Web Analytics

AlwaysVPN Review

Update:

AlwaysVPN is still offering services for existing customers, but currently they are not accepting new orders.

Many internet users around the world understand the importance of security and the demand for technologies that protect our online data is growing. As a result, there is a healthy offer of options designed to help you to prevent that your personal information falls into the wrong hands. VPN services like AlwaysVPN, are designed to provide a layer of security that allows you to defend your data from the dangers that lurk in the world wide web. Connecting to a VPN before accessing the internet is crucial. AlwaysVPN sets up a secure tunnel between your computer and their VPN servers to keep your traffic protected from online fraud, attacks, surveillance, tracking and other threats.

When it comes to VPN services, there are so many options that it can be challenging to choose one. The important thing is that you select the right solution for your needs. If you are looking for a secure solution that protects your connection from online risks and that allows you to access content that is only available in the US, AlwaysVPN is a suitable choice. What makes it different from other services is the fact that it offers a “pay as you go” VPN solution. Instead of setting up a subscription, you only pay for the amount of VPN bandwidth that you want to use.

Security and Privacy

AlwaysVPN has been around since 2008 and they aim to offer a reliable solution to protect your online data from eavesdroppers and hackers. They use OpenVPN, which is a protocol that offers strong security and state that when you use their service, an encrypted connection is established to protect your internet traffic. Unfortunately the provider doesn’t offer further details about the encryption used.

AlwaysVPN promises to be an effective solution for customers who need to add a security layer to their connection, particularly when they use public Wi-Fi hotspots. However, the fact that the company doesn’t share further information about how your data is secured is disappointing. Furthermore, there is no privacy policy available so it is unclear if they keep logs or not. The company is based in the United States, which places them under the jurisdiction of the NSA. Given the lack of information about their logging practices, it is safe to say that AlwaysVPN is not a good option if privacy is your main concern.

If you only want to use the service for general browsing and to keep your personal information safe against hackers and eavesdroppers when using public Wi-Fi hotspots, AlwaysVPN may be a convenient choice given their prepaid plans, which we’ll discuss later on. However, if you live under a restrictive regime and require a high level of protection for your privacy, you need to consider a different option.

Features

AlwaysVPN relies on the open source OpenVPN client and the service is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux. While they don’t have a dedicated VPN client or mobile apps, open source OpenVPN is a reliable and strong option that will allow you to keep your traffic secure. If you need help with the setting up process, the customer support team can help. They can be contacted via online form and there is also a forum on the website for assistance. Once you start running AlwaysVPN to secure your connection, you will be able to access servers in the United States.

At the moment, this is the only country available in AlwaysVPN network. While this will be enough for users who are focused on accessing services like Hulu, or other content that is not available outside the United States, the lack of options can be an issue for users that require more flexibility. AlwaysVPN uses shared IPs, which helps to keep your identity safe. Overall, the service is fairly basic and has limited functionality, but it is effective and provides good speeds for browsing and streaming.

The key aspect of AlwaysVPN is that it offers a prepaid VPN solution, which can be very convenient if you don’t want to commit to a subscription. You pay for the VPN bandwidth that you are going to use and access the service until you run out of data. Once your bandwidth is used, you can purchase more. The plans start at $8.50 for 15GB. If you need a higher amount, you can opt for 30GB ($15), 60GB ($24), 110GB ($34), or 220GB ($49). The fact that there are no monthly payments and that you don’t need to sign up for an extended period of time, will be appealing for many people.

If you are travelling and just need to use certain amount of bandwidth to secure your browsing when you connect to internet using public Wi-Fi at airports, or coffee shops, AlwaysVPN would be a practical choice. However, if you use internet for HD streaming, gaming and other activities that require a lot of bandwidth, it may not be the most affordable option in the long term. They have a refund policy that states that you can get a refund within 14 days, as long as you have used less than 200MB of your bandwidth allowance. Only PayPal is accepted.

Conclusion

AlwaysVPN’s prepaid solution is a convenient alternative to subscriptions. It gives users the freedom to pay only for what they need to use. The limited functionality and the lack of transparency about the level of security and privacy offered, are the main downsides of AlwaysVPN. The service is ideal for users who are only interested in servers in the US and who need some level of protection while using public Wi-Fi. However, the lack of mobile apps means that it is not the most practical option for use on the go.