BolehVPN review

Expensive but safe and unblocks Netflix US

(Image: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

BolehVPN fits the category of an average VPN provider, considering it provides top privacy, supports P2P traffic, and unblocks access to Netflix US, but it has very few servers and is pricier than some of its competitors that have larger and more advanced platforms.

Pros

  • +

    Unblocks Netflix US

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    Military-grade encryption

  • +

    Transparent log-in policy

Cons

  • -

    A limited number of servers

  • -

    Temporarily keeps logs

  • -

    Hasn't been independently audited

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When you’re protecting your identity and information online, you need the best VPNs to keep activities safe, secure, and secret. 

One popular use is, of course, using a VPN to block geo-restricted content on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and BBC iPlayer  - little wonder, then, that we’ve seen a rise in Netflix VPNs and streaming VPNs.  

The privacy tools are also useful for protecting IP addresses when downloading torrents. VPNs for torrenting prevent your ISP monitoring what you’re downloading. 

When looking for a VPN (even a free VPN), we always recommend looking for one that offers everything - letting you stream geo-locked content, while being the fastest VPNs - without any functional gaps. So, how does BolehVPN measure up? 

Despite having a Malaysian base, the tool’s is jurisdiction is in Seychelles. The VPN has over 65 VPN servers across more than 12 countries, including Germany, Japan, Switzerland, UK, and the US. This is a small number of servers compared to leading VPNs in the market offering thousands of servers. The servers are categorized into three groups, each with advantages and disadvantages, based on their intended use: Fully Routed, Proxied, and SurfingStreaming. 

BolehVPN: Pricing & plans 

(Image credit: Future)

BolehVPN has a 1-day free trial that allows you to test the software before deciding to make a payment, but it is extremely limited, with only 3 servers available at your disposal. It also comes with five pretty flexible subscription plans: weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, semi-annually, and annually.

The costs are

$3.70 a week, $9.99 a month, $16.99 every two months, $44.99 for six months, and $79.99 for the whole year.

All plans give you access to the same features and allow up to three simultaneous connections, which is small compared to the industry standard (5–7 simultaneous connections).

Payment options include credit cards, PaymentWall, PayPal, and cryptocurrency. All plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee, which is manageable, but the standard in the industry is 30 days. Some other VPNs even go so far as to provide 45-day money-back guarantees. Keep in mind that refunds are not available if you pay with cryptocurrencies.

BolehVPN: Privacy and encryption 

Nearly all VPN providers in this market try to win customers by claiming to have a no-log-in policy, but they don't go as far as to support their claims by having their software audited by an outside auditor.

According to BolehVPN's no-logs policy, none of your online activity, IP addresses, or other data are logged, but according to the privacy policy, BolehVPN has the right to briefly enable logs if it notices suspicious behavior or receives a specific complaint of torrenting or spamming. This is inappropriate because it may compromise your privacy by recording your data. Despite the fact that the company claims they do not share the logged data with outside parties and that they delete the logs once the problem has been resolved, this is still a cause for concern.

The Seychelles Islands are home to BolehVPN's corporate headquarters. They have satellite offices in Malaysia and Hong Kong. These nations are not a part of the 14-Eye Alliance and are not governed by laws requiring the retention of intelligence. Therefore, BolehVPN is not required to provide information to law enforcement.

BolehVPN's log policy is transparent. The VPN provider releases a security canary once per month. This disclaimer serves to safeguard BolehVPN users in the event that the company is mandated by law to remain silent about any searches, seizures of data, or requirements to log. This is good, but we need the credibility of an impartial VPN audit report to support its assertions.

Although the platform is built on the OpenVPN security protocol, it also provides alternative ones, such as L2TP/IPsec, in case your device doesn't support OpenVPN. Additionally, it uses SHA-2 hash authentication, 4096-bit DHE-RSA keys, and 256-bit AES encryption for encryption.

There is a VPN kill switch feature, which safeguards your IP address and ensures your data is not exposed or made visible. The VPN also permits P2P torrenting. Remember, it’s unlawful to download copyrighted files. Also, there were no IPv4, IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks over BolehVPN when we checked for them. 

(Image credit: Future)

BolehVPN: Streaming 

Servers on BolehVPN are separated into three categories based on their intended use: Fully Routed, Proxied, and SurfingStreaming. 

We tested the dedicated streaming servers for US Netflix and BBC iPlayer inside the app, and they functioned well without lagging. Disney+, Amazon Prime, Pandora, and Hulu could all be unblocked, although we found that long-distance servers typically had poor streaming quality.

BolehVPN: Speed and experience 

Depending on the location, connection, and internet service provider, speed can differ from person to person. Fast connections are almost as crucial as the security and privacy of a service. 

Running a series of speed tests, we found BolehVPN’s speeds were irregular. Its long-distance servers gave me contrasting results. like Singaporean servers that provided us with a 32.41 Mbps download speed over an 83.59 Mbps connection When connecting to a distant server, a slower connection speed is typical. The US servers closest to us provided us with a speed of 63.65Mbps. 

BolehVPN: Customer Support  

The support section of BolehVPN offers a number of beneficial installation guides, a help desk area with frequently asked questions (FAQs) and troubleshooting instructions, and email support. Regrettably, there is no live chat option or phone number. 

BolehVPN: Apps 

(Image credit: Future)

BolehVPN runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, iOS, and Android. However, neither iOS or Android has native mobile VPN apps. Sabai Technologies, ASUS, and routers are also compatible with it. Moreover, unlike many other VPNs, there are no browser extensions for top browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Opera.

There is no alternative to configuring the interface of the Windows and macOS apps to connect to a particular server when your computer starts. You must manually choose the best server because the quick connect option that many VPNs provide is not available.

Both the iOS and Android apps for BolehVPN on mobile are very difficult to set up and lack some features, such as the kill switch and split tunneling. All features are available on the Android app, but it has not yet been made mobile-friendly. 

Alternatives to BolehVPN 

CyberGhost

With a user-friendly platform, CyberGhost is one of the best. with a wealth of practical VPN features. The software never causes your computer to run slowly, is easy to use, and is free. In addition, it provides extensive P2P and torrent functionality and gives you access to more than 1200 servers spread across more than 50 nations. Features of the software include web browsing, anonymous browsing, remote access, DNS leak protection, and more. Up to five devices can be used simultaneously under one account. As a result, you can defend your mobile devices and the computers in your home.

Pure VPN 

Aside from unblocking every website we tried, PureVPN has a reasonably large network and offers all of this for some of the cheapest advertised prices available. PureVPN excels at unblocking, has lots of features, and is good value on longer-term plans.

Express VPN

ExpressVPN excels in every area, including speed, security, stable and user-friendly apps, unblocking geo-restricted websites, avoiding censorship, excellent privacy and security credentials, a ton of features, and customer support, so we would suggest it to both new and experienced VPN users.

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the major players in the virtual private network market. It provides all the security and privacy features that customers should expect from a top-notch VPN. NordVPN is based in a country that values privacy and is incredibly fast and easy to use. 

Verdict

BolehVPN can grant you access to the most well-known streaming services, particularly those that are only available to US citizens. Due to their difficulty in use and navigation, the apps are inappropriate for novice VPN users. 

In addition to having a limited number of servers, they haven't had an independent auditor visit to check their servers for logs, so in comparison to other options, we won't fully recommend this virtual private network. 

Sead Fadilpašić

Sead is a seasoned freelance journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He writes about IT (cloud, IoT, 5G, VPN) and cybersecurity (ransomware, data breaches, laws and regulations). In his career, spanning more than a decade, he’s written for numerous media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans. He’s also held several modules on content writing for Represent Communications.