Hoxx VPN is a product of VPN1 LLC, which has about 100 servers in its free package. The service is based in the US and tracks browsing history and original IP addresses. I guess that’s what you get for using a free VPN like Hoxx VPN.
It’s also the best for streaming and torrent downloads. It doesn’t unblock US websites and doesn’t have fast servers. It is the best option for unblocking websites and social media services.
Read our full Hoxx VPN review to find out if this VPN is really a scam or offers complete online privacy protection.
Features
A high-quality VPN provider offers great VPN features. These are the features that Hoxx VPN lists on its website.
- 4096-bit encryption
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Advanced malware filtering
- 99% uptime guarantee
- No quota restrictions
- Unlimited server switching
Hoxx VPN offers minimal configuration, as the VPN client is easy to install. It is a fairly standard set of features, apart from the lack of features like kill switch and leak protection. There is no mention of torrent support, so if you want to use a VPN for such purposes.
Speed Test
Speed is one area where Hoxx does quite well. We tried both the free and premium packages and noticed a big difference between them, which is important to note. Both the free package and Hoxx VPN’s premium service performed well and delivered decent download speeds.
| Locations | Ping | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Germany |
41ms |
258 Mbps |
36 Mbps |
|
Japan |
302ms |
138 Mbps |
3 Mbps |
|
Canada |
132ms |
176 Mbps |
64 Mbps |
|
USA |
153ms |
90 Mbps |
19 Mbps |
Hoxx VPN has some pretty impressive speeds here, with the German server (near our location in Europe) hitting 98% of the base speed. The rest of the servers are pretty good, and even the lowest – the US – reaches pretty good speeds for streaming UHD video content.
Premium users can use unlimited simultaneous connections (handy for home entertainment or business setups with multiple computers), and the server selection is quite extensive. That means it shouldn’t be too hard to find a fast connection.
One thing to mention, however, is volatility. So, you may need to experiment with a few servers before you find one that meets your expectations.
Pricing Plans
This VPN can be used for free, or you can subscribe to it. Therefore, it is a “free” service.
The premium version costs only $1.99, which makes this VPN very attractive, at least in terms of price. Both the free and premium accounts have unlimited bandwidth. The latter also comes with guaranteed speeds, although our tests were certainly nothing special.
The free plan comes with 1024-bit encryption, while the premium plan implements 4096 bits. The paid model also offers “better” customer support, no ads, and advanced malware filtering.
Privacy Protection
I’m not sure where to start. I said earlier that speed is the worst feature of Hoxx VPN, and I may have been wrong. First of all, they use 4096-bit RSA encryption. This is the encryption technology of the moment, impenetrable and extremely secure due to its complex algorithms.
But, as I said, that was years ago. In 2013, experts were able to crack it using very simple techniques. The new high-end security system now used by organizations around the world is the 256-bit AES standard.
As if that wasn’t enough, Hoxx VPN uses HTTP tunnels or browser plugins, as well as the Shadowsocks protocol for Android and desktop apps. In other words, it abandons the second-rate nature of OpenVPN, although this protocol is still considered the best VPN protocol to date.
Shadowsocks is just a proxy, not a true VPN protocol, so it clearly doesn’t have the flexibility and versatility of a truly secure encryption like OpenVPN.
First of all, Hoxx VPN’s parent company, VPN1 LLC, is based in the United States. As you may know, the US is a member of the Five Eyes surveillance coalition. So, not only do the CIA and FBI keep a watchful eye on your traffic, but Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand also have access to your data in real time.
As for the logging policy, the only positive thing I can say is that Hoxx VPN is at least honest. The FAQ section of the official website clearly states that they can log in.
Netflix is Not Supported
If you were hoping to use Hoxx VPN to unblock Netflix, you will be bitterly disappointed. We tried Daybreak streaming from Netflix UK, US and Canada. Here’s the familiar error message.
From what we’ve seen, the Hoxx VPN isn’t going to break Netflix’s strict restrictions anytime soon.
Customer Support
You can contact 24/7 customer support via email. When we tried this, we received a response within almost 7 hours. This means that while you can send a request at any time, you won’t get a quick response. However, premium users may get a faster response because Hoxx mentions “premium support” and tries to sell a paid version.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Competitive prices
- Virus protection
- Browser extensions
- Unlimited bandwidth
Cons
- No Netflix overseas
- Not fast
- Keeps user records
- No iOS support
Bottom Line
The free Hoxx VPN works well on Android, worse on iOS, and poorly on desktop. But why not replace the free plan with a paid premium subscription on Android? I wouldn’t do it because of the logging policy and location restrictions.
Having tested many paid and free VPNs, I know the real pro VPNs and their links that I posted above in the review. The premium version of Hoxx VPN is weaker compared to the pro VPNs.
