Webroot has been around since 1997, but Webroot’s VPN is relatively new, and the company is pushing it as a pairing companion to its antivirus software.
The great news is — Webroot WiFi Security VPN is a solid choice for streaming. Though a basic VPN, I was pleasantly surprised that Webroot WiFi Security could unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.
On top of that, it ticks the necessary boxes when it comes to security. I found that the VPN has top-notch encryption (AES 256-bit) to go along with the most reliable OpenVPN protocol. Also, it has a kill switch that stops your connection if your VPN breaks and IP leak protection that keeps your real identity safe.
Privacy-wise, Webroot WiFi Security claims to be a no-log service, but my findings show it does log a lot of information.
If you wonder what my top VPNs for 2022 are, you can view some articles from our catalog.
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Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings
- Great news for streamers. This VPN unblocks Disney +, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Netflix on certain servers. See the details of my streaming results here.
- Not the best speeds. Low server count could cause your speeds to drop in peak hours. Review all my speed tests here.
- Inadequate server coverage. This VPN only has 700 servers in 30 countries. Here is what I think about Webroot’s server network.
- Reliable security with AES 256-bit encryption. It doesn't have DNS leak protection, but the tested servers showed no leak. Review all the security features and protocols here.
- Its data logging policy is not the best. Webroot claims not to log any data, but a look into its privacy policy shows it does. See my full take on their policy here.
- No P2P torrenting support. Here is my full conclusion about the lack of torrenting options.
- Compatible only with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can find my complete take on the supported devices here.
- Webroot WiFi is easy to install and use. Here is my experience installing its app.
- Average customer support. I waited a long time for a response, and there is no live chat option. See my customer service experience here.
- Not the best value for money. The price starts at $5.83/month for 5 devices but with no money-back guarantee. Webroot accepts PayPal and credit cards. Here is a breakdown of the price plans.
Webroot WiFi Security Features — Updated in January 2022
5.4| 💸 Price | $5.83/month |
| 📝 Does VPN keep logs? | No |
| 🖥 Number of servers | 700 |
| 💻 Number of devices per license | 5 |
| 🛡 Kill switch | Yes |
| 🗺 Based in country | United States |
| 🛠 Support | The knowledge base, support ticket, phone |
| 📥 Supports torrenting | Yes |
Streaming — Wonderful!
Webroot WiFi let me stream all my favorite shows on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and even Amazon Prime Video. I accessed Netflix US shows, BBC iPlayer (using its UK streaming server), and Disney+. I was also able to unblock Amazon Prime Video from the Eastern US server. However, this VPN did not unblock HBO Max and Hulu.
If your bandwidth is strong enough during off-peak hours, you can watch videos in the highest quality, but you will be relegated to standard quality when the servers begin to get packed in peak hours.
However, if you are thinking about using this VPN to watch 4K content, I suggest using a fast VPN that allows for a smooth streaming experience.
Stream With Webroot WiFi Security!
Unblocked: Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer
If you are a Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+ user, you are in luck — I easily accessed all 4 platforms using Webroot WiFi Security.
I had no trouble using US servers to access videos on Netflix US.
I was able to access Netflix US from multiple servers using Webroot WiFi
Accessing BBC iPlayer using Webroot’s UK streaming server was also a breeze.
Webroot let me access BBC iPlayer
Only the US East server worked with Amazon Prime Video. Streaming quality can vary based on your bandwidth.
Amazon Prime Video worked well for me with the server on the US East Coast
While connected to the US East server, I was able to access titles from Disney+ without being flagged as a VPN user.
Streaming Disney+ with Webroot was easy
Watch Online Content With Webroot
Blocked By: Hulu, HBO Max
Webroot’s VPN could not get me on Hulu or HBO Max.
Hulu tagged me as an anonymous proxy service user and closed its doors. HBO Max also detected that I was using a VPN and would not let me log in.
Webroot WiFi could not get past HBO Max's strong geoblocks
Speeds — Needs Massive Improvement
Webroot claims that it doesn't affect your browsing speed, but my experience says otherwise. I ran speed tests using Webroot’s VPN in the evening EST (peak hours), and the results were less than great. I noticed that some websites take a very long time to load or do not load when I use the mobile app.
To measure the speeds, I tested servers in 9 countries: America, Singapore, Canada, England, Japan, Brazil, Switzerland, South Africa, and Australia. The speeds were significantly better when I did tests outside of peak hours. However, most people will be on in peak hours. Compared to the tests done in peak hours, the download speeds in off-peak hours increased by 35%, and the upload went up by 80%.
I will post the results of the speed tests done in peak hours.
Unprotected (Kingston, Jamaica)
| Ping (ms) | 22 |
| Download (Mbps) | 12.17 |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.86 |
I tested servers in the Americas: the US servers were good, but the ones in Canada weren’t.
Canada
| Ping (ms) | 73 |
| Download (Mbps) | 0.80 (93.3% loss) |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.72 (16.3% loss) |
US (East)
| Ping (ms) | 66 |
| Download (Mbps) | 10.84 (10.93% loss) |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.82 (4.7% loss) |
US (West)
| Ping (ms) | 110 |
| Download (Mbps) | 10.93 (10.91% loss) |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.79 (8.1% loss) |
I also tested servers in the east from Asia and Australia. The Australian server performed surprisingly well, but I can’t say the same for those in Asia.
Australia
| Ping (ms) | 254 |
| Download (Mbps) | 9.79 (19.56% loss) |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.74 (14% loss) |
Singapore
| Ping (ms) | 291 |
| Download (Mbps) | 4.40 (63.85% loss) |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.76 (11.6% loss) |
Japan
| Ping (ms) | 203 |
| Download (Mbps) | 0.28 (97.7% loss) |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.37 (57% loss) |
The slowest of all the servers I tested was in South Africa.
South Africa
| Ping (ms) | 321 |
| Download (Mbps) | 0.27 (97.78% loss) |
| Upload (Mbps) | 0.00 (100% loss) |
Your results will be different if you use the VPN from a city different from mine. For me, the decrease in speed was massive, especially on faraway servers.
Speedtest results with Webroot’s VPN for Australia, Brazil, South Africa, and Japan
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Lastly, I also tested two servers in Europe. I experienced an average of 92% speed loss when connected to these servers.
Are Webroot WiFi Security’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? No
If your download and upload aren't over 80 Mbps, you won't be able to game without issues while using this VPN. I should also mention the poor ping times (latency over 150 ms in almost every case) that will spoil your day if you try to game on Webroot's VPN. I tried to play Free Fire while connected to Webroot, but I could not load the game.
Webroot’s VPN decreased my speeds so much that the game would not even start
If you need a VPN to play online games, you should look for a faster VPN with more consistent speeds.
Server Network — Small but Positioned Well
Webroot has 700 servers in 30 countries. I’m not impressed with this because the limited servers affect your speeds.
On the bright side, it has servers in South America, Africa, Hong Kong, and Russia. Here is the list of countries in which Webroot has servers.
| USA | Argentina | Australia | Austria | Belgium |
| Brazil | Canada | Cyprus | Denmark | Finland |
| France | Germany | Hong Kong | Hungary | India |
| Ireland | Israel | Italy | Japan | Mexico |
| Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway | Poland | Portugal |
| Romania | Russia | Singapore | South Africa | Spain |
| Sweden | Switzerland | Thailand | United Kingdom |
On the Webroot application, you can let the app automatically choose the optimal server or choose from the list of all servers. The list also has a “Most Recommended” section at the top.
You can let Webroot suggest the best server for you
From my experience with the app, I found that the recommended server section has servers frequently used by people in my region and myself. That’s a helpful feature that makes it easy to find the best servers.
Unfortunately, sometimes there are issues when trying to connect to some servers. I’ve encountered this issue with servers in Argentina, Japan, and Thailand.
I encountered a connection error when trying to connect to a server in Argentina
Some of the servers listed on Webroot’s VPN app are virtual servers. Webroot says it uses virtual servers in locations close to the region it is servicing, only in times of high demand.
Some VPN services have city-level servers to choose from, but Webroot only has country-level servers on its list. That could cause problems if the server you automatically connect to isn’t performing and you have no way of choosing another without switching countries.
Security — Very Good
Webroot is a company that started in the browser security business, so I wasn’t surprised that its VPN product is entirely secure.
The VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption, which is almost impossible to crack. It will keep you safe and give you peace of mind while using it.
Webroot works with 4 major protocols. Here is a look at the settings menu on the PC app, where you can see all the available protocols.
Webroot’s WiFi Security offers most major protocols
Because OpenVPN is the best for security and its high-speed performance, it is the recommended protocol of choice. OpenVPN is open source, which is great because the code is available for anyone to make improvements where necessary.
Another protocol offered is IKEv2, which is faster than OpenVPN and is quite secure.
Webroot also offers Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), which encrypts your data as it passes through a tunnel going from the VPN client to the server. That is not the most secure protocol on the market today, as the data security landscape is different now than in 1995.
Unfortunately, Webroot WiFi security apps do not have the Wireguard protocol available.
Sometimes we forget to connect to our VPN before using an unsecured WiFi network. Webroot VPN’s Automatic WiFi Security feature automatically protects you when you connect to unsecured networks.
Webroot's Automatic WiFi Security feature keeps you protected even while using unsecured WiFi connections
Another crucial feature is the kill switch which keeps your identity and data safe by disconnecting you from the internet if your VPN breaks.
One more great security addition is its web filtering feature. Webroot uses BrightCloud Threat Intelligence to filter out and protect you from potentially dangerous websites.
I also ran a DNS leak test to ensure that Webroot’s VPN was truly keeping my data safe. My test showed that the app did not have any DNS leaks. I was not in the Netherlands.
My tests showed no leaks
Privacy — Average and Could Improve
Webroot claims to have a no-logging policy, but from looking at its privacy statement, it's evident that it logs a lot of information.
Webroot’s VPN keeps logs of the date and time of your sessions, the server locations you use, and the amount of data transferred during each session. Lastly, it logs the number of devices used during each session. It keeps the information for 90 days.
If your Webroot VPN app crashes, Webroot may create anonymous logs of what happened on the device for a brief period before the crash for troubleshooting purposes. These logs could include some downloaded data and DNS queries.
Webroot is in a 5-Eyes country in Broomfield, Colorado, USA. That means that even though the VPN is an online security and privacy product, your information collected by the VPN could end up in the hands of the authorities.
All 5-Eyes countries heavily collect and scrutinize internet traffic, and they can then share this information with other member nations. If the authorities request your private data from Webroot, it can’t refuse. Here is a complete list of collected data from the Webroot's privacy policy statement.
Webroot logs a lot more data than other no-log VPN providers
Under California’s “Shine the Light” law, residents of California can ask for information on any personal data Webroot shared with other businesses twice per year. However, Webroot states it currently does not share your personal data with other businesses for its marketing use.
Torrenting — Not Supported
It was a big disappointment when I tested a popular torrenting app with Webroot WiFi Security and realized that Webroot’s VPN app does not support torrenting. There are other VPN services that allow torrenting. However, my team and I do not condone illegal torrenting, so make sure always to check the rules and regulations of the country you are in.
Does Webroot WiFi Security Work in China? No
Webroot WiFi Security is highly unlikely to work in China based on my research.
When I reached out to its customer support to ask whether Webroot could work in China, its representative told me it is “not designed to bypass locally blocked websites.”
Webroot’s take on its effectiveness in China
China is a very strict country regarding censorship and online surveillance. Only powerful VPNs with the best technology can mask your use of a VPN in China. If you want a VPN that works in China, it needs to bypass the Chinese government’s strong censorship measures. Nevertheless, I'd be cautious about using a VPN in a country with strict censorship laws.
Overall a great app, small concerns with some stability but I cant tell if it was my base connection or the VPN. Speeds were solid not quite Nord speeds, but good enough to stream. A little confusing on whether or not you can stream being that their is not notice on this, but I was successful in streaming to various apps.