SaferVPN Review

Our rating
Security Read more toggle icon
80%
Features Read more toggle icon
75%
Check out the new VPN porivders! no deal avatar We do not recommend this VPN provider!
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SaferVPN calls itself the "fastest and simplest VPN worldwide," Despite lacking some more advanced features, it provides a good overall VPN service to users.

Although SaferVPN isn't as well-known as some of its competitors, it has a good-sized server network. The network consists of over 1300 high-speed VPN servers spread across more than 50 countries. That's pretty good and offers customers many opportunities to bypass geo-restrictions and access censored content online.

SaferVPN doesn't just provide users access to different websites all over the world. With each plan, users can enjoy the highest levels of security thanks to advanced encryption and secure protocols. Each plan can be used on 5 devices simultaneously so that you can protect multiple devices at one time.

With a 30-day money-back guarantee, there is time to test out the VPN and cancel your subscription if the offerings do not convince you. However, for VPN beginners, we think this VPN is a great option.

    Pros

  • pro icon Unlimited speed
  • pro icon User-friendly mobile apps
  • pro icon Supports torrenting

    Cons

  • con icon No split tunneling
  • con icon No free trial
  • con icon Based in Israel (Collaborates with 5 Eyes)
Price Starting At: 2.50 $ / monthly 65.88 $ / annually
For New Users: 30 -day money-back guarantee
Number of servers: 1300+
General information
Max Speed: Unlimited
Type of IP offered: Shared
Simultaneous connections / Users: 5
Number of Netflix Libraries: Not available
Information sharing: 14 Eyes Member
OS support: Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows
Router support: DD-WRT, Linksys, Netgear
VPN Promotion: Get VPN from SaferVPN for 2.50$ per month
Capabilities
Unlimited Bandwidthcross iconKill Switchcross iconSplit Tunnelingcross iconZero Data Loggingcross iconFree Version / Trialcross iconMobile Appcross iconBrowser Extentioncross iconNetflix Approvedcross iconFirestick Compatiblecross icon
Payment options
  • Alipay
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Mastercard
  • Mastercard Debit
  • MoneyBookers
  • Paypal
  • Skrill
  • Visa
  • Visa Debit
  • Visa Electron
  • WebMoney
Geolocations available
  • Albania
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

SaferVPN Security

80%

SaferVPN offers users military-grade AES-256 bit encryption with SHA256 authentication and 2048-bit RSA keys. Moreover, SaferVPN employs Perfect Forward Secrecy to make new encryption keys at the start of every VPN session and rotates encryption keys every 60 minutes. This ensures that you have a secure VPN connection at all times that is safe from hackers and other third parties.

Aside from offering great encryption, Safer provides users with a range of protocols to choose from to help customers get the most from their VPN experience. There is an extensive guide on the SaferVPN website that explains the use of each VPN protocol, which allows people to decide whether they want a faster or more secure connection.

SaferVPN offers a choice from IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP. You can easily change your protocol on the VPN app or select the automatic VPN protocol option, allowing SaferVPN to assign a VPN protocol depending on what you're using the VPN for.

While we would like to say that Safer offers DNS leak protection, the VPN is not completely DNS leakproof. This is a security issue since it puts your online privacy and real IP address at risk.

Fortunately, there are many other great security features that users can activate in the VPN app. There is the smart wi-fi protection, which automatically activates the VPN when you connect to an unknown wi-fi network. This automatic wi-fi security is perfect for people who often use public wi-fi networks since hackers and other snoopers can often frequent these.

There is also an internet lock, otherwise known as a kill switch. The kill switch should kick in whenever your VPN connection cuts out and disconnect you from the internet. This ensures that your browsing data is not exposed to any third parties. Although the kill switch is a great feature, we experienced a few issues with it - on one occasion, our VPN connection went down, and the kill switch didn't disconnect from the internet, which was worrying.

Despite some issues with the kill switch, SaferVPN has a no-logging policy. From the get-go, the provider reassures customers on its website that it does not store their personal data, stating: "we do not collect, log, or store any browsing activity, data or IP addresses." As well as this, the provider also declares that it doesn't log your VPN IP address or DNS queries.

However, just because SaferVPN doesn't store a lot of information does not mean it doesn't log anything. To monitor activity on its servers, SaferV does store connection timestamps (time of connection and disconnection), amount of data transferred during each session, and the server and user location during sessions.

While none of the above should affect your security too much, we were slightly surprised by other information we came across in the SaferVPN privacy policy. Even though SaferVPN says it will never "encrypt, read, or sell user VPN network traffic," the provider may disclose personal information, including your email address, usage history, and IP address, if you violate its rules. Basically, if subscribers break the law on one of SaferVPN's VPN servers, then they are not exempt from their data being shared with government agencies or other third parties.

While we agree with the above notion, it does beg the question, how much data is SaferVPN actually logging behind the scenes? We'd like to see an independent third-party audit of its privacy policy since these small discrepancies have raised many questions about the level of security and privacy users have when on the server network.

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SaferVPN Features

75%

We believe that VPN providers should offer customers a range of extra features from split tunneling to access to streaming services for a great VPN experience. Unfortunately, SaferVPN doesn't deliver a large variety of features, but there are some aspects to the VPN that are useful to customers.

Firstly, there is unlimited server switching available to give you more online freedom than ever before. Many customers are unsure as to why unlimited server switching is important. However, it is essential since it permits users to switch to new server locations around the world and enjoy more content online. Many VPN providers limit the number of server locations you can use per month, which further restricts your internet freedom.

As well as no limits for server switching, customers can enjoy unlimited speed and unlimited bandwidth. This bodes well for people who want fast connection speeds to stream content or torrent on the World Wide Web.

Speaking of torrenting and streaming, subscribers can enjoy both on SaferVPN's VPN servers, although there are some limitations. Torrenting is only permitted in three locations, and SaferVPN can't provide access to streaming sites in all of the 50 countries it operates in.

With each SaferVPN subscription plan, customers get 5 simultaneous connections. One of the best things about SaferVPN is that it is compatible with many different operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. The provider also has browser extensions and can be configured to routers with compatible firmware. This enables customers to use the VPN on their IoT (Internet of Things) devices such as Smart TVs.

While this is no split tunneling, which we would like to see, the provider offers user-friendly mobile apps and desktop clients. There is also 24/7 customer support and many different ways for subscribers to get in touch with customer support staff. These include a live chat and customer service email address. Customers need to get a great all-around VPN experience, and dedicated customer support helps contribute to that.

All plans come with a no strings attached 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to get accustomed to the VPN service before they decide if they want to continue using it long term.

It would be great if SaferVPN extended the VPN services it has on offer. For example, it could allow users to route their traffic through two different locations for extra online privacy, or the provider could add more P2P friendly servers to its network. It would also be useful to see a Tor over VPN option, allowing subscribers to route their connection via the Onion Network.

Is SaferVPN Free?

SaferVPN is not a free VPN service. Although the provider has offered several different free trial lengths in the past, we could not see this option available at the time of writing. It seems as though SaferVPN changes its policy towards free trials often.

How Much is SaferVPN?

SaferVPN offers several payment plan options. Depending on how long you sign up for, you can get a great deal.

It’s impressive to see that SaferVPN doesn’t charge over $100 for any of its subscription plans. Most VPN providers may charge a lot more money for a plan that lasts 3 years, so it is great to see that SaferVPN’s is under $100.

Does SaferVPN Have a 30-day Money-Back Guarantee?

Yes, SaferVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Since SaferVPN doesn’t offer a free trial, customers can enjoy the 30-day money-back guarantee and treat it as a trial period.

If users aren’t satisfied with the services before the end of the first month, they can claim a full refund on the 30-day money-back guarantee.

What Payment Methods Does SaferVPN Accept?

SaferVPN offers a variety of payment method options. Customers can opt for traditional payment options such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, and Discover. Alternatively, they can pay via PayPal or with Moneybookers, Skrill, Webmoney, and Alipay.

SaferVPN claims to offer Bitcoin as a payment method on its website. However, when we went to check out, we could not see Bitcoin as an option, which was disappointing. Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies, enable customers to anonymously pay for VPNs, giving themselves more privacy on the World Wide Web. Since SaferVPN has definitely offered Bitcoin as a payment option in the past, we hope to see it reinstated to the provider’s website soon.

What Devices Can You Use SaferVPN on?

Even though you can only use the VPN on 5 devices at once (which is the industry average, but we feel is still a little too low), the provider has many dedicated apps for various platforms.

You can use SaferVPN on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. There are also browser extension options that can be used on your devices. The Firefox and Chrome browser extensions are easy to use and provide users with the same level of freedom online, allowing them to change their IP address and bypass internet restrictions.

Unfortunately, the Google Chrome extension does not use the same encryption level as in the apps (and we assume the same goes for the Firefox extension). Instead, the Google Chrome extension uses SSL over an HTTP protocol to protect your VPN network traffic. While the Chrome extension is fast and offers fast page load times, and gives you access to worldwide content, you may not want to solely rely on it if you are using a VPN for data privacy and wi-fi security protection.

Aside from all of the above, customers can also configure SaferVPN to a router with compatible DD-WRT firmware. With the VPN on your router, you can circumvent the device connection limit and protect all devices and IoT objects on your home network. Moreover, by putting the VPN on your router, you can connect it to your Smart TV and gaming consoles. SaferVPN sells routers that already have VPN software configured on them and which customers can buy from the provider’s website.

Does SaferVPN Provide Customer Support?

SaferVPN has dedicated customer support staff who can help you with any issues that may arise with the service. VPN technology isn’t without its issues, so good customer service is a necessity.

SaferVPN provides 24/7 customer support, calling it “5-star”. Firstly, customers can use a support portal with a menu full of guides, FAQs, and help on setting up the VPN. This is great since it includes almost all the essential information that users need and helps them make the most out of your SaferVPN experience.

However, if the support section doesn’t provide you with the answers you need, you can contact the support team via live chat. Most VPN providers have started to offer 24/7 customer support in the form of a live chat, and it is a great way to get fast answers.

If you don’t need an immediate reply to your question but want to get in touch with someone, you can contact the customer support team by email or by ticket in the helpdesk portal. Response times are quick, and the replies are full of information.

Is SaferVPN Fast?

SaferVPN calls itself one of the fastest VPNs in the world. However, we’ve seen many providers make this claim about their services, only to lack a lot of speed.

Connection speeds can be affected by many different factors, including your physical location and the base speed on your regular network, physical distance from the VPN server, and server user load. With that in mind, we ran some speed tests.

We first connected to a server in the US, and our download speed dropped to 30Mbps. We started with a base speed of 32Mbps, so this wasn’t too much of a difference and still gave us a pretty fast connection. In the UK, our download speed changed to 29Mbps, which was again pretty good. We had similar rates across Europe but noticed more significant changes in Asia.

We connected to a server in South Korea, and our speed went down to 25Mbps. We got a similar result in Japan, at 24Mbps. Again, these speeds weren’t too bad considering what we started with, and we didn’t notice any prolonged page load times or anything else like that.

If you want to get faster speeds from the SaferVPN service, we recommend using one of its browser extensions instead of one of the device apps. Since these only give your VPN services for the browser instead of your whole device, load speeds are better and will give you a faster online experience.

Does SaferVPN Work for Netflix?

Safer helps customers bypass many internet restrictions. Whether you want to access social media platforms like Facebook on your work or college’s restricted network, or bypass streaming service firewalls, you can do so with SaferVPN. The provider calls itself a “streaming VPN on its website but doesn’t mention the specific platforms it can provide access to.

To access a different variety of Netflix TV shows and films, simply choose a location and connect to a server. This will change your IP address and give you access to content solely for that region. Of course, streaming sites are notoriously well-known for having strong anti-VPN firewalls and can block IP addresses that they associate with VPN services. So, we put SaferVPN to the test to see what it can and can’t unblock.

We first connected to a server in the United States and got through to US Netflix with no issues. Our connection speed was good, and we enjoyed an HD experience. We also managed to access Netflix when connected to other servers in the UK and Germany.

Unfortunately, we were unable to access other streaming sites with this VPN. We tried Amazon Prime Video on many servers in the network and were met with the same invalid connection message. Likewise, when we tried to access BBC iPlayer via a UK server location, we found that we could not.

All in all, it seems that SaferVPN doesn’t work with most streaming platforms. However, it is important to remember that there is a constant battle going on between VPNs and streaming services, with both constantly upping their technology in order to outdo the other. Although SaferVPN didn’t work with some sites, this doesn’t mean that it won’t provide access to them in the future.

Can You Torrent with SaferVPN?

SaferVPN permits torrenting on its network of servers and has some great features that make it an optimal choice for P2P networking. Firstly, it offers decent connection speeds, which are important for fast downloads. It also offers advanced encryption to protect your torrenting activity from snoopers if you’re on a public wi-fi network. There is also a kill switch that should prevent your VPN network activity and your real IP address from being exposed.

While SaferVPN does permit torrenting on its network, it is only allowed on a select few server locations. Torrenters can use platforms like BitTorrent in Spain, Netherlands, and Canada only. Although this is more than other VPN providers offer, it still limits people to just a handful of servers. If the number of torrenting servers available doesn’t matter to you, then SaferVPN is a great choice for this activity.

Is SaferVPN Easy to Use?

On the Safer website, the provide proclaims to be a “super simple VPN service.” Moreover, the provider has great reviews on TrustPilot, the Apple Store, and the Google Play Store. All of these factors combined indicate that it is straightforward to use, and during our research for this review, we found that it was.

Download and installation of the apps is easy regardless of whether you’re using it on Windows, iOS, or one of the many other devices. Once you have opened the app on your device, you can scroll through the list of servers to find the best location for you. Alternatively, you can search for a specific server location or use the automatic connect feature, allowing SaferVPN to connect you to the best server. Once you’ve found servers you like, you can also add these to a favorites list to connect to them again.

The settings menu is easily accessible in the app, and you can adjust the security features there. You can activate the automatic wi-fi security protection, the internet lock (kill switch) feature, and change your protocol with the tap of a button.

The simplicity of the apps is one of Safer’s most significant selling points. If you’re a VPN novice, this service is a great way to get yourself accustomed to VPN technology.

Where is SaferVPN Based?

SaferVPN is an Israeli-based VPN. The fact that the service is based in Israel could ring alarm bells for customers since Israel is known to operate mass-data surveillance. Furthermore, Israel is known to collaborate with Five Eyes countries, sharing user data internationally.

Given that Israel doesn’t have a good rep when it comes to privacy, Safer makes sure to reassure users that their data is safe. The provider offers several examples on its website of laws that show why Israel is actually a safe place for VPN services. Safer links users to three different articles on Israeli privacy laws as evidence to support their claims.

Not only is SaferVPN Israeli-based, but Safer is a NetProtect brand. Other NetProtect brands include IPVanish and encrypt.me, so SaferVPN is in good company. While NetProtect works to make the internet safer and more private, as well as more environmentally friendly and sustainable, it is a subsidiary of J2 Global, a US-based company.

The US is a Five Eyes member. So, it is worrying to see that Safer has links to both Israel and the US, where privacy laws are not considered to be on the side of the user. While we believe that Safer has a strict zero-logs policy, and so there is no user data to be shared, the connections to these two locations could put off some customers. For a VPN that is based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, try SurfShark.

Does SaferVPN Work in China?

China has particular rules about using VPNs in its region, and only approved VPNs can be used in the country. Currently, SaferVPN does not work in China. If you’re traveling to the area, then consider using NordVPN or ExpressVPN as both of these providers work in China.

Is SaferVPN Legit?

For customer security, it is important to ensure that the VPN you are using is legitimate. From our research, it’s safe to say that SaferVPN is a legit company. For one thing, it is a NetProtect brand, so this gives it legitimacy as the provider looks after other well-known VPN and privacy solutions.

Secondly, the vast number of positive customer reviews about the VPN online only further shows that the provider is a great service with a large client base.

SaferVPN Vs. Other VPN Providers

In the name of being impartial, we will take a look at some VPN competitors to see how they match up to SaferVPN. If SaferVPN has not won you over, then consider the three providers listed below.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a Swiss-based provider that offers a free VPN alongside its paid plans. The provider is big on security and has a strict zero-logs policy. It offers great features such as routing your VPN connection through two locations to give yourself more protection and privacy online.

NordVPN

NordVPN is an extremely trustworthy and popular VPN. With an extensive server network of over 5500 servers spanning almost 60 countries, it is great for accessing restricted content and streaming sites. As well as offering a host of great VPN features, NordVPN provides excellent security and has dedicated apps for all of the most popular platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

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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