Buffered VPN is a popular virtual private network (VPN) service with many features, including fast speeds, robust security, and reliable connections.
It is a good option for users who want to protect their online privacy and security, bypass geo-restrictions, and access content worldwide.
Buffered VPN makes a lot of bold claims, but can it back them up?
In this Buffered VPN review 2024, we will examine the service’s features, pricing, and pros and cons.
We will also discuss some of the most common use cases for Buffered VPNs and help you decide if it is correct.
🚀Bottom Line Upfront:
Buffered VPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service that stands as a beacon of online security and accessibility.
With advanced encryption protocols and a vast network of servers strategically placed worldwide, it ensures your data remains shielded and your browsing experience is seamless.
Buffered VPN Review With Discount Coupon 2024: Get up to 68% Off Now
Buffered VPN got its start back in 2013, and – since then – the provider has been continuously improving their services.
Our in-depth Buffered VPN review will look at the service’s highlights and some of its cons to make it easier for you to decide if this VPN service is what you’re looking for.
✔️ Buffered VPN Advantages:
1. Military-Grade Security
Security matters a lot regarding VPNs, and it’s good to see that Buffered VPN takes that seriously.
The encryption cipher they use is state-of-the-art- AES encryption, which can be called military-grade since it’s used by US government agencies. Plus, it even has a NIST certification since 2005.
Moreover, the cipher uses 256-bit keys instead of 128-bit keys, so the encryption keys are much more secure.
Besides that, it’s also worth noting that the service uses RSA 2048 encryption for the handshake process, and SHA1 encryption for HMAC authentication.
To top it all off, Buffered VPN connections are established with the OpenVPN protocol – one of the most secure VPN protocols there is.
According to the protocol’s two security audits in 2017, only two minor vulnerabilities were found, which were immediately fixed. Other than that, the protocol is cryptographically solid.
2. Supports Torrent Traffic
The Buffered VPN doesn’t place any restrictions on torrent traffic. You can freely use BitTorrent-based applications while connected to one of their servers.
It’s also worth mentioning they have some specialized torrenting servers, too, if you’d prefer to use one of those.
What’s more, there are no download restrictions, and you get P2P traffic support with every subscription, so you don’t need to pick a certain one to enjoy that perk.
3. 24/7 Support
Round-the-clock support is critical to us (and likely to any other consumer), but most VPN providers have difficulty accessing it. Luckily, Buffered VPN isn’t one of them.
They boast 24/7 support, and they deliver on their promises.
We sent them a generic message asking about device compatibility on Linux, and not 5 minutes later, we already got a (very pleasant, might we add) reply with all the info we needed.
Another thing we like about their support is their in-depth and extensive Knowledge Base.
Many VPN services offer some self-help articles, but Buffered VPN goes the extra mile by covering any question.
And that’s just the section covering FAQs about the Buffered VPN service. Besides that, they’ve also got helpful articles talking about:
- Common VPN-related question (are VPNs legal? Can they see your traffic? Should you set up a VPN on a router? How do VPNs work? And so on).
- Setup and installation questions.
- Service and cross-platform compatibility questions.
- Payment options, refund policy, support, and subscriptions.
Besides the FAQs, you’ve also got a dozen other sections that can help you learn more about the Buffered VPN service, Internet security and privacy, and troubleshooting tips.
They even have a section discussing common Internet scams and a step-by-step social media privacy guide.
All in all, Buffered offers easy and intuitive self-help options perfect for people who don’t like to talk with customer support over email.
However, we’ve got to say that even the shyest and most antisocial people will feel immediately at ease with how pleasant and friendly the support staff is.
And if you want to learn more about VPNs and how to stay safe on the web, you’ve got all the info you need in one place.
4. No DNS or WebRTC Leaks
WebRTC and DNS leaks can reveal your IP address even when using a VPN. DNS leaks might not always leak your IP address directly, but – if they don’t do that – they can reveal the name and location of your ISP.
And that’s the kind of information you don’t want falling into the hands of cybercriminals.
Well, we ran DNS and WebRTC leak tests while connected to Buffered’s Bulgarian server, and the results were positive, meaning there were no leaks.
For the DNS leak test, we used DNSLeakTest.com, and for WebRTC leaks, we used BrowserLeaks’ WebRTC leak testing tool. You can see the results in the following images:
The DNS leak results
And the WebRTC leak results
None of the IP addresses displayed there are our real IP addresses.
5. Works Across Many Platforms (Even Has a Linux App)
A VPN can offer you all the features you want, but if it doesn’t come with cross-platform compatibility, it won’t be helpful to you.
The good news is that Buffered VPN has clients for the most popular operating systems. Currently, they have a working app for:
- Windows (7, 8, 8.1, and 10)
- macOS (OS X 10.10 and higher)
- Linux (compatible with most 64-bit distributions)
- iOS (11.0 and higher)
- Android (4.1 and higher)
The Linux app is the highlight since few VPN providers have a working client for this operating system.
It’s worth noting that the app is currently in Beta, so some features are in development, but our overall experience with it was more than decent.
Still, even if Buffered’s app doesn’t work for your Linux distribution, you can always follow their step-by-step Linux tutorial to set up connections through OpenVPN.
Alongside those devices and OS’s, you can also manually set up VPN connections with Buffered on the following platforms:
- Asus routers
- DD-WRT-enabled Routers
- Tomato-enabled Routers
- Amazon Fire
- Fire Stick TV
- Amazon Kindle Fire
- pfSense
- Apple TV (through AirPlay Mirroring)
6. Very Simple to Use
Pretty much no onboarding is needed. First, you just choose a subscription payment method and set up your account.
When you’re done, you just need to download the client for your platform or the configuration files, and you’re good to go.
The Buffered VPN clients are intuitive and very user-friendly. You’ve got all the options you need in one place, and browsing through the available servers is also convenient.
You can even set up auto-connect and auto-login to run a VPN connection with just one click.
As you can see, choosing and grouping servers is extremely simple, and tweaking your connection settings is easy, too. Not to mention, you’ve got decent control over how you can customize your connections.
7. Kill Switch
No matter how good and stable a VPN server is, there’s always a chance your VPN connection might go down. It can be an issue on the provider’s side or your side. Whichever the case, you’re left exposed on the web if that happens.
That’s where the Kill Switch comes into play – it cuts off all Internet traffic if your VPN connection is lost.
Buffered’s Kill Switch is easy to enable and disable since it’s built into the client. Just make sure your firewall is enabled since that’s a requirement for the Kill Switch to work.
Plus, whenever you’re connected to a server, the client clearly shows you whether or not the Kill Switch is enabled, which is really helpful.
8. Decent Server Variety
With 37 servers to choose from, it’s safe to say you won’t have any trouble getting access to all the online content you want.
You’ll also easily find a server that’s geographically close to your geo-location to enjoy better speeds.
While Buffered VPN might not boast 100+ servers like the big brand providers, that’s not a problem.
Most VPN users don’t need so many servers, and – most of the time – it just makes browsing the server list harder and more time-consuming.
Plus, an extensive network of servers is difficult to maintain, so you’re more likely to experience connectivity issues.
The list of servers on Buffered’s website only shows 35 locations, but you really get 37 servers since there are three of them in the US (the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Midwest).
9. High Speeds + Unlimited Bandwidth
Unlimited bandwidth is always a nice touch because you don’t need to worry about going over any limit when browsing the web. And Buffered VPN boasts about its high speeds, but how valid are the claims?
That is pretty accurate, according to our findings. We connected to a server near our country and tested the connection speed.
The results were outstanding considering how powerful the OpenVPN and AES encryption standards are: A download speed of 18.39 Mbps and an upload speed of 16.65 Mbps.
We also tested a connection to a server that’s further away from us – the Japan server. The results were not the same, of course, but they were still pretty decent – a download speed of 4.58 Mbps and an upload speed of 6.32 Mbps.
We should also mention that you can choose which protocol to use – TCP or UDP. So, if you want even faster speeds, you can switch to the UDP protocol, which is faster than TCP.
10. Doesn’t Log Sensitive Data
A VPN that stores usage logs isn’t much of a VPN since it knows what you do on the web, what files you download, and what websites you visit. Luckily, Buffered VPN clearly doesn’t collect any usage logs.
According to Buffered VPN’s Privacy Policy, they keep connection logs and store data related to your website visits.
Some people might not like that, but it’s not a big deal. It mostly means that the company stores data that helps them improve the user experience and troubleshoot VPN issues.
And given that Buffered was very quick to embrace the GDPR, it’s safe to say they take user privacy seriously.
11. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Buffered VPN offers a generous 30-day refund policy, which gives you enough time to test-drive the service to see if it’s right. They used to have requirements to meet to be eligible for a refund, but they changed that completely.
Now, you just have to contact them within 30 days and state the reason for the refund.
You can’t get the refund only if you ask for it outside the 30-day window or breach their ToS, which you can read here.
Still, you should be aware that the refund policy has its limitations. If you get a Buffered subscription through Google Play, iTunes, or StackCommerce/StackSocial, their money-back guarantee won’t be valid.
Instead, the policy of the platform you make the purchase through applies:
- iTunes – 14-day refund window.
- Google Play – 48-hour window.
- StackCommerce/StackSocial – All sales are usually, so there is no refund.
You can’t really fault them for that, though. They need to abide by the rules of those platforms if they want to offer access to their apps and services on them.
Plus, that problem can be avoided by subscribing to their website.
12. Multiple Payment Options
You’re not restricted to only paying with a credit card, though they support many cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover).
You can also pay through PayPal or with Bitcoin (excellent for privacy + 8 wallets are supported).
Besides that, you can also get subscriptions through iTunes, Google Play, and StackCommerce/StackSocial.
13. Support Five Simultaneous Connections
Most of us use multiple web-connected devices (laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc.), and securing them all simultaneously is lovely.
With Buffered, you can set up five simultaneous connections – perfect for securing your home network.
14. Favorable Jurisdiction
Buffered VPN’s place of registration is Gibraltar – a country with favorable privacy laws that don’t require the company to share user data with the government.
Besides that, the company’s data is stored in the Netherlands, another country with privacy-oriented laws.
Also, Gibraltar and the Netherlands follow GDPR regulations, meaning users have even more control over their data.
❌Buffered VPN Disadvantages:
1. Only Supports One VPN Protocol
If you were considering using SoftEther, SSTP, or IKEv2, you would have to settle for OpenVPN since that’s the only protocol Buffered VPN offers. More variety would have been nice to see.
But, who knows, they might add support for other protocols in the future.
On the plus side, OpenVPN is a very safe protocol, and Buffered does let you switch from TCP to UDP to get better speeds.
2. No Free Trial Period
Many VPN users – including us – prefer free trials because no upfront payments are necessary. It just makes the user’s experience with the VPN more stress-free.
In the case of Buffered, offering both a 24-hour trial, for example, and a 30-day refund policy would be a more excellent combo.
Still, you have a 30-day guarantee to fall back on if you don’t like the service, so you can get your money back without worrying about any limitations while using the service.
3. Doesn’t Work in China and Some Parts of the Middle East
Buffered doesn’t work in China because the government uses Deep Packet Inspection to determine who uses VPNs. And since OpenVPN can be blocked with DPI, that’s a problem.
Also, we received confirmation from Buffered VPN that their service won’t work in the UAE and a few other Middle Eastern countries.
Buffered VPN: Pricing Plans💰
The pricing plans offered by Buffered VPN are very flexible and affordable, so anyone can quickly get started immediately. So here are the pricing plans listed by Buffered VPN.
Buffered VPN offers a range of different length subscription plans to choose from, each with the same features. Longer plans give you a better overall cost value.
This VPN does not offer a free trial, but you can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out the service.
They accept multiple payment methods, including:
- Major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express
- PayPal
- Bitcoin for the highest level of anonymity
Best Buffered VPN Alternatives
1. ExpressVPN:
ExpressVPN offers top-notch privacy. Even if this VPN had nothing else, its strict no-logs data policy and high-end security measures (256-bit AES encryption, split tunneling, a kill switch, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection) would make it a good pick.
It is primarily lauded for its fast connections. This VPN unblocks global content and streams high-quality video without interruptions.
If you have any troubles, a great support team is accessible. A free 7-day trial lets mobile users test this VPN’s streaming and performance.
A 30-day money-back guarantee prevents quick commitment.
2. Proton VPN:
Proton VPN guarantees online anonymity with its data policy and location.
National law prohibits storing session data due to the provider’s Switzerland headquarters. Swiss privacy laws apply to the basic login information stored for diagnostic reasons.
AES 256-bit encryption, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 support enhance security. Proton VPN also unblocks tightly secured sites, according to customer reviews.
However, this VPN may fall short in streaming speed, service, and value. A 7-day free trial for Plus users and a 30-day money-back guarantee let you test its possibilities.
3. CyberGhost:
CyberGhost’s privacy is lauded. This VPN can keep its no-logging guarantee since its headquarters are in privacy-minded Romania.
If you want to erase your digital tracks, this VPN has DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and 256-bit AES encryption. CyberGhost’s simple interface makes it easy to launch and browse material.
It has global servers and affordable memberships, especially for long-term plans. This VPN is flawless.
With a 45-day money-back guarantee, the free week-long trial for iOS and Android users (and Windows users by agreement) lets you try CyberGhost risk-free.
Quick Links:
FAQs On Buffered VPN Review
👉How fast is Buffered VPN?
Buffered VPN aims to provide high-speed connections for streaming, torrenting, and general internet usage. However, the actual speed you experience can vary depending on your location and the specific server you connect to.
💁♀️ Is Buffered VPN reliable for torrenting and P2P activities?
Buffered VPN supports torrenting and P2P activities on some of its servers. However, it's essential to review their server policies and terms of service to ensure compliance with their guidelines.
❓Is there a free trial available?
Buffered VPN did not offer a free trial. However, they did have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
👍What devices and platforms are compatible with Buffered VPN?
Buffered VPN is compatible with various devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It also supports router configurations, allowing you to secure your entire home network.
👀Is Buffered VPN secure?
Buffered VPN uses industry-standard encryption protocols, such as OpenVPN and IKEv2, to secure your data. It also claims to have a strict no-logs policy, which means it does not keep records of your online activities.
Conclusion: Buffered VPN Review 2024 🌟
Buffered VPN is a good VPN service that offers a wide range of features at a competitive price.
It is a good option for users who want to protect their online privacy and security, bypass geo-restrictions, and access content worldwide.
However, Buffered VPN is not without its drawbacks. The service can be expensive, and it does not offer as many features as some of its competitors.
Additionally, it has been criticized for its privacy policy, which some users find too vague.
If you are looking for a VPN service with the most features possible, Buffered VPN may not be your best choice.
However, Buffered VPN is perfect if you want an excellent all-around VPN service with fast speeds, robust security, and reliable connections.
