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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

playmoTV Review 2024 — Better for Streaming Than a VPN?

Our Score: 4.8/10
Ranked 135th out of 198 VPNs
Doris Muthuri Updated on 27th July 2024 Senior Writer

You can use playmoTV’s Smart DNS Technology to access streaming content. The service claims it works better than a VPN to unblock major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. But is a DNS service really as safe as one of the top VPNs?

After my tests, I can’t recommend playmoTV if you’re worried about security. While it offers fast speeds and is great at unblocking, it doesn’t encrypt your connection. It also has a small server network, which limits how many platforms you can access. You can try one of the best VPNs for a similar price and stay safe while you’re streaming more worldwide content.

Try playmoTV Risk-Free >>

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pros

Cons

playmoTV Features — 2024 Update

4.0
💸 Price 4.99 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? Yes
💻 Number of devices per license 3
🛡 Kill switch No
🗺 Based in country Iceland
🛠 Support Email support

Streaming — Unblocks Tons of Platforms With Excellent Playback

8.0

I could access most of the streaming services I tried with playmoTV. There were no issues with load times, video quality, or buffering either.

I was genuinely impressed when I saw playmoTV successfully unblock several services with tough geo-blocks. It’s also very easy to set up on most smart TVs. But I had a little trouble unblocking different Netflix libraries.

Lastly, you should be aware it has limited DNS server locations. So, you won’t be able to unblock platforms outside of the US, Australia, and a few European countries.

Unblocked: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, Peacock, HBO Max, and More

The first platform I tried to unblock was Hulu, which I accessed without issues. It worked on the first try, and I streamed an entire episode of The Handmaid's Tale without buffering.

I was also quite skeptical about the speeds, but I didn’t experience any slowdowns at all. It never took longer than 5 to 8 seconds to load videos. That impressed me since the US server is 10,000+ miles away from my location in Nairobi.

In addition to Hulu, I could access Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, and HBO Max while connected to the US server. In fact, I was pretty impressed by how effortlessly playmoTV could unblock all these platforms. When I first tried unblocking Disney+, the page froze for a few seconds. But after I refreshed it, it loaded instantly, and I was able to log in to my account and start streaming in less than 2 minutes.

I also tried its DNS server in Canada and had no problem accessing Crave. Setting up playmoTV on my LG smart TV was a breeze, and I had Westworld streaming in under 10 minutes. The servers in Germany, Hong Kong, and Australia worked just as well during playback.

However, I was disappointed that playmoTV couldn’t unblock the US Netflix library during my tests. This was a little surprising since it did so well with every other service and Netflix is the priority for most VPNs and DNS companies. However, I could still watch my home region on Netflix with playmoTV connected. So, I was never blocked, I just couldn’t watch other libraries.

Other than my Netflix issues, Playmo is excellent for streaming. But, if you want to access more Netflix libraries, you can try one of these VPNs that are all optimized for Netflix.

Speed — Fast Because It Doesn’t Really Change Your IP

9.0

Speeds are not affected by playmoTV, so you’ll retain your base connection rate while it’s connected. This is because it doesn’t change your IP address. So, depending on your base speeds, it’s easier to stream in the highest quality.

We normally use a dedicated speed tester to conduct our tests. This way they’re all done from the same location with the same internet connection. That makes it easier to compare results from different services.

When I followed this process to test playmoTV’s overall speeds, I realized that our speeds did not change across any of playmo’s DNS servers. This was very unusual since it’s normal to experience slower speeds on servers far from your location. This prompted me to check my IP on vpnMentor's IP Checker, and I was surprised to realize that my address didn’t change when I switched servers.

I contacted playmoTV customer support to ask about this, and they confirmed that it doesn’t automatically change your IP address when visiting different sites. When you try to access one of the streaming services listed on playmoTV’s website, your real IP is simply disguised as one from that location. The streaming services see playmoTV’s IP instead of your own, so they will not block you from accessing their libraries.

Although this might sound great, it’s not. This is because playmoTV doesn’t encrypt your data and IP address, leaving you completely vulnerable to hackers and snoops. I recommend you try one of the best VPNs for streaming in this list. They’ll keep you safe and still hardly affect your speeds at all.

Gaming — Not a Good Choice for Gaming

2.0

While playmoTV is useful for streaming, I wouldn’t recommend it for gaming because it doesn’t offer any security features.

We’ve all heard horror stories about gamers performing DDoS attacks or exposing people’s vital information. That’s the main reason I’d be worried about playing online games without a VPN. In short, it’s best to use an encrypted connection while gaming because you never know who you’re connected to. In addition, playmoTV isn’t optimized to unblock new regions within games.

If you want to stay safe, check out this list of the best VPNs for gaming. They’ll all help you maintain low ping to play lag-free while you stay protected.

Server Network — Limited Number of Servers and Features

4.0

This DNS service has a pretty small server network with only 10 locations worldwide. Normally, this would make me concerned about slowdowns from overcrowding. However, this isn’t an issue with playmoTV because it doesn’t affect speeds. But the small network does give you less choices when it comes to which services you can access.

For example, you can’t watch Hotstar since there’s no India location. I was also disappointed that it didn’t have servers in France since I watch a lot of content from there. Plus, it doesn’t have servers in other important regions such as South America and East Asia. This means that your options might be limited if you like streaming programs from these regions.

I couldn’t find any information on playmoTV’s website about whether it uses virtual servers. These are servers that give you an IP in one location, but are physically located somewhere else. Unfortunately, playmoTV support didn’t respond to my question about virtual servers.

But I like that you can connect to a server and start streaming within a few minutes. When setting it up on your device, you will be presented with a list of the server locations, so you can choose the location of your preference.

A screenshot showing the list of playmoTV entire server networkYou;ll need to replace the DNS code on your device setting to switch servers

It also doesn’t offer features such as optimized servers or dedicated IP addresses. To get a service with a vast network full of features, you can look into this list of VPNs with thousands of servers around the world.

Security — Lacks Basic Security Features

0.5

With playmoTV, your online security is at risk. Since it’s a SmartDNS service, it doesn’t offer encryption or any other security feature provided by VPNs. As a result, there is absolutely no enhancement in your general online security.

You might be exposing yourself to hackers and other prying eyes. Premium VPNs use advanced encryption and secure VPN protocols to protect you from cyberattacks and unauthorized access to your personal data.

AES-256 bit encryption is considered nearly unbreakable and all the top VPNs utilize it. It’s the same encryption level used by banks and militaries around the world. OpenVPN is also regarded as the most secure VPN protocol because it is open-source, meaning its source code is publicly available for scrutiny and auditing. This is also a common feature with popular VPNs, along with kill switches that block your connection if it suddenly disconnects.

Unlike playmoTV, most premium VPNs also let you choose from a range of protocols based on your needs. For example, you can use protocols like WireGuard for faster speeds. ExpressVPN even offers its own Lightway protocol, which is great for mobile devices. Most VPNs also offer obfuscation technology, which lets you connect on restricted networks while hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN.

While playmoTV gives you access to the majority of streaming platforms, your connection stays unsecured. Therefore, I recommend you get a VPN with reliable security features to protect you while streaming online.

Ad-blocker

3 of playmoTV’s servers also have ad-blocking capabilities — Germany, Iceland, and India. These servers are designed to give you faster speeds and a better streaming experience by blocking unnecessary clutter. They remove intrusive ads and tracking scripts, which can collect data about your online behavior and browsing habits.

I tested these servers, and I’m happy to report that they blocked all ads and popups. So, I could stream directly from my browser without any annoying ads.

Privacy — Has Access to Your IP Address

4.0

While playmoTV doesn’t record your online activities, it does have access to your IP address. In addition, it’s located in a country that’s not very privacy-friendly. I’m also concerned that its privacy policy has never been proven. Overall, this makes it a service I don’t trust to handle my sensitive information. You can check out our list of the best no-log VPNs to find a service that’s been proven to be trustworthy.

Does playmoTV Keep Logs? Yes

On the account page, you can clearly see playmoTV displays your IP. That’s because you have to register an IP address to use it. While it claims it’s “only used by playmoTV to provide this service,” I have no idea how secure its customer information is. Besides, the top VPNs don’t make you register your IP and don’t even need to access it to encrypt your connection.

It may collect more information depending on the payment method you choose. The site also sometimes redirects you to third-party payment processors, who might have different terms and privacy policies. That’s why I wish playmoTV would allow crypto payments so you could pay anonymously.

A screenshot showing the playmoTV privacy policyYou can ask playmoTV to delete your information after you stop using it

It also collects a minimal amount of personal information directly through the site when signing up for an account. It keeps information such as email addresses and payment information to establish your account and directly respond to your support inquiries. Besides that, it thankfully doesn’t track data about how you use the service.

Was playmoTV Audited? No

There is no proof that playmoTV has been audited or verified by any third party. During my research, I didn’t find any information — on its website or in its publicly available information — explicitly mentioning that playmoTV has undergone an independent audit.

Independent audits by third-party security companies frequently evaluate the security and privacy measures of a VPN. I'm always more at ease using a VPN that has undergone external scrutiny of its policies and infrastructure.

Based in the United States

Its headquarters are in the US, which is part of the 14-Eyes Alliance. The 14-Eyes Alliance refers to an agreement between government bodies to share their citizens’ information. This means that it’s under an obligation to supply information if requested. This worries me because playmoTV keeps your IP address, so it’s possible one of these governments could come looking for it.

Does playmoTV Work in China? No

Unfortunately, playmoTV does not work in China. The Chinese government employs extensive internet censorship measures, including the blocking of VPN services. This makes it difficult for playmoTV or any VPN service to bypass these restrictions and provide access to region-restricted content in China.

However, the Chinese government rarely goes after individuals for using VPNs. That said, my team and I don’t condone any illegal activities. If you decide to encrypt your connection there, you can read this list of VPNs verified to work in China.

Torrenting — Can’t Keep You Safe During P2P

4.0

You shouldn’t use playmoTV for torrenting. It lacks the necessary features and infrastructure required for efficient and secure torrenting. That’s because playmoTV primarily focuses on bypassing region restrictions for streaming content rather than supporting torrenting activities.

Torrenting involves sharing files through a peer-to-peer network, and this connects you to random people. That’s why it’s much safer to torrent while connected to a VPN that offers features like strong encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch.

While torrenting is legal in most countries, downloading copyrighted content isn’t. We recommend you only access torrents in the public domain, so you don’t break any laws. To stay safe while you use P2P networks, read this list of the best VPNs for torrenting.

Installation & Apps

8.8

Using playmoTV is quite straightforward. It has a simple setup process, which is ideal if you’re looking for a quick and easy streaming solution.

Setup & Installation

When you sign up and log in to your account, you will need to click on the “Set Up” option, which will then direct you to the Setup Guides page.

From here, you need to select your device, operating system, and follow the steps listed. The whole process was fairly simple, and it took me less than 10 minutes to sign up, set up, and start streaming The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu. Overall, it’s no more complicated than getting started with most VPNs.

Device Compatibility

This DNS service is compatible with the most popular devices and operating systems. I tested it on my Windows and Apple laptops, along with my smart TV. It was always effortless to set up and use. I also had my friend try it on his Roku and Fire TV, and he had no issues setting it up and unblocking popular streaming sites.

When you sign up for an account, it’s easy to find instructions for multiple devices and operating systems, including some devices that rarely support VPNs.

Desktop — Apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Installing playmoTV on a desktop is pretty straightforward. It was easy to configure and start using — I tested it on Windows and Mac, and both times I was ready to begin streaming in under 5 minutes.

The process is pretty similar on all devices. You only need to find the DNS settings on your device and change them to the playmoTV addresses supplied on your account page.

Android and iPhone (iOS)

Similar to desktops, configuring playmoTV on mobile devices is simple. I followed the step-by-step guide on my Android device and had it ready to go in less than 3 minutes. I also tested it on my partner's iPad and had no problems accessing Amazon Prime Video after I had set it up.

Browser Extensions

playmoTV doesn’t offer browser extensions. Some people prefer browser extensions because they are typically less resource-intensive than full-fledged VPN software.

Extensions also give you a sort of split tunneling feature because they only protect what’s on your browser. Therefore, they don't affect other apps or services on your device. I’ve seen some DNS services that offer browser extensions, so it would be nice if playmoTV included one in the future.

Apps for Amazon Fire TV, Smart TV, Nvidia Shield, and more

I love streaming on my 86” LG TV. So, I was thrilled when I found out that I could easily configure playmoTV on it and stream from some of my favorite platforms. When I tried it, I could set it up and start streaming in less than 10 minutes. The best part is it’ll work on just about any TV.

Apps for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo

It was also straightforward to set up playmoTV on my PlayStation. I was especially impressed because many VPNs don't give you an easy way to change locations on your gaming console. I also had my friend try it out on his Xbox and Nintendo Switch, and the process was equally effortless.

Router Compatibility

There are also detailed instructions on how to change DNS settings on your router on playmoTV’s website. I followed this guide and could configure it on my Network router in less than 10 minutes. This is a nice option to have since it lets you stream on all your devices without constantly needing to update DNS settings.

Simultaneous Device Connections

With playmoTV, you can only connect 3 devices simultaneously. This is pretty low, considering most premium VPNs offer 5 to 10 device connections. The system works by linking your account with your IP. If you want to access the service from a new IP address, you will need to update your IP and wait for it to be authorized by the system. It’s a little time consuming, but it worked fine with 3 devices streaming at once on playmoTV DNS servers.

Pricing

5.0
Monthly Subscription Smart DNS
$ 4.99 / month per month
1 Year subscription DNS & VPN
$ 6.67 / month per month
Monthly subscription DNS & VPN
$ 7.99 / month per month

I found playmoTV to be pretty expensive for a service that offers such limited features. The prices are similar to some premium VPNs that come with robust security and privacy. Considering that you can’t use playmoTV for torrenting or gaming, it’s not worth the price.

If you still choose to go with playmoTV, you can pick between 4 plans. I recommend the longest term because it’s the most affordable, starting at $4.99/month.

That’s not so bad, but there are better options that come with way more value, like Private Internet Access (PIA). Its long-term plans are half the price of playmoTV's cheapest tier. Plus, PIA comes with much more value compared to playmoTV. For example, it has a much larger network of fast servers distributed worldwide.

Each playmoTV plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also offers a 7-day free trial, so you can try it out before committing to a subscription.

It accepts Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover, and PayPal. Unfortunately, there was no option to use cryptocurrencies. I never received any response after canceling my subscription and contacting customer support for a refund. That meant I didn’t get my money back, which really disappointed me.

Reliability & Support

4.0

I was annoyed that playmoTV doesn’t offer 24/7 live chat or phone support. The website has a chat prompt, but when you enter a query, it directs you to email support. Every time I contacted support, I had to wait a significant amount of time before receiving a response (if I got one at all).

The first time I contacted support through chat/email support, I wanted to know why my IP address was not changing even when I switched servers. I eventually received an email response that was very detailed and fully answered my question. However, the waiting period isn’t very convenient if you’re in a rush to watch your shows.

A snapshot of playmoTV's chat support showing a note that they respond in 12-24 hoursIt took about 24 hours to receive an answer to this simple question

It also doesn’t have a quality resource center or FAQ section on its site. These could really help you get answers to urgent questions that can’t wait several hours. This didn’t give me much confidence in the service. Plus, it’s unacceptable that I never got a response when I asked for my refund.

Compare playmoTV With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
Our Score: 9.7
Our Score: 9.6
Our Score: 9.5
Editor's Note: Transparency and impartiality are important to us when bringing you our best selection of VPNs. Some of the industry-leading products on our list, including Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company. The VPNs we choose are derived from a thorough testing process.

The Bottom Line

Final Verdict — Not Worth the Price

Overall, playmoTV probably isn’t worth your time. It offers excellent speeds, and you can easily connect it to devices that don’t usually support VPNs. But, I can't fully recommend it since it can’t encrypt your connection. For nearly the same price, you can access all the same streaming services and protect your personal information with a quality VPN.

In addition, playmoTV has a small server network which can limit the streaming services you can access. There are much better options available that unblock more platforms and offer excellent security and privacy features. I recommend you check out some of the top VPNs that give better value for your money.

  • Great unblocking capabilities
  • Fast speeds
  • Easy to set up and use

FAQs on playmoTV

What is playmoTV?

It’s a smart DNS service that lets you access several streaming services from anywhere in the world. It works by redirecting your DNS requests through its servers, which makes it look like you’re in a different country. This allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and access content that may be blocked in your region.

It supports many of the top platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many others. While it’s convenient, it doesn’t encrypt your connection or offer any additional security features like a VPN does.

Is playmoTV safe?

No, playmoTV doesn’t offer encryption or any security features that are necessary to keep you safe online. This means that when using the service, neither your IP address nor your private data are protected against prying eyes, making you vulnerable to hackers and snoops.

Is playmoTV any good for streaming?

Yes, playmoTV works well for unblocking platforms and streaming. I could access Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more with it during my tests. It has a small but reliable network of high-speed servers and can be set up on a ton of devices, including any smart TV that lets you change DNS settings. But it doesn’t encrypt your connection, so it can’t protect any of the vital information on your device.

Is playmoTV free?

No, but it offers a 7-day free trial, so you can test out playmoTV before committing to a subscription. This trial period lets you test all of playmoTV’s features without any limitations.

After the free trial period is over, you can subscribe to one of 4 tiers. The pricing varies depending on how long the term is, but it does offer competitive pricing compared to most premium VPNs.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 30
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: 3
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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About the Author

Doris is a tech writer and a cybersecurity researcher for vpnMentor. She is enthusiastic about educating people about their rights to online freedom and provides actionable ways to protect their data.

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