VPNArea is a provider that has everything to be one of the leading solutions in the VPN industry. The service started operating in 2012 and it is gaining popularity in the competitive world of VPNs, thanks to its solid approach to security and its good set of features. While VPNArea’s email and HQ servers are hosted in Switzerland, the company is based in Bulgaria. This situation favors its zero logs policy, which will appeal to users who are looking for a high level of privacy. VPNArea includes fantastic features designed to enhance the security of your online connection. In addition, the service is easy to use and the customer support is great. Here you will find out more about what VPNArea has to offer.
Pricing
VPNArea gives you the possibility of subscribing to the service for one month, six months or a full year. As it is usual when it comes to VPN plans, monthly prices are greatly reduced when you extend the subscription time. One month costs $9.90, while for 6 months you pay $50, which reduces the monthly price to $8.33. Purchasing a yearly plan will allow you to save almost 50% on the monthly cost, because it is priced at $59. This means that you only pay $4.92 per month.
The plans include almost the same features but the dedicated IP option, which is available for an additional cost, can only be obtained with the long term plans. If you have subscribed for 6 months or one year, you can opt for a dedicated IP in Canada, Germany, US, Australia, Netherlands or United Kingdom. The prices vary according to the country and the length of the subscription selected.
While they don’t have a free trial that allows users to test the service before purchasing a subscription, there is a 7-day money back guarantee that also gives you time you check if it is right for your needs. If within a week of using VPNArea, you are not entirely happy with the service, you can request a refund. Apart from accepting standard payment methods like credit cards, PayPal and Payza, VPNArea also support Bitcoin, which is ideal for users who want to protect their anonymity.
Features
VPNArea offers custom software for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. The service can also be used with other platforms like Linux, Chromebook, as well as Tomato and DD-WRT. In the customers-only area, you will find detailed guides to set up the service easily on any platform supported.At the moment, they have over 200 servers in 60 countries. The client offered by VPNArea is clear and user-friendly, with all the features organized neatly to make sure that you can find what you need without any hassle. The security options supported stand out and they will allow you to protect your connection effectively.
These security features include Anti-DNS Leak system, which prevents your ISP from finding out the web addresses visited. There is also protection against IPv6 leaks, that could compromise your actual IP address. This is an advanced option that is not supported by many providers. Additionally, VPNArea offers Anti-WebRTC, which addresses the WebRTC issue that affects browsers like Chrome and Firefox. This issue could result in your real IP address being revealed, even when you are using a VPN, but VPNArea fixes it and maintains the integrity of your traffic.
Killswitch is another important function to ensure that your privacy remains protected at all times. Even if your VPN connection suddenly drops, the killswitch will keep you protected because it disconnects you from internet to avoid that you navigate without encryption and that your actual IP address is exposed. Since VPNArea is a provider that is committed to security, it is not a surprise to see that they support this feature.They also offer a convenient solution that allows to enhance the security of your browsing even further. It is called Auto IP Changer and once it is enabled, it will change your IP address automatically at regular intervals. You can select your preferred interval in minutes and the Auto IP Changer will update your IP address as often as you want.
Other practical functions that are part of the VPNArea experience are speed testing and favorite servers, which can make your VPN connection more efficient. It should also be noted that VPNArea offers unlimited bandwidth and it supports P2P. You can connect up to 6 devices at the same time, which is higher than what most providers support. As previously mentioned, they also offer dedicated IP with a private server as an add-on. While shared IPs (which are available by default) are better for privacy, a dedicated IP would be a good option for those who have advanced technical needs like running a private mail or gaming server.
Security
VPNArea supports OpenVPN, L2TP and PPTP, which is not recommended as it is known for being weak and insecure. L2TP is a better option than PPTP and if OpenVPN is not available, it is a good alternative because it generally provides good speeds. However, if you are looking for the best level of privacy, the only solution that you should consider (whenever possible) is OpenVPN. VPNArea uses strong 256-bit AES encryption to secure your OpenVPN connection, keeping your information protected from eavesdroppers.
Offshore Security LTD, the company that owns VPNArea, is registered in Bulgaria, while the website and emails are hosted in Switzerland. Data retention laws were struck down by the country’s constitutional court and VPNArea was never required to comply with them, anyway. Switzerland is a country known for its commitment to privacy. This allows the provider to offer a no logs policy, that claims that there are no details retained of your connection or your usage of the service.
Speed
In terms of speed, VPNArea offers remarkable results, making it an ideal option for streaming and downloading content. Their extensive network of servers is optimized to offer efficient speeds and reliable performance. The service is particularly fast when you connect to servers in Europe and you will be able to reach speeds close to those of your standard internet connection. The Speed-Test function built-in the software, will allow you to find the fastest server for your needs. The DNS leak protection is effective as no issues were detected. Additionally, we didn’t experience disconnections while testing the service.
Customer Support
VPNArea’s website offers a great deal of information and some of it can be slightly confusing at times, but this is not a major issue. The comprehensive FAQ section covers important aspects of the service, but if you need further details, you can check the forum to find the latest updates. If you need can’t find an answer to your questions and need personalized assistance, you can contact them via email, Skype or live chat. Unfortunately, the live chat is not available 24/7, but you can easily leave a message and they will get back to you as soon as possible.
Conclusion
VPNArea focuses on offering a high level of privacy and it offers a great selection of features that will strengthen the security of your internet connection. They protect your data with tough encryption and security systems that prevent any leaks that reveal your IP address and location. Their no logs policy promises to maintain the integrity of your traffic. VPNArea’s network already offers great global coverage and super-fast servers, but the provider is continuously updating it to provide even better performance for its customers. Although the chat option is not always available, the support is generally efficient and the agents handle queries professionally. Overall, VPNArea is a good service, that combines advanced technology and high standards of security.