vpnMentor contains reviews that are written by our community reviewers, and are based on the reviewers' independent and professional examination of the products/services.
• Ownership
vpnMentor is owned by Kape Technologies PLC, which owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, ZenMate, Private Internet Access, and Intego, which may be reviewed on this website.
• Affiliate Commissions
vpnMentor contains reviews that were written by our experts and follow the strict reviewing standards, including ethical standards, that we have adopted. Such standards require that each review will be based on an independent, honest and professional examination of the reviewer. That being said, we may earn a commission when a user completes an action using our links, which will however not affect the review but might affect the rankings. The latter are determined on the basis of customer satisfaction of previous sales and compensation received.
• Reviews Guidelines
The reviews published on vpnMentor are written by experts that examine the products according to our strict reviewing standards. Such standards ensure that each review is based on the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, and takes into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings we publish may take into consideration the affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website.
BulletVPN Review & Test 2022 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying
BulletVPN is another service in a crowded market, and it makes some bold claims. Its website says it can unblock all the top streaming platforms, along with offering fast speeds for buffer-free streaming. There’s a ton of competition out there, and BulletVPN’s plans are all quite expensive, so is it worth the price?
To find the answer, I tested its speeds, streaming capabilities, security features, server network, device compatibility, and how well it handles customer support. I also went through its privacy policy to see whether you can trust it to be responsible with your data.
Overall, I can’t recommend it. While BulletVPN did unblock every major streaming platform, its server performance is seriously hit-or-miss. Furthermore, its customer support disappointed me. I recommend comparing it with other options. For that, check out the top premium VPNs.
Streaming — Great Unblocking Ability With Decent Playback
BulletVPN unblocked every major streaming platform, but there were some issues with Netflix. Some servers will only let you access Netflix originals while others will unblock the full library. It can be time consuming testing which servers give you full access to its libraries. On the positive side, the playback quality was mostly good – although on some sites the load times were a bit long. UltraHD servers are optimized for 4K streaming, but I was disappointed that I didn’t find any difference between these specialized servers and the regular ones. In addition to the platforms below, I was also able to unblock ESPN+ and BBC iPlayer.
Unblocked: Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
I unblocked Netflix’s US library successfully after trying a few servers. The website loaded quickly, and I was able to watch movies in HD without any buffering. Unfortunately, you will have to perform some trial-and-error to find servers that unblock everything, which is frustrating.
It only took Netflix 5 seconds to load
I tested 6 server locations, including Chicago UltraHD, Miami UltraHD, Los Angeles, Colorado Springs, and New York. I was disappointed that I didn’t find any difference between the “UltraHD” servers and the regular servers. In terms of buffering and loading times, they performed identically.
Next, I tested BulletVPN’s European and US servers with Disney+. I was able to unblock Disney+, but the load times in all regions were long and annoying. Thankfully, once videos loaded, I was able to stream in full HD resolution without any interruptions.
BulletVPN’s servers unblocked the full Disney+ library
BulletVPN also allowed me to access YouTube. To test the streaming performance, I connected to servers in Europe, the US, and the Middle East. Typically, distant servers on VPNs tend to be slower. But I did not notice any reduction in BulletVPN’s performance on faraway locations (I’m located in Pakistan).
I experienced no buffering delays on YouTube
US servers also successfully unblocked Amazon Prime Video, and I was able to watch a movie in full HD quality.
Other than some occasional buffering delays, the stream worked smoothly
While all BulletVPN servers unblocked Hulu, the streaming experience was underwhelming. During these tests, I tried multiple servers in the US, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Speeds — Good Speeds That Hold Up On Long-Distance Servers
While not as fast as a premium VPN, like ExpressVPN, BulletVPN’s speeds are strong, with minimal drop-off at long distances. To start, I conducted 10 tests on my base speed. I calculated an average download speed of 19.88 Mbps, and BulletVPN reduced my speeds by up to 16%. My connection is a little slow, but that drop in speeds won’t affect most people. The average speed in the US is 43 Mbps for example. They would still have more than enough to stream in 4K because that only requires 25 Mbps.
After I recorded my baseline, I tested my speeds on different BulletVPN servers. I chose some servers that were closer to my home country and some farther away for a comparison.
My speeds were the highest on UK servers
Some BulletVPN servers that are farther away are still fast. I was surprised that a German server was slower than one in Australia. Germany is much closer to Pakistan (5,297 km away). Australia is 9,230 km from me. Similarly, the distance between Pakistan and the US is roughly 12,346 km. Yet, my speed on the US servers was faster than in Germany. So, distance is less of a factor with BulletVPN.
Based on the data I obtained, I calculated the drop-off in speeds and compiled the results in this table.
Ping (ms)
Download (Mbps)
Upload (Mbps)
Drop-off percentage
USA
280
17.10
18.19
13.98%
UK
168
18.84
15.86
5.23%
Germany
131
16.68
4.23
16.10%
Australia
214
17.47
18.32
12.12%
I was impressed that BulletVPN never reduced my speeds by more than 16%. It's common for VPNs to reduce your connection speed by much more, especially on distant servers. In all the tests, my internet speed remained well above 15 Mbps regardless of the location.
Unlike ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, BulletVPN’s ping (latency) is too high for fast-paced games. Ping is the main factor used to determine network performance during gaming. Basically, the higher the ping, the longer it takes the game to recognize your inputs. Low ping is preferable for competitive games like first-person shooters, where even slight lag can ruin your game.
I tested BulletVPN with Rocket League. Since I was aiming for low ping, I connected to Germany, which is close to my physical location, allowing me to do in-game matchmaking in the Europe region.
I experienced a lot of jitters due to high ping and packet loss
My ping was too high to enjoy a match in Rocket League. When you’re up against opponents that have low ping, you’ll be at a significant disadvantage. If you want to keep your ping low and enjoy competitive games, check out our list of the best VPNs for gaming.
Server Network — Limited Network With Some Faulty Servers
Some servers took forever to connect while others never connected. These issues took place during my tests with servers in the UK and the US. Despite loading for up to 10 minutes, some could never achieve a connection.
Its server network is also small compared to its competitors. Such a low number of servers can increase network congestion, lowering speeds. Even worse, a limited network means you could have trouble accessing online accounts when you travel. With only 158 servers, having a number of broken locations is just unacceptable. Check out this list to find VPNs with way more servers (that work reliably).
Security — Decent Security Features with Strong Encryption
Overall, I was impressed with BulletVPN’s security features, and it passed all my tests.
BulletVPN uses military-grade AES encryption to protect your data, which is then routed through secure VPN tunnels. On top of that, it also offers a kill switch which prevents your IP address from getting exposed during disconnections.
I tested the kill switch feature on its Windows client by switching servers while a browser window was open. As soon as the VPN disconnected, my network traffic came to a halt, proving that the kill-switch works as advertised.
The Bullet Shield feature blocks any network connections while the VPN is disconnected. I tested it by turning off my VPN after the feature was enabled. It completely shut off my internet access until I turned the VPN on again. I found Bullet Shield quite helpful, as it adds another layer of security. This makes sure your IP address won’t be exposed even if you disconnect the VPN by mistake.
After that, I checked the BulletVPN windows installer for any viruses. I did this by running it through VirusTotal. This is a website that checks any installer file you upload for known viruses, malware, or trackers.
Windows Defender didn’t detect any viruses either
I also performed leak tests, which showed me what websites see while I’m connected to BulletVPN. No IP leaks were found, and my actual physical location remained completely hidden. Instead, the results showed me the IP address associated with my VPN connection.
My actual IP address remained hidden in the WebRTC leak test
BulletVPN also offers 3 VPN protocols, giving you some customization options. You can choose between WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, PPTP, and L2TP. OpenVPN is the most secure since it’s open-source, which means the code is constantly being updated by people around the world. L2TP is the fastest, but it’s an older protocol, which makes it a little less secure. Wireguard is a newer protocol that offers a good balance between safety and speed.
Overall, BulletVPN is a very privacy-friendly VPN since it does not keep logs. It is headquartered in Estonia, which is outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances (an intelligence sharing agreement between several countries). Estonia is also a country without any data retention laws, so BulletVPN will not be forced to store or share your data, which occurs in some countries like the US.
However, it does store your email address which is required at the time of signing up. The company needs email addresses for different purposes, including sending payment notifications, updates, answers to customer support queries, etc. If you’re not comfortable with them storing your normal email address, I suggest using a throwaway email not associated with your other accounts.
Torrenting — Slow and Does Not Offer Port Forwarding
BulletVPN gave me very slow speeds while torrenting. Plus, it doesn't offer port forwarding, which is one way some VPNs let you increase download speeds.
To test it, I connected to BulletVPN’s New York server and The max download speed that I could achieve was 45 kB/s. The upload speed remained at 108 KB/s with a total of 28 peers. This meant it would have taken hours to download a file I can normally finish in 20 minutes.
My torrenting speeds without BulletVPN were much faster
However, I advise you to be extra careful to avoid accessing copyrighted files. VPNMentor does not condone piracy through torrenting or the downloading/sharing of pirated or illegal content.
Does BulletVPN Work in China? Not Guaranteed
It’s uncertain whether BulletVPN will work in China. I contacted BulletVPN’s customer support to ask whether its Hong Kong servers could be used in the country. The support agents were not sure about its useability in China. They did suggest connecting to Chinese servers using the Wireguard protocol.
VPNs that aren’t approved by the Chinese government are banned in the country. However, Chinese officials generally go after the VPNs rather than the people who use them. To find a VPN that works, check out this list of the best VPNs to use in China.
Simultaneous Device Connections — Up to 6 Devices
You’ll be able to use up to 6 devices simultaneously with BulletVPN without experiencing any performance issues. I connected to BulletVPN on a Windows PC, Android smartphone and tablet, iPad, iPhone, and Mac at the same time. During my tests, I started streaming Netflix on every device. There was no dip in the playback quality, and I didn’t experience any buffering.
You can also install BulletVPN on your router to use it with more than 6 devices. After setting it up on my router, I was able to use BulletVPN with 10 devices. However, this did considerably lower my internet speed.
Device Compatibility — Native Support for Limited Devices
I was disappointed in BulletVPN’s limited compatibility. It only offers native apps for Android, iOS, Windows, MacOs, and 2nd Generation Amazon Fire devices (1st generation tech won’t work).
Smart DNS lets you change locations on just about any WiFi enabled device, but it’s not completely safe. This feature gives you an IP address you can add to your devices’ settings. By using this, you’ll be able to change locations on first-generation Amazon Fire TVs, Apple TVs, PS4s, Xbox One(s), Rokus, Smart TVs, Fire Stick, Kodi, and more. Just remember this isn’t full encryption like you get by connecting the VPN. It’s only a proxy that makes it look like you’re somewhere else. For complete protection, you can also connect devices without native apps by setting up BulletVPN on a VPN-compatible router.
It also doesn’t have native support for Linux. However, you can manually set it up on a Raspberry Pi desktop by following the guides available on BulletVPN’s website. Alternatively, you can also try one of the top VPNs for Linux.
Setup & Installation — Quick and Easy
I found BulletVPN’s installation process to be easy and straightforward — it took me less than 20 seconds to install it on my PC. Installation on iOS and Android isn’t complicated either. After clicking the download button for Android, I got redirected to the Google Play Store. There, I just clicked the install button, and the app was working on my smartphone within 2 minutes.
Detailed setup guides are available on the website, which I found super helpful. For example, the only way to use BulletVPN on devices without native apps is to install the VPN on your router. Sometimes this can be a little complicated. However, with the help of the guide, I was able to set it up on my router within 20 minutes. This let me encrypt the connection on my PS4.
BulletVPN’s monthly and 12-month plans are quite expensive. But, the long-term option is a lot cheaper. The features in all the plans are identical. So, the 3-year subscription offers the best value.
One major benefit of BulletVPN is that it accepts payments in Bitcoin. Although the support team makes it clear that they do not store payment information, using cryptocurrency gives you an additional layer of privacy. It also accepts PayPal and major credit cards (like Visa and Mastercard).
BulletVPN does offer a limited free trial version, but you need to contact customer support to get it. However, I recommend using its 30-day money-back guarantee, which should give you enough time to test it out. If you choose to cancel, I recommend doing so a few days in advance to make sure your request is processed in time.
Reliability & Support
6.0
BulletVPN’s customer support is helpful, but it takes a long time to get answers. This is because there is no live chat or phone support. The only way to reach out to their team is through email. I contacted the support team multiple times for different queries, and it took them almost 24 hours to respond to each email.
Most of the top VPNs offer 24/7 live chat support, so it’s disappointing that BulletVPN doesn’t. This was especially frustrating when it came to cancelation. While it appears that you can cancel through the account menu, you actually have to wait for confirmation from the support staff. Since it can take a day or longer to receive a response, this could make the difference between receiving your full refund or being charged for an additional month. If customer support is important to you, check out this list of VPNs with excellent service.
BulletVPN excels in some areas with an easy-to-use app offering a strong privacy policy. The security features are adequate, if a little basic for a VPN with expensive short-term plans. On top of that, its streaming performance on most platforms was strong due to its unblocking abilities and fast speeds.
However, it does have some severe downsides. I experienced high ping, which made playing competitive online games a frustrating experience. Some of its servers take forever to connect or never work at all. Plus, I found BulletVPN to be completely unusable for torrenting, and some of its servers can’t unblock the full Netflix library.
Yes, BulletVPN can unblock Netflix, but with a few issues.Some servers will only unblock Netflix originals (movies and shows made by Netflix), while some will unblock the full library. This means you often have to spend extra time searching for the right location that lets you watch everything.
Will BulletVPN slow my speeds down?
Yes, BulletVPN will reduce your speeds, but not by much. Every VPN will slow down your connection because it takes time for your traffic to be rerouted. However, I was impressed at how well my speeds held up with BulletVPN, especially on long-distance servers.
I mean I was a happy customer, but the apps needed an upgrade it has been a while, and the newly released apps are great and have way more features, the addition of wireguard is great for speed. All in all, it is a good VPN
Used to use bulletvpn till I discovered they do force their DNS on their customers! Do a DNS leak test after setting up any free DNS, and you will find out they force it all through them!
I contacted their customer support regarding this issue a month ago, and they replied with the usual " Will get back to you ".
They do it at least with their Wireguard connections, did not test OVPN yet, but this practice does tell you a lot about who you should trust with your data!
I believe this should be investigated since it contradicts their SLA and privacy policy.
I was skeptical at first, as most VPNs that I bought lifetime deals from throttle their lifetime users after a while. I don't mind as much as I buy them on vacation and the price is not that high. With BulletVPN and throughout the lockdowns due to Covid so far speeds have been stable and support when needed has been response.
I mean I was a happy customer, but the apps needed an upgrade it has been a while, and the newly released apps are great and have way more features, the addition of wireguard is great for speed. All in all, it is a good VPN