Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society.
SuperVPN is an unsafe and untrustworthy free VPN. While it's fast, it has a dangerous logging policy, worrying links to China, and it won't even unblock web content. We discourage using this VPN, and if you already have it installed on your Android smartphone, we advise uninstalling it immediately.
Ranked #56 out of 56 VPNs
SuperVPN Free VPN Client Category Ratings
2.52.5/10
3.43.4/10
11.0/10
99.0/10
4.54.5/10
1.51.5/10
11.0/10
44.0/10
11.0/10
SuperVPN Free VPN Client Pros & Cons
None - this VPN is unsafe
Requires unnecessary permissions
Vague logging policy
Shady developer behaviour
Persistent, annoying adverts
Limited number of locations
Terrible value 'VIP' upgrade
Why Trust Our Review?
We’ve spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing 56 VPN services using our impartial review process to recommend you the best VPN software.
Here are some of our key VPN testing statistics:
Total Hours of Testing
30,000+
Weekly Speed Tests
3,000+
VPN Services Reviewed
56
Streaming Platforms Tested Daily
12
IP & DNS Leak Tests Performed
9,500+
How Much We've Spent On Testing
$25,000+
SuperVPN Free VPN Client is a very popular Android VPN, with over 100 million downloads. This is twice as many as when we first reviewed the VPN, evidence of how fast itâs growing.
In April 2020 Google removed SuperVPN from the Google Play store, however the VPN is once again available.
To find the truth behind this VPN, we put SuperVPN Free VPN Client through our rigorous testing and review process.
What we found was not good. SuperVPN Free VPN Client was also one of the VPNs featured in our free VPN app ownership investigation â and the results were concerning.
SuperVPN Free VPN client is currently the worst VPN weâve tested and reviewed. You must avoid using it, and use a safe and private free VPN, instead.
EXPERT ADVICE:Our Surfshark tests confirm itâs one of the cheapest and most secure VPNs available. Surfshark easily unblocks websites from anywhere, and you try it risk-free for up to 30 days.
Intrusive logging policy and worrying links to China
11.0/10
How is this calculated?
We dissect the logging and privacy policies of every VPN. A VPN should never log:
Your real IP address
Connection timestamps
DNS requests
A base of operations outside of 14-Eyes or EU jurisdiction is preferable.
SuperVPN has a very basic, poorly written logging policy which we don't trust. Even taken at its word the service logs IP addresses and stores them in the privacy unfriendly US.
Ranked #53 out of 56 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy
On the Google Play Store it has fairly positive reviews, and a legitimate-looking publisher: at first glance it looks like a free VPN you could trust.
But if you dig a little further, things start to get worrying.
There is no SuperSoftTech, the appâs âdeveloperâ on the Google Play Store, registered in Singapore, where the developer claimed to be located. It didnât have a website, either.
Despite a huge number of reviews on the Google Play Store, there is also almost no talk of the app elsewhere online.
Invasive logging policy
SuperVPNâs logging policy, which is set out within the serviceâs privacy policy, is far too sparse for our liking.
The most important section of the policy is the following:
While the VPN doesnât monitor traffic, it does monitor IP addresses against an IP blacklist. This isnât standard practice, or a standard part of VPN logging policies. It feels like an excuse for recording IP addresses, rather than a necessary procedure.
Also, and perhaps in an attempt to appear legitimate, the policy refers to the Data Protection Act 1998, an outdated UK law which was replaced in 2018.
Another concerning detail is a reference to where SuperVPN stores user data:
This is the kind of thing which sets off alarm bells. What data does SuperVPN collect? And why is it storing such data in the privacy-unfriendly US and UK?
You donât need an email address or an account to use SuperVPN, so it is hard to imagine any amount of information about users being necessary to run the service.
This discrepancy is deeply suspicious. A proper privacy policy â like this one from Private Internet Access â could resolve it, but SuperVPN does not have a proper privacy policy.
Even more worrying, when you first install SuperVPN it asks for permission to access your phone and your stored files and media.
There is no reason for a VPN to request this kind of information; coupled with the privacy policyâs reference to storing data it implies SuperVPN might be collecting personal data.
Even with the best encryption, when you use a VPN you entrust your service with your personal information and data. It is really important that you can trust your VPN, and SuperVPN has done absolutely nothing to earn our trust.
SuperVPN could excel in all our other criteria (it doesnât) and we would still not recommend it.
Its shady behaviour and vague, overreaching privacy policy are both huge red flags which should be absolute deal breakers when choosing a VPN.
Concerning links to China
SuperVPN FreeVPN Client is one of many free VPNs which look too good to be true. It isnât even the only SuperVPN on the Google Play Store.
There is also âSuper VPN â Best Free Proxyâ, âSuperVPN 2018 â Secure, Unlimited VPN Proxyâ and âSuperVPN Free VPN for Countries â Secure Proxyâ among countless others.
From this point on weâre going to refer to SuperVPN FreeVPN Client as just SuperVPN to keep things simple â but be sure not to confuse it for any of those alternatives.
For an app that has over 50 million downloads, there is a concerning lack of information available about SuperSoftTech â the supposed developer of SuperVPN.
The privacy policy is hosted on a server in California and doesnât even have a domain name. This and the Google Play Store listing are the extent of SuperSoftTechâs online presence.
Given the lack of transparency from SuperVPN, we werenât surprised to find this privacy policy sparse and lacking proper detail, or even coherent English.
A Google search for the support email, goanalyticsapp@gmail.com, reveals the actual developer to be a man named Jinrong Zheng, who is also responsible for (the now removed) LinkVPN on iOS.
LinkVPN features the exact same privacy policy â complete with the same spelling mistakes â this time hosted in Germany.
Some more exploring reveals multiple addresses for Zheng, including one in Beijing, China.
This is a very opaque setup. It means we have no concrete idea which jurisdiction SuperVPN is operating out of, and which governments or companies could be trawling through your data.
Speed
Surprisingly very fast Android VPN app
99.0/10
How is this calculated?
Speed ratings are calculated using upload speeds, download speeds, and ping (latency).
We test average speeds regularly using a dedicated 100Mbps connection in London, UK. Local download speed is considered the most important factor.
Surprisingly, SuperVPN Free is pretty fast in our tests. That doesn't mean you should use it, though.
Ranked #16 out of 56 VPNs for Speed
Thereâs no denying it â SuperVPN performs very well in our speed tests, especially for a free VPN.
Since SuperVPN is only available on Android, we carried out our speed tests on mobile and are not directly comparable to the bulk of our standard 100Mbps tests. Nevertheless, the app still performs well.
Local Speed Test results before using SuperVPN Free VPN Client:
Download Speed: 45.7Mbps
Upload Speed: 44.3Mbps
Ping: 4ms
Local Speed Test results with SuperVPN Free VPN Client:
Download Speed: 38.3Mbps
Upload Speed: 43.4Mbps
Ping: 11ms
Download speed loss when SuperVPN Free VPN Client is running: 16%
Weâve also tested SuperVPNâs global connection speeds (from our office in the UK), hereâs an idea of what you can expect:
USA: 38Mbps (download) & 45Mbps (upload)
Germany: 33Mbps (download) & 40Mbps (upload)
Singapore: 6Mbps (download) & 10Mbps (upload)
Over long distance connections download speeds drop significantly. The two Asian server locations â Japan and Singapore â both achieved 6Mbps.
Upload speeds remained strong, though, up in the high 30Mbps range for both server locations.
Server Locations
Limited server coverage, no transparency on infrastructure
4.54.5/10
How is this calculated?
The global spread and coverage of the VPN server network is the most important factor here.
We also consider the number of city-level servers, plus how many IP addresses are maintained.
This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.
SuperVPN has a basic spread of servers across the US, Europe and Asia. This is fairly standard for a free VPN, and doesn't compete with paid providers.
Ranked #47 out of 56 VPNs for Server Locations
8 Countries
8 Cities
UndisclosedIP Address
SuperVPN has recently expanded the number of server locations on offer in the free version of the app.
You now have the choice of connecting to France, the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Singapore, and Japan (Hong Kong is reserved for the âVIPâ version of the app).
There is no disclosed number of IP addresses or servers, and generally little is know about the VPNâs server infrastructure.
On thing is almost certain: due to the high number of SuperVPN users, you will most likely experience server congestion, and therefore slow speeds, at peak times.
If youâre keen to get a US IP address, we advise you to use one of these US-optimized free VPNs. Theyâre safer, faster and have specific US city-level servers.
EXPERT ADVICE:Private Internet Access counts 17,087 servers across 84 countries. Use its 30-day money-back guarantee to try PIA VPN risk-free.
Streaming
Only streams BBC iPlayer, not US Netflix
2.52.5/10
How is this calculated?
Streaming is rated by the number of different services unlocked, how many regional libraries are viewable, and how consistently the VPN can access them.
Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and more are all tested on a weekly basis.
SuperVPN works with BBC iPlayer, but not with any premium streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney+.
Ranked #36 out of 56 VPNs for Streaming
We were very surprised to find that SuperVPN unblocks BBC iPlayer on its UK server. Many VPNs, including premium paid ones, struggle to do this.
The VPNâs speeds are also fast enough to stream the BBCâs video content in HD quality.
However, you canât stream Netflix on any server. To do that, try using one of these top free Netflix VPNs to access geo-blocked Netflix content.
Fast P2P speeds but not suitable for anonymous torrenting
3.43.4/10
How is this calculated?
We calculate the average download bitrate of every VPN using a bespoke torrenting setup.
Testing also factors in the percentage of servers which permit P2P, plus useful features like port forwarding.
As elsewhere, SuperVPN was pretty fast in our streaming speed tests. It's bad logging practices and untrustworthy management make it a poor choice for torrenting, though.
Ranked #42 out of 56 VPNs for Torrenting
SuperVPNâs FAQ says nothing about torrenting but, regardless, we canât recommend using the VPN for any P2P activity due to the absence of a proper privacy policy.
One of the few things the privacy policy does mention is servers storing data in the US and UK â two of the least privacy friendly countries in the world.
The iOS VPN app from SuperVPNâs developer, LinkVPN, has a strict no P2P rule, so we would have expected SuperVPN to block P2P traffic. However, when we tested the VPN for torrenting, we found that it worked quickly, with around a 4% speed drop.
Regardless, SuperVPN is not safe to use and therefore is not recommended for torrent activity.
Luckily, there are selected fast and secure free torrenting VPNs we recommend you use, instead.
Bypassing Web Censorship
No obfuscation tools to work in highly-censored locations
1.51.5/10
How is this calculated?
Our remote-access server in Shanghai, China routinely tests if a VPN can beat restrictions and access a free, open internet. Obfuscation technologies and nearby servers are also a contributing factor.
This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.
Don't expect SuperVPN to work in censored countries, especially not in China.
Ranked #49 out of 56 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship
Weâve seen some reviews on the Google Play Store which claim SuperVPN works in China, but these are highly doubtful as there is no obfuscation technology in place.
Weâve seen lots of complaints that the app doesnât work in Iran, too.
If youâre travelling to or living in a high-censorship country, read our review of PrivateVPN, one of the best anti-censorship VPNs.
Security & Technical Features
Untrustworthy practices are a red flag
11.0/10
How is this calculated?
Top-rated VPNs offer OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a functional kill switch. We also consider additional security features and the global spread of VPN servers.
SuperVPN is an unsafe app which totally lacks transparency. We haven't seen it leaking IP or DNS information, though.
Ranked #54 out of 56 VPNs for Security & Technical Features
Protocols
Available in SuperVPN Free VPN Client
IKEv2/IPSec
Yes
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)
No
WireGuard
No
Encryption
Available in SuperVPN Free VPN Client
AES-128
No
AES-192
No
AES-256
No
Blowfish
No
ChaCha20
No
Undisclosed
Yes
Security
Available in SuperVPN Free VPN Client
DNS Leak Blocking
No
First-party DNS
No
IPv6 Leak Blocking
No
Supports TCP Port 443
No
VPN Kill Switch
No
WebRTC Leak Blocking
No
Advanced Features
Available in SuperVPN Free VPN Client
Ad Blocker
No
Dedicated IP
No
Double VPN
No
Smart DNS
No
Static IP
No
SOCKS
No
Split Tunneling
Yes
Tor over VPN Server
No
Tracker Blocker
No
Neither the SuperVPN app, nor its Google Play Store listing, ever mention what form of encryption or VPN protocol are being used. This is a big concern.
After thorough investigation, we discovered the app uses a version of the open-source strongSwan VPN client and the IKEv2 protocol.
Running strongSwan has served SuperVPN well. The VPN passed our IP and DNS leak tests, and our encryption tests too.
However, we canât be certain which kind of encryption is in use. Nevertheless, we can confirm SuperVPN is not just a proxy masquerading as a VPN.
If you want to keep some applications inside and others outside the VPN encrypted tunnel, SuperVPN offers âSmart Proxyâ â a fully functional VPN split tunneling solution.
But even with a secure tunnel, the VPN potentially has access to all your data. In other words, you are only secure if you can trust SuperVPN Free VPN Client.
Additional APKs are a privacy vulnerability
The flipside to the open-source power of strongSwan is that it has enabled SuperVPN to add in additional APKs, essentially turning the app into adware.
They arenât just annoying â the integrated Google ads represent a privacy vulnerability and undermine one of the key purposes of a VPN, by giving the tech giant an insight into your activity.
Googleâs privacy policy clearly states that it monitors your IP address and activity. Even if Google cannot identify you when the VPN is turned on, the ads appear as soon as you start the app.
Excessive permissions
There is another, even more worrying area of vulnerability: the unnecessary permissions which SuperVPN has permission to access.
As we previously mentioned, you can refuse some of the worst of these permissions and still use the app. Despite this, SuperVPN is likely gathering data from users which goes far beyond what is necessary.
The full list of permissions the app has access to is particularly disturbing. They include:
Precise location (GPS and network-based)
The ability to read, modify or delete files on USB storage
Permission to view WiFi connections
Permission to read phone status and identity
Permission to change network connectivity
The ability to prevent your device from sleeping
Whether or not you accept the requests for access to your phone and media, when you use the app you are giving SuperVPN access to pretty much everything on your phone, including personal information, your location, and your interests.
You are handing this information to a company with a minimal privacy policy that is written in plain text on a web page without a proper domain name.
The company has also gone to considerable effort to hide the identity and location of its operation.
Device & OS Compatibility
Only works on Android smartphones
How is this rated?
A quality VPN should maintain functional, fully-featured applications and extensions for as many platforms and devices as possible.
This does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Ease of Use rating.
This is an Android only app. If you want a VPN for any other platform look elsewhere.
Because SuperVPN is Android only, and you canât install in on a router either, you wonât be able to use it on streaming devices (Apple TV, Roku, etc.) and games consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, and more).
There are no web browser extensions, either.
Ease of Use
Intuitive app but adverts are frustrating
44.0/10
How is this calculated?
This rating mainly consists of the intuitiveness of setup and everyday use.
Device or platform compatibility and customization options are also a factor.
Frustrating adverts wreck what is a relatively simple user interface.
Ranked #50 out of 56 VPNs for Ease of Use
How to Install & Set Up SuperVPN Free VPN Client
Installing SuperVPN is super easy. Just go to the Google Play Store, search for the app and press "Install"
When you open the app you will probably see some adverts, exit them and then press "continue"
This is the app's main page. You can press the flag in the top right corner to change country, or press "Connect" to start a VPN connection
The first time you use the VPN a pop-up will appear titled "Connection Request", press "OK" to continue
You are now connected!
It may not be much of an achievement to make a VPN with almost no features and just eight locations easy to use, but SuperVPN has an intuitive app.
That said, the ads definitely hurt the experience and pop up at frustrating moments, increasing (most likely deliberately) the chance of accidental taps.
There are also lots of odd and misleading design choices scattered across the app.
The âVPN is ready: Continueâ screen shows upon launch even when the VPN is active, which can be frustrating. You canât select a new location until youâve navigated past this page and disconnected, either.
There is also a confusing pop-up which appears on start up, asking you to disable battery optimization so that the app can run in the background.
This pop-up flashes regardless of the settings on your phone, and gives you directions which are not universal to all Android devices.
You have to manually disconnect each time before changing server, which can be frustrating, too.
There is also a âVIPâ upgrade available, which gives access to an additional Hong Kong server. In order to upgrade, the app requires you to associate your Google Play Store account with your VPN account: yet another privacy red flag.
Customer Support
There is no customer support here
11.0/10
How is this calculated?
This rating is based on our assessment of each VPN’s:
Email support
Live chat support
Online resources
Not every VPN offers all of these, and they often vary in quality and response time.
SuperVPN has an unmonitored support email it doesn't answer and nothing else. This is near to the worst customer support we've seen.
Ranked #53 out of 56 VPNs for Customer Support
Customer Support
Available in SuperVPN Free VPN Client
24/7 Live Chat Support
No
24/7 Email Support
No
Chatbot
No
Live Chat Support
No
Email
No
Email Support via Online Form
No
Tutorial Videos
No
Online Resources
No
Donât expect any customer support from SuperVPN.
There is a Gmail account on its Google Play Store listing, but we received no response when we emailed it.
Within the app itself there is an FAQ, which gives some basic troubleshooting guidance, but itâs nowhere near comprehensive enough to make up for the lack of actual customer service.
Although itâs free to use, itâs not worth paying the real cost: your privacy and security.
You are potentially paying for this VPN twice. Firstly, by being bombarded with intrusive adverts, and secondly, with your valuable data.
If you use SuperVPN your data is in more danger than if you donât use a VPN at all. Itâs fast, but so are other VPNs â free and paid alike â which donât jeopardize your data.
EXPERT ADVICE: To enjoy much faster VPN speeds and access to geo-blocked services, try Surfshark risk-free for 30 days.
Alternatives to SuperVPN Free VPN Client
Windscribe
8.68.6/10
The free VPNs which are worth your time are few and far between. Windscribe Free is an exception, offering a great service without dubious logging practices - albeit limited to 10GB a month and lacking some of the features of its premium version. Read Windscribe review
Surfshark
9.29.2/10
If you are willing to spend just a little each month you can get a lot from a value provider like Surfshark. This trustworthy provider offers fast speeds on all your devices (not just your Android handset) and works consistently with streaming services like Netflix and iPlayer. Read Surfshark review