Rocket VPN
3.4
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Content: Our Score:
Speed 5.0 / 10
Servers 2.0 / 10
User Experience 5.0 / 10
Support 2.0 / 10
Pricing 3.0 / 10
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Rocket VPN Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Rocket VPN Overview

Rocket VPN is part of mobile app developer Liquidum’s product line. You might know them for their Android file manager or the Hexlock security app, which are excellent tools. It sparked my curiosity to find out if the VPN service matched the renowned creators’ reputation and whether the encryption, privacy, and fast speed claims could compete with the top VPNs on the market. Hence, I tested this VPN extensively to determine its reliability.

From my experience, Rocket VPN is an average provider that doesn’t offer anything interesting. Whether it’s security, speed, streaming capacity, or anything else, Rocket VPN won’t blow you away. The lack of details about its security implementation, lack of a kill switch, and limited server network doesn’t make it stand out.

If you want to test out the VPN for free, you have the option to use the free version for as long as you wish without having to purchase a premium subscription. However, be aware that its 250 MB monthly limit and numerous advertisements will inconvenience you.

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

Rocket VPN Unblocks Netflix (But Can’t Access Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max)

Unblocking streaming services is not Rocket VPN’s strongest suit. Of all the streaming services that I tested, it could only access Netflix. In the case of Hulu, a proxy error message was displayed, and Disney+ became stuck on the login page. It is also unable to access BBC iPlayer.

Netflix: Unblocked

Rocket VPN is able to access Netflix, including its US library of movies and TV shows. During tests, it could stream the US library exclusive show called The Photograph without restrictions. This applies to both the paid and free versions of Rocket VPN.

Screenshot of streaming Netflix with Rocket VPN server

Rocket VPN helps stream the Netflix movie “The Photograph” without lags

Rocket VPN also unblocks regional Netflix libraries in Singapore, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom.

Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max: Blocked

My Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max accounts weren’t accessible with Rocket VPN. I received the following error message or something similar every time I attempted to connect to one of these platforms.

“Your device is connected to the internet using a VPN or proxy service. Please disable it and try again.”

My first attempt was with Hulu, but I was disappointed with the results. Logging in to my account worked fine, but a proxy error message appeared when I tried to play anything. After Hulu, I attempted to access Disney+. I couldn’t log into my account, let alone stream anything. My screen went black as soon as I clicked on the login button.

BBC iPlayer also doesn’t work. It recognizes Rocket VPN’s connection and automatically restricts access. It is the same story for HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video, which immediately block access.

ExpressVPN is an excellent alternative if you want to unblock popular streaming platforms. This service can unblock all the above streaming platforms and many others owing to its faster speeds and better-optimized servers compared to Rocket VPN.

Speed

- 5.0 / 10

Consistently Average Connection Speeds

A thorough speed test of Rocket VPN’s service showed that it slowed my connections by half. With such a decent speed, you can stream online content and unblock YouTube videos you might not be able to access while traveling. It should also be possible to make VoIP calls without any difficulty.

Speed Test Results

Streaming speeds for the US, UK, French, and German connections averaged 13-20 Mbps. The speeds weren’t terrible, but they were lacking when compared to other top-notch services.

I first ran an Ookla speed test using my regular connection without Rocket VPN turned on. I had a base speed of 40.69Mbps when the test was conducted. I experienced a 50% decline in speed after connecting to a local server. Connections to servers in the UK and France did not produce better results – both declined by 64%. I conducted real-world testing on Youtube, and no fluctuations were detected while watching videos in 1080p resolution.

Screenshot of speed test results while using Rocket VPN servers

Speed test results while connected to Rocket VPN

After testing Rocket VPN’s performance over short-distance servers, I decided to test it over a long-distance server in Australia. Since I only achieved average speeds from nearby servers, I did not expect results from a place as far away as Australia would be fast. As expected, the Sydney server slowed down my internet speed by 65%.

Overall, the performance of Rocket VPN was quite average on both local and long-distance servers. Be aware that VPN speeds can vary quite a bit. You have to take into account your internet connection and your location. Thus, your speed test results can differ from mine.

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

- 2.0 / 10

Server Network — Minimal Server Options

The Rocket VPN service offers the option to select from 7 virtual locations worldwide, including locations in the US, UK, Germany, and France. The only other locations outside these servers are Australia, Japan, and Singapore.

Screenshot of Rocket VPN's server list

Rocket VPN’s server list offers only a few choices

There is also no option to select city-level servers, which can be particularly frustrating if you reside in a large country such as the United States. It is worth mentioning that Rocket VPN utilizes Hotspot Shield’s servers, which means you are sharing your internet traffic with Hotspot Shield users.

Consider using Cyberghost in order to have access to more server options. As of right now, it has 11,670 servers in 100 countires, making it one of the best VPNs on the market. My experience indicates that performance is also very good, although your results may vary depending on where you are located and the speed of your connection.

Security — Unknown Security Implementation

This VPN leaves you completely in the dark when it comes to security. There is no information available on the protocol, cipher, handshake, authentication, or whether Perfect Forward Secrecy is employed. It is possible that this VPN does not encrypt your data at all, giving you a false sense of security when your ISP can still track everything you do online.

Sadly, there is no kill switch available with this VPN provider. So, your internet connection won’t be automatically terminated if there is a problem connecting to the VPN server or if the connection drops. It is important to keep this in mind when using the VPN, especially if you are concerned about the security of your browsing data.

Screenshot of IP/DNS leak test results using Rocket VPN

Rocket VPN keeps your connection secure so you don’t have to worry about being tracked

In the absence of a leak protection feature, I conducted a few leak tests of my own to see if Rocket VPN was fully leakproof. To be more precise, I checked for IP leaks, DNS leaks, and WebRTC leaks. Rocket VPN appeared to be very safe, protecting all my personal information. It is my virtual information that is visible, so there are no surprises.

ExpressVPN should be your choice of VPN based on its technical security capabilities. With top-tier encryption solutions, sophisticated obfuscation ciphers, and additional mechanisms for verification, it represents the pinnacle of VPN technology.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Privacy — Risky and Confusing

Contrary to its claim to have no-log privacy policies, Rocket VPN collects a great deal of data. The information that Rocket VPN logs include your name, email address, credit card information, IP address, timestamps, and other data collected during registration. Further, the VPN collects invasive data about people’s devices, advertising identifiers, device identifiers, local networks, ISPs, and much more.

Screenshot of the type of data Rocket VPN collects

Rocket VPN doesn’t appear to have had an audit and confirms that it keeps logs

There is a tremendous amount of data being retained, which makes Rocket VPN capable of accessing much more data than you would think. Several VPNs are available on the market that either store non-invasive connection logs or none at all. Thus, this service is not worth paying for.

The company has its headquarters in Ireland, which is not a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. As a result, this VPN is unlikely to be compelled by government authorities to disclose details about its users.

Torrenting — Not Advised

The Rocket VPN service is not optimal for torrenting since it only offers a handful of server locations. So, you shouldn’t expect fast downloads or uploads when using torrents. It also does not provide many features that might assist you in downloading torrents safely. The program logs too much information, and there is no kill switch to prevent accidental IP exposure.

You should know that peer-to-peer file sharing without permission is unlawful, and we do not support violating any laws. When in doubt, please check with local regulations within your area before torrenting and only downloading files available in the public domain.

Does Rocket VPN Work in China? No!

Rocket VPN doesn’t provide any obfuscation features to conceal the fact that you’re using a VPN if you’re an expat in China. Plus, I’m not sure what encryption and security protocols it employs. I reached out to the company’s customer support service to confirm this but received no response.

Smaller VPNs like Rocket VPN usually aren’t capable of bypassing the Great Firewall. A safer alternative like ExpressVPN can be used to access blocked websites in highly-censored countries. The protection offered by a VPN doesn’t allow you to commit illegal acts, so follow basic precautions when using a VPN in China. While non-government approved VPNs are banned in China, no foreigners have reported being fined or sanctioned for using them.

Server Locations

Australia
France
Germany
Japan
Singapore
United Kingdom
United States

User Experience

- 5.0 / 10

Simultaneous Device Connections — Supports Up to 5 Devices

Rocket VPN allows you to connect up to 5 devices simultaneously. While five devices may seem reasonable if you want to share your account with friends and family, it seems excessive for a VPN designed specifically for mobile devices.

Device Compatibility — Apps for iOS & Android Only

Rocket VPN doesn’t have apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux — iOS and Android are the only supported OSes. As far as I know, there are also no extensions or workarounds available for the devices that aren’t supported. This means you will need to use a different VPN to protect your other devices.

Ease of Setup & Installation — Super Easy and Fast Set-Up

The VPN software can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple Store, and installation is pretty straightforward. The official website also has a link to the Apple or Android store where you can download the software.

The user interface is clean and easy to use for a VPN app. Besides providing the ability to connect and disconnect, it also offers the ability to change location directly from the homepage. In the next section, you can add apps and specify what locations each app should spoof when launched. It’s easy to set up – choose an app, a location, and you’re ready to go.

A built-in web browser is available at the bottom of the home page, which allows you to access websites anonymously. While it may be a viable browsing solution, media content does not display correctly. So, I had to switch to Mozilla Firefox when I was doing streaming tests.

The top right of the app features a three-dot button with options for unlimited subscriptions, logging in, providing feedback, accessing FAQs, and sharing. This is the extent of the features — it does not contain a kill switch, encryption, or protocol setting.

How to Install and Set Up Rocket VPN on Android:

  1. Download Rocket VPN’s client. The client can be downloaded and installed from the Google Play Store. 
    Screenshot from Rocket VPN's Play Store page
  2. Launch the app. The app will launch on the app’s dashboard, where you will see a connect button next to the destination toggle.
  3. Choose your preferred server location. Tap the destination toggle to reveal the list of servers and choose your preferred one. 
    Screenshot of Rocket VPN's server selection interface
  4. Accept the connection request. An app message will appear asking you to allow the app to create a VPN connection. 
    Screenshot of Rocket VPN's connection request notification

Support

- 2.0 / 10

Support is provided through an email address and an extremely limited FAQ. My several attempts to reach Rocket VPN’s support team via email were unsuccessful. The FAQ page provides information aimed more at potential customers and less at troubleshooting. Consider switching to a service that offers 24/7 support if you are critical to obtaining answers immediately.

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

- 3.0 / 10

Rocket VPN is both a free and paid service. It’s easy to overlook its premium package due to its popularity as a free service. All users receive a 250 MB bandwidth allowance at installation, automatically renewed every 30 days. It took me approximately half an hour to reach my data limit on the free version, so I decided to upgrade to the premium version to take advantage of the premium features.

Premium subscribers can sign up monthly or yearly, and they’ll enjoy blissfully ad-free access. As with most VPNs, a longer deal usually means a cheaper monthly price. You can save 62 percent if you opt for the one-year plan, but you must pay in advance.

Rocket VPN exclusively offers payment options through Google Play or App Store, which makes the unsubscribe process straightforward. To cancel your subscription, you can easily navigate to the respective app and select the unsubscribe option. It’s worth noting that purchasing a subscription with Bitcoin is not available at this time.

Rocket VPN offers the following plans

1 Month plan
 
$7.99
per month
 
View Plan
1 Year plan
$7.99
$2.99
per month
Save 63%
View Plan
View Plan
Save 63%
3 Months plan
$7.99
$5.99
per month
Save 25%
View Plan
View Plan
Save 25%

Final Verdict

A VPN selection based on the outcome of tossing a coin or rolling the dice is likely to deliver much better results than Rocket VPN. It falls short in features, security, reliability, privacy, logging, transparency, and support.

Even though Rocket VPN has a low price, its lack of security and inability to rely on its protection to maintain privacy is a fatal flaw. That said, you will not experience any noticeable lag in your connection, so you can watch Netflix and YouTube videos uninterrupted.

ExpressVPN offers excellent streaming and torrenting support, high-end security features, and fast speeds. You can test ExpressVPN out completely risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day refund policy — you can easily request a refund if you do not like it.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

FAQs About Rocket VPN

Is Rocket VPN good?

No, Rocket VPN is not a reliable VPN service. It’s a mobile-only VPN without basic security features, doesn’t protect your privacy, and is among the least reliable I’ve ever used. Also, it does not support most streaming services, only offers servers in seven countries, and does not provide obfuscation or perfect forward secrecy.

Can I use Rocket VPN for free?

Yes, Rocket VPN offers a free plan. However, it is important to note that this plan has a 250 MB data limit – restricting your ability to stream and download large files. Free VPNs aren’t the best option anyway, since they often limit your connection speeds, lack advanced security features, and may expose your personal information.

Additionally, they have data usage limits, have buggy apps, and don’t work with streaming sites. Instead, I recommend checking out these free VPNs — they offer unlimited data, faster speeds, and better security than Rocket VPN.

Is Rocket VPN really safe?

No, Rocket VPN isn’t a secure VPN. While it passed my IP and DNS leak protection test, it lacks security features such as 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch. As well as logging IP addresses, Rocket VPN records the websites you visit and the files you download.
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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.