VPN Unlimited Review

Last update: 01.22.2018

Overview

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is a decent tool on a good trajectory. Read our VPN Unlimited review to learn more!

VPN Unlimited is a name that implies infinite potential to keep you safe and anonymous on the internet, but is this indeed so? After all, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. This is what our mission is with this VPN Unlimited review: to find the real potential behind the name.

This VPN service is brought to us by KeepSolid Inc., a company based in New York. Without a doubt, this fact brings with it all the usual concerns about VPNs based in the US – more on that later.

Although there are some good privacy technologies implemented in this VPN, such as obfuscation (KeepSolid Wise), DNS leak protection, OpenVPN, and more, you may still feel a bit of unease about their Privacy Policy.

This service provides user-friendly and easy-to-use clients with little customization needed from the users. This can be a plus for novices and also a big minus for tech-savvy users.

The connection speeds vary from good to catastrophic, depending on the server you choose and its proximity. Since there are 400+ servers in 70+ countries, travelers and expats may still make good use of it. However, if your activities demand absolute anonymity, this service may not become your best friend.

Privacy: would a secret agent use VPN Unlimited?

KeepSolid, the company behind VPN Unlimited, is based in New York, which immediately raises some concerns about privacy. As you may know, the US is one of the least privacy-friendly jurisdictions on earth. Firstly, it’s one of the founders of the international surveillance alliance known as the Five Eyes. Secondly, US law enforcement and intelligence agencies have a lot of power when it comes to getting the information they need from businesses.

Depending on what level of internet security and privacy you’re looking for, these facts may or may not affect your peace of mind. Yet, they still don’t answer the main question: is VPN Unlimited safe to use?

Looking at the KeepSolid (VPN Unlimited) Privacy Policy document raises concerns about the practices of this company. Firstly, they collect a lot of personal data, including:

Secondly, KeepSolid will share that (and other) personal data with affiliates and third-party service providers “to run [their] everyday business” or “when appropriate or necessary to respond to legal process.” We were unable to find a list of these third-parties who would have access to your personal data, which is also troubling.

Thirdly, this doesn’t even touch on the data KeepSolid deems non-personally-identifiable. As per the Privacy Policy:

To be completely frank, the privacy practices of VPN Unlimited disqualify it from certain uses. We wouldn’t recommend it to journalists, political activists, or spies for that matter.

We should also mention that VPN Unlimited accepts Bitcoin payments, which is a positive, but if you are really concerned about anonymity, you may want to look elsewhere.

With all that said, the Privacy Policy is not everything and there are still other VPN uses left.

Security features

Apart from the standard VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, and PPTP, this service also makes sure that you can obfuscate your encrypted VPN traffic with KeepSolid Wise. This will obscure your traffic from Deep Package Inspection, which is a method countries like China use to distinguish VPN traffic. Using this protocol will lessen the chance that the prying eyes of your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and governments will be able to determine that you’re using a VPN. This is definitely a great feature for those who live in China or other censored locations.

VPN Unlimited also comes with DNS leak protection (on by default) and there’s a kill switch on the Windows, Mac, and Android versions (coming on other devices too). A kill switch can protect you from the leakage of potentially-sensitive information if your VPN connection were to drop. When writing our KeepSolid VPN review, we did encounter some disconnects – whether that was our issue or the VPN’s is anyone’s guess.

Speed & Performance

Speed is the second most important point we want to cover in our VPN Unlimited review. Interestingly enough, there are reviews that mention this VPN having 1000+ servers, but the website is adamant – there are 400+ servers in 70+ locations all over the world. Of course, this VPN server fleet is already larger than what lots of other competitors offer. But, it also falls way behind VPN market leaders with their thousands of servers worldwide, including NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

Nevertheless, the number of servers and locations are only part of the equation when it comes to connection speed. Your distance from the chosen VPN server is another important variable that will determine how much luck you will have with VPN Unlimited. For example, you can achieve just about enough speed with the server in Brazil or Japan to stream 4K video on YouTube.

Before running our tests, our baseline speeds were as follows:

Then, we launched our VPN Unlimited 7-day free trial version with the default Optimal Protocol option (OpenVPN). This is what we have found:

New York, US

Hampshire, UK

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Singapore, Singapore

Our VPN Unlimited review has found that this service offers good enough speeds for web surfing, gaming, and even HD or 4K streaming. However, that comes with some caveats:

• When considering the speed of a VPN, you should think in percentages. So, for example, since our base download speed is approximately 300 Mbps, the speed, when connected to Singapore, is roughly a sixth of that.
• Going further away from your actual location generally decreases the download/upload speed, but, even more than that, distance increases the ping. A high ping will make activities that require responsiveness (e.g. gaming) quite difficult, but won’t necessarily ruin your streaming experience.
• Speeds depend on lots of factors, which means it always makes sense to test for yourself. In the case of VPN Unlimited, you can do this by taking advantage of the 7-day free trial.

We also experienced occasional connection drops – nothing crazy, but worth noting. Connection times varied anywhere from a few seconds to as much as 15 seconds.

To end the section on a positive note, our VPN Unlimited review must mention that the app informs you about the server load so you can go for one that has less work to do.

How to download and install it

Thanks to KeepSolid, you can download, install, and use VPN Unlimited for 7 days for free. So, you can skip the whole purchase step and simply select the Downloads menu (at the top, on the website). Here, you can choose your platform and download your client with a single click.

Our VPN Unlimited review has found that the installation process for this app isn’t any more difficult than installing any easy-to-use software. A couple of Next buttons to click, and that’s it more or less.

You can also access this Downloads page if you scroll down the page and click the Download link in the Pages section of the footer.

This service is available on all major platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS, Windows Phone, Android, Apple TV, and it also has a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.

How to use VPN Unlimited

Here’s something unexpected: when writing this VPN Unlimited review, we found that you can use this app for one day (instead of a 7-day trial) without creating an account. This certainly deserves a pat on the shoulder for KeepSolid.

However, if you do sign up for an account, you can enter your credentials and start enjoying whatever online security this VPN may provide to you.

On the main dashboard, you can find a world map with your true IP address displayed and your physical location marked. If you are connected to a VPN server, you can see your virtual IP and spoofed location shown as well. The world map shows all 70+ locations where the servers are. However, this is not an interactive map – you can’t connect by clicking on it.

When you run the VPN Unlimited app for the first time, it will give you some tips (left). Even if the information is useful, the presentation is a bit messy.

By clicking the large blue Start button at the bottom, you can connect to the Optimal server. This server is most likely the closest and least loaded one. If you set the app to start automatically with Windows, the VPN software will connect to the default or configured server in the background.

The interface is quite straightforward and minimal; you won’t have a “wow moment” looking at it for sure. But it is easy to use.

When you click the server list button, a new screen comes up with four tabs: All servers, Recommended, Favorites, and Streaming. The active tab is the Recommend servers tab by default.

If you click your chosen location on any of these tabs, the VPN Unlimited app will start connecting right away. The connection times can vary. By clicking the blue button in the top-left corner you can also run a Ping Test. Click the X button to close the Servers screen and get back to the home screen.

After connecting to a location, your app should look something like this:

As you can see, your real location and the destination are both indicated on the world map. Press the Stop button to disconnect.

If you’d like to change your settings or check your account information, click the 3-Bar icon in the top-left corner for the Menu.

There are four tabs here too: My account, Settings, Information, and Support. The My account tab is the default tab. What you may be the most interested in is the Settings tab. Let’s see what tweaks VPN Unlimited offers:

Well, not too much freedom to play around with the security and privacy settings. But, at least you can toggle the Kill Switch to protect yourself against leaks. And, let’s not forget about the possibility to select from a number of protocols.

Our VPN Unlimited review finds that the “Optimal” protocol is selected by default. This can well be OpenVPN. But, you’re free to select IKEv2 or KeepSolid’s own Wise protocols with the UDP or TCP pairing. It’s worth running some tests of your own to see which one performs better with specific VPN locations. VPN Unlimited may not be as well-equipped as the super-customizable TorGuard, but it still leaves a lot more at your disposal than many competitors.

VPN Unlimited for Netflix

We continue our VPN Unlimited review with an important section for many VPN users. It seems that you can use VPN Unlimited for Netflix and access the Netflix US catalog, for example. However, not all servers will work – some have already been blocked. If you fail to access Netflix, you can try selecting the specialized server from the list.

We’re backing these statements with a number of tests run from Europe. Without a VPN, Netflix’s own speed test (fast.com) showed us 39 Mbps.

According to the Netflix website, the recommended download speeds are:

• 3 Mbps – for SD quality
• 5 Mbps – for HD quality
• 25 Mbps – for Ultra HD quality

VPN Unlimited servers in the US

We tested VPN Unlimited for Netflix with 3 out of 16 server locations in the US. In general, we were pretty happy with what we got. VPN Unlimited also gives each server’s workload, so this might help you in choosing the best option.

US California, San Francisco – Streaming Netflix, Hulu

Our first test bunny, with a workload of 19%, gave us a solid 30 Mbps – enough for streaming in UHD. Unblocking went well, as did the streaming – no stuttering and no long waiting times after skipping parts of the show.

US California, San Francisco – Streaming

A server with no optimization for Netflix or Hulu and about the same workload didn’t disappoint, showing 31 Mbps. The show took a second longer to load (notice we’re skipping the fact that Netflix was again unblocked without any issues, which is not bad for a VPN that you won’t find on most Top 10 lists), skipping was a bit slower, but overall nothing you should whine about.

US New York, New York

Lastly, we wanted to try at least one server on the East Coast, and the obvious choice, with its 46% load and no streaming optimization, was New York. Well, guess what—we got the fastest speed of 35 Mbps! But when we checked the fast.com details, we noticed that the server used for the test was in Phoenix. In any case, none of it mattered as Netflix displayed the dreaded error message.

VPN Unlimited for Netflix outside the US

We had some really witty lines prepared about each country, but it will suffice to say that despite the speeds never dropping below 24 Mbps, we were unable to access Netflix in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, or Australia.

Speed test results – is VPN Unlimited Netflix-worthy?

It’s possible to access the US Netflix library from servers on the West Coast, and the speed should be good enough for HD, if not UHD streaming. Just keep in mind that your location, internet connection, and many other factors could cause your speeds to be different.

All in all, we don’t believe that this is the best VPNs for Netflix and other media streaming platforms, but it’s not the worst either. You’ll be able to access Netflix US as well as BBC iPlayer and Hulu (as there are special servers for them).

Feel free to continue your quest for the best VPN by reading our other reviews and comparisons.

VPN Unlimited for Torrenting

It’s not bad for torrenting, let’s put it this way. Firstly, the service allows P2P traffic, which is a good start. It’s not allowed on all servers, but there are designated P2P servers, which should fulfill the purpose well enough.

The speeds are certainly passable. Perhaps the only thing to note here is that we experienced some connection drops – something that was also mentioned by other users. In light of this, you should make sure you have your kill switch on at all times so as not to risk leaking while torrenting.

Our VPN Unlimited review gives the service a positive rating for torrenting capabilities.

Live chat support

VPN Unlimited offers its customers 24/7 email support. This works really well and the replies are fast and helpful. VPN users point out customer support team as a great & instant helper with their questions and issues.

In any case, you can also visit the Support page on the official site, where you are offered a couple of alternatives. For example, you can browse the FAQ or the manuals. They are well-written and cover most of the relevant topics.

Apps and extensions

As we have already mentioned in our VPN Unlimited review, this VPN has clients working for the most popular platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The browser extensions work on Chrome and Firefox (see the full list below).

All these clients are quite minimalistic and easy to use with very limited security and privacy customization options.

So, if you are a beginner VPN user, you may be glad to have such a user-friendly VPN app. On the other hand, advanced users may find it unsatisfactory for their needs.

KeepSolid VPN Lite

If this above client list weren’t enough, here’s some good news for you: KeepSolid has released its new, light VPN app called VPN Lite for Android and iOS.

But that’s not all. VPN Lite comes in two versions: Free and Turbo.

Let’s see what this new app offers for both plans:

• No ads
• No registration
• Fast performance
• Intuitive, one-tap interface
• No logs policy
• 24/7 support
• Dark mode

Why and how “Lite”? Well, this VPN doesn’t require registration for starters. No email address is needed, which means a higher level of anonymity. You simply download and install the app for your Android or iOS device, and that’s it.

There are a few major differences between the two plans, of course. The Free VPN Lite only comes with one server, AES-128 encryption (not the best possible), no logs policy, the OpenVPN protocol, 24/7 support, but no ads.

The Turbo VPN Lite app offers 400+ servers in 70+ locations, AES-128 and AES-256 encryptions, no logs policy, OpenVPN and KeepSolid Wise protocols, free 7-day trial, and 24/7 support. This Turbo plan is available for $2.49 per month (billed $29.99 yearly) or $4.99 billed monthly. Fairly low prices, but we’ll need some time to fully test this new product. So, we’ll be back with more on VPN Lite.

Pricing

VPN Unlimited can be tried for free for 7 days, or you can purchase the following basic plans:

There is also a 7-day money-back guarantee. Some users have experienced difficulties getting a refund (on time) but this doesn’t seem to be a common issue. If you want more than five devices to use simultaneously, you can add additional devices for an additional monthly fee.

Apart from these basic plans, you can also buy a Personal Server or a Personal IP.

The best thing about the payment options is that in addition to Credit Cards, Amazon, PayPal, iTunes, Google Play in-app purchases, and gift cards, you can remain anonymous by paying in Bitcoin.

If you check the Purchases menu option from within the app, you’ll be offered the following options:

Although these prices are quite reasonable, you can get more for a small additional fee elsewhere. 

VPN Unlimited by Reddit

To cut the not-so-long story even shorter, VPN Unlimited has a limited presence on Reddit. While this VPN provider has all the most important social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), Reddit doesn’t seem to be swarming with reviews, comments, or pros and cons.

As a matter of fact, if you list out all the related Reddit threads from the latter year, you will find that 2 out of 3 are lifetime subscription promotions and one is about using this VPN to access US Netflix. Reddit won’t get you too far this time. If you want to find out more about this service – read our in-depth VPN Unlimited review.

The conclusion of our VPN Unlimited review

This is an above average VPN service that offers some good security features. However, KeepSolid’s privacy practices could be better and the US is not the most privacy-friendly VPN base in the first place.

The speeds we saw during testing for this review were generally decent. They were enough to use VPN Unlimited for streaming (even HD and UHD quality videos).

If you’re looking for the best VPN for torrenting, Netflix, or gaming, VPN Unlimited is not bad. If, however, you’re going to engage in any activity that requires the highest possible level of anonymity, we would advise you to keep on searching. Fortunately, the VPN market – though not unlimited – has some other services for you to choose from.

How about learning from other VPN users?

Do you have any related questions? Have you ever tried using VPN Unlimited or any other VPN app in the past? What are your impressions? Maybe you’ve put them in your own VPN Unlimited review?

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