Please Note: SaferVPN is no longer taking any new customers and has merged with StrongVPN. To read our review of StrongVPN, click here.
Founded in 2013, SaferVPN is an Israeli-based VPN provider that has become known as a reliable, privacy-protecting VPN service.
This provider bills itself as the “fastest and simplest VPN worldwide.” I decided to give the provider a try to see if it lives up to its billing – and to see how well it protects users from the perils of the web.
Are SaferVPN’s connection speeds really the fastest?
Does it provide reliable access to Netflix and other streaming services?
How well does the provider protect your online privacy and security?
And while SaferVPN has some excellent pricing options, their monthly tariff is one of the highest in the industry. Is it worth it?
See if SaferVPN is For You
SaferVPN has speedy connections, excellent privacy and security protection, and much more.
They offer a month-to-month plan, 1 and 2 year plans but if you’re willing to opt for the 3-year plan, you’ll pay just $2.50 per month.
SaferVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee available for all subscription plans, as well as a 24-hour free trial.
Below, I not only answer these questions, but I also give a comprehensive report on all of the VPN provider’s other features, as well as its overall performance.
My Verdict
I strongly recommend SaferVPN to VPN shoppers looking for an easy-to-use yet secure VPN provider. The provider protects your online privacy while providing easy-to-use apps, making it an ideal provider for the first-time VPN user.
| OVERALL RANK: | |
| Speed: | 5/5 |
| Tested Speed: | 40.92 Mbps average download speed (independently tested) |
| Streaming Support: | HD & 4K HDR |
| Streaming Score: | 5/5 |
| Unblocks Netflix?: | Yes – reliably for the U.S. and U.K.; hit or miss in other countries |
| U.S. Streaming Services Supported: | Netflix U.S., HBO |
| U.K. Streaming Services Supported: | Netflix U.K., BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Amazon Prime (U.K. Only) |
| Security Score: | 4.5/5 |
| Privacy Rating: | 5/5 |
| Supports P2P File Sharing: | Yes, but limited to servers in the Netherlands, Canada and Spain |
| Value for the Money: | 4.5/5 |
| Cost: | $2.50/month for 3-year deal |
| Money-Back Guarantee: | 30 days (24-hour free trial) |
| Website: | www.SaferVPN.com |
Pros
- Speedy connections
- Unblocks Netflix in the U.S., U.K. and other countries
- Keeps no logs connected to your online travels
- Top-notch privacy and security protections
- Kill switch protection
Cons
- Global server coverage needs improvement
- Customization features are a bit lacking
Features
SaferVPN has all of the popular device platforms covered, with native apps for the Windows, macOS, Android and iOS platforms.
It also provides browser extensions for the Chrome and Firefox platforms. (Take note that they only protect your in-browser activities.)
The provider offers manual setup instructions for using the provider with Linux and various makes and models of routers.
SaferVPN’s desktop apps offer only the basics, such as a kill switch, automatic Wi-Fi protection and the ability to select from 3 protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN and L2TP over IPSec, which I’ll discuss more in the Security and Privacy section.
The provider’s mobile apps are even more streamlined, offering only automatic Wi-Fi protection and an option to automatically reconnect in case of connection failure. (Perhaps this is intended as a replacement for kill switch protection?)
All of the above adds up to streamlined apps that are good options for beginners but are a bit lacking for experienced VPN users.
SaferVPN allows up to 5 simultaneous connections on a single username. If you need more, I suggest finding a compatible router, as that will enable you to protect multiple connected devices via a single access point.
At the time of this writing, SaferVPN’s global server numbers show 700 servers in 34 countries. That is far below the coverage that other VPN providers offer, so I strongly suggest you check out the provider’s server locations before signing on the dotted line.
Although SaferVPN does allow P2P file sharing activity while connected to its servers, the P2P action is limited to the Netherlands, Canada and Spain server locations.
24/7 live chat support is available from the provider’s customer support folks, along with a support ticket tracking system and a searchable help center.
Streaming
Accessing streaming content from other regions is arguably one of the most popular activities that users enjoy while connected to a VPN. Before making a final buying decision about any VPN provider, I always check out their streaming features.
My entertainment tastes are all over the map, meaning the streaming providers I enjoy are literally all over the map. That’s where a VPN’s ability to make it appear as if I’m in another part of the world comes in handy.
Using a VPN to open access to streaming content in another region was a relatively simple matter, once upon a time.
However, in recent years, streaming services have begun cracking down on VPN users. This is due to their geographically-based content agreements with television and movie studios.
SaferVPN does an adequate job of opening the gates to regional content for Netflix and other streaming providers.
The VPN has 2 designated streaming servers, one for the U.S. and the other for the U.K. They proved exceptionally reliable for Netflix. All other VPN servers proved to be hit or miss.
Amazon Prime unblocking was a 50/50 proposition, as the U.K. Prime content was accessible, while the U.S. Prime servers told me I couldn’t watch while using a VPN or proxy.
The U.K. streaming VPN server worked well to open access to BBC iPlayer.
Meanwhile, Hulu in the U.S. simply gave me an “error playing this video” message whenever I tried to play any of its video content.
Despite these issues, when I was able to access any of the streaming services, the video began playing quickly. All content played smoothly, with no delays or pixelization.
Security and Privacy
SaferVPN does an above-average job of protecting their users’ privacy, offering military-grade encryption for their connections.
This provider says it does not collect or log any of your browsing activity, data accessed or any IP addresses you connect to. It also doesn’t record your real IP address, VPN IP address, DNS queries or any metadata.
Bitcoin is happily accepted here, allowing you to go for complete anonymity by using a disposable email address, keeping all of your subscription info undercover.
SaferVPN uses 256-bit military-level encryption, keeping your online antics away from the prying eyes of interested third parties, like the government and even that guy in the hoodie sitting at the next table over in Starbucks.
Desktop apps have 3 protocol options: IKEv2, OpenVPN and L2TP over IPSec.
Mobile apps use IKEv2, which makes sense, as IKEv2 allows for faster connections, a valuable feature on mobile apps. Desktop apps make available the OpenVPN protocol, which is safe and open source, and has quickly become the most preferred protocol in the industry.
As I mentioned above, while SaferVPN’s desktop app offers kill switch protection, their mobile apps offer only an option to automatically reconnect in case of connection failure.
Speed
Before revealing my SaferVPN connection speed figures, I’d like to go over how we determine the speed numbers.
We performed all speed tests using a gigabit Ethernet connection located in the United States. We test by connecting to 3 different locations – The United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong.
We perform the tests on 3 different days and at 3 different times of day: morning, midday and evening. We use each provider’s Windows app and connect via OpenVPN over UDP.
We found that the provider’s connections were more than up to anything we threw at them, with plenty of bandwidth for streaming video and online gaming. Their average download speed of 40.92 Mbps is one of the best speeds we’ve seen. Even 4K HDR content will begin streaming quickly and play smoothly.
Cost
SaferVPN’s 1-month pricing makes it a member of the high-priced spread club. However, if you’re willing to make a 1- to 3-year commitment, you can score an excellent price.
A month-to-month subscription will take a $12.95-sized chunk from your billfold.
The 1-year plan cuts the price precipitously to an average of $5.49 per month. The 2-year package drops that down to $3.29 per month, and if you’re willing to opt for the 3-year plan, you’ll pay just $2.50 per month.
A 30-day money-back guarantee is available for all subscription plans. A 24-hour free trial is also available.
Alternatives
While SaferVPN provides above-average protection and connection speeds, you may prefer another provider, perhaps one that offers more configuration options or that has a larger server network.
In that case, one of the two following VPN providers may be a better fit for you.
NordVPN
NordVPN is also a well-established VPN provider, with years of reliable service under its belt. this provider is my top pick to protect and enhance most any online activities.
The provider offers top-notch service for a reasonable price, making it the best option for users that are looking for excellent VPN protection and enhancement.
The provider’s global server coverage is above average, and it offers reliable access to numerous streaming sites around the globe. When it comes to streaming, no other provider could match NordVPN in my most recent connection speed tests, making it an excellent choice for streaming, gaming, and file sharing.
The provider’s online security and privacy protections are second to none, and NordVPN offers native app support for all of the most popular device platforms.
Surfshark
Surfshark is an excellent VPN option for users on a tight budget, thanks to the provider’s bargain-priced multi-year subscription options.
The provider’s low price belies its excellent connection speeds, excellent online security and privacy protections, and its fast-growing and already impressive global server network.
The provider puts no limit on how many devices you can connect to their servers at once, and also offers reliable app support for most popular device platforms.
