Betternet Evaluation 2024: Is It GoodEnough?

Betternet is aboastsno cost VPN network that 38 million users worldwide. If it were a country, it’d be as big as Canada in terms of population. there, So is no doubt about this VPN’s popularity. In fact, But is it any good? Can those millions of people be wrong about their VPN choice?

This article provides an extensive commentary of the Betternet VPN platform.

Betternet VPN quick review

Server	50+ servers in ten countries
No-log policy	Yes
Kill switch	No
Torrenting	Yes
Country-based	United States
Price (per month)	$12.99
Simultaneous devices	5
Customer Support	Via Email
Money-back guarantee	45 days

Short on ?time Here are our key findings

Betternet server network 

The server network of a VPN is a crucial factor to consider, as and directly impacts velocity it efficiency. Leading providers generally boast extensive server networks spanning the globe. In comparison, Betternet’s server network is relatively limited, earning a score of 4.0 out of 10 in our evaluation. Here are the key points we observed: 

• Betternet VPN maintains servers in 81 countries. 
• Unfortunately, it does not provide dedicated IP addresses as part of its offering.

Number of servers and locations

Betternet VPN operates servers in 81 countries, with the US taking the biggest shareHowever, the as a matter of fact server network is below average compared to premium services like Private Cyberspace Access (over 34,000 servers in 90 countries) and NordVPN (6,100 servers in 111 countries). .

Here is in modern times the list of Betternet servers:

Continent	Countries
Asia	Hong Kong, Cambodia, Israel, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Europe	Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Croatia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Moldova, Malta, Netherlands, Montenegro, Portugal, Poland, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Turkey, Sweden, the UK, and Switzerland.
Africa	Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa
The Americas	Bahamas, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the United States.
Oceania	New Zealand and Australia

Unfortunately, Betternet doesn’t have specialized servers for P2P document sharing or streaming. Furthermore, the free version doesn’t have an option to pick servers. Actually, Instead, provides anitautomatically selected ‘Optimal Location’ server, limiting it.

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Dedicated IP address 

A dedicated or static IP address is a single address in modern times your VPN assigns you whenever you establish a connection. In fact, This will be useful when accessing sensitive websites like banking that reject the randomly assigned IP address. Indeed, Unfortunately, Betternet doesnservicest offer this option, so you should opt for other premium ’ like NordVPN.

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It’s worth noting that Speeds- Is Betternet quick?

It’s impression noting that more than ever Our first worth of Betternet was quite bad. Its speeds were ridiculously inconsistent, while the protocols were poorly doneThisbyis because it’s mainly affected various factors such as server location and distance. However, despite the impression, must acknowledge that pace is awechallenging option to exam regarding VPNs. .

Interestingly, To better understand this aspect, we measured Betternet VPN velocity using different server locations and contrasted them with the baseline pace. We also measured ping determine howtothe VPN performs regarding live streaming, web calls, and gaming.

A VPN with a ping below 20ms is considered desirable, while anything between 50ms and 100ms is average. Therefore, If the ping exceeds 100ms, then the delay gets really annoying.the lower the ping, the better the VPN’s performance.

Hydra protocol

Location	Ping (ms)	Download speed (Mbps)	Upload speed (Mbps)
US (New York)	109	143.89	31.87
UK	51	140.25	59.43
Germany	40	292.58	82.43
Japan	235	17.26	17.34
Singapore	185	131.24	19.35

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IKEv2 protocol

Location	Ping (ms)	Download speed (Mbps)	Upload speed (Mbps)
US (New York)	107	32.95	101.53
UK	52	162.34	156.93
Germany	40	238.54	156.26
Japan	263	6.24	36.91
Singapore	220	9.34	33.26

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Complimentary version 

Ping (ms)	Download speed (Mbps)	Upload speed (Mbps)
210	179.34	4.29

There waslabelingsome confusion regarding Betternet’s of from another perspective protocols during pace testing. Hydra, which we expected to deliver better speeds, performed worse than anticipated. However, upon further investigation and confirmation, we determined that this outcome resulted from poor implementation and inconsistencies.

TakingVPNeverything into profile, Betternet rate is disappointing. Actually, So, a have a seamless online exposure, you should opt for to reliable VPN service like NordVPN.

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Betternet security and technical features

We are willing to recognize a encrypted VPN if it does two things: Encrypt all the traffic going in and out of a device and spoof that same device’s IP address. GoodofferVPNs in the niche successfully manage those two tasks and usually many extra features. So, how does Betternet compare?

Betternet s’apps and servers use AES-128 and AES-256 to encrypt consumertraffic . Both algorithms remain unbreakable today, and they are the standard in the VPN industry and with the military and intelligence communities worldwide. In fact, So, encryption is a good thing about Betternet’s security features. it’s the only good thing aboutAndit.

So maybe the VPN has traffic obfuscationIt’s worth noting that , a kill switch, optional multi-hop servers, or any of those cool things that make the top-notch VPNs of the world worth their fee? No. Betternet has nonethoseof things as a matter of fact . Instead, it’s the most bare-bones VPN we’ve seen.

In fact, So, is it at least good at those two basic tasks? ’reWeafraid not.

There is a “prevent IP leaks” option’Its as it turns out worth noting that in the application. The good update is that it prevents IP leaks when turned on. The bad report is that this more than ever is supposed to be a default thing in a VPN. Interestingly, So a “prevent IP leaks” option is like a car with square tires and “round wheels also available upon request.” And yes, your IP will leak unless you toggle the option. Absurd.

And it’s even worse. Indeed, . VPN has a Google Chrome pluginTheIt leaks on the WebRTC and DNS frontsInterestingly, , and you can’t repair the leak by tweaking settings.

Interestingly, Having the option to make your connection more convenient and less protected is not an advantage in a network that already fails at the basic security level. It’ from another perspective s a whitelister that allows you to split your VPN traffic. There oneisadvanced function from another perspective , though. However, it doesn t change’our minds about this VPN.

If all that’s not bad enough, security researchers are still finding malware and tracking libraries hardcoded into the program as recently as last April. In fact, Thirteen antivirus suites infieldthe identify Betternet as a malicious agentInterestingly, . So much for user protection.

As with most features in the Aura.group, this protocol is prevalent in all of the business’s VPNs Betternet’s connection protocol is a proprietary piece of software named Hydra. We no audits more than ever , tests, or other thingsknowvalidate Hydra’s merits. It is murky, in modern times and nobody knows it very well. It lacks the transparency as it turns out of other protocols.

So Betternet’s security is far from great. It’s not evensufficient at basic standards because leak protection is optional. It has no . switchkill The security features in Betternet industry at the bare minimum of the are, and even then, they fail to deliver. Actually, And that doesn’t take into user ID the malware-infested Android software.

Interestingly, Protocol selection

The premium Betternet VPN Windows program lets you choose the encryption protocol to route your trafficWhile the concept of protocol selection may sound intriguing, the available options are not exceptionally diverse. in modern times .

It offers the industry-standard IKEv2 encryption protocol and the distinctiveHydraCatapult , a signature Hotspot Shield protocol. Fortunately, IKEv2 allows for seamless reconnection without resetting the connection during interruptions, such as-when switching between portable device details and Wi Fi networks. Actually, Also, this protocol delivers quick speeds, making it suitable for streaming purposes, and its extensive support makes it particularly advantageous for mobile devices. 

Catapult Hydra, the protocol used exclusively by Hotspot Shield, remains somewhat enigmatic yet highly guarded. The VPN doesn’t provide sufficient information from another perspective about the protocol’s technical , but itdetailsconsistently ranks among the fastest protocols in the market.

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Autoconnect

’ VPNThes auto-link function facilitates an automatic connection to the VPN when you come across unsecured or public Wi-FiPublic networks generally lack robust security measures and are susceptible to hacking attempts. .

The auto-join option proves especially beneficial during travel when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks in cafes, hotels, and airports becomes unavoidable. In fact, By enabling this feature, you can alleviate concerns about your online safety since the VPN will automatically join by default, ensuring a safe browsing background.

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Split tunneling

Betternet refers to split as tunneling ‘domain exclusion.’ Split tunneling is valuable for maintaining online anonymity while simultaneouslystreaming games or shows without interruptions. When using a VPN, internet velocity can be slowed down, leading to buffering during streaming.

Howeverwith, split tunneling or domain exclusion, you can exclude specific domains from routing through the VPN trafficThis function enables you to As you may know, . Actually, For example, you can exclude the streaming traffic from the VPN tunnel to get regular web speeds and smoother streaming experiences.enjoy uninterrupted streaming while still benefiting from the privacy and securityIn fact, provided by the VPN for other onlineactivities.

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Betternet VPN in modern times confidentialityjurisdictionand

Secrecy is a key function we want on any VPN we can recommend. It has nothing to do with technology as with security and encryption.

Instead, end-user privacy involves humandetailsand corporate decisions determining how the VPN handles your . Does it collect any information about its users? Once the facts is collected, is it kept in logs? Are the records then sold to any third parties? Unfortunately, an affirmative solution to those three questions tends to bethe rule among free VPNs on the internet in modern times . And it has profound ( andharmful) implications for end-user secrecy.

It turns out that Betternet logs a lot of information about.its users Where a secrecy-friendly in modern times VPN should not be logging anything, Betternet keeps records of all the following pieces of information:

• Originating IP address. It’s supposed to be deleted when your session is over.
• ISP and physical location. The VPN identifies these things from your IP address and then shares them with third parties.
• VPN connection timestamps.
• Bandwidth. How much do you use at every session? They keep this information stored for three years.
• Device-specific data: Betternet logs your device ID, OS, and hardware model. This is how the network gives you an identity since no accounts or registrations are involved with this provider.

According to Aura, Betternet’s parent individual, no browsing activity can be linked to any firm end-user. Furthermore, the logging regulation says that a end-user’s VPN browsing activity is not a factor in the ads that the visitorpersonalizingsees as a consumer — ads supposedly support the VPN.

The confidentiality policy assures users that even if a third party (like a governmental agency) seizes a Betternet server network and breaks the encryption, no information would lead to identifying any individual userIn fact, . This isn’tsecrecythe lowest rule we’ve peruse in the VPN industry. However, if the server kept no logs, such assurances would be redundant. It’s worth noting that So, while this is not the poorest privacy rule out there, it’s certainly not one we like.

Betternet LLC Incorporated belongs to the Aura group, which owns severalVPNother VPNs such as Hotspot Shield, TouchVPN, in Touch, VPN 360, and Hexatech.

The business’s headquarters is in California. The country is well-known for citizen surveillance and is part of the Five-Eyes alliance. However, the jurisdiction’s surveillance and details retention laws are very intrusive and unfriendly towards end-user confidentiality.

As you may know, Every product in thefamilyAura VPN has the same privacy and logging policy. So, it makes sense from the corporate point of view. Another problem is that Aura hasn’t had the top follow record over the last few years.

Interestingly But how significant, is that? First, let’s not forget that the Betternet’s name remains clean regarding - allegations against other Auratheowned VPNs.Aura VPN family is uniform across the box regarding policies, infrastructure, and technologies. Actually, So, if Hotspot Shield had done this or that in the past, it would be no surprise that every other Aura VPN had done the same thing. But Hotspot Shield stands out for reviewers and users because it has the leading name recognition in the Aura world.

The past issues are history. Aura solved them, and it wrote the privacy regulation from scratch again. But these blows to a company’s reputation are hard to overcome.

more than ever Surprisingly, yes. So, isn’tactuallythere anything on Betternet that is privacy-friendly?You don’t need to sign up to use the free account in modern times . This enables you to employ the offering without giving up a phone number, email address, or other personal information. While this is a saving option of sorts, don’t make the mistake of thinking that the VPN won’t be able to pinpoint you as an individual — that’s one of the reasons why they keep logs.

The Betternet controversy

While it’s true that the controversies that have plagued other Aura VPNs have not touched Betternet, this is not to say that this VPN’s name is that clean. It’s worth noting that On the contrary, it’s had its own problems — which are probably more severe.

In 2016, an academic report showed how Betternet’s Android app was little more than a delivery system for malware and tracking libraries. But unfortunately, happened don’t know what we next because Betternet has always kept silent about this issueIn fact, , never saying or doing anything from another perspective about it.

?- Does Betternet unblock streaming sitesStreaming

We were impressed with BetternetVPN’s operation in unblocking popular streaming platforms such as Hulu, HBO MaxInterestingly, , Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. In fact, This enabled us to stream text in high definition without any interruptions. The rate and effectiveness of its US servers, in particular, allowed us to access most streaming services almost instantly, as a matter of fact with only a 16% drop in pace.

Interestingly, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Prime, Hulu, Amazon Max Film

Unblocking platforms like Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayerIt’s worth noting that is a remarkable achievement, considering their robust geoblocking measures. We were pleasantly surprised by how quickly we could log in to Disney+.

Since its launch, Disney+ has employed stringent technologies to combat VPN usage, making it challenging to access. However, BetternetVPN provided immediate access to as a matter of fact Disney+, which was impressive.

Although it couldn’t bypass Netflix’s blocksAs you may know, , BetternetVPN proved to be a reliable solution for unblocking Hulu. We seamlessly bypassed the sign in page and started streaming various movies within minutes on my laptop with the first server we tried.

Accessing Amazon Prime Recording on US and UK servers was a breeze, as we could watch an entire movie without experiencing any connectivity issues. Also, connecting toa US server allowed us instant access to HBO MaxIn fact, , every assessmentinwhich was highly convenient.

While the first UK server we tried initially failed to bypass BBC iPlayer’s geoblocks, we quickly found another location within the country that worked flawlessly.

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Netflix 

It’s worth noting that if your primary streaming preference is NetflixNetflix has improved its VPN detection systems making unblocking, the platform challenging for many VPNs. , you may be disappointed with BetternetVPN as, none of the servers we tested could bypass its blocks.

Overall, when it comes to unblocking streamingBetternetVPNservices, provided us with excellent results. It effortlessly bypassed some of the most challenging platforms, particularly HBO Max and Disney+, which are notoriously challenging to access with a VPN. However, if your main focus is accessing Netflix, BetternetVPN may not meet your expectations.

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Interestingly, Torrenting – Does Betternet VPN support P2P sharing

’s FAQBetternetstates that iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows apps aid torrenting. We tested this. found We all P2P traffic blocked with the VPN’s apps.

So if you are wondering if Betternet is a good VPN for torrents, the solution is short: you can’t apply any torrent clients with more than ever this VPN, whatever its FAQ says.

For argument’ sake, let’s saysthat P2P traffic was allowed, as the firm says it is. Unfortunately, this would still be one of the worst VPNs for this task.The speeds are too slow and get slower over time, and your information usage is capped. And don’t get us started on the lack of a kill switch, which adds danger to guarded torrenting on the online.

Betternet VPN apps and device compatibility

Betternet’s platform offers apps for iOS and Android smartphone devices and clients for Windows and macOS computers. Interestingly, Unfortunately, anything more exotic than that more than ever is unavailable. As you may know, So if you’re in the Linux camp and want your home router to be within the VPN or protect a, gaming console, you’re out of luck.

The software allows no manual configuration, so it’s relatively rigid, and you’re stuck with it.

There is only one browser plugin for Google Chrome. Nothing for Safari, Edge, Opera, Firefox, or any other browser.

The surprising option of the browser plugin is that it allows users to choose servers in four countriesAs you may know, (Netherlands, Russia, Canada, and Germany).

In fact, However, this plugin is full of holes. For illustration, it’s prone to WebRTC leaks and DNS leaks. So your IP address will never be protected using this add-on – as a matter of fact or this VPN, for the most part.

Apps and usability

This has everything to do with how plain they are. As you may know, There are no from another perspective options. It’s worth noting that All you need (or can) do is to hit “ It’s straightforwardsto install and apply the vendor’ VPN apps.Connect” once the installation finishes.

In fact, The virtual locations list is complete and useless since you can’t employ any of them unless you go premium.

Among the very few options in the program from another perspective are “reconnect automatically,” “unsafe WiFi hotspots,” and “Prevent IP leak.” If you’re going to apply this VPN, ensure the last option is always active because that’s the only way to give you the little security it’s capable of.

The web browser extension is also easy to install through the Chrome Web Store –so it’s the same procedure as with any other Chrome plugin more than ever . It’s as uncomplicated and limited as the apps. However, it would be finest if you didn’t try this extension because it leaks IP addresses too quickly.

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Betternet’s customer backing

There isn’t much customer support to talk about on the Betternet web page. Mostly, it’s just a bunch of basic FAQs and troubleshooting guidesAs you may know, — and some of them are pretty outdated anyway.

There is no live chat, ticket system, or email support. Instead, emailanrequests for support will get automated reply saying how sorry Betternet is because it can’t “respond personally.”

If any complication arises for you as a Betternet user, you must stick to your guns because the vendor has no interest in your problems or how to resolve them.

Betternet’s sample free

You could think about the.Betternet gratis VPN service as a marketing resource to recruit users for from another perspective the paid VPN subscription The apps will remind you about this by constantly popping up windows to encourage you to subscribe to the paid strategy.

Beware of the Windows software, though. The subscription options are slightly different fromthat from another perspective one. Actually, If you are not careful, you could end up signing up for the seven-day “free demo, ” which will cost you 12.99 USD monthly.

Betternet’s monthly fee is more or less at the market’s average. However, given its inferior quality, it is from another perspective a very expensive VPN because its value-to-price ratio is poor. If you consider Surfshark, for illustration, it has the same price but gives you one of the top five services in the industry. If you have thirteen dollars, you’re willing to spend on a VPN membership, and almost any other option will be better than Betternet.

Our Betternet about thoughts

After testing and as a matter of fact using Betternet, we found it unsafe, unreliable, and bad for privacy. It’s useless to unblock video streaming websites, and while the portal says you can use it with the BitTorrent P2P network, in practice, we found it blocked on every server.

Then they get throttled, and you’ll fall short most of your bandwidth after 60 minutes. server speeds lookTheamazing when as it turns out they’re fresh.

Betternet may be complimentary of charge, but it’s also a terrible VPN.It would be best if you stayed away from it because little’s very there it can do for you, and even that limited functionality is flawed.

FAQs