SwitchVPN is a virtual private network service provider that helps users around the world protect their privacy and access online content that may be blocked in their region.
Let’s review some of SwitchVPN’s features:
Servers
SwitchVPN provides users with a selection of 145 servers in 35 locations, ranging from Asia/Pacific to Europe to North and South America.
All of these servers are high-speed, meaning that users should have no problems with streaming HD content while connected to them.
SwitchVPN also provides users with technologies such as advanced security DNS. This is very important for people who want to make use of a VPN service that works in censorship-heavy countries such as China and Iran.
Like other VPN service providers, SwitchVPN claims that it has dedicated and multi-gigabit VPN speeds—a factor that’s ideal for users who do a lot of streaming and gaming. With an account, SwitchVPN customers can connect up to five internet-enabled devices simultaneously.
SwitchVPN distinguishes itself from competitors by offering free and unlimited access to all types of VPN protocols.
The VPN service provider also provides unlimited bandwidth to all paid users.
Encryption
All users can make use of a variety of different and working encryption options.
For the OpenVPN protocol, SwitchVPN offers a 256-bit AES connection.
However, the default option makes use of the 128-bit Blowfish encryption for the user’s data stream. It uses the RSA-1024 for handshaking.
The service also uses a strong 2048-bit static key.
As for other protocols, apart from the default one, SwitchVPN offers L2TP/IPsec.
For users in China, there is one additional protocol in the form of SSTP. This is the option that users should go for in countries that impose various VPN blocking methods.
Kill Switch
SwitchVPN comes with a decent number of advanced security features. Among these is a kill switch feature, which turns off the user’s internet access if they get disconnected from their VPN server. This prevents DNS leaks.
Also, SwitchVPN offers an auto-connect feature along with a site-exception list.
P2P and Torrenting
SwitchVPN offers P2P support on its servers—a plus for users who like torrenting.
Performance
SwitchVPN has solid upload and download speeds, earning it a label of reliable and fast from us.
If you want to test out the service’s performance, you should do so by connecting to a U.S.-based server.
Then you should go to a website like speedtest.net or speedof.me to compare the speeds to when you do not have any VPN connection.
Our research also shows that SwitchVPN does protect users against leaks.
You can try it out for yourself at dnsleaktest.com or ipleak.net.
Compatibility
Currently, SwitchVPN offers apps for these operating systems:
- iOS (via the Apple App Store)
- Android (via Google Play)
- Windows (via SwitchVPN’s website)
- Mac (via SwitchVPN’s website)
Customer Support
SwitchVPN’s staff has put in a lot of work to create detailed, comprehensive installation guides, available on the company’s website. These guides are very helpful for beginners to learn the basics of how the service works.
The company’s support department provides users with 24/7 service.
Even users who have not registered with SwitchVPN yet can make use of the live chat feature on the company’s website. That is in stark contrast to VPN services that only allow you to access their live chat feature once you have bought a VPN package.
As for the response time, users should have no problems in receiving a response to their query quickly. Sometimes, you may get your answer within a matter of minutes rather than hours.
Furthermore, unlike many other VPN customer support departments, SwitchVPN’s provides users with informative answers.
Add to that the fact that SwitchVPN has an appropriately fleshed out troubleshooting guide, along with important legal information and also a complete FAQ section, and you can see why we rate it so highly.
Remember that apart from the knowledge base and live chat feature, you can get in touch with the company via a traditional ticket-based system as well.
Installation
You can register for an account on SwitchVPN’s website.
Click on the free trial button, then create an account with your username and password. Then press the Confirm Account button.
Once you do that, you should get an email directing you to a new page. This will contain all the information you’ll need for your trial account.
If you don’t want the free trial and want to sign up with the service, then all you really need is a valid email address.
Provide that to SwitchVPN, along with a password, and you are done.
User Interface
Once you download/install the SwitchVPN app, you’ll need to input your username and password, then click on Login. SwitchVPN will show your present IP address. Now, you should click the power button within the app. Once you do that, you should see your IP address change with the server you connected to.
With that out of the way, you are free to browse the internet securely.
From an overall perspective, we feel that the SwitchVPN Windows client is attractive and user-friendly.
SwitchVPN provides users with a good number of configuration options as well.
For example, users are free to change VPN protocols as much as they want.
Although, if you are not an advanced VPN user, then you should stick with OpenVPN.
Security and Privacy
SwitchVPN offers users an internal DNS system as well as a virtual firewall.
The company is based in the United States, which may be of concern to some. The American government’s data retention and surveillance methods have been subject to heavy criticism, especially in recent years.
The U.S. is also obligated to the 14 Eyes Alliance, an international intelligence-sharing agreement with other countries around the world.
Nevertheless, SwitchVPN claims it does not store any logs of users’ data.
More specifically, it does not keep connection and bandwidth logs.
Price
SwitchVPN offers users two different VPN subscription packages:
- 1-month package for $9.95
- 12-month package for $79.95 (a one-time payment which converts to around $6.66 per month)
Both subscription packages come with the same set of features.
Payment Methods
SwitchVPN accepts the following payment methods:
- Bitcoin
- PayPal
- Credit Card
Refunds
SwitchVPN offers users a 30-day money-back guarantee for all their packages.
Not only that, but SwitchVPN also provides users with a one-day trial for free.
We know that this may not seem ideal to a lot of people in terms of reliably testing the VPN service, but you at least have the option of testing the app’s performance metrics.
The other thing you should keep in mind is that there are very few VPN services that still offer a free trial of any length.
The fact that SwitchVPN does offer one means that you have a chance of taking a good look at the VPN service before paying up.
User Reviews
Currently, SwitchVPN has a rating of 3 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot.
One user who gave the service a single star said they did not believe the company had a sufficient amount of staff members running operations. They also complained about the lack of U.K. server reliability.
However, another user who gave the service 4/5 stars said that they found the service quick and easy to use.
One customer who gave the service 5/5 stars said that the quality was great and the customer support department was helpful.
Another customer gave the service 4/5 stars and mentioned that the service was good enough, but sometimes it would disconnect on its own.
Alternatives
You may want a VPN service that offers more servers, better speeds and more advanced settings.
If that’s the case, then try some of the VPN services mentioned below:
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Zero logs policy | Some issues with disconnection |
| Diverse server options | U.S. jurisdiction |
| High speeds | Could have a larger server network |
| Setup guides available | |
| Multiple VPN protocols |
Overall, we feel that SwitchVPN is a pretty solid VPN service provider.
Conclusion
This VPN service supplies users with a good variety of VPN servers that are fast and reliable.
Moreover, we found that the company had excellent customer support available for people who had problems setting up the VPN.
There are also several options for connecting to different types of security protocols.
As for the price, we believe SwitchVPN is affordable for what it offers. Before paying up for the service, you can make use of the free trial option.
Even after the one-day free trial option is over, you can still ask for your money back within 30 days.
In other words, you can try out SwitchVPN risk-free—a major plus.