BlackVPN review

BlackVPN promises to keep your data private – but can it deliver? We’ve put their VPN servers to the test to see if they can match up to other products on the market, looking at popular features like VPN torrenting capabilities, quick browsing, streaming capabilities and anonymity.

The service was founded in 2009 and is based in Kowloon, Hong Kong. This is considered a privacy-friendly location, because it is outside of the Five Eyes jurisdiction and therefore other countries cannot legally request your data. There is also no mandatory data retention policy in Hong Kong, which is a positive thing for those using the service

As of the time of this review, BlackVPN only has 31 servers spread across 18 different locations. This makes it quite small compared to most VPNs, with many boasting thousands of servers dispersed across multiple nations.

Pricing & plans 

To use BlackVPN you need to purchase a full year’s worth of service, with three different packages to choose from. There’s no free VPN option but you can select your plan based on the server you want to use and the features you desire. 

There’s a TV option for people who want a streaming VPN to use from the UK or the US, a separate package for unrestricted P2P/Bittorrent services, or a Global Package that bundles all of their services into one package. Subscribing to their plan gets you an unlimited amount of server switches and seven simultaneous device connections.

Global

€99.00 per year

Privacy

€49.00 per year 

TV

€75.00 per year 

BlackVPN also offers a 14-day cash-back guarantee and a 3-day trial that doesn't require any credit card information. You can purchase their service with credit cards, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, bank transfers, gift cards, or e-wallets via PaymentWall.

Privacy & encryption 

To protect your traffic, BlackVPN employs the military-grade 256-bit encryption standard as well as 4096-bit RSA certificates, which are unbreakable even by the most effective current computers. It also supports the PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN protocols.

BlackVPN has a no-logs policy that states it doesn't keep any of your data anywhere. However when we checked the privacy policy for more details, we discovered a worrisome sentence that states the VPN will comply with data requests if forced to do so.

It also states that copyright infringement (torrenting) isn't allowed on the platform, which means the company will monitor the VPN account if it receives infringement notices from copyright owners. Therefore, they do log data. Ideally, you should use a VPN that has undergone an independent VPN audit. For this reason, we advise looking at our suggested alternatives to this VPN if you are worried about your security and anonymity online. 

Streaming 

The majority of market leaders claim to be VPNs for Netflix, giving you access to popular geo-restricted streaming services. When we tested BlackVPN the situation was mixed. It has servers made for VPN streaming and can unblock Netflix US, HBO NOW, Kodi media player, and Disney+. Unfortunately we weren’t able to unblock Amazon Prime Video or Hulu. 

Speed & experience 

Despite the fact that all VPNs will, in some way, slow down your connection, the best ones have a minimal impact and avoid lags or buffering. Likewise, speed can differ based on your location, connection, and internet service provider.

Our internet speed was 32 Mbps when we ran a speed test with BlackVPN on a server in Spain; after connecting, it dropped to 11.43 Mbps. The Australian servers underwent predictably worse performance, achieving only 3.8 Mbps on a 64 Mbps test connection. Brazil reached 5.4 Mbps, which also wasn't manageable. 

Apps 

The BlackVPN app was simple to download and compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and routers. You'll also find mobile VPN apps for Android and iOS. 

Be aware that there are multiple applications with the same name in the Google Play store so double-check that you’re downloading the right one. 

Customer support 

To get support, you can try their live chat option or fill out a support ticket. However, you must exercise patience; it took some time before we received a response.

We also advise looking at their knowledge base, which includes FAQs, installation instructions, troubleshooting articles, and more, before contacting the customer support.

Black VPN alternatives 

BlackVPN is deeply inferior to many of today’s popular VPN names. If you want a safe VPN, we recommend checking out these alternative options.

NordVPN

The service has more than 5,200 servers spread across 60 different countries, offers live chat support, round-the-clock email support, military-grade internet security, and supports up to six simultaneous device connections. It also has the ability to unblock all popular streaming services.

Read our full NordVPN review

ExpressVPN

Express VPN has servers in over 94 countries with live chat support available 24/7, and excellent security measures. It unblocks all streaming platforms, allows you to stream in HD and also allows for five simultaneous connections on devices. Additionally, it adheres strictly to no-log and privacy policies, giving you peace of mind that your information won't be disclosed.

Read our full ExpressVPN review

CyberGhost

Internet access to streaming websites from all over the globe can be unblocked using the incredibly user-friendly VPN CyberGhost. It has 24/7 live support and safeguards your data with features like an automatic VPN kill switch that cannot be turned off and has military-grade 256-bit encryption. CyberGhost can be trusted to protect your data thanks to independent audits, transparency reports, and a strict privacy policy.

Read our full CyberGhost review 

Verdict

BlackVPN was probably an excellent VPN platform once. However, it is now a barely working shell of a service that only has a nice website to show off and a bunch of unusable apps and servers that occasionally connect. It may unblock Netflix and BBC iPlayer but what’s the point if you can’t even connect to a server in a country where such services are available? 

 Due to its privacy policy, BlackVPN is unable to compete with the best VPNs currently available. To be candid there are better VPNs out there that offer more bang for your buck.