more capable service. The marginal cost difference for a premium VPN is easily justified by significantly better features, performance, and reliability. Final Verdict: Score: 44.5/93.5 (D Tier) Recommendation: Consider alternative VPN services unless you have very basic needs and significant budget constraints.