VPNBook Review 2022

VPNBook Review contains the relevant evaluation of key features and capabilities. It is located in Switzerland, and VPNBook offers a free VPN service to its users. Using their service is like having a personal VPN or web proxy without the cost.

You can connect to any of its eight VPN servers in the United States, Germany, France, Canada, or Poland. There are also two proxy servers in the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as a Canadian “Outline VPN” (essentially a Shadow socks) server.

We ran a series of tests on the VPN to ensure its efficacy and explore its features. To verify whether or not the VPN actually records user behavior, we looked at their privacy policies. We also tested the VPN’s speed, its ability to bypass blocked content, its level of security, and other features.

Given the generally poor quality of free VPN services, it’s actually rather respectable. As a result, we can only give the VPNBook 2022 a rating of 2.0 out of a possible 5.

It can’t compete with more powerful premium VPNs due to its lack of security features like a kill switch and its poor connection speeds. While it does what it sets out to do, such as preventing leaks, we cannot endorse VPNBook because of its instability and security flaws.

The benefit of using VPNBook is that it doesn’t cost anything and doesn’t necessitate signing up for a subscription. Even if you can try VPNBook without spending a dime, it’s important to avoid doing anything that could compromise your anonymity.

ExpressVPN and NordVPN are two great alternatives to VPNBook that make up for all of VPNBook’s shortcomings, such as its limited server selection and lack of unblocking features.

Even though this VPN service is very standard, we hope to address some of the more common queries that people have about them.

• To what extent does VPNBook speed up your connection?
• Does VPNBook allow access to Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services?
• Is it risky to use VPNBook?
• How does VPNBook collect data?
• What about using VPNBook in China?

The evaluation will address these issues and more. But if you don’t have much time, here’s a synopsis of the main points. All the information you need is in the complete review, which you can find here.

VPNBook Pros and Cons

Rating Criteria

VPNBook Review consists of an evaluation on the basis of the following features.

1. Jurisdiction: Where is VPNBook Based?
2. Security: VPNBook is safe or not? Can VPNBook Keep You Safe Online?
3. Leaks: VPNBook IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS Test
4. Servers: How Many Servers Does VPNBook Have?
5. Streaming: Can VPNBook Unblocks Netflix US and Other VoDs?
6. Speed: How Fast are VPNBook Servers?
7. Compatibility: Can I Use VPNBook Apps on All My Devices?
8. Pricing: How Much Does VPNBook Cost Exactly?
9. Trustworthiness: What Do Users Say about VPNBook?

Jurisdiction – Where is VPNBook Based?

There is a lack of information on VPNBook on the internet. No one knows when or by whom it was established. In August of 2012, when vpnbook.com first showed up in the Wayback Machine archives, the VPNBook official Twitter account was launched.

VPNBook just reveals that it is located in Switzerland. Being neither a member of the Five-Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance nor the European Union (another organization infamous for data sharing among its members), Switzerland is an ideal location for a virtual private network’s headquarters.

Security – VPNBook is safe or not? Can VPNBook Keep You Safe Online?

is VPNBook safe? Numerous VPNBook reviews highlight the service’s security features. In any case, while that may be true, as I had no leaks, the VPN still maintains connection records.

Especially “Free” providers who engage in logging really aren’t trustworthy. Keep in mind that there are expenses associated with running a VPN, such as those for servers, software, and technical assistance.

This is why they rely on an advertising-supported business model to cover costs. As a result, relying on a free VPN for complete anonymity is unrealistic.  Who’s to say the provider won’t make money by selling your recorded details to certain other businesses?

Does VPNBook Store Logging Information?

The answer is yes; VPNBook does keep logs. Like any other service, they attempt to deceive their customers. IP addresses and timestamps are actually being stored.

Government authorities and copyright trolls can use that information to track your whereabouts and investigate your internet activities. After doing some investigating, we learned that the connection logs are stored for one week. It makes no difference if their headquarters are in Switzerland or somewhere else.

Apparently, VPNBook’s name keeps cropping up in trials, so if they receive a subpoena with a gag order, they will have to send over the logging information.

VPNBook Protocols & Encryption Review

VPNBook only supports the PPTP and OpenVPN protocols. If you use the PPTP, VPNBook integrates the outdated AES-128-bit encryption. However, users opting for OpenVPN, have the opportunity of configuring the encryption available from AES-128 and AES-256.

Their OpenVPN implementation also lacks the use of RSA encryption for safe distribution of the AES symmetrical key system. Most providers in the marketplace use a 2048-bit key for their RSA, and top names like NordVPN and ExpressVPN have begun using a 4096-bit key.

Details about VPNBook being a Scam!

The ambiguity surrounding the provider and the many allegations of it being a honeypot forced my hand into digging a little deeper into VPNBook. By inspecting their page source code, we got ahold of their Google Ads ID, which is ca-pub-3860002410887566. This allowed me to trace their history.

A search for other websites using the same Google Ads ID identified www.gotfreefax.com! The contact form on this website revealed a company called “Vannet Technology”

Based in Canada, Vannet Technology is a supposed “Web Design” website, which has other services operated by the same people/company with a similar design to the gotfreefax website: http://www.gotresumebuilder.com/  and http://www.gotsitemonitor.com.

These findings indicate that VPNBook may not be based in Switzerland, as it claims to be and since our findings just reveal a PO box from Canada, there is not much we can validate about their true location.

What we do know is that being a free service, it is expected for VPNBook to adopt shady practices like these, creating a phony service only to steal user information. Many believe the provider is set up by US authorities to trap transgressors. There are plenty of cases where logs of VPNBook turned up in trials.

Leaks – VPNBook IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS Test

During my testing of the service, We discovered no WebRTC, DNS, IP, or IPv6 leaks. This is a very positive result, but, there is still the possibility that your information will be exposed if your connectivity drops.

Important considerations for a leak test include:

• IP address – If your IP address is compromised, it might reveal your whereabouts and exposes you to harmful cybersecurity risks.
• DNS leaks  – can identify your geolocation and enable the interception of your confidential Internet communications.
• WebRTC — WebRTC is the peer-to-peer interaction between your browser and the websites you browse; this information can escape the security net and disclose your IP.
• IPv6 — IPv6 data occasionally flows beyond the VPN “tunnel“, exposing critical information to disclosure. Most VPNs prevent it totally.

We decided to run some tests on IPLeak.net to get a better understanding of the level of anonymity you may expect to receive when using VPNBook. IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS leaks are often revealed by the site’s assessment of your connection. We connected to a US server, and it worked out really well.

On the other hand, we did find a complaint from a user whose Facebook access had been temporarily disabled due to IP/DNS/WebRTC leakage. Accordingly, we still cannot say that VPNbook is secure for use, particularly if you need to conceal your true identity when surfing the web.

Servers – How Many Servers Does VPNBook Have?

When compared to other VPN services, VPNBook’s network capacity is somewhat limited. There are currently just 6 regions hosting servers. The United States, Germany, Canada, Poland, and France, are among such countries.

For an additional fee, VPNBook also provides access to dedicated servers in the North American, American Eastern, and American Western time zones. VPNBook now includes a complimentary web proxy in addition to its VPN server network.

Internet users have access to four different proxy servers located in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Canada. Please note that these servers will just mask your IP address and do not provide the same level of protection as VPN methods.

Is VPNBook good for Torrenting?

VPNBook for torrenting can be a choice as the Polish and German servers, as well as the Canadian specialized VPN server options are all P2P-friendly. If you use this VPN for torrenting, however, you may encounter the following issues:

• Given the limited number of alternatives, connecting to torrent-optimized servers can be a hassle.
• VPNBook downloading is sluggish, which is a major drawback.
• If your VPN ever drops your connection, you need a kill switch.

For these reasons, we can’t endorse VPNBook as a good VPN for torrenting. When it comes to dependable P2P connections, there are better VPNs available like ExpressVPN.

Is VPNBook Using Virtual or Bare Metal Servers?

To distinguish real, physical servers from virtual ones, we ran tests on them in a number of different environments. It took me almost an hour to try out all eight of VPNBook’s global hotspots.

we were quite surprised to learn that despite being a free service, all the servers available from the provider were located at the exact destination advertised. Below you can see results from CA Technologies’ App Synthetic Monitor. we pinged the US2 server to over 90 monitoring stations worldwide from ASM.CA.

The Round-Trip-Time (RTT) in all locations was extremely high, except for those in the US. The lowest RTT (1.792 ms) we saw was from the United States – Ashburn, indicating the server is present there.

These results are further confirmed by the RTT of 1.790 ms displayed by the tracert tool in CA Technologies’ App Synthetic Monitor. This confirms that the server is situated in Ashburn, United States.

Does VPNBook Work in China?

No, it doesn’t work in China. Given China’s strict censorship policies, VPNBook is not a good option due to its shaky security. We emailed VPNBook to inquire about its viability, but haven’t heard back from them as of yet.

We seriously doubt it has the sophisticated obfuscation required to bypass China’s censorship of streaming services. We wouldn’t suggest this VPN because of the absence of a kill switch which can be used under any urgency if needed to block all the transmissions.

Are VPNBook servers safe?

You should never use VPNBook since its servers are not safe and it is considered to be the worst free VPN available. Unfortunately, the VPN also collects IP addresses and timestamps, rendering the encrypted communication useless for security and privacy reasons.

Streaming – Can VPNBook Unblocks Netflix US and Other VoDs?

The VPNBook Netflix servers are a good resource to unblock the streaming platform. We were able to get onto our US Netflix account, but could not use the account with HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, or BBC iPlayer.

Either VPNBook was unable to establish a connection at all, or our streaming provider could have notified us that we had downloaded a VPN that they don’t support.

Unblocked US Netflix

Thanks to VPNBook, We were able to log into my US Netflix account and binge-watch without interruption.

We put VPNBook to the test across all of their US servers and found that with the exception of the US1 server in their OpenVPN package, we had no trouble accessing Netflix from anywhere within the country. We were getting a VPNBook proxy problem on this server, however, it was fixed by swapping servers.

Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max Blocked VPNBook

Don’t use VPNBook just yet if you want to watch anything on big streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, or Disney+ because of the restrictions.

First off, We were unable to use this VPN to watch anything on Amazon Prime. Although we were able to access my Prime account, the service gave me a proxy problem when we tried to watch a movie.

The Hulu streaming media page was inaccessible when we tried to get there, too. We tried every single US-based server we could locate, but we kept getting a message that we needed to disable my VPN or proxy.

Also, geo-restriction notifications prevented us from watching HBO Max and Disney+. Since VPNBook does not have any servers in the United Kingdom, the British coworkers were unable to test it with BBC iPlayer.

Speed – How Fast are VPNBook Servers?

We struggled to even do a speed test while connected since the rates were so terrible. On each of the servers we examined, it took at least a minute for webpages to fully load.

VPNBook, like the vast majority of free VPNs, imposes a performance penalty on speed. We conducted the speed testing using Ookla with an OpenVPN configuration.

The primary speed measures are:

• Downloading speed is measured in megabits per second. This reflects the speed at which you may download data and the grade of stream you can anticipate. Typically, 05 Mbps is required for HD streaming and 25 Mbps is required for 4K or Ultra HD. 
• Uploading speed, also measured in megabits per second, is the rate at which you can deliver internet traffic. A minimum upload speed of 5 Mbps is ideal.
• Ping is measured in milliseconds. Ping is the connection’s reaction time, and it is crucial for gaming; the lesser the ping, the stronger. Anything above 100 milliseconds may hinder performance.

In terms of speed tests, VPNBook performed poorly below the norm. We compared three different server locations (Poland, Canada, and the US) and found that the one headquartered in the US offered the quickest performance.

In Canada, our connection slowed by 82%. The 90% performance loss we saw on the farthest-from-me Polish server was shocking. If my starting speed had been lower, we wouldn’t have been able to stream media or even browse efficiently throughout these interruptions.

Using a VPNBook server in the United States, we saw a shocking 81% drop in throughput. Without a VPN, we were able to get download speeds of 92.44 Mbps, upload speeds of 560.50 Mbps, and a ping of 1 ms while in San Jose.

High throughput and low ping times are hallmarks of a VPN service with a widespread server network since less time is spent waiting for data to be sent to and from your device. The average ping time for ExpressVPN was 110ms, and the service never caused a reduction in performance of more than 35% throughout the testing.

VPNBook Free Web Proxy

VPNBook also offers users a free web proxy. You can access it from the website directly or click on this link here. This is a good addition to the service, particularly if you want to bypass geo-restrictions.

It uses 256-bit SSL encryption and delivered a good performance in the sense of successfully unblocking websites using proxies located in the US, UK, France, and Canada.

Why is VPNBook not working?

To some extent, OpenVPN is what holds the VPNBook program together, thus it’s crucial that you’re using the most recent client version. Consequently, if VPNBook is unable to establish a connection to the Internet, you should try installing the most recent OpenVPN client, setting it up correctly, and trying again.

There might be other reasons that VPNBOOK is not working:

• Check the credentials you are logging in with.
• Reinstall or update the TAP Driver/ TAP adapter.
• Check if you are connected to the right servers.
• Use TCP to escape UDP filters and blacklists.

Compatibility – Can I Use VPNBook Apps on All My Devices?

VPNBook is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and any system that supports OpenVPN. VPNBook for gaming is not working rather with smart devices such as gaming consoles, Apple TV, and Roku it is also incompatible. By using the open-source OpenVPN application, you may connect to any of the accessible servers.

There are three configuration choices that support the following hardware and software:

• PPTP is less secure and is supported by Linux, Android, Windows, Android, Mac, and PlayStation 3.
• OpenVPN is a third-party application compatible with Ubuntu, Mac OS X, Windows, Android, iOS,  and even your router, allowing you to access the service on any device.
• Outline VPN is compatible with major operating systems such as Linux, Chrome OS, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

VPNBook for Windows

VPNBook for Windows 10  is quite reliable. You can obtain this VPN on Windows by using the following VPNBook  configuration files for OpenVPN:

• Download it from the official website.
• Once the RAR file has been received, you may unpack its contents.
• OpenVPN configuration file: C:Users <<user-name>>OpenVPN Config
• OpenVPN GUI must be pre-installed on your PC before you can proceed.

After unpacking the contents, you’ll be able to use the shortcut on the taskbar to access VPNBook servers.

VPNBook for macOS

Similarly to Windows, TunnelBlick provides a VPNBook for macOS download, and the client supports importing configuration files. VPNBook for macOS has the same sluggish bandwidth and high protection standards.

VPNBook for Android

VPNBook for mobile devices (Android) app is flexible to work with android gadgets. In order to set up VPNBook on your Android device, you will need to acquire the OpenVPN Connect application. Because of this, you will be capable of importing the OpenVPN configuration files.

VPNBook for iOS

VPNBook for iOS app is great to install on iPhone or iPad. The VPNBook installation method for iOS is similar to that of Android. Installation guides for every platform are available on the official website.

How to Set Up VPNBook

Here are the recognized methods to configure VPNBook with easy:

OpenVPN

• Download The App – Incorporating AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, OpenVPN is the recommended connection method. Before you can set up VPNBook, you’ll need to install the OpenVPN Connect client program. If you want to use OpenVPN, you may get the free client software by visiting their website.

• Install the Downloaded App –  Setting up the program was a breeze. The specifics of this section may change according to the system on which OpenVPN is being installed.

• Download Configuration Files – After that, we went to VPNBook’s site to grab the server software. They’re on the main menu under the OpenVPN section. we went with the CA222 server in Canada for the certificate download.

• Import Config Files –  Though there are instructions for getting started, we didn’t find them to be particularly helpful. Installing the files is simplest when done one at a time via import from within the program. To add a new profile, launch the app and select “import profile” from the sidebar or the “+” button in the app’s status bar.

• Adding Profile –  To add the configuration files to the program, go to the “files” menu and choose them. To finish the procedure, go to the top right of the page and click “add.” Then, enter the login and password that the website gave you.

While VPNBook list of server credentials is available on its website, the credentials are periodically rotated out. Be prepared to experience difficulties though, since we had issues connecting to numerous servers despite inputting the right login and password.

PPTP and Outline VPN

These configurations are less secure than OpenVPN, hence I do not advocate them. PPTP also has a manual, although it might be more user-friendly.

To install PPTP, you must first forward ports on your router and then create a new connection on your device. You don’t need any third-party applications for this; simply add the connection using the VPNBook website’s instructions.

After adding your VPNBook connection, you may be prompted to choose PPTP as the VPN protocol. Typically, this is found on the security tab of the connection properties menu. It was unclear if we were required to perform this action on Android but there was no choice for this and it succeeded anyway.

Outline VPN employs the Shadowsocks socks5 protocol and does not create a VPN tunnel. In this regard, it is not a VPN. If you wish to test it, you must download the Outline VPN client program and configure it using the string command supplied on the VPNBook website.

Dedicated VPN

VPNBook offers an exclusive premium VPN alternative. It’s better to configure this using OpenVPN again, but you’ll first have to join up and submit payment details. You may select among three sites.

Remember that VPNBook will need some time to set up your own VPN server. If you’re unfamiliar with OpenVPN, you won’t find the email provided once the connection has been created particularly helpful. Only PTP and OpenVPN login credentials and UDP and TCP OpenVPN profiles are provided.

While VPNBook is primarily a free VPN, we would still want to see its support options expanded. This is especially true for the premium VPN option; we believe more in-depth tutorials are warranted here.

It wasn’t ideal to set it up manually, and I came across issues with my Android device. A simple, specialized software would have made a huge difference. There are several affordable VPNs with user-friendly applications.

Pricing – How Much Does VPNBook Cost Exactly?

VPNBook is a completely free service. As such, you have no plans/subscriptions available. Users do not even have to sign up to use the VPN. If you click on the “Free VPN” tab, you will be redirected to the below page. Here you have the ability to select the VPN protocol for connection.

You typically have two options: Free PPTP VPN and Free OpenVPN. Below each protocol, you have a list of servers available with info specifying, if you can indulge in P2P or not. You have to load these servers in the OpenVPN GUI client. The username is VPNBook and the password is nv2bk56, which changes after every few weeks.

VPNBook Dedicated IP Pricing

While VPNBook does not impose any pricing for its PPTP and OpenVPN protocols, you do have to pay for their dedicated IPs. Not that the service has a huge listing of static IPs available.

However, the standard pricing is $7.95 per month for each static IP. Locations users have access to include: Canada, US East/West, and the Netherlands for now!

VPNBook Payment Methods

Using VPNBook is as simple as loading a particular server in the OpenVPN GUI client. However, if you opt for their dedicated servers, you will have to make a payment. The options available from VPNBook include Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Discover, and American Express!

VPNBook Money Back Guarantee

I do appreciate VPNBook offering dedicated IPs, as not many in the marketplace do. Another plus point about their static IPs is that you can avail of a refund if the service is not up to the mark. Typically, you have 30-days until you can request for money back, which is quite reasonable!

Trustworthiness – What Do Users Say about VPNBook?

To give you a better idea about VPNBook, I have provided details about the provider from the perspective of “users” on Reddit. These should help with the decision-making process if you plan on signing up with the provider!

Reddit Reviews

Reddit is a credible source to know the reviews of users, we have included a VPNBook review here taken from Reddit’s VPN section. Comments range from scathing and scornful to downright mockery and ridicule, which is honestly to be expected after we thoroughly analyzed the service!

The most disdainful comments come in this thread revealing how logs from VPNBook have been used to put members of the hacktivist group, Anonymous behind bars.

Users appeared to be incredibly apprehensive of the service and its freemium model of operations. For most users, this was further evidence of them selling their info.

Similarly, users have also pointed out vague VPNBook’s privacy policy with little or no clarity on how they enforce this policy.

VPNBook Support Information

VPNBook solely offers a Faq page and an email complaint mechanism for customers to contact them with questions or concerns. Not only was the FAQ section useless, but our inquiries to the customer service team went unanswered.
The site lacks a customer care blog and a web chat feature.

Only PPTP and OpenVPN configuration manuals are available at this time. VPNBook has abysmal customer support; calling it lousy would be an exaggeration.

VPNBook Alternatives

VPNBook does not perform well as per our criterion to evaluate reliable VPN providers. There is far too much vagueness and lack of clarity about its services to fully trust them in addition to the limited features it provides.

Do I Recommend VPNBook?

If you ask me, I would not recommend this service to any individual. VPNBook Review 2022 evaluates the service against its features and capabilities. Although they are free and that might be appealing to many. However, it is not worth putting your privacy at risk, particularly if you need a VPN to keep your identity hidden in this invasive world.

We always advise users to go for premium VPN services, as they offer better security/encryption, remarkable server availability, and amazing features. If you want to receive the best value for your money, we recommend signing up for the overall best service which is none other than ExpressVPN.

FAQs About VPNBook

Is VPNBook OpenVPN safe?

VPNBook is the most insecure free VPN service you can use, and its servers are unsafe. Unfortunately, the VPN logs information like IP addresses, time, and date, making the secure connection worthless.

Is VPNBook Pptp safe?

VPNBook provides enough encryption but lacks several fundamental security features. Its PPTP servers utilize 128-bit encryption, which is less secure.

How do I connect my VPNBook to my computer?

Here are the steps to follow to get your VPNBook connected to your computer:

• Download OpenVPN client.
• Install the client.
• Get the appropriate VPNBook OpenVPN profile packages.
• Unzip the downloaded OpenVPN profile packages.
• Copy OpenVPN configurations to the C:/Program Files/OpenVPN/config directory.
• Launch OpenVPN client as Admin. Right-click the OpenVPN client icons, choose an account, and then click Connect.
• Enter your login and password specified before.
• OpenVPN device connected securely to VPNBook server. Your public IP address has been replaced with the VPNBook server Internet address.

How can I use VPNBook on Mobile?

Here are the steps to follow:

• Navigate to Settings >>Wireless & networks >> VPN on your Android.
• Add a new VPN Account profile
• Enter credentials and then click Save profile
• Choose the freshly-created PPTP VPN profile.
• Enter login credentials and click Connect.
• Your Android smartphone connects to the VPNBook server successfully.
• Your public IP address has been replaced with the VPNBook server Internet address.

How do I use VPNBook on Mac?

Here are the steps to follow:

• Download one of the OpenVPN profile bundles from VPNBook.
• Get Tunnelblick OpenVPN Client
• Open Tunnelblick
• Choose “Already possess config files”
• Transfer VPNBook OpenVPN config folder to Tunnelblick settings
• Choose an OpenVPN profile and then click “Connect.”
• Enter your credentials and click “OK”
• Your VPN connection is now active as indicated

How do I connect my VPNBook to my laptop?

Please refer to the question “How do I connect my VPNBook to my computer?” steps are the same for a laptop as of computer system.