UltraVPN is one of the best VPN services if you’re looking for speed, number of server locations, privacy, and value. On the website, the team behind UltraVPN claims it grants users unlimited and unrestricted access to content all over the internet, unhackable encryption, and some of the fastest connection speeds available on the market.
Subscription to UltraVPN also grants users access to their unique extra features, “PassWatch” and “Dark Web Scan,” making it a secure, safety-first VPN service with superb usability.
This review aims to test these claims, provide an objective assessment of UltraVPN and determine its viability as a top VPN service for streamers, gamers, and general internet users.
Quick Summary
UltraVPN provides users with a safe internet browsing experience.
It’s easy to use and navigate, and its subscription price is lower than most VPNs on the market.
While it provides a less extensive list of features than some VPNs do, it still manages to deliver on the promises it makes in its marketing.
It has excellent speeds. Its customer support is readily available to help customers out with any troubles they might have, it’s one of the best VPNs for unblocking streaming platforms, it’s highly secure, and it is well suited for P2P file sharing (torrenting).
UltraVPN Pros and Cons
UltraVPN Key Data
UltraVPN Key Features — As of November 2022
💸Price: 2.99 USD/month
📆Money-Back Guarantee: 30 Days
📝Does VPN keep logs? Close to no-log policy
🖥Number of servers: 116
💻Number of devices per license: 6
🛡Kill switch: Yes
🗺Jurisdiction: United States
🛠Support: 24/7 Live Chat Support
📥Supports torrenting: Yes
Price & Value: UltraVPN offers excellent value for your money
Price is one of the essential considerations for everyday users searching for a VPN. Because a VPN is used almost daily and on an ongoing basis for years, the long-term cost of the service can become quite considerable.
Many VPN services cost upwards of $12.95 per month, exceeding $150.00 a year. However, we’ve found UltraVPN to be a far more affordable and reliable option.
Pricing Overview
Like most software and VPNs, UltraVPN has a tiered pricing structure which gets better the longer a user subscribes to the service.
The best value-for-money comes with a two-year plan paid in a single time, $71.76 for twenty-four months. This comes to $2.99 per month – one of the lowest prices we’ve found for a VPN.
If users wish to avoid committing for two years, a yearly subscription comes for a single billing of $59.88, coming out to $4.99 per month.
Lastly, users who wish to have a monthly plan can do so for just $7.99 per month, billed each month until the subscriber cancels their subscription.
Each of these plans comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, access to over 100+ secure servers, protection across all your devices, unlimited bandwidth, industry-leading encryption, and 24/7 technical support.
Payment & refund options
UltraVPN offers customers to option to pay either by credit or debit card or PayPal.
UltraVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, during which users can opt out of their subscriptions and receive a full refund. However, after this 30-day period has expired, getting a refund for the remaining time on any paid subscription is impossible.
Free trial & money-back guarantee
UltraVPN doesn’t offer a free trial – users must provide card details and subscribe to the service to test the product. However, with their 30-day money-back guarantee, this is essentially a free trial period.
To write this review, the author used this exact method to test the full extent of UltraVPN and received all money back from the team without any problems whatsoever.
Streaming: UltraVPN works well with many streaming services
Along with social media, video and content streaming is one of the most popular uses for the internet. 85% of all US households have at least one subscription to a video streaming service, and the global streaming market is projected to be worth $330 billion by 2030. This clearly indicates the intent of many internet users, that they want access to streaming platforms and content from all over the world.
Large streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer, are legally obligated to restrict access to certain content based on the viewers’ location. This is due to copyright legislation on different content. For streaming users, this means many desirable content titles are “geoblocked” behind a firewall and might not be accessible, depending on where the user’s IP address is and which region that content is available.
Any person streaming content online, or any time a device connects to the internet, that device and user are assigned an IP address. This data point identifies that particular device’s geographic location.
VPN services work by re-routing IP addresses through different services and thus can help streamers get around these geoblocks.
UltraVPN’s marketing claims it grants unlimited and unrestricted access to all online content. This is quite a claim, given that streaming platforms, notably Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, all use robust anti-VPN detection software to protect their geo-restricted catalogs.
Quick overview of streaming capabilities
During our testing to write this review, we tried to access all of the major streaming platforms using UltraVPN servers from different locations. We tested Netflix US as well as UK, Amazon Prime Video US as well as UK, HBO Now US as well as Canada and Germany. We also tried several smaller niche channels like Discovery GO! Australia and Japan.
We successfully accessed all Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, ITV Hub, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Kodi, and Peacock TV global catalogs using servers in different locations.
Unblocks Netflix effectively
With over 223 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is the world’s largest streaming platform.
However, as people who have used Netflix will know, some country locations have different content catalogs than others. The US Netflix server has some of the most desirable movies and TV shows. At the same time, other titles aren’t available in the USA and are only available in other countries.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, VPNs change a connection’s IP address. They can help Netflix users change their IP address to access different content. Without VPNs, Netflix subscribers are restricted to their countries’ catalog according to their device’s IP address.
However, streaming platforms want to prevent users from doing this, which is why they employ anti-VPN software. Many streamers will be familiar with the following error message from Netflix:
“Pardon the interruption. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again. Error Code: M7111-5059.”
Some less robust VPN servers are detectable by streaming platforms, preventing them from accessing the content.
During our tests, we used UltraVPN to switch to many different servers and successfully accessed uniquely available content without a problem. We never saw the above error message while using UltraVPN to stream on Netflix.
For example, the 2016 film starring Brad Pitt and Russel Crowe, “The Nice Guys,” isn’t available in the United Kingdom’s Netflix catalog. We used UltraVPN to connect to a server in the US, and we successfully found and watched The Nice Guys without any buffering or interruptions.
In our experience testing other VPN services, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN, UltraVPN is far superior in accessing different content from different locations.
Streams BBC iPlayer, HBO Max and Disney+
While Netflix is the largest streaming platform, other platforms offer unique content not available on Netflix.
Creating and producing unique content solely for streaming on their platform is one of the leading business models streaming platforms use to obtain and retain users. “Netflix Original” series and movies, such as “Godfather,” “1899”, and “Slumberland,” are only available on Netflix, so people require a Netflix subscription to watch them.
Other streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Disney+, employ similar strategies to encourage users to sign up for their platforms. “The Flight Attendant” and “Made for Love” are only available to HBO Max subscribers. In contrast, movies like “Lady and the Tramp,” “Noelle,” and “Artemis Fowl” are exclusively available to Dinsey+ subscribers.
This encourages people to have multiple subscriptions to different streaming platforms. Hence, they gain access to a variety of exclusive content. However, Netflix isn’t the only streaming platform with geo-restricted content, which is why we needed to test UltraVPN’s ability to access catalogs successfully on different platforms.
Like Netflix, if these alternative streaming platforms detect a user is on a VPN, similar error messages appear, such as this error message from BBC iPlayer:
“BBC iPlayer only works in the UK Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”
We were able to get members of our team who live outside the UK to connect to a UK server using UltraVPN and then successfully access all of BBC iPlayer’s unique content without encountering the above message.
Gives access to the most difficult streaming platforms
Some streaming platforms are notoriously harder than others to circumnavigate using a VPN. In particular, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu are both streaming services with exceptionally robust anti-VPN software.
Hulu is only available to people living in the US, and Amazon Prime Video’s US catalog is by far the most desirable.
We’ve often encountered this error message when trying to access Hulu from outside the US:
“It looks like you’re using an anonymous proxy. You’ll need to disable it to watch Hulu. Hulu Error Code: P-EDU101.”
However, using UltraVPN, we could connect to several servers within the United States and successfully access all of Hulu’s and Amazon Prime Video’s content.
Notably, many old reviews of UltraVPN have said they had difficulty in accessing these platforms – notably Amazon Prime Video. We needed to try different US servers during our testing as some wouldn’t grant access. Still, we quickly found UltraVPN servers that gave access to these platforms.
Torrenting: P2P servers & fast speeds
Torrents are a very popular way for people to share large files with each other on the internet. BitTorrent is the protocol of choice when transferring large files online, with over 45 million daily active users worldwide. With today’s massive file and download sizes, it’s not uncommon for these files to be in excess of gigabytes.
Many ISPs have strict bandwidth caps on their subscribers. Using torrents means running the risk of getting one’s account suspended or terminated due to exceeding the ISP’s monthly data cap.
Moreover, torrenting is against the law in some countries. People caught torrenting can face fines and even possible prison terms for copyright infringement.
For this reason, many users opt to use a VPN while torrenting. VPNs hide IP addresses, shielding the user’s identity from hackers ad authorities, and protect them while P2P filesharing.
Some VPNs are better than others at providing a solid connection speed for torrents, with many VPNs needing to be more torrent-friendly.
This is where Ultra VPN really shines. According to their marketing, their “ultra-fast” servers allow users to “download and share files with near-zero latency.”
This shows in their test results. In testing the speed of their P2P servers, we downloaded a 1 GB file from their US server over a VPN speed test client; this gave an average rate of around 2GB/s. This was the fastest speed result we got out of all the VPN services in this review. Furthermore, these connections were stable and reliable, with no interruptions during the tests.
This makes the service great for easily downloading large files and transferring them to other computers. In addition, no special setup is required for these connections — you can jump straight in and start downloading at full speed straight away.
Privacy-focused logging policy and high encryption help hide your P2P activity from your ISP
Another great thing about using a VPN for torrents is that it hides your IP address entirely from anyone trying to monitor your internet usage.
Since your IP address is easily discoverable through normal internet usage, your ISP can quickly figure out which websites you visit and how much data you consume. Using a VPN such as UltraVPN to hide your IP makes it much more difficult for your ISP to monitor your internet usage. This prevents them from terminating your account or charging you extra fees based on your internet consumption.
Speeds & reliability: Speeds are fast enough to compete with the fastest VPNs
Speed is essential for any user looking to purchase a VPN subscription. A slow VPN connection can impact one’s ability to stream video content, upload and download large files, and play online games. Therefore, a good VPN should always offer users a fast and stable internet connection speed. We ran a series of speed tests on UltraVPN using a local and long-distance server.
Speed test results:
We did numerous tests for this review to assess UltraVPN’s connection speed on local and long-distance servers.
As a control, we tested our internet connection first without any VPN:
Then we connected to various servers in different locations, both local and distant.
Local speed test
The local speed test had little to no impact on our download speed. However, our upload speed was affected by the server. This is a consideration for anyone wanting to use UltraVPN for local gaming, as a slower upload speed can cause lag.
Long-distance test
Interestingly, when we connected to a server far away from our physical location, our upload speed recovered, and our download speed was only marginally affected. We could use our internet and stream problem-free on both of these connections.
Fast speed on all servers
We conducted these speed tests for many servers on all continents, and the results were similar. Some servers would reduce upload speeds, while others would not.
Regardless, we could successfully use our connection across all servers for all desired intents, as the connection speeds were more than enough.
Fast enough for gaming
We also found that UltraVPN provided connection speeds fast enough for gaming. Some more connection-intense games might experience some delay, but for our intents and purposes, we experienced lag-free gaming.
Privacy & logging policy: UltraVPN is safe and private
Many people choose to use a VPN to prevent third parties from following a user’s online behavior. This helps protect their personal information, their identity and reduces the user’s exposure to scams and hacks. By masking the user’s IP address with an IP address from a different region or country, a user can prevent hackers from stealing the user’s personal information and other sensitive data.
This is especially important when using public Wi-Fi hotspots. It’s very common for public Wi-Fi hotspots to offer very poor security in terms of privacy. This means that anyone on the same network can see what you are doing on your computer or smartphone and can easily steal your personal information—including your passwords and credit card details.
Pretty close to zero logs
UltraVPN has as close as it gets to a zero-log policy. The VPN doesn’t log or retain your actual IP address, browsing history, or traffic data records.
Aura, the parent company which owns UltraVPN, does need to collect certain information to support customers and to address any technical issues users might have with the service. This information is:
- Account information: User name, email address, and payment information.
- Usage information: UltraVPN recalls which apps you use (such as the desktop or mobile app) if you make a successful connection, which servers you connect to (but not logging the particular IP address), and from which country and internet service provider (ISP) you connect. It doesn’t collect your actual IP address.
- Diagnostics information: VPN connection and usability diagnostics and crash reports.
- Device hashes: A device hash in a randomly generated serial number that recognizes your device. Device hashes are essential because some of UltraVPN’s products don’t require an account, and hashes are required to differentiate between users.
Based in the US
UltraVPN was acquired by Pango in 2020, which is owned by Aura, a company based in the US.
Users should be aware that Aura collects the above information for troubleshooting and support purposes. However, the fact that UltraVPN doesn’t collect any original IP address or assigned IP address and doesn’t record any information that can link user identity to online activity means user privacy is secure with UltraVPN. Provided UltraVPN maintains this no-logs policy going forward, it will be a very safe choice.
Security & extra features: UltraVPN has many advanced settings for greater security.
Security is paramount for any user considering subscribing to a VPN service. After all, protecting user identity and private data is one of the primary purposes of a VPN.
We took this part of our review very seriously and were very pleased with what we found.
Protocols
UltraVPN offers military-grade security and sets itself apart from other VPN providers. This is because many other providers use Wireguard and OpenVPN protocols. In contrast, UltraVPN offers its subscribers the choice between Automatic, IKEv2 (IPSec), and Aura’s proprietary protocol “Hydra” (which is currently only available on Android, however).
With Hydra, all internet traffic is made to appear as HTTPS, which provides rudimentary obfuscation.
Encryption
UltraVPNs encryption is unhackable and impossible to crack. AES-256-bit encryption means no third party can ever track your browsing behavior while using UltraVPN.
Security
Most VPNs, including UltraVPN, offer split tunneling as a standard feature. This separates online traffic into two routes. One route is encrypted, and the other goes through the standard internet.
Some VPNs which offer split tunneling do so at the detriment of connection speeds, trading usability for security. UltraVPN has no such compromise, offering rapid speeds with a safe and secure connection.
Kill Switch
It’s always essential to have a backup plan in place should your VPN lose connection to its server. While this doesn’t happen regularly with UltraVPN, it is a possibility.
When a connection to a VPN server is lost, that user’s IP address and browsing behavior become unmasked, making them vulnerable.
A kill switch is an essential VPN function that automatically terminates the user’s internet access should the VPN lose its server. This offers leak protection and allows users to reconnect to the internet through the VPN without risking their IP address or identity.
In our tests, this function worked immediately the UltraVPN, and we were delighted with the kill switch function.
Malware & phishing protection
Malware and phishing scams are among the most common cybersecurity attacks. They work by hackers managing to send files and documents to the user’s computer. UltraVPN prevents this with an in-built server-level filtering system that catches and notifies users of any potentially malicious file. This helps both advanced and everyday internet users stay safe while online.
Extra features: password manager & dark web scanner
UltraVPN subscribers also gain access to two other exclusive features – Password Manager and Dark Web Scanner. We found these valuable features and believe many users will benefit from them.
Password Manager
In particular, password manager helps address the prevalent issue of weak passwords. 67% of American web users have the same password for multiple accounts, and 24% of have passwords like “password,” “12345678”, or “qwerty.” This makes it very easy for hackers to access key accounts and sensitive data such as billing and personal identity documents.
Password manager fixes this issue by automatically storing a user’s password for a different account and suggesting robust, complex passwords that are impossible to hack. This significantly improves online security and safety.
Dark Web Scanner
In many cases, if hackers obtain a user’s personal information, they put that information up on dark web marketplaces for sale. Dark Web Scanner, one of UltraVPN’s extra features, constantly scans these marketplaces, such as forums, for matches of users’ information. If a security breach is detected, UltraVPN alerts the user with a recommendation to change passwords and accounts (easily done using a password manager).
Server locations: 100+ server locations on all continents
Having a diverse server list is an essential consideration for a VPN service. As discussed in the streaming section of this review, connecting to different servers is important for streamers to access different content.
UltraVPN’s customer support service rapidly replied to our query. It informed us that they currently have 116 servers on all continents around the globe. Compared to some other VPN services, this server base is relatively small, however is very well distributed and meticulously maintained, always offering the fastest connection speeds possible. Furthermore, accessing different servers provides greater security.
Wide range of servers in the US
Many servers exist across the United States, which helps grant access to US-based streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.
The complete list of UltraVPN’s servers is:
North America
Canada
USA
Europe
Great Britain
Germany
France
Asia
India
Hong Kong
Philippines
Japan
Africa
South Africa
Tunisia
South America
Brazil
Columbia
Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
Device & OS compatibility:
For some users, the thought of using a VPN could seem daunting – as it’s another step in connecting to the internet. UltraVPN offers one of the most user-friendly interfaces of any VPN service we’ve ever reviewed, making it an excellent choice for anyone concerned about their level of technical knowledge.
Many reviews we’ve seen and our own experience praises UltraVPN for its ease of use across all devices. UltraVPN offers client apps on most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, IOS, and Android. The only major operating system not supported by UltraVPN is Linux.
For desktop: Windows & Mac
The user interfaces for both the Windows and Mac clients apps appear very similar. Both are sleek, easy to use, and visually pleasing.
UltraVPN Windows user interface
UltraVPN’s macOS user interface
For mobile: iOS & Android
Similaly, the mobile apps for Android and IOS devices are just as user-friendly. They both have the same appearance:
Ultra VPN’s mobile client user interface
It’s highly intuitive, easy to select different server locations, and easy to connect and disconnect.
Customer support: Helpful 24/7 live chat support
UltraVPN offers various methods through which users can get in touch with the support team. This includes a contact form on their website and a live chat option available anytime.
Their customer support representatives are very responsive and helpful. They could answer all of our questions within a very short time during our tests. They also have an extensive FAQ section that answers many common questions and issues users have with their VPN service.
Live chat support
Many services claim 24/7 support, but they need to live up to this claim. Indeed, in past older reviews, slow customer support has been a concern some users have encountered with UltraVPN.
Recently, however, they have significantly improved their 24/7 live chat support. All our queries were answered rapidly (under 30 seconds) during our tests, and any question we had was helpfully answered.
Knowledge base
As we were writing a comprehensive UltraVPN review, there were specific technical questions we needed answers to. We took this as an excellent opportunity to test UltraVPN’s customer support and knowledge base, asking them questions like:
- How many servers do you have?
- What encryption does UltraVPN use?
- What is UltraVPN’s log policy?
- Where is UltraVPN’s jurisdiction?
Their live chat team rapidly answered all of these questions and others like them. We also found them particularly helpful when requesting our 30-day money-back guarantee, which they started as soon as we asked for.
The bottom line
UltraVPN is one of the best VPNs we’ve come across, mainly for its price.
Its ability to access various streaming platforms and international catalogs make it the stand-out VPN for anyone looking for assistance, primarily streaming.
Its speeds also make it an excellent choice for gamers, and its military-grade encryption and security make it a safe and reliable option for everyday and advanced internet users.
We recommend UltraVPN to people who want a fast, safe, secure, and reliable web surfing experience.
UltraVPN FAQs
Is UltraVPN safe?
Yes. UltraVPN is a VPN with exceptional safety, delivering military-grade encryption protecting it’s users information.
Can I use UltraVPN for free?
UltrVPN doesn’t offer a free trial – but customers who wish to test the VPN can sign up for a single month, and then use the 30-day money-back-guarantee if they feel the service isn’t for them.
Does UltraVPN work in China?
Yes, UltraVPN is effective in helping users inside China access the rest of the internet, including social media, news, and streaming platforms.
Does UltraVPN allow torrenting?
UltraVPN is a P2P, torrent-friendly VPN which helps users anonymously share large files with each other.