Is it a Protected & Dependable VPN to Use?

Whereas City VPN’s accessible free variations look attractive, the service itself lacks each fundamental and superior options anticipated out of recent VPNs. It’s additionally held again by a questionable privateness coverage, lackluster VPN efficiency, and the absence of any unbiased audits.

On this article, we dive deeper into City VPN to see whether or not it’s best for you and your group.

City VPN pricing

City VPN is the one supplier I’ve tried thus far that doesn’t have a premium desktop model. As a substitute, its premium plan is unique to its cellular app on Android and iOS. City VPN advertises itself because the “solely 100% Free” VPN on the planet — referring to its desktop functions.

SEE: 6 Greatest VPNs for Gaming in 2024 (TechRepublic)

If we check out its premium plans on cellular, its costs are literally pretty reasonably priced.

Nonetheless, the one noticeable distinction between City VPN’s paid and free plans on cellular is the addition of extra areas. There doesn’t appear to be any additional options with its paid model, so I don’t suggest going for any of those paid plans.

As well as, City VPN as a complete lacks a ton of baseline VPN capabilities we count on out of recent VPNs, like a kill swap or cut up tunneling. We’ll speak about that intimately later.

SEE: Can a VPN Be Hacked? (TechRepublic)

Personally, I feel City VPN could be higher off if it offered a premium model for its desktop as nicely. Conventionally talking, customers on desktop may have extra use circumstances for a VPN than these on cellular.

That being stated, it’s legitimate if City VPN needs to distinguish itself as a fully-free desktop possibility. This was made clear to me once I first seemed via City VPN’s official web site, with most of its inner hyperlinks promoting its Free VPN service, no matter platform.

Sadly, absolutely free VPNs are sometimes not the only option since they’re recognized to both document or promote person knowledge to make a revenue. To be taught extra, learn our comparability between Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs.

Is City VPN secure?

I can’t take into account City VPN a secure and safe VPN given its questionable privateness coverage, knowledge logging, lack of third-party audits, and fewer than splendid DNS leak safety.

Earlier than diving in, one constructive with City VPN’s safety features is its use of 256-bit encryption by way of the OpenVPN protocol. OpenVPN is widely known as a extremely safe VPN protocol, and I’m pleased to see it right here. With that, let’s look into some privateness and safety points with City VPN.

In response to City VPN, it has a “full no-logging coverage,” which supposedly permits customers to browse the web with out having their on-line exercise being traced. Sadly, there’s merely no proof to show this declare, be it via an unbiased audit or a third-party analysis. I discover this particularly disappointing since equally reasonably priced VPNs like Non-public Web Entry or Surfshark each have third-party audits that again up their no-logs insurance policies.

I additionally discovered just a few provisions in City VPN’s Privateness Coverage regarding. Per its coverage, City VPN collects on-line identifiers reminiscent of “Cookie ID, IP tackle or related distinctive on-line identifiers generated, promoting ID.” The VPN says this knowledge is collected for analytic and promoting functions — which probably means promoting your knowledge to advertising corporations.

As well as, City VPN may also accumulate net looking knowledge, search engine outcomes web page, net pages visited, clicked stream knowledge, and details about the content material seen by customers of its cellular app’s free model.

In response to City VPN, the info collected, typically, “is aggregated Non-Private Information, nonetheless, typically Internet Shopping Information incorporates phrases that may very well be thought of as Private Information, because of this we filter and scrape this knowledge to take away any Private Information earlier than it’s used.”

To me, this is just too a lot knowledge to surrender, particularly for software program like VPNs which might be supposed to assist maintain your knowledge hidden. It additionally stands instantly in distinction to its personal no-logs claims.

I additionally bought unlucky outcomes when it comes to DNS leak checks, the place City VPN had two DNS leaks after I ran it via a spherical of checks. Beneath is a screenshot of one of many leaks, the place I used to be linked to City VPN’s India server. As proven, the DNS leak check additionally discovered a server from america.

With this, I discovered that City VPN misses the mark completely on the subject of offering a safe and privacy-centric VPN expertise.

Key options of City VPN

City VPN foregoes lots of options I count on out of VPNs in 2024. It lacks a kill swap, cut up tunneling, and advert blocking — performance that’s built-in or current in most VPNs immediately. That being stated, it has just a few standout options which will sway you in attempting out its service.

Free model for a number of platforms

City VPN’s largest promoting level is its free model that’s obtainable on a number of platforms. In the event you take a look at its product tab on its web site, City VPN makes an exerted effort to indicate customers that it accommodates a ton of platforms.

At current, it has a free VPN for Home windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. You can even use City VPN without spending a dime via a router or as an unblock proxy.

Personally, I feel having a premium VPN model for desktop would do City VPN nicely, particularly since its paid plan is barely obtainable on cellular. This may permit them to supply extra safety and extra options to energy customers on a devoted pc.

To City VPN’s credit score, I like having the choice to make use of a free VPN. You simply have to grasp that you just received’t get the identical degree of safety or characteristic set when utilizing a free service. I envision this to be helpful for particular person customers who want to vary their IP tackle momentarily as a technique to entry geo-blocked content material.

Limitless units

City VPN additionally permits for limitless gadget assist, letting customers join various units concurrently with out paying a value.

Not all VPNs provide limitless gadget assist, with some suppliers having a most of 5–10 units linked unexpectedly. I admire City VPN offering limitless gadget assist — particularly with its free model. It will allow you to join your laptop computer, smartphone, and different units with out worrying a few gadget restrict.

Free VPN servers with limitless bandwidth

I additionally give props to City VPN for providing its free VPN servers with no knowledge restrict or no restriction when it comes to server choice.

In different free VPNs I’ve tried, both a bandwidth restrict is put in place or there’s no technique to choose which VPN location you’re in a position to hook up with. Out of the field, City VPN permits customers to pick from its suite of 60+ server areas in its free model.

Velocity and efficiency: How briskly is City VPN?

As a disclaimer, I examined City VPN’s free Home windows model for this assessment, so I’m not in a position to give an evaluation of speeds with its paid cellular plans. Throughout my testing, I discovered City VPN to be gradual and sluggish when it comes to general VPN pace.

This concerned being linked to certainly one of its servers whereas doing my normal workflow as a author: having a number of tabs open for analysis, utilizing Google companies like Docs and Drive, and streaming the occasional 1080p video.

Websites had been gradual to load, and there was a noticeable dip in connectivity in comparison with my web service supplier. I additionally discovered City VPN struggled to rapidly set up new connections when switching to a brand new server, requiring an excellent few seconds earlier than it correctly linked to a brand new location.

Sadly, the story is similar on the subject of sustaining VPN connections. After I tried connecting to its France server, for instance, I saved experiencing random disconnections even after the app confirmed I used to be linked.

For pace checks, City VPN doesn’t fare any higher. In comparison with my ISP, City VPN recorded a 79.7% drop for obtain pace and a 67.1% lower for add pace.

Sadly, City VPN’s free model performs simply as I anticipated for a free VPN: offering gradual speeds and unstable connections.

City VPN servers and areas

For its server suite, City VPN’s free model offers entry to round 60+ VPN areas. On its paid model, City VPN says it offers 530+ servers in 80+ nations. In fact, this quantity could range as time goes on.

On the entire, City VPN’s location/nation unfold is first rate and falls inside the common in comparison with different VPNs. Nonetheless, having solely 530+ servers might be too small to count on quick and dependable speeds, particularly if many customers connect with the identical server areas directly.

If pace is a precedence for you, I like to recommend different choices like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

I can commend City VPN for offering an internet portal the place customers can view whether or not their desired VPN location is supported by the service.

City VPN app expertise

I used to be fairly underwhelmed with City VPN’s in-app expertise. After I first began utilizing City VPN’s Home windows app, it turned instantly obvious that it’s a very fundamental VPN utility.

City VPN has a bare-bones interface, solely having a Play/Cease button and a server listing on the precise. That’s just about it. To its credit score, it is vitally simple to make use of and I can see inexperienced persons having no hassle utilizing City VPN.

Nonetheless, whereas I normally admire a VPN that gives a easy and minimalist expertise, I feel City VPN has too little to supply when it comes to options and performance. There’s no additional safety features like a kill swap, advert blocking, or cut up tunneling. For a free model, that may very well be acceptable, however its paid plan additionally doesn’t provide these options.

I additionally discovered switching to new servers clunky, having situations the place it wouldn’t connect with a server correctly or have servers randomly disconnecting.

City VPN professionals

• Has a free model.
• Limitless units.
• No knowledge restrict on free plan.

City VPN cons

• Shops person logs.
• No third-party audits.
• Lack of fundamental VPN options.
• Sluggish speeds.

Who’s City VPN greatest for?

To be agency: I don’t recommend anybody use City VPN at this time limit. However when you’re so inclined, City VPN is greatest for particular person customers that want to vary their IP tackle in a pinch, likely to unblock geo-restricted content material whereas touring or one thing related.

Apart from that, I like to recommend avoiding City VPN altogether. It logs a regarding quantity of person knowledge, doesn’t have any unbiased audits to verify its no-logs coverage, and is unable to supply good VPN speeds.

City VPN is a first-rate instance of why free VPNs might be dangerous software program to make use of, particularly with the excessive probability of logging or person knowledge assortment. It additionally lacks fundamental VPN options like a kill swap and cut up tunneling, whereas having negligible characteristic additions with its paid plan.

Even with its free variations, different choices like Proton VPN or disguise.me VPN present significantly better worth and performance. For different high quality free VPNs, try our round-up of the Greatest Free VPNs and the Greatest VPNs with Free Trials.

Alternate options to City VPN

Surfshark

For customers seeking to have an all-around VPN, I like to recommend Surfshark. It offers good worth with its 100-country server community, quick and constant VPN speeds, and reasonably priced pricing. Surfshark additionally helps limitless simultaneous gadget connections, making it an excellent choose for extra budget-oriented customers or companies.

In my expertise, Surfshark additionally has one of many higher person interfaces, providing each an intuitive and well-designed desktop utility.

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full Surfshark assessment.

Proton VPN

For privateness fans, I recommend taking a look at Proton VPN. It’s based mostly in privacy-friendly Switzerland, which has a number of the strongest privateness legal guidelines on the planet. This implies your knowledge may have a further layer of safety, particularly in opposition to authorities interference. Proton VPN additionally has a fully-fledged free model that gives zero knowledge limits out of the field.

SEE: How A lot Does a VPN Price? (TechRepublic)

Of my three solutions right here, Proton VPN additionally offers the most important server fleet, with an enormous 6,580+ servers throughout 112 nations. I discover this particularly useful to those who desire a VPN to unblock geo-restricted content material on-line.

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full Proton VPN assessment.

disguise.me VPN

For tinkerers and energy customers, disguise.me VPN is an effective choose. It has a customizable VPN expertise, permitting customers to set sure automated actions, like having personalized configurations per VPN protocol or having management with how the disguise.me utility launches. I really feel it is a excellent match for people that prefer to personalize and tailor their software program to their liking.

disguise .me VPN additionally features a handy StealthGuard characteristic that acts as its personal model of a kill swap. This routinely blocks any connection or site visitors that’s not protected by way of the VPN service.

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full disguise.me VPN assessment right here.

Assessment methodology

My assessment of City VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its options, price, and real-world efficiency. I had hands-on time with City VPN’s free model on my Home windows laptop computer.

To judge City VPN, I scored it on every little thing from its safety protocols to pricing. Specifically, I took into consideration 5 foremost pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer assist (30%).
• Professional evaluation (5%).

From this rubric, City VPN acquired a score of 1.7 out of 5 stars. I additionally seemed into precise person suggestions and different respected critiques to spherical out my closing suggestions relating to City VPN.

SEE: Methods to Run a Cybersecurity Danger Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)

For pace and efficiency, I used Ookla’s public Speedtest to measure obtain and add speeds. I additionally ran City VPN via DNSLeakTest a number of occasions to verify for any DNS leaks. Lastly, I thought of which varieties of companies or particular person customers would greatest profit from utilizing City VPN.

To be taught extra about how we assessment VPNs, learn our full VPN Assessment Methodology.