Tuxler
4.0
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Content: Our Score:
Speed 2.0 / 10
Servers 5.0 / 10
User Experience 4.0 / 10
Support 4.0 / 10
Pricing 5.0 / 10
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Tuxler Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Tuxler Overview

Tuxler touts itself as the first free residential VPN powered by community volunteers. The company has a reputation for unblocking restriction-based and censored services – something I did not expect from a free VPN. I decided to run several in-depth tests to determine the validity of the company’s claims and how it compares to the top VPNs in 2024.

The free version of Tuxler is definitely worth a shot, at least for its simplicity and ease of use. Tuxler’s inconsistent performance, insufficient security features, questionable logging policy, and lack of a refund policy are the downsides I found during my review. While it managed to unblock certain streaming sites, the videos were sluggish and of poor quality.

Tuxler offers a free service that rivals most of its competitors. You can use the VPN to watch movies and listen to music without worrying about bandwidth limitations. However, It restricts the number of server switches you can make and the number of proxy IP addresses you can access at any given time.

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

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

Tuxler enables users to unblock geo-restricted content on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and more. However, it’s worth noting that the service’s speed may result in lower resolution when streaming movies and TV shows. Although Tuxler offers a premium option promising improved quality and performance, there are doubts regarding the legitimacy of this claim.

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Hulu: Unblocked

The SOCKS5 protocol of Tuxler’s software worked great in my Netflix unblocking test. Also, the Tuxler servers successfully accessed Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, and HBO Max. While I was able to stream, HD viewing was not available at all.

Tuxler supports a wide range of Netflix regions, including the UK, Canada, several European countries, Germany, New Zealand, Nigeria, and India. However, Netflix’s American library was unavailable to me because my connection to the server was inconsistent. You will need an alternative VPN service to get access to your US Netflix library while abroad.

Screenshot of Tuxler VPN unblocking UK Netflix

Accessing Netflix was challenging but possible

Tuxler had success streaming content on US Amazon Prime Video, which has proven to be a major problem for most VPN services. However, Amazon Prime Video may not work reliably when accessing other countries’ libraries.

Screenshot of Tuxler VPN unblocking Amazon Prime Video

I could stream anything from Amazon Prime Video’s library in seconds but with a lot of lag

Tuxler is also able to stream US-based streaming services like Hulu and HBO Max, though with a lot of lag.

Disney+ and BBC iPlayer: Blocked

I was unable to log into my Disney account after connecting to Tuxler’s USA servers. There’s a similar problem when trying to access BBC iPlayer via the network’s UK servers.

The Disney+ streaming service is available in countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and select parts of Europe. As its US platform contains exclusive content, I attempted to bypass its geo-restriction several times with Tuxler but instead received error messages.

BBC iPlayer also specifies that its services are available only to legal UK residents. An attempt by my UK colleague to access the streaming platform’s shows using Tuxler was flagged as suspicious. Simply put, the system detected that my colleague in the United Kingdom was using a VPN service and blocked him.

On the whole, I would consider Tuxler to be an above-average product in terms of its streaming capabilities. I personally prefer CyberGhost for watching content I paid for while abroad since it provides seamless HD streaming and lets me reliably access US Netflix.

Speed

- 2.0 / 10

Slow and Inconsistent on Most Servers

Tuxler has the lowest speed of any VPN I have tested so far. Your connection speed will be affected since there are an unknown number of people sharing your network. Fortunately, paying Tuxler customers do not have to worry about this since their networks will not be transformed into servers.

The free version has the advantage of offering unlimited bandwidth. You can use the service as much as you want since there are no data transfer limits. Many VPN services offer unlimited bandwidth for subscription plans, but not for free or trial accounts. As Tuxler’s free speeds are generally very slow, it makes very little difference.

Speed Test Results

Tuxler completely slowed down my downloads and uploads. While I expected some drops with any VPN, these results were rather shocking. You can also expect slow speeds if there aren’t as many users available in your target region. The best you can expect is to stream 480p videos and browse the Internet at the very most.

For comparison purposes, I measured my base speed to be 45.33 Mbps download and 48.13 Mbps upload, and ping of 27 ms. Next, I tested servers closer to my actual location (in my case, the United States). I was disappointed that the fastest server dropped my speed by 94%.

Screenshot of speed test results when connected to Tuxler VPN

I lost up to 90% of my speed with Tuxler VPN

Then I went further and tested Tuxler’s servers in the UK, France, and Australia. I received a 2.92 Mbps download speed in the UK, which is a 93% decrease from my base speed. My download speed in France and Australia dropped by 95% and 92%, respectively (down to 1.89 and 3.46 Mbps).

Given these poor results, you can expect a much better performance from the Premium version. The company claims that paying customers experience four times as much speed as those on the free plan. It could be true since customers who purchase a paid plan do not become servers. The number of server locations available to me as a free user was limited, and I could only change my location a few times daily.

I recommend avoiding Tuxler if you require speed and stability, as its pings are incredibly high and its speeds are poor. If you only need a VPN for a short period of time, these top-rated month-to-month VPNs have speeds that let you stream HD-quality video, download files quickly, and play online games seamlessly. Also, they’ll let you conduct your daily online activities with minimal interruption.

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

- 5.0 / 10

Server Network — Large but Unreliable

The primary focus of Tuxler’s marketing efforts is its expansive network of residential IPs. The VPN transmits web requests via residential IP addresses assigned by real Internet service providers (ISPs).

According to the site, you have access to 300,000 IP addresses spread across 92 countries, which is quite impressive considering its global reach. The VPN also provides you with over 70,000 new IP addresses every month and residential IP addresses from more than 182 ISPs. In spite of the company’s assertions that 100% of its IP addresses are private ones, you need to activate a switch to take advantage of these features.

Tuxler’s locations are spread throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and North America. I had success connecting to a variety of countries during testing, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, France, Israel, Singapore, Japan, Germany, Canada, and Australia. By regularly changing the locations it connects to, this VPN is able to avoid being blocked by institutions.

The Tuxler service is a community-based project without fixed or DNS-based servers. The FAQ mentions residential and data center proxy servers. However, this option can only be accessed via the Tuxler extension. The fact that there was no other information about this indicates that the company is using third-party data centers, a practice that is not unusual. However, Tuxler should emphasize this point clearly.

Server availability is primarily dependent on the bandwidth of nearby users. Other users cannot see your IP address unless it’s online through the app. You are, therefore, entirely dependent on the activity of other Tuxler customers in your target area. If there are no active users within your area or your preferred location, the app automatically connects you to the nearest server available. My attempts to connect to the United States were redirected to countries like Germany, Portugal, and Canada.

Security — Strong Encryption but Lacking in Any Other Security Features

Tuxler uses SOCKS5 to protect data transfers. By using proxy servers, the advanced protocol is able to establish UDP or TCP connections through IP addresses. While this proxy protocol increases privacy by hiding your real IP address, it does not ensure security. The information you send over a proxy connection is not encrypted, unlike OpenVPN or L2TP/IPSec protocols. In this way, your IP is masked, but your activity is not hidden.

According to Tuxler’s customer support, the product utilizes the virtually unbreakable AES-256-bit encryption technology, coupled with an RSA2048 key. So, the proxy protocol provides a high level of protection just like other top VPNs.

Compared to more traditional VPN services, this software differs significantly in its communal nature. Consequently, it is unable to directly compete with the major industry players. It lacks standard VPN features, such as stealth mode, split tunneling, and multi-hop.

The kill switch is one of the essential security features, and according to Tuxler’s FAQ, it uses a similar feature to a kill switch and is enabled by default. In theory, connection loss to a secure server should prevent any browser or program from accessing the internet. This raises the question of why, if the use of such technology is employed, it is not displayed on its website.

The Tuxler website does not mention IP or DNS leak protection, so it makes sense to test the free version. I found no IP or DNS leak using Tuxler on any type of connection after performing a number of tests on various servers. Any application that uses IPv6 or WebRTC can expose your true IP address (even when using a VPN). VPN services that use IPv6 sometimes suffer leaks, even the best of them. I found it surprising that even though I switched servers a few times, Tuxler never suffered from leaks of any kind.

Screenshot from a leak test conducted with Tuxler VPN

I didn’t find any IP or DNS leaks on Tuxler’s servers

In the screenshot, it correctly points out that I am in the United Kingdom, yet my actual DNS address is not visible. I tested different countries and got different DNS addresses, but none revealed my real one.

Privacy — Raises Concerns

The Tuxler privacy policy states that it processes both non-personal and personal data. These data include online identifiers, geolocation data, and website activity. When using a VPN, these are some of the most important things you will likely want to hide. Data collected by the company may be shared, sold, or used for other commercial purposes by third parties, such as ad agencies, internet service providers, and government agencies.

Screenshot of Tuxler’s Privacy Policy

The company collects a serious amount of information about your usage, devices, and location

Additionally, every time you run the Tuxler free software on your computer, your computer becomes a tunnel for other users. You essentially agree to let others access the internet with your IP address and conduct business as if they were you. The risk is that others can use your resources for suspicious or even criminal activities, and such misuse can cause severe issues for you with law enforcement.

Headquartered in California, the company is subject to USA surveillance laws. The United States is a member of the multilateral Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes alliances, which means it has to share any data with other members of these alliances. The FAQ and EULA state that by downloading and running the VPN, you agree that your IP address and other necessary data may be stored.

ExpressVPN is my top pick because the company’s privacy policy has been audited by a top auditing firm. The government of one country seized ExpressVPN servers in 2017 and found no data on them, further proving it does not log any data. On top of that, you can pay for ExpressVPN using cryptocurrency for extra privacy.

Torrenting — Supported, but Not Recommended

Both paid and free versions of Tuxler lack dedicated VPN servers for torrenting. However, the servers can be used for P2P sharing. And you’ll probably be satisfied if you connect to an adequate Tuxler server, as I did in the Czech Republic.

I tested Tuxler’s torrenting speeds using servers in the US, the UK, and Australia. I received speeds of 2.43 Mbps (US), 2.92 Mbps (UK), and 3.46 Kbps (Australia). Unfortunately, the results are poor, plus the software is missing a kill switch, making the process of downloading torrents extremely dangerous.

Additionally, you should be aware that the company is based in the United States and that your data may be logged to an unknown extent. In this regard, Tuxler should not be considered a safe torrenting service.

CyberGhost boasts the fastest speeds and highest security standards for torrenting and P2P downloads. This Romania-based company offers a good selection of custom applications, and our testing found it to be consistently good. Also, you can be assured that your data is protected through a no logs policy, highly secure applications, and a safe, privacy-friendly offshore jurisdiction.

Do not forget to exercise caution when downloading anything through torrents. Although it seems harmless, the consequences can be worse than you could ever imagine. The range of concerns varies from legal issues to malware-infected files. Not to mention you’re making yourself easier to target by exposing your real IP address.

Does Tuxler Work in China? Maybe!

This VPN uses the SOCKS5 protocol, which is one of the most effective at getting around geographical restrictions. Although I haven’t tested it myself, user feedback indicates it can be used to access blocked websites and apps.

Taking it a step further, I asked its customer service team if it worked in China to which it responded within two hours. Unfortunately, the response provided did not adequately answer my question. I was advised to download the free software and test it out on my own.

Screenshot of my conversation with Tuxler’s support about using the service in China

Tuxler support avoided answering my questions and instead suggested I test the VPN myself

Even if it could get around the Great Firewall of China, Tuxler’s absence of obfuscation features significantly limits its use. Top VPN services typically offer obfuscated VPN servers with additional layers of encryption designed to guard against censorship in heavily censored countries. For this purpose, opt for a VPN service that has been well-tested instead.

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs used by tourists in China, thanks to the ease with which it is able to navigate the Great Firewall. Its wide range of server locations is a big plus here, with Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan-based servers coming in especially handy.

Server Locations

Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Netherlands
Singapore
United Kingdom
United States

User Experience

- 4.0 / 10

Simultaneous Device Connections — Just 1 Device Connection

Tuxler’s a free trial and paid versions each work on just one device. I like to use a variety of devices to access the internet including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. So, it is dispiriting to join a VPN service to protect your data only to be restricted to connecting just one device. It is also not ideal for families or groups seeking anonymity and safety on the web.

In a move likely to attract gadget collectors like myself who want comprehensive insurance, CyberGhost offers the possibility of connecting up to 7 devices with a single subscription.

Device Compatibility — Limited Device Support

Tuxler provides access to some of the most popular platforms, such as full extensions for Chrome and Firefox, Mac computers, and Windows. There are no applications for Android and iPhone yet, but the website indicates that they will be available soon. In addition to only being available on certain devices, this VPN excludes users who use Linux. Also excluded are users who want the VPN for their TVs and game consoles.

Ease of Setup & Installation — Super Easy and Simple

I was able to easily install Tuxler on both my Mac and Windows computers, and I used the Chrome extension without any problem. Upon installing the application, it took a couple of seconds for a VPN connection to be established.

If you are using the extension, you can select whether you wish to connect or disconnect from the VPN at any time. There are tools on Tuxler that can simplify your search for servers in a particular country. All you have to do is select the locations from the menu and pick from the cities and countries listed.

You can also pick a residential IP by checking the box provided and selecting a country. Intriguingly, connections through residential locations are more unstable and slower. Tuxler VPN has a FAQ section on its website that can help you if you need assistance setting up or using the VPN service. It is, however, not as comprehensive as it should be.

How to Install and Set Up Tuxler on Windows

  1. Download the app. Select the VPN app for your device from the downloads section on the Tuxler website. 
    Screenshot of the download page for Tuxler VPN for Windows
  2. Run the installation file. The installation wizard will guide you through the process. 
    Screenshot from the installation steps for Tuxler VPN client
  3. Connect to a server. Select the server you want from the drop-down list. An option for choosing a random location is also provided. 
    Screenshot of the connection interface of Tuxler VPN

Support

- 4.0 / 10

Tuxler offers limited support options. FAQs are available, but they lack any troubleshooting tips or detailed information. Also available is a blog with about 20 pages of articles about VPNs and online security. You’ll find a mix of informative and promotional articles.

In addition, the website does not offer live chat, and you can only reach the support team by email or through the website contact form. TuxlerVPN replied to my inquiry regarding its security policies and protocols shortly after I reached out. Also on the same day, I exchanged a few emails with the agent. However, my questions weren’t answered as thoroughly as I would have liked.

Screenshot of my interaction with Tuxler's support

Tuxler’s support team provides excellent service when they are available

According to the customer care representative, the company does not keep user activity logs and provides end-to-end encryption. Surely, this information could have been displayed on the website. Tuxler has a social media presence, but the accounts don’t seem to have any form of maintenance.

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

The Tuxler software is available in free and premium versions. The free version of Tuxler is available for life, so there is no time limit on how long you will be able to use it. Tuxler seems to be doing its best to provide a compelling free plan in comparison with its premium version. As a result, you probably won’t need to upgrade.

According to the provider, the premium version offers 4x the speed of the free version, 100 location changes per day, access to all locations, and no IP sharing. The premium plan is available for a trial period of 24 hours if you sign up for the affiliate program or share it with your friends. Unlike most VPN providers, Tuxler does not offer an annual or semiannual plan, and the monthly plan is significantly less expensive than that of competitors.

It’s disappointing that Tuxler doesn’t offer reimbursements, knowing that the industry standard for refunds is 30 days. The provider argues that this is because it already offers a free version of the software. However, this is absurd considering that the paid version apparently runs four times as fast and has advanced location options.

Tuxler offers a variety of convenient payment options, such as credit cards, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, Paypal, and cryptocurrencies. Overall, I found that the price was fine for what Tuxler offers – especially if you’re into streaming.

Tuxler offers the following plans

1-Month plan
 
$7.99
per month
 
View Plan

Final Verdict

The free version of Tuxler leaves you vulnerable and at the mercy of the activities of other users. You will have no knowledge of another user’s activities on your IP address or network. The service has unlimited bandwidth, good geo-unblocking abilities, and access to many locations thanks to a pool of residential IP addresses, however, security and privacy are seriously lacking. Additionally, the speed is not very impressive, and you won’t be able to do any decent streaming or downloading.

Even if you choose to purchase the Premium version, the lack of a refund policy and the inability to connect on multiple devices simultaneously are major deterrents. The extensive testing I performed for this Tuxler review led me to conclude that you are better off exploring other options. Rest assured that there is no shortage of free or inexpensive VPN and proxy services that guarantee you private and secure access to the internet.

ExpressVPN offers a best-in-class VPN service, providing an array of comprehensive features, top-notch security, lightning-fast speeds, and seamless access to geo-blocked websites. You can test ExpressVPN out completely risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee — if you don’t like it, you can easily get a full refund.

FAQs About Tuxler

Is Tuxler good?

No, Tuxler is slow and does not meet the privacy and security standards expected from a VPN. While the program offers a wide range of proxy servers that support torrenting and streaming, it has terrible logging policies, a limited customer support option, and doesn’t work on mobile devices.

Can I use Tuxler for free?

Yes, Tuxler offers a basic free version for subscribers. You can try out the premium version for 24 hours by signing up for the affiliate program or sharing the app with your friends. The problem is, free VPNs are unlikely to provide you with the best protection online. Although you might be able to save some money each month, your data and privacy are at risk.

If you are absolutely committed to using a free VPN, I would highly recommend these reliable free options. They are much better alternatives to Tuxler, in that they offer a host of advanced security features, a no-logging policy, and mobile app compatibility.

Is Tuxler really safe?

No, Tuxler does not appear to be safe to use, and it puts your device, your identity, and online security at risk. Its privacy policy also notes that it collects both accessed and source IP addresses. Additionally, it exposes your IP address to other users on the same network and makes your data accessible to third parties.
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