One of the biggest complaints we have about VPNs is that they often log and sell your data. And it makes sense. Isn’t one of the primary reasons for using a VPN internet security?
If you know your provider is merely going to turn around and sell your data to another company, you’d probably agree it’s not worth it.
Fortunately, there is a VPN service that seeks to address this growing problem. Disconnect VPN was founded in 2011 by former Google engineers “on the belief that privacy is a fundamental human right: that people should have the freedom to move about the internet – and their lives – without anyone looking over their shoulder.”
It’s refreshing to see a VPN company so focused on its service rather than just looking for a way to make another buck. Is Disconnect VPN right for you? We recently took the time to conduct this extensive Disconnect VPN review so you can find out.
Not only did we test the product ourselves, but we also read hundreds of online reviews from other customers. After reading our Disconnect VPN review, you should have a sound grasp of whether it’s a product worth purchasing.
Features
Disconnect is a company focused on protecting users’ privacy when they are on the internet. The company offers native versions of its product for use on devices such as Android, iPhone, Mac, and Windows. Furthermore, users can download extensions for their web browser as well.
The company provides its users with three server locations in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The company has said that it is making efforts to add more servers to its VPN. When conducting our Disconnect VPN Review, we were unable to determine precisely how many servers the company had overall, although we estimated it to be around 100.
Disconnect uses an OpenVPN Protocol and AES-256 Data Encryption standard. These are two of the most reliable methods available today and will go a long way toward keeping your data safe.
Pros
If you’re looking for a simple, reliable VPN, then Disconnect could be an enticing option. Below, you’ll find some of the things that you should like most about Disconnect VPN.
Ease of Use
If you don’t have much experience with VPNs, you’ll find Disconnect rather straightforward and easy to use. The product dashboard is sleek and easy to navigate. If you’re looking for ways to keep yourself safe on the internet without any fancy bells and whistles, then you’ll be impressed with the Disconnect VPN.
No Data Logs
One of the other things that most stands out about Disconnect VPN is that there are no data logs.
The company will not store your information or sell it to third-party vendors. Unfortunately, data logging has become an all-too-common trend among VPN services, particularly those that are free. We like the fact that you can use this VPN without having to worry about your data being compromised.
High Security
In addition to there not being any data logs, Disconnect also takes steps to provide its customers with a secure experience on the internet. The company uses an OpenVPN protocol and AES-256 Data Encryption.
OpenVPN is an open-source tunneling protocol that is one of the safest options available today. AES-256 Encryption is the same standard used by government agencies to protect information. AES-256 is multi-layered, meaning it is uncrackable. Those using Disconnect VPN should have peace of mind knowing their information is safe.
Cons
Although there are a few things to like about Disconnect VPN, there are a couple of things that bring it down in our eyes.
Lack of Performance Speed
Whenever you use a VPN, you can expect to lose a bit of performance speed. During testing, we found that both the upload and download speed when on Disconnect VPN were about 75 percent lower than our baseline speeds.
This is slightly below average for VPNs. It’s a great example of how Disconnect provides its users with average performance in many areas apart from security.
Limited Devices
When you purchase a VPN, you expect to use it on a multitude of devices. Unfortunately, Disconnect VPN does not make this possible. Customers will find that they can only use the paid-for product on three devices. For most individuals, this will be their laptop, tablet, and cell phone.
If you’re looking for a VPN service for the entire family or your business, you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Lack of Customer Service
Another thing that caught our attention was the fact that Disconnect does not offer quality customer service. The only way that customers can get in contact with the company is through email. Some users found that Disconnect did not reply to their initial inquiry for days.
There is no phone support or live chat services. The lack of customer service is frustrating, especially considering that you paid for the product.
Standard Options
If you’re someone looking for customization in your VPN, this product is not for you. Disconnect lacks useful customization options. If you have experience using VPNs, you’ll likely find yourself frustrated with the lack of options available.
Lack of Servers
The last thing that stood out to us was that there was a noticeable lack of servers when using Disconnect. The best VPNs can provide you with access to thousands of servers. Disconnect VPN, on the other hand, provides you access to three server locations.
We estimate that there are approximately 100 servers on the Disconnect network. Furthermore, because customers can’t identify which server they’re on, this is not a useful product for peer-to-peer file sharing.
Pricing Info
Disconnect offers three different types of membership options to its customers, which you’ll find below.
Basic
Disconnect Basic does not quite operate as a VPN. Instead, it is an extension that you add to your web browser. When doing so, Disconnect will block access from more than 2,000 tracking sites.
Pro
If you’re looking for a full-fledged VPN from Disconnect, you’re going to need to pay. One such option is PrivacyPro Smart VPN, which the company only offers to those using iOS devices. Not only will you receive protection from tracking sites as you would with the Basic Plan, but you’ll also receive perks such as:
- Reduced bandwidth
- 2x faster page loads
- User-friendly firewall
- Encryption
This product serves as a traditional VPN in the sense that it will provide you with a secure connection, even when you’re connected to an unsecured network. The product is available for the one-time purchase price of $25.
Premium
The last choice you have when buying Disconnect VPN is the company’s Premium Plan. The company offers three different Premium subscription options:
- A one-year plan for $45
- A three-year plan for $105
- A five-year plan for $125
You can use this plan on up to three devices, including both mobile and desktop. This service will also provide you with alerts, so you know when there’s the potential of your information being compromised.
Final Verdict
After completing our Disconnect VPN review, we feel that it’s an average, middle of the road option. We most appreciated how much care the company puts into protecting its users’ information online. But it still isn’t enough for us to add them to our best VPN list.
We do wish that the company offered more accessibility to other servers or that its download and upload speeds were faster.
Their product may be cheap but we could say that about many different VPN services which are just better. For example Surfshark has one of the cheapest packages we have seen anywhere. Another great bargain is Nordvpn who are continually ranked as one of the best VPN’s our our various lists including torrenting, gaming and others.
So, if you’re looking for an affordable, reliable VPN for basic web activities, we feel that Disconnect should be worth your consideration. It’s an option that isn’t overly fancy, but it does the most important things right.
Disclosure: Blokt strives to provide transparent, honest reviews, and opinions. The writer of this article is a user of the product(s) or service(s) mentioned in this article and was not influenced by the respective owners.
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