b.VPN Review

b.VPN, a VPN service provider based in the Netherlands, has been on the market since 2015. It is a fast-growing service best known for its advanced VPN tunnel technology called “Smoke.” Using b.VPN’s highly encrypted connection, you can browse the Internet securely and anonymously. The service imposes no traffic restrictions and allows you to access geo-restricted web content from anywhere in the world, including China. Read our comprehensive b.VPN review to discover how this service can improve your online safety and freedom.

Interface

b.VPN’s OpenVPN client for Windows features a perfectly simple user interface. The installation process is easy and takes just a couple of minutes. After you install and launch the app, you will see a big connect/disconnect button in the middle of the home screen. When you are connected, your current server is shown above. Details about your IP and connection are shown below. You can choose to connect to the fastest available server or select your preferred server from a list you can find by clicking on the location icon. The advanced settings icon is on the right side. Among other things, here you can choose and adjust protocols and enable the killswitch and IPv6 leak protection. Overall, the app is nicely designed, everything works well, and all the features are easily accessible.

Performance And Reliability

b.VPN operates a network of 32+ servers in 15 countries, including 10 servers in the USA and 4 in the UK. b.VPN’s servers are present in several European countries, Canada, Australia, Singapore, India, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia. The number of servers is far from impressive, but the company is constantly adding new servers and covering more geographic locations.

When it comes to speed, you will get different results depending on the server and protocol you choose. In general, however, b.VPN delivers satisfactory performance, although not at the level of top-tier VPN providers. During our testing, the connection was generally stable and we did not experience any sudden disconnects. Users who are concerned about their online privacy will be glad to hear that we did not spot any DNS, WebRTC or IPv6 leaks while using b.VPN.

Multi-Platform

b.VPN is compatible with major operating systems and platforms. You can install the b.VPN client on Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. In addition, it also works with gaming consoles, DD-WRT routers, and various media streaming devices (e.g. Apple TV).

Features

With a single subscription, you can establish connections with b.VPN servers on 6 devices at the same time. You can connect 3 devices using the b.VPN application and you have to manually configure the L2TP connection on the other 3 devices based on the instructions you can find on the company website.

In case your connection with the VPN server drops, you can rely on the killswitch feature, which is included in the b.VPN client. If the killswitch is not enabled, a dropped connection can leave your IP address and traffic data exposed. Therefore, it is recommended that you enable this feature to avoid any data leak. As we previously mentioned in this b.VPN review, you also have the option to enable IPv6 leak protection.

With b.VPN, switching between servers is not limited and there are no limits with regard to bandwidth and speed. It is also worth mentioning that b.VPN allows P2P file sharing, which is excellent news for fans of torrenting. b.VPN’s highly capable protocols, which are discussed in the following section of our b.VPN review, allow you to bypass any geo-restrictions, including the Great Firewall of China. You can use b.VPN to access various streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer.

Finally, to quickly resolve possible software issues, the b.VPN client lets you easily select, install, and reinstall the TAP driver you wish to use in just a couple of clicks. You can choose between the b.VPN TAP driver and the official OpenVPN TAP driver.

Security And Privacy

In terms of security, b.VPN relies on strong AES 256-bit encryption and uses OpenVPN and L2TP protocols to provide maximum protection. When it comes to OpenVPN, b.VPN adds additional layers of encryption to make it more effective in defeating VPN blocks. With the OpenVPN via SSH tunnel feature, you can hide your OpenVPN connection in an SSH tunnel (which is the encryption used by HTTPS), thus making it difficult to tell apart from ordinary HTTPS traffic. In addition, to help you bypass the most persistent VPN blocks, b.VPN adds additional obfuscation in its own proprietary protocol called “Smoke Tunnel.” The company claims that b.VPN can work in all countries, including China, Turkey, Iran, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

The company operates from the Netherlands, which is a “14 Eyes” country and, as such, is not the best place to base VPN operations. However, b.VPN cares about your privacy and does not keep any logs of your online activity. To improve the speed and availability of the service, the company stores some connection logs, such as connection originating IP, time, and duration.

Support

When it comes to customer support, b.VPN does really well. You can contact the friendly and helpful support team 24/7 via live chat. The support staff is quick to respond to all inquiries and resolve any service issues. In addition, the company can be contacted by email or phone or you can submit your question via an online contact form. The company website also features a comprehensive FAQ section where you can find useful information and instructions.

Pricing

If you choose the monthly b.VPN subscription, you pay $9.99 every month. The six-month subscription costs $50, which amounts to $8.33 per month. Finally, you can opt for the 1-year subscription for $90, which amounts to $7.50 per month.

The free trial for b.VPN’s Windows client lasts just 60 minutes. If you are not satisfied with the service, you will get your money back within a week of purchasing your subscription. b.VPN provides various payment methods, including options for anonymous payment. Payment options include credit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, Alipay, UKash, WebMoney, and Western Union.

b.VPN’s Pros and Cons

As we wrap up this b.VPN’s review, here’s a quick overview of the features that wowed us and the aspects of the service that could use some improvement.