Samantha Knight 
What is a good VPN? Most regular users would say that it is an affordable service that protects our online privacy and doesn’t cause severe speed drops. Experts would add that it must use robust encryption methods and follow a zero-logs policy. There are quite a few providers that meet these requirements – SaferVPN is one of them. Read our SaferVPN review to decide whether it is worth your while or not.
We’ll talk about its encryption protocols, pricing policy, logging policy, the list of available features, the pros, the cons, and everything else in between. On the official website, they claim that this is an A-grade product. Our experts put the most recent version of SaferVPN through a series of tests to see what it’s capable of. Will it be able to unlock geo-restricted content or provide hassle-free torrenting downloading? Let’s find out! Features
At the same time, its 700+ servers are strategically placed around the globe and are more than enough for most users. If you’re looking for an affordable VPN that will keep your device secured and give access to otherwise blocked content, this one might be what you need. Plus, compared to some of the rivals, the connection speed is almost always stable, which is crucial for streaming.
SaferVPN is a cross-platform solution that is compatible not only with Windows and Mac, but also with Linux, iOS, and Android. More than that, the VPN can be used on Smart TV and offers a unique extension for Chrome. If you have several devices to connect to a VPN, start SaferVPN download, install it on every device and protect up to 5 simultaneous connections.
What Do You Get With SaferVPN?
- comes with all the latest encryption protocols
- features a stylish and user-friendly interface
- p2p-friendly (good for torrenting)
- reasonably-priced
- speedy customer support
- accepts bitcoins as payment
- stable performance on most servers
- a good choice for streaming
- keeps connection logs
- might require some configuring on your side
- minor problems with torrenting
- the HQ is in the USA
Privacy and Security
The #1 reason for buying a VPN service is security. These days, even with a decent antivirus, you won’t always be safe while surfing the web. With a VPN, it’s very easy to change your identity and make it harder (if not impossible) for the hackers/governments to track you down. Privacy is another major concern, and while SaferVPN is an all-around solid pick, there are still some nuances that we need to discuss.
Encryption And Protocols
As one of the leaders in the industry, SaferVPN comes packed with the best encryption protocols. The golden standard, AES 256-bit, will make sure your device is always protected. Furthermore, you get to choose between multiple protocols, including OpenVPN (the most popular one), PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2. Please keep in mind that OpenVPN isn’t the default setting, which means you’ll have to switch it on manually.
Encryption is vital for protecting your login/password information, sensitive data (if you’re running a business, for example), and staying safe on public Wi-Fi. Plus, it makes it harder for ISPs to track your online activity and to share it with third parties. Currently, IKEv2 is the newest and most advanced protocol. It is available on all major platforms, but not on Linux.
Special Features
Along with the somewhat standard pack, SaferVPN also comes with a couple of additional features that provide even more security. Here they are:
- Data Authentication: SHA-256
- Handshake Encryption: 2048-bit
- Kill Switch
- DNS Leak Protection
- Unlimited Bandwidth
While you won’t find any antivirus features like ad/malware blocking here, the fact that it comes with a Kill Switch and Leak Protection is good enough.
SaferVPN Logging Policy
Despite Israel’s close cooperation with the US and, mainly, with NSA, SaferVPN doesn’t keep any user logs and doesn’t share personal user information with anyone. That said, some connection logs are being kept. But, they are mainly used to gather basic, non-personal statistics and don’t violate users’ rights.
If you put privacy above all and can’t stand the thought of some third parties monitoring your actions online, this VPN will not be the best choice. On the other hand, most people don’t mind when companies keep some logs. SaferVPN values its reputation and comes with clean, open privacy policy. On the official website, you can find a list of things that they do not log.
It includes the original IP address, VPN IP address, DNS queries, metadata/personal data, and browsing history. They have links to the latest changes in Israel’s PPR (Privacy Protection Regulations). Connection logs are the least harmful logs, and they can’t hurt you in any way, even when SaferVPN goes against its own policy and shares that data with the government.
TOR Compatibility
For some people, a VPN is not enough to feel safe online. That’s why secure browsers like TOR exist: with it, you get an additional layer of defense that keeps any possible threats at bay. However, many experts in the field believe that using TOR with a Virtual Private Network is too much. First of all, they are very well capable of protecting you on their own.
Secondly, working together, they’ll have a strong negative effect on performance. The good news is – SaferVPN is fully compatible with this browser. All you’ll have to do is launch them on their own and enjoy double encryption. First, connect to either one of the SaferVPN servers, and only then connect to the TOR network.
It would be a good idea to test this combination on your device to know for sure whether it takes away too much of speed and connection stability or not. In our tests, the drop was significant. But streaming and torrenting were pretty smooth, and we didn’t have any problems with browsing the Internet.
Performance
A series of tests that we’ve conducted before writing our SaferVPN review proved that this provider could be rightfully called one of the speediest VPN services around. Of course, it is necessary to keep in mind that the results always vary greatly depending on the server chosen, the load on this particular server, the time of the day and other variables. But at least during the tests, the service worked consistently, and we took our time with them.
SaferVPN Speed
With speed being the second most important factor after security/privacy, we’re happy to say that this VPN managed to impress us. As mentioned, it’s one of the fastest options on the market, and that’s equally true for servers that are close by and hundreds of miles away. Our team of experts hand-picked many servers located in every corner of the planet to make these tests as objective as possible.
The average download speed is 47 Mbps, while the average upload speed is 31 Mbps. And with an average ping of 144 ms, you can see that SaferVPN is, indeed, an excellent choice for the fans of speed and stability. When connecting locally (or to the nearby cities), the service provided an average of 150 Mbps.
From the US to the UK and vice versa, we witnessed a solid 35-40 Mbps – more than enough for streaming movies and series in HD. For gamers, any server located within 1500-2000 km will feel incredibly smooth. The average ping on such a distance will be 2-3ms, which is great even for competitive gaming.
No Leaks Detected
We already mentioned that SaferVPN features DNS Leak Protection. With it, you can rest assured that there won’t be any leaks and your privacy will stay intact 24/7. We still ran a series of tests to be 100% sure and they proved what we already knew – zero leaks. You can check independent reviewers to see whether they experienced any trouble with this or not.
Torrenting and Streaming
Streaming services like Netflix are the new normal today. Unfortunately, most of the popular platforms are working hard to make sure people around the world don’t get access to their content. Thankfully, with the help of a VPN, you can unblock geo-restricted content with one single click. As for torrenting, most VPNs clearly state in their policies that they are against it; but while some prefer to close their eyes, others ban accounts and even call the police.
Is Torrenting Allowed?
Downloading copyrighted data without permission is considered to be a crime. But not every single user out there uses torrents for downloading intellectual property illegally – most prefer to share their files with other users. With SaferVPN, you won’t experience any throttling (that’s when the ISP intentionally slows down your connection when torrenting activity is detected).But we do have to mention that right now, torrenting and P2P traffic is only available on the servers in Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands. While that isn’t necessarily bad, you’ll still need to keep this in mind. If you’re living in one of those countries (or, at least, in a neighboring state), then you won’t even have to worry about this limitation.
What About Netflix?
This is the most popular streaming service, and we had to test its compatibility with SaferVPN. Overall, accessing Netflix with this VPN won’t be a problem: it is easy, fast, and the connection is stable. Still, you might experience some minor issues with it. Spend a minute or two on scrolling through the available servers, and you’ll find a decent one in no time.
Netflix is known to block IP addresses of international VPNs, and this company is doing everything in its power to find solutions for that. The same goes for BBC iPlayer and other US/UK-based platforms. Hulu, Sky, HBO, and Now TV are almost as popular as these two, and the experience with them will be the same. Compared to most rivals on the market, SaferVPN provides a hassle-free way to enjoy your favorite streaming services without even leaving the room.
Other Streaming Options
And what about Kodi, Amazon’s Firestick, and Popcorn Time, you might ask? Since for Kodi, P2P is a major protocol, and you’ll have to use the same servers as you’d use for torrenting. True, this isn’t an ideal option, but, during our tests, we were pleased by the VPN’s performance even on far-away servers. For Popcorn Time, all you’ll have to do is select a server with SaferVPN, activate it, and then launch PT – that’s it.
For Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, and Roku, the best course of action would be to install the VPN on the router and enjoy a secure connection. PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Wii are also among supported devices. SaferVPN does offer protection for five devices simultaneously. However, if you install it on a router, it will be seen as one single device.
How Much Does SaferVPN Cost?
It is quite an affordable solution, especially if you opt for an annual or 2-year plan. Recently, its basic price was reduced, and now it’s more attractive than ever. SaferVPN is like the golden middle between the more expensive and more feature-packed and the less expensive, entry-level VPNs. Let us take a closer look at all the available subscription plans and how much they cost:
- 1-month plan – $12.95
- 12-months plan – $65.88 (charged $5.49 monthly), save 58%
- 24-months plan – $78.96 (charged $3.29 monthly), save 75%
- 36-months plan – $89.99 ($2.50 monthly), save 81%
The free trial period is 24 hours, which is less than what most rivals offer. For example, with HideMyAss, NordVPN, and PureVPN, you get to take the service for a spin for seven full days. On the other hand, ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free trial. You can still take advantage of the 30 days money back guarantee.
As for the payment methods available, they accept several types of credit/debit cards, Paypal and Bitcoins. Just go to the official website, pick a plan you like, choose the payment method, and that’s it! The team made sure that the process of downloading, installation, and running the software is as easy and straightforward as possible.
Customer Service
In general, the customer support service of SaferVPN can be described as good, but not great. On the plus side, they have a live chat that is available 7/24. And, the support agents make sure to answer within minutes. On the minus side – the answers aren’t always helpful, even if you’re asking some entry-level questions. The FAQ section could be better as well: it’s not very well organized and could use a professional’s touch.
Also, a ticket system is offered. If you want to get some helpful answers, go ahead and use the email system. Those agents know how to handle most situations, and they are also quick to respond. The knowledge base is probably the best part of SaferVPN support. There, you’ll find info on installation, subscription, troubleshooting, and more. There’s even a handy search option that allows you to skip all the unnecessary articles.
Do We Recommend SaferVPN?
Here is our final verdict for this VPN: it offers strong encryption and can provide a decent and stable download speed. It allows streaming from popular platforms, but, unfortunately, its torrenting capabilities are mediocre. The privacy policy is user-friendly, even though the HQ is located in New York. Pricing is reasonable, and if you’re looking for an all-around solid pick, we’re confident that SaferVPN will be a great choice. As a speedy service that covers all the basic needs and then some, it is truly fantastic. Again, the logging policy is open and transparent, and the security protocols are all up to date. Add features like DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch, and unlimited bandwidth, and you’ll get quite a capable provider on your hands. Finally, the interface is very friendly, intuitive, and support is fast even though it is not very professional.
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