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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering 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 the independent, 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 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering 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 the independent, 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.

Turbo VPN Review 2024: Can a Free VPN Keep You Safe?

Our Score: 4.4/10
Ranked 253rd out of 305 VPNs
Matthew Amos Updated on 26th March 2024 Senior Editor

Turbo VPN is one of the most popular free VPNs available, but it’s had its fair share of controversies. It has tried to clean up its image over the years, so I tested all its features to see if it can keep you safe online.

Overall, I do not recommend using the free or paid versions of Turbo VPN. It’s definitely not safe since it leaked my real IP address on several servers. The free Chrome extension would also disconnect without warning. Plus, it doesn’t work in China. You can get a trustworthy VPN that hides your real location in this list of the best VPNs available today. They all come with money-back guarantees, so getting a refund is easy if they’re not for you.

Try Turbo VPN Risk-Free >>

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pros

Cons

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Turbo VPN Features — 2024 Update

4.4
💸 Price 4.17 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 21000+
💻 Number of devices per license 5
🛡 Kill switch Yes
🗺 Based in country Singapore
🛠 Support 24/7 live chat
📥 Supports torrenting Yes

Streaming — Blocked by Most Platforms

3.0

Turbo VPN could only access 1 major streaming service. With that platform, the picture quality was great, and I didn’t have any buffering. However, when I performed a leak test, I found out several Turbo VPN servers weren’t actually hiding my real IP address — a major red flag.

Unblocked: Netflix

I could access Netflix with several servers, but TurboVPN only unblocked Originals. Netflix Originals is a version of the platform that only lets you watch the content that’s available everywhere. So, you’ll miss out on all the region specific movies and shows.

Screenshot of Netflix player streaming Glass Onion while connected to Turbo VPNI could load videos instantly and stream in HD without buffering

I could also unblock Netflix originals and stream just as well with the free Chrome extension. There’s no data limit, so you might think it’s a decent free option to stream Netflix. However, its security issues make it a bad choice (more on that later).

Unfortunately, the other optimized Netflix servers didn’t work. Tests with the Netflix Korea, Netflix Russia, and Netflix France servers were all blocked.

Blocked By: Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer

One big problem is that I couldn’t connect to many of the streaming optimized servers. For example, the VPN failed to connect to the special Hulu server. So, I had to test it out with US servers since it’s not available anywhere else.

Screenshot of Hulu player detecting the Turbo VPN app on WindowsI couldn’t find any US servers that let me sign in and watch Hulu

I had the same problem with HBO Max. The optimized server wouldn’t connect, and I was blocked by every server I tested with HBO Max.

There are no optimized servers for Amazon Prime Video, and Turbo VPN’s regular servers couldn't bypass its geo blocks. Disney+ doesn’t have special servers either, and the US and Italy servers I tested just loaded indefinitely.

With BBC iPlayer, the issue was twice as bad. There’s no optimized server, and the normal UK London server wouldn’t connect. I even tried using the free UK server on the Chrome extension for BBC iPlayer, but it was blocked.

I’ve never tested another VPN with optimized servers that couldn’t connect. Several premium VPNs can unblock all the top platforms easily. To access all your favorite platforms safely, check out this list of the best VPNs for streaming.

Speed — Big Speed Reductions on All Servers

4.0

Turbo VPN lowered my speeds significantly, even on nearby servers. Closer locations are usually much faster since your data has to travel less distance. On a positive note, the free Chrome servers are actually about the same speed as the full VPN app.

But before I share my findings, let me explain how we get accurate results. We test every server at least 10 times and create averages for our chart. These tests were all done with the V2ray protocol because it’s the only option that works with every server.

Screenshot of a speed chart showing average speeds on Turbo VPN serversI lost 52% of my download speed on nearby servers and 61% on distant ones

As you can see, the free desktop servers dropped my speeds about 5 times more than the premium locations. Strangely, this wasn’t the case with the free servers on the Chrome extension, but it has its own serious problems.

I was also surprised that the fastest server I could find was in Japan, 10,537 km away from me. This is most likely because Turbo VPN uses virtual servers. It doesn’t disclose where they’re located, so I have no idea where the servers actually are.

Screenshot of my base speed and speeds connected to Turbo VPN's Santa Clara server recorded on OoklaNormally, a VPN will only drop my speeds by 10-25% at such a close distance

These results might not seem like a big deal, but I have a very fast base speed. If you have a download rate around 50 Mbps, drops like this could ruin your streaming experience. It’s also a little annoying that you can’t see the load percentage until the VPN is connected. That tells you how crowded they are, but many VPNs display this next to the servers before you connect.

There are several VPNs you can get for a similar price that are way faster. The top picks lower your speeds so little you’ll hardly notice it. You can read this list of the fastest VPNs to find one that’s quick at any distance.

Gaming — Serious Lag During Online Play

4.0

It was practically impossible to play games with Turbo VPN. For gaming, the most important speed result is your ping. This tells you how fast your data can travel. You’ll want it below 85 ms to play fast-paced games. When it gets higher, it takes too long for the network to register your inputs. This means you can’t play competitively because your character takes too long to respond.

Screenshot of Steam running Counter Strike: Global Offensive while connected to Turbo VPNEven the Steam menu was super laggy while connected to Turbo VPN

I was surprised the lag was so bad because I had a ping of 48 ms. But even though the ping rate was great, the game was a nightmare to play. It took at least a second for my gun to fire after I clicked the mouse. I kept getting killed immediately because it took forever to even turn around. This could have been because the server was far away, but as I mentioned above, Turbo doesn’t tell you where the servers really are.

There are many VPNs that work great for gaming. You can play online without lag and stay safe with one of the best VPNs for gaming in this list.

Server Network — Connection Issues and Limited Choice of Countries

2.0

Turbo VPN has a small network full of connection issues and missing locations. Its website claims there are 21,000 servers in 50 countries. However, I could only find 32. For example, the server list on its website shows Venezuela. But in the app, it’s nowhere to be found.

The connection issues make the VPN very unsafe. On top of leaking issues, many of the optimized servers consistently failed to connect. With the free Chrome extension, the servers constantly disconnect without warning.

That’s too bad because these servers have several nice security features. Turbo VPN owns all of its infrastructure. Many VPNs rent their servers, so there’s a middleman you have to worry about. It also runs its own Private DNS network, which should make you more safe. However, the connection issues make these features irrelevant.

A live support agent confirmed that every Turbo VPN server is virtual. This means they give you an IP in one country, but the physical server is actually somewhere else. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I’ve described the issues it can cause in the speeds, streaming, and gaming sections.

You’re also only able to choose between different cities in the US, Singapore, Germany, and India. Another strange issue is that some protocols only work with a limited number of servers (8 with OpenVPN for example).

In conclusion, Turbo VPN can’t reliably connect you to its servers. I recommend you look into this list of VPNs that all have huge server networks that truly keep you safe.

Security — Unsafe Apps That Might Be Dangerous to Use

1.0

Turbo VPN is one of the worst VPNs I’ve reviewed when it comes to security. On the surface, it seems pretty safe. It comes with several necessary security features. Unfortunately, it consistently leaks your real IP. Sure, it uses the industry standard AES-256 bit encryption level. But that means nothing when the servers can’t be relied on to actually connect.

Screenshot of a leak test done on ipleak.net while connected to Turbo VPN's London serverEven though I was “connected” to the London server, every website could see my US IP

That’s not to mention my worries that the app may not even be safe to install. Tests on VirusTotal showed me that 20 different security vendors flagged it as dangerous. This included well-respected cybersecurity companies like AVG, Avast, Avira, Malwarebytes, and more.

This doesn’t necessarily mean the apps come with malware or viruses, and a live support agent told me these are all false positives. Plus, it’s true some high quality VPNs do get flagged by one or 2 antivirus programs. However, 20 just seems like too much to ignore. This list will help you pick a VPN that will never leak your real location.

Kill Switch

You have to enable the kill switch manually, and it isn’t included with the free Chrome extension. A kill switch is supposed to block your internet connection if the VPN ever disconnects. However, Turbo VPN’s kill switch never worked in my tests.

Even though the kill switch was activated, I could still access websites while the VPN was “connecting.” I was still able to use websites while switching servers too. So, I wouldn’t rely on this kill switch.

Split Tunneling

I had similar issues with the split tunneling feature. This is supposed to let you exempt certain websites from the VPN tunnel. It’s useful if you want to access local sites, like your bank, while everything else on your device is encrypted. However, there were a few times when I tried to add websites to the exemption list, and they wouldn’t bypass the VPN’s server.

Protocols

The VPN gives you the choice of 3 protocols, but I wish OpenVPN worked with more servers. As I mentioned above, it only works with less than a third of Turbo VPN’s network. It’s considered the safest protocol since it’s open-source. That means it’s constantly being checked for vulnerabilities and improved by people around the world.

V2Ray is the protocol that works with every server. It’s designed to get around internet restrictions, and it’s generally considered safe. The SSR protocol is also available, but it works with fewer servers than OpenVPN does.

Privacy — Solid Policy but There Are Other Privacy Concerns

5.0

While its policy says all the right things, Turbo VPN has its share of privacy issues. For example, many customers who had Turbo VPN installed on their phones reported receiving a strange notification in 2022 which was written in Chinese. Some suspect this is because the VPN was hacked. Others even believe the company is secretly owned by a Chinese company. And unfortunately, the logging policy has never been proven in any way.

Does Turbo VPN Keep Logs? No

Turbo VPN claims to keep the bare minimum logs it needs to keep the VPN working properly. Most importantly, it states it will not store your IP address or any of your browsing activities.

Screenshot of Turbo VPN's privacy policy highlighting the key information it does not collectMany VPNs store timestamps and session duration, so I’m glad Turbo VPN does not

What it does store is the information you give them to sign up (email address). It also records the version of Turbo VPN you’ve used, how much data you’ve used, and some other minor anonymized information.

On the surface, this all looks great. However, I’ve mentioned several red flags that just make it hard for me to trust Turbo VPN. You can find a VPN with a strict no-logs policy that's been verified in this list.

Was Turbo VPN Audited? No

It's unfortunate that Turbo VPN, which has a contentious reputation, has not undergone any independent audits. These audits, particularly when conducted by credible organizations, can validate the adherence to a privacy policy. Currently, we can only rely on Turbo VPN's assurance, which is difficult to trust given its reputation.

Based in Singapore

While Singapore is outside of the 5/914 Eyes Alliances, it has been suspected of handing information over to them. The 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances is an agreement between several governments to share information about their citizens.

There are also concerning reports that Turbo VPN is owned by a Chinese company. Officially, the VPN is operated by a Singaporean company called Innovative Connecting. However, many reputable sites claim this is actually a company from China that owns many free VPNs. Since so many VPNs are banned in China, it’s a bit frightening to imagine what a VPN linked to its government might do.

While I can’t confirm or deny this report, this is just one more thing that makes Turbo VPN feel like a bad choice to protect your privacy. To be fair, support staff denied it has any links to China.

Does Turbo VPN Work in China? No

I verified through TurboVPN's 24/7 live chat support that Turbo VPN is not usable within China.

Screenshot of a conversation with Turbo VPN live support where they stated it doesn't work in ChinaSome VPNs offer obfuscation technology that can get around restrictive networks; Turbo VPN does not

The Chinese government has banned several VPNs, but it’s rare for it to go after individuals. However, we do not condone any illegal activities. If you decide to use a VPN in the country, you can read this list of VPNs that currently work in China.

Torrenting — Too Unsafe for P2P

3.0

I was able to torrent with Turbo VPN, but I don’t recommend it since it’s not secure. You never know who you’re connecting to when you download P2P files. I feel much more secure using a VPN that I’m positive can really keep me safe.

The VPN also caused a significant decrease in my speeds during torrenting. Without a VPN, I can download a 1.62 GB file in under 10 minutes. In contrast, using Turbo VPN would have stretched the download time for the same file to over 2 hours.

Downloading torrents is legal in most regions, but accessing copyrighted material is not. We recommend only accessing copyright-free torrents. If you want to use P2P networks safely, choose a VPN from this of the best options for torrenting.

Installation & Apps

6.0

Turbo VPN is simple to install and use, but the UI isn’t very appealing. It also offers most of the important features a modern VPN needs to have. However, I do wish it had a fastest server or optimal location feature.

Screenshot of Turbo VPN's Windows app showing how to access the settingsAll of its safety features are here along with the “Feedback” section and “About Us”

Everything basically explains itself. However, it’s missing the slick designs that many of its competitors offer. For example, NordVPN has a big interactive map on its main menu giving you an easy way to see where all of its servers are spread throughout the world. On the other hand, I do enjoy the cute little rabbit that runs while Turbo VPN attempts to connect.

Setup & Installation

You can install Turbo VPN on any compatible device in no time at all. On desktop apps, you just go to the website and download the proper installation file. After that, all you’ll need to do is follow the instructions. On mobile devices, you’ll install the app from the proper store.

I was always able to get it up and running in 4 minutes or less.

Device Compatibility

Turbo VPN works for the 4 major operating systems, but it can’t connect to much else. There is also no app available for Linux devices. However, it’s nice to see it supports Huawei, but that would be more helpful if it worked in China.

Some VPNs offer a feature called Smart DNS that makes it super easy to switch locations on any device with proxy settings. Others like ExpressVPN, offer full support for a wide variety of routers. That lets you connect unlimited devices and easily encrypt everything using your network. You can find a VPN that works with several smart TVs, game consoles, Linux devices, and routers in this list.

Desktop — Apps for Windows and Mac

Windows and Mac apps are practically identical. They have the same interface and the same security features. The main difference comes in your choice of protocols. On Mac, you can pick between OpenVPN UDP and TCP, IKEv2, and L2TP-IPsec. With Windows, you get OpenVPN, V2Ray, and SSR.

It’s also important to note that you can’t use every server with each protocol. Support staff told me this also changes depending on your location. That seemed strange to me because I’ve been reviewing VPNs for years, and I’ve never heard of anything like that. On every device, OpenVPN seriously reduces the amount of servers available to you.

That frustrates me since it’s the safest protocol, and the one I’m most comfortable using. Most of the best VPNs let you use their entire server list with every protocol offered.

Android and iPhone (iOS)

Once again, these mobile apps are basically the same. Each offers the same features. They can both also be downloaded for free. But be aware the free services constantly interrupt you with ads and come with a limited amount of free servers. Lastly, iOS gets the IKEv2, and ISSR protocols. Android has IPSec, ISSR, SSR, and OpenVPN.

Browser Extensions for Chrome

You can use the Chrome browser extension for free, but I don’t recommend it. On the plus side, it gives you servers in Germany, Singapore, the UK, and the US. There is also no data limit. Unfortunately, it constantly disconnects, and I couldn’t get an answer from support about whether it offers full encryption or is just a proxy.

Simultaneous Device Connections — 5

You can use TurboVPN with 5 devices at once. This is the average amount of connections most VPNs allow. But there are several that offer more, and some even give you an unlimited amount. To test it, I connected Turbo VPN to my Android phone, 2 Windows laptops, and my roommates’ iPhone. After streaming Netflix on all devices, I found zero differences with its performance.

Pricing

9.4
24 Months Plan
$ 4.17 / month per month
12 Months Plan
$ 5 / month per month
1 Month Plan
$ 11.99 / month per month

Turbo VPN offers 3 different pricing tiers, but the 2-year option is the cheapest at $4.17/month. That’s not bad, but there are much better options in that price range (CyberGhost for example). Each paid plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unfortunately, trying to get a refund is a frustrating experience. Turbo VPN made me ask over and over again. When I told them I wanted my money back because it was leaking my IP, they asked for images of my leak tests, and multiple payment receipts. Then, they tried to troubleshoot my problem. Afterwards, the support agent offered me one free month. I had to ask them 5 different times before my refund was approved.

Screenshot of a live chat with Turbo VPN where I was told it takes 2 weeks to approve a refundThe best VPNs approve your cancelation immediately and refund you in less than a week

You can’t use PayPal, but I appreciate how many cryptocurrencies it accepts. Turbo VPN lets you sign up with Bitcoin, Aave, Coronado, Binance coin BSC, Dogecoin or Polkadot. It also accepts Discover, Amex, Mastercard, Union Pay, and Visa credit cards.

Reliability & Support

6.3

I like that Turbo VPN offers 24/7 live chat support, but support staff weren’t always knowledgeable. In several instances, it seemed like they weren’t even reading the questions I sent in.

Screenshot of Turbo VPN support staff being unable to answer my questionsWhen I asked why the VPN was leaking, they told me how to access Hotstar

Support staff also couldn’t explain my connection issues. Eventually, I found someone who tried to help me with my leaking problems. Their advice was to refresh or switch protocols. It didn’t work. Afterwards, they just told me they’d tell the technical department about my situation.

That doesn’t make me feel very safe. The fact that a VPN can’t successfully hide your IP address is very serious, and I expect support to have better answers about why it’s happening. You can also contact support staff by email, but I’m yet to receive any responses through that channel.

Compare Turbo VPN With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
Our Score: 9.7
Our Score: 9.5
Our Score: 9.4

The Bottom Line

Final Verdict — Too Unreliable to Recommend

There are many serious issues with Turbo VPN. It's hard to know where to start. Most importantly, it’s not safe to use since it failed several of my leak tests. It’s also difficult to trust since its logging policy is unproven. That’s not to mention its other privacy red flags.

Its free apps are also more trouble than they’re worth. The ads on mobile devices are super annoying, and the browser extension constantly disconnects. It’s kind of incredible how much better the top VPNs are. They’re guaranteed to keep you safe, are trustworthy with your data, faster, better for streaming, and much more. You can check out one of the top VPNs from this list to see how big the difference is.

  • Simple installation
  • Easy-to-use
  • 24/7 live chat

FAQs on Turbo VPN

Is Turbo VPN any good?

No, Turbo VPN is not a good service. Several of its servers leaked my real IP, so it can’t keep you safe online. Its privacy policy has also never been proven, so you can’t be sure it’s trustworthy. On top of that, it’s slow, bad for streaming, and has several other big issues.

Is Turbo VPN free?

Yes, you can use Turbo VPN for free, but I don’t recommend it. Its Chrome browser extension and mobile devices can all be downloaded and installed without a subscription. However, Turbo VPN can put your data at risk. The extension will disconnect without warning. Plus, the mobile apps couldn’t hide my real location on several different servers.

Is Turbo VPN safe?

No, Turbo VPN is not safe. Many times my real IP address could be seen by any website I visited even when I was connected. For example, I did a test with its UK London server. Even though the VPN claimed I was connected, leak tests could still detect my actual IP address in the US.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 30
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: 5
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 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering 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 the independent, 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.
Turbo VPN User Reviews (User reviews are not verified)
5.4
Based on 30 reviews in 8 languages

Write a Review on Turbo VPN

Please rate VPN.

All Speed Streaming Security Сustomer service
Adrianfx1
Adrianfx1
2/10
THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS AS BAD AS THE PAYMENT WITH BITCOIN !

THE CONNECTION IS FINE. I TRY TO SOLVE MY ISSUE WITH CUSTOMER SUPPORT BUT THEY ARE ONLY NOT GOOD. THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING. I PAY WITH BITCOIN AND DID NoT HAVE THE FULL AMONT AND THE MONEY WHENT OUT FROM MY WALLET. I SEND FULL DETAILS REGARDING THE PAYMENT BUT IT DIDN'T SOLVE ANYTHING. THEY ARE WORKING FINE AS VPN BUT IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE YOU CAN'T SORT IT OUT ! 3/10

Quang Thinh
Quang Thinh
2/10
It's not safe and it's very, very bad!

TurboVPN is an unsafe free VPN. It's riddled with invasive third-party advertising and it logs connection data. Turbo VPN does not hide my real IP. And it was born in China. Please avoid this VPN. It is very bad because it keeps many logs. Please avoid Turbo VPN! It's the worst VPN I saw!

Anonymous
Anonymous
6/10
Okay free VPN

I use the free app on my phone. There are loads of ads, but it's okay. Nice to get access to resources that are banned in my country, but I don't use in cases where I access some private accounts or sensitive data is in use, so, please, be careful. I won't recommend it, but if there's no option for you except using free VPN service, then you may try this. And I would recommend to try TunnelBear first. It's also free and may be enough for your purposes (500 Mb free per month). But I know only about the existence of free Desktop version.

About the Author

Matthew is a writer and editor for VPNMentor with a proven track record of providing in-depth analysis of the most highly regarded VPNs, including ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. His unparalleled expertise has enabled him to consistently deliver cutting-edge insights on the most sought-after (and newest) VPN services.

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