Virtual Shield VPN 2024 Review: 5 Cons and 3 Pros

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

1. Virtual Shield VPN Delivers High Speeds and a Free 30 days of Trial

   • High subscription price (from $6.99 per month)
   • Only 18 countries available
   • VPN can only be used on basic platforms
   • The application is RAM intensive
   • The operator is based in a member country of the 14 Eyes alliance

   • It was able to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max
   • 999 connected devices included
   • Quality user support

   Virtual Shield VPN is operated by VirtualShield LLC, an American company that develops antivirus and online identity protection software along with VPN. In our test, Virtual Shield VPN performed averagely, scoring 7.0/10 and ranking #46 in a list of 90 reviewed VPNs.

   Virtual Shield VPN lost points in the review due to its very limited range of sites. Users only have 18 countries to choose from, and while they cover every continent, many relatively common ones are missing.

   The level of compatibility is below average compared to other VPNs, and Virtual Shield VPN can only be used on basic platforms. Considering the higher subscription price of $6.99 per month, Virtual Shield VPN loses out on value for money.

   The advantage of Virtual Shield VPN is the solid connection speed, in repeated measurements we achieved an average download of 150 Mb/s and upload of 115 Mb/s. Thus, the VPN can be used for torrenting or backing up bulky files.

   The Virtual Shield VPN app uses the modern WireGuard protocol and encrypts all transmitted data. It was able to unblock video stream from Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and HBO platforms without any problems.

   A free trial version of Virtual Shield VPN is available for 30 days. Such a long free period is an exception among VPNs, most trial versions are available for a few days at most. Virtual Shield VPN also deserves praise for its reliable user support that works around the clock.

   

2. Virtual Shield VPN Subscription: Discount Code, Free Trial, Money Back Guarantee…

   • Your Price: $12.99​46% off  $6.99 /mo (999 devices)
   • Money Back Guarantee: Yes (30 days)
   • Free Trial: Yes (30 days)
   • Cryptocurrency payments:
     No

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

   

   7

   ★★★☆

   Although the VPN was able to unblock streaming platforms, it failed in the connection speed test. The number of available servers and locations is low.

   $6.99 /mo Free 30-day trial ​30-day money back guarantee

   Get this VPN 46% cheaper

   Virtual Shield VPN can be purchased individually or as a VirtualShield One package. The package also includes antivirus and an online identity protection tool.

   The VPN can be purchased with ongoing monthly billing, or for one or two years with payment for the entire period upfront. The pay-as-you-go monthly subscription for $12.99 is the least expensive, but can be cancelled at any time. The longest term subscription is the most cost-effective, with a monthly fee of $6.99.

   Compared to other services, Virtual Shield VPN is quite expensive. For example, NordVPN, with a 9.4/10 rating and 18 available locations, costs just $4.07 per month.

   You can use a credit card or PayPal to pay for your subscription. Anonymous cryptocurrency payments are not supported by Virtual Shield VPN.

   A money-back guarantee is available for 30 days after ordering. To use it, just contact customer support.

   The trial version of Virtual Shield VPN is available for 30 days. Although you have to enter a credit card number to access the trial version, but if you cancel the account within 30 days, no money will be withdrawn.

3. Virtual Shield VPN and Supported Devices: Android, iOS, macOS…

   • Device limit: Unlimited

   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.

   Virtual Shield VPN can be subscribed to as a single user or family subscription, where multiple profiles can be set up under one account. In both cases, the VPN can be used on 999 devices simultaneously.

   The compatibility of Virtual Shield VPN is one of the weakest points of the service. The app is only directly available for Windows, Mac OS and Linux computers plus Android and iOS mobile devices.

   No other platforms are supported by Virtual Shield VPN. As a result, VPNs cannot be activated on Playstation and Xbox gaming consoles, Android TV, Apple TV or Fire TV smart TVs, nor on NAS, Chromecast or nVidia Shield devices. While Virtual Shield VPN promises to add support for some of these devices on its website, it hasn’t done so yet.

   Virtual Shield VPN also lacks support for router traffic, where it’s very easy to protect all devices connected to the same network. Using a VPN on a router allows for example Surfshark.

   The Virtual Shield VPN extension is not available for any of the web browsers.

4. Virtual Shield VPN App: User-Friendliness, Whitelist, Server Selection…

   • App Languages: 🇺🇸 English
   • Whitelisting:
     No

     Whitelisting is supported by 52 % of reviewed VPNs

   From a user experience perspective, Virtual Shield VPN has hilarious apps that don’t vary much from platform to platform. A minor criticism is directed towards its stability, during the course of our use it got stuck several times and had to be restarted. In terms of design, it is clear, the environment is available exclusively in a light theme. There is no dark alternative to it at the moment.

   The only language available is English. Although there are other language options available in the settings, none of them worked.

   The dominant element of the app’s home screen is the connection button, connection status and information about the current IP address and ISP. The available countries are listed in a searchable list and selected locations can be saved as favorites. Alternatively, an automatic connection to the fastest available server at the time can be used.

   User account and subscription information is available on the other screens. The last screen in the application is the feature settings and a button to send feedback on the service.

   Virtual Shield VPN only supports the automatic launch of the app when the device boots up, you must always connect to the server manually.

   Split tunneling is offered by Virtual Shield VPN under the name “Local Network Access”, a feature not available in the macOS app. The principle of operation is different from the classic whitelist, as it only blocks traffic between other devices from the same wi-fi network. The feature does not allow you to select apps and websites to access the internet directly even when VPN protection is activated as with the standard whitelist.

   By default, the kill switch function and IPv6 address protection is activated in the application. Optional features can be ordered for an additional fee, which will be unlocked in the app upon payment.

5. Virtual Shield VPN 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.

   Virtual Shield VPN does not limit the user in the amount of data transferred, which is the standard of all paid VPNs.

   Connection establishment was seamless during Virtual Shield VPN testing, even with remote servers. We used the fastest server connection feature to measure speed. Virtual Shield VPN performed above average even when manually selecting a location, which is useful when accessing geo-blocked video, for example.

   The average measured download of 150 Mb/s is sufficient for downloading bulky files and for playing ultra-high definition 4k video. For this, 50 Mbps is quoted as the minimum required speed.

   The measured upload speed of 115 Mb/s was also above average in the context of other VPNs. This makes Virtual Shield VPN usable for transferring large files, including torrenting.

   The third monitored parameter is the response speed, which plays a significant role when playing online games or video calls. For response speed, a lower value is always better. Too high a value can cause annoying stuttering. Virtual Shield VPN measured an average response time of 35 ms, which is not a harbinger of problems. The best VPNs have even lower response times, for example, we measured 7 ms for AdGuard VPN.

6. Virtual Shield VPN Server Locations

   • Number of servers:
     1,000

     The average number of servers for the reviewed VPNs is 1699.
   • Number of countries:
     18

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

   Europe	🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇵🇱 Poland 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden
   North America	🇨🇦 Canada 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇺🇸 USA
   South America	🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇱 Chile
   Asia	🇮🇱 Israel 🇯🇵 Japan 🇰🇷 South Korea 🇸🇬 Singapore
   Africa	🇿🇦 South Africa
   Oceania	🇦🇺 Australia

   Virtual Shield VPN operates 1,000 servers in 18 countries around the world. The small selection of locations is one of the service’s weakest points, with ExpressVPN, for example, giving users a choice of 94 countries.

   At least one Virtual Shield VPN server is allocated on each continent, with the most in Europe. Of the more interesting locations, Sweden, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and South Africa are available. Virtual Shield VPN also offers servers in the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, and Australia. On the other hand, Russia or Turkey, countries with censored internet, are missing.

   According to customer support, Virtual Shield VPN is continuously adding more locations.

   All servers are owned directly by the Virtual Shield VPN operator, none of them are owned by a third party. This practice reduces the risk of possible misuse of personal data by an external provider. During our testing, we did not experience any problems with server overload or stability.

   Virtual Shield VPN supports automatic selection of the fastest available server. If you want to select a specific city within a country, you need to activate this option in the advanced settings. Any of the locations can be saved as a favorite.

   None of the Virtual Shield VPN servers are optimized for a specific type of traffic, such as torrenting or streaming.

7. Virtual Shield VPN 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:
     Yes

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

   Virtual Shield VPN has built-in DNS leak protection. We tested the app for DNS, WebRTC and IP address leaks, all our data remained reliably hidden. There is additional protection for IPv6 addresses.

   An important security feature of Virtual Shield VPN is the kill switch, which completely disconnects the device from the internet if the connection to the VPN server is lost. This prevents the possible discovery of the user’s real IP address and location. The Windows application offers a superstructure in the form of the “Application Guard” application, which works similarly to the kill switch. However, unlike this, it only disconnects a specific application, such as a web browser, from the Internet, not the entire device.

   In terms of security protocols, Virtual Shield VPN primarily uses the modern and fast WireGuard. The advanced and also secure OpenVPN serves as a backup protocol. The transmitted user data is protected by ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption.

   The superior multi-hop connection (also known as Double VPN) is not supported by Virtual Shield VPN. The principle of multi-hop is to connect through two different VPN servers at the same time, which brings an even better level of security. When the first layer of protection is breached, information about the second VPN server is displayed.

   Virtual Shield VPN supports connections to the Tor network.

   Virtual Shield VPN‘s two-factor user account security is missing, which is a bit surprising. After all, the Virtual Shield VPN provider offers users tools for comprehensive cyber protection, and multi-factor authentication is standard with many VPN services.

8. Virtual Shield VPN & Streaming: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime…

   • Amazon Prime:
     Yes

     Amazon Prime streaming is supported by 52 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Disney+:
     No

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

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

     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

   Virtual Shield VPN does not operate any servers specifically optimized for streaming video. It still performed well in our test, managing to unblock most platforms when we connected through servers in various US cities.

   We were able to play normally unavailable movies, TV shows, and other videos on YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. The average download speed of 150 Mb/s was sufficient for high resolution 4k, where 50 Mbps is generally considered the lower limit.

   We were unsuccessful when trying to play video on Disney Plus and Hulu. If you want to access movies from these platforms, we recommend giving preference to competing services NordVPN or Surfshark. Both VPNs manage to unblock all streaming platforms, achieve high transfer speeds, and add superior security features on top.

9. Features of Virtual Shield VPN: 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.

   Ad blocking, malware blocking, and tracker blocking are not included in the basic Virtual Shield VPN package.

   However, adblock and malware protection can be purchased in the VirtualShield One package. Another additional feature is antivirus to ensure continuous protection of the device. The add-on package also offers Identity Protection, which works similarly to NordVPN‘s Dark Web Monitoring by monitoring and alerting you to possible leaks of personal information on the internet. Additionally, you can insure against misuse of personal data.

   Another interesting feature of the paid package is “Data Removal”, which takes care of deleting personal data from the databases of companies that monetize it after it is entered. Data Removal only works in the US for now.

   No other extra functionality is offered by Virtual Shield VPN for free or at an additional cost. For example, it lacks a useful camouflage mode that can hide activated VPN protection from website operators and ISPs.

   Virtual Shield VPN doesn’t even offer a dedicated IP address that is dedicated to a single user. For an additional fee, it can be purchased with NordVPN or Surfshark, for example.

10. Virtual Shield VPN‘s CPU usage and App Performance

    VPN clients are usually designed to have a minimal impact on computer usage. Unfortunately, the creators of Virtual Shield VPN didn’t manage to do this very well, with the app taking a bite out of over 300MB of RAM capacity when VPN protection was enabled, which is well above average. On older devices, this can cause stability issues.

    Virtual Shield VPN‘s impact on battery consumption was minimal. To better optimize computer performance, we recommend turning off the app once you stop using the VPN. Exiting the app is possible via the icon in the system tray. Optionally, you can still deactivate the automatic launch of the application after the device boots, otherwise Virtual Shield VPN will run in the background.

11. Virtual Shield VPN Torrenting Servers

    • Torrenting servers:
      Yes

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

    Virtual Shield VPN is well usable for torrenting purposes. While none of the servers are directly optimized for P2P transfers, at the same time, torrenting is not blocked in any location.

    The Virtual Shield VPN app has implemented a kill switch as well as DNS leak protection, so it can hide the real IP address from other torrenting users. All transmitted data is encrypted, which enhances the feeling of security.

    The average download (150 Mb/s) and upload (115 Mb/s) speeds we achieved are more than sufficient for torrenting purposes.

    Still, it is important to keep in mind that according to the terms of use, Virtual Shield VPN prohibits using the service for illegal activities. This includes sharing copyrighted content.

12. What Is the Country of Origin Of Virtual Shield VPN?

    • VPN Provider: VirtualShield LLC
    • Country of origin: 🇺🇸 USA

    Virtual Shield VPN is operated by VirtualShield LLC, which together VPN develops other security software, such as antivirus or an internet leak monitor. The company is based in Los Angeles, USA, and was founded in 2017.

    The US is not an ideal location for a VPN operator, as the country is a founding member of the 5 Eyes alliance. The police and intelligence services of these countries monitor internet traffic and have the right to request information about specific users if they suspect illegal activity. VPN operators are required by law to hand them over. The US can share the information obtained with other member countries of the group.

13. Virtual Shield VPN and Privacy: Logging Policy, Security Issues…

    • No-Logs Policy:
      Yes

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

    Virtual Shield VPN presents itself on the web and in its privacy policy as a no-logs service. Thus, no information is stored about the websites visited, data transmitted, timestamps or device identifiers.

    Only data that is necessary to maintain the Virtual Shield VPN user account is collected. This includes email address, username, password and payment information.

    Unfortunately, the provider of Virtual Shield VPN can’t back up its claims with independent audits that competitors such as NordVPN or Surfshark regularly undergo. Undergoing one would contribute to greater trust in the service.

    Another way to increase credibility would be to publish a regular Transparency Report and Warrant Canary, which alerts users to the fact that the VPN operator has received a subpoena for data on a user.

    Virtual Shield VPN can still be considered a trustworthy and secure service. So far, there are no known leaks of users’ personal data, nor has information about the VPN operator’s cooperation with the police been leaked to the public. However, Virtual Shield VPN states that it will hand over all requested user data to the authorities in the event of a legitimate request.

    When visiting the Virtual Shield VPN website, the user’s IP address, the browser used and the type of device are recorded.

14. Virtual Shield VPN Support: Chat, e-mail…

    Virtual Shield VPN boasts customer support available 24/7, which can be contacted from the mobile app when the user is redirected to Messenger. Such fast support is only available to paying users. The staff was able to answer most of our queries and we commend them for their quick response. More complex queries were passed on to colleagues who emailed us a comprehensive explanation within 24 hours.

    Computer application users and non-registered visitors can contact support via the ticketing system. Just fill out the form on the Virtual Shield VPN website, also in this case we received a reply via email in less than 24 hours. Users without a subscription can use the chat through an icon on the site, however, no one responded to our queries when contacted in this way.

    A large amount of information is available in the knowledgebase, which offers searches for easier navigation. Useful information about cybersecurity can be found in the blog, which Virtual Shield VPN regularly updates.

15. Virtual Shield VPN FAQ

    Is Virtual Shield VPN a good VPN?

    Virtual Shield VPN scored a 7.0/10 in our thorough test, so it can be considered a fairly good service with good transfer speeds and interesting additional features. Users’ security is ensured by the advanced WireGuard protocol and ChaCha20 encryption.

    On the other hand, Virtual Shield VPN has a few shortcomings. The app is more demanding on device performance and the offer of 18 locations is lower than the best VPNs on the market. The subscription price of $6.99 is quite high, for example, the better rated Surfshark (9.2/10) with 3,200 servers in 97 locations can be subscribed for as little as $2.14 per month.

    Is Virtual Shield VPN free?

    Virtual Shield VPN is a paid service, with the most affordable subscription option coming in at $6.99 per month. Subscriptions can be paid by debit card, credit card or PayPal.

    All orders are covered by a 30 days of money-back guarantee. A trial version of Virtual Shield VPN is available for free for the first 30 days. In the context of other VPNs, this is well above average.

    Is Virtual Shield VPN secure?

    Virtual Shield VPN can be considered a secure service in terms of security. The application does not store any logs and the servers used are owned by the operator, so there is no risk of them being misused by a third party. The security of data transmission is ensured by the high-end WireGuard protocol and ChaCha20 encryption.

    Additional security solutions such as antivirus or Internet identity protection can be added to the VPN. There is no leakage of users’ personal data or any unfair treatment associated with Virtual Shield VPN. To add to the confidence in Virtual Shield VPN, it would help to undergo an independent audit from a reputable company in the industry.