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VPNBook Review

Two screenshots of VPNBook side by side

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more.

Fact-checked by Callum TennentAdditional Testing by Alyx Morley

Our Verdict

1.6/10
How is this calculated?

We calculate the VPN service’s Overall Rating by combining the ratings of several testing categories. Each category is weighted as follows:

  • Privacy & Logging Policy: 20%
  • Speed: 20%
  • Security & Technical Features: 15%
  • Streaming: 15%
  • Ease of Use: 10%
  • Torrenting: 5%
  • Server Locations: 5%
  • Bypassing Web Censorship: 5%
  • Customer Support: 5%

Learn more by reading our VPN testing and review methodology.

VPNBook is one of the worst free VPNs we’ve reviewed, rated just 1.6 according to our testing methodology. It logs your real IP address and leaks DNS requests, which means all of your web activity is visible, and the VPN essentially offers no protection at all. It’s extremely slow and barely works with any streaming sites. Furthermore, it also only has servers in five different countries.

Ranked #48 out of 61 VPNs

VPNBook Category Ratings

  • 0.8/10
  • 1.1/10
  • 0.1/10
  • 0.8/10
  • 3.5/10
  • 2.5/10
  • 3.5/10
  • 3.0/10
  • 2.5/10

VPNBook Pros & Cons

  • Uses OpenVPN & AES-256 encryption
  • Compatible with most platforms & devices
  • Free

  • Logs IP addresses & connection timestamps
  • Requires manual configuration
  • Very slow speeds
  • IPv6 leaks & no kill switch
  • Doesn’t unblock streaming platforms
  • Only five server locations

Why Trust Us?

We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.

VPNBook is one of the worst VPNs we’ve ever tested, and has shown no signs of improvement. It’s not secure and cannot guarantee your anonymity or privacy online – in our security testing we found that it leaks DNS requests and there’s no kill switch.

Even if anonymity isn’t your main concern, it can’t do anything else well, either. It’s one of the slowest VPNs we’ve tested, with local download speeds struggling to reach even 13Mbps

That would mean that streaming platforms would be unable to play Full HD content without buffering – but VPNBook can only unblock one of the streaming services we test anyway.

It’s awkward to set up, lagging far behind modern VPNs for usability. There’s not enough servers and no extra features.

VPNBook Key Data

Data CapUnlimited
Download Speed13Mbps
Logging PolicyIntrusive Logging
Data LeaksYes
JurisdictionSwitzerland (Privacy Haven)
ServersNot disclosed
IP AddressesNot disclosed
Countries with Servers5
US NetflixNo
TorrentingPartially
Simultaneous ConnectionsUnlimited
Works In ChinaNo
SupportEmail & Online Resources
Official WebsiteVPNBook.com

Privacy & Logging Policy

VPNBook Logs Your Personal IP Address

0.1/10
How is this calculated?

We analyze and dissect the VPN service’s logging and privacy policy. A VPN should never log and store:

  • Your real IP address
  • Connection timestamps
  • DNS requests

Headquarters outside of 14 Eyes or EU jurisdictions are also preferable.

VPNBook logs your IP address - the worst kind of data a VPN can log because it immediately reveals who you are. VPNBook’s Swiss jurisdiction would normally be good, but we have no idea how VPNBook saves and keeps user data private. We recommend staying away from VPNBook as there are much safer and more secure free VPNs available like Proton VPN Free and PrivadoVPN Free.

Ranked #51 out of 61 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy

Here’s everything that VPNBook logs, as far as we could tell from the information available:

Data TypeLogged by VPNBook
Account InformationNo
Browsing ActivityNo
Date of Last ConnectionNo
Device InformationNo
DNS QueriesNo
Individual Bandwidth UsageNo
Individual Connection TimestampsYes
ISPNo
Number of Simultaneous ConnectionsNo
Originating IP AddressYes
VPN Server IPNo
VPN Server LocationNo

You can read VPNBook’s full privacy policy on its website.

You should not trust VPNBook to keep your IP address and browsing history private. We strongly believe that a VPN retaining your true IP address is unacceptable. It’s even worse if the VPN isn’t clear on how long this data is stored for and how it is secured on servers.

VPNBook's privacy policy captured from its website

VPNBook’s Privacy Policy is extremely short and vague.

This VPN service logs your IP address and are claimed to be deleted after one week. There is no available information about how VPNBook’s servers are protected, or whether they’re leased from a third party.

Unclear Ownership & Lacking Company Transparency

There is no information online relating to VPNBook. It does not disclose who owns the company, the behind it, or how it’s run.

VPNBook does disclose that it is based in Switzerland: ordinarily we’d praise that as an excellent jurisdiction with robust privacy laws, but those laws can only go so far in protecting users when such incredibly revealing personal data is logged by a VPN.

To reiterate: if you concerned about your online privacy and anonymity, then you should not use VPNBook.

EXPERT ADVICE: Using a free VPN does not have to mean surrendering your privacy. Take ProtonVPN Free, for example – it doesn’t log any personally identifiable data and is 100% free to use.

Speed

Painfully Slow Speeds

0.8/10
How is this calculated?

We calculate the VPN’s speed rating using our download speeds, upload speeds, and ping (latency) measurements.

We regularly test the VPN’s local and international speeds using a dedicated 100Mbps internet connection in New York, USA.

VPNBook is one of the slowest VPNs on the market. On our 100Mbps average internet connection, our download speeds dropped dramatically to just 13Mbps. It's too slow for streaming and online gaming is certainly out of the question.

Ranked #54 out of 61 VPNs for Speed

Here’s a table showing Free VPN by VPNBook’s speed test results:

As the data above shows, VPNBook slowed our download speeds by 87% on a local connection in the US.

This makes VPNBook one of the slowest free VPNs we’ve ever tested and no way near as good as Windscribe Free and Proton VPN Free.

High Latency

In our recent 2024 speed tests, we recorded ping times of 29ms connected to a local US server. In contrast, Windscribe Free only has ping times around 5ms.

Streaming

VPN Is Almost Useless for Streaming

0.8/10
How is this calculated?

This rating is calculated by how many different streaming services and regional content libraries the VPN can unblock, and how consistently it can access them.

We test access to Netflix, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and many more platforms on a weekly basis.

VPNBook can only access one streaming site we test for – HBO Max, and even that was a huge surprise. It cannot unblock a single other geo-restricted streaming service and, in the case of some Netflix regions, it can’t even load the website.

Ranked #48 out of 61 VPNs for Streaming

Streaming PlatformWorks with VPNBook
Amazon Prime VideoNo
BBC iPlayerNo
Channel 4No
Disney+No
Hotstar IndiaNo
HuluNo
ITVXNo
MaxYes
Netflix USNo

The last time we tested VPNBook with streaming services it didn’t work with a single one. It has since improved to unblock HBO Max, which honestly surprised us. There are plenty of great VPNs that can’t manage that.

VPNBook's US server being used to unblock HBO Max

VPNBook did unblock HBOMax in our testing, but you shouldn’t rely on it to do so.

However, we still don’t recommend using it to stream HBO Max. In fact connection speeds were so slow on its US UDP server that videos only played in blurry low-resolution.

We couldn’t log into Netflix while connected to that same US server, and every other server location wouldn’t even allow us to load the Netflix website. The lack of a UK VPNBook server also means that we can’t test it for UK-exclusive streaming sites like BBC iPlayer.

EXPERT ADVICE: NordVPN is a very good streaming VPN, unblocking Netflix USA, HBO Max, Disney+, and more. Try NordVPN risk-free for 30 days.

Torrenting

VPNBook Is a Bad Choice for Torrenting

1.1/10
How is this calculated?

This rating is determined by the VPN’s torrenting speeds, the percentage of servers that allow P2P file sharing, the service’s privacy and trustworthiness, and useful settings like port forwarding.

For speed specifically, we calculate the VPN’s average download bitrate using our bespoke torrenting setup.

VPNBook is unsafe for torrenting and it’s far too slow for P2P activity. Our download bitrate when connected to the VPNBook Germany UDP server plummeted from 10.0MiB/s to just 0.8MiB/s – a 1GB file took nearly 20 minutes to download. You can only torrent on two of its five server locations.

Ranked #50 out of 61 VPNs for Torrenting

Here’s a quick summary of showing how VPNBook performed in our torrenting tests:

Torrenting Attribute Result
Average Download Bitrate 0.8MiB/s
No. of P2P Servers Not Disclosed
Logging Policy Intrusive Logging
Kill Switch No
Port Forwarding No

VPNBook allows P2P traffic on two servers: Germany and Poland. If you’re using the VPNBook Android application, rather than the OpenVPN app, then you can only torrent on the Germany server.

We tried torrenting on the other servers to see what would happen, but VPNBook simply blocked our download.

Downloading via VPNBook’s Germany server was painfully slow. In fact, VPNBook is the second-slowest torrenting VPN we’ve ever tested.

Torrenting with VPNBook connected on Windows

Any files large enough to require torrenting to download will take hours to complete if you use VPNBook.

Speeds aside, we advise you don’t use VPNBook for torrenting because VPNBook logs your IP address, which could reveal your file-sharing activities.

There’s also no VPN kill switch, which heightens the risk of your IP address being exposed and ruining your anonymity. If VPNBook fails (which it may well do) your real IP address would be exposed to every other torrenter downloading the same file as you, as well as your ISP.

Security & Technical Features

DNS Leaks & Subpar Security

3.5/10
How is this calculated?

A secure VPN must offer OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a working kill switch.

To calculate this rating, we also factor in additional security settings and features.

VPNBook doesn’t come with any security extras, but at the very least it does provide VPN connections through OpenVPN with strong AES encryption. However we experienced IPv6 leaks in our testing, leaving your real location

Ranked #49 out of 61 VPNs for Security & Technical Features

Here’s a table showing the encryption ciphers, connection protocols, and security features available with VPNBook:

ProtocolsAvailable in VPNBook
IKEv2/IPSecNo
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)Yes
PPTPYes
WireGuardNo
EncryptionAvailable in VPNBook
AES-128No
AES-192No
AES-256Yes
BlowfishNo
ChaCha20No
SecurityAvailable in VPNBook
Diskless ServersNo
DNS Leak BlockingNo
First-party DNSNo
IPv6 Leak BlockingNo
Supports TCP Port 443Yes
VPN Kill SwitchNo
WebRTC Leak BlockingNo
Advanced FeaturesAvailable in VPNBook
Ad BlockerNo
Dedicated IPNo
Double VPNNo
SOCKSYes
Split TunnelingNo
Static IPNo
Tor over VPN ServerNo
Tracker BlockerNo

VPNBook supports OpenVPN. It’s our preferred VPN protocol – it’s open-source, secure, and pretty fast, too. Coupled with AES-128 or AES-256 ciphers, it’s really safe.

But that’s where the positives end for VPNBook.

Alongside OpenVPN, VPNBook provides PPTP configuration files. While PPTP is easier to install on popular devices, it’s not safe to use.

In fact, PPTP can be hacked in minutes. Sadly it’s not uncommon for poor-quality VPNs to use weak protocols – X-VPN is another popular VPN that uses outdated protocols.

Even if you stick with OpenVPN, VPNBook doesn’t come with a VPN kill switch, which may put your personal details at risk.

Should the VPN disconnect suddenly, your IP address would be exposed to your ISP and any other snooping third parties.

Even when the VPN was properly connected, we experienced IPv6 leaks during our testing:

Finding connection leaks while testing VPNBook on Windows

IPv6 leaks are extremely dangerous.

VPNBook isn’t a very safe VPN to use. Unlike other VPNs that lack security extras, VPNBook doesn’t have the advantage of being super easy to use and beginner-friendly to make up for it, either.

Bypassing Web Censorship

Doesn’t Work in China

2.5/10
How is this calculated?

We routinely test if the VPN can bypass strict internet restrictions in China using our remote-access server in Shanghai.

Other important factors we consider include obfuscation technologies and the availability of servers in neighboring countries (for faster connections).

VPNBook will not work in China. It uses the OpenVPN protocol, which has been blocked by the Great Firewall of China, and has no obfuscation options to help it. There is a slim chance of connecting to the internet using its PPTP protocol setup, but that's far less secure. Do not rely on VPNBook in censored countries.

Ranked #45 out of 61 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship

Don’t attempt to use VPNBook to access blocked websites in China, Russia, Iran, the UAE, or anywhere else.

Most importantly, VPNBook doesn’t come with any obfuscation tools to bypass the Great Firewall. OpenVPN is its only secure protocol, and it’s easily identified by national censorship apparatuses like the Great Firewall of China.

Unsurprisingly, we couldn’t unblock any website while using VPNBook on our test server located in Shanghai.

Server Locations

Free servers in only five countries

3.5/10
How is this calculated?

The key factor for calculating this rating is the global spread and coverage of the VPN’s server network.

We also consider the total number of servers, the number of city-level servers, and the number of IP addresses available.

VPNBook’s server network of five countries is small, even by free VPN standards. All five are in Europe or North America. It’s not disclosed whether or not the servers are owned by VPNBook, or if they are virtual or physical.

Ranked #50 out of 61 VPNs for Server Locations

Globe with a blue flag
5 Countries
Image of a city landscape
5 Cities
Image of a pink marker
Undisclosed number of IP Addresses

VPNBook’s five free server locations to choose from are:

  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Poland
  • US

There are no server locations in Africa, Asia-Pacific, or South America. There’s not even a server in the UK, which is uncommon.

There are only eight servers available in total with eight different IP addresses. This results in congestion at peak times, which helps explain why VPNBook’s speeds are so poor.

There is no information available on whether these servers are owned or rented by VPNBook, or if they are physical or virtual servers.

This is an extremely small server network, even for a free VPN. While premium VPNs like Private Internet Access have thousands of servers in dozens of countries, even free services can offer far more than VPNBook – TunnelBear Free has a massive network of 47 countries.

Device & OS Compatibility

Uses the OpenVPN App Rather Than Its Own

How is this rated?

A high-quality VPN should maintain functional, fully-featured applications and browser extensions for as many platforms and devices as possible.

Our ‘Device & OS Compatibility’ assessment contributes to the Ease of Use rating.

VPNBook doesn’t have any native applications. Instead, you have to install the OpenVPN Connect app. You then download and add individual VPNBook configuration files to it. This means it is also configurable at router-level.

To use VPNBook on any device you need to first download and install OpenVPN Connect – the official app of the OpenVPN Protocol. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe and legitimate.

You then add VPNBook configuration files one by one, each one granting you access to a specific VPN location and protocol.

As there are no individual accounts, you can use VPNBook on as many devices as you want.

Apps

  1. Windows
  2. Mac
  3. iOS
  4. Android
  5. Linux
  6. Router

If you do decide to use VPNBook, here are some more detailed instructions explaining how to install it on different devices.

How to Set Up VPNBook on Windows & macOS

VPNBook’s setup instructions are for an older version of OpenVPN Connect, so are now useless.

VPNBook on Windows 10

Running VPNBook via the OpenVPN Connect app on Windows.

Follow these instructions to set up VPNBook on Windows and macOS:

  1. Download the latest version of OpenVPN Connect. Run the installer.
  2. Browse to the VPNBook homepage. Midway down the page, click the tab labeled OpenVPN. This will show you all the different servers you can connect to. Each one comes as a ‘certificate bundle’, including options for both a TCP and UDP protocol connection.
  3. Click on the connection you wish to use to begin its download – this won’t take long at all.
  4. Run OpenVPN Connect.
  5. Click the big + icon in the bottom right-hand corner, then click the File tab. Click Browse and then select the OpenVPN configuration file you wish to add.
  6. On the next screen, fill in the username, then click the checkbox next to Save password and enter the password. You can find these login details on the VPNBook homepage.
  7. Click Connect.

Repeat these steps as many times as needed to add all the servers and protocols you want.

How to Set Up VPNBook on Android

VPNBook on an Android smartphone

The OpenVPN Connect app for Android using VPNBook config files.

Setting up VPNBook on Android is almost identical to setting it up on desktop.

Follow these instructions to set up VPNBook on your Android smartphone or tablet:

  1. Download the OpenVPN Connect app from the Google Play Store.
  2. Browse to the VPNBook homepage. Midway down the page, click the tab labeled OpenVPN. This will show you all the different servers you can connect to. Each one comes as a ‘certificate bundle’, including options for both a TCP and UDP protocol connection.
  3. Click on the connection you wish to use to begin its download – this won’t take long at all.
  4. Navigate to the location where you chose to download these files on your Android device. They will come bundled in a .zip file – extract it (it doesn’t matter where to, as long as you remember the location).
  5. Open OpenVPN Connect.
  6. Click the big + icon in the bottom right-hand corner, then click the File tab. Click Browse and then select the OpenVPN configuration file you wish to add.
  7. On the next screen, fill in the username, then click the checkbox next to Save password and enter the password. You can find these login details on the VPNBook homepage.
  8. Click Connect.

How to Set Up VPNBook on iPhone & iPad

VPNBook running on an iPhone 11

VPNBook for iPhone via the OpenVPN Connect app.

Setting up VPNBook on Apple mobile devices works a little differently to the rest, but still doesn’t take long.

Follow these instructions to set up VPNBook on your iPhone or iPad:

  1. Download the OpenVPN Connect app from the App Store.
  2. Browse to the VPNBook homepage. Midway down the page, click the tab labeled OpenVPN. This will show you all the different servers you can connect to. Each one comes as a ‘certificate bundle’, including options for both a TCP and UDP protocol connection.
  3. Click on the connection you wish to use to begin its download – this won’t take long at all.
  4. By default the files should have downloaded to your Downloads folder within the Files app. They will come bundled in a .zip file – extract it.
  5. Go into the folder that was just extracted and tap on a profile. Then tap the Share icon (in the bottom-left corner on iPhone or at the top of the screen on iPad). Now tap the OpenVPN icon.
  6. The configuration file will now be opened within the OpenVPN Connect app. Tap Add.
  7. On the next screen, fill in the username, then click the checkbox next to Save password and enter the password. You can find these login details on the VPNBook homepage.
  8. Click Connect.

EXPERT ADVICE: Do not use the PPTP configuration files VPNBook offers. PPTP is an outdated and unsafe protocol, and you should never use it when superior options like OpenVPN are available.

Ease of Use

Manual and Tricky Setup

3.0/10
How is this calculated?

This rating mainly consists of the user-friendliness and intuitiveness of setting up and regularly using the VPN.

We also factor in customization settings, as well as device and OS compatibility (see section above).

Once it’s all set up VPNBook is actually quite easy to use – primarily because of its complete lack of features. You toggle your connection to your server of choice on and off, and that’s it. There’s nothing else to experiment with.

Ranked #56 out of 61 VPNs for Ease of Use

This setup process, while flexible, is time-consuming and inconvenient. While not hugely complicated, it’s intimidating for beginners, and VPNBook’s own instructions are outdated and no longer applicable. Put simply, it’s a much worse experience than installing a standard VPN app.

You can choose between PPTP or OpenVPN as your protocol, with each requiring separate setup.

Customer Support

Very Basic Online Resources, No Reply to Emails

2.5/10
How is this calculated?

This rating is based on our assessment of the VPN’s:

  • Live chat support
  • Email support
  • Online resources

Not every VPN offers all these support options, and they often vary in quality and response times.

VPNBook doesn’t offer live chat support, and the online resources are limited to setup guides for major platforms – some of which are now out of date. There is a support email address for specific queries, but we didn't receive a response when we contacted it.

Ranked #54 out of 61 VPNs for Customer Support

Here are the customer support features that VPNBook offers:

Customer SupportAvailable in VPNBook
24/7 Email SupportNo
24/7 Live Chat SupportNo
ChatbotNo
EmailYes
Email Support via Online FormNo
Live Chat SupportNo
Online ResourcesNo
Tutorial VideosNo

VPNBook’s customer service is awful.

There are a few simple setup guides for popular platforms, but some of them are outdated, leaving you to work out how to set up VPNBook on your own. We always expect a much deeper level of support, but with an unconventional VPN like VPNBook it’s more necessary than ever – IVPN, for example, has dozens of guides to help users.

The website looks dated and is filled with incorrect information about the available servers and streaming compatibility.

The support email inbox sends out automated responses saying “due to the large number of emails we receive every day, we are unable to respond to every email individually.” We’ve never received a response to our inquiries.