In a Nutshell
pros
- NAT firewall included in all plans
- Supports a range of protocols
cons
- Relatively expensive plans
- Servers not as numerous as competition
VyprVPN at a Glance
Privacy
Developed by Golden Frog, a champion of internet freedom with a rich history of software development and activism, VyprVPN adheres to the ideals of freedom and privacy as a fundamental right. This is evident by Golden Frog’s actions in the wake of the events known as Room 641a in which the NSA was surveilling AT&T’s networks. The company filed papers with the FCC to combat the intrusion, and followed up by developing its own tools, such as VyprVPN, to prevent further abuses of privacy and internet freedom.
To that extent, VyprVPN stands by the belief that internet privacy is a fundamental right, and backs it up with policies that are spelled out in detail by co-founder and co-CEO Ron Yokubautus. VyprVPN is based out of Switzerland and adheres to a zero-logging policy.
VyprVPNs privacy policy states:
- It does not log the user’s source or assigned IP address
- It does not log connection start or stop time
- It is network neutral and does not discriminate against devices, protocols, or application
- No DNS requests are logged
The commitment to internet freedom extends beyond its products. On its website, you can find a library of resources for being educated and empowered. See, for example, its policy scorecards, in which the company analyzes and rates legislations passed on censorship, encryption, privacy, and more.
Features
- Free (limited-usage) accounts available
- Servers across 70 countries
- Easy to use mobile apps for iOS and Android
- In-house coding only
- Chameleon Protocol
- Self-owned server clusters and hosting facilities
- Total security end-to-end
- Kill switch
Speed
Though most reviewers focus on Vypr’s reputation as a bona-fide champion of internet freedom via its developers, Switzerland-based Golden Frog, reviewers are pleasantly surprised by its speed and performance. Speed tests have shown VyprVPN to perform above average when connected automatically to servers, though average when servers were manually connected. At its best, VyprnVPN seems to live up to its claims of lighting-quick speed, often bypassing other providers, though this is somewhat hampered by inconsistency.
Pricing and Deals
VyprVPN’s prices are contingent on how many devices you can use with your VPN, which is different than how other providers charge but could be a benefit to some. Namely, those who only plan to use VPN on 3 or less devices can opt for the less-expensive option, while other providers offer a uniform number of connections regardless of how many you plan to use.
* It’s important to note that the 5-device plan also includes Chameleon Protocol and VyprVPN cloud, which is not included in the 3-device plan. Customers can also opt for either plan on a month-to-month basis, though prices are significantly higher ($9.95 for 3-devices, $12.95 for 5).
Torrents
Though light on details, the website specifically confirms that P2P and torrenting is allowed on VyrprVPN and that due to its no-logging policy and lack of port blocking, it is treated as any other traffic.
Netflix
According to VyprVPN’s website, Netflix content from the US and UK can be streamed as long as VyprDNS is enabled. Since VyprDNS is enabled by default within all apps, the process should be simple, though the website offers instructions to confirm that it’s enabled in the event that you need to troubleshoot.
Client Setup
Setting up your VyprVPN is as easy as downloading the app, logging in, and connecting automatically. The apps will choose a server location for you, though more advanced or specialized users are free to choose their own.
Apps
VyprVPN is available on Android and iOS apps via Google Play and Apple Store, respectively.
How Does VyprVPN Compare
Customer Support
Contacting VyprVPN customer support is fast and easy. The site has a Support page that includes FAQs as well as a “Live Chat With Support” link at the bottom of the page. VyprVPN’s response to inquiries is almost immediate, and support staff’s extensive knowledge of the product makes you feel confident that you are being taken care of thoroughly.
Ease of Use
Navigating VyprVPN is simple and it’s made the site and VPN as clear to navigate as possible. Eliminating the clutter, VyprVPN has laid out all the information you’ll need to begin and maintain your own account, along with useful articles and community listings to help you troubleshoot along the way.
VyprVPN FAQs
Q: What is VyprVPN’s Chameleon?
A: Chameleon is a proprietary VPN technology that essentially serves two purposes at once: it helps you bypass advanced restrictions used by authoritative countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and Syria, and it helps to maintain higher-than-average speeds when throttling issues threaten to slog your internet performance.
Countries such as those listed above use deep packet inspection (DPI) to identify or block VPN traffic. Chameleon acts as a work-around to this: it scrambles OpenVPN packet metadata to keep it unrecognizable even in the face of highly restrictive government efforts, allowing you free internet access even in the face of government and corporate agencies.
Q: Which VyprVPN server should I connect to?
A: It depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If you’re simply looking for the quickest speeds, the in-app Ping feature will display for you the ideal servers based on network latency. To use this feature, simply click the location icon next to the Connect button and click Show All Server Connections. Every server on the server list will be accompanied by a ping time, which will be located to the right of the server description. Choose the server with the lowest ping time for fastest speeds.
Most users, however, will want to choose a server based on geographic location, for example if they want to access media from a different country. This can be done manually by simply selecting the server in your desired location.
Bottom Line
VyprVPN has some inviting benefits. Having total control over your information ensures that no third party can manipulate or intercept your data, and its free account is an added benefit not offered by many other providers.
