VyprVPN

Verdict

VyprVPN has a solid focus on security, wide OS support, plenty of features and has become one of the fastest services around. A deal with Giganews makes it a particularly good service for Usenet enthusiasts.

Introduction

Golden Frog’s VyprVPN is a virtual private network service based in Switzerland, with endpoints in more than 70 countries.

It’s also the VPN that comes with the company’s famous and venerable Giganews Usenet service, and although easy to use, VyprVPN includes a range of features that also satisfy people who are comfortable with more than just email and the web.

It has a good range of security options and clients, a solid track record for uninterrupted streaming, plus support and documentation for plenty of devices and operating systems.

It was one of the first VPN providers to back its no-logging promise with an independent audit.

Pricing and Subscriptions

VyprVPN costs $10/£8.09 per month or $60/£48.51 per year. Those UK prices fluctuate based on exchange rate, but it’s a solid deal that puts VyprVPN towards the lower end of current pricing of similarly reputable VPN services. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available to help you decide whether VyprVPN is the service for you.

If you’re interested in using Usenet as well, it’s definitely worth looking at a Giganews + VyprVPN subscription, priced at $10 (£8) a month or $100 (£81) a year – you basically get one service free, especially on a monthly subscription.

Privacy and Protection

• Has a no-logging policy, but ideally needs new audit
• Recently found to install expired Trusted Root Certificate

VyprVPN has been a no-logging VPN since 2018, when it had itself audited by Leviathan Security to prove that no personally identifiable information on the service’s users is collected. It’s probably about time for a new audit, though, to reflect any upgrades to clients or infrastructure. The company said it will carry out audits on a regular basis.

Like ProtonVPN and Perfect Privacy, the company is bound by Swiss law – which, although more privacy-friendly than most of Europe, requires online service providers to comply with valid international warrants.

In 2022, VyprVPN was found by AppEsteem to install an expired Trusted Root Certificate on Windows in order to make some legacy protocols work. The company promptly issued an updated certificate, and its IKEv2 protocol support currently required manual configuration and certificate installation. I would have liked a clear public statement from VyprVPN on the subject, but its remediation actions are adequate.

Features and Usability

• Simply and polished layout
• Features include kill switch and auto connection

The VyprVPN client is simple and polished, showing uptime, connection and disconnection buttons and the endpoint country you’re in.

You can easily connect to your choice of geographical endpoint location and save favourite endpoints. Click the Customize button and you’ll find a full range of advanced options to help you tweak the VPN to your precise needs, including protocol selection, automatic connection on start-up, automatic reconnection, automatic connection on public Wi-Fi networks, and a kill switch to prevent any traffic from being sent over an unsecured internet connection.

In Vypr’s protocols list, you’ll also find the obfuscated Chameleon protocol, which tries to hide telltale signs that might reveal that you’re using a VPN to outside observers. This is for use in countries with restrictive internet connections such as China, or simply on local networks that attempt to deter their users from concealing their traffic.

VyprVPN has dedicated apps for a huge range of platforms, from Windows, macOS and Linux desktop PCs to smartphones, routers and NAS devices. Golden Frog also provides extensive documentation for correctly using its VPN service in a variety of scenarios.

Performance

• Consistently good performance in speed tests
• Fine for most streaming services

All of my testing was carried out on a virtual desktop physically located at a data centre with a high-speed internet connection in London. This testing setup produces results under optimal connection conditions. VPN clients are tested on their default settings.

VyprVPN uses the fast WireGuard protocol by default, and exceeded the group average for the Netherlands. It’s regularly ranked among the top performers in my tests over the past year, but its US throughput appears to have been affected by a networking issue that limited performance on a number of VPN providers during my brief testing window – I’d usually expect to see speeds of over 100 Mbps via endpoints in the Eastern US.

VyprVPN is generally fine for watching streamed video content, and split tunnelling is available so that you can watch local streaming services without having to disconnect from your VPN.

Latest deals

VyprVPN is available for £54/$54 per year