Phone Guardian VPN Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Zero Impact on Your Base Speed

With Phone Guardian VPN, you won’t face the usual slowdowns you might expect from a regular VPN. Unlike traditional VPNs, it doesn’t reroute your data through servers, so there are no speed losses. That means you should enjoy smooth web browsing and data transfer without any slowdowns.

Speed Test Results

I checked my internet speed before and after using Phone Guardian VPN, and I was happy to see that my speed stayed the same. So, you can use Phone Guardian VPN without affecting your internet performance while still enjoying extra security and privacy online.

Server Network — Absence of Servers

Unlike other VPN services, Phone Guardian VPN doesn’t provide a network of global servers to connect to. This absence is a significant disadvantage as it limits your ability to be completely anonymous and bypass geo-restrictions that a regular VPN provides.

With over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, ExpressVPN offers access to a wide variety of IP addresses located throughout the world. Plus, these servers offer super-fast connections and great unblocking capabilities.

Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Security — Lacks Basic Security Features

Phone Guardian only offers basic data encryption, helping to protect your data, especially on unsecured networks. However, it’s not as secure as more advanced VPNs. It won’t mask or alter your IP address, which is crucial for avoiding online tracking and attacks.

The type of encryption and protocol that Phone Guardian VPN uses is unclear, with no information available. The lack of a server network also has security implications. More comprehensive VPN services offer a network of servers worldwide, ensuring that your data is distributed and less likely to be targeted. Without it, Phone Guardian may pose a higher security threat.

The absence of a “kill switch” in Phone Guardian is another concern. This essential feature disconnects your internet if the VPN fails, thus preventing data leaks. This feature is important, especially where data security is crucial.

Some unique features of Phone Guardian include monitoring background apps and tracking time spent on each app. These aren’t typical VPN features but could be useful for managing app usage. Yet, it lacks advanced features like multi-hop connections, split tunneling, and ad or malware blocking.

Privacy — Logs Identifiable Data

Unlike typical VPNs with no-logs policies, Phone Guardian’s privacy rules are not ideal for serious privacy enthusiasts. It collects user data including app use and browsing habits, which may pose privacy risks. Despite the opt-out option, the data collection persists.

Specifically, it records:

• Your IP address
• Your website visit time, date, and timezone
• Visited URL details and access status
• Data volume per request
• The origin site, or “referrer URL”

Moreover, data.ai, Phone Guardian’s parent company, is a commercial data provider. This adds to the privacy concerns. Additionally, the VPN doesn’t alter your IP address, leaving you exposed to targeted attacks and location-based ads.

Being based in the US adds a potential problem for Phone Guardian VPN. Because the US is a member of the intelligence-sharing Five Eyes Alliance your data could be shared with authorities in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

If you don’t feel comfortable trusting your data to a company based in the US, I’d recommend ExpressVPN for its true no-logs policy that is not only foolproof but also one that is proven to work. It also offers the option to use cryptocurrency for payment to ensure complete anonymity.

Torrenting — Not Supported

Phone Guardian isn’t designed for torrenting due to its inability to hide your IP address. A VPN’s purpose in torrenting is to ensure anonymity, and without this feature, your real IP address can be visible to others on the same torrenting network, posing privacy risks.

The lack of a kill switch feature – a key element in many VPN services – also means that if the VPN connection drops, your IP address may suddenly be exposed to your torrent network. This presents yet another risk that torrenting users should consider.

My team and I do not condone illegal torrenting, and it is essential to adhere to the rules and regulations stipulated in your country. It is equally important to ensure that any torrents downloaded are copyright-free.

Does Phone Guardian VPN Work in China? No!

The inability of Phone Guardian VPN to mask IP addresses makes it impossible to bypass these stringent internet controls. VPNs that work in China typically have servers located nearby, such as in Hong Kong, to provide better speed and reliability. Without this, it is highly unlikely that Phone Guardian VPN can offer consistent service in China.

When traveling to China for business or pleasure, accessing content from your home country can be challenging. Therefore, I recommend choosing a VPN that’s been proven to work in China, like ExpressVPN.

It’s worth noting that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China. However, there have been no publicized cases of tourists being penalized by the Chinese government for using them. Instead, China typically combats VPN usage by employing technological blocking measures, rather than actively pursuing individual users.

Phone Guardian VPN lacks direct support options like live chat, email, or phone calls, which is unusual for a VPN service. It does offer a FAQ section, though it only covers basic questions and lacks comprehensive explanations. Moreover, the absence of community or forum support means troubleshooting complex issues can be hard.

In summary, the customer service of Phone Guardian VPN needs improvement. With no modern ticketing or chat support, an incomplete FAQ, and no user-community options, getting help becomes quite difficult.