TrueVPN is an Australian-based VPN proxy service that offers zero-knowledge DNS and supports perfect forward secrecy. While it packs a heavy punch when it comes to user privacy, it lacks power in other areas.
TrueVPN doesn't have an app for any of the devices it currently supports. Instead, you load the TrueVPN file into OpenVPN's app and create a profile. The OpenVPN app is easy to use and despite needing to use second-party software, setting up TrueVPN is pretty straightforward.
If you want a VPN that offers an in-house app, check out one of these vendors.
Short On Time? Here Are My Key Findings
- Unblocks Netflix US, Disney+, and more. I was also able to stream in HD on all of the servers I tested. See what geoblocks it wasn't able to bypass.
- Good speeds for streaming, not for gaming. The speeds were fast enough to upload YouTube videos and stream in HD comfortably, but it fell short when it came to gaming. Find out why.
- Small global server selection. The server selection is extremely small and only spread over 69 countries. Learn more about servers counts.
- Decent security features and a solid privacy policy. I wasn't able to find any major red flags regarding security or privacy but a couple addition features would make it better for torrenting. Discover what its missing.
- No in-house app. You need to set the service up via OpenVPN Connect on all compatible devices. Find out if it's worth it.
Try TrueVPN Now!
TrueVPN Features — Updated in February 2023
5.5
|
💸
Price
|
1.99 USD/week
|
|
📆
Money Back Guarantee
|
30 Days |
|
📝
Does VPN keep logs?
|
No |
|
🖥
Number of servers
|
1900+ |
|
🛡
Kill switch
|
Yes |
|
🗺
Based in country
|
United States |
|
📥
Supports torrenting
|
Yes |
Can it Unblock Netflix? Yes
Not only can it unblock Netflix, but it also bypassed geoblocks for Disney+ and BBC iPlayer! TrueVPN also offers unlimited speed and bandwidth, so you can watch as much as you like. On the downside, the limited amount of servers does mean you'll be dealing with slower speeds during peak hours.
Unblocked: Disney+, Netflix US, and BBC iPlayer
Despite the small server selection I was able to access major streaming services
Blocked By: Amazon Prime Video and Hulu
Speeds - Fast Enough for HD Streaming
The server network is small but if the servers are powerful, sometimes that's all it takes. The true test of a server is how it performs during peak hours, so that's when I tested. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I could stream content in HD on each of the servers I tested. On the downside, only the local servers gave me ping and upload speeds that were acceptable for gaming.
Download speeds were fast enough for HD streaming on each server, but speeds for ping and upload mean local gaming only
For reference, streaming in HD requires speeds of 5Mbps+, with UltraHD/4k requiring around 25Mbps+ to have a buffer-free viewing experience. Only the local US server was able to reach UltraHD/4k speeds, though I was able to stream HD content seamlessly on each of the other servers I tested as all had download speeds of 10Mbps+.
Ping is the amount of time it takes for your data to travel from your device, to the server, and back again. If pingback is too high it can severely impact gaming and video calling, causing buffering and lag that could eventually lead to disconnects. Ping speeds on each server, aside from the local US server, were 100ms+. That means this isn't the best VPN for gaming or conferencing apps like Zoom or Skype, even though the upload speeds are suitable for both.
Is TrueVPN Fast Enough for Gaming? No
TrueVPN's high pingback speeds on international servers make it a no for anything but local gaming. Some areas also had extremely low upload speeds, which means there could be a life altering delay for your player.
Optimum speeds for gaming are around a 20-100ms ping, of course lower than 20ms is preferable too. Unfortunately, the speeds on the international servers I tested were upwards of 100ms, which means you could experience lag and disconnects.
If you're looking for a VPN that works great for gaming, I would recommend one of these providers instead.
Server Network - Extremely Small
While TrueVPN's servers are spread out across 69 countries, it only has around 1,900+ servers. That's an extremely small server network, which could mean being booted from the server or dealing with overcrowding during peak hours; especially the further you get from your bas location.
Does TrueVPN Work in China? No
TrueVPN doesn't have a server located in China. If you need a VPN for bypassing the Great Firewall, check out one of the best VPNs for China.
Security & Privacy - Strong Features
TrueVPN has two impressive features for a lesser-known, zero-knowledge DNS and supporting perfect forward secrecy. Zero-knowledge DNS means that TrueVPN runs its own DNS for every server, it never collects connection logs, browsing data, or any personally identifiable information. Perfect forward secrecy is a continual change in encryption keys, that can help protect your sensitive data in the event of a malware or hacker attack.
It also features security standards like OpenVPN protocol, 256-bit AES encryption, and a no-logs policy. If it had a kill switch and allowed split tunneling, it would have all the top-notch security features most VPN users are looking for.
The Privacy policy is very straightforward and I couldn't find anything that lead me to believe the service collects or shares personally identifiable information.
TrueVPN is no-logs
Is TrueVPN Safe for Torrenting? Not Really
I can't give a definitive no on this, it doesn't collect logs and it doesn't leak your IP address or DNS requests. If you add the zero-knowledge DNS and Perfect Forward Secrecy to that, it would seem almost perfect for torrenting. The only problem is it doesn't offer a kill switch.
The inclusion of an in-house app with a built-in kill switch would make TrueVPN a definite yes for torrenting but as it stands, I can't recommend it. Try one of these VPNs that's proven to keep you safe while torrenting instead.
Installation & Apps
5.3
TrueVPN doesn't have its own app, instead it offers a file that you can use to set it up through the OpenVPN app. The file is available for download after you complete your purchase. The OpenVPN app is easy to navigate, so connecting to a server is easy once the TrueVPN profile is setup.
Simultaneous Device Connections
You can use TrueVPN on up to 5 devices simultaneously. The website also provides instructions on how to set up a VPN router as well, which would allow you to cover more devices at once.
Compatibility
TrueVPN is compatible iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, Windows, routers, and more. If you run into trouble during setup, there are step-by-step instructions for Windows, iOS, and Android at the bottom of the TrueVPN website homepage. Though it supports Linux and routers, you'll need to dig through the blog to find instructions.
Reliability & Support
3.3
The service is reliable overall but speeds do get a little slow during peak hours, so streaming and torrenting can be hit and miss.
TrueVPN claims to have 24/7 live chat support, but that's not the case. When I clicked on live chat support the following text appeared in the chat window, 'We are not here to chat right now, please leave a message.' Which makes it more of a ticketing system then a live chat feature. I returned to the page recently to try the live chat feature again after hearing it had made great improvements, and this time no matter how many times I clicked the button it did absolutely nothing.
I kept clicking the Write to us button but nothing happened
TrueVPN also offers email support and has an FAQ post in its blog, that answers most questions about the service.
Nice service. Used it a bit, it is affordable. I recommend TrueVPN to those who are facing geo-based limitations. They had custom and country vote option. In my case, the support reacted within 20 minutes - I was asking just to check it works.