What do we look at?
Content: Our Score:
Speed 4.0 / 10
Servers 4.0 / 10
User Experience 5.0 / 10
Support 4.0 / 10
Pricing 5.0 / 10
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GoTrusted VPN Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

GoTrusted VPN Overview

GoTrusted VPN has been around since 2005, so I was curious to see how much of an improvement, if any, it had over newer VPNs on the market. With promises of “blazing fast” speeds and the ability to “unblock any website,” I was eager to put these claims to the test.

I investigated the speed claims using a wide range of the 28 offered server locations that GoTrusted provides. Although I wouldn’t say they were “blazing fast,” they were good enough for HD streaming, casual gaming, and torrenting. During my tests, GoTrusted VPN unblocked big streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video. However, due to its location in the US, this VPN may not be ideal for privacy.

Luckily, GoTrusted VPN offers a 7-day free trial that provides full access to all of its features. With this, you can try the service for yourself and see if it’s a good fit. If, after trying it, you’re not satisfied then I recommend you check out these super-fast VPNs on the market.

Don’t Have Time? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary

GoTrusted VPN Unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer but Can’t Access Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max

GoTrusted VPN let me stream HD shows and movies from half of the major streaming platforms that I tested. My friends and I watched a couple of shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. However, the service couldn’t unblock other streaming sites like Hulu and HBO Max.

Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer: Unblocked

GoTrusted VPN worked perfectly in unblocking some popular streaming sites. During my tests, I unblocked my Netflix US account with every server I tried. I got to stream in HD watching Squid Game on my PC. My colleagues in the UK, Canada, and Germany were also able to unblock their respective Netflix libraries.

Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN unblocking Netflix

I was able to unblock Netflix and watch Squid Game

Similarly, I tested other streaming platforms with the VPN to see if it could unblock the services. To my satisfaction, I was able to watch a couple of shows on Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. It pleased me that I didn’t experience any buffering while streaming. Also, my colleague in the UK was also able to unblock her BBC iPlayer account and stream in HD.

Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN unblocking Disney+, Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer

I unblocked popular streaming sites and watched several shows

That said, switching between servers was difficult. You’ll have to manually disconnect from a server before selecting and connecting with another one. There are also no specialized servers for streaming, so you’ll have to make do with the standard servers.

Hulu and HBO Max: Blocked

Unfortunately, GoTrusted VPN couldn’t unblock some streaming services. I connected to all the servers in the US, including the Seattle, New York, Miami, and Atlanta servers. After connecting, I tried accessing my Hulu and HBO accounts. To my disappointment, these services detected that I was connected with a VPN and gave a similar error for each streaming platform.

“Your device is connected to the Internet using a VPN or proxy service.” 

If you’re traveling and need to unblock Hulu or HBO Max, you’ll need a reliable VPN that unblocks all popular streaming platforms. I usually use Cyberghost to unblock every streaming site effortlessly. With CyberGhost, I’ve never had any trouble streaming on any platform, including HBO Max and Hulu.

Speed

- 4.0 / 10

GoTrusted VPN is Fast but Not on Every Server

GoTrusted speeds were fast on some servers but not consistent on others. Some servers close to my location were fast enough for streaming and torrenting, but that wasn’t the case with every nearby server. Additionally, connecting to servers in regions far from my home location resulted in even more significant drops in speed.

Speed Test Results

GoTrusted VPN provided me with an average download speed of 8Mbps on the servers that I tested. With a base internet speed of 26Mbps, this accounts for a 70% drop in download speed — which is quite significant. However, not all servers are slow or produce such low speeds. For instance, the server in the US city of Seattle gave me a speed of 15.21Mbps — which is fast enough for HD streaming. Also, the server in Frankfurt, Germany, gave me a speed of 14Mbps. That said, I was disappointed with the speeds I got with the servers in London and Toronto.

The upload speeds weren’t better. On average, I got upload speeds of 0.75Mbps on a 6Mbps connection. This makes GoTrusted VPN uploads speeds unsuitable for activities like gaming that require at least 1Mbps upload speed and latency less than 150ms.

Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN speed test results in 4 locations

I was disappointed to see low upload speeds on all GoTrusted VPN servers

For fast speeds that are consistent on all servers, I wouldn’t recommend GoTrusted VPN. Instead, consider trying other VPNs that provide blazing-fast speeds. For instance, whenever I use ExpressVPN I never get a speed drop of more than 25% even when connected to a distant server.

Why Most Speed Tests are Pointless & How We Correctly Test VPN Speeds

Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.

Servers

- 4.0 / 10

Server Network — Offers a Handful of Server Locations

GoTrusted VPN has a small network of servers in a handful of countries. The VPN offers 28 server locations in 19 countries across the world.  When you want to connect, you can see that it has servers in the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa, India, Japan, Germany, and France.

To connect to a particular server in, say, Singapore, you have to navigate to ‘Menu’ and then to ‘Settings’ before connecting from the list of servers there. The US has the highest number of server locations in the list with 8 servers, followed by the UK with 2 servers. Other countries have just 1 server each. There’s also an ‘auto’ server location for the US that connects you randomly to the fastest available server in the US.

Connecting to a GoTrusted server takes about 30 seconds on average. If the connection fails on the first attempt, the app tries to connect through Compatibility Mode, adding another 10 seconds. I was also surprised that I had to disconnect from a server to select and connect to another server. The combination of the moderate connection speed and the need to disconnect manually made my server testing a lot slower than usual. Although, when I was done testing all the servers, I noticed that they were stable and reliable.

Security — Provides Military-Grade Security

GoTrusted VPN offers standard security protocols and encryption to keep you protected online. GoTrusted VPN uses SSL encryption, which is quite reassuring. Its networks allow you to connect your PCs and Macs through a combination of AES 256-bit cipher with OpenVPN SSL and its own patented SURE SSL. On iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets, you connect through older protocols like PPTP and L2TP/IPSec. However, these non-SSL protocols are easier to block in countries with strong internet censorship.

Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN passing DNS leak test

My real IP address wasn’t exposed when I connected with GoTrusted VPN

In addition to the strong encryption, your data is protected from DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. I tested a wide range of servers from the available server network, and there were no leaks at all. GoTrusted VPN also uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) to further protect your information from prying eyes. TLS is designed as a cryptographic protocol that ensures the privacy and data integrity of your communication. That said, a kill switch and an auto-reconnect feature would have been nice to have to protect you if your main internet connection is interrupted. Other modern VPNs also have split-tunneling, ad and tracker blockers, and malware protection — all additional features that bolster user security.

Privacy — Not Ideal for Privacy

I wouldn’t recommend GoTrusted VPN for the privacy-minded VPN user. This VPN collects personal info about its users. Although it claims to notify its users when this data is used, it still collects information like names, email addresses, and payment details. It also “gather[s] data on connection information, including the timing and size of all packets.”

Moreover, it is situated in the US, where the government has a poor reputation for privacy. Based in Stuart, Florida, GoTrusted VPN’s headquarters is a part of the 5-Eyes alliance, which means the government can impose privacy clauses, gag orders, and data retention laws that can open up your data for surveillance.

GoTrusted’s vague privacy policy, location within the US, and the absence of any independent audits make it a poor choice for privacy. I recommend you try another VPN that offers better privacy options. For instance, you can try ExpressVPN that provides a rock-solid no-logs policy and has several independent audits to back it up.

Torrenting —  P2P is Supported

GoTrusted supports P2P traffic and torrenting on its servers. However, despite promising no data caps, the speeds weren’t fast enough for me during my tests. It took almost an hour to download a public domain torrent file less than 700MB.

Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN's slow torrenting speeds

I was disappointed that it took so much time to download a small torrent file

Regardless of the torrenting speed, I wouldn’t recommend GoTrusted VPN for torrenting because it logs data, which defeats the purpose of anonymity. That said, no matter the VPN you use, note that downloading copyrighted files is illegal in many countries. And my team and I don’t support breaking the laws of any country.

Does GoTrusted VPN Work in China? Probably!

GoTrusted VPN could likely work in China. Since I don’t live in China, I couldn’t personally test the VPN there. I had to reach out to support to find out if it would work in countries with high censorship like China.

Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN support claiming the VPN works in China

I was informed by GoTrusted support of the probability of its VPN working in China

After contacting support, I was informed that GoTrusted VPN will work there. However, since it isn’t a government-approved VPN, it may struggle with hardware made in China. Note that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China, but there have been no cases of tourists being penalized by the Chinese government. The common practice is that China is fighting VPNs by technologically blocking them instead of chasing after the people who use them.

Server Locations

Canada
France
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Japan
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States

User Experience

- 5.0 / 10

Simultaneous Device Connections — You Can Connect One PC and Four Phones

GoTrusted VPN limits the types of simultaneous device connections you can have. It only allows you to connect 1 computer and 4 phones at a time. The only workaround to connect more PCs is to buy one of its “Group” plans. These plans allow you to add more user connections for an additional upcharge per user.

That said, I find it limiting that I could only connect 1 PC per time. And with the absence of OpenVPN configurations, I couldn’t use it on my Amazon FireTV. In contrast, you can connect an unlimited number of devices with IPVanish. So, if you need to connect smart TVs, phones, computers, and more devices then IPVanish is the best choice.

Device Compatibility — Offers Native Apps for PC and iOS

GoTrusted VPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. There are apps for Windows, macOS, and iOS devices but not for Android devices. GoTrusted VPN provides a set of instructions for connecting Android devices manually from your phone’s settings. The instructions weren’t difficult to follow, but I prefer the usual app route.

This VPN’s device compatibility is limited. Remember that you can’t install the VPN on your router, Chrome OS, gaming console, and it doesn’t have a browser extension. For a VPN that works on all popular devices, I recommend using Cyberghost to connect all your devices. It has native apps for PC, mobile, smart TVs, routers, and many more devices.

Ease of Setup & Installation — Mostly Straightforward

It is easy to set up GoTrusted VPN on most devices. The Windows setup process was seamless, and the macOS app was easy to install as well.

How to Download and Install GoTrusted VPN:

  1. Download the installer from the GoTrusted VPN website.
    Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN download link
  2. Start the installer and accept the user agreement.
  3. Upon installation, input your login details to use the app. A minimized GoTrusted VPN window should open at the bottom right of your screen.
    Screenshot of GoTrusted VPN app navigation
  4. Click ‘Menu’, select a server region, and hit ‘Save’.
  5. To start the VPN, click “GO Secure” and wait until you see “You May Now GoTrusted.”

There’s an iOS app that you can install directly on your phone as well. Alternatively, the provider outlines careful steps you can follow to set up the VPN without an app on your iOS and Android devices. The process requires some patience, but anyone should be able to follow the provided screenshots on the setup guide page.

Support

- 4.0 / 10

I was disappointed with GoTrusted VPN’s customer support service due to the non-functional support channels. This VPN lists support channels where you can get help through a US phone number, email, and live chat. While writing this review, I couldn’t get a reply to some of my questions via live chat or email even after 4 days. I also called phone support, but no agent was available to pick my call.

For a service that is over 16 years old, I expected to see an expansive knowledge base that would answer my questions or help with technical issues. But I was also disappointed on that front. There was no FAQ page or troubleshooting guides to follow. Although the provider has been on Twitter since 2014, its online presence seems non-existent. In contrast, whenever I need to have my questions answered, top-rated VPNs like Cyberghost provide live chat support and helpful agents.

How We Test Customer Support and Why Should You Care

We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.

Pricing

- 5.0 / 10

GoTrusted VPN’s limited features aren’t worth the expensive pricing. The VPN offers 3 premium subscription plans, 3 group plans, and a 7-day free trial for new users.

For its premium subscription, there’s a 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year plan. The group plans are suitable for large households or businesses that have multiple users. It offers a 5-user pack, 10-user, and 25-user packs. With group plans, you can also manage and monitor each user’s connection.

GoTrusted VPN allows you to start with a free trial within minutes. The VPN requires you to provide your email, set a password, and add your preferred payment method. You won’t be charged until the trial period expires, That said, it only accepts payment via credit card and PayPal. Note that it doesn’t accept Bitcoin.

While the service is priced similarly to top-tier VPNs, there is no money-back guarantee. Once the trial period concludes, the full amount will be billed to you. It’s important to note that no refunds will be provided after the initial charge, so please consider this if you intend to cancel your subscription prior to the trial’s completion.

GoTrusted VPN offers the following plans

1 Months
 
$5.99
per month
 
View Plan
2 Year Plan
$5.99
$3.99
per month
Save 33%
View Plan
View Plan
Save 33%
12- Month Plan
$5.99
$4.99
per month
Save 17%
View Plan
View Plan
Save 17%

Final Verdict

GoTrusted VPN is a modest service only suitable for unblocking a handful of streaming platforms. It allowed me to watch different shows on Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ while unblocking also BBC iPlayer. However, navigating through the app is tedious, especially when switching servers. Moreover, I wouldn’t call it safe for privacy because it logs too much user data.

Getting support to respond to question takes time and there isn’t a functioning live chat. Sadly, If you decide to continue with the service after the free trial, you can’t get a refund. After testing the service, I must say that GoTrusted’s asking price isn’t the best value on the market. Top-grade VPNs like ExpressVPN offers a superior VPN servicefor similar pricing.

FAQs About GoTrusted VPN

Is GoTrusted VPN good?

No. GoTrusted VPN is only suitable for streaming videos and accessing the content on a handful of streaming platforms. Sadly, its speeds were lackluster, the server network was small, and it compromises user data. So, I wouldn’t rate it a good VPN.

Can I use GoTrusted VPN for free?

Yes, you can try GoTrusted VPN out for free for 7 days. During the free trial, you have access to all its features and servers. You’ll have to provide your payment details and email before enjoying the free trial. The provider doesn’t offer any money-back trial periods.

If you want to try a VPN for free consider any of these reliable options.  That said, note that using free VPNs comes with some downsides. For one, many free VPN providers log data and sell it to ad agencies, which can put your privacy at risk. Moreover, others cap the speed of the service and offer limited bandwidth, which can make it unsuitable for streaming.

Is GoTrusted VPN really safe?

No. GoTrusted is great at protecting your data from third parties with strong SSL protocols, but it logs data and may share your data with your government. It’s part of the 5-Eyes Alliance, so there really isn’t any privacy.

GoTrusted VPN also lacks anonymous payment options like cryptocurrencies. In contrast, top-rated VPNs like ExpressVPN are constantly improving their privacy measures. For instance, ExpressVPN backs up its no-log policy with several independent audits. You can also pay with anonymous channels like Bitcoin and buy confidently with its 30-days money-back guarantee.

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Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research, and also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.