Webroot WiFi Security Review

Best-known for its antivirus product, Webroot is an American Internet Security Provider founded in 1997. In more recent years, they decided to enter the realm of VPNs with a new product which came in the form of Webroot WiFi Security.

Available on major platforms such as Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android operating systems, it’s marketed as an online security and privacy product that will keep your personal information well away from cybercriminals and hidden from your ISP.

Good for unblocking Netflix and iPlayer, Webroot WiFi Security VPN provides access to 35 locations spread throughout the world in countries such as the UK, USA, and Germany.

In our complete Webroot WiFi Security VPN review, you’ll find out everything you need to know about what it has to offer, as well as how it stacks up against the competition. So, without further ado, here’s all you need to know.

Security and privacy

In terms of security features, you’ll find that you have multiple options at your disposal, which includes the following:

• Unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption
• Malicious website protection
• IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP protocols
• IPv6 leak protection
• Kill switch

As you can see, OpenVPN isn’t an option, which is somewhat disappointing considering it is said to be one of the most secure methods available. In spite of this, our Webroot WiFi Security VPN review found that this VPN performed well in terms of preventing IP address leaks and offering a backup in the form of a kill switch during service interruptions.

However, something that’s worth bearing in mind is that Webroot is based in a Five Eyes country, which means that your data may end up in the hands of the authorities if you aren’t careful.

So if you are searching for a service that ticks all marks on the checklist for an all-round secure VPN, we suggest trying out NordVPN.

Does Webroot WiFi Security log your data?

Short answer: some.

It’s always good to see a VPN provider being transparent when it comes to their privacy policy. Thankfully, Webroot WiFi Security VPN falls under that category in that they clearly state that they do not collect or log any browsing activity, IP addresses, DNS queries, or any shared or viewed data.

However, what you need to be aware of is that certain session logs occur with Webroot WiFi Security VPN. This includes the date and time of when your sessions begin and end, which VPN location you have used, how many devices you are using, in addition to the amount of data which has been transferred.

This type of logging might be somewhat concerning to privacy perfectionists. But, for the average user who is looking to protect themselves when using open networks and bypass geo-restrictions should be absolutely fine.

Speed and performance

When reviewing Webroot WiFi Security VPN, we found that speed and performance was a mixed bag. On many of the servers, the speeds were below average which means that you might struggle to perform demanding tasks such as streaming HD or 4K video. But, for normal tasks such as light web browsing, you should be fine.

With that being said, we found that some of the servers didn’t experience much of a slowdown – it just takes some trial and error. Soon enough, you will be able to find the servers which offer decent performance in terms of upload and download speeds.

Server coverage

When it comes to your choice of servers, you’ll find that there are 34 locations at your disposal with over 700 servers to choose from. However, this is somewhat limited when compared to the top dogs of the VPN industry, which provide access to thousands of servers in dozens of countries.

Ease of use and multi-platform support

With native applications available for most of the major platforms, you’re relatively limited to a short list of options when getting Webroot WiFi Security VPN up and running on your devices. Operating systems supported include the following:

• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• iOS

If you would like to get the service set up on a device which is running Linux, you won’t have the option to with Webroot WiFi Security. This will be disappointing to any user who happens to have a device running that particular OS. You’ll also find that you cannot install the service on a router either.

Unblocking Netflix and other streaming platforms

One of the most common uses for a VPN is unblocking geo-restriction policies. Netflix and BBC iPlayer are two popular streaming services, and we found that we were able to access them with Webroot VPN.

However, some users reported that Netflix was able to identify that a VPN was being used. So, this will certainly be quite frustrating in that you will need to try different servers or perhaps not even have the option to use a VPN at all.

P2P and torrenting

Secure torrenting is an absolute must in this day and age with there being an ever-increasing number of people around the world getting into trouble for downloading and streaming copyrighted material.

P2P and torrenting are not supported on any of the Webroot WiFi Security VPN servers.

If you download torrents and would like to keep yourself protected, you’ll need to keep looking for another VPN.

Check out our Best VPN for Torrenting list

Online censorship in China and elsewhere

China is a country renowned for being extremely strict when it comes to censorship and online surveillance. For that reason, you need to be careful when browsing the web and downloading content to avoid a run-in with the law. and similar restrictions in other countries will block access to certain websites and services, which leaves you with no choice but to use a VPN.

However, there is no specific information to suggest that Webroot WiFi Security VPN is suitable for use within countries such as China. Therefore, you’d be far better off continuing your search for the best VPN for China.

Customer support

One of the strong points of Webroot WiFi security is that their customer support is decent. It didn’t take long for us to get the answers we were looking for, with plenty of options available for users to make full use of:

• 24/7 ticket-based support
• Call centers
• Knowledge base
• FAQ section

Unfortunately, there’s no live chat available.

Pricing

When you sign up via mobile, you’ll find that you can take advantage of a 7-day trial which allows you to try out the service before buying. This is even more appreciated due to the fact there are no refunds available if you are unhappy with the service.

In terms of price plans, you are limited to a 1-year subscription only, which allows you to protect up to three devices. Although, for an additional fee you can protect up to five. Here are the options at your disposal:

• 1-year up to 3 devices – $39.99 ($3.33 a month)
• 1-year up to 5 devices – $59.99 ($4.99 a month)

Webroot accepts PayPal and credit cards as forms of payment, which is commonly seen when purchasing a VPN subscription. But, those with privacy concerns will find that anonymous payment methods such as cryptocurrency, unfortunately, aren’t available.

Bottom line

It’s clear that Webroot WiFi Security has its benefits in terms of enhancing your online privacy when using open networks and browsing the web at home, all thanks to the solid 256-bit encryption and minimal logging.

However, there are many reasons why you can obtain better value for money by choosing a different VPN provider. This includes the lack of server choice, the absence of torrenting support, and inconsistent speeds. There are many other options out there on the market which offer each of these benefits and more for a similar cost. So, it’s well worth bearing this in mind before you hit that buy button!