Astrill VPN: Is It Worth Your While?

Astrill VPN at a Glance

Astrill VPN, established in 2009 and headquartered in Seychelles, is a cloud-based Virtual Private Network service catering to both individual users and businesses. Astrill VPN offers a secure and unrestricted internet experience with a focus on bypassing censorship, protecting user data, and delivering high-speed connections. Their service is particularly popular among travelers, remote workers, and users in countries with strict internet regulations, such as China and the UAE. With a global network spanning over 50 countries, Astrill provides reliable access to geo-restricted content and ensures secure browsing across various regions.

Astrill VPN distinguishes themselves with advanced security features, including AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, a strict no-logs policy, and proprietary protocols like StealthVPN, which helps users bypass deep packet inspection and restrictive firewalls. The service supports multiple VPN protocols, including OpenWeb, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec, giving users flexibility in balancing speed and security. Additional features such as multi-hop VPN, a built-in kill switch, split tunneling, and ad-blocking enhance privacy and security. The VPN also supports P2P file sharing and streaming on optimized servers, ensuring smooth performance with minimal buffering. Unlike many competitors, Astrill does not impose bandwidth limits, providing unlimited data usage for uninterrupted browsing, streaming, and gaming. While the service does not offer a money-back guarantee, a free trial is available, allowing users to test the capabilities before committing to a subscription.

Astrill VPN has built a solid reputation in the industry, particularly for their effectiveness in high-censorship regions and their robust security measures. While their pricing is higher than some competitors, many users appreciate their reliability, strong encryption standards, and commitment to maintaining fast and stable connections. The company provides extensive support through live chat, email, and detailed setup guides, ensuring users can get assistance whenever needed. With a focus on privacy, performance, and versatility, Astrill VPN remains a strong contender despite not being accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with their advanced security and unrestricted global access.

Features & Perks

Astrill VPN offers a comprehensive array of features designed to enhance user privacy, security, and internet freedom:

• Military-grade encryption: Astrill VPN employs 256-bit SSL encryption to secure internet traffic, ensuring that user data remains secure and private during online activities
• No-logs policy: The service maintains a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not record or store any user activity such as payment details, browsing history, and online activity
• Global server network: Astrill operates a network of high-speed servers in over 50 countries, providing users with diverse options to bypass geo-restrictions and access platforms such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+
• Multiple VPN protocols: Supports various protocols, including OpenWeb, StealthVPN, OpenVPN, and WireGuard, allowing users to select based on their security and speed preferences
• Kill switch and DNS leak protection: Astrill includes a reliable kill switch that automatically disconnects the internet if the VPN connection drops, preventing data leaks
• Unlimited bandwidth: Users can browse, stream, and download without any data caps or restrictions. This feature is ideal for high-data activities like HD streaming, torrenting, and remote work
• Smart mode: This feature routes international traffic through the VPN while allowing local traffic to access the internet directly, optimizing access and ensuring fast speeds
• Site and app filter: Allows users to specify which applications and websites should use the VPN connection and which should bypass it, offering customized control
• VPN sharing feature: Enables sharing of the VPN connection from a computer to other devices on the network without additional hardware, extending protection
• Unlimited server switches: Users can switch between servers as often as needed without limitations. This enables seamless access to different regions, optimizing speed and bypassing geo-restrictions
• Private IPs: Offers dedicated IP addresses not shared with other users, enhancing security and allowing port forwarding on selected servers
• Port forwarding: Allows users to redirect incoming connections to a specific device, useful for applications like gaming or hosting services
• Ad and tracker blocking: Includes features to block ads and online trackers, enhancing privacy and improving browsing speed
• Router application: Provides a dedicated applet for routers, allowing all devices on the network to benefit from VPN protection without individual configurations

Notable perks:

• What is my IP?: This tool displays your current IP address, along with associated details such as country, ISP, region, and city. It helps users understand the information visible on websites and online services
• VPN leak test: Astrill's VPN leak test checks for potential leaks in your VPN connection, including DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. By identifying these vulnerabilities, users can take steps to ensure their real IP address remains concealed
• Password leak test: With a database of over 500 million leaked passwords, this tool allows users to verify if their passwords have been compromised in past data breaches. It's a proactive measure to enhance account security
• Port scan: The port scan tool checks for open ports on your network, identifying potential vulnerabilities that malicious entities could exploit. Regular scans help maintain network security 
• IPv6 leak test: This tool determines if your system leaks IPv6 addresses, which can inadvertently reveal your real location even when connected to a VPN. Detecting such leaks is crucial for comprehensive privacy protection
• DNS leak test: Astrill's DNS Leak Test identifies whether your DNS requests are being exposed to your ISP or other third parties. Ensuring DNS queries are routed through the VPN is vital for maintaining anonymity

Protocols and speeds

Astrill VPN supports a wide range of VPN protocols to accommodate different user needs, offering a balance between security, speed, and accessibility. Users can choose from multiple protocol options to optimize performance based on their online activities. OpenWeb is a proprietary protocol designed for fast, secure browsing with minimal latency, making it ideal for general web use. StealthVPN provides advanced obfuscation, allowing users to bypass restrictive firewalls and deep packet inspection in regions with strict internet censorship.

WireGuard is a modern protocol that delivers high-speed connections with lightweight encryption, making it an excellent choice for streaming and gaming users. IKEv2/IPSec ensures fast reconnections and stability, which is particularly useful for mobile users who frequently switch networks. While highly secure, OpenVPN may have slightly reduced speeds due to their strong encryption methods, but remains a reliable option for privacy-focused users.

Other available protocols include Cisco IPSec, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, and OpenConnect, each offering different levels of compatibility and encryption. By providing these diverse protocol options, Astrill VPN allows users to customize their connection for an optimal mix of security, speed, and reliability, catering to both casual and advanced users.

Security & Privacy

Astrill VPN implements a comprehensive suite of security and privacy features to safeguard user data and ensure anonymity online. The service employs AES-256 encryption, a standard recognized for their robustness and widely utilized by financial institutions and government agencies. This encryption is applied across various protocols, including proprietary options like OpenWeb and StealthVPN, as well as established standards such as WireGuard and OpenVPN. 

To protect user privacy, Astrill VPN enforces a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that user activities are neither recorded nor stored. The company is headquartered in the Seychelles, a jurisdiction known for their privacy-friendly regulations, which further supports their commitment to user confidentiality. 

Astrill VPN offers a kill switch feature that automatically disconnects internet access if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, preventing potential data leaks. Additionally, the service provides DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection to ensure that users' real IP addresses and DNS queries remain concealed.

For enhanced anonymity, Astrill VPN supports multi-hop connections, allowing users to route their traffic through multiple servers, thereby adding extra layers of encryption. The service also offers obfuscation through their StealthVPN protocol, designed to bypass deep packet inspection and restrictive firewalls, making it effective in regions with stringent internet censorship.

While Astrill VPN provides these robust security measures, they do not currently utilize RAM-only servers, which are designed to wipe all data upon reboot, offering an additional layer of security. Furthermore, there is no indication that the company has undergone independent security audits to verify their practices. Despite these considerations, Astrill VPN's comprehensive feature set demonstrates a strong commitment to maintaining user security and privacy.

Plans & Pricing

Astrill VPN offers a range of subscription plans tailored to individual and business needs. Compared to other popular services, Astrill VPN plans are considered of a high price.

For personal use, the pricing options are as follows:

• Monthly plan: $30 per month
• Annual plan: $180 per year, equating to $15 per month
• Two-Year plan: $300 every two years, bringing the monthly cost to $12.50

Each personal plan includes:

• Unlimited bandwidth and server switches
• Access to ultra-fast VPN servers in over 50 countries
• Support for multiple VPN protocols, including OpenWeb, StealthVPN, OpenVPN, and WireGuard
• Free applications for various devices and operating systems
• The ability to connect unlimited devices within a household, with up to five simultaneous connections

For businesses, Astrill provides scalable solutions with pricing based on the number of user accounts. Business plans range from approximately $8 to $18 per monthly account, accommodating organizations from 10 to 200 accounts. These plans offer centralized management and enhanced security features suitable for corporate environments.

Astrill also offers optional add-ons to enhance the VPN experience:

Private IP: For an additional $5 per month, users can obtain a dedicated IP address on selected servers, ensuring exclusive use and consistent access.

VIP add-on: At an extra $10 per month, this feature provides access to exclusive VIP servers optimized for speed and reduced latency, particularly beneficial for users in Asia and gamers. The VIP package includes 100 GB of VIP traffic per month, with the option to purchase additional data as needed.

A seven-day free trial is available for users to evaluate the service before committing to a subscription. While they accept various payment methods, including Web Money, the lack of a money-back guarantee means users must be sure before committing.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

• Multi-hop VPN for added security and anonymity: With Astrill’s Multi-Hop VPN feature, users can route their traffic through multiple servers for an extra layer of encryption and privacy. This feature makes it significantly harder for any third party to track online activity, providing better anonymity for users who need maximum security
• Optimized VPN servers for streaming and gaming: Astrill offers dedicated servers optimized for high-speed streaming and gaming, reducing lag and buffering. These servers allow users to access geo-restricted content with minimal performance impact, making them a strong choice for those who prioritize smooth media consumption and gaming experiences
• Port forwarding for advanced user control: Astrill provides port forwarding, allowing users to configure secure remote access to their devices or applications. This feature is particularly useful for gamers, torrent users, and those hosting private servers, as it enables more efficient peer-to-peer connections
• VPN sharing extends protection to multiple devices: The VPN Sharing feature enables users to share their VPN connection from a computer to other devices on the same network. This is especially useful for devices that do not support native VPN installation, such as gaming consoles and smart TVs
• Ad and tracker blocking for a safer browsing experience: Astrill VPN includes built-in ad and tracker blocking, reducing intrusive ads and preventing online tracking by websites and advertisers. This enhances privacy while also improving page load speeds by minimizing unwanted scripts running in the background

Disadvantages

• High subscription costs may deter budget-conscious users: Astrill VPN's pricing is notably higher than many competitors, with monthly plans reaching up to $30. This premium cost may be prohibitive for users seeking more affordable VPN solutions
• Limited simultaneous device connections: The service restricts users to five simultaneous device connections per subscription. Given that the average household often has multiple connected devices, this limitation could be inconvenient for families or individuals with numerous gadgets
• Lack of browser extensions reduces flexibility: Astrill VPN does not offer browser extensions on Google Chrome, Safari, or Internet Explorer. This forces users to install the application on their devices. This results in an inconvenience for users who prefer lightweight browser-based solutions
• No money-back guarantee limits risk-free evaluation: Unlike many VPN providers, Astrill VPN does not provide a money-back guarantee. This absence means users cannot test the service risk-free, which may be a drawback for those hesitant to commit without a trial period

Customer Experience

Astrill VPN's customer ratings vary across different platforms. On the App Store, Astrill VPN holds a rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on approximately 2,600 reviews. On Capterra, users have given Astrill VPN a rating of 4.0 out of 5, with feedback highlighting their ease of use and strong encryption, particularly noting their effectiveness in regions with restricted internet access. However, some users have expressed concerns regarding the service's pricing and occasional speed inconsistencies. On the Google Play Store, the app is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars based on more than 7K reviews. Overall, while Astrill VPN receives commendations for their security features and performance in restrictive regions, some users have reservations about their cost and speed stability.

Positive reviews

Many customers praise Astrill VPN for their effectiveness in countries with strict internet censorship, particularly China. Unlike many competitors, Astrill remains operational in heavily restricted regions, making it a valuable tool for expatriates, travelers, and professionals who require unrestricted access to global content. Users also appreciate their high-speed servers, particularly on desktop platforms, which allow for smooth browsing and streaming with minimal buffering.

Another commonly mentioned benefit is the variety of VPN protocols Astrill offers, including their proprietary StealthVPN, which enhances privacy and helps users bypass deep packet inspection. The multi-hop feature is also praised for adding an extra layer of security, making it a strong choice for those prioritizing anonymity. Additionally, long-term subscribers find Astrill’s service reliable for everyday use, with features like split tunneling and dedicated IPs adding to their appeal for advanced users.   

Negative reviews

Despite their strengths, Astrill VPN has several recurring complaints. Customer support is a frequent point of contention, with multiple users reporting dismissive or unhelpful responses from support agents. Some reviewers describe interactions as frustrating, noting that issues are often not fully resolved. The lack of a money-back guarantee is another major criticism, as users who experience connection issues or performance concerns are unable to receive refunds.

Pricing is another area where Astrill VPN faces criticism. Compared to competitors, their subscription cost is significantly higher, and many users feel that the service does not justify the premium price, particularly given the limited number of simultaneous connections (5 devices). Additionally, some customers report technical problems, such as the removal of speed testing tools, inconsistent access to streaming platforms, and occasional downtime in high-censorship areas.

Customer Support

Astrill VPN provides customer service through multiple avenues to ensure users receive timely and effective assistance. Users can reach out via live chat through their support page, which offers real-time interaction with the support team. Additionally, Astrill offers email support; users can send inquiries through the contact form available on their website. For those who prefer phone support, Astrill provides this option as well.

To aid users in effectively utilizing their services, Astrill offers a variety of educational resources. Their support page features detailed setup manuals for various devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers. These manuals provide step-by-step instructions to guide users through the installation and configuration processes. Additionally, Astrill's FAQ section addresses common questions and troubleshooting topics, offering quick solutions to frequent issues. For a more visual learning experience, Astrill provides video tutorials that cover various aspects of their VPN software, demonstrating features and setup procedures across different platforms.

Conclusion

Astrill VPN, established in 2009 and headquartered in Seychelles, is a premium VPN service recognized for their strong security features and ability to bypass censorship in high-restriction regions. With support for multiple protocols, including their proprietary StealthVPN, Astrill ensures secure and stable connections while maintaining user anonymity through AES-256 encryption and a strict no-logs policy. Their network spans over 50 countries, providing access to fast servers optimized for streaming, gaming, and P2P activities. While the service is priced higher than many competitors, they remain a preferred choice for users in heavily restricted areas such as Dubai and Hong Kong due to their reliability, advanced security, and commitment to unrestricted internet access.

If Astrill VPN’s services do not meet your needs, consider reading our reviews of other top providers. You can also use our comparison tool to see how each company stacks up, and explore our blog page for more industry information and tips.