When you're looking into a VPN service, you want it to be secure, fast, and easy to use. Unfortunately, BTGuard VPN doesn't quite measure up in these areas.
It's missing important features like a kill switch and auto-connect options, and it only allows you to connect one device at a time. The server network is small, and the speeds are slow, which could make your online experience frustrating. Even though it uses strong encryption, it fails leak tests, which could put your privacy at risk.
On top of that, the price might be higher than what other providers offer. To get a better idea of BTGuard VPN's limitations and if it's the right choice for you, keep reading to find out more.
TLDR
- BTGuard VPN is missing important features like a kill switch and auto-connect options, which might make it less user-friendly.
- You can only connect one device at a time with BTGuard VPN, and their customer support is limited to emails.
- The VPN has a small server network and limited server options, which can slow down your connection and restrict access to popular platforms.
- While BTGuard VPN uses strong encryption, it fails leak tests, which could raise privacy concerns. It also lacks a kill switch, potentially putting your security at risk.
- BTGuard VPN is on the pricier side, with no free trial or money-back guarantee. Some users have reported issues with reliability.
Key Findings and Features
BTGuard VPN is missing some important features that could impact how you use it. For example, it doesn't have a kill switch or auto-connect options, which many people find useful.
You can only connect one device at a time with this service, which mightn't be enough for those with multiple devices. The user interface is easy to use, which is good for everyone.
Unfortunately, customer support is limited to emails only, with no live chat or phone options. Overall, BTGuard VPN may not have enough features for everyone.
Streaming and Unblocking
When it comes to watching your favorite shows, BTGuard VPN's small number of servers might make it tricky to access popular platforms.
You might've trouble getting into streaming services, and the servers available could affect how well your shows play.
While BTGuard can unlock Netflix in Canada and the Netherlands, other platforms might be a challenge.
With a limited server network, there could be too many people on the same server, slowing down your streaming.
You might notice speeds going up and down and struggle to find a nearby server for the best quality streaming.
Unfortunately, BTGuard mightn't be the best choice for streaming, so you might want to check out other VPN options for a smoother experience.
Speeds and Performance
When you use BTGuard VPN, you might notice that your internet speeds slow down, especially when connecting to servers far away. Keep an eye on how fast your data moves, as it can get noticeably slower, impacting how you browse online.
Let's dive into how fast BTGuard VPN's servers connect and how quickly data transfers.
Server Connection Speed
BTGuard VPN's speeds slow down significantly when connecting to servers, particularly those located far away. Regardless of the server selected, downloading speed is notably reduced. The service offers servers in only three countries, limiting speed choices. Connecting to servers in regions like Asia can result in extremely sluggish speeds. Additionally, BTGuard VPN lacks features to enhance connection speed, potentially leading to instability. This instability may cause frequent connection drops, hindering online activities. Due to these drawbacks, exploring alternative VPN services that prioritize speed and performance may be advisable.
Data Transfer Rates
If you want fast internet speeds, you might want to look into other VPN choices instead of BTGuard. When using BTGuard VPN, your data transfer rates could slow down noticeably, especially if you connect to servers far away.
This happens because BTGuard has servers in only three countries. You might consistently experience slower speeds, especially when downloading files in places like Asia. BTGuard's limited bandwidth hampers fast data transfers, making it hard to keep up high speeds.
With only a few servers available, it's tough for BTGuard to unblock services in different regions. If speed is vital to you, consider trying out other VPNs with more servers and better data transfer rates.
Server Network and Availability
When it comes to server locations, BTGuard only operates in three countries. This limited network may make it hard to find a server close to you, which can make your VPN experience a bit tricky.
Having servers in only a few countries can make it tough to access content from different regions, especially in places like Asia. Slow speeds may be an issue, especially when you're trying to download files, all because of the lack of server options.
Compared to bigger VPN providers like ExpressVPN, BTGuard's server network mightn't be as impressive. This limited coverage could slow down your internet and restrict your access to region-specific content. It's important to keep these limitations in mind when picking a VPN service.
Security and Leak Tests
When checking out BTGuard, it's important to look at how it keeps your online activities safe. BTGuard uses strong encryption with OpenVPN and PPTP protocols. However, it didn't pass leak tests, which is worrying for your data privacy.
Also, there's no kill switch, a big security flaw. People have raised concerns about security risks for P2P activities with BTGuard VPN. Even with encryption, doubts linger about how well BTGuard protects you.
Keep these security issues in mind when deciding if BTGuard is the VPN for you.
Privacy and Data Handling
When it comes to protecting your online privacy, BTGuard says they don't keep logs or store your usage history or IP addresses, which might sound good at first. But if you look closer, there are some worrying gaps. Even though they say they care about keeping your data safe, their privacy policy isn't very clear and could allow them to gather your personal info without asking you first. This lack of clarity should make you think about how they handle your data.
Also, being based in Canada, BTGuard is part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, which means they might share data with other countries. Compared to other VPNs, BTGuard isn't as strong on privacy and security features, so it's important to think carefully about how they protect your information before you sign up with them.
Torrenting and File Sharing
You can share files anonymously using BitTorrent with BTGuard. They specialize in this service and even offer a separate Bittorrent Proxy for extra privacy. This means you can torrent without worrying about cyber risks since your online activities will be well-protected.
Just remember, BTGuard doesn't support illegal downloading, so only use their service for legal torrenting like sharing open-source software or downloading public domain works. With unlimited torrenting on all servers and decent speeds, BTGuard is a great choice for torrenting fans.
TorrentFreak has endorsed BTGuard for legal torrenting, making it a reliable option in the VPN market.
China and Blocked Regions
When you check out BTGuard VPN, you'll see it's not the best choice for folks in China because of the strict internet rules there. You'll have trouble getting onto certain websites and seeing some content, which can be a pain if you really need to visit those sites.
Let's look at China's internet rules and how they affect VPN services like BTGuard.
China's Internet Censorship
China's tough Internet rules mean BTGuard VPN can't work there because of the Great Firewall. China is known for strict online control, making it hard to get around censorship.
The Great Firewall blocks VPN services like BTGuard, limiting your online freedom. You might've trouble connecting to BTGuard servers and need other ways to bypass internet restrictions.
Since BTGuard doesn't support China, it's tough to use there, limiting your online access. To beat these limits, consider looking into other ways to browse freely in China.
Blocked Websites List
Beyond China, some places have strict rules on the internet, blocking certain websites and online services that BTGuard VPN finds hard to unblock. If you're in countries like Iran or Turkey, you might've trouble getting onto websites.
BTGuard VPN doesn't have enough servers or specialty ones to get around these restrictions. This makes it tough to find ways to get onto blocked websites or bypass internet censorship. You might need to look into other VPNs with more servers to access blocked sites.
With BTGuard, you might find it hard to reach restricted content because it can't do much in these situations.
Accessing Restricted Content
Can you access blocked content in China and other heavily censored areas with BTGuard VPN? Unfortunately, no, you can't. BTGuard VPN doesn't work in China because of restrictions on OpenVPN protocols.
With servers in only three countries, it's hard to access restricted content in different regions. The limited server options make it tough to get around regional restrictions.
If you need to unblock content in highly censored regions, you might want to consider other VPN providers that offer better access to content despite these limitations.
Device Connections and Limits
When you sign up for BTGuard VPN, you can only connect one device at a time with your subscription. This means you can't use it on multiple devices simultaneously, which mightn't be very convenient.
If you have more than one device that needs VPN protection, this restriction could be a hassle. Some other VPN services offer plans that allow you to connect multiple devices, giving you more flexibility.
While BTGuard VPN works on various devices, the one-device limit can make it less user-friendly. You might want to consider checking out other options that let you connect more devices at once.
For more details on which devices are compatible and any limitations, you can reach out to customer support.
Pricing and Reliability
You'll notice that BTGuard offers a BitTorrent proxy service for $6.95/month and a full VPN service for $9.95/month. However, compared to other providers, BTGuard's prices may be a bit higher.
Unfortunately, there's no free trial or money-back guarantee, which can be frustrating if you want to try before you buy.
Customers have complained about the service's reliability, with some experiencing outages and slow customer support. BTGuard has limited server coverage and lacks essential features like a kill-switch or auto-connect, so it mightn't be as secure as you'd like.
Conclusion
You've reached the end of this BTGuard VPN review, and now it's time to decide if this VPN is right for you. BTGuard offers pretty good security, speed, and unblocking abilities, but it does have some limits.
If you're someone who streams or torrents a lot, you might want to check out other options. But if you're a casual user after a simple VPN experience, BTGuard could be a good pick. Think about the pros and cons before you make your choice.