VyprVPN Review 2023: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Is VyprVPN Fast? Yes, Especially on Servers Close to You

VyprVPN offers great download speeds comparable to the best VPNs on the market. I initially thought it would be much slower than its competitors due to its relatively small number of servers. However, VyprVPN surprised me with fast speeds, especially on servers close to my actual location.

Several factors impact speed test results, such as server load, physical distance from the server you connect to, and your base internet speed. This means you might not get the same results as I did if you run these tests yourself.

Speed Test Results

I found that VyprVPN provided me with incredible speeds when I connected to nearby servers. To make sure I accurately assess the VPN’s speeds, I ran a preliminary test to find that my unprotected base speed at the time was 586Mbps. When connected to VyprVPN servers, I could seamlessly stream in HD, torrent files, and play games without lag.

My speeds took a bigger hit when I connected to servers further away from me, in countries like Japan and Australia. Choosing a country on the other side of the world cut my speeds by over 90%, causing some buffering during my streams. It also increased my ping — a number that describes the time needed for a device to send a command to an online website or a game server. The higher the ping, the longer the delay you experience. Ideally, you want to keep your ping below 40-60ms, as this will guarantee smooth gameplay and quick browsing. Yet, servers in Japan and Australia had my ping above 200ms, which contributed to longer loading times and lags.

If you want to keep your speeds as high as possible while using VyprVPN, I suggest you try using the default, WireGuard protocol first. OpenVPN is considered one of the most recent tunneling protocols available and is purportedly the swiftest. In my personal trials, I observed a minor reduction in speeds upon transitioning to OpenVPN. Again, your speed results may differ from mine, so it never hurts to try using different protocols and see which one works best.

I was pleased to see that VyprVPN takes the guesswork out of server selection — you can sort the server list by speed to find the fastest servers. This helpful feature can save you precious time, as you don’t have to test the servers’ speeds each time you want to connect.

Are VyprVPN’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Of Course!

VyprVPN is one of the best gaming VPNs out there. I played various multiplayer games without any lag or ping issues when connected to nearby VyprVPN servers. I used servers in the UK to play Call of Duty online and was very impressed with how smooth my game ran. I didn’t have to wait for the game to buffer, it never froze, and the image quality was incredible.

I was also happy to find that VyprVPN masks DNS requests, ensuring that your gaming activities are hidden from your ISP so it can’t throttle your internet connection. With VyprVPN, your ISP won’t be able to identify you as a heavy gamer, meaning you’ll always make the most of top VPN speeds.

Although my experience was positive, my teammate in New York said the speed drop and ping increase on servers further away (like San Francisco and Los Angeles) made the gameplay less enjoyable. He had to deal with lagging in every lobby he joined, especially when CoD servers were also overcrowded. This meant he often missed crucial shots in the game or spun out of the track while racing in Forza Horizon 4. Your gameplay may be even more affected if your base internet speed is usually slow. There are better VPNs for playing CoD if you’re an avid gamer like me.

A Wide Selection of Servers Worldwide, But Lacks City-Level Choices

With 700 servers in 70 countries, VyprVPN doesn’t offer the biggest network on the market, but it’s enough to find a working connection in most popular locations. However, I was sad to see that the VPN has a minimal choice of available cities in each location. I could choose from 8 US locations and 3 Australian cities, but I noticed there was no option to select a specific location in the UK or Canada. This is very unusual, as most VPNs I’ve tested had multiple city-level options in these countries as they also tend to be popular among users.

Unlike most VPNs on the market, VyprVPN owns all its servers through its parent company, Golden Frog. This adds a level of security, as you don’t have to worry about a third party having any influence over the server network.

I was a bit surprised that VyprVPN doesn’t state which servers are physical and virtual. Most other VPNs disclose this information, making it easy for you to avoid specific server locations. That said, VyprVPN says that most of its servers in restrictive countries are virtual — this helps the VPN keep its hardware out of the hands of governments who spy on their citizens.

Is VyprVPN Good for Torrenting? Yes!

VyprVPN is great for secure torrenting as it keeps your downloads fully anonymous with its zero-knowledge VyprDNS servers. This means that it doesn’t log your DNS requests, and your data won’t be collected or stored at any point. VyprVPN’s privacy features were verified by a third-party cybersecurity company, so I know it’s not just a marketing gimmick.

Since the VPN doesn’t offer P2P-optimized servers, any VyprVPN server you connect to protects your privacy and enables fast file downloads. I find that VPNs with separate torrenting servers regularly experience a high user load, which massively slows down my speeds, making torrenting a struggle. Because I could use any server on the list, I rarely encountered a slower, overcrowded connection.

Disappointingly, VyprVPN doesn’t support port-forwarding, a function that lets you prioritize your torrenting traffic to accelerate download speeds. Without it, your downloads may not always be as fast as you’d like, especially if you’re using a P2P client like uTorrent. Personally, it didn’t bother me as VyprVPN is fast enough to torrent multiple files at the same time without compromising on streaming quality or browsing speeds. I comfortably watched Netflix while downloading a large 30GB file — I didn’t notice much disruption on my stream while the file was ready in my torrenting client in 5 hours.

Does VyprVPN Work in China? Yes!

VyprVPN is one of the few VPNs that work reliably in China. VyprVPN’s no-logs servers and VyprDNS servers allow you to access all your favorite sites in China.

When my team tested VyprVPN in China, they could easily unblock websites using its server in Hong Kong. Although VyprVPN doesn’t achieve the speeds that ExpressVPN can, they could still stream programs on Nexflix, read the news, and play Call of Duty without worrying about prying eyes.

Security Features

Military-Grade Encryption and Secure Firewalls That Protect Your Every Click Online

VyprVPN has military-grade AES-256-bit encryption, which makes your network traffic almost impossible to decipher. The encryption is authenticated by a SHA256 algorithm which changes the data you send online into hashed text so no one can read it. If you don’t need the strongest security, you can switch to 160-bit encryption.

The VPN also relies on Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) — a process that creates a unique encryption key for every single session. The key disappears once the session is terminated, so only the one current session would be exposed in the unlikely event of your connection being compromised.

I found that VyprVPN has a NAT Firewall, a feature that only allows internet traffic that your device has requested. With the firewall setting activated, VyprVPN can protect you from unsolicited data packets sent during hacking attempts.

All of these features mean that you can use VyprVPN to safeguard your internet, whether you’re using a secured home connection or public WiFi.

Several VPN Protocols to Choose From Across Your Devices

VyprVPN allows you to use 4 different VPN protocols, including WireGuard, IPSec (L2TP and IKEv2), Chameleon (also known as ChameleonTM or Chameleon 2.0), and OpenVPN. When I connected to VyprVPN the first time, I was pleased to find that I was automatically connected using WireGuard, the most advanced protocol available. If you’re unsure which protocol is ideal for your online habits, take a look at their main features below.

• Wireguard offers top speeds, high security, and top device performance.
• L2TP/IKEv2 provides stability when you move between internet connections.
• Chameleon allows you to hide your VPN connection from government data packet inspection (DPI) when traveling to countries with strict censorship policies.
• OpenVPN, the most popular VPN protocol, is a highly secure and fast option that runs just as smoothly as normal SSL/TLS traffic.

The protocols differ slightly depending on which device you’re using. The only operating systems to offer all 4 protocols are Windows, macOS, and iOS. Android users lose the ability to choose IKEv2 — and if you want to download VyprVPN on Linux, you won’t be able to choose WireGuard. OpenVPN and Chameleon protocols are also available to use directly on routers.

To switch your protocol, simply click on the “Customize” tab and go into “Protocol.” WireGuard protocol is selected by default as it’s the most advanced all-around option. Every protocol has a detailed description, so you’ll always know what exactly you’re getting. Tap the protocol you want to use, and the VPN will instantly configure your connection.

Fully Automated Kill Switch — Effectively Protects Your Traffic Against Data Leaks

The VPN has a kill switch that stops data leaks by cutting off your internet if your connection drops. This way, you needn’t worry about your IP addresses being abruptly exposed if there’s a power outage, your device goes to sleep, or the VPN’s server shuts down.

To test the kill switch on my Windows laptop and Android phone, I kept switching between different servers. My connection was blocked as soon as I disconnected from a current location and remained offline until my traffic was securely rerouted through a new server.

It’s important to note that this feature is turned off by default, so make sure to activate it on every device when you download VyprVPN for the first time.

Unfortunately, there is no kill switch on iOS, so the traffic on my iPhone wasn’t protected during sudden disruptions to my connection. If you want to secure your iPhone or iPad, I recommend you check out CyberGhost, as it’s one of few VPNs to offer a kill switch on iOS.

IP and DNS Leak Protection — No Discrepancies or Leaks Detected During Tests

I used ipleak.net to run independent tests on my Windows PC. I connected to VyprVPN servers in New York, Perth, the UK, and France, and I found no IPv4, IPv6, WebRTC, or DNS leaks on any connection. The results showed the VPN location and IP address every time instead of my regular location in the UK. This proves that VyprVPN’s security features definitely protect your traffic, hiding all your information from hackers, your ISP, and the government.

VyprVPN Cloud — Additional Security Option for Business Accounts

If you want to add extra protection to your cloud servers, VyprVPN offers a separate service called VyprVPN Cloud, which is easy to deploy on multiple internal servers at once.

VyprVPN Cloud gives you a dedicated VPN server that’s unique to your business, so you’re always in full control. The business server comes with a static IP address, ultra-secure privacy features, and a seamless connection to any of your apps and software. This removes the need for additional hardware installation making it easy for your IT team to set up without wasting precious time. As a business owner, you’ll also get to use VyprVPN Cloud with its 7-day free trial to see how easy it is to use.

VyprVPN Cloud works with DigitalOcean, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and VirtualBox.

Split Tunneling Option Available on Android and macOS Devices

I was disappointed to learn that VyprVPN only offers split tunneling, a helpful function that allows selected apps to bypass the VPN on its Android and macOS apps. This is annoying as the feature is essential if you use your computer to control LAN devices (such as a printer) over WiFi, as it still gives you full access to them even with the VPN turned on. Split tunneling is also useful if you need to access local content while using a VPN to spoof your location.

If you like to multitask on all of your devices, I suggest you try ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature. ExpressVPN is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can always get a refund if you’re not satisfied.

Smart DNS Replaced With More Secure VyprDNS

VyprDNS is a DNS proxy feature owned entirely by VyprVPN, which means only the provider has access to your DNS requests (the websites you visit on your devices). Since it’s a zero-knowledge DNS service, you can rest assured that VyprVPN doesn’t record your online activity because it’s never collected by the servers. VyprDNS is automatically enabled on all of your connections, so you only have to select a server to benefit from full online privacy.

In many ways, VyprDNS is better than Smart DNS because Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic. This reduces the level of protection you receive and leaves you vulnerable to cyberattacks.

However, VyprDNS can’t be manually set up on devices that don’t support native VPN apps, like gaming consoles or casting devices, which is the main purpose of Smart DNS. This meant that I wasn’t able to quickly connect my PlayStation 5 or Xbox One to a VPN DNS server. Instead, I had to set VyprVPN up on a router and turn the VPN on my whole network if I wanted to play games with friends abroad.

Privacy Features

Audited No-Logs Policy Shows the VPN Can Be Trusted

VyprVPN used to have shady logging policies, but fortunately, it has learned from its mistakes. In 2018, VyprVPN put its reputation on the line and hired the Leviathan Security Group to produce an independent audit of its practices.

Leviathan found minor, unintentional infractions, which VyprVPN promptly fixed. This result compelled Leviathan to confirm that VyprVPN does not log any VPN activity or collect customer information without consent. So you can use VyprVPN knowing your data is safe at all times.

Company Jurisdiction

Even though it’s operated from the US, Golden Frog (VyprVPN’s parent company) is located in Switzerland. As Switzerland isn’t in the EU and it’s outside of the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes Intelligence Agencies and SIGINT, VyprVPN isn’t required by law to share its user surveillance data. However, the country sometimes participates in fact-finding investigations, so the VPN may share the data it stores on its servers. Switzerland also has its own data supervision laws (BÜPF and VÜPF), but they’re very vague and don’t force the VPN to collect user logs.

Luckily, the strict no-logs policy means there’s simply no user information to share, even if VyprVPN is compelled to respond to law enforcement agencies. The company doesn’t keep any logs of IP addresses, time stamps, browsing history, or any online activity while you’re connected to VPN servers. The only data it collects is your billing and payment information, name, email, and address — but none of this information is associated with your VPN session. So the only thing the law enforcement agencies would find out is that you have a VyprVPN account which isn’t illegal in most countries.

I was highly pleased with VyprVPN’s support team as I always received a prompt and detailed answer to any query during my tests.

You can get help directly through VyprVPN’s website in 3 main ways:

• Reach out to customer service over 24/7 live chat
• Use the email ticketing system
• Visit VyprVPN’s website and use the support page filled with FAQs and troubleshooting guides

Additionally, VyprVPN lets you report any bugs you come across directly through its app on any device. I found the option in the “Support” tab after opening the VPN’s settings menu.

24/7 Live Chat — Instant Response Time to Get Help Fast

Every time I used VyprVPN’s live chat to get help, I instantly connected to an advisor without waiting in a queue. I did that multiple times during my tests to clarify information and troubleshoot some connection issues on servers in Japan. Regardless of the type of my inquiry, the VPN agent I spoke to provided me with prompt answers and solutions to my problems. They also often backed up their help ideas with relevant articles from VyprVPN’s site.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak English — VyprVPN enables Google Translate in its live chat, so every response is automatically translated into your native language. I clarified it with the VPN’s agent, who confirmed the live chat works in any language available on Google Translate, including Mandarin, Turkish, Japanese, French, German, and more.

Email Support — Receive a Response in Under an Hour

I received a professional and detailed response to my email inquiry in under an hour. This is almost unheard of as most VPNs take around 24 hours to answer inquiries.

To get help through email, I had to first submit a request form online. This was very straightforward, and I completed it in less than 1 minute.

If you want fast replies, I recommend categorizing your inquiry using drop-down menus under the main text box. This will make sure your request gets sent to the correct team instead of being passed through multiple departments.

Online Guides and FAQs Are a Solid Option to Find Solutions to Most Problems

I liked that VyprVPN also offers online help in the “Support” tab on its website. The vendor sorts available guides on signing up, setting up your connection, fixing common issues, and FAQ answers into appropriate categories so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Every article is always answered in great detail, and the VPN guides are formatted into step-by-step instructions. This means that even if you don’t know anything about VPNs, you’ll be able to configure the vendor to your liking without an issue.

If you’re looking for an answer to a specific question, you can visit VyprVPN’s website to use the support search engine and find a relevant article quickly. Once I typed in a keyword or a phrase, like “free trial” or “money-back guarantee,” the VPN instantly suggested topics that were relevant to my search. While I didn’t find any articles about free trials, the search engine quickly pointed me in the direction of its money-back policy, offering a detailed article on the topic.

Service Status Updates — Monitor Ongoing Technical Problems And Learn When They Are Resolved

I was happy to see that VyprVPN has a service status page, which shows you a list of all ongoing technical issues, and gives updates on their resolution. The page gives updates on various other issues, like:

• VyprVPN’s operational status in China
• Server maintenance
• Trouble streaming on various platforms

During my streaming tests, I found this service status page a convenient way to track servers that are not working with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.