BolehVPN may not offer the widest server coverage, with servers in 13 countries, but if you’re primarily interested in locations like the USA, Europe, Malaysia, Japan, or Singapore, this service could be exactly what you need. Supporting both OpenVPN and L2TP protocols, BolehVPN provides native clients for most major platforms.
Features
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seychelles, BolehVPN has established a reputation for reliability and privacy.
It offers software compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile apps for both Android and iOS. Additionally, there are comprehensive guides for setting up the service on various router types.
While the desktop applications for Windows and macOS are straightforward to install and use, the Android setup requires a bit more effort. Users will need to download and manually transfer configuration files to the appropriate directories, and uninstall any other OpenVPN-based applications from their devices. While this process is manageable, it may be daunting for VPN newcomers. However, the service provides a detailed setup guide to assist with this.
The user dashboard is intuitive, featuring installation guides and download links conveniently consolidated in one place.
Usability
BolehVPN’s usability is exceptional. Its client interface includes a map, location list, and settings menu that are clear and easy to navigate. However, the desktop app’s interface, though functional, may appear slightly cluttered to less experienced users. For those familiar with VPNs, navigating through tabs to enable the kill switch, monitor application logs, or configure proxy settings should pose no issues.
The main interface displays your IP address, data transferred and received, and account information. The connection area allows you to select your preferred protocol (OpenVPN or L2TP) and server.
The server list might be challenging for users unfamiliar with VPN terminologies. FAQs are available to help users understand these options better.
During testing, the desktop app occasionally crashed after disconnecting. Additionally, some servers negatively impacted speed tests. However, once suitable servers were identified, the connection remained stable and fast.
Unfortunately, BolehVPN does not offer live chat support. Instead, users can contact support via email or consult the available guides and forums for troubleshooting assistance.
Advanced settings include enabling the kill switch, auto-reconnect, and DNS leak protection, along with options to adjust proxy settings and select the types of servers to load on startup.
While much of the app is user-friendly, the server naming convention could be more accessible. Simplified server names or in-app explanations via tooltips would significantly enhance the user experience.
BolehVPN allows users to connect up to three devices simultaneously with a paid subscription. Torrenting and streaming are supported, but not all servers are optimized for these activities. For example, servers labeled “BolehGEO” and “Surfing-Streaming” are unsuitable for torrenting due to bandwidth restrictions or provider policies. The server naming issue once again impacts usability here.
Pricing
BolehVPN offers a three-day free trial, which only requires an email address for registration. However, during the activation process, users should take care to select “activate my free trial” rather than clicking “register,” which could inadvertently lead to paid options without the trial.
The paid subscription options are as follows:
- $3.70 for a 7-day trial
- $9.99 per month
- $16.99 for 60 days
- $44.99 for six months
- $79.99 per year
Payment methods include Paymentwall, credit cards, Yandex money, PayDollar, Bitpay, PayPal, MEPS, and Bitcoin.
BolehVPN also has a 14-day refund policy, although this does not apply to renewals or payments made with Bitcoin. Before claiming a refund, users must report any issues and allow technical support the opportunity to resolve them. This seems like a reasonable policy.
Speed Tests
Measuring BolehVPN’s speeds took some time due to the inconsistent performance of various servers, causing occasional issues with the SpeedTest by Ookla desktop application. Patience and multiple attempts were required to obtain accurate readings.
Here are the speed results before connecting to BolehVPN:
The US servers showed a noticeable decrease in download speeds:
UK server results were as follows:
In some cases, speeds remained close to my ISP’s normal range,
but several servers performed significantly slower.
Security and Privacy
On a positive note, BolehVPN successfully passed all security tests, showing no signs of DNS, WebRTC, or IPv6 leaks:
With a broad range of available servers, I expected to unblock popular streaming platforms such as Netflix US and BBC iPlayer. Unfortunately, I was unable to access either.
Privacy and Security Overview
From a security standpoint, Boleh VPN service most robust server configuration is xCloak. This setup employs 256-bit AES encryption, SHA-512 HMAC, and an additional layer of scrambling obfuscation on OpenVPN, with features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection enabled. Port forwarding is supported on the Switzerland and Luxembourg servers, labeled as Fully-Routed.
In terms of privacy, BolehVPN operates under a strict no-logs policy. Its jurisdiction in Seychelles, a country with no data retention laws and outside of the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance, is a strong advantage. Additionally, the provider maintains a Warrant Canary and offers a clear and concise Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
The provider does, however, reserve the right to log data in cases of excessive bandwidth usage to detect potential network abuse, such as DDoS attacks or spamming.
Overall, BolehVPN presents a solid offering in terms of privacy and security, with reasonable conditions for data logging and service termination.
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