Browsec VPN is a proxy plugin for Chrome, Opera and Firefox that lets you easily unblock global websites. It has received a huge attention and has almost 3 million users. The service does not show much information about the VPN extension’s ownership on its website. However, it has been revealed that Browsec is a proxy based in Russia.
Russia is trying to create a restricted Internet, which leads to uncertainty about the anonymity offered by Browsec. Browsec LLC owns the service and offers it for free to users worldwide. However, if you want an advanced version with many great features, you can opt for their premium product that includes monthly and yearly pricing plans.
In this Browsec review, we take a look at whether this VPN offers anonymous connections, fastest connections, a choice of VPN protocols, multiple VPN servers, and DNS leak protection.
Browsec is compatible with most devices, including Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, iPhone, and iPad. It also offers a VPN app for cell phones.
Speed and Server Locations
When I subscribed to Browsec’s premium VPN package, I had easy access to 43 server locations strategically located in different countries, geographic regions and continents around the world. These countries include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States. There are 2 servers in the USA and one server in each of the other countries. Browsec VPN uses unlimited bandwidth and unlimited server switching.
Below are the actual results of the server speed test I performed while connected to Browsec VPN.
| Server Locations | Ping | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
No VPN |
10ms |
9.46 Mbps |
9.38 Mbps |
|
UK |
273ms |
8.93 Mbps |
4.15 Mbps |
|
USA |
243ms |
5.73 Mbps |
9.42 Mbps |
|
Canada |
234ms |
7.71 Mbps |
2.26 Mbps |
|
Australia |
341ms |
8.54 Mbps |
9.42 Mbps |
|
Russia |
313ms |
8.78 Mbps |
9.44 Mbps |
Pricing Plans
Browsec VPN offers a free bundle for all devices. The plan allows users to access the service without bandwidth limitations, which makes the VPN quite popular. You don’t even need to sign up to use the service, as each user is assigned a unique ID.
However, as you would expect, the free package has its limitations. For starters, you can only connect to four server locations – the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK and the US. Note that there are many other users on these servers, so expect average performance. The speed also seems to be limited, as there is a big difference between the free servers and the premium ones.
As for the premium service, Browsec offers three packages
- Monthly plan: Costs $4.99 per month and is billed every 30 days
- Annual plan: Costs $3.33 per month and is billed every 12 months for $39.99
- 2-Year Plan: $2.99 per month, billed every 24 months, $71.99
Overall, Browsec is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. Monthly plans cost half the price of most VPNs, and annual and 2-year plans are even cheaper.
Payment methods
Browsec VPN accepts payments via credit/debit card and PayPal. If you have a coupon code, you can also use it to activate your account.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to pay with Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. This means that users who prefer to pay anonymously will be disadvantaged.
Privacy and Encryption
To protect online privacy, Browsec uses IPSec/IKEv2 connection protocol with AES-256 encryption on mobile devices and HTTP proxy over TLS with AES-256 encryption when using browser extensions. Despite these strong security and privacy mechanisms, since Browsec is currently only available via browser extensions and mobile apps, torrenting is not supported.
The privacy policy is not a very long document, but it informs the reader what types of information are logged when using the provider’s services. This includes the “automatic logging of certain information about your web browser plug-in and/or client software” to ensure the ongoing provision of the service. However, the provider asserts that “this information does not personally identify the user. Browsec uses this information in aggregate form for a variety of purposes, including monitoring the service.”
We would still like to see an independent report published on what information is recorded and what is not, as some competitors have done.
Streaming
Unfortunately, the service does not help users unblock the US Netflix library. For that, you need to look for other VPNs like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, etc.
Read our guide with the latest information about the best VPNs for Netflix. This review of Browsec VPN Chrome extension highlights that the service does not support users for torrent tasks. There are no servers optimized for P2P.
Usability
This is the point where Browsec does not shine! Downloading mobile apps and browser extensions only takes a few seconds.
If you want to use an iOS or Android app, you’ll need to create an account, even if you’re just using a free VPN. This can be a bit frustrating, considering that the purpose of using a VPN is anonymity. However, there are now obvious features with many VPNs.
Customer Support
Browsec is pretty disappointing when it comes to customer support. Here’s what you get.
- On their homepage, the “Support” button leads to a simple contact form and nothing else.
- There is no live chat and certainly no direct phone support.
- There is no user forum.
- The FAQ gives informative answers to only 3 questions.
But despite the lack of live support, VPN’s technical team is really quick and helpful in answering questions. So, although Browsec doesn’t have great support, it’s not the worst provider.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No leaks, no viruses
- Security protocol policy
- 400+ servers
- Military-grade encryption
- Good customer support
- Easy to use and set up
- Has a power off switch
Cons
- Slow connection speed
- Background information is unclear
- Many servers are blocked by Netflix
- No torrenting
- Not compatible with TOR and routers
- No desktop apps
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Browsec have a kill switch?
Browsec VPN offers a so-called “Always-On VPN” button on Android, which allows you to keep your online activities safe and private even after you disconnect from the Internet or restart your device.
Can I use Browsec’s torrents?
Browsec VPN does not have a P2P-optimized server. So, if you are looking for a solution that supports torrenting, you need to try other VPN options.
How many simultaneous connections does Browsec offer?
With a single Browsec VPN account, you can use up to 6 devices simultaneously.
Summary
Although the free version is slow, it works very well for our needs. Since it doesn’t expire and is located in the Bahamas, it’s a good choice for bypassing geographical restrictions and privacy. Again, if you’re going to stream something, make sure you’re faster. The speeds you see aren’t bad, but they aren’t great either.
No one wants their favorite show or live event to be buffered. Remember to always be on your toes when on WiFi. This free service is slow, but the lack of leaks is impressive.
Just remember that you can only connect to the US, UK, Netherlands and Singapore. This can help you bypass geographical restrictions if you want to use SoundCloud, Pandora, or other offerings.
