Unblock websites with this free VPN

X-VPN  is a security application by Free Connected Limited. As the name suggests, this is a VPN application, allowing you to browse with protection using nine different protocols and over 5,000 servers across the globe. The app is free to use. However, the free version is limited to 500 MB.

X-VPN has a simple but nice-looking interface for easy usage. It even offers a kill switch and application control. However, more than the limited data, it offers significantly lower speed. Additionally, the connection is quite poor, compared to similar services, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

What it offers

X-VPN is a VPN application where users can access ad-sponsored free servers. As mentioned, it offers more than 5,000 servers in 52 countries, one of the biggest in the market. These are a mixture of bare metal servers and rented virtual servers covering popular locations, such as Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and the Asia-Pacific. Unfortunately, there’s only one server location for Africa, and South and Central America.

As there are various options, picking a location can be a hassle. Thankfully, you can drill down to the city level in several countries. This is great not only for optimizing performance but for accessing state or city-specific content. However, the app sometimes misconfigured the servers, connecting you to a location that you do not choose. Additionally, users must note that the free version only allows you to connect to over 200 servers.

What sets X-VPN apart from other similar services is that it offers servers optimized for streaming popular platforms, such as Netflix and BBC iPLayer. To do so, click the Streaming tab on your app and select the locations listed. However, while it is good for streaming, it is not ideal for torrenters. The upload speed that the app provides is not ideal for P2P activities. Sure, some servers permit P2P traffic, but it was not mentioned.

Security and performance

X-VPN claims to provide faster browsing using its nine protocols. Users can then choose which of these they want to use. However, these protocols are propriety rather than standard ones, such as OpenVPN.  Moreover, according to the developers, they vary in speed and security levels. And while they claim that its propriety technology is better than standard ones, you cannot know for sure as the app does not provide any technical details about it.

Speed-wise, the app’s performance is also mediocre compared to other popular services and even free VPNs. It has speedy downloads and low pong times when you connect to nearby servers. It also loses about 15% download speed when connected to a long-distance connection. However, users will be happy to know that the app uses AES-256 cipher to encrypt traffic, which is considered very secure.

Interface and usability

Installing the X-VPN app comes with no hassle or complications. Once downloaded and installed, you can access 500MB of free Premium plan traffic without providing your email address. This offering won’t last long, though, as the free trial for the Premium plan is only limited to seven days. Once done, the features you can use will be limited unless you pay for the subscription.

As mentioned, the app comes with a simple interface, allowing you to connect to a server with a tap. The app lists the servers on a country and city-level for easier browsing. More than that, it provides a recommended list of your best choices and an all-category where it sorts the servers by continent. There is even a list of servers dedicated to unblocking your favorite streaming platforms.

However, aside from this, you will find that the app has only a handful of options. Fortunately, two of these are very worthwhile. The first is a kill switch, which allows you to block internet access if the VPN drops. The other one is the Application Control, which is X-VPN’s name for split tunneling. This enables you to choose which apps to use the VPN and which will use your regular connection.

Is the app good?

X-VPN is a VPN that works for unblocking and other simple tasks. The app offers thousands of servers that you can connect to with a simple tap. However, while you have various choices, the speed it offers lags behind other VPN providers. It also compromises security and privacy since it does not provide a clear explanation of its used protocols. Overall, there are other better choices.