VyprVPN

VyprVPN Review: A Mixed Bag with Room for Improvement By Tom Spark, VPN Expert Overall Score: 53/93.5 (C Tier) Last tested: February 2024 Executive Summary: After extensively testing VyprVPN across multiple devices and use cases, I've awarded it a C-tier rating with a score of 53/93.5. While it offers some solid fundamentals like a strict no-logs policy and WireGuard support, significant limitations in features, speeds, and value proposition hold it back from competing with top-tier providers. Comprehensive Overview: VyprVPN is operated by Golden Frog GmbH, a Swiss-based company with a history dating back to 2009. The service offers 700+ servers across 70+ countries and supports major protocols including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and their proprietary Chameleon protocol. While the foundation is solid, my testing revealed considerable room for improvement in several key areas. Detailed Category Analysis: 1. Pricing & Value (2.5/10) VyprVPN's pricing structure is problematic: - Monthly: $15.00 - 12 months: $8.33/month - 36 months: $5.00/month Compared to industry leaders like NordVPN ($3.69/month) or Surfshark ($2.49/month) for similar term lengths, VyprVPN's pricing is simply not competitive. The feature set doesn't justify the premium pricing, especially given the limitations I'll detail below. 2. Features (7.5/15) Notable inclusions: + WireGuard protocol + Kill switch on all platforms + Chameleon protocol for obfuscation + DNS leak protection Critical omissions: - No split tunneling - No multi-hop connections - No dedicated IP options - No port forwarding - Limited protocol selection compared to competitors 3. Speed & Performance (7.5/10) My speed tests across multiple servers showed: - Average download speed reduction: 35-45% - WireGuard protocol performance: * US servers: 150-200 Mbps (from 500 Mbps base) * European servers: 120-170 Mbps * Asian servers: 80-120 Mbps While these speeds are usable, they lag behind top providers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, which typically maintain 70-80% of base speeds. 4. Privacy & Trust (10.5/16) Positives: + Swiss jurisdiction (privacy-friendly) + Verified no-logs policy + Regular transparency reports + Strong encryption implementation Concerns: - No independent security audits since 2020 - No 2FA support for account security - Closed-source applications - Limited payment options (no cryptocurrency) 5. Customer Support (5/5) One area where VyprVPN excels: + 24/7 live chat support + Quick response times (under 2 minutes in my tests) + Knowledgeable support staff + Comprehensive knowledge base + Multiple contact channels 6. Streaming Capabilities (7.5/15) Mixed results in my streaming tests: - Netflix: Works with US/UK libraries, inconsistent with others - Amazon Prime: Limited functionality - BBC iPlayer: Reliable access - Disney+: Occasional connection issues - Hulu: Frequently blocked 7. Ethics (7.5/10) VyprVPN maintains decent ethical standards: + Transparent company structure + Clear privacy policy + Regular warrant canary updates - Limited involvement in privacy advocacy - No significant contributions to open-source projects 8. GUI & User Experience (5/10) The applications feel dated: - Cluttered interface - Limited customization options - Unintuitive server selection - Basic settings menu + Stable performance + Consistent cross-platform experience Real-World Testing Results: During my three-month testing period: - Connection stability: 95% uptime - Average connection time: 4-6 seconds - DNS leak tests: No leaks detected - WebRTC leak tests: Protected - IPv6 leak tests: Protected Torrenting Performance: While VyprVPN allows P2P traffic, performance is mixed: - Average torrent speeds: 5-8 MB/s - Port forwarding: Not supported - SOCKS5 proxy: Not available Security Deep Dive: Encryption implementation: - AES-256-GCM encryption - RSA-2048 key exchange - Perfect forward secrecy - SHA256 authentication Missing Security Features: - No multi-hop connections - No RAM-only servers - No dedicated IP options - Limited obfuscation options Who Should Use VyprVPN? Best suited for: 1. Users prioritizing basic privacy protection 2. Casual streamers focusing on major platforms 3. Those needing reliable customer support 4. Users in heavily censored regions (via Chameleon protocol) Not recommended for: 1. Power users needing advanced features 2. Price-conscious consumers 3. Heavy torrent users 4. Those requiring maximum speeds 5. Users needing split tunneling Conclusion: VyprVPN is a serviceable VPN that gets the basics right but fails to justify its premium pricing. While it offers solid privacy fundamentals and good customer support, the lack of advanced features, below-average speeds, and dated interface make it hard to recommend over comparably priced competitors like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. The service needs significant improvements in features, performance, and pricing to compete in today's VPN market. Current users might want to consider alternatives when their subscription expires, while new users should explore other options unless VyprVPN's specific feature set matches their needs perfectly. Alternative Recommendations: - For better value: Surfshark - For faster speeds: NordVPN - For more features: ExpressVPN - For better streaming: CyberGhost