bVPN

If you’re thinking about buying a b.VPN subscription, there are some things you need to know. To make sure it’s what you’re looking for, you should consider its connection speeds, security features, reliability, ease of use, and unblocking capabilities at the bare minimum. But how can you tell if it ticks all of these boxes? That’s where I come in.

I bought a b.VPN subscription tested it thoroughly and wrote this review so that you can get an insider’s perspective on what it’s actually like. I loved its security and privacy features, which allow it to operate in internet-censored countries like Iran and China. But there were also some things I didn’t like, such as its limited server network.

So, should you buy a b.VPN subscription? Read on to find out.

[features-overview-table]

Streaming — Good Unblocking Capabilities

During my tests, I was able to unblock Netflix, Disney+, ESPN, Peacock TV, and HBO Max. Unfortunately, I was unable to bypass geoblocks for Amazon Prime Video. If you need access to APV, use one of my other tried and tested VPNs.

Unblocked: Netflix, Disney+, ESPN, Peacock TV, HBO Max

While connected to b.VPN, I was able to watch Manifest on Netflix, Loki on Disney+, Grown Ups on Peacock TV, Game of Thrones on HBO Max, and a replay of a boxing match on ESPN. b.VPN’s best server for unblocking content is TVstream, which is located in the UK. Servers in other locations like the US are also able to bypass geo-restrictions without any issues.

Its UK-TVstream server gives you instant access to streaming sites

It was easy to unblock Disney+ and watch its top shows for hours

Here’s what b.VPN’s customer support team had to say about streaming servers: “You can watch BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime UK, and Netflix UK on our UK servers, except for the Manchester server, which is dedicated for streaming iTV and channel 4 content only.”

Blocked By: Amazon Prime Video US

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to watch anything on Amazon Prime Video. I was able to log in to the site, but it could detect that I was using a VPN to access it – so I couldn’t stream at all. Such a bummer!

During my tests b.VPN was unable to unblock Amazon Prime Video

Speeds — Decent

b.VPN was able to maintain fairly good connection speeds in my tests.

My base speeds for the test were download speeds of 7.17 Mbps and upload speeds of 8.35 Mbps. Using a VPN with such basic speeds seemed like a bad idea at first, but b.VPN was able to work decently without buffering or lagging.

My download and upload speeds dropped to 2.55 Mbps and 5.56 Mbps, respectively, once I connected to servers in the UK. This is nothing out of the ordinary – you can expect a drop in speed every time you connect to b.VPN (or any other VPN), since your data has to be encrypted and sent through a faraway server.

This small drop on servers in the Netherlands didn’t really affect my streaming quality

When I connected to a server in the Netherlands, my speeds dropped again, but not as much as they did on UK servers. My download and upload speeds came down to 4.98 Mbps and 6.54 Mbps, respectively. This is probably because I’m closer to the Netherlands than the UK.

The key takeaway is that you should expect a deviation of 2–3 Mbps from your normal connection speeds when using b.VPN. This might affect your browsing and streaming experience slightly, but it shouldn’t cause too much trouble.

I recorded my lowest download speed on servers in Russia, which were furthest away

Are b.VPN’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Yes

Surprisingly enough, b.VPN’s speeds were fast enough to support online multiplayer games. After seeing the speed drops in my tests, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to play any games with the VPN. But that was not the case.

I connected to servers in different regions on my phone, and played PUBG mobile and Asphalt 9 at the highest settings without any lag. These two games have heavy gameplay, and they held up really well in my tests, so you shouldn’t experience any issues with playing mobile games.

If you set b.VPN on your router, you can also use it with your Playstation and Xbox.

It was surprisingly easy to play PUBG mobile while connected to b.VPN

Server Network — Limited

b.VPN is a relatively small provider with servers in 40 countries: Singapore, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, Japan, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, India, Australia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Austria. It has multiple server locations within some of these countries, but other countries only have one server, like the UAE and Taiwan.

If you want to unblock websites or streaming platforms from a particular country, it’s important to make sure that b.VPN has at least one (ideally multiple) servers in that country. If it does, then you don’t have anything to worry about. But if you don’t see your preferred country on this list, then b.VPN won’t be helpful to you.

If you’d rather have access to a wider array of servers in countries around the world, b.VPN isn’t your best bet. You’d be better off with a VPN with a large global server network, such as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. If you’re not too concerned about the location of the server you connect to, however, it’s a perfectly good option.

Security — Provides Great Protection

During my tests, I was able to use the internet securely without any fear of hackers, the government, or my internet service provider spying on me.

b.VPN has impressive security features, and it doesn’t cut corners. It offers two security protocols: L2TP and OpenVPN (in general, L2TP offers extra protection while OpenVPN provides faster connections).

b.VPN’s SSH feature is great at beating the censorship systems used in China and Iran. This helps you bypass VPN restrictions securely and anonymously without being detected. It also offers TCP and UDP server protocols that are optimized for different functions. TCP offers high levels of encryption, while UDP offers faster connection speeds that are better for watching videos and playing games.

The VPN also has a kill switch that disconnects your device from the internet in case your VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This helps to prevent your data (such as your IP address and location) from being revealed to third parties like websites and hackers. To cap it off, it also provides WiFi protection so you can browse securely using public hotspots.

I also tested for IP and DNS leaks while using the VPN, and I’m happy to report that it did not leak my IP address or my DNS requests. That was a huge plus because it meant I could browse without having to worry about my privacy.

Privacy — Basic Features

The only thing that made me uneasy is that b.VPN is based in the Netherlands, which is subject to data retention laws and treaties with other EU nations. This means the VPN could be required to share data with the government at some point. Coupled with the fact that b.VPN retains some connection logs, this is worth considering if you’re super concerned about privacy.

In addition, it has a no-logs policy that ensures it doesn’t keep a record of your internet activity. But b.VPN does record your original IP address, connection time and duration, and bandwidth usage for “product improvement purposes.”

Torrenting — Supports P2P Sharing

b.VPN excels in the area of torrenting, providing additional layers of security through its TCP protocols to ensure your safety during file downloads or seeding. The service also boasts quick connection speeds for efficient file transfers. Unlike many VPNs that don’t support P2P sharing, b.VPN’s compatibility with torrenting is a significant advantage if you anticipate heavy torrent usage.

Does b.VPN Work in China? Yes

b.VPN has advanced obfuscation techniques that are specifically aimed at bypassing the Great Firewall of China. It uses Smoke technology, which is extremely effective in defeating deep packet inspection. It also supports the Shadowsocks proxy, which is good at evading VPN blocks.

With b.VPN, you can comfortably access censored websites from within China. In fact, it’s one of the few VPNs that offer reliable and stable connections in this country.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Limited to 6 Devices

b.VPN allows up to 6 device connections per license. This means that with one subscription, you can connect the VPN on 6 different devices at once – which is more than enough for most people. It’s especially great if you want to share your account with a few friends or family members (although if you want to share it with several people, some other VPNs offer more or even unlimited connections).

Device Compatibility — Works on Major Platforms

b.VPN is compatible with Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS. You can also connect to it on your Playstation, Xbox, Apple TV, and router, but you’ll have to do it indirectly through a computer or router. This is pretty standard, but some other VPNs do provide a more seamless experience on a wider range of devices – such as ExpressVPN with its MediaStreamer service.