SwitchVPN 2024 Review: 6 Cons and 2 Pros

by Vít Nováček
updated January 1, 2024 (Report a bug)

1. SwitchVPN: Is an $3.99/Month Subscription Worth It?

   • The small selection of servers (only 290)
   • Servers are often overloaded
   • Low download speed (30 Mb/s) and upload speed (32 Mb/s)
   • Keeps logs with connection times
   • Application is only available in English
   • VPN only works on basic platforms

   • User-friendly interface
   • Trial version for 3 days for a fee of $1.00

   SwitchVPN is operated by CS Systems, Inc. which is based in the US state of Delaware. The founder of the service is Charu Sharma, who hails from Mumbai, India. In the parameters test, SwitchVPN scored 5.6/10, which ranks it #82 among the 90 reviewed VPNs.

   SwitchVPN‘s low rating is mainly due to the very low number of available servers, which negatively affected the service’s testing several times. Some of the 290 servers were often overloaded, connecting to them was very slow and transfer speeds were low. The average measured download of 30 Mb/s and upload of 32 Mb/s can be considered insufficient for a paid service.

   SwitchVPN only supports basic desktop and mobile platforms, it cannot secure a wi-fi network or even smart TVs. The SwitchVPN app is only available in English and logs connection times when using it. However, websites visited, data transferred or device identifiers are not stored.

   The advantage of SwitchVPN is the clear interface of the application, which is easy to understand even for less experienced users. The transmitted data is protected by 256-bit AES encryption, and the preferred protocol can be selected in the application settings.

   A 3 days of trial version of SwitchVPN is available for a one-time fee of $1.00.

   All in all, we can’t recommend using SwitchVPN. Overloaded servers and low speeds mean too many complications, for a comparable price you can subscribe to a better quality VPN. We can recommend NordVPN (with a rating of 9.4/10 for $4.04 per month), Surfshark (9.2/10 for $2.12 per month) or Proton VPN Plus (8.6/10 for $6.63 per month).

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

   • Your Price: $6.99​43% off  $3.99 /mo (3 devices)
   • Money Back Guarantee: Yes (30 days)
   • Free Trial: No
   • Cryptocurrency payments:
     Yes

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

   

   5.6

   ★★☆

   Below-average VPN allows use only on basic platforms. It lags behind the best VPNs in the number of servers, locations, connection speed, and offered features.

   $3.99 /mo  ​30-day money back guarantee

   Get this VPN 43% cheaper

   SwitchVPN offers subscriptions for individuals and for families, always with monthly and annual billing. This review is based on a single person subscription that can be used on up to 3 devices simultaneously. The Family option allows you to connect from 6 different devices at the same time.

   SwitchVPN‘s monthly subscription can be terminated at any time, with a price tag of $6.99 this is the more expensive of the options. The cheaper one is the annual subscription, where the full amount is paid upfront. The price per month is then just $3.99.

   You can use MasterCard, Visa and American Express, PayPal or the cryptocurrency Bitcoin to pay for your subscription. All subscription options include a 30 days of money-back guarantee.

   The trial version of SwitchVPN is available for 3 days for $1.00. In terms of features offered or service parameters, the trial version is no different from the full subscription.

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

   • Device limit: 3

   Platforms supported

   • Android:
     Yes

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

     Android TV is supported by 36 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Apple TV:
     No

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

     Fire TV is supported by 43 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromebook:
     No

     Chromebook is supported by 20 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromecast:
     No

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

     iOS is supported by 99 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Kodi:
     No

     Kodi is supported by 21 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Linux:
     Yes

     Linux is supported by 61 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Mac:
     Yes

     Mac is supported by 98 % of reviewed VPNs
   • NAS:
     No

     NAS is supported by 24 % of reviewed VPNs
   • nVidia Shield:
     No

     nVidia Shield is supported by 14 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Playstation:
     No

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

     Raspberry Pi is supported by 17 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Roku:
     No

     Roku is supported by 16 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Router:
     No

     Router is supported by 53 % 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 43 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Chrome :
     No

     The Chrome browser add-on is offered by 43 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Edge :
     No

     The Edge browser add-on is offered by 21 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Firefox :
     No

     The Firefox browser add-on is offered by 34 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Opera :
     No

     The Opera browser add-on is offered by 43 % 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 43 % of reviewed VPNs.

   SwitchVPN can be used on 3 devices at the same time in the basic variant, with the more expensive Family variant you can connect from up to 6 different devices.

   SwitchVPN‘s compatibility level is below average. The app can only be downloaded for Windows, Mac OS and Linux computers, and from mobile devices it supports Android and iOS platforms.

   As a result, VPNs cannot be used on Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku and Kodi media centers, Playstation and Xbox gaming consoles, or the alternative Raspberry Pi and Chromebook platforms. SwitchVPN lacks support for router-based traffic, where you can easily protect all devices connected to the same wi-fi network.

   SwitchVPN does not offer a plugin for any of the browsers. The advantage of the extension is the ease of use, where no software needs to be installed directly on the computer, just adding a small add-on is enough.

   To ensure protection for all types of devices, we recommend choosing NordVPN or Surfshark. Both services support less common device types, router-based traffic, achieve high transfer speeds and guarantee high security for users.

4. SwitchVPN App: User-Friendliness, Whitelist, Server Selection…

   • App Languages: 🇺🇸 English
   • Whitelisting:
     No

     Whitelisting is supported by 52 % of reviewed VPNs

   Download links for applications for all supported platforms are available on the SwitchVPN website. Installation is quick and easy, login credentials are generated upon subscription payment.

   SwitchVPN‘s interface is simple and the principle of operation is easy to understand. A large button is used to connect to the VPN, which completes the list of available servers and the settings menu. In it, you can switch between supported protocols and other features.

   The only supported language of SwitchVPN is English, the desktop environment is available exclusively in a light theme. On phones, it is complemented by a dark mode.

   In SwitchVPN settings, you can enable the app to start automatically and connect to the VPN when the computer boots. In this case, the last used location is always selected. The disadvantage of automatic connection is higher system requirements, as the app runs in the background all the time.

   A useful detail in the list of servers is an indicator of their current load. You can add any site to your favorites, which will make it easier to select it for future use.

   Among SwitchVPN‘s missing features is whitelisting, where you can select applications that will access the internet directly even when the VPN connection is activated.

5. SwitchVPN Connection Speed: Upload, Download & Latency

   • Traffic limit: Unlimited

   Download speed

   Higher is better. The average download of all tested VPNs is 115 Mb/s.

   Upload speed

   Higher is better. The average upload of all tested VPNs is 81 Mb/s.

   Server latency

   A lower value is better. The average response rate of all tested VPNs is 48 ms.

   SwitchVPN doesn’t limit users in the amount of data transferred, which is the absolute standard among free VPNs.

   SwitchVPN has significant margins in transfer speeds, also connecting to servers itself was slow and ended in failure in several cases. Much of this is likely due to the mere 290 servers in operation.

   The average measured download speed of 30 Mb/s is insufficient for downloading bulky files or for playing ultra-high resolution 4k video. For this, a speed of at least 50 Mbps is stated as necessary; the achieved 30 Mb/s will only be sufficient for lower quality full HD video in most cases. For example, competitor FastestVPN achieved an average download speed of 352 Mb/s in our test.

   Our average upload speed of 32 Mb/s can also be described as low. In the case of torrenting or backing up bulky files, it can slow users down. For example, the aforementioned FastestVPN achieved an average upload speed of 254 Mb/s during repeated measurements.

   The third parameter monitored is the response speed, which is important, for example, during video calls or online gaming. We measured an average response time of 91 ms for SwitchVPN, which is at the limit of usability. It is likely that a user will encounter annoying stuttering when using SwitchVPN regularly.

   For response speed, lower is always better. For example, we measured an average server response time of 7 ms for AdGuard VPN.

6. SwitchVPN Server Locations

   • Number of servers:
     290

     The average number of servers for the reviewed VPNs is 1699.
   • Number of countries:
     33

     The average number of countries available for the reviewed VPNs is 41.

   Europe	🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇩🇪 Germany 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇦🇹 Austria 🇷🇴 Romania 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland
   North America	🇨🇦 Canada 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇺🇸 USA
   South America	🇧🇷 Brazil
   Asia	🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇮🇱 Israel 🇯🇵 Japan 🇰🇷 South Korea 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇬 Singapore 🇹🇼 Taiwan
   Africa
   Oceania	🇦🇺 Australia 🇳🇿 New Zealand

   SwitchVPN operates 290 servers in 33 countries.

   While the choice of locations can be described as good, the number of servers is clearly insufficient in relation to the number of users. During our testing, we encountered recurring connection stability issues, and the achieved download and upload speeds are low compared to other VPNs. Although the number of servers is only one of the indicators of the quality of the infrastructure, their configuration is also very important, and SwitchVPN has visible reserves in this respect.

   Traditionally, most servers are located in Europe, but with the exception of Africa, SwitchVPN covers all continents. For example, SwitchVPN servers are available in Finland, Mexico, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

   SwitchVPN‘s server offering also includes the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Of the countries with internet censorship, servers are available in Russia and Singapore.

   SwitchVPN does not operate any servers specifically optimized for a certain type of activity, such as streaming or gaming.

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

   • DNS leak protection :
     Yes

     DNS leak protection is offered by 92% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Kill Switch:
     Yes

     Kill Switch is supported by 87% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Multi-Hop:
     No

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

     Tor support is offered by 19 % of the reviewed VPNs.

   SwitchVPN‘s primary security feature is DNS leak protection, which ensures that a user’s real IP address remains hidden. During testing, we were unable to detect any IP address leaks or DNS queries.

   An important feature of the app is the kill switch, which disconnects the device from the Internet if the connection to the VPN server is broken. This prevents the possible reservation of the user’s real IP address and location.

   SwitchVPN supports several security protocols, switching between them can be done in the application settings. The most advanced protocol is the secure OpenVPN, which is open source and relied upon by many virtual private networks. The remaining protocols are older and therefore less secure. These are IKEv2, PPTP, L2TP and SSTP. In addition, the transmitted data is protected by default by 256-bit AES encryption, which is very secure and can hardly be broken.

   The advanced multi-hop security feature is not supported by SwitchVPN. The working principle of multi-hop (sometimes referred to as Double VPN) is to connect via two different VPN servers in succession. Thus, if the first layer of protection is breached or fails, a second connection protects the user.

   The SwitchVPN app cannot be used to connect to the Tor network either. Similarly, the SwitchVPN user account lacks the option of protection via two-factor authentication.

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

   • Amazon Prime:
     No

     Amazon Prime streaming is supported by 52 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Disney+:
     Yes

     Disney+ streaming is supported by 53 % of reviewed VPNs
   • HBO:
     Yes

     HBO streaming is supported by 57 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Hulu:
     Yes

     Hulu streaming is supported by 49 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Netflix:
     Yes

     Netflix streaming is supported by 67 % of reviewed VPNs
   • YouTube:
     Yes

     YouTube streaming is supported by 97 % of reviewed VPNs

   SwitchVPN achieved mixed results in a test of unblocking streaming platforms. Thus, we cannot recommend it for video playback.

   The good news is that we were able to unlock otherwise unavailable video on YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO, and Hulu with SwitchVPN. We had the most success with the least loaded server at the time in Dallas, USA. We were unable to unblock Amazon Prime Video.

   However, playback was not smooth with frequent stuttering and annoying waits for videos to load. Moreover, our measured average download speed of 30 Mb/s was only sufficient for a full HD stream. For higher 4k resolutions, a download speed of at least 50 Mbps is generally required.

   For the purpose of unblocking unavailable movies and series on streaming platforms, we recommend giving preference to other VPNs. NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost VPN all performed very well in our test. All three services managed to unblock all the platforms tested, the speed was sufficient for 4k resolution and on top of that they added important security features.

9. Features of SwitchVPN: AdBlock, Static IP…

   • Blocks Ads:
     No

     Ad blocking is offered by 44 % 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 38 % of the VPNs reviewed.

   SwitchVPN‘s range of premium features is minimal. Ad blocking, malware blocking, and tracker blocking are completely missing from the app.

   SwitchVPN does not offer a dedicated IP address for free or for an additional fee. Across all of its gateways, SwitchVPN exclusively uses shared IP addresses that are common to all connected users. This configuration has no impact on overall VPN performance. The advantage is a higher level of anonymity, as it is not possible to assign a specific user to a specific connection.

   The application lacks a useful camouflage mode that can hide the activated VPN protection from both the website operators and the ISP. The camouflage mode is particularly useful in places where VPN use can cause problems. It also has a positive effect on unblocking geo-block-protected content.

   SwitchVPN also lacks the monitoring of personal data leakage to the dark web that competitor NordVPN, for example, offers.

10. SwitchVPN‘s CPU usage and App Performance

    The SwitchVPN app for Windows puts only a moderate load on the device, which does not have a significant negative impact on the user experience. Moreover, a few seconds after connecting to the server, the demands on the CPU and RAM drop. The application then runs in the background.

    Exiting the application completely and reducing the requirements to zero is possible via an icon in the system tray.

11. SwitchVPN Torrenting Servers

    • Torrenting servers:
      Yes

      Torrenting support is offered by 89 % of the reviewed VPNs.

    SwitchVPN doesn’t block torrenting on any of its servers, but we can’t recommend the service for this purpose.

    Our average download speed of 30 Mb/s and upload speed of 32 Mb/s is low for torrenting, with most users unlikely to use the full potential of their internet connection speed. For P2P file sharing, SwitchVPN is thus slow.

    However, the SwitchVPN app has important DNS leak protection and a kill switch feature built in. Both help protect users’ privacy by hiding their IP address and location from other users.

    Still, the best VPN for torrenting offers significantly better support for a comparable price. We can recommend CyberGhost VPN, Proton VPN Plus, and NordVPN. All three VPNs achieve significantly faster speeds, have servers optimized for P2P transfers, and some superior security features.

12. What Is the Country of Origin Of SwitchVPN?

    • VPN Provider: CS SYSTEMS, INC
    • Country of origin: 🇺🇸 USA

    SwitchVPN is operated by CS Systems, Inc., a company based in Newark, Delaware, USA.

    The VPN was launched in March 2010, SwitchVPN‘s founder is Charu Sharma. The VPN provider was based in India until 2016, only after which it moved to the US.

    Having a VPN provider based in the United States may pose a risk to some users, as the country is a member of the 5 Eyes alliance. The intelligence agencies and police of these countries monitor internet traffic and in some cases may demand the release of information about specific users. VPN providers must comply and release the data.

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

    • No-Logs Policy:
      Yes

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

    SwitchVPN explicitly states on its website that no logs are generated when using the app. Thus, no IP addresses, history of visited websites or timestamps are stored.

    Only data that is necessary to maintain the user account is collected. Specifically, this includes email address and payment information so that subscription billing can take place.

    Even more confidence in SwitchVPN would be helped by undergoing an independent audit of the application’s security and handling of personal data. NordVPN or Surfshark, for example, undergo similar verification on a regular basis.

    Some VPN providers regularly publish a Transparency Report where they openly mention threats detected or the number of user information requests received. Warrant Canary works on a similar principle, alerting users in real time that a VPN operator has received a user data release request. SwitchVPN does not publish anything like this.

    So far, there is not a single known case of SwitchVPN users’ personal data being leaked to the public.

14. SwitchVPN Support: Chat, e-mail…

    The quickest way to reach customer support is via live chat on the SwitchVPN website, just click the icon on the bottom right. During our testing, support was slow, and we had to wait quite a while for responses.

    The other way is the contact form, in which you just need to describe the problem, the answer will then arrive by email. For quick solutions to common problems, we recommend using the FAQ page on the SwitchVPN website.

15. SwitchVPN FAQ

    Does SwitchVPN store logs of internet activity?

    According to the privacy policy, using SwitchVPN does not generate logs that show what websites the user has visited. Neither are the user’s IP address, device identifiers or data transmitted stored.

    However, SwitchVPN is not independently audited, so zero log storage is not guaranteed.

    Is SwitchVPN suitable for streaming on Netflix?

    During testing, SwitchVPN was able to unblock movies and TV shows that are only available on US Netflix. The problem with SwitchVPN was the relatively low connection speed, the measured download of 30 Mb/s is not enough to play ultra-high definition 4k video.

    If you’re happy with full HD resolution, SwitchVPN can be used to play Netflix videos without much restriction. For streaming higher resolution video, we recommend you give preference to NordVPN or Surfshark.

    Where is SwitchVPN based?

    SwitchVPN is based in Newark, Delaware, USA, having moved there during 2016. The company’s first few were based in India, where its founder Charu Sharma hails from.

    Does SwitchVPN have a mobile app?

    Yes, SwitchVPN has mobile apps for Android and iOS platforms. The apps can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store.