BlufVPN Review 2022

BlufVPN Review (2022): Cheap VPN to Unblock Netflix and More

BlufVPN is a reasonably new player in the VPN field. Launched as recently as 2020, it’s based in Estonia and currently offers over 500 servers in 56 countries. This is a pretty decent-sized server network for a new VPN, offering plenty of choice to users. It’s nothing special, but more than what many others started with.

But the important question is, how good is BlufVPN? Is it speedy and reliable for everyday tasks like browsing and streaming geo-blocked content?  Moreover, does it offer adequate security and privacy?  Above all, is this VPN worth your money?  We tested it out to answer these and more questions. Read our full BlufVPN review below for all the details.

BlufVPN – Short Review

BlufVPN is currently only available for Windows and Android devices. It was earlier offered on iOS and macOS too, but support was discontinued during the course of our review process. This is quite disappointing but given that BlufVPN is a fairly new provider, we are hoping it’ll extend support to more platforms in the future.

On the bright side, both the Windows and Android apps function pretty well and offer a good blend of security features and user-friendliness. The speeds can definitely improve, but they’re decent enough for most users’ needs. We did not face any severe lag or delays when browsing or streaming videos. We could use it to easily unblock American Netflix, Hulu, DisneyPlus, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.

BlufVPN uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data. Although it makes bold claims of zero data logs, we found some worrying statements in their privacy policy. Moreover, one thing that they can definitely improve is customer support. Now, let’s discuss each of these in more detail.

Specifications BlufVPN

Price

From $2.00 a month

Operating systems

• Windows
• ,
• Android

Simultaneous connections

• 5

Torrents

• Torrenting allowed

Netflix

• Works with Netflix

Protocols

• OpenVPN
• ,
• IKEv2

Payment methods

• Credit card

Money-back guarantee

• Yes

Works with

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Visit BlufVPN

Speed – How Fast Is BlufVPN?

Speed is an important aspect to consider when comparing any VPN. It’s normal for connection speeds to dip once you connect to a VPN. However, the drop shouldn’t have a major impact on your browsing experience.

We ran BlufVPN through our standard gauntlet of tests, including browsing, video streaming, and gaming. Here are our overall observations about BlufVPN:

• The VPN takes several seconds to establish a connection which is unusual compared to most other providers we’ve tested that connect almost instantly.
• The speeds are decent, but there’s lots of room to improve.
• We experienced high ping times, especially on graphics-intensive games.

Speed test results for BlufVPN

The following table summarizes our BlufVPN speed test results. This is aimed to give you an overall idea of the impact of this VPN on upload and download speeds. Their app automatically selects the optimal server depending on your location.

Even though it’s not the fastest VPN, BlufVPN offers decent speeds that are sufficient for streaming and browsing. The decent server network ensures that you’ll almost always have a nearby server to connect to for an optimal experience. Of course, to access geographically restricted content, you’ll have to connect to a server in the host country.

Speeds during daily use

BlufVPN was pretty reliable for everyday use during our testing. Although it slows down connection speeds a fair bit, it was still sufficient to load webpages and stream videos without any significant lag. However, when we tried playing a couple of action and racing games online, the ping often shot up, so it’s not a decent VPN for gaming. If online gaming is important to you, you will be better off going with any of the fastest VPNs for gaming.

Safety – How Secure Is BlufVPN?

It’s essential for a VPN to use secure protocols and encryption to protect your data from being compromised. Moreover, this ensures you can browse anonymously and stay safe when you bypass blocks on geographically restricted content. Below are our observations about BlufVPN’s security:

• It offers OpenVPN, Wise TCP, Wise UDP, and IKEv2 tunneling protocols.
• It uses industry-standard 256-bit data encryption.
• BlufVPN claims to keep zero logs, but its privacy policy reveals it does collect some user data.
• Both the Windows and Android apps have an automatic kill switch to prevent IP leaks.

Protocols

A VPN protocol determines how data is transmitted through a connection. Each protocol has different specifications. For instance, some prioritize speed over security, while others focus on encrypting data packets for privacy and security, compromising speeds a bit.

BlufVPN offers a choice of several tunneling protocols, including OpenVPN, Wise TCP, Wise UDP, and IKEv2. The Windows client uses OpenVPN by default, whereas its Android app uses IKEv2. Of course, you can change this as per your preference. Both OpenVPN and IKEv2 are speedy and secure, and the Wise protocol performs like an enhanced version of the conventional TCP and UDP protocols.

The BlufVPN website claims that it offers the fastest and most secure WireGuard protocol but this is not available in the app. So, we think the BlufVPN team needs to provide some clarity about this. Nonetheless, the default protocols are good enough and safe to use. It’s probable that the company will add WireGuard with a future update.

Logging and privacy

Since a VPN is used to become anonymous online, it’s vital that providers do not collect data about their subscribers. In line with this, BlufVPN claims that it does not keep any logs of users’ data. This means that the VPN does not track what sites you visit or what you do online.

However, a look at the BlufVPN privacy policy revealed that the company does collect some information, including:

• Your IP address
• Browser type and operating system
• Device name, code, manufacturer, and language
• Time zone, connection type, WiFi network name

This is somewhat concerning but BlufVPN assures us that this data is only temporarily collected while you’re connected to a VPN. The data is automatically deleted as soon as you terminate a session and is not stored by the company. Furthermore, BlufVPN is based in Estonia which isn’t part of the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, or 14 Eyes intelligence alliances that are notorious for their online surveillance and data-sharing policies.

On the whole, BlufVPN seems pretty safe to use, though it’s still concerning that they log your IP address during a session. Most of the best VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have stricter no-logs policies and are the way to go if you prioritize privacy above all else.

Kill switch

As its name suggests, a kill switch automatically “kills” or disconnects your internet connectivity if the VPN connection is unexpectedly interrupted. This prevents information like your IP address and other data from being accidentally leaked. BlufVPN has a kill switch in both its Windows and Android apps to keep you secure when browsing. However, this feature is not enabled by default and you need to turn it on in the “Settings” section of the app.

What information does BlufVPN need to sign up?

Here’s the info you’ll need to create your BlufVPN account:

• Email
• Credit and debit card information, including your name

Although the BlufVPN website claims that you can use cryptocurrencies to pay for your subscription, we did not see the option on the payment page. This is another example of inconsistent information being relayed from this provider.

Usability – How User-Friendly Is BlufVPN?

BlufVPN uses distinct brightly-colored color schemes and offers a straightforward, intuitive user interface. The app is easy to download and set up within just a few minutes. However, we experienced some technical issues and were disappointed by their customer support. The main takeaways about BlufVPN’s usability are:

• The website is attractive and well-designed.
• The installation process is quick and easy on all devices.
• The VPN client is fairly easy to use.
• BlufVPN is one of the cheapest VPNs out there.
• BlufVPN only accepts credit and debit cards for payment.
• The customer support needs improvement.

BlufVPN website and installation process

BlufVPN’s website has a bright and fun look thanks to its attractive yellow branding. It’s easy to navigate and find the info you’re looking for. You can immediately click the “Get BlufVPN” button to go to the pricing page or scroll down for more information and customer testimonials.

Here’s how to install BlufVPN:

1. Go to the pricing page on the website and select either the monthly, yearly, or three-year plan.
2. Enter your email address and pick a payment method to purchase your BlufVPN subscription.
3. 
4. After your payment is completed, you will receive an email with instructions to access your BlufVPN account. Follow the link in the email to set up your password and log in to your account.
5. 
6. When logged into the BlufVPN website, you can download the desktop app. If you click the Android option, you will be redirected to the Google Play Store to get BlufVPN on your phone.
7. 

BlufVPN appearance and ease-of-use

After downloading the app, you will have to log in with your account credentials. Below is what the app looks like when you’re logged in.

As you can see, there’s a button indicating “tap to connect.”

By default, BlufVPN will connect to the optimal server for your location. But you can always choose your preferred server from the list of countries. We noticed that the app takes several seconds to establish a connection, which is slow compared to most other VPNs we’ve tried. Moreover, we also encountered occasional connection failures which can be inconvenient and could pose a potential risk for people who really like their anonymity.

To disconnect, click the big “stop” icon.

Lastly, here’s how to enable the kill switch and choose the protocol you want to use:

1. Click the “Settings” icon on the left pane of the app.
2. Click “VPN.”
3. 
4. Select the protocol from the list and toggle ON the “Kill Switch” option.
5. 

Pricing and payment methods

One of the advantages of BlufVPN is that it’s one of the cheapest VPNs we’ve come across. If you go for a three-year plan, you pay just a couple of dollars a month, which is super affordable. Although there’s no “free trial” as such, you get BlufVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you test it for a month and get a refund if you cancel your subscription during that time.

As shown in the screenshot above, BlufVPN has three subscription options:

• $9.99 per month
• $41.88 per year
• $72.00 for three years

BlufVPN only accepts credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) for payment. Although the website claims that cryptocurrencies are accepted, that option isn’t available on the payments page at the time of writing.

This can be a limitation because paying with crypto can help you buy a VPN anonymously without the need for personally identifiable payment information. It’s also misleading and may put off potential subscribers.  We hope BlufVPN will clarify its position and continue to add new payment methods in the future.

Customer service

This is one of the most disappointing aspects of BlufVPN. The provider’s website advertises 24/7 support but we were unable to find any option to chat on their website This makes it difficult to get in touch with their team in case of any technical issues. The only method to reach out to BlufVPN is through email and in our experience, their response was severely inconsistent.

For instance, during our review process, BlufVPN suddenly discontinued its macOS and iOS apps. Since we were testing these at the time, we reached out to them seeking clarity but did not hear back. We also faced connectivity issues with their service but did not get a satisfactory resolution of the issue.

Further, the BlufVPN website has a blog covering basic VPN-related issues and frequently asked questions, but we found that these lack the depth to solve any issues that users might encounter when using BlufVPN.

The 24/7 support claim is also misleading since there’s no option to connect with them on their website or in their app.

BlufVPN’s Server Network

BlufVPN has a modest server network that’s good enough for most users around the world. It also offers optimized servers for file sharing and streaming. Here are our key takeaways:

• BlufVPN has 500 servers in 56 countries
• BlufVPN does not offer dedicated IPs.

Number of servers and locations

The BlufVPN website claims that it has over 500 server locations in 60 countries. However, we were able to see just 56 countries in the app, as listed below.

• Africa and the Middle East: Israel, Libya, Oman, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
• The Americas: Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States.
• Asia and Oceania: Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
• Europe: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Additionally, there are specialized servers that help you connect to the streaming service of your choice including Netflix, DisneyPlus, Hulu, HBO Max, or even Amazon Prime Video.

Dedicated IP address

A dedicated IP is an anonymous IP address specifically assigned to you by a VPN provider. It cannot be used by other users, so every time you connect to the VPN service, you will have that same dedicated IP address to mask your original IP address. BlufVPN doesn’t offer dedicated IP addresses, so if you prefer to have this option, you might want to look at another option like CyberGhost that’s as affordable as BlufVPN, but significantly better.

BlufVPN’s Options

BlufVPN seems to be targeted specifically at those who want to stream geo-blocked content. It doesn’t offer any other options or specialized features beyond this.

• It unblocks all major streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, DisneyPlus, and Amazon Prime Video. 
• Torrenting is allowed but speeds may be kind of slow for this.

BlufVPN and Netflix

The strong suit of BlufVPN is how seamlessly it unblocks most streaming services including American Netflix, DisneyPlus, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and even Amazon Prime Video, which is known to use some of the most advanced anti-VPN technology. There were no buffering problems and the picture quality was as expected, so their optimized streaming servers definitely work. If streaming geo-blocked content is your main reason for using a VPN, BlufVPN is an excellent option at a low price.

BlufVPN and torrents

BlufVPN has specialized servers for file sharing which are helpful for anonymous torrenting. However, the speeds may be a bit slow for this purpose, so you should check out the best VPNs for torrenting if it’s a priority.

Conclusion – Our Experience with BlufVPN

To conclude, BlufVPN is a pretty good VPN for streaming Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, DisneyPlus, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services. It offers decent speeds at incredibly affordable prices if you sign up for the three-year subscription plan. It’s secure enough and has a modest server network, though the company provides inconsistent information about several aspects of its service.

You also can’t install it on your router, so you’re essentially restricted to just Android and Windows devices.

BlufVPN claims that it does not keep any logs but users should be aware that the provider does log some information including your IP address during active sessions. They claim it’s deleted once you disconnect but it definitely reduces our privacy score of BlufVPN as most “no logs” providers do not record any such user information.

Another major limitation is that BlufVPN is only available on Windows and Android devices, so if you own a Mac or an Apple device, it’s of no use. We were pleased to see that both the Windows and Android apps include a kill switch but would have liked to see more features too. We would also appreciate better customer support and prompt responses from the BlufVPN team, which is currently severely lacking.

Lastly, although BlufVPN doesn’t offer a free trial, you can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee to try out the service. If you realize it’s not for you, you’ll get your money back. On the whole, BlufVPN is quite user-friendly, reasonably fast, and fairly secure, but could do better on the privacy and customer support fronts.

What Our Experts Have to Say

“A cheap VPN to unblock Netflix and other streaming services, with lots of room for improvement.”

Our score

6.0

Naj Ahmed

BlufVPN is a fairly new entrant, and it's firmly middle-tier right now. However, for a new VPN, it's got a lot going for it, but the company does have to work on its communications and support in general. It does a great job of unblocking different streaming services, but they have a lot of ground to cover to stand any chance of competing with the big players.

BlufVPN is a fairly new entrant, and it's firmly middle-tier right now. However, for a new VPN, it's got a lot going for it, but the company does have to work on its communications and support in general. It does a great job of unblocking different streaming services, but they have a lot of ground to cover to stand any chance of competing with the big players.

Price

From $2.00 a month

Visit BlufVPN