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
While vpnMentor may receive commissions when a purchase is made using our links, this has no influence on the reviews content or on the reviewed products/services. We provide direct links to purchase products that are part of affiliate programs.
• 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.
Goose VPN Review 2022 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying
Goose VPN, founded in 2016, is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It boasts its company is by the Dutch, for the Dutch.
Goose implements a zero-log policy which means it doesn’t store any of your information. That also helps to protect sensitive data — such as banking details.
Even though Goose has a small server network of 50 servers in 20 countries — it does have specialized streaming servers. However, I could access only Netflix US. If you’re big on streaming, I recommend using a top-tier VPN.
I found Goose's rare unlimited simultaneous device connection feature especially interesting.
One drawback I noticed is that its speeds are inconsistent, creating a frustrating user experience.
I put Goose to the test — looking into how well it works, prices, servers, security features, and privacy policies.
Goose can only unblock Netflix US. I couldn’t access Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, or Amazon Prime Video on its specialized streaming servers.
Streaming platforms' technology sometimes catches onto VPNs when too many users use the same shared IP address that the VPN issues. This sends a red flag to the streaming platform and blocks the IP address from being used to access the service.
Unblocked: Netflix US
I connected to Netflix US while Goose was enabled but it was too slow for HD, and I encountered some buffering.
Goose VPN unblocks Netflix US, but I did encounter some buffering
Blocked By: Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video
I was unsuccessful in getting Goose to unblock anything else.
HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video blocked the VPN immediately
Disappointingly, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu all detected the VPN, and I couldn’t view anything. I had hoped for Disney+ to work with the VPN enabled, but speeds were too slow to even load.
Customer support recommended disabling Goose’s Smart Server feature to find all available UK servers
I contacted Goose when testing BBC iPlayer after the streaming site detected the VPN. Its support suggested I disable the Smart Server feature to find all the UK servers — which is what I did in the first place. After many attempts, I still couldn't access BBC iPlayer with this VPN.
I conducted a series of speed tests on Android using the IKEv2 protocol — the only protocol available on the app. I also tested on Windows for the gaming section and was far from impressed.
First, I measured my baseline speed in Alabama, US.
Server location
Download (Mbps)
Upload (Mbps)
Ping (ms)
Starting Speed (Alabama, US)
60.7
21.0
32
I had better speeds on Android. Servers closest to my location (North American servers) were fast enough to use.
Depending on your location, your results may be different
I experienced little speed reduction on Android using Goose’s North American servers.
Server location
Download (Mbps)
Upload (Mbps)
Ping (ms)
Kansas, US
57.2 (5.77% decrease)
17.6
61
Quebec, CA
52.3 (13.84% decrease)
3.92
64
However, Goose’s international servers cut my speed drastically but were still in a usable range.
You may experience slower speeds using Goose's faraway servers
Japan was the only server whose download speeds fell under 30 Mbps. The other servers performed slightly better.
Server location
Download (Mbps)
Upload (Mbps)
Ping (ms)
Tokyo, Japan
27.7 (54.37% decrease)
0.95
200
Paris, France
46.8 (22.9% decrease)
2.18
117
Frankfurt, Germany
35.6 (41.35% decrease)
2.90
131
London, UK
34.7 (42.83% decrease)
4.26
120
Stockholm, Sweden
32.3 (46.8% decrease)
6.49
130
Sydney, Australia
37.4 (38.4% decrease)
5.66
210
When it came time to test Goose on my laptop, I was greatly disappointed. It slashed my speeds as soon as I enabled it.
I couldn’t test a game because my speed decreased to barely nothing
Are Goose’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Not on Windows
Trying to use Goose for gaming was frustrating — with close to a 100% decrease in speed. Anytime I used the VPN on Windows, my speeds were greatly affected but were much worse when I was gaming.
My starting speed was decent.
Server location
Download (Mbps)
Upload (Mbps)
Ping (ms)
Starting Speed (Alabama, US)
42.51
3.34
800
When I connected to the VPN, my speeds dropped significantly.
Server location
Download (Mbps)
Upload (Mbps)
Ping (ms)
Tennessee, US
2.77 (93.5% decrease)
N/A
882
Madrid, Spain
2.30 (94.5% decrease)
N/A
881
I tested a local server and a server in Madrid using the Smart Server feature, but neither did well. My connection became unusable, and I couldn’t get Runescape to load.
I couldn’t test a game because my speed decreased to barely nothing
When choosing a VPN, the network size is important for user experience. If there aren’t enough servers, you might run into a “server traffic jam,” meaning you’ll have slower speeds because too many users are trying to cram their way onto one server.
Goose has a Smart Server feature that automatically connects you to the optimal server. The best way to find a specific server is to disable the Smart Server feature to get a more in-depth list.
Most servers are located in Europe and North America, leaving out areas like South America, Africa, and most of Asia. However, you can find servers in Japan, Australia, and Singapore.
I contacted support and asked if Goose takes server requests, and its representative told me it does. Surprisingly, the servers would be physical — not virtual. At the time of writing, Goose’s support mentioned it’s changing server providers and plans on expanding its network.
Goose says that if you’d like to request a server in your location, reach out, and it will take it into consideration
Goose has standard security features, but they are different on each operating system.
It uses AES-256 encryption, HMAC Sha1, and RSA (2048) keys for authentication purposes. These are military-grade security features.
Your VPN client encrypts your data, making them indecipherable. Once they're encrypted, the data travels to the VPN server via your Internet Service Provider, and then they go out into the web. This way, your information is safe from any invisible on-lookers — giving you peace of mind.
A kill switch is automatically turned on when Automatic Pilot is enabled. This feature shuts your internet down if your VPN connection breaks, so your data stays safe.
Goose offers a variety of protocols:
OpenVPN — reliable and the most recommended.
L2TP/IPSec — a great alternative if you cannot use OpenVPN.
PPTP — fast but isn’t as secure as other protocols.
IKEv2 — fast and a good choice if you’re switching between internet connections (e.g., from WiFi to mobile) or have an unstable connection.
Windows supports all of these protocols, Apple users can choose between L2TP and IKEv2, while Android users have only one — IKEv2.
Customer support says IKEv2 is the only protocol Android users have
DNS leak protection is available on Windows but not on Android.
Users can switch DNS leak protection on and off on Windows
To see for myself, I performed a DNS leak test using the OpenVPN protocol and it showed no signs of leaks.
You can be sure that Goose will protect your true identity
Unfortunately, WireGuard is not supported at this time.
Goose has a no-log policy, and your information is never shared with third-party companies.
Goose VPN says it does not store IP addresses
The only stored information is your email address and your bandwidth — per its “fair use policy.” Goose’s website says, “Users, who use more than 1% of the entire bandwidth of the GOOSE network, will be approached by GOOSE to reduce the use, or to make a higher payment.”
Goose’s customer support reaffirms the privacy policy
Its privacy policy states it has to comply with the law in the case of suspicion of criminal activity. Goose is based in the Netherlands, part of the 14 Eyes Alliance, but since it doesn’t keep records, there wouldn’t be much to hand over if the company gets subpoenaed.
However, there is some contradictory information in its Privacy Policy. First, it says it doesn’t register your IP address; in the following sentence it says it does, but only once.
Goose’s privacy policy is contradictory
This is slightly confusing, so I reached out to customer support for clarification. The representative told me the app itself doesn’t log your IP address. However, when you log onto the website, your IP address is logged for location purposes to display the correct language, currencies, and billing tax information when you purchase a plan.
I was impressed by how customer support addressed this question
Goose has not undergone any third-party security audit. Security audits ensure that companies uphold the policies that keep your information private and secure.
Goose supports extra privacy tools:
TOR browser — provides an extra layer of security and privacy.
Cyber Alarm — which is a built-in malware scanner.
Goose has dedicated P2P servers, which equals faster and safer torrenting. You can select a list of just P2P servers on Windows to narrow down your search. There’s a similar list on Android.
Both versions have the exact server list
Goose has a much more extensive selection of P2P servers than streaming servers but is still a small network with limited options.
P2P servers are in:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Germany
Hungary
Norway
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
US
Be sure to check the rules and regulations for your country before torrenting. My team and I do not condone illegal torrenting.
China restricts the use of most VPNs and only approves the ones operating in China. However, there have been no cases of prosecuting tourists for using VPNs.
Ease of Use
8.4
Simultaneous Device Connections — Unlimited
Goose allows unlimited simultaneous device connections. Considering the industry standard is around 5 devices per subscription, Goose excels in this area.
I tested to see if having both of my devices connected at the same time would change my performance results and saw no change. This is good news for users that have multiple devices.
Installing and using Goose on Windows and Android was straightforward with small differences between the interfaces.
I installed Goose on my Windows and Android devices.
Windows Install
After creating an account, installing was straightforward.
It was simple to install Goose on my laptop
On the Windows client, icons at the bottom of the screen allow you to enable Autopilot (which includes the kill switch), choose a server, view Cyber Alarm, and change your advanced settings like security protocols.
I found the Windows desktop version to be easy to navigate
Android Install
I downloaded the app in a matter of minutes.
The setup process for Goose on Android was easy
However, the Goose Android app gives you minimal options. Only IKEv2 is available; there is no advanced setting option, nor is there the automatic pilot feature which means no kill switch.
With prices starting as low as $1.80/month — I'd say Goose is pretty affordable. There are a few options to choose from, with longer plans giving you better savings.
After creating an account, Goose sends an invoice of .01 cent to verify your payment method. Payment options are Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, iDeal, or PayPal.
Goose offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Although, if a user uses more than 100MB of data in the first month, it's up to the discretion of Goose to approve the refund.
The policy states that usage over 100MB may disqualify you from a refund
Goose’s customer support gave informative and well-written responses.
24/7 customer support is available via email or live chat. I used both options. I was impressed with the response times — email was efficient, it took 30 minutes to an hour to get a reply. Every response was informative and never automated. Its website has a FAQ section, as well.
Goose’s customer support answered every single question I had
Goose is also multilingual and offers Dutch, English, German, and French language options on both its website and apps.
Its customer support team can also help you with more complicated technical issues on TeamViewer.
I was very impressed to learn that Goose makes its website, apps, and customer support accommodating to users
Goose is a decent VPN with unlimited simultaneous device connections, low prices, and a no-log policy.
However, Goose had inconsistent speeds, and it could not unblock most streaming sites. It could also stand to update its Android app to provide more user options, such as changing security protocols.
The website of Goose VPN uses huge cross-site-tracking scripts, and it has no influence on whether you have reported it or not. It is ridiculous that they guarantee your "privacy" but at the same time, they are using cross-site-tracking.
I subscribed but there are too many issues of the servers going down. When it works it's fine but too many cases of getting disconnected and without warning, e.g. on an Amazon Firestick, the server you're on will go off-line so you're losing the privacy and protection.
I'd look elsewhere!
I took Goose because I read the review on vpnmentor and I was happy the first several months...
Now, the service is not as good as it was. The app is bad, there are fewer servers (i used to use on in Australia, but not here anymore)
Do not recommend it Goose,
Yes, it was indeed much better a few months ago: before the introduction of "VPN basic" settings was accessible for all customers. Now, the "basic plan" has only a ON/OFF option and the server list has shrunk as mentioned above. GooseVPN remains a fair VPN, but making a low-cost option has just resulted in the loss of essential features. It cannot remain on the top list... And I change for the better.
The website of Goose VPN uses huge cross-site-tracking scripts, and it has no influence on whether you have reported it or not. It is ridiculous that they guarantee your "privacy" but at the same time, they are using cross-site-tracking.