TechRadar Verdict
Unblocking geo-restricted VOD channels, supporting P2P, and beating DPI with customized tools, b.VPN is good but ultimately too expensive. Its shortcomings, like a very limited server network, lack of a refund guarantee, and some logging, make it not really worth the price it’s asking.
Pros
- +
Can be installed on a router
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Allows up to six simultaneous connections
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Works with some streaming sites
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Supports OpenVPN
- +
Works in China
Cons
- -
Some logging
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More expensive than competitors
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Poor customer support
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Small servers
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Kill switch only in Windows clients
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b.VPN is a Netherlands-based VPN provider. It officially started in 2014 and provides access to 44 servers in 25 countries. Because of its sophisticated obfuscation techniques that are specifically designed to get around China's Great Firewall, b.VPN is one of the few VPNs that offer dependable and stable connections in this nation as of the time of this review.
b.VPN: Pricing
To begin, b.VPN provides a 60-minute desktop free trial and a 3-day mobile free trial, but server locations are limited and you cannot connect to servers in China. There’s no free VPN on offer here, but you do get a choice of three subscription packages.
A monthly subscription costs $10 / £8.50 / AU$15. A semi-annual subscription is $50 / £42 / AU$73 every 6 months. The annual subscription has a yearly charge of $90 / £75 / AU$131.
All plans include unlimited bandwidth, access to all servers, support for OpenVPN, and the ability to connect up to six devices at once.
For added security, you can pay with PayPal, WebMoney, Mint, OneCard, CASHU, iDeal, Fanapay, credit cards, or Bitcoin (for added security). b.VPN does not provide a money-back guarantee or refunds on most purchases because each refund request is handled on an individual basis and only users who have problems with the service are typically refunded.
b.VPN: Privacy and encryption
It should be noted that b.VPN has not asked an independent auditor to check its servers for any logs, so for the time being, we only have the company’s word for any claims made. If you want to use this VPN, we advise you to do so carefully.
Users of OpenVPN have a choice between normal (Blowfish-128 cipher with SHA-1 hash authentication) and strong encryption levels (AES-256 with SHA-256 hash authentication). Perfect Forward Secrecy and RSA-2048 are used for all OpenVPN connections.
b.VPN is based in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a Nine Eyes NSA spying partner, and the Dutch government conducts some surveillance of its own. However, VPN providers in the Netherlands are not required to keep logs.
Although it does not keep usage logs, b.VPN does keep some connection logs: "We keep no logs whatsoever of users' activity (we don't inspect or log user traffic), we keep infrastructure needed logs which is (Connection IP, time, duration, and bandwidth usage)."
b.VPN’s SSH feature is excellent for circumventing censorship systems in China and Iran. This allows you to securely and anonymously bypass VPN restrictions without being detected. In the event that your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, the software has a VPN kill switch that disconnects your device from the internet.
This helps to keep your information from being disclosed to third parties such as websites and hackers.
We were pleased to see that the VPN did not leak our IP address or DNS requests when we tested it for IP and DNS leaks. It means you should be able to browse without fear of privacy violations.
b.VPN: Streaming
As more people become aware of what VPNs can offer in terms of unblocking geo-restricted content, this section is becoming increasingly important.
Some b.VPN servers appear to be dedicated streaming servers; they are labeled "TVstream" or "TV." When we tested it, we discovered that b.VPN could connect to Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer (via a UK server), but that was it. The service was not compatible with Hulu or Disney+. Streaming was smooth in terms of performance, with no lagging, buffering, or freeze-ups. So it works well when it works.
If you are a heavy streamer and prefer to stream over a virtual private network, b.VPN may not be the best option for you. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark VPN are all suitable alternatives.
If you're using a VPN for torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be close to your typical internet speed because it affects how quickly content uploads. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it typically requires a little more time to send and receive data, which can slow down your connection.
b.VPN: Speed
The download speeds were incredible when we first connected to a French server to test the service; they were 35Mbps on a 50Mbps test connection. Speeds of up to 21Mbps were recorded during a speed test on the US-California server, which is excellent considering how far away it is from our location.
b.VPN: Support
When it comes to customer support, b.VPN offers dependable 24/7 customer support available through live chat, phone, Facebook, online contact form, and email.
The support team responds to all requests for information quickly and takes care of any service problems.
A thorough FAQ section is also available on the company website, where you can find instructions and helpful information.
b.Vpn: Kill switch
A dropped connection may expose your IP address and traffic information if the kill switch is not enabled when using the VPN. In order to prevent any data leaks, it is advised that you enable this feature.
You can connect to b.VPN servers on six devices simultaneously with a single subscription. Three devices can be connected using the b.VPN application, and the other three require manual L2TP connection configuration in accordance with guidelines available on the business website.
There are no restrictions on the number of servers you can switch between or on the amount of bandwidth and speed you can use with b.VPN.
b.VPN: Apps
b.VPN is a cross-platform virtual private network. That means you can use it across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile VPN apps on Android, and iOS.
We tested the b.VPN on Windows and iOS, and it was very easy to get started. All you have to do after buying a subscription is download the app on your device, and you’re ready to go.
b.VPN has apps with a simple interface, and you can configure connection protocols, the kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and Smoke Tunnel in the settings menu. The process was pretty simple, and we liked how everything was located in one place.
All the installation guides are available on the website’s help center, where you can also find more information about speeding up your VPN connection, fixing the familiar TAP driver error on Windows, using third-party software to connect to b.VPN servers, and more. The best experience will be on the desktop, and particularly on Windows, only the Windows desktop client has a kill switch. The macOS and Linux clients have fewer options than the Windows version.
Alternatives to b.VPN
NordVPN
NordVPN offers a plethora of convenience, privacy, and security features. Your security is covered by ad blocking, DNS leak protection, strong encryption, and a VPN kill switch. Your privacy is protected by a strict no-logging policy, a considerate privacy policy, and anonymous payments. It is also a very user-friendly service because it offers dedicated P2P servers, native apps for all popular platforms, and up to six simultaneous connections or more with a VPN router.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has excellent security and privacy procedures. For users' privacy, this configuration essentially ensures that no residual data (logs) can exist on the system's hard drives. All VPN servers boot from read-only disks and operate on volatile memory (RAM).
Verdict
When you consider the quality of its customer support, the service is excellent. b.VPN still needs to improve on a number of other fronts, including server diversity, speed, legality, logging, and Netflix unblocking.
