IronSocket VPN Review

Is IronSocket Safe?

So, is IronSocket a safe VPN service? Let’s break down how the VPN is safe and how it could pose a risk to your online security.

Firstly, IronSocket has a zero-logs policy, which is reassuring. This ensures users that their activity won’t be stored on the VPN server network, nor will it be shared. Since the VPN is based in Hong Kong, a territory facing increasingly stricter data retention laws, it’s reassuring to know that no logs are stored.

When you connect to one of the VPN servers, then you’ll enjoy advanced encryption, which protects your browsing data while you’re online, hiding it from hackers and other third parties. However, if you choose to connect to one of the proxies, you lose encryption protection from the VPN. Using a proxy server may expose your real IP address and can, more often than not, contain adware.

So, while the DNS proxy server is great for giving you unlimited access to streaming services online, it puts your privacy and security at risk. If you are using a VPN to give yourself an extra layer of protection online, then connect to the VPN servers and use create secure VPN connections using protocols like OpenVPN.

Is IronSocket Free?

IronSocket is not a free VPN service. Free trials are hard to come by in the VPN world nowadays, and we don’t recommend customers using free VPNs since they often lack good encryption and have questionable privacy policies. It’s worth keeping in mind that the best VPN providers don’t usually have free services.

How Much is IronSocket?

If you want to use IronSocket VPN, then you can choose from three subscription plans. On each plan, users get 3 VPN connections and 3 proxy connections simultaneously.

• On the monthly plan, users pay $6.99
• To use the VPN service for 6 months, users have to pay $5.99 per month, which works out to $35.95 for the whole 6 months
• 1 year of the service costs $4.16 per month, which is $49.95 for the whole year

The plans’ prices are good value for money, and the monthly plan is especially cheap, considering that ExpressVPN charges $12.95 per month on its monthly plan.

Another great aspect of the subscription plans is that first-time IronSocket VPN users get 50% off, regardless of the plan they choose. This is an amazing offer and will save all customers a lot of money when they sign up for the service.

Does IronSocket VPN Have a 30-day Money-Back Guarantee?

The industry standard for VPN refund policies is 30 days, and some providers have even started to offer 45-day money-back guarantees. However, IronSocket VPN only offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. Even though a 7-day money-back guarantee is quite short, it does give users a fair amount of time to try out the services.

Even though the refund policy is short, it comes with no strings attached. If you’d like to try out a provider with a long refund policy, then you can try out CyberGhost or Hotspot Shield. Both of these providers offer a 45-day money-back guarantee.

What Payment Methods Does IronSocket Accept?

One thing that IronSocket doesn’t skimp on is payment options. As well as allowing payments via usual methods such as credit cards, customers can purchase the service through a number of other ways on its website.

Firstly, the provider accepts popular credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover Network. You can also pay via PayPal.

For users who want to pay anonymously, they can purchase the VPN service via Bitcoin. Other anonymous payment methods include gift cards. We’re seriously impressed with the variety of payment options on offer.

Does IronSocket Have Good Customer Support?

Any VPN provider worth its weight caters to customers’ needs. This includes having a competent customer support service. IronSocket VPN claims to have 24/7 customer support, which is impressive, but we decided to explore what is on offer in terms of customer service.

Firstly you can get in touch with the customer support team via email or use a support ticket. We tested the email service and were pleased to receive a reply within a couple of hours. Unfortunately, there is no live chat service on the website, despite claims on other reviews. It’s disappointing that there is no live chat since we feel this is an integral part of a good customer support system.

Fortunately, IronSocket has a good support page on its website, full of informative setup guides. Whether you want to use the VPN on Windows, Mac, or Android, IronSocket provides comprehensive how-to’s to assist users in setting up the server on all of their devices.

So, while the customer support is lacking in some areas, namely not having a live chat service on the website, we think the tutorials and guides are great. Even VPN novices will be able to easily set up the VPN service on their devices and enjoy ease of use thanks to the support given in the support section.

What Devices Can I Use IronSocket on?

With IronSocket, users get 3 VPN connections and 3 proxy connections with one subscription. This means that you can simultaneously use the VPN service on 3 devices and also connect to 3 proxies.

IronSocket claims to have support for all operating systems on its site, and while this is true, users have to manually install the VPN onto their devices as there are no dedicated apps. While there is a native client for Windows, which makes the installation process an easier experience, you need to install the VPN on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or Linux using the OpenVPN connect app or configuration files.

Users can also configure the VPN to their router, connecting it with either OpenVPN, L2TP, or PPTP. Once the VPN is connected to a router, you can extend its service to protect your streaming boxes such as the Amazon Fire Stick, gaming consoles including PlayStation, and Smart TVs.

Of course, it may be inconvenient for some users to set up the VPN on their devices manually. Despite this, we think it is fantastic that the provider has such detailed guides on its website on how to set up the VPN. The instructions are super clear and easy to follow, which makes setup a breeze. However, if you are a VPN beginner, and don’t want to jump into the deep end of manual configuration, then providers such as NordVPN and Surfshark offer dedicated apps for use on the most popular platforms.

Can IronSocket Unblock Netflix?

A VPN review wouldn’t be complete without testing the service’s ability to bypass Netflix’s VPN firewall. Thanks to IronSocket’s DNS proxy, we were successful in bypassing the Netflix VPN block. We tested the service in the United States and got through to Netflix with no issues. We then tried in the UK, Germany, and Australia and had no issues. So far, so good.

However, when we tried to access BBC iPlayer in the UK, we had some issues when using a regular VPN server. However, when connected to the DNS proxy, we got through.

We were able to also access other streaming websites such as Amazon Prime Video. We got through to Prime in many different server locations and enjoyed buffer-free video thanks to the unlimited bandwidth restrictions.

Overall, IronSocket is a great service for accessing streaming services. The only drawback is that you can’t access streaming sites from anywhere because the VPN provider doesn’t have the largest network of servers. If you want more location options, it’s worth trying out other VPNs like CyberGhost or Private Internet Access.

Does IronSocket Support Torrenting?

VPNs are important for torrenters since they provide extra privacy. Without one, your real IP address will be exposed, and third parties could see what you are downloading and sharing online. Fortunately, IronSocket is one of the best VPN providers for torrenting.

IronSocket supports many torrenting platforms, including uTorrent and BitTorrent. However, not all servers support torrenting, and there are only a select few on which you can access torrent platforms. These servers are clearly marked so that users can connect to an optimal one in order to torrent.

The SOCKS5 proxy is also a great addition for torrenters since it provides users with faster speeds, which are better for downloading. However, it is important to remember that the SOCKS5 proxy doesn’t protect you or give you extra privacy that you get with a regular VPN.

Is IronSocket Fast?

IronSocket claims to be a fast VPN, so we put it to the test. When connected to the proxies, we experience faster speeds than with VPN connections. We ran a couple of speed tests with the VPN servers and started with a base speed of 31Mbps. When we connected to the US, we went down to speeds of 29Mbps, which was still fast.

We then connected to some servers in Europe, averaging speeds of 26Mbps. Overall, we found the speeds to be decent, but it is important to remember that speed tests aren’t always a good indication of how fast a VPN is. Firstly, speeds will differ for every use. Our base speeds are naturally slower than perhaps other locations in the world. This means that our VPN speeds will be affected by our present location.

Moreover, factors such as distance from other servers, user load, and whether you’re using a proxy or not will affect your speed. If you connect to one of its many proxy servers, you’ll get exceptionally fast speeds. However, these lack a lot of security.

Is IronSocket Easy to Use?

Ease of use is critical with a VPN. Since IronSocket doesn’t provide dedicated apps, it may appear to be difficult to use. However, this is far from the truth. IronSocket VPN provides detailed setup instructions and step by step guides on using the VPN on various devices.

If you don’t like the idea of manually setting up a VPN connection, then it may be best to avoid this VPN. Even though once you have installed the VPN, it is easy to use, configuring a VPN may not be the best thing for VPN novices.

Is IronSocket Based in Hong Kong?

IronSocket is based in Hong Kong and therefore falls under its jurisdiction. This means that if the Hong Kong government were to request information from IronSocket’s servers, the provider would be forced to hand over information.

This may cause some concerns for users since Hong Kong is seeing its freedoms become increasingly restricted due to China’s influence. Many VPNs have even pulled their servers out of the region due to fear that Hong Kong is becoming more controlled by China. However, we think the concerns about the location are unwarranted, at least for the time being.

Fortunately, IronSocket claims to have a stringent no-logging policy. This means that even if the provider were made to submit information from its servers, there wouldn’t be any damning evidence to hand over that could link individuals to browsing activity on the network.

Is IronSocket Worth it?

So, is IronSocket worth the money? There are many reasons why the provider is a good choice and some reasons we would advise against purchasing the service.

Firstly, the provider does provide an additional layer of privacy to users since it employs military-grade encryption and offers a good selection of protocols. It provides access to websites around the world and has fantastic unblocking capabilities. The great selection of proxy VPN servers provides lightning-fast speeds to users who aren’t as concerned about their online security.

However, there are some downsides to the VPN. Firstly, you can’t connect to websites anywhere in the world. The network is small, which means there are some restrictions. Secondly, the lack of dedicated apps is offputting for many customers, especially those who don’t want to configure a VPN connection manually.

Overall, we would recommend this provider, but perhaps to more experienced users. If you have never used VPNs before, then it might be best to try out a provider like ExpressVPN that offers simple apps for many popular platforms, including a router app, which is almost unheard of in the industry.

Author Madeleine Hodson

I’m Madeleine, and I'm a writer that specializes in cybersecurity, tech products, and all things related to the internet. I have a keen interest in VPNs and believe that everyone deserves internet freedom and security. I wr...
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