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Privacy & Logging Policy
Improved Logging Policy but Dubious Links to China
Below is a summary of the data that Turbo VPN logs:
Data Type | Logged by Turbo VPN |
---|---|
Browsing Activity | No |
Device Information | No |
DNS Queries | No |
Individual Bandwidth Usage | Yes |
Individual Connection Timestamps | Yes |
ISP | No |
Number of Simultaneous Connections | No |
Originating IP Address | No |
Account Information | No |
VPN Server IP | No |
VPN Server Location | No |
Date of Last Connection | No |
Turbo’s privacy policy isn’t the most accessible (the default font size is extremely small) but its logging policy has certainly improved from past iterations.
This is not the worst logging policy we’ve reviewed and you can’t be identified from this. However, Turbo claims that it doesn’t store timestamps of VPN connections, but it must log some if it knows when a connection is successful.
Turbo VPN also logs the aggregate amount of data transferred – this is fine and can’t be used to identify you.
The privacy policy states that Turbo VPN “may be compelled to disclose your data where [it is] served with a valid court order.” This is particularly troubling when coupled with Turbo’s suspect past and its ties with China.
It’s also worth noting that Turbo previously had one of the worst logging policies we’ve seen. While its current policy is a step in the right direction, we have no way of verifying if Turbo VPN follows it in practice.
Until Turbo VPN can provide real-world evidence of its logging practices, such as a third-party audit, we can’t call it a private or safe VPN service.
Worrying links to China
Turbo VPN is developed by a firm called Innovative Connecting. It has released a number of other basic, free VPNs, including VPN Proxy Master, Snap Master VPN, Solo VPN Pro, and VPN Proxy Master Lite.
It’s incorporated at 38 Beach Road #29-11 South Beach Tower, Singapore. Singapore is a nation of intrusive surveillance, government snooping, and has links with the Five Eyes — a US-led intelligence sharing network.
Additionally, our independent research shows Turbo VPN’s strong links with Mainland China.
The director of Innovative Connecting is a Chinese national and entrepreneur by the name of Danian Chen, who is also the CEO of LinkSure — the company behind ‘WiFi Master Key.’
Once described by Forbes as “one of the most influential young leaders in China,” Danian Chen is listed only in corporate filings and has no public association with the company.
The fact that Turbo VPN is owned by a Chinese national, and the service’s privacy policy states it will hand over your personal information to legal authorities ‘if ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction’ is highly problematic.
Speed
Throttled Connection Speeds
To calculate Turbo VPN’s speed rating, we tested the speed of the connection between our location and Turbo VPN servers around the world.
Here’s a table showing Turbo VPN’s speed test results, in full:
Throughout the testing process, Turbo VPN repeatedly throttled our connection speeds. While connected to Turbo VPN’s Germany server, our speeds reduced by 92%.
This is an unacceptable result and only fast enough for general web browsing.
Turbo VPN claims to not put any caps on bandwidth or data usage, but it does operate a ‘fair usage’ policy.
Based on our experience with the service, running a few speed tests seems to surpass what it considers to be fair. Expect frequent and server throttling when using Turbo VPN.
Server Locations
Very Small Server Network
Turbo VPN takes an approach to servers that we’ve never seen before. The list of available VPN servers changes depending on what platform or device you are using, as well as what protocol you’re using. Here’s how it breaks down:
This is a needlessly confusing way of doing things, and we can’t see any reason for doing so. Your options are clearly better if you’re an Android user, although the selection for Windows has its potential uses.

Turbo VPN’s macOS app places its entire server network behind a paywall.
The server spread across all devices is poor, with Asia only being represented by single servers in India and Singapore as well as a total absence of coverage in Africa and South America.
We would also have liked some city-level options in larger locations like the US where a server being located in the East or West Coast could affect your connection speeds.
Streaming
Turbo VPN Is a Bad Choice for Streaming
Turbo VPN is a bad VPN for streaming across all devices. Here’s a list of the popular streaming platforms it unblocks:
Streaming Platform | Works with Turbo VPN |
---|---|
Channel 4 | No |
Amazon Prime Video | No |
BBC iPlayer | No |
Disney+ | No |
HBO Max | Yes |
Hotstar India | No |
Hulu | No |
ITVX | No |
Netflix US | No |
YouTube | No |
Its Windows app was able to unlock HBO Max with ease but its quality was subpar. The Android app could also stream HBO Max on its single US server but it took multiple attempts with awful video quality.

We were able to access HBO Max on Turbo VPN’s single US server.
All Turbo VPN applications failed to access Netflix in any region. The VPN also doesn’t work with Prime Video, Disney+, or BBC iPlayer.
Some users have claimed to be able to access Netflix, but only through premium VIP servers which are inaccessible to free users.
There are far better streaming VPNs available – do not use Turbo VPN for streaming.
Torrenting
Turbo VPN Can't Be Used to Torrent
Here’s a quick summary of showing how Turbo VPN performed in our torrenting tests:
Torrenting Attribute | Result |
---|---|
Average Download Bitrate | 0.0MiB/s |
No. of P2P Servers | Not Disclosed |
Logging Policy | No Identifying Data |
Kill Switch | Paid Version Only |
Port Forwarding | No |
Previously, Turbo VPN blocked P2P traffic on its servers and its privacy policy warned that your account could be suspended if you attempted to torrent while using it too often.
In our most recent tests, we were able to successfully torrent on Turbo’s US server and any reference to account suspension has been removed from the privacy policy.
However, we contacted the Turbo VPN support team and they confirmed that both torrenting and P2P connections are still banned on the VPN’s servers.

Turbo VPN does not allow torrenting on any of its servers.
Regardless, even if Turbo VPN did work with torrenting, we would still not advise to use it. Historically, its logging policy has not been good enough to entrust the service with your identifiable data.
The absence of a kill switch on the free version is another major drawback for torrenters. A kill switch is a security essential for file-sharing.
Bypassing Web Censorship
TurboVPN Is Useless Against Censorship
Turbo VPN makes it quite clear that the app won’t work in China. It claims this is for ‘policy’ reasons.
Even if it were willing to let you use the VPN in China, it lacks the technologies to effectively beat the Great Firewall.
You may have some luck using Turbo VPN in other censored countries with less effective internet blocks. We don’t recommend doing so, though. You shouldn’t put yourself at risk by using this bad VPN in countries which frown upon VPN usage.
Security & Technical Features
Unsafe VPN With Weak Encryption, DNS leaks, and Malware
You can see the full list of connection protocols, encryption ciphers, and advanced features Turbo VPN offers in the table below:
Protocols | Available in Turbo VPN |
---|---|
IKEv2/IPSec | Yes |
L2TP/IPSec | Yes |
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) | Yes |
Proprietary | Yes |
WireGuard | No |
Encryption | Available in Turbo VPN |
---|---|
AES-128 | Yes |
AES-192 | No |
AES-256 | No |
Blowfish | No |
ChaCha20 | No |
Security | Available in Turbo VPN |
---|---|
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 Turbo VPN |
---|---|
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 |
It’s unlikely that you’ll find a VPN quite as unsafe as Turbo VPN.
As part of our free VPN investigation we detected unsafe functions, DNS leaks, and virus/malware on the app.
Turbo VPN also uses third-party advertising platforms to obtain sensitive information “for personalized advertising purpose [sic].”
This goes against everything a VPN is supposed to do and what it represents.
Your personal data is not secure, with Turbo VPN not even maintaining its own DNS servers, which means that your web traffic is routed through third-party servers even when you’re connected to the VPN.

Turbo VPN relies on third-party DNS servers.
There are multiple VPN protocols listed within the app (although they vary depending on what device you’re using). OpenVPN is the default across all operating systems.
Of the protocols on offer, there are three we’ve never heard of before: SSR, ISSR, and Trojan. Given how Turbo VPN performs in every other regard, we don’t trust a bespoke protocol to properly encrypt your data.

You can’t be certain which protocol you’re using on the free version of Turbo VPN.
The ability to choose protocols is reserved for the premium version on Windows and macOS.
In another undesirable first for Turbo VPN, we have never before seen a VPN which paywalls its kill switch.

Turbo VPN’s kill switch is exclusively a premium feature across all devices.
We consider a kill switch to be the most basic, fundamental privacy feature for a VPN. It tells you everything you need to know about Turbo VPN’s priorities that it withholds the kill switch for paying users.
Device & OS Compatibility
Free Software for All Major Platforms
Apps
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android
Previously a mobile-only VPN, Turbo VPN is now available on Windows and macOS, in addition to Android and iOS.
Turbo VPN does something which we’ve never seen from a VPN before: it offers a totally different list of servers depending on what platform you’re using.
The Android application gives you access to the largest server list, plus extra settings like split tunneling (only available on the Android app).

Turbo VPN’s server list.
On iOS, macOS, and Windows there are no extra features or settings whatsoever.
On iOS and macOS, you can’t choose a server, either, instead being stuck with a ‘fastest’ option (Germany, in our case, which is odd given we’re located in the UK).
All the apps are very simple, and look almost identical from platform to platform.

The Turbo VPN client for Windows.
Ease of Use
Simple, but Very Limited Apps
How to Install & Set Up Turbo VPN
All four of Turbo VPN’s apps (Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android) are simple to use.
This is largely due to the near-total lack of advanced features. You can choose a server, you can connect, and that’s about it.
Turbo VPN started life as a mobile-only VPN, and that much is obvious in the design of its desktop apps. They look identical to the mobile versions, which is lazy and unintuitive to use with a mouse and keyboard.
The main issue with Turbo VPN’s apps, though, are the constant advertising popups.
They’re disruptive enough on mobile, but on desktop they’re a huge nuisance – opening a new browser window full of ads every time you connect or change servers.
Customer Support
Surprisingly Robust Customer Service
You can reach Turbo VPN’s customer support in the following ways:
Customer Support | Available in Turbo VPN |
---|---|
24/7 Live Chat Support | Yes |
24/7 Email Support | No |
Chatbot | No |
Yes | |
Email Support via Online Form | No |
Tutorial Videos | No |
Online Resources | Yes |
Turbo VPN has recently performed a complete overhaul of its customer support. Where it was once almost non-existent, it’s now actually on a level equal to some of the most popular VPNs.
The biggest contributor to this is its 24/7 live chat. This is accessed from a chat window on the support page. It first runs your query by a chatbot that attempts to find an answer from its minimal FAQs section. However, if you don’t get what you need there you can be instantly forwarded to a live support agent.
The agent responded extremely quickly, and was actually helpful in addressing the issue we had, too.
Email support has been improved, too. You now fill out a simple online form and will be emailed a response in the coming hours.
The Bottom Line
Is Turbo VPN Worth It?
We do not recommend Turbo VPN under any circumstances. It’s unreliable, insecure, and dangerous.
The VPN service doesn’t let you torrent on its free servers, and it doesn’t work with content platforms like Netflix or BBC iPlayer.
Though you may be able to stream HBO Max, it’s not worth the trade-off in terms of privacy, security, and performance. We advise using a secure free VPN, instead.
Even better, we recommend using one of our most highly-rated VPNs, some of which offer VPN free trials.
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Alternatives to Turbo VPN
Windscribe
Windscribe is our top-rated free VPN. Unlike Turbo VPN, it has reliable download speeds, a good selection of servers and, most importantly, a strong privacy policy. Read Windscribe review
Surfshark
Surfshark is a premium VPN but it comes at a budget price of $2.30 a month. It's a good streaming VPN with fast speeds and several configurable settings TurboVPN can only dream of. Read Surfshark review
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User Reviews for Turbo VPN
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