With a virtual private network (or VPN), such as VPN Unlimited from KeepSolid, you can rest assured that your browsing is encrypted and your online privacy is greatly improved. This service provides industry-standard security, but KeepSolid VPN Unlimited has lost the flexible pricing we previously appreciated, retained its restrictive device policy, and become more opaque about its practices and privacy policies.
What Is a VPN?
When you switch on your VPN, it creates an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the VPN server, one that can foil hackers spying on your network or even your ISP from watching your activities. From the server, your web traffic travels off into the public internet unencrypted (unless you're connecting via HTTPS), but your actual IP address remains hidden. Without your real IP address, data-hungry website advertisers will have a harder time tracking you across the web.
By hiding your IP address, VPNs also disguise your physical location. This is why these services are used by journalists and political activists operating in countries with restrictive internet controls.
Pricing and Features
VPN Unlimited offers several pricing plans, differing in the duration and the number of devices you can use with the service. For five devices, you'll pay $9.99 a month, $59.99 per year, $99.99 every three years, or $199.99 to last your lifetime. Step it up to 10 devices, and you're looking at $14.99 per month, $89.99 per year, $149.99 every three years, and $299.99 per lifetime.
Similar Products
NordVPN
Private Internet Access VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Proton VPN
CyberGhost VPN
ExpressVPN
IPVanish VPN
TorGuard VPN
VyprVPN
Norton Secure VPN
Note that all prices are charged in full at the time of billing, and a seven-day money-back guarantee is included. You can buy a plan with PayPal, credit cards, Amazon Pay, Bitcoin, and Payment Wall.
That said, the current $9.99 monthly plan is still below average for the industry. Looking just at the top 10 VPNs we have reviewed, the average listed monthly price stands at around $10.30. Among those top VPNs I've reviewed, Private Internet Access is the most affordable, at $6.95 per month.
Want to go cheaper? KeepSolid does offer a free version of VPN Unlimited called KeepSolid VPN Lite Free. This service works on Android, iOS, and macOS, and gives you access to one VPN server. The app supports the IKEv2, OpenVPN, and KeepSolid Wise VPN protocols, but chooses the "optimal" protocol and does not let you change it (more VPN on protocols later). Importantly, it does not restrict the amount of data you can use. You can also upgrade your VPN Lite account to Turbo for $24.99 per year or to Turbo Stream for $6.99 per month. While I appreciate the effort to diversify the pricepoints, this separate product with separate pricing and separate device limitations is a bit confusing. I test VPN Unlimited rather than the free VPN in this review.
There are numerous free VPNs available. ProtonVPN, from the makers of the security-focused ProtonMail email service, has the best free subscription I've seen. While it limits you to just a few countries, ProtonVPN places no limit on the amount of data you can use with a free account. VPNLite and ProtonVPN are the only free VPN subscriptions I've found that do not have a data cap.
How a VPN Works
VPN Unlimited lets you connect up to five or ten devices simultaneously. The industry average is five, and I'm happy to see KeepSolid add the ability to easily double the number of devices on your subscription. If you've got a big family or a lot of devices, it's a good option. TorGuard VPN lets you purchase up to 200 additional connections, while Avira Phantom VPN and Windscribe VPN place no limit on the number of simultaneous connections. Alternatively, you could set up your router to use KeepSolid's VPN service, providing protection to every device on your network. If you're not into that kind of a digital DIY project, KeepSolid will sell you a router preconfigured to use with the VPN.
One irritating aspect of KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is the way the company handles simultaneous connections. Most other companies simply limit the number of devices that can use the VPN service simultaneously. KeepSolid, on the other hand, allots each user five (or ten) slots that are assigned to specific devices. Even if all those devices are offline and you try to log in on a sixth (or eleventh), you'll be rejected. You can delete devices from the list to free up slots via the KeepSolid VPN website, but you can only delete one device every week. That's an unusual and irritating restriction to place on paying subscribers. It's a transparent effort to herd users toward purchasing more device slots. You can opt into the five or ten device plans, or add them in groups for less. One additional device costs 99 cents per month, five devices cost $2.99 per month, and 10 devices cost $5.99 per month. That's in addition to your monthly fee.
Unlike TorGuard VPN, which is designed as a VPN for BitTorrent and P2P services, VPN Unlimited allows file sharing on only five servers (in California, France, Luxembourg, Ontario, and Romania).
Power users looking for a personal VPN server in the country of their choice or a static IP address that is (allegedly) not associated with proxy services will be pleased to know that VPN Unlimited offers these rare options. A static IP not known to be associated with VPN companies is handy, as IP addresses used by VPN companies are sometimes blocked.
KeepSolid offers personal IP addresses, available in Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. An IP address in any of these locations costs $14.99 per month. A Personal Server offers users improved speeds, since you won't be sharing it with other VPN users. These start at $24.99 per month and have a bandwidth limit of 1TB to 3TB per month, depending on options. TorGuard also offers static IP addresses and includes other add-ons, such as access to a high-speed 10-gigabit network. So far, VPN Unlimited is the only service I've reviewed that offers server rental.
VPN Protocols
VPNs are a mature technology; as such, they offer more than one way to create an encrypted tunnel. Of the VPN protocols in use today, I prefer OpenVPN. It's known for its speed and reliability, but most importantly, it's open source. This means the source code has been picked over for potential vulnerabilities by many volunteers.
In addition to the normal slate of protocols, the company offers something called KeepSolid Wise, which disguises VPN traffic as HTTPS traffic. This is designed for use in countries where access to the free internet isn't available, and where the use of VPNs is blocked. TunnelBear has a similar feature it calls GhostBear.
For Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, VPN Unlimited supports IKEv2, OpenVPN, and KeepSolid Wise. That's great, since Apple forces developers to jump through extra hoops to include OpenVPN in apps. iOS and macOS also support the older IPSec protocol, while Windows Phone users (if any) are limited to the less secure L2TP/IPSec.
Servers and Server Locations
VPN Unlimited sports 400 servers across 70 locations in 51 countries. That's a good distritibution of server locations compared to the competition. Private Internet Access has servers in 33 countries, while NordVPN has servers in 62 countries. ExpressVPN leads the pack, with servers in 94 countries. A good mix of countries means you'll always have a VPN server close by for better performance while traveling, and more options for location spoofing.
While VPN Unlimited offers a fairly good mix of server locations—covering the oft-ignored regions of South America and India—it has no servers in all of Africa. KeepSolid does provide servers in some regions known for internet censorship, such as China, Turkey, and Vietnam, it has ceased operations in Russia. It's not too surprising to see Russia leave the list, as operating a VPN in many regions is becoming increasingly difficult.
With only 400 servers, KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is a squarely mid-sized operation. NordVPN leads the pack with over 5,200 servers, while CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and TorGuard VPN all have over 3,000 servers. Total server count is partly a function of the number of subscribers, but a larger collection of servers can mean you'll have better performance.
We think of servers as being physical machines, but a single hardware server can host several software-defined virtual servers. The trouble with virtual servers is that it's not always clear where they are truly located or where your data is traveling. Some companies, like ExpressVPN, make it clear that they use virtual servers to meet sudden demand and to provide coverage for dangerous regions by keeping physical servers in safer locations. KeepSolid has opted not to provide information as to the actual location of its servers, citing a non-disclosure agreement. No other VPN company has cited an NDA as a reason to withhold this information and KeepSolid refused to even characterize its use of virtual servers. That's very disappointing and doesn't engender trust in my eyes.
Your Privacy With KeepSolid VPN Unlimited
Although a VPN is intended to protect your privacy, using one requires that you trust the VPN company. That's because the company can have the same level of insight as your ISP and could do all kinds of unpleasant things if it isn't an ethical company. It's also important that a VPN service retain as little information about you as possible. Otherwise, that information could be used to identify you online and defeat the purpose of using a VPN in the first place.
KeepSolid's privacy policy is extensive and occasionally vague as it covers all of KeepSolid's products. It's unclear, for instance, when a situation described in the policy might apply to you as a VPN user. Additionally, the policy does not contain the usual information about VPN usage I'd expect to see. For instance, the policy says that it automatically collects—and later that it does not store—information including IP address, browser type, OS, device information, and even the name of your WiFi network. A company representative explained to me that KeepSolid does not retain the information mentioned above for VPN customers. For those people, KeepSolid only retains device name (or "device code"), email, and social media information if you provide it.
The policy also says that the company won't sell or rent your personal data, but if KeepSolid did do that, it would ask first. Lastly, the policy mentions that data may be given to law enforcement if necessary, but does not indicate what information that could be or if that information would be unencrypted or identifiable. When I spoke to a KeepSolid representative, I was told that the company keeps no logs and therefore would have nothing to provide to law enforcement.
KeepSolid's representative was clear that the company does not make money from sources other than subscriptions. That's very good.
The full name of the company is KeepSolid Inc., and the representative I spoke with says it is based in the US with its R&D in Ukraine, and operates under US legal jurisdiction. This means it is not subject to any specific data retention laws. I don't believe that I can make a judgment on how safe a VPN company is based solely on its location, and I encourage you to simply go with the company you feel you can trust the most.
Many VPN companies have begun commissioning third-party audits to verify different aspects of their privacy policies and service. TunnelBear, for example, has committed to releasing annual audits. KeepSolid has a more contrarian view. A company representative tells me, "We rely on our users' feedback and experience and trust them more than third-party audits." KeepSolid also has not participated in the Center for Democracy and Technology's VPN questionnaire.
The information I received from KeepSolid, and the information in its privacy policy, does leave something to be desired. I would not say there are explicit red flags, but there is a lack of clarity that must be addressed so customers (and reviewers!) know exactly how this service works. The company needs to clear this up soon.
Hands-On With VPN Unlimited for Windows
Although you can manually configure a computer to use a VPN, most services offer an app to do the heavy lifting for you. In my testing, I used a Lenovo ThinkPad T460s laptop running Windows 10. An even older version of the client, for Windows XP machines, is also available on the company website, but if you're still using Windows XP you have other problems to worry about besides VPNs.
KeepSolid recently launched a new version of its app with a refreshed interface, which is bright, clean, and easy to use. Unfortunately, it still advises users to deactivate their antivirus applications before installing the KeepSolid Unlimited VPN client. I'm disappointed that KeepSolid is advising people to deactivate their antivirus products in order to install, of all things, a security product. Not only is it a confusing hurdle to pass, but it also encourages people to make themselves less safe. Sure, maybe it's just off for a moment, but if it were a bogus installer made to look like KeepSolid VPN Unlimited then the victim would find the real site advising them to turn off their antivirus. Or perhaps customers won't remember to turn their antivirus back on. Either way, it's not great.
My installation appeared to work fine, so I soldiered on. The app is built around a map of the world, showing your current location in blue and bubbles across the world indicating VPN Unlimited servers. Unlike NordVPN ($3.09 Per Month + 3-Months Free (Up to 69% Off 2-Year Plan) at NordVPN) or TunnelBear, you can't interact with the map. A large Start button at the bottom quickly connects you to the nearest server by default. I appreciate this design choice, since most people just want their VPN app to work without having to fiddle with it.
Clicking the location button pulls up a new view showing all the available VPN servers. Tabs across the top let you sort the list by servers you've added to Favorites, All servers, Torrent, and Streaming. You can also use the search bar at the top. I like this arrangement, and I especially like that the client shows ping time and an approximation of the load on each server. I also like that I can see individual servers, not just generalized locations, and pick the one that works best for whatever I need.
From Settings, you can change your VPN protocol, and toggle VPN Unlimited's custom DNS server. You should probably leave these alone. The Kill Switch toggle, when activated, blocks all traffic from your machine should the VPN connection break. The Trusted Networks pane is a whitelist of networks. If you connect to a network you've added to the list, VPN Unlimited switches off. I prefer this to blacklists, since most networks shouldn't be trusted.
When using a VPN, you don't want your information being leaked accidentally. In my testing, I confirmed that KeepSolid VPN Unlimited successfully hid my IP address and my ISP information. Using the DNS Leak Test tool, the service did not appear to leak DNS information. That's excellent.
Windows Store version of KeepSolid VPN Unlimited
Alternatively, you can opt to install KeepSolid VPN Unlimited from the Microsoft Store. Doing so does not generate a warning about needing to deactivate antivirus before installation. I found the app to be easy to use and snappily responsive. It does lack some of the advanced settings found in its standalone counterpart. For example, the Microsoft Store version only supports the IKEv2 protocol.
KeepSolid VPN Unlimited and Netflix
Netflix and other streaming services are keen to block the use of VPNs. That's because of geographically specific licenses for streaming content. For example: in the US, Star Trek: Discovery is only available on CBS All Access. If you live anywhere else in the world, you can watch it on Netflix. In order to enforce that restriction, Netflix and others will try to prevent you from spoofing your location via VPN.
Unfortunately, I was not able to stream shows from Netflix while connected to a KeepSolid VPN Unlimited server in the US. That could change at any time, so your mileage may vary. I was, however, able to watch Netflix when connected to KeepSolid's dedicated Netflix streaming server.
Beyond VPN
KeepSolid previously offered what it called DNS Firewall. This was a bundle of features aimed at preventing websites from tracking your movements, protecting you against malware, and blocking ads. However, the company has since decided to remove this suite of tools. When I asked why, a KeepSolid representative said that the DNS Firewall blocked only 80 percent of ads and was being redesigned to better protect users.
Other VPN services bundle malicious site protection, protection against malicious downloads, and even ad blocking in with their VPNs. It's important to understand their limitations. These tools complement your existing antivirus solution or privacy tools, rather than replace them. NordVPN and Private Internet Access block ads, and TunnelBear notably offers separate browser apps for ad blocking and password management, the latter known whimsically as RememBear.
Speed Test
Regardless of the VPN service you use, you'll likely experience more latency and decreased upload and download speeds. To get a sense of the impact using a particular VPN will have on internet speeds, I perform a series of tests with Ookla's speed test tool to find a percent change between performance with and without a VPN. You can read all about how I test VPNs in a feature aptly titled, "How We Test VPNs."
(Editors' Note: Ookla Speedtest is owned by j2 Global, the parent company of PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.)
My tests showed that KeepSolid VPN Unlimited increased latency by 3,150 percent—surprisingly, not the worst score for this category. I also found that it reduced download speeds by 89.9 percent and upload speeds by 96 percent. You can see how KeepSolid VPN Unlimited compares in the chart below with the top 10 performers among the more than 30 services we tested.
All that being said, I try to discourage people from choosing a VPN based on speed test results alone. After all, different servers and network conditions can dramatically change the results. Based on my results, however, it's fair to say that HideIPVPN is the fastest VPN, as it had the best results in both download and upload testing.
KeepSolid VPN Unlimited on Other Platforms
KeepSolid has numerous clients for its VPN Unlimited product, including: Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Notably, the company also offers a Windows Phone option and has instructions on how to use the product with Apple TV—although you're just streaming via AirPlay. I highly recommend using a first-party VPN app whenever possible, as they provide greater access to features and are infinitely easier to use than manual configuration.
KeepSolid also offers browser plug-ins for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Browser plug-ins let you spoof the location of your browser traffic—and only your browser traffic—but secure your connection differently than a fully realized VPN. They're useful, but I recommend sticking with an app wherever you can.
Increasingly Limited
Since we first reviewed KeepSolid VPN Unlimited, the company has winnowed down its service in terms of features and pricing. It no longer offers the flexible pricing schemes that so impressed us in the past, and its draconian approach to limiting simultaneous connections isn't a great experience. It also disheartening to see the company become more obtuse with its privacy policy, and to see it claim cannot release the basic information about its server infrastructure that other VPN companies provide. That said, the introduction of VPN Lite has brought new appeal to the company's offering.
We continue to recommend our Editors' Choice winners: NordVPN for its features and server fleet, Private Internet Access for its affordable pricing, ProtonVPN for its technology and flexible pricing, and TunnelBear for its friendliness.
KeepSolid VPN Unlimited provides a strong slate of security features, but it doesn't offer many servers, has a restrictive device policy, and is less transparent than we prefer.
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