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Thunder VPN Review

Our rating
Security Read more toggle icon
20%
Features Read more toggle icon
20%
Check out the new VPN porivders! no deal avatar We do not recommend this VPN provider!
  • English e-mail support email enabled icon
  • No chat support chat disabled icon
  • No phone support phone disabled icon

We all love a free product, and Thunder VPN is a free and popular service. With a 4.8 star rating on Google Play Store, customers seem to be satisfied with the services on offer. However, underneath the appealing exterior of this Signal Lab product are some serious security flaws.

While Thunder VPN claims to be a no-logs service, a closer look at its Terms of Service indicates that your data may not be as secure as you think. Furthermore, the VPN offers a smaller than average server network with limited server locations.

Fortunately, Thunder VPN has some redeeming qualities, such as its ability to unblock Netflix in the US. However, compared to paid VPNs and other free VPNs, this may not be enough to warrant using the VPN.

If you've checked out the Thunder VPN website, you'll be aware that there is next to no information about the VPN and its services. We've been able to try out the VPN to provide you with all the facts you need to know before using this service. Read on to see what our experts think of Thunder VPN.

    Pros

  • pro icon Free VPN
  • pro icon Works with US Netflix
  • pro icon Easy to install

    Cons

  • con icon Based in US (Five Eyes)
  • con icon In-app ads
  • con icon Suspicious privacy policy
Price Starting At: 5.99 $ / monthly 71.88 $ / annually
For New Users: No money-back guarantee
Number of servers: 17+
General information
Max Speed: 25 Mbps
Type of IP offered: Shared
Simultaneous connections / Users: 1
Number of Netflix Libraries: 1
Information sharing: 5 Eyes Member
OS support: Android
Router support:
VPN Promotion: Get VPN from Thunder VPN for 5.99$ 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
  • American Express
  • Mastercard
  • Mastercard Debit
  • Visa
  • Visa Debit
  • Visa Electron
Geolocations available
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Thunder VPN Security

20%

Free VPNs are notorious for being less secure than paid versions. This is because they have less money to spend on implementing first-class security features like advanced encryption, secure protocols, and other tools.

Disappointingly, we don't have good news to report regarding Thunder VPN's security offerings. Firstly, Thunder VPN employs the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol to encrypt its users' internet connections which is worrying since SSL encryption is outdated and doesn't fully cover all network traffic with encryption.

SSL is usually an option alongside more secure protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2, but Thunder VPN doesn't give its users any choices regarding data encryption level or tunneling protocols. Moreover, the provider doesn't reveal whether it uses AES-256 bit encryption or not, something we have come to expect from excellent VPN providers like NordVPN.

There is also no internet kill switch available. Although a kill switch is not vital, it cuts off your internet access if your server connection drops. This ensures that your traffic data is not exposed and potentially at risk. However, with Thunder VPN, subscribers don't have the luxury of using a feature like this.

It's essential to check out a VPN provider's privacy policy to ensure it has a no-logging policy. A no-logs policy is a non-negotiable security and privacy feature, and at first glance, it seems as though Thunder operates a strict no-logging policy.

However, upon reading the provider's (very short) Terms of Service, we learned that Thunder stores a lot more information than many other services. While the provider doesn't log browsing data, it stores details such as your IP address, Internet Service Provider (ISP), device ID, email address, and time zone. Concerning your use of the VPN, the provider logs your server choice, connection times, and data used.

The fact that Thunder VPN stores its subscribers' IP addresses does not sit well with us. Although Tunnel stresses that no information it logs affects user privacy or reveals your identity, your IP address can reveal a lot of sensitive information. Moreover, Thunder says it shares this information with third parties to help improve the services, which could be worrying for some users.

Overall, the security features are disappointing. If your main reason for using a VPN is increased security and privacy online, then it might be good to give Thunder VPN a wide berth and check out a paid provider instead.

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Thunder VPN Features

20%

Using Thunder VPN won't provide you with advanced security and privacy, but does it at least offer users lots of great features? If you look at Thunder VPN's website, you won't find out much information since the provider only lists five features.

Firstly, Thunder VPN stresses the fact that it will always be a free VPN service. This reassures customers who don't want to be suddenly landed with a hefty bill for using the VPN. Although there are in-app purchases available and the ability to upgrade your plan to the VIP service for $5.99 per month, the free version is the main selling point of this VPN provider.

Thunder VPN also advertises its unlimited bandwidth. Due to a lack of bandwidth and data restrictions, subscribers can enjoy activities like streaming and torrenting. You can torrent on any of Tunnel VPN's servers, but speeds are not as fast with this VPN as with others like ExpressVPN. The speeds Thunder VPN offers may not be good enough for torrenting or streaming.

Thunder VPN can unblock certain streaming services like US Netflix and YouTube in other regions, but during our tests failed to unblock BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom. However, this is a difficult feat to achieve since BBC iPlayer has a strong anti-VPN firewall. It's great to see that Thunder unblocks Netflix in the US since this streaming service is also well-known for blocking VPNs.

On its website, the provider claims to have worldwide server locations, but in reality, offers a tiny VPN server network. It only operates 17 servers in 8 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The low number of servers limits the number of IP address options you have and means you can only access restricted content in these locations.

If you're an Android user, then you're in luck since Thunder VPN has a dedicated app for customers with an Android mobile device. While this is still limited, there are, luckily, many VPN services that cater to all operating systems.

Considering that Thunder VPN is a free service, we're not surprised by the limited features on offer, which lacks things such as split tunneling. There are also many in-app ads, which are off-putting and create an overall bad user experience. Overall, we wouldn't recommend Thunder based on its features.

Summary

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Table of content

Is Thunder VPN Fast?

Fast connection speeds are a sign of a good VPN service. To check whether Thunder VPN offers good speeds, we ran a speed test.

Our base speed was 39Mbps. We connected to a server in the UK, and our download speed dropped to 34Mbps, which is fast but still a big decrease.

We then ran another speed test and connected to a server in Italy, where our download speed dropped to 32Mbps. This is also fast but a lot slower than our start speed.

Overall, speeds were good with Thunder VPN, but nothing incredible. While we weren’t majorly disappointed, we also weren’t particularly impressed by the speed on offer.

Does Thunder VPN Have Different Pricing Plans?

Thunder VPN is primarily a free VPN, but it does have in-add purchases, and you can upgrade to the premium plan for $5.99 per month.

Does Thunder VPN Unblock Netflix?

Watching restricted content on streaming services in regions across the world is, for many people, the main reason for using a VPN. So, the common question is, does using Thunder VPN unblock Netflix and other streaming sites?

We tested Thunder VPN with US Netflix and got past the firewall with no problems. However, trying to access the website on servers in other countries proved a challenge. We were blocked when attempting to watch Italian Netflix as well as in Germany.

There was also disappointment when it came to trying to access BBC iPlayer in the UK. Under the impression that Thunder VPN could provide access to this streaming giant, we were disheartened to see that the VPN service couldn’t fool the site into thinking we were based elsewhere. If you want to watch your British favorites on your Android device, you’ll have to find another VPN.

Luckily, our unblocking tests ended on a positive note. With Thunder VPN, access to YouTube around the world was possible. We didn’t meet any dreaded ‘this video is not available in your region’ notices, and thanks to Thunder’s decent speeds, we were able to enjoy reasonably good quality YouTube videos from abroad.

Where is Thunder VPN Based?

Like many providers, there is a level of secrecy regarding Thunder VPN’s headquarters and the people working on the product behind the scenes. However, with a little digging, we learned that Thunder VPN is a service from the minds at Signal Lab, an Android app developer company.

As well as offering Thunder VPN, the company also is behind the popular Secure VPN, another popular free VPN app. Signal Lab is based in Arkansas in the US, and the company’s headquarters is listed online, including even the zip code.

Since Thunder VPN is based in the US, this sparks concerns regarding data retention laws. The US is known for its strict data laws, and companies must abide by these. Moreover, the country is a founding member of the Five Eyes, an international alliance between several countries dedicated to sharing citizen data in a bid for global peace.

All of the above is worth keeping in mind if you value your internet privacy. Thunder VPN has to follow the laws of its jurisdiction, which happens to not be an ultra privacy-friendly country. Moreover, in Thunder VPN’s privacy policy, it states that it will investigate user activity on the service if needs be.

What Devices Can You Use Thunder VPN on?

Something worth keeping in mind is that Thunder VPN has an Android app, which you can download from the Google Play Store. Although this is undoubtedly great news for Android users looking for a free VPN, it isn’t great for people who use other operating systems.

The Thunder VPN app itself is very simplistic, but this makes it easy to use. To connect to a server, you just need to tap a location in the list of servers on the app. Switching between servers is fast, and you can even choose to connect to a recommended server for the best speed.

Unfortunately, like its website, the Thunder app lacks a lot of extra content, information, and features. It is very basic, and there is no way to adjust settings as you can do with other VPN provider’s apps. You can forget about activating a kill switch or changing protocols.

Does Thunder VPN Offer Customer Support?

As part of a good VPN review at VPNSurfers, we feel it is essential to check out a provider’s customer support offerings. Unfortunately, it seems as though there is no way to get in touch with customer support.

We searched Thunder VPN’s website and found no contact email address. There was no legitimate-looking email address listed anywhere else on the web.

With a lack of a help section and no live chat, it seems that Thunder VPN users are left to their own devices when it comes to sorting out issues with the VPN or its app. However, since the free version of the VPN is so basic, it seems unlikely that you will run into massive issues.

Is Thunder VPN Worth it?

Let’s be frank: Thunder VPN is not worth it. As part of our review, we examined security and privacy features and speeds, and app usability. Overall, we weren’t impressed in any area.

Privacy features are lacking, and the no-logging policy has some flaws in it. The app is extremely basic, and speeds are not exceptionally fast. Moreover, the number of servers and server locations are limited, and the company is based in the US, which is bad for privacy-concerned customers.

Our advice is to invest in a paid VPN that offers a lot more security to users.

What Are Free VPN Alternatives?

Not all free VPNs are bad, and there are some great alternatives to Thunder VPN. Here are some excellent free VPNs we think you should check out:

FAQs

Does Thunder VPN Work in China?

No, Thunder VPN does not work in China. We recommend using NordVPN or ExpressVPN if you want to bypass the Great Firewall of China.

Does Thunder VPN Keep Logs?

Thunder VPN appears to have a no-logging policy but does store some information on its users including your real IP address, device ID, and connection times as well as data usage.

How Do I Cancel Thunder VPN?

If you're using the free Thunder VPN plan, then you can simply uninstall the app from your Android device since there is no payment plan to cancel.

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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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