Betternet is a free VPN without limits and even without registration

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

VPN technology removes geographic restrictions on web browsing, and also ensures the security and privacy of the Internet. Betternet offers absolutely free VPN without registration, traffic restrictions or connection speed. The service is available through Android and iOS apps, Windows program, and Chrome or Firefox extensions.

The very name of the service hints that it is a collective image of the Web, in which there is no place for government surveillance, hacker attacks, far-fetched censorship and annoying advertising. Anonymity and freedom of choice are at the forefront. Your data is not stored anywhere, and the transmitted information is encrypted from beginning to end, which in total ensures the proper level of privacy.

Sounds too good to be true? And so it seemed to me when I first learned about Betternet. Usually, VPN services are paid, and you don't need to look far for examples. We have already introduced you to Astrill VPN, HideMe.ru, TunnelBear. They all offer limited free plans, or sell the full suite of features for a flat monthly fee. At least this money covers the maintenance of servers and pays salaries to specialists. And then there are related expenses and own profit.

Betternet is not chasing your ruble and provides a transparent view of its expenses and income. From it it becomes clear that the life of the service is supported by a simple affiliate program: users are asked to download a mobile application or watch a commercial, for which Betternet will receive its cents. The company monitors this content closely and offers it without being overly intrusive.

It is important to note that the advertising offer can be ignored, and downloads are carried out only from official sources - Google Play and the App Store.

The service is developing dynamically. At the end of September 2015, almost 4.5 million Betternet users provided the proper flow of money, and the company broke even for the fourth month in a row. As you can see, the adopted monetization model gives results primarily due to the constant growth of an active audience. Where are so many people from? The fact is that the convenient Betternet is available on both mobile and desktop operating systems. Supported by Windows, Android, iOS, as well as Chrome and Firefox. By the way, OS X is on its way.

I tested Android app, Windows program and Chrome extension. They are all very simple. In fact, there is only one toggle switch with two modes: "Enable VPN" and "Disable VPN".

On the smartphone and in the browser, the channel went up quickly and without problems, but the software for Windows was closed over and over again in emergency mode. Perhaps the program will crash only in a test environment of the still not quite stable "dozens", while in other versions of Windows everything will be fine. Check it out and let me know in the comments, please.

There were also other problems here. For starters, Betternet's servers are located only in the US and UK. This is not enough and it is far away. Secondly, the transfer rate can be an unpleasant surprise. My drop was about 70-80%. But here it is worthwhile to understand that the service processes more than 400 TB of data every day, distributing it among hundreds of servers. I have no doubt that if the company had more funds, we could choose, for example, African servers, and the speed would be higher. It all depends on whether you want to watch a ten-second video a couple of times a month or install / uninstall an application.

Let's summarize. may disappoint you with small geography of servers and, possibly, low connection speed. However, for a free, understandable, multi-platform VPN without registration, in my opinion, this is more than forgivable.