Urban VPN Review (2024): Is it a Safe & Reliable VPN to Use?

Image: Urban VPN

While Urban VPN’s accessible escaped versions look enticing, the work itself lacks some basal and precocious features expected retired of modern VPNs. It’s besides held backmost by a questionable privateness policy, lackluster VPN performance, and the lack of immoderate autarkic audits.

In this article, we dive deeper into Urban VPN to spot whether it’s close for you and your organization.

Urban VPN pricing

Urban VPN is the lone supplier I’ve tried truthful acold that doesn’t person a premium desktop version. Instead, its premium program is exclusive to its mobile app connected Android and iOS. Urban VPN advertises itself arsenic the “only 100% Free” VPN successful the satellite — referring to its desktop applications.

SEE: 6 Best VPNs for Gaming successful 2024 (TechRepublic)

If we instrumentality a look astatine its premium plans connected mobile, its prices are really reasonably affordable.

Initial priceRenewal price

Yearly	$24 per twelvemonth oregon $2 per month	After 1 twelvemonth = $39 per twelvemonth oregon $3.25 per month
Monthly	$3.72 per period for the archetypal 3 months	$6.47 per period aft archetypal 3 months

However, the lone noticeable quality betwixt Urban VPN’s paid and escaped plans connected mobile is the summation of much locations. There doesn’t look to beryllium immoderate other features with its paid version, truthful I don’t urge going for immoderate of these paid plans.

Urban VPN mobile’s further premium servers. Image: Luis Millares

In addition, Urban VPN arsenic a full lacks a ton of baseline VPN capabilities we expect retired of modern VPNs, similar a termination power oregon divided tunneling. We’ll speech astir that successful item later.

SEE: Can a VPN Be Hacked? (TechRepublic)

Personally, I deliberation Urban VPN would beryllium amended disconnected if it provided a premium mentation for its desktop arsenic well. Conventionally speaking, users connected desktop volition person much usage cases for a VPN than those connected mobile.

Urban VPN main landing page. Image: Urban VPN

That being said, it is valid if Urban VPN wants to differentiate itself arsenic a fully-free desktop option. This was made wide to maine erstwhile I archetypal looked done Urban VPN’s authoritative website, with astir of its interior links advertizing its Free VPN service, careless of platform.

Unfortunately, afloat escaped VPNs are typically not the champion prime since they’re known to either grounds oregon merchantability idiosyncratic information to marque a profit. To larn more, work our examination betwixt Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs.

Is Urban VPN safe?

I can’t see Urban VPN a harmless and unafraid VPN fixed its questionable privateness policy, information logging, deficiency of third-party audits, and little than perfect DNS leak protection.

Before diving in, 1 affirmative with Urban VPN’s information features is its usage of 256-bit encryption via the OpenVPN protocol. OpenVPN is wide recognized arsenic a highly unafraid VPN protocol, and I’m blessed to spot it here. With that, let’s look into immoderate privateness and information issues with Urban VPN.

Urban VPN’s no-logs claim. Image: Urban VPN

According to Urban VPN, it has a “complete no-logging policy,” which supposedly allows users to browse the net without having their online enactment being traced. Unfortunately, determination is simply nary grounds to beryllium this claim, beryllium it done an autarkic audit oregon a third-party evaluation. I find this particularly disappointing since likewise affordable VPNs similar Private Internet Access oregon Surfshark some person third-party audits that backmost up their no-logs policies.

I besides recovered a fewer provisions successful Urban VPN’s Privacy Policy concerning. Per its policy, Urban VPN collects online identifiers specified arsenic “Cookie ID, IP code oregon akin unsocial online identifiers generated, advertizing ID.” The VPN says this information is collected for analytic and advertizing purposes — which perchance means selling your information to selling companies.

Snapshot of Urban VPN’s privateness policy. Image: Urban VPN

In addition, Urban VPN volition besides cod web browsing data, hunt motor results page, web pages visited, clicked watercourse data, and accusation astir the contented viewed by users of its mobile app’s escaped version.

According to Urban VPN, the information collected, successful astir cases, “is aggregated Non-Personal Data, however, sometimes Web Browsing Data contains presumption that could beryllium considered arsenic Personal Data, this is wherefore we filter and scrape this information to region immoderate Personal Data earlier it is used.”

To me, this is simply excessively overmuch information to springiness up, particularly for bundle similar VPNs that are expected to assistance support your information hidden. It besides stands straight successful opposition to its ain no-logs claims.

I besides got unfortunate results successful presumption of DNS leak tests, wherever Urban VPN had 2 DNS leaks aft I ran it done a circular of tests. Below is simply a screenshot of 1 of the leaks, wherever I was connected to Urban VPN’s India server. As shown, the DNS leak trial besides recovered a server from the United States.

DNS leak portion utilizing Urban VPN. Image: Luis Millares

With this, I recovered that Urban VPN misses the people wholly erstwhile it comes to providing a unafraid and privacy-centric VPN experience.

Key features of Urban VPN

Urban VPN foregoes a batch of features I expect retired of VPNs successful 2024. It lacks a termination switch, divided tunneling, and advertisement blocking — functionality that’s built-in oregon contiguous successful astir VPNs today. That being said, it has a fewer standout features that whitethorn sway you successful trying retired its service.

Free mentation for aggregate platforms

Urban VPN’s biggest selling constituent is its escaped mentation that’s disposable connected aggregate platforms. If you look astatine its merchandise tab connected its site, Urban VPN makes an exerted effort to amusement users that it accommodates a ton of platforms.

At present, it has a escaped VPN for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. You tin besides usage Urban VPN for escaped done a router oregon arsenic an unblock proxy.

Urban VPN’s merchandise tab. Image: Urban VPN

Personally, I deliberation having a premium VPN mentation for desktop would bash Urban VPN well, particularly since its paid program is lone disposable connected mobile. This would let them to supply much information and much features to powerfulness users connected a dedicated computer.

To Urban VPN’s credit, I similar having the enactment to usage a escaped VPN. You conscionable person to recognize that you won’t get the aforesaid level of information oregon diagnostic acceptable erstwhile utilizing a escaped service. I envision this to beryllium utile for idiosyncratic users who request to alteration their IP code momentarily arsenic a mode to entree geo-blocked content.

Unlimited devices

Urban VPN besides allows for unlimited instrumentality support, letting users link a fig of devices simultaneously without paying a price.

Urban VPN’s unli-device support. Image: Urban VPN

Not each VPNs connection unlimited instrumentality support, with immoderate providers having a maximum of 5–10 devices connected each astatine once. I admit Urban VPN providing unlimited instrumentality enactment — particularly with its escaped version. This volition fto you link your laptop, smartphone, and different devices without worrying astir a instrumentality limit.

Free VPN servers with unlimited bandwidth

I besides springiness props to Urban VPN for offering its escaped VPN servers with nary information bounds oregon nary regularisation successful presumption of server selection.

Urban VPN’s server database wrong its app. Image: Luis Millares

In different escaped VPNs I’ve tried, either a bandwidth bounds is enactment successful spot oregon there’s nary mode to prime which VPN determination you’re capable to link to. Out of the box, Urban VPN allows users to prime from its suite of 60+ server locations successful its escaped version.

Speed and performance: How accelerated is Urban VPN?

As a disclaimer, I tested Urban VPN’s escaped Windows mentation for this review, truthful I’m not capable to springiness an appraisal of speeds with its paid mobile plans. During my testing, I recovered Urban VPN to beryllium dilatory and sluggish successful presumption of wide VPN speed.

This progressive being connected to 1 of its servers portion doing my accustomed workflow arsenic a writer: having aggregate tabs unfastened for research, utilizing Google services similar Docs and Drive, and streaming the occasional 1080p video.

Sites were dilatory to load, and determination was a noticeable dip successful connectivity compared to my net work provider. I besides recovered Urban VPN struggled to rapidly found caller connections erstwhile switching to a caller server, requiring a bully fewer seconds earlier it decently connected to a caller location.

Unfortunately, the communicative is the aforesaid erstwhile it comes to maintaining VPN connections. When I tried connecting to its France server, for example, I kept experiencing random disconnections adjacent aft the app confirmed I was connected.

For velocity tests, Urban VPN doesn’t fare immoderate better. Compared to my ISP, Urban VPN recorded a 79.7% driblet for download velocity and a 67.1% alteration for upload speed.

Sadly, Urban VPN’s escaped mentation performs conscionable arsenic I expected for a escaped VPN: providing dilatory speeds and unstable connections.

Urban VPN servers and locations

For its server suite, Urban VPN’s escaped mentation provides entree to astir 60+ VPN locations. On its paid version, Urban VPN says it provides 530+ servers successful 80+ countries. Of course, this fig whitethorn alteration arsenic clip goes on.

Urban VPN’s server enactment connected its website. Image: Urban VPN

On the whole, Urban VPN’s location/country dispersed is decent and falls wrong the mean compared to different VPNs. However, having lone 530+ servers is astir apt excessively tiny to expect accelerated and reliable speeds, particularly if galore users link to the aforesaid server locations astatine once.

If velocity is simply a precedence for you, I urge different options similar NordVPN oregon ExpressVPN.

I tin commend Urban VPN for providing an online portal wherever users tin presumption whether their desired VPN determination is supported by the service.

Urban VPN app experience

I was beauteous underwhelmed with Urban VPN’s in-app experience. When I archetypal started utilizing Urban VPN’s Windows app, it became instantly evident that it is simply a precise basal VPN application.

Urban VPN main interface. Image: Luis Millares

Urban VPN has a bare-bones interface, lone having a Play/Stop fastener and a server database connected the right. That’s beauteous overmuch it. To its credit, it is precise casual to usage and I tin spot beginners having nary occupation utilizing Urban VPN.

However, portion I usually admit a VPN that provides a elemental and minimalist experience, I deliberation Urban VPN has excessively small to connection successful presumption of features and functionality. There’s nary other information features similar a termination switch, advertisement blocking, oregon divided tunneling. For a escaped version, that could beryllium acceptable, but its paid program besides doesn’t connection these features.

I besides recovered switching to caller servers clunky, having instances wherever it wouldn’t link to a server decently oregon person servers randomly disconnecting.

Urban VPN pros

• Has a escaped version.
• Unlimited devices.
• No information bounds connected escaped plan.

Urban VPN cons

• Stores idiosyncratic logs.
• No third-party audits.
• Lack of basal VPN features.
• Slow speeds.

Who is Urban VPN champion for?

To beryllium firm: I don’t suggest anyone usage Urban VPN astatine this constituent successful time. But if you’re truthful inclined, Urban VPN is champion for idiosyncratic users that request to alteration their IP code successful a pinch, astir most apt to unblock geo-restricted contented portion traveling oregon thing similar.

Other than that, I urge avoiding Urban VPN altogether. It logs a concerning magnitude of idiosyncratic data, doesn’t person immoderate autarkic audits to corroborate its no-logs policy, and is incapable to supply bully VPN speeds.

Urban VPN is simply a premier illustration of wherefore escaped VPNs tin beryllium risky bundle to use, particularly with the precocious likelihood of logging oregon idiosyncratic information collection. It besides lacks basal VPN features similar a termination power and divided tunneling, portion having negligible diagnostic additions with its paid plan.

Even with its escaped versions, different options similar Proton VPN oregon hide.me VPN supply overmuch amended worth and functionality. For different prime escaped VPNs, cheque retired our round-up of the Best Free VPNs and the Best VPNs with Free Trials.

Alternatives to Urban VPN

SurfsharkProton VPNhide.me VPN

Starting terms (annual plan)	$2.99 per month	$4.99 per month	$3.75 per month
Server network	3,200+ servers successful 100 countries	6,580+ servers successful 112 countries	Servers successful 91 locations
Free version	No	Yes	Yes
Standout features	Unlimited instrumentality connections; accelerated VPN speeds	Based successful privacy-friendly Switzerland; generous escaped version	Customizable app experience, escaped mentation with unlimited data

Surfshark

Image: Surfshark

For users looking to person an all-around VPN, I urge Surfshark. It provides bully worth with its 100-country server network, accelerated and accordant VPN speeds, and affordable pricing. Surfshark besides supports unlimited simultaneous instrumentality connections, making it a bully prime for much budget-oriented users oregon businesses.

In my experience, Surfshark besides has 1 of the amended idiosyncratic interfaces, offering some an intuitive and well-designed desktop application.

If you privation to larn more, work our full Surfshark review.

Proton VPN

Image: Proton VPN

For privateness enthusiasts, I suggest looking astatine Proton VPN. It is based successful privacy-friendly Switzerland, which has immoderate of the strongest privateness laws successful the world. This means your information volition person an further furniture of protection, particularly against authorities interference. Proton VPN besides has a fully-fledged escaped mentation that provides zero information limits retired of the box.

SEE: How Much Does a VPN Cost? (TechRepublic)

Of my 3 suggestions here, Proton VPN besides provides the largest server fleet, with a monolithic 6,580+ servers crossed 112 countries. I find this particularly beneficial to those that privation a VPN to unblock geo-restricted contented online.

If you privation to larn more, work our full Proton VPN review.

hide.me VPN

Image: hide.me VPN

For tinkerers and powerfulness users, hide.me VPN is simply a bully pick. It has a customizable VPN experience, allowing users to acceptable definite automated actions, similar having customized configurations per VPN protocol oregon having power with however the hide.me exertion launches. I consciousness this is simply a cleanable acceptable for individuals that similar to personalize and tailor their bundle to their liking.

hide .me VPN besides includes a convenient StealthGuard diagnostic that acts arsenic its ain mentation of a termination switch. This automatically blocks immoderate transportation oregon postulation that’s not protected via the VPN service.

If you privation to larn more, work our full hide.me VPN reappraisal here.

Review methodology

My reappraisal of Urban VPN progressive a elaborate investigation of its features, cost, and real-world performance. I had hands-on clip with Urban VPN’s escaped mentation connected my Windows laptop.

To measure Urban VPN, I scored it connected everything from its information protocols to pricing. In particular, I took into relationship 5 main pillars, each having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN features (30%).
• Ease of usage (15%).
• Customer enactment (30%).
• Expert investigation (5%).

From this rubric, Urban VPN received a standing of 1.7 retired of 5 stars. I besides looked into existent idiosyncratic feedback and different reputable reviews to circular retired my last recommendations regarding Urban VPN.

SEE: How to Run a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment successful 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)

For velocity and performance, I utilized Ookla’s nationalist Speedtest to measurement download and upload speeds. I besides ran Urban VPN done DNSLeakTest aggregate times to cheque for immoderate DNS leaks. Lastly, I considered which types of businesses oregon idiosyncratic users would champion payment from utilizing Urban VPN.

To larn much astir however we reappraisal VPNs, work our full VPN Review Methodology.