VPNArea Review

We measured the impact of VPNArea on our internet speed by comparing download speeds before and after connecting to a nearby VPN server.

Here are the results:

A 2% speed drop is extremely impressive – even rivalling top rated VPNs like ExpressVPN.

It’s a strong choice for gamers, too, thanks to its quick same-country latency of just 5ms. It also produced very fast upload speeds, which is ideal for torrenting.

International Speed Test Results

We recorded the exact same speed loss of 2% when connected to Germany, even though we’re based in the UK. A 12% speed drop when connected to a server in Canada is also very good.

However, VPNArea performs much worse when it comes to other, more long-distance connections.

You can expect a 90% drop in download speeds when connecting to servers on the other side of the globe.

Overall, it was quick and easy to connect to a majority of the servers. But we did experience difficulties connecting to some of the servers – for example Singapore and the United Kingdom streaming server.

For more information on exactly how we measure VPN performance, take a look at how we test VPNs.

VPNArea only collects three pieces of data:

• Email address
• Username and password
• Transaction ID for refunds

Apart from this, VPNArea is a no-logs service:

“We do not monitor, record or store any login dates, timestamps, incoming and outgoing IP addresses, bandwidth statistics or any other identifiable data of any VPN users using our VPN servers. We do not log or track any DNS requests sent to our DNS servers.”

VPNArea Adheres to EU Data Laws

Offshore Security LTD is based in Varna, Bulgaria and is subject to EU data retention laws. This means VPNArea might have to share you collected data with law enforcement authorities.

VPNArea is registered in Bulgaria but its computer systems are based in Switzerland.

We believe Switzerland has been emphasized because it is a privacy haven. In theory, having your data processing system in this jurisdiction should provide some level of privacy.

But in reality, VPNArea’s country of incorporation is the most important when it comes to data retention and sharing laws that it must comply with.

Privacy Policy Is Not Third-Party Certified

VPNArea’s strict no-logs policy is great at first glance. It has all the elements that make up a privacy-first VPN.

However, it not been independently audited or (to our knowledge) summoned by government agencies to share data.

VPNArea claims it hasn’t been asked to share customer information.

Ideally, VPNArea would invest in an audit that can certifiably prove it is a no-logs service. We would also like to see VPNArea to specify how long it stores the data it has collected.

Unclear Ownership

It’s a bit difficult to find out who owns Offshore Secure LTD.

There are two people associated with Offshore Security LTD on Linkedin. Dimitar Dobrev is listed as the Founder of VPNArea. Pastor Awitta, based in Kenya, is the Managing Director at Offshore Security LTD.

Beyond this information on LinkedIn, we were unable to find the company in the Bulgarian Unified Trade Register.

This is not necessarily a deal-breaker when it comes to a VPN. However, it’s nice to have assurances when it comes to your personal data and web activity.

VPNArea is a solid choice for streaming on most platforms. It unblocks:

• All 4
• Amazon Prime Video
• BBC iPlayer
• Disney+
• HBO Max
• ITV Player
• Netflix

However, if you plan to watch BBC iPlayer or Hulu often, we recommend choosing a VPN that works reliably with BBC iPlayer and Hulu.

Dedicated Servers for Netflix

VPNArea currently has five dedicated servers for unblocking Netflix. They are labeled in the app with “NFLX.” For example, to stream US Netflix, connect to “USA-0-NFLX.” For UK Netflix and iPlayer, connect to “UnitedKingdom-0-NFLX.”

Screenshot of VPNArea unblocking US Netflix in our latest testing.

We had mixed results when streaming with VPNArea. The main issue we had was connecting to the UK streaming server.

Ideally, we would like to see more dedicated servers in different locations. This can give you access to more Netflix libraries and act as back-up servers if some are not working.

We tested VPNArea to see which servers unblocked Netflix. Here are the results:

Ideally, we would like to see more dedicated servers in different locations.

We also reached out to VPNArea’s customer support to ask which Netflix libraries are available with its servers. They confirmed it works with the Canada, Italy, the UK and the US Netflix libraries.

VPNArea’s customer support was helpful and replied quickly.

Inconsistent with Unblocking BBC iPlayer

In our latest tests, we had mixed experiences streaming BBC iPlayer with VPNArea. We easily connected to UnitedKingdom-0-NFLX, which is the only dedicated server to UK streaming, and saw no lag.

In our tests, VPNArea unblocked iPlayer but it was inconsistent.

This is not always the case though. The server seems to work some days and not others.

In our latest torrenting speed tests, we recorded an average bitrate of 8.4MiB/s, which is on par with FastestVPN’s test results (8.5MiB/s) and a little below Surfshark (8.7MiB/s). In comparison, the fastest speed we recorded was 10MiB/s with Astrill and Ivacy. You can see these results in full in our list of top torrenting VPNs.

We downloaded a 1GB test file very quickly with VPNArea.

VPNArea has a kill switch, torrenting-friendly zero-logs policy, and port-forwarding. The first two will help prevent your IP address from being exposed or recorded as you torrent, while the third will give you faster speeds.

All severs for torrenting are labeled with “P2P.”

Navigating the server list to find a specific P2P server is simple and straightforward. Servers for torrenting are labeled “P2P.” For example, “Canada-Toronto2-P2P” is a server for torrenting based in Toronto, Canada.

VPNArea is one of the best VPNs for China with a 82% uptime in the past three months.

It offers effective obfuscation: X-Stunnel servers in Canada, Japan, Singapore and more. As a result, you can connect to a nearby location for the best possible speeds.

Here’s a video from our China tests showing VPNArea’s obfuscated servers bypassing the Great Firewall:

These X-Stunnel VPN servers are only available on Windows and Mac devices, though, and there are no manual workarounds for iOS or Android. Mobile users should avoid using VPNArea’s iOS and Android apps in China.

VPNArea’s obfuscated servers mean that it’s also a reliable VPN service for those in other countries with oppressive censorship regimes such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE.

Dependable Kill Switch

VPNArea includes a kill switch feature, which protects you from any potential connection drops. We recommend you only use a VPN with a kill switch if you live in a region that has banned the use of VPNs.

There are two kill switch options in the Windows client settings.

On Windows, you can choose between a “Kill Switch (via Windows Firewall)” and “Kill Switch (Nuclear option).” Whereas on Mac, there is only the option to turn on the “Kill Switch (Nuclear option).” The “Nuclear option” is more secure because it completely disables your WiFi, so your IP address can’t be exposed.

IP & DNS Leak Test Results

It also prevents DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leaks. Even better, it operates its own zero-log DNS servers to keep your personal information private.

What we saw on browserleaks.com while connected to VPNArea’s New York server

Double VPN

Additionally, VPNArea operates Double VPN servers, providing you with an extra layer of privacy when you’re connected to the VPN. There’s also a built-in ad-blocker and malware protection.

Port forwarding

Port forwarding is available on VPNArea – but you’ll need to get in touch with support to request it be enabled on your account.

Dedicated IP Addresses

You can also get a VPNArea dedicated IP for an extra annual fee. There is a limit of one IP address per account. If you would like to know the current IP addresses available and their locations, you will need to contact the VPN service’s customer support.

On the website, there are loads of in-depth FAQs covering a variety of topics from encryption to the security of different VPN protocols.

Disappointingly, some of VPNArea’s resources (such as setup guides) are limited to paying customers only.

We were pleasantly surprised that VPNArea offers a genuine 24/7 live chat feature. We always received a response within a matter of minutes. The agents were helpful, but did not hold up against scrutiny when asked more detailed questions. They did send us a follow-up email with more information, though.

Paying Customers Have Access to More Resources

Behind the paywall, resources are high quality. There are setup guides for all platforms and devices they provide a service for.

Setup guides for apps are laid out clearly in the member dashboard.

These guides are simple, concise, and include screenshots that give you a good idea of the installation process.

The Help section of the dashboard is clearly laid out with multiple options, including a PGP Public Key for privacy-conscious customers. PGP or (Pretty Good Privacy) is an encryption method for secure emails. Created in 1991, some argue it’s out of date but many are still fans of the feature. VPNArea also offers direct email addresses to the refunds and management team.

Disappointingly, the Knowledge Base is difficult to navigate and has a few bugs which could easily be fixed. We would like to see the web page updated to make the experience more enjoyable.

VPNArea’s customer support is efficient and comprehensive. It’s easy to get access to a real person through live chat and email.