SlickVPN Review 2023: 5 Cons and 3 Pros

by Petr Lippert
updated October 27, 2023 (Report a bug)

1. SlickVPN Offers Advanced OpenVPN Setup Options

   • Application only available for Windows and macOS
   • Only 150 servers are available
   • Failed to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ or HBO Max
   • VPN can only be used on 5 devices simultaneously
   • The service is not audited by an independent company

   • Advanced OpenVPN protocol settings available
   • Offers IP address rotation feature
   • Supports multi-hop connectivity

   The SlickVPN scored a 7.0/10 in the test of parameters and features offered, ranking 40 10th among 91 reviewed VPNs. The operator of the service is Slick Networks, Inc., an American company based in Florida.

   It lost points in the SlickVPN ratings in the number of available servers. Although configuration and current load are important to quality of service in addition to number, 150 of servers involved is well below the average of other VPNs.

   The loss of SlickVPN grew after a test of unblocking video from streaming platforms, when it didn’t do well with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus or HBO Max. The SlickVPN app is only directly available for Windows and macOS, with specific settings required to protect other platforms.

   The advantage of SlickVPN is its relatively good transfer speed, as we measured average download 119 Mb/s and upload 85 Mb/s in repeated tests.

   Among the features of SlickVPN we were interested in the IP address rotation, which is continuously renewed during the active connection. This makes the ability to trace users more difficult. The advantage of SlickVPN is its support for multi-hop connections, where the device connects through two different VPN servers simultaneously. The Hydra designation is used for it.

   Advanced users SlickVPN will appreciate the ability to set custom parameters for OpenVPN.

   Having a US-based operator may pose a risk to some users, as the country is a member of the 5 Eyes Countries grouping that monitors users’ internet activity. Greater confidence in the service would benefit from an independent audit by a reputable company.

2. SlickVPN Subscription: Discount Code, Free Trial, Money Back Guarantee…

   • Your Price: $10.00​60% off  $4.00 /mo (5 devices)
   • Money Back Guarantee: Yes (30 days)
   • Free Trial: No
   • Cryptocurrency payments:
     Yes

     Bitcoin :Yes
     Dash :No
     Ethereum :No
     Ripple :No

   

   7

   ★★★☆

   The service supports advanced OpenVPN settings, multi-hop connections, and IP address rotation. The downside is support only for basic platforms and a low number of servers.

   $4.00 /mo​30-day money back guarantee

   Get this VPN 60% cheaper

   SlickVPN is available in three subscription options, the most expensive of which is the pay-as-you-go $10.00. More convenient is the six-month and especially the annual subscription with full payment upfront, where the per-month price starts at $4.00.

   Subscription payments can be made in dollars, euros or pounds, and you can use a debit or credit card, PayPal or, for maximum anonymity, the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. According to the site’s FAQ SlickVPN, cash payment is also possible.

   A trial version of SlickVPN is not available, however, a money-back guarantee of 30 days can be used for each paid order. To apply it, just contact customer support.

3. SlickVPN and Supported Devices: Android, iOS, macOS…

   • Device limit: 5

   Platforms supported

   • Android:
     Yes

     Android is supported by 98 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Android TV:
     No

     Android TV is supported by 37 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Apple TV:
     No

     Apple TV is supported by 18 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Fire TV:
     No

     Fire TV is supported by 44 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromebook:
     Yes

     Chromebook is supported by 21 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromecast:
     No

     Chromecast is supported by 16 % of reviewed VPNs
   • iOS:
     Yes

     iOS is supported by 99 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Kodi:
     Yes

     Kodi is supported by 22 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Linux:
     Yes

     Linux is supported by 60 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Mac:
     Yes

     Mac is supported by 98 % of reviewed VPNs
   • NAS:
     Yes

     NAS is supported by 25 % of reviewed VPNs
   • nVidia Shield:
     No

     nVidia Shield is supported by 15 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Playstation:
     No

     Playstation is supported by 20 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Raspberry Pi:
     No

     Raspberry Pi is supported by 18 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Roku:
     No

     Roku is supported by 16 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Router:
     Yes

     Router is supported by 54 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Windows:
     Yes

     Windows is supported by 100 % of reviewed VPNs
   • xBox:
     No

     xBox is supported by 20 % of reviewed VPNs

   Browser Extensions

   • Brave :
     No

     The Brave browser add-on is offered by 45 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Chrome :
     No

     The Chrome browser add-on is offered by 45 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Edge :
     No

     The Edge browser add-on is offered by 19 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Firefox :
     No

     The Firefox browser add-on is offered by 35 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Opera :
     No

     The Opera browser add-on is offered by 45 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Safari :
     No

     The Safari browser add-on is offered by 0 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Vivaldi :
     No

     The Vivaldi browser add-on is offered by 45 % of reviewed VPNs.

   With a single subscription, SlickVPN can be used on a maximum of 5 devices simultaneously. In the context of other VPNs, this is below average when, for example, Surfshark allows use on 999 devices.

   The SlickVPN can be used on Windows, macOS and Linux computers and on Android to iOS mobile devices. Among other device types, Chromebook, Kodi, and NAS devices are supported.

   However, the native app is only available for Windows and macOS. For other platforms, you must first download the add-on app and enter the appropriate OpenVPN configuration. This process can be complicated for less tech-savvy users. Complete tutorials and procedures are published on the SlickVPN website.

   The advantage of SlickVPN is the ability to run a VPN on a router, thus protecting all devices connected to the same network. In terms of available quota, the router is considered just one device.

   This way, you can secure Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Playstation and Xbox gaming consoles, or the Roku platform, which are not directly supported. The SlickVPN does not give users the option to use a private network in the form of browser extensions.

   For mobile security, we recommend preferring NordVPN or Surfshark. Both offer intuitive apps for iOS and Android, excellent levels of security, and great value for money.

4. SlickVPN App: User-friendliness, whitelist, server selection…

   • App Languages: 🇺🇸 English
   • Whitelisting:
     No

     Whitelisting is supported by 52 % of reviewed VPNs

   The native app SlickVPN is only available for Windows and macOS, for the purpose of writing this review we used the latter. The app worked without any problems during testing, however, its graphical design looked quite dated. The dark-themed environment is cluttered and some functions lack labels, making it unclear what purpose they serve.

   The light theme is not supported by the application, the design cannot be modified in any way, and the only available language SlickVPN is English.

   The available connection locations are displayed in a list that can be sorted either by country or by the number of servers involved. For faster searching, any server can be saved as a favorite.

   The SlickVPN lacks the whitelist feature, which allows you to select applications or websites that will connect directly to the Internet even when VPN protection is enabled.

   In the settings, it is possible to activate the automatic launch of the app when the device boots up, as well as the automatic connection to the VPN.

5. SlickVPN Connection Speed: Upload, Download & Latency

   • Traffic limit: Unlimited

   Download speed

   Higher is better. The average download of all tested VPNs is 110 Mb/s.

   Upload speed

   Higher is better. The average upload of all tested VPNs is 76 Mb/s.

   Server latency

   A lower value is better. The average response rate of all tested VPNs is 55 ms.

   SlickVPN does not limit the user in any way by the amount of data transferred, which is standard among paid VPNs.

   In repeated measurements, we achieved an average download speed of SlickVPN for 119 Mb/s. This is sufficient for downloading bulky files as well as for playing ultra-high resolution 4k video, where at least 50 Mbps is quoted as necessary.

   On average, the measured upload speed 85 Mb/s is sufficient for sharing torrents.

   Server response speed is important for VPNs for online gaming or video calls, a value below 50 ms is considered sufficient. We measured SlickVPN on average 35 ms, which is sufficient for these activities. Yet the response of the best VPNs on the market is even better, For example, AdGuard VPN measured 7 ms and Atlas VPN Pro achieved 11 ms response. For server response, lower is always better.

6. SlickVPN Server Locations

   • Number of servers:
     150

     The average number of servers for the reviewed VPNs is 1661.
   • Number of countries:
     38

     The average number of countries available for the reviewed VPNs is 40.

   Europe	🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇩🇪 Germany 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇷🇴 Romania 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇦🇹 Austria 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇬🇷 Greece 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇸🇮 Slovenia
   North America	🇨🇦 Canada 🇵🇦 Panama 🇺🇸 USA
   South America	🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇱 Chile
   Asia	🇷🇺 Russia 🇹🇭 Thailand 🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇮🇳 India 🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇮🇱 Israel 🇯🇵 Japan 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇸🇬 Singapore
   Africa
   Oceania	🇦🇺 Australia 🇳🇿 New Zealand

   The SlickVPN network consists of 150 servers in 38 countries around the world.

   The number of servers is only one piece of the puzzle that tells you about the quality of service. Their configuration and especially the current load is also important. Compared to competitors, however, 150 servers are significantly low, For example, NordVPN operates 5,813 servers in 59 locations.

   Most of the servers are allocated in Europe, with a relatively large representation in Asia. Of the less frequented countries, Iceland, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, Panama, Chile, Thailand or Indonesia are available. Servers are also available in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and of the countries with state censorship, Russia is represented.

   The SlickVPN in the app shows a map of all servers. We were unable to understand its purpose, as it is not possible to connect to servers through it. You can test the connection speed on individual servers directly in the app, which also displays the distance from the user’s actual location.

   Servers specifically optimized for torrenting or streaming SlickVPN are not in the menu. There is a Hydra entry available in the list, which is used for multi-hop connections across multiple servers simultaneously, increasing the level of privacy.

   The choice of the specific connection location can be left to the application, where the geographically closest server is chosen. Some of the servers are labeled “Core” and should provide a more reliable connection.

7. SlickVPN Security Features: DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch…

   • DNS leak protection :
     Yes

     DNS leak protection is offered by 93% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Kill Switch:
     Yes

     Kill Switch is supported by 85% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Multi-Hop:
     Yes

     Multi-Hop connection is offered by 20 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Tor:
     No

     Tor support is offered by 18 % of the reviewed VPNs.

   SlickVPN has built-in protection against IPv6, WebRTC and DNS leaks. No leaks occurred during testing, which is positive news.

   Hidden under the “IP and DNS leak protection” box is a kill switch feature that disables the Internet connection if the VPN connection goes down. This prevents the possible disclosure of the user’s IP address or location.

   In the application settings SlickVPN, you can choose from OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP and IPSec security protocols. All three are considered reliable and secure, however, compared to modern WireGuard, it loses in speed and simplicity in the eyes of experts. OpenVPN protocols are combined with 256-bit AES encryption, the highest standard used in VPNs. IPSec is combined with 128-bit encryption, which is weaker but still sufficient for normal use.

   Multi-hop connectivity (known as Double VPN for some services) is available with SlickVPN, just choose a server named Hydra in the app. The principle of multi-hop is to connect through two different VPN servers at the same time, which increases the level of privacy and security. Unlike some competing services, SlickVPN doesn’t allow you to select specific site pairs.

   Tor network connections are not supported by SlickVPN. Similarly, SlickVPN does not allow user account protection via two-factor authentication.

   Advanced users can use the “Advanced” tab in the application to configure individual OpenVPN protocol parameters in detail. If used incorrectly, however, there is a risk of VPN malfunction.

8. SlickVPN & Streaming: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime…

   • Amazon Prime:
     No

     Amazon Prime streaming is supported by 51 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Disney+:
     No

     Disney+ streaming is supported by 54 % of reviewed VPNs
   • HBO:
     No

     HBO streaming is supported by 57 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Hulu:
     No

     Hulu streaming is supported by 48 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Netflix:
     No

     Netflix streaming is supported by 65 % of reviewed VPNs
   • YouTube:
     No

     YouTube streaming is supported by 95 % of reviewed VPNs

   Despite decent bitrates, SlickVPN is not suitable for streaming.

   In a test of unblocking foreign libraries, we were unable to access video from any of the platforms. We were not successful on Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, HBO Max, or Hulu. The SlickVPN does not offer any specially optimized servers for these purposes.

   For watching geoblock-protected shows and movies, we recommend preferring NordVPN, Surfshark or CyberGhost VPN. All three VPNs in our test were able to unblock all streaming platforms, have sufficient speed for ultra-high definition video playback, and guarantee an excellent level of security on top.

9. Features of SlickVPN: AdBlock, Static IP…

   • Blocks Ads:
     No

     Ad blocking is offered by 43 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Blocks Malware:
     No

     Malware blocking is offered by 33 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Blocks Trackers:
     No

     Trackers blocking is offered by 36 % of the VPNs reviewed.

   The range of extra features is minimal with SlickVPN.

   The application does not support ad blocking, malware or tracker blocking. There is also no camouflage mode that can hide the VPN connection from the ISP. It doesn’t offer a dedicated IP address SlickVPN even at an additional cost.

   One of the few interesting features of SlickVPN is IP address rotation. In the settings, you can choose a time interval at which the application will automatically rotate it. This increases the user’s privacy level, as it is more difficult to trace.

   Premium services such as NordVPN offer, among other premium features, protection against data leakage to the dark web, where data is usually misused. The SlickVPN does not offer this feature.

10. SlickVPN‘s CPU usage and App Performance

    Applications for VPN use are usually developed so that their use has a minimal impact on computer load. The SlickVPN satisfies this condition, taking 0.2% of the battery and CPU in normal use. In the context of the computing power of the test Macbook, this is negligible.

    From RAM memory, SlickVPN has bitten off approximately 80 MB, a value roughly equivalent to other VPN applications. So you don’t have to worry about using SlickVPN even on older devices.

11. SlickVPN Torrenting Servers

    • Torrenting servers:
      Yes

      Torrenting support is offered by 88 % of the reviewed VPNs.

    SlickVPN allows torrenting on all available servers, while not running any specifically optimized for this type of traffic.

    For servers located close to the user’s actual location, there was no problem with the transfer rate, and we measured the average download 119 Mb/s and upload 85 Mb/s.

    Thus SlickVPN can be used for torrenting without any problems, common clients including bitTorrent and uTorrent are supported. User privacy is aided by DNS disclosure protection and a kill switch.

    However, Best VPN for torrenting offers even more security features and even faster connection speeds. For P2P sharing, we can recommend NordVPN, Ivacy VPN, or HotspotShield Premium.

12. What is the country of origin of SlickVPN?

    • VPN Provider: Slick Networks, Inc.
    • Country of origin: 🇺🇸 USA

    Slick Networks, Inc. is the operator of SlickVPN and uses two contact addresses. One is in Weston, Florida, and the other is in Greenville, South Carolina. Operating a VPN is the company’s only activity.

    The United States is not an ideal location to house a VPN service. The country is a member of the 5 Eyes group, whose secret services and police monitor internet traffic. They can require VPN operators to release information about specific users, and companies are obliged to comply. The information obtained is shared between member countries.

    A very good location for a VPN operator’s headquarters is, for example, Switzerland, whose legislation provides strong privacy protection for internet users. For example, Proton VPN Plus also has its infrastructure located in a former military bunker thousands of meters underground.

13. SlickVPN and Privacy: Logging Policy, Security Issues…

    • No-Logs Policy:
      Yes

      The No-Logs Policy is followed by 78% of reviewed VPNs.

    Under the privacy policy, SlickVPN does not store activity logs. As such, data about sites visited, IP addresses, device identifiers, or connection times should not be collected when using the app.

    Only the information needed to create and maintain a user account is stored on a long-term basis. This includes email address, password and payment details. Beyond that, SlickVPN uses data collected when visiting the site by Google Analytics. When visiting SlickVPN, the IP address of the user is recorded, among other things.

    The email address obtained by SlickVPN may be used to send marketing communications.

    The SlickVPN does not sell user data to third parties, but may provide it to service processors (such as payment gateways), pass it on to a third party when it is sold to a company, or hand it over pursuant to a court order.

    In the SlickVPN desktop application, it is possible to manually activate log collection for possible troubleshooting. According to the support staff member, this data is stored exclusively on the user’s device and can be used as a treasure trove when troubleshooting technical issues. The application also stores the IP addresses of servers that the user has logged into in the past in the files.

    Even more confidence in SlickVPN would be helped by an independent audit to confirm that the user’s data is safe. However, so far no leakage of user data has been detected.

    The SlickVPN periodically issues Warrant Canary, which notifies users of court requests to release data. Since it is not possible by law to inform about received data release requests, the procedure is the opposite. Warrant Canary reports that the company has not received any such subpoenas. If the information disappears from the company’s website or is not updated for more than 90 days, this signals to the user that SlickVPN has received a data release request.

14. SlickVPN Support: Chat, e-mail…

    To contact technical support, use the form on the SlickVPN website hidden under the “Contact Us” tab and the support@slickvpn.com email address. Phone support and live chat are not available.

    In addition, the SlickVPN website provides answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” and tutorials on using the VPN, including procedures on how to configure OpenVPN. The SlickVPN does not directly provide an app for some devices, manual configuration is required. The blog with interesting facts from the world of the Internet has not been updated for a long time.

    The forum, where it would be possible to communicate with other users and get interesting information and tips, is not operated by SlickVPN.

15. SlickVPN FAQ

    Is SlickVPN secure?

    SlickVPN supports OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP and IPSec protocols. All three protocols are tried and true in the VPN community. IPSec is associated with 128-bit encryption, OpenVPN with the even more secure 256-bit encryption. The risk of your data being leaked and misused is minimal. The SlickVPN application is also equipped with DNS leak protection and a kill switch feature.

    Of the personal data, SlickVPN only collects the email address and payment details that are required to maintain the user account. It does not store any logs of the user’s internet activity. In addition, SlickVPN regularly publishes Warrant Canary so that if there is a threat of data being released to government authorities, the public will be notified.

    Is SlickVPN available on mobile phones?

    The SlickVPN can be used on iOS and Android mobile phones. The downside is the lack of a native app, which could simply be downloaded to the device. In the case of this VPN, you need to download an external app and insert the OpenVPN configuration SlickVPN.

    For ease of use of the VPN on your phone, we recommend preferring Surfshark or NordVPN, which are among the best VPNs while offering quality apps for both Android and iOS.

    Is SlickVPN free?

    The SlickVPN is a paid service, the price of the most affordable subscription option is $4.00 per month. The condition is to pay the full amount for the two-year period in advance.

    While the free trial version SlickVPN is not available, a money-back guarantee of 30 days can be applied to the entire order.