![bufferedvpn](https://media.vpnpro.com/images/170x89/Buffered-VPN.jpg)
Buffered VPN Review
Buffered VPN is no longer active. We recommend checking our best VPN services in 2024 instead.
Buffered VPN says they want you to experience the internet as it should be: private, safe, and fair. Do they live up to their words? Find out in our Buffered VPN review.
Buffered VPN is a fairly new VPN that’s based in Gibraltar and was founded in 2013. It boasts a decent support system, a tight privacy policy, acceptable speeds, and a good number of supported devices. Buffered VPN offers some good features, but there’s nothing that might make it actually stand out compared to other lesser known VPN’s.
Available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, this VPN might be the right fit for your needs. Read on in our Buffered VPN review to find out if it actually is.
Is it safe to use?
Buffered VPN’s main protocol is OpenVPN, while its control channel implements AES-256 for encryption, RSA 2048 for the handshake, and SHA1 for HMAC which makes the OpenVPN protocol secure for privacy. Pretty solid stuff.
Also, Buffered VPN has a built-in kill-switch feature, which drops your internet connection to prevent data leakage to the ISP in case of a momentary VPN connection cut out.
The fact that the VPN is based in Gibraltar, a country with no data retention laws, is another positive. This way, Buffered VPN is outside the 14-Eyes network of nations swapping surveillance signals with each other.
Also, with the OpenVPN protocol, you have an option of using UDP or TCP for your connection, which allows you to use TCP on port 443 for concealing VPN use as regular HTTPS traffic. So far, so good.
Speed & performance
Buffered VPN boasts great speeds with it being highly ranked among the top five fastest VPNs globally.
However, routing internet traffic through the VPN tunnel via data packets that are far away, slows the speed down. This is especially evident in Asia due to Buffered VPN’s lack of servers in Japan and Hong Kong.
It’s important to note, however, that a VPN’s performance is always affected by the speed and strength of a user’s internet connection. Unfortunately, Buffered VPN lacks the feature that lets users automatically find the fastest server connections, which means you’ll have to experiment manually.
How to download and install Buffered VPN
Downloading and installing Buffered VPN is seamless and only takes a few minutes. Once you’ve subscribed and registered for an account, you’re then taken directly to the download page to choose the client version you need. Once there, choose your platform, wait for the download to finish, and launch the installer. A couple more clicks, and it’s done.
Apps & Extensions
Buffered VPN is available on Windows, Linux, OSX, iOS or Android devices.
Specifications on how to set up the VPN without installing their software on the operating systems, iOS, and Android are provided on their website. Additionally, the VPN can be configured to work with a router in lieu of setting it up in all devices. This expands protection to your whole network and all devices in use such as Amazon Firestick and Kodi.
Buffered VPN routers
In order for a router to work with Buffered VPN, you’ll need to have a running DD-WRT, pfSense, or Tomato firmware on it.
This could mean technical work such as doing a DD-WRT, Tomato, or pfSense router setup. You can also choose to buy a pre-configured router from their partners such as Flash routers and Sabi Technologies.
Buffered VPN in China
China blocks most VPN services by using Deep Packet Inspection to identify VPN users. This allows them to sniff out OpenVPN protocol usage, block undesirable DNS and IP addresses, as well as conduct surveillance on Chinese internet users.
Since Buffered VPN only supports the OpenVPN protocol, we do not recommend trying to use it in China.
Buffer VPN for Netflix
To access the US Netflix library, you’d need to have an American IP address. This would allow you to stream the best Netflix shows without a hitch. However, Netflix has been waging war on VPNs for the past year, blocking VPN server IPs left and right.
The bad news is that Buffered VPN no longer unblocks Netflix, and have no plans to work on this, at least for the foreseeable future.
Buffered VPN for torrenting
Buffered VPN permits P2P traffic that allows users to access all BitTorrent-based apps. Although the service does offer specialized torrenting servers, they explicitly state that Buffered VPN does not promote copyright violations.
Remember, though, that while torrenting and P2P servers are not illegal by themselves, downloading copyrighted material is.
Customer support
Buffered VPN provides clients with great customer support care and knowledgeable staff who immediately direct you to important information. The agents are well trained on the company’s privacy policy, which is rare to find with other VPN providers.
Customer care is available 24/7 throughout the year via email and there’s a comprehensive FAQ resource.
At the top of the VPN’s website, there is a search bar provided to help with clients inquiries. The write-ups on this page are adequately detailed and well arranged. The amount of information offered on the support pages is great and is divided into various categories:
- Getting started: general FAQs and troubleshooting
- Errors: steps to resolve specific errors
- Setup Tutorials: guides for various devices
- Logs: guides to access VPN logs
Moreover, once a new subscriber signs in, Buffered customer support send a follow-up email in a few minutes, which is pretty helpful.
While all of this sounds really nice, we must mention that Buffered VPN lacks a live chat support.
Pricing
Buffered VPN offers three subscription payment plans with similar levels of service. These include:
- Monthly payment plan of $9.99.
- $8.33 per month for a 1-year plan.
- $12.99 per month for a 1-month Families plan.
- $12.49 per month for a 12-month Families plan.
You can pay for your subscription through PayPal, Diners Club, American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, and Bitcoin. Buffered VPN has entrusted checkout.com to handle their payments securely.
Besides the payments, the VPN allows its users to install up to five devices at the same time, which is an above average number.
Bottom line
Although not offering anything particularly special or above the industry-average, Buffered VPN might still be worth a try: there’s solid security, a reasonable privacy policy, as well as the ability to enjoy torrenting.
What will probably be a turnoff for most, though, is the price. You can get whatever Buffered VPN is offering, and more, for cheaper: all it takes is a quick look through our top VPN list.
However, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, those willing to explore the less-established VPN services can still give it a spin without any financial consequences. Who knows, maybe you’ll like it more than we did!
Pros
- Allows torrenting
- Decent security features
- Anonymous payment option
Cons
- Pricey compared to others
- Bad for China
- Doesn't work with Netflix
- No live chat