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VPN.ht Review & Test 2022 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying
Founded in Hong Kong in 2014, VPN.ht claims to be one of the best VPNs for private surfing and torrenting. I was naturally a bit skeptical about VPN.ht before I started my research. So do the claims hold up?
I put VPN.ht to the test to see how well it works as a VPN service. For starters, VPN.ht works well to unblock international content on Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Video. But the VPN struggled with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and a host of other popular streaming services.
As far as security and privacy, it is very safe to use. VPN.ht uses 64, 128, and 256-bit algorithms to better protect your connection while supporting OpenVPN, L2TP, IPSec, and PPTP protocols. However, one major drawback is that VPN.ht doesn't offer a functional kill switch.
VPN.ht also offers unlimited torrenting and P2P connections. That makes sense, seeing as the VPN was created specifically for torrenting with the Popcorn Time BitTorrent platform.
While the VPN’s network is somewhat limited with 90 servers across 26 countries when compared to other companies, it does offer connections in hard-to-find countries like Brazil, Romania, and Poland.
Currently, VPN.ht is available for Windows, Unix/Linux, Ubuntu, Redhat, Chromebook, iOS, and Android. VPN.ht may also be used with routers that allow VPN setup.
Since cost is a big issue for many VPN users, you'll be happy to know that VPN.ht offers 2 affordable subscription options. You can get one month of service for $1 for the first month and then $4.99 every month after that. You can also opt for the annual subscription for $3.33/month. The $3.33/month deal is the best bet if you're trying to save money.
I've covered every aspect of VPN.ht's services that I could test, so read on for a full review of the VPN!
During my testing, I was able to unblock Netflix and Spotify. Both streaming services worked well with no apparent issues.
I did, however, encounter issues with Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Kodi, and other major streaming services.
Unblocked: Netflix and Spotify Work
Using Netflix with VPN.ht was easy and straightforward. I connected to 6 of the VPN’s servers, signed into Netflix, and quickly accessed international content each time.
When using one of VPN.ht’s servers in France, French movies were accessible on Netflix.
VPN.ht also worked well with Spotify. Songs from all over the world were available as soon as I connected to the VPN and logged in to Spotify.
During my testing, I also successfully connected to Disney+, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. All three streaming services quickly picked up that I was connected through servers outside the US and provided international content.
Blocked By: Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Kodi, Vudu, Pandora, and others.
I had less success while testing other popular streaming services with VPN.ht. I was unable to get BBC iPlayer, ESPN, Kodi, HBO Go, Pandora, or Hulu to work with any of VPN.ht's servers.
When attempting to log into Hulu, the service refused to recognize my credentials while connected to VPN.ht.
I also encountered similar problems with BBC iPlayer and Pandora. The problem persisted after trying multiple servers.
My speed tests revealed that the VPN.h maintained impressive connections while I surfed the web and streamed HD content.
On a symmetrical 100Mbps connection, I saw minimal speed reductions for both downloads and uploads. While the upload speed took more of a hit when using the VPN, download speeds were relatively high. The fastest connection was 76 Mbps down and 37.79 Mbps up on a server in Germany. The slowest was 68.13 Mbps down and 28.93 Mbps up through a connection in Japan. On average, I saw a 28% reduction in speed while connected to a VPN.ht server. That’s not bad, as any VPN will reduce your connection speed to some degree.
It is important to note what terms like download, upload, and ping mean when researching VPN connection speeds. Simply put, download refers to the speed you’re able to download data to your computer. Upload is the opposite, representing the speed at which you can upload information to the web. Finally, ping is simply a test for the overall response time for the server you’re connected to. The shorter time, the better. For my testing, I focus on the download speed and ping connection as good indicators of the health of a VPN connection.
During my testing, I detected no real differences in connection speeds between the US and European servers. That means you should have similar experiences whether you use a VPN.ht server based in Europe or in the US.
Are VPN.ht’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Online Gaming Isn’t an Issue With VPN.ht
Thanks to solid connection speeds, online gaming is easily doable while using VPN.ht. Gamers shouldn't notice any lag while playing graphics-intensive games on the internet.
I was easily able to play a multiplayer game of Minecraft while connected to VPN.ht's servers.
Server Network — Solid Selection of Servers Across the World
VPN.ht currently has over 90 servers across 26 countries. The VPN has servers in countries that are less frequently used by other VPNs, including Romania, Poland, South Africa, Serbia, and Brazil. That allows you to utilize a wider range of regions while selecting your connection. The VPN also claims that P2P is available at all server locations. During my research, I was able to confirm that P2P connections worked on all VPN.ht servers listed. That’s a big plus if you’re interested in torrenting.
While the number of servers seems limited compared to other VPNs, VPN.ht’s servers are spread across the globe and provide a good selection of connection points for international users.
Overall, VPN.ht seems to be a secure VPN. It utilizes 64, 128, and 256-bit encryption algorithms to better protect your connection while supporting OpenVPN, L2TP, IPSec, and PPTP protocols. That means your data is secured by the best protocols in the industry so you can use the internet with no worries!
During my research, I noticed that there have been some complaints that VPN.ht suffers IP leaks on a few of its servers. That’s a major security vulnerability for a VPN service. During my testing, however, the VPN successfully hid my true IP address on all 6 servers that I used. I also tested for DNS and WebRTC leaks, but all 6 servers I tested passed.
VPN.ht does have one major flaw. The VPN doesn’t appear to have a built-in kill switch for its main program. I was unable to find any sort of kill switch option during my testing, except on the Android app. A kill switch is a major feature that most VPNs have, so VPN.ht loses points here. Without a kill switch, your data, IP address, and browsing habits are at risk if your VPN suddenly fails to protect your connection.
Some users also claim that VPN.ht’s software triggers its antivirus programs. While that isn’t entirely unheard of, it is a concern that needs to be investigated. During my testing, I found no evidence of viruses in the software and my antivirus program didn’t seem to have any issues with VPN.ht.
The VPN's website does offer a DNS leak test tool on its website. That can come in handy if you have concerns about your privacy.
And while some users have claimed that VPN.ht comes with a SmartDNS feature, I was unable to find the tool during my testing.
Based on my testing, VPN.ht seems to protect your privacy while surfing the web. I didn’t encounter anything that raised any concerns about privacy while using the VPN.
VPN.ht says it doesn't keep any logs, and according to my research, it looks like the claim is true. I found no evidence that VPN.ht keeps logs while I used the VPN. While VPN.ht reserves the right to investigate matters it deems violations of its Terms and Conditions, that doesn't mean they're keeping logs of your internet activity.
Of course, users have to trust VPN.ht when it says it doesn’t keep logs. Unfortunately, the VPN hasn’t been open to third-party audits to confirm its privacy policy. That’s something that could worry some users.
Based in Hong Kong, VPN.ht is in a safe jurisdiction. That means you don’t have to worry about your data being tracked and given to government officials.
I found that VPN.ht works well for torrenting and P2P connections. And that makes sense, seeing how VPN.ht originally was originally built for Popcorn Time.
There are no limits on torrent downloads enforced by the VPN. With this VPN connection, you may torrent all day and every day. VPN.ht allows you to safely download gigs of data without having to worry about network security. During my testing, I encountered no limitations while torrenting on all VPN.ht’s servers. There were no speed restrictions or data caps.
But there’s one issue that could make torrenting risky on the VPN.ht network. Without a working kill switch, utilizing the P2P system could reveal your real IP address to other users in your storm if the VPN disconnects.
With VPN.ht based in Hong Kong, it's hard to tell if the VPN is available in China. I was unable to get an answer from customer support on the issue. As internet security and privacy issues are always evolving in that region of the world, it's difficult to test if this particular VPN works in China.
Simultaneous Device Connections — 3 Devices at a Time
Users can connect up to 3 devices at once with a VPN.ht subscription. That means you aren’t restricted to just one computer or smart device when you want to safely surf the web.
During my testing, I was able to connect a smartphone, laptop, and tablet all at once without any issues.
Another significant aspect to mention is that you may connect even more devices by setting up a router with the VPN software.
Device Compatibility — All Major Devices and Operating Systems Supported
VPN.ht is compatible with Windows, Unix/Linux, Ubuntu, Redhat, iOS, OpenVPN, macOS, and Android platforms. And while you can use VPN.ht’s services on Chrome OS devices, you’ll have to follow the company’s setup guide on the website.
VPN.ht may also be used with routers that allow VPN setup. Thankfully, VPN.ht offers support articles on its website to help you install the VPN on different routers.
I wasn’t able to find any information on VPN.ht working with Fire TV while conducting my research.
Setting up VPN.ht is a breeze. Simply download the program, install it, and you're ready to get started.
Your next step is creating an account with VPN.ht. This is where things can get a bit complicated. Windows users will find that the program will ask for your email address when setting up the service, but it actually needs your username.
VPN.ht offers the opportunity to use its VPN service anonymously and even provides a questionnaire to customize your VPN experience. Those are definitely major benefits. Using the VPN anonymously gives you an additional layer of protection while using the internet through VPN.ht’s servers. And the questionnaire creates a better experience tailored to your specific needs.
The Android and iOS apps for VPN.ht seem to be popular. The Android app already has over 100,000 downloads, but has a score of 3.1 stars out of 5.
The iOS app has a better overall score of 4.2 stars.
During my tests, I didn't have any issues with either the Android or iOS app.
Currently, VPN.ht offers two subscription options. First, you can get one month of service for $1 for the first month and then $4.99 for every month thereafter. Second, you can opt for the annual subscription for $3.33/month. The annual rate is the more cost-effective option.
VPN.ht accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, bank transfer, and even cryptocurrency as payment. So if you’re a crypto trader, you have the option of using your crypto holdings to pay for VPN.ht’s service. That’s yet another layer of privacy you can leverage with this VPN.
Unfortunately, there’s no free trial, but if you aren’t satisfied with VPN.ht, you can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee.
VPN.ht's support system can be a bit difficult to navigate. When you click on the support link on its website, it takes you to a knowledge base full of articles and a FAQ section.
If you go to the Contact Us section, you can fill out an online contact form and wait for an email response from the customer support team. During my testing, I was unable to get a timely response from VPN.ht. It should also be noted that VPN.ht doesn’t offer live support.
The VPN's website does offer a DNS leak test tool on its website. That can come in handy if you have concerns about your privacy.
And while some users have claimed that VPN.ht comes with a SmartDNS feature, I was unable to find the tool during my testing.
VPN.ht is a reliable VPN service that offers most of the features users require to surf the web safely and anonymously. During the installation and use of the VPN, I had no major issues.
Netflix works well with VPN.ht, though you’ll have issues with other popular streaming services. The VPN also provides unlimited torrenting and P2P connections across all servers.
While there have been some concerns about VPN.ht’s security and privacy, I experienced no problems and safely surfed the web while using VPN.ht.
VPN.ht also provides reasonable subscription rates that make it a great deal, and being able to use cryptocurrency as a payment is an added benefit.
Overall, VPN.ht is great if you need a VPN for unblocking Netflix content and safely torrenting with P2P connections.
I was confident that my data was safe while using VPN.ht. While some users have had issues with IP leaks, VPN.ht passed all of my security and privacy tests. Read about VPN.ht’s security features here.
I subscribe to the service on a promo rate to test out what they offered; unfortunately, the speeds were incredibly slow. This led me to cancel the subscription and while my subscription and subsequent services did end after the 30 day period I paid for, they charged me five times the promo amount without authorization. I’ve reached out via their ticket system for support, but they have failed to reach back to me at this time.
Summary: beware they will fraudulently charge you even after cancellation confirmation and refuse a refund.
Detail:
I successfully canceled the vpn.ht account back in 2018, got my refund, and thought all is well... Then out of the blue I noticed this company again charged a full year service fee from my PayPal for 2020. After further review of my PayPal record, this company also charged me in 2019 but I overlooked it due to a family situation at that time. Yet they refuse to refund the fraudulent charge in 2019 claiming it's beyond the 30 days eligibility. PayPal did help me recover the 2020 fee but not for 2019 even though I canceled the account back in 2018.
Does their service work, yes in the technical context but there are definitely faster more reliable providers. Otherwise, I can not recommend this company.
Just doesn't work. Connecting fails, unclear if it's working or not, sometimes it works but then the WiFi doesn't,... Service is terrible if they answer at all.
I use it on mac maybe that is the reason for not working well?
I subscribe to the service on a promo rate to test out what they offered; unfortunately, the speeds were incredibly slow. This led me to cancel the subscription and while my subscription and subsequent services did end after the 30 day period I paid for, they charged me five times the promo amount without authorization. I’ve reached out via their ticket system for support, but they have failed to reach back to me at this time.