LiquidVPN review

Taking the rough with the smooth

LiquidVPN
(Image: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

LiquidVPN is capable of unblocking lots of various content, uses innovative operating methods and is quite safe. However, it also has a small pool of servers and is priced higher than better-known competitors.

Pros

  • +

    Unblocks streaming sites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer

  • +

    Three different operation modes

  • +

    Detailed and informative website

  • +

    Allows torrenting

Cons

  • -

    Plans cost more than some rivals

  • -

    Small number of servers

  • -

    Logs some data

  • -

    Located in USA (5 Eyes)

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It is crucial to have a fast, reliable, and stable connection wherever you go in today's fast-paced online world where we rely on the internet for everything. It’s especially difficult to keep your data safe from snoopers (government surveillance and would-be hackers) that might want to monitor your online activities. 

The best VPN services are designed to protect your data, many companies have popped up to offer you the opportunity to use their services and protect your data. But is Liquid VPM one of them?

Networking engineer Dave Cox launched LiquidVPN in 2013. The VPN is based in the US which warrants concern because this makes it possible for the US authorities to obtain user information from the company with a warrant if they so choose. 

The VPN has 2,100 public IP addresses and 45 dedicated bare metal VPN servers spread across 11 different nations. LiquidVPN provides servers in the US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Romania, and Singapore. 

But it’s not a VPN for China. This is because China's internet blockades cannot be circumvented by LiquidVPN because it lacks obfuscation protocols. So, not a VPN for China, but most of the world should be covered.  

Pricing & plans 

LiquidVPN in action

(Image credit: LiquidVPN)

LiquidVPN has three pricing plans: SideKick, Road Warrior, and Ultimate or Family Plan, which are all available in monthly and annual subscription plans. LiquidVPN doesn’t offer any free trials, and there’s no free VPN option.

The plans are as follows:

SideKick

1-month plan: $7.00

12-month plan: $57.00 ($4.75 per month)

2 simultaneous connections

Road Warrior

1-month plan: $10.00

12-month plan: $69.00 ($5.75 per month)          

4 simultaneous connections

Ultimate

1-month plan: $18.00

12-month plan: $105.96 ($8.83 per month)

8 simultaneous connections

Payment options include Bitcoin, PayPal, Master Card, and even cash, although using cash or bitcoin for payment makes you ineligible for their 7-day money-back guarantee should you want a refund.

Privacy & encryption 

LiquidVPN in action

(Image credit: LiquidVPN)

OpenVPN, SSTP, and L2TP/IPSec are the three VPN protocols that LiquidVPN supports. It also employs ES-256-CBC, AES-128-CBC, AES-256-GCM, and Camellia-256-CBC encryption. These protocols provide excellent security for your data being transmitted through the VPN tunnel and are practically impossible for any hacker to breach.

The VPN also provides public and shared IP modulation, as well as a built-in VPN kill switch called "Liquid Lock" in its app. The public one is your personal IP address, which the VPN randomly chooses for you for each connection you make. Unlike the public IP, a shared IP address is protected by a NAT firewall and is used by numerous VPN users. Your online privacy is greatly increased because your IP changes so frequently and randomly that it is nearly impossible for any hacker or agency to track your online footprints.

When it comes to its log-in procedures, LiquidVPN is open and honest, claiming that it doesn't watch the information you send or receive. It does record additional information, such as the total number of active user logins per account, the status of the account at the moment, the number of active sessions, and failed logins, but it does not store any identifiable data about you.

Overall, that is a pretty good logging policy because LiquidVPN only keeps the absolute minimum amount of information about your VPN session, which makes it impossible for anyone to determine your activities or identity. Even though they say they don't keep records of customers' activities, we'd like to see them go the extra mile and hire a third party to conduct a VPN audit of their websites for logs, just like other VPNs. Only then can we fully put our trust in them. 

Streaming

According to LiquidVPN, it is effective at unblocking geographically restricted streaming services in the US. When we tested the VPN, it unblocked streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and HBO. 

So, if you’re looking for the best streaming VPN or, specifically, a Netflix VPN, this tool should provide ample opportunity to watch region-locked content.  

Speed & experience 

LiquidVPN in action

(Image credit: LiquidVPN)

LiquidVPN is headquartered in Wyoming, USA. The company has at its users’ disposal over 2,100 public IP addresses and 45 dedicated bare-metal VPN servers in 11 countries.

Customer support 

With LiquidVPN, you have access to a knowledge base forum with articles on getting started, a FAQ section, a ticket system with quick responses, and an email address. Good options, then, for getting started, or if you run into difficulties.  

Apps 

LiquidVPN in action

(Image credit: LiquidVPN)

LiquidVPN runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, with mobile VPN apps for iOS and Android. The LiquidVPN desktop application has a straightforward-looking interface that is simple to use. From the home screen, you can select your preferred servers and toggle the Liquid Kill Switch feature on or off. 

The interface of the LiquidVPN Android app is identical to that of the desktop apps, it does not, however, have the Liquid Lock kill switch, which is present in the desktop apps and it only supports the OpenVPN protocol.

LiquidVPN alternatives 

Private Internet Access

Although the speeds aren't the best, Private Internet Access excels in all other areas. PIA unblocks Netflix and nearly every other service we tried. It runs on almost any device, is simple to use, has a ton of features, has an audited no-log policy, and costs less than a quarter of what some of the top competitors charge.

Read our full Private Internet Access VPN review

NordVPN 

This VPN has numerous convenience, privacy, and security features such as an Ad blocker, DNS leak protection, robust encryption, and a VPN kill switch all provide security and user-friendly apps.

Read our full NordVPN review

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is based in a nation that values privacy, it is quick and secure, unblocks well-known streaming services, supports torrents, doesn't keep any records of your data, is simple to use, has a three-month free trial, and can handle five connections at once. This is one of the leading VPNs on the market.

Read our full ExpressVPN review

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs available today. The software never slows down your computer, is simple to use, It offers extensive P2P and torrent functionality, as well as access to over 1200 servers spread across more than 50 countries.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review 

Verdict

LiquidVPN is quite fast, and has good security features (particularly IP modulation). And it does have the capabilities to unblock content on Netflix and some other geo-restricted streaming platforms. It is, however, a little more costly than other VPN vendors with comparable features. It also has a relatively small server network, no live chat support, and is based in a privacy-invading jurisdiction. 

Aloysius Valentine

Aloysius Ejike Ukejeh is a seasoned tech and virtual private network writer. He has over 5 years of experience in the technology industry, focusing on streaming, web hosting, security, and privacy. Aloysius is an expert in virtual private networks (VPNs), and he frequently writes about the latest news and developments in this area. He is also a strong advocate for online privacy and security. Aloysius spends time reading about the latest technology news in his free time.

With contributions from