Here we have a US based service that was originally designed to help internet users bypass online censorship and geo-blocking in mainland China. Today the service has users worldwide, and many people confuse it with a VPN.
Ultrasurf is much simpler than a VPN, but it does still encrypt internet traffic to prevent restrictions and tracking.
That would make it a VPN, right?
Yes and no; as we get through the review, you’ll start to understand what makes Ultrasurf so different from our list of best vpn services. Continue reading for our complete review.
What is Ultrasurf?
Many experts see Ultrasurf as a network of proxy servers instead of a VPN. The main difference that separates Ultrasurf from many VPNs is that it requires a web browser to use it. To get onto an Ultrasurf server, you are required to use your web browser to launch Ultrasurf. That is quite a bit different compared to most VPN services that use a desktop client.
Since you have to use Ultrasurf in this way, it requires you to make sure that your web browser does not have any security lapses as well.
The main issue we have with Ultrasurf is its location in the United States, and therefore, the U.S. jurisdiction it falls under. Proxies and VPNs located in this country are often seen in a negative way because the U.S. is part of the 14 eyes surveillance alliance which is a group of countries that collaborate in gathering massive amounts of data through spying, and other intrusive means.
The countries in this alliance are considered to be some of the worst abusers of privacy online. However, these risks can be averted somewhat if a service, be it a VPN or proxy, has strong privacy policies in place.
Benefits of Using Ultrasurf
We will cover everything we like about Ultrasurf in more detail further below. However, here is a quick rundown of the main benefits of using Ultrasurf:
- Always free
- Unlimited bandwidth
- No logging policy
How Much Does Ultrasurf Cost?
Sometimes things can seem free, and in the long-run, you end up paying a lot more money than you originally planned. That is not the case with Ultrasurf; it is free and does not cost anything to use any of the features. You will not get charged later on down the road, so you don’t have to worry about any hidden fees.
What We Like About Ultrasurf
This service has a so-so feeling as we make our way through the review. There is a limited amount of information available about this service, so it’s challenging to get a true understanding of whether or not you can trust Ultrasurf.
Which means we don’t think you really can trust it and wouldn’t advise people to use it at all. Anything free in the VPN world is never really free, they usually contain a bunch of malware or try to misuse your personal data. Its like a sure bet in a bitcoin online casino, there is no such thing.
Safety (if you play it safe)
As we said, Ultrasurf is not a real VPN; it’s more of a proxy. That means that you don’t get the extreme level of encryption and security you would get with a VPN. Ultrasurf works by allowing HTTPS traffic through its servers instead of HTTP. When you do this, a new IP address is assigned to you.
No Logging
It’s always hard to tell when you’re dealing with a US-based company. The jurisdiction in the United States is tough because of the 14 eyes alliance. You never know what the government is doing behind the scenes.
Luckily, with Ultrasurf being a browser tool and only storing the most basic data, you shouldn’t have much too worry about it.
What We Dislike About Ultrasurf
Unfortunately, sometimes, the cons outweigh the pros. That is certainly the case with Ultrasurf. Here are our biggest complaints about this service.
Deplorably Slow
First off, we have to mention. When we went to the Ultrasurf website, it said that it was currently experiencing speed issues due to an overload of demand in Iran. During our research, we found other reviews stating the same problems from as long as one year ago. We are not sure if it is actively working on resolving the speed problems.
Either way, during our tests, we noticed people experiencing as much as a 99% drop off in download and upload speeds. Obviously, you can’t use a proxy or VPN that has such a slow pace. You wouldn’t even be able to watch a YouTube video at the lowest resolution at that speed.
General Lack of Information
Another issue we have with Ultrasurf is the overall lack of information available. When you are trusting your internet security and data to a company, you expect them to thoroughly explain what measures it takes and the protocols it uses to make sure your information stays out of the wrong hands.
You don’t get that type of information from Ultrasurf. Which means you cannot trust it. Get something like Nordvpn or expressvpn which uses the openvpn protocol instead.
Mixed Signals on Netflix and Torrenting
Since Ultrasurf is based in the United States and most of its servers, exist in the US; users from outside the country shouldn’t have much of a problem accessing Netflix. The issue is, we don’t have a server list, so we don’t know the locations of its servers. Accessing Netflix from inside the US using Ultrasurf is most likely not possible.
When it comes to torrenting, you won’t be able to sync BitTorrent and Ultrasurf because the proxy only works through a browser. Luckily, using the Android app, you might be able to torrent large files. (if you want to wait a few weeks for them to download)
Overall, even if you could access Netflix and BitTorrent, you would have a world of trouble accomplishing much because of the server speeds.
Our Verdict
It’s hard to say what we think about Ultrasurf, so all we can say is avoid it totally. It’s a free service, and you can never expect too much from a free VPN or proxy.
If you are looking for a reliable VPN with advanced encryption that will always keep your data and surfing safe, you should look into some of our other reviews. And make sure to check out our best vpn megalist.
If you have never used a proxy or VPN before, check out some of our reviews. Reading up will help you gain a better understanding of why Ultrasurf is so different.
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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