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

Consistent, But Not Super Fast

You can expect decent speeds with the paid UFO VPN plan. While using the VPN and connecting to server locations across the world, I was averaging around 25Mbps (my speed without a VPN was 40.83Mbps).

While I definitely expect some slowdowns while connected to a VPN, I was surprised by how dramatic the speed drop was. Thankfully it was still fast enough to stream video on multiple devices in HD quality.

Speed Test Results

I tested UFO VPN’s speeds on 4 different continents: North America, South America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. My speeds were relatively fast during the day, but when I repeated my tests in the evening (when servers tend to fill up), I saw an additional 10% speed drop. Despite the time of day, my speeds were always fast enough to stream in HD, play online games, and video chat.

While the app has a nice feature where it does a speed test for you to show you which servers are the fastest, it would make more sense to just automatically connect you to the fastest one.

Even though UFO VPN’s speeds exceeded my expectations, I always get much faster speeds when I use ExpressVPN. Even with servers on the other side of the world, I hardly notice any difference from my usual internet speed. You can try it for yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee — if it slows down your connection, you can get a refund right away.

Server Network — Advertises 2000+ Servers in 50+ Locations

UFO VPN has a respectable 2,000+ servers, but except for its streaming servers, you aren’t able to choose exactly which one you will connect to. You can only choose the location where you want your IP address to be based. With that said, servers have unlimited bandwidth and no data transfer caps, which is a welcome feature absent from most competitors.

I was initially impressed with how many streaming-optimized servers the service offered until I discovered that some of them don’t work on the streaming sites they’re labeled for. Gaming servers are also available for Call of Duty, PUBG Mobile, and Wild Rift. You can connect to the nearest server using the Smart Location option to ensure the fastest service.

Security — Hides Your IP Address, But Confusing Protocol Options

There isn’t any information about the cipher or encryption method used. Even if this VPN was functional, this lack of information regarding the encryption standard makes it hard to trust it to keep your personal details and critical information safe.

UFO VPN features the following security features:

• Custom security protocols – UFO VPN allows you to choose from different protocols, which is great — but this function can be quite confusing on the desktop app. It lets you select Auto, Mode A, Mode C, or Mode D, with an explanation of what each one does, however it isn’t clear whether you’re choosing SSX, TCP, or another option. The Android and iOS mobile apps tell you what the protocols are called but not what each of them does in practice. So you might see that you can select the TCP protocol, but the app doesn’t tell you what the potential benefits are of each option.
• Kill switch – There’s a kill switch to cut off your internet connection when your network becomes unsteady to prevent leaks.

Moving onto IP address, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests to see whether any of my data was leaking to third parties (like my government and internet provider). I was happy to see that there were no IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks. While I’m really in the US, the test shows that I’m in Germany (the server assigned to me by UFO VPN).

Privacy — Keeps User Logs

UFO VPN claims to be a zero-logs VPN, but a 2020 investigation found millions of UFO VPN user data logs in an unprotected database revealing data like real IP addresses, locations, and even account passwords. Additionally, researchers discovered that UFO VPN shared servers with other white-label service providers, causing Google to remove the application from its Play Store listing. Users of Android phones can access UFO VPN’s application only through the company’s website.

UFO VPN blamed a Covid-19-related “personnel change” for the privacy breach, but logs were already being collected long before Covid-19 existed. While UFO VPN claims to have fixed the problem, a closer look at its current privacy policy revealed that some data are still being collected.

UFO VPN is managed by Dreamfii HK, a company headquartered in Hong Kong. This territory is located within China’s jurisdiction, a country well known for violating the privacy of its citizens. The government can take control of the servers of any company operating within its borders.

Since recording logs defeats the entire purpose of having a VPN, there’s no way I’d ever recommend UFO VPN to anyone who is looking for a way to browse the web privately and securely. To stay truly safe online, you should use a VPN that’s been audited by a third party and proven to be secure. Top-rated VPNs like ExpressVPN are optimized for privacy-minded users.

Torrenting — It is Not Safe to Torrent with UFO VPN

Given UFO VPN’s issues, I felt like it was pretty risky to even test it with downloading torrents. After making sure my malware and virus blockers were fully updated and active, I was able to open my torrent client and download a couple of files. While it worked, I would not recommend using torrents with UFO VPN.

Since they might keep logs of your activity, you could be sued or even arrested if your torrenting activities are seen by your internet provider or government. My team and I don’t condone illegal torrenting so be sure to check the rules and regulations in your country. For your own peace of mind, make sure the torrents you download are copyright-free.

For safe, anonymous torrenting, I know I can rely on CyberGhost. It has lightning-fast, torrent-optimized servers and all the latest security features to hide your download and upload data. Plus, it has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited, so you know it doesn’t record your location or activities. If you’re the type of person who needs to try before you buy, you can download torrents with CyberGhost for free for 45 days.

Does UFO VPN Work in China? No!

UFO VPN is not a good choice if you’re going to China. With powerful government blocks that censor the web and block VPN servers, only a few of the best VPNs can bypass the Great Firewall of China. With UFO VPN having suffered a data breach that exposed its users’ logs, it cannot be trusted to protect your internet activity in China.

Keep in mind that using a non-government-approved VPN is illegal in China. However, there have been no cases of tourists being penalized by the Chinese government. The common practice is that China fights VPNs by technologically blocking them and not chasing after tourists who use them.

There isn’t much to say about UFO VPN’s support because it barely has any! I reached out using email and the in-app support option, which promised a reply within 24 hours. 10 days and several follow-ups later, I still haven’t heard a word from the “support” team.

An FAQ on the UFO VPN website answers a few common questions, but it didn’t offer any helpful solutions for the errors that I was experiencing.