CryptoStorm VPN Review

Is CryptoStorm No-Logs?

CryptoStorm markets itself as a no-logs VPN, so we examined its privacy policy to see whether this is truly the case or not.

The privacy policy in its entirety is confusing, consisting of length sentences, over-explanations, and advanced terms and references that many users won’t understand; it may be overwhelming to many customers who don’t understand the details of what is being explained.

Fortunately, we were able to deduct from CryptoStorm’s privacy policy that no identifiable information about you will be logged when you’re using the service. This means that your real IP address, location, and browser choice won’t be logged anywhere, and no data that can identify your use of the VPN will be stored on the server network.

However, it is important to note that some information will be logged when users visit the CryptoStorm website, as the site functions like any other on the internet. Identifiable information that will be logged when you access the site includes your IP address, browser, device, and the time and date you visited the site. Fortunately, this information will be erased after 2 weeks. Even better, there is a Tor browser version of the website, which will keep you safe.

Some payment information is also encrypted when you sign up for a CryptoStorm plan. However, like the information logged from site visits, this payment data will be sent to a secure server off-site for security reasons after 2 weeks.

Overall we are impressed by the level of security on offer, and it is great news for users of the free VPN that they also enjoy the same no-logging policy. However, the provider could make its privacy policy more accessible in terms of understanding for VPN novices. Secondly, an audit would be reassuring and ensure that customers’ data isn’t being misused.

Does CryptoStorm Have a Warrant Canary?

Yes, CryptoStorm has a warrant canary in place and updates it quarterly. At the time of writing, the provider last updated the warrant canary in June of this year and had not received any court orders to disclose information from its servers. The provider had also not shared any data from its servers with third parties.

How Much is CryptoStorm?

CryptoStorm offers many different subscription plans, and its pricing system is token-based. Depending on the payment method you choose, the token length options will be different. Here is a breakdown of some of the most popular subscription tokens on offer with CryptoStorm.

• The yearly plan is $52, which works out to around $4.33 per month.
• The monthly plan costs just $6, which is great value for money. Most of the high-end VPN services cost at least $10 on monthly recurring subscriptions, so CryptoStorm is comparatively cheaper.
• The weekly plan is $1.86. Although this appears cheap, it would add up over time and is not the most cost-effective plan. However, a week-long token provides users with a chance to use the service without signing up long-term.

On the monthly and weekly plans, you can only use the VPN on 1 device. On the year-long plan, you can enjoy 4 simultaneous connections. There are also 3 month and 6 month-long plans available for Bitcoin, credit, and debit card customers.

Does CryptoStorm Have a Lifetime Plan?

Unlike many other VPN providers, CryptoStorm offers customers the option to purchase a lifetime plan. This lifetime plan costs $500 and provides users access to the VPN service and its features forever. In addition, each lifetime plan offers 6 simultaneous connections. However, the lifetime plan is only available when purchased using Bitcoin.

VPNSurfers, along with other experts in the VPN field, advise against purchasing lifetime VPN plans. There are many risks involved since the VPN provider could go out of business at any point, taking your money with it. We recommend choosing from one of the recurring subscriptions instead since you can cancel these at any time but hold them for as long as you wish.

What Payment Methods does CryptoStorm Accept?

As the provider’s name suggests, CryptoStorm accepts cryptocurrency in the form of Bitcoin. As well as this, it accepts payments using credit and debit cards as well as those made via PayPal.

Is There a Refund Policy?

CryptoStorm does not offer a regular 30-day money-back guarantee like more VPN providers, but it does operate a refund policy.

You are entitled to a refund if you have used the VPN for less than 50% of the time you purchased a ticket. So, if you purchase a monthly plan, your ticket will last for 30 days. You’ll be able to successfully request a refund if you only used the VPN for 10 days and weren’t impressed with the services; however, you won’t be entitled to a refund if you use the VPN for 24 days.

Lifetime users are not entitled to a refund; moreover, there is a limit to how many refunds each customer can get, although this is not defined on CryptoStorm’s website.

Does CryptoStorm Have a Free VPN?

CryptoStorm offers a free version for users. Unlike many other free VPNs, your data won’t be misused since all free customers are privy to the no-logging policy that Cryptostorm employs. However, the free VPN plan only provides access to 1 server in France; moreover, there are bandwidth limits, and speeds won’t be as fast on the free plan.

With the free CryptoStorm VPN, you can install a Windows widget that provides ease of use and is incredibly user-friendly. It’s a great option for VPN novices who have never used a VPN before and don’t want to pay for a service when they first try one out.

What Devices does CryptoStorm Support?

CryptoStorm offers support for the most popular operating systems, including Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux. You can also configure the VPN to your router; however, your router needs to support OpenVPN in order to support the VPN software.

Does CryptoStorm Work with Netflix?

For this CryptoStorm review, we tested ou the provider’s ability to bypass geo-restrictions on some of the most popular streaming services. The reason for this is that many VPNs claim to bypass VPN firewalls on services but are unable to do so.

We connected to a US-based server and were able to access US Netflix. However, when we switched servers and changed locations to the UK, we were unable to get past Netflix’s VPN block. We also couldn’t get through to Netflix on servers in France and Germany.

We then tried to access BBC iPlayer on a UK server and were again disappointed. However, even though BBC iPlayer makes it difficult for VPN users to get through to its platform, some VPNs like NordVPN are successful in doing so.

So, if you want to watch US Netflix, CryptoStorm seems to be a good option. However, BBC iPlayer fans may need to look elsewhere if they want to watch British TV content.

Is There Customer Support?

Good customer service is an indication of a provider’s commitment to its users and their satisfaction with the product. There is customer support for CryptoStorm users, although it is rather limited.

There is an FAQ section on the CryptoStorm website that answers general questions about the service. However, there isn’t a dedicated help section with detailed support guides and more information on how to use the VPN. This is disappointing since many users might need a helping hand in setting up the VPN service.

Fortunately, if you encounter an issue with the service, you can get in touch with the customer support team via email. There is also the option to reach out to the team on social media, and CryptoStorm is active on Twitter.

Although there is an IRC chat available via the CryptoStorm website, this is not for customer support. You can speak to other users here and get help from them if you have any issues. However, you won’t be able to chat in real-time with a customer support agent.

Overall, the customer support is adequate at best. However, we like the fact that competitors such as PrivateVPN put customers in contact with developers and that providers like NordVPN offer a 24/7 live chat service for users.

What Do Users Think of CryptoStorm?

An indication of whether you should purchase a product or not is whether user reviews are positive. So we checked out customer reviews on Reddit to see what real users think of the service.

One comment left by a user stated that CryptoStorm was affordable and that they hadn’t “…had a problem with the speed…” despite the fact that many users lament the slowness of the service. Someone else commented on the fact that CryptoStorm is constantly experimenting with its software in order to improve the service. However, this may lead users to need to download new configuration files.

The general consensus from users is that CryptoStorm is a great VPN for paranoid tech wizards who don’t mind doing a little extra legwork in setting the VPN up. However, it seems that the provider isn’t an optimal choice for VPN novices who are inexperienced with VPNs, and we’d have to agree.

Who Owns CryptoStorm VPN?

We couldn’t write a CryptoStorm VPN review without mentioning its previous owner, Douglas Spink. Although Spink has nothing to do with CryptoStorm now, his affiliation with the company caused quite the controversy and was a leading factor to why customers were put off from using the service.

Douglas Spink has been charged with many crimes, ranging from drug smuggling to bestiality. These allegations caused CryptoStorm to cut ties with the controversial figure, who is no longer associated with the company. However, the seriousness of the allegations against Spink affected the company’s overall reputation since many felt uncomfortable using a product that was associated with serious criminal acts.

Due to the fact that CryptoStorm and Spink have parted ways, we don’t hold that against the company. However, it is something to keep in mind and is worth knowing.

Author Monique Ballard

Hi there! I'm Monique, and I am a writer at VPNSurfers. I live in New York, but I'm originally from Delware. I love traveling, but the US will always be home to me. I have more than 5 years of experience using VPNs, and I ha...
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