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VPN.AC Review

Daniel Rosehill

In a Nutshell

VPN.AC is a VPN for those looking for more advanced features than simply clicking and pointing to a desired server endpoint. This Romanian tool features strong speeds across its network and allows users to fine tune their connection type, choosing from a wide variety of protocols and ports. A good choice for advanced Windows users.

pros

  • Protocol and port selection
  • Alternative server options for China
  • Automatic always-on capability

cons

  • No client for Linux
  • Based in an EU member state

VPN.AC VPN.AC Compare All

VPN.AC at a Glance

Best for: Users that want a fast VPN with advanced connection options

Price: $9 per month. Or $90 for 2 years 

Location: Servers in 46 countries

Netflix: Unblocks US Netflix

Torrenting: Torrenting is allowed. Recommended torrenting servers

Logging: No logging policy

Number of Devices: Up to 6

Operating Systems: Linux (Beta), Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android

Browser Extensions: Chrome

Privacy

VPN.AC lets its users choose exactly the kind of connection they trust the most to protect their online privacy. The tool supports the following connection protocols:

  • OpenVPN/EEC

  • OpenVPN 128-bit and 256-bit

  • OpenVPN XOR

  • IKEv2/IPsec

  • L2TP/IPSec

  • PPTP (legacy hardware)

Users can also choose between a variety of UDP and TCP ports to make the connection with. Additionally the connections are secured by advanced encryption built by cybersecurity professionals. The ciphertype is AES-GCM 256-bit with elliptic curve.

VPN.AC is headquartered in Romania—the same country where Cyberghost is located. Romania is relatively well regarded as a headquarters location by those in the VPN world. The company is not party to any major signals intelligence (SIGINT) sharing arrangements. However, the company clearly is an EU member state which means that it might, in the future, have to apply some EU privacy legislation. Those looking for a headquarters location with the very best privacy options will still be tempted to look elsewhere.

Features

VPN.AC comes complete with a few useful features that those looking for very secure VPN connectivity will certainly appreciate.

These include:

Kill Switch

Those connecting through OpenVPN can choose to use the kill switch functionality. This will prevent internet access in the event that the connection with the VPN server becomes unusable. For those that require an “always on” connection this is a must for secure browsing.

IPv6 Block

Under advanced settings, users can choose to block traffic connecting to the internet using IPv6. Windows Firewall needs to be enabled in order for this feature to work.

IP Leak Tester

Users connecting through a VPN can still end up leaking parts of their internet activity—particularly the DNS requests they send whenever they connect to a website. VPN.AC makes it easy for users to make sure that no parts of their connection are exposed to the public. The client contains a link to an IP testing utility which puts the user’s connection through a series of tests.

Speed

Connection Location
Speed (Mbps)

Baseline

93

Netherlands - Amsterdam 3

15.7

US East - New York

34.5

Italy - Milan

23

Australia - Sydney

6

VPN.AC speed test
VPN.AC speed test
VPN.AC speed test
VPN.AC speed test

Pricing and Deals

VPN.AC can be subscribed to for subscription periods ranging from 1 month to 2 years. The 2-year price represents the best value for money as it is discounted by more than 60%!

Subscription period
1 month
3 months
1 year
2 years

Price

$9

$24

$58

$90

Saving


11%

46%

62%

Torrents

In general, VPN.AC is a torrent friendly provider. The company even provides setup instructions to get their tool running through uTorrent. Additionally, VPN.AC maintains a series of torrent-optimized connection endpoints. Although any of the company's servers are suitable for torrenting, these endpoints are particularly well suited for torrenting.

There is one caveat, though. During signup, VPN.AC states “don’t use TOR/VPNs/proxies while making a payment”. The company says that this is due to the fact that doing so can pose problems with payment providers.

Netflix

If you’re considering signing up for VPN.AC because you’ve heard that you can use the service to connect to US Netflix … then we’re here to inform you that the rumors are true. The VPN, when we tested it through the US East endpoint, managed to unblock Netflix.

Client Setup

Getting set up using the platform on Windows is as simple as downloading the right installation file from the VPN.AC website. Where that file was located wasn’t immediately obvious so it took a bit of searching on Google. But once the installation process was complete the VPN was ready to use.

Apps

VPN.AC provides clients on both Android and iOS. These provide roughly the same set of functionalities as can be enjoyed using the desktop and users simply need to navigate to the respective app stores in order to download and begin using them.

How Does VPN.AC Compare?


VPN.AC
MullvadVPN
NordVPN

Price

$9 per month

€5 per month

€10.64 per month

Number of Devices

6

5

6

Number of Servers

Servers in 24 countries

737

1960

Best for

Those that want control over connection protocol

Serious privacy enthusiasts

Those that want a variety of server types

P2P or Bittorrent)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Customer Support

Like most VPN providers, VPN.AC provides a good offering of online support resources designed to assist clients with getting connected to the platform. The support section contains:

  • A searchable knowledgebase

  • Tutorials

In order to get personalized support users can either submit a ticket or contact the team by email.

Ease of Use

VPN.AC provides an attractive Windows client that is easy to navigate. Each server in their network is listed alongside the expected connection latency. The Linux client, which was recently released as a Beta, mirrors the same functionality and can be installed through a simple Debian (.deb) installation file.

VPN.AC VPN.AC Compare All

FAQs

Can VPN.AC be installed on routers?

Yes, VPN.AC can be installed on compatible routers.

Does VPN.AC offer a Linux version?

Yes, a Beta client (GUI) has been released.

How many simultaneous connections are allowed?

VPN.AC supports 6 simultaneous connections.

Bottom Line

Surfing the internet with a VPN just got a lot easier thanks to VPN.AC. This tool features a brand new Linux Beta client that is running well and can also be installed on routers running compatible firmware.

Although the server network isn’t huge I got overall good speeds—and I was able to test and validate those directly from within the app.

Daniel Rosehill (BCL, MA) is a freelance PR consultant and writer specializing in developing and executing thought leadership-led communications strategies for clients in the technology sector. He writes for Top10.com and his interests include backups and disaster recovery, Linux and open source, and cloud computing. Daniel is a graduate of University College Cork (BCL / Law) and City University, London (MA / Political Journalism).

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