Although not a full VPN service, under certain circumstances Ultrasurf might give you the online privacy and security you’re looking for. But if you’re shopping for a Netflix unblocker or a torrenting solution, Ultrasurf is not it.
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Ultrasurf Review
9/10
Good but not great Last updated Jul 20, 2024 at 2pm ET
Minimum Price:
$0.00 / month
Apps available:
Works with:
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Ultrasurf is a bare-bones free service for bypassing online censorship. It offers dedicated VPN apps for mobile devices, a Chrome browser extension, and a Windows desktop client. The service was founded over 20 years ago and focuses on taking down digital borders and keeping users secure.
Being a free product that was created with the sole intention of helping users bypass internet censorship and geo-blocking, it may not, however, be the best service to use for things like streaming online video and downloading torrents.
Ultrasurf is a simple, yet capable tool that is easy to use and does an acceptable job at encrypting internet traffic, no matter where users happen to be. But for the question: is Ultrasurf really a VPN?
It would be unfair to compare Ultrasurf to conventional VPN products because it doesn’t claim to be one. Instead, it’s described as anti-censorship freeware and is arguably useful only for a specific use case.
However, the rise of premium VPN services set customer expectations through the roof. For example, they expect minimal connection speed loss, safeguards in the form of kill switches, and access to foreign streaming content. Additionally, they need fully-featured VPN apps for every conceivable device, not just mobile phones.
Unsurprisingly, these and other perks become available only if you commit to a paid subscription. Thankfully, a subscription to NordVPN, the #1 VPN on the market isn’t even that expensive. Best of all, your purchase is insured with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the product without risk.
Best Alternative to Ultrasurf
Gain all the digital security, privacy, and content-unblocking benefits of a VPN in an affordable package with NordVPN.
Ultrasurf Overview
| 🏆 Rating: | ⭐ 9/10 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | Unknown number of servers in 1 country — the US |
| 🧑💻Protocols: | TLS/SSL |
| 📺 Streaming: | Works with Disney+ US and YouTube Fails to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Hulu |
| 🔛 Torrenting: | ❌No |
| ❔ Support: | |
| 🛡️ Logs: | No-logs |
| 💵 Price: | 🆓Free to use |
| 🏷️ Coupons: | N/A |
| 🆓 Free version or trial: | ✅Yes |
Best Ultrasurf alternatives:
How is Ultrasurf different from premium VPNs?
Ultrasurf is a solid option if you need to urgently bypass online censorship and hide your online activities. It’s a convenient tool that’s compatible with mobile devices, Chrome browsers, and Windows computers. Plus, it embodies the plug-and-play methodology and doesn’t require complicated installation or registration. Instead, you simply download it, flip the switch, and voilà.
However, its simplicity is also its downside. Unlike other VPNs, users can’t customize the experience in any way. For example, you can’t pick your desired server location, enable a different tunneling protocol, or enjoy extra features (VPN kill switch, ad blocking, etc.).
Additionally, the service isn’t optimized for speed or unblocking foreign streaming content on services like Netflix. Plus, Ultrasurf doesn’t provide 24/7 customer support to help resolve the inevitable issues with online censorship. Finally, you’re out of luck if you need digital security for a device without an Ultrasurf dedicated app.
In conclusion, Ultrasurf is a one-trick pony, while premium options like NordVPN are the entire circus – appealing to all audiences.
NordVPN vs Ultrasurf comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.8 ⭐ | 9⭐ |
| Current offer | Get NordVPN 74% OFF! | Visit Ultrasurf |
| Price starts from | $2.99/month | Free |
| No-logs policy | Independently-audited | No-logs |
| VPN protocols | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | TLS |
| Streaming | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more | Unsupported |
Is Ultrasurf safe to use?
In short, yes, Ultrasurf is safe to use. Ultrasurf works by tunneling your entire traffic through their secure and encrypted TLS tunnel. On Android and iOS, it essentially works like any other VPN application and secures you by hiding your real IP address and giving you a new one. For now, there are only servers in the US, but that’s expected as the Android app is only in beta.
Assuming that you are using Ultrasurf in the prescribed way, it will do a great job at masking your IP, and protecting your identity from getting into the wrong hands. If used as intended by the developers of this great tool, Ultrasurf does many things to ensure online safety – and the price (free) is unbeatable.
Good to note: Although Ultrasurf was created with the sole purpose of circumventing internet censorship, that does not necessarily mean they condone illegal online activity. In fact, right there in their privacy statement, they make it very clear that they do not want anyone using their tool for illegal activities.
Does Ultrasurf log your data?
According to Ultrasurf’s website, some information is tracked when you visit their website, but that’s standard practice. However, there is no mention of data logging on their Android app. Furthermore, the app itself does not have any kind of explicit privacy policy available, which isn’t surprising since it’s still in beta and being developed.
To get to the bottom of this, we contacted Ultrasurf directly and were assured that the app does not store any logs.
Apps and extensions
Ultrasurf supports the following platforms:
- Windows
- iOS
- Chrome Browser
- Android
Apps are a bit limited with Ultrasurf, as there are only options for Windows, iOS, Chrome browser, and Android users.
The app for Windows is a small executable file that needs no installation. The good news is that you can put Ultrasurf on a thumb drive and deploy it on the go. Many people use this method to protect themselves at internet cafes and on public wifi.
The Android app is also easy to use, and can be found on the Google Play Store by searching for “Ultrasurf VPN.” Similarly, the iOS version is available on the Apple App Store.
Extensions are an important part of using Ultrasurf. Browsers can sometimes cause serious leaks despite whatever privacy service a user has employed. The most notable of these is the WebRTC leak which is known to be an issue with Google Chrome. Even when using a very strong VPN, WebRTC can cause your identity to leak.
Since Ultrasurf uses the Incognito Mode of Google Chrome as its vehicle, it is important to install a WebRTC blocker/disabler and allow it to run in Incognito Mode.
Does Ultrasurf work for Netflix?
Netflix users who are trying to stream content from the US Netflix servers are going to get some mixed results when it comes to their user experience. Since Ultrasurf is based in the States, it is possible (most of the time) to access the American version of Netflix from outside the US.
That sounds like good news, right? Well, the service can be a little unreliable when Ultrasurf’s servers are overloaded, which equates to poor viewing quality, or none at all.
Customer support and pricing
When it comes to customer support, Ultrasurf is not really as up to the challenge as other more established VPNs in the industry. Maybe that’s because it is a free service, or maybe it’s because of the fact that the tool is so simple in nature.
At any rate, when users experience questions, problems, or difficulties, there are a couple of places that they can look for answers:
- support tickets
As for pricing information, that one’s simple. Ultrasurf is completely free, always.
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Bottom line
Ultrasurf VPN is a fantastic tool that does more than you might expect from such a small file. It is a tool that could really be helpful in specific situations and the fact that it is small, light, free, and portable makes it almost a no-brainer to keep a copy around for those times when you need it.
Ultrasurf is a service that has its fair share of limitations, but there are many positives that come with the service as well. As Ultrasurf was created to get around China’s firewall, it remains one of the only good free options that work, and it is portable and easy to install.
As for cons, it does not really work for many of the things that people use VPNs for, like torrenting and Netflix. Thus, we offer NordVPN, the best VPN provider in 2024.
Good
- Free
- Easy to use
- Unlimited bandwidth
- No installation required
- Works with major platforms (except iOS)
Bad
- No torrenting
- Only one server location (USA)
Tech writer and privacy advocate
Julie is a firm believer in equal rights for everyone. She is a traveler and blogger, focusing her efforts on exposing censorship and discrimination around the world. She wants to hold corrupt governments and shady companies accountable by writing investigative articles and helpful guides.
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ultrasurf worked back in 2012, but hasnt worked in china for years
Ultrasurf is, in my opinion, great at what it offers- getting around restrictions and hiding your data, and that’s all I need it for. People in the comments here are complaining that it doesn’t have all the features of a paid VPN or high download speeds, something USF is simply just not optimized for. It has two jobs, both of which I previously mentioned. I simply just use it to access social media(Discord, Twitter, etcetera,) wherever I typically cannot, and I’m quite happy with how well it works. I’ve never really had the need for anything more than what USF offers so honestly? It’s extremely worth checking out.
Downloaded it, pretty good but the speeds are disappointing you cant even call them disappointing there to disappointing to be disappointing. Very simple, but not much reliability because USA is the only server you can connect to.
Ultrasurf may be good for some things, but a VPN it isn’t. It might be easy to download and install but I have no reason why I’d use it. I have a good VPN that does everything I need (and more). Glad to know more about Ultrasurf and its limitations.
It really doesn’t sound like a great VPN. I still don’t understand why people develop software that can barely stand the comparison to much cheaper et better alternatives. If you do something you might as well do it well.
Recuerda que es gratis
Since it’s free I have nothing bad to say about Ultrasurf. Surely, it’s not anything like a premium, paid VPN, but hey, for a free one it does a pretty great job. It’s a great way to not pay a dime and still get some of the benefits of a paid option. And after a while, you can get a paid VPN if needed.
Considering that it’s a free service, Ultrasurf sounds like a good solution. People trying to stream can’t expect much, but it does what it promises well. I personally used it for a while before getting a paid VPN and I was very satisfied.
The great thing about Ultrasoft is that it is a free vpn that is available for all out there to use and enjoy. It is very easy to download and install this vpn and ofcourse it is safe. One have to know Ultrasurf is one of the less complicated but very simple vpn available. Ultrasurf is truly great stuff.