In a digital age where online privacy and unrestricted content access are increasingly valued, VPN services have become essential tools for many users. BulletVPN is a relatively lesser-known VPN provider that promises strong security features, the ability to bypass geo-restrictions for streaming, and a no-logs policy. Despite being overshadowed by more popular VPN services, BulletVPN aims to offer a balance of solid security, ease of use, and affordability. Check out our security section for retention laws on logs and privacy. We do consider them in our list of 20 top-tier VPN services.
Summary: Pros / Cons
This review delves deep into the core features of BulletVPN, examining its pros, cons, usability in specific contexts like streaming and torrenting, and how it stacks up against the competition. We’ll also take a look at its security measures, privacy policy, speed performance, and customer support.
Pros:
- Strong Security Features: BulletVPN offers 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and BulletShield (an added protection feature), ensuring users are protected online regardlines of what internet connection the user has.
- Unblocks Major Streaming Platforms: Successfully bypasses geo-restrictions on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and others, using various internet connections.
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Users can test the service with a safety net. Can we say that again? It comes with at 30-day money-back guarantee folks.
- User-Friendly Apps: Available across various platforms, making it accessible to a broad range of users across various server locations.
- No-Logs Policy: Promises that user data is not stored or shared. The user is protected from government agencies across various security collectives.
Cons:
- Limited Server Network: With fewer than 200 servers, BulletVPN’s network is small compared to leading VPN services, leading to potential overcrowding and slow speeds which can change along with your internet connection issues.
- Inconsistent Speeds: While fast on nearby servers, performance drops significantly with long-distance connections (long-distance servers). Decent speeds occur if the user is in the same region.
- No Split Tunneling: This feature, which allows selective traffic through the VPN, is missing.
- Unreliable Customer Support: Slow response times, particularly through email, can leave users waiting for help.
- Expensive Pricing Plans: Despite its smaller network and inconsistent speeds, BulletVPN is priced similarly to premium VPN services.
- Download Speed Issues: There were inconsistencies using various servers and countries.
In What Situation It Works Perfectly?
BulletVPN performs well in certain situations, particularly when security and geo-unblocking are priorities. It is ideal for users who:
- Stream Content Across Borders: If your goal is to access Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or other geo-restricted services, BulletVPN does a solid job at bypassing these restrictions. It is especially useful for casual streamers looking to unblock content in regions like the U.S. or the U.K. Download speed is better if you are in the same region as well when you stream content.
- Require Strong Online Security: With AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and BulletShield, BulletVPN is a good choice for users who want robust security without needing a complicated setup. For anyone accessing sensitive data or connecting to unsecured networks, BulletVPN provides reliable protection.
- Favor Simplicity: BulletVPN is easy to set up, and its intuitive interface ensures that even VPN novices can get the service up and running without a steep learning curve. You can have decent speeds in the process as well.
Where It Is Lacking?
However, BulletVPN falls short in several key areas:
- Limited Server Network: With fewer than 200 servers worldwide, users in regions far from these servers may experience slower speeds and overcrowded servers (across their list of long-distance servers and short-distance servers). This small network also limits its ability to provide a wide range of IP addresses for masking.
- Inconsistent Long-Distance Speeds: While the VPN delivers decent performance on nearby servers, long-distance connections, especially download speed necessary for gaming or streaming in 4K, are often sluggish, affecting the overall user experience.
- Customer Support Response Time: Although they offer 24/7 customer support, reports of slow email response times and unresponsive chat support can be frustrating for users who need help quickly.
- No Split Tunneling: Many VPNs offer split tunneling, which allows users to route some traffic through the VPN while keeping other traffic on the regular connection. BulletVPN lacks this feature, which could limit its appeal for users wanting more control over their connection.
Does It Work with Netflix, Hulu, and Other Streaming Sites?
Yes, BulletVPN is effective at unblocking popular streaming platforms. In tests conducted by various reviewers, it was able to bypass the geo-restrictions of Netflix (particularly U.S. Netflix), Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and other major services.
For users specifically seeking VPN services for streaming purposes over distant servers, BulletVPN provides a reliable solution—at least on servers dedicated to these platforms. However, it’s worth noting that streaming in HD or 4K may not be optimal on distant servers (also called long-distance servers), as speed issues may interfere with high-quality streaming. With a 30-day money-back guarantee and 256-Bit AES Encryption, it’s worth a try.
Does It Work in China?
While many VPN providers and services struggle to operate reliably in restrictive countries like China, BulletVPN does not currently market itself as a VPN that can reliably bypass the Great Firewall of China. Due to its relatively small server network, even with a decent list of distant servers, and limited advanced obfuscation techniques, it may face difficulties functioning in heavily censored regions. Your online security and anonymity may be at risk.
Users who need a VPN specifically for use in China might find more robust options with larger networks and stronger capabilities for bypassing censorship.
Is it Compatible with WireGuard and OpenVPN?
Yes and No, BulletVPN supportS WireGuard, but not on the software or application. You will have to request WireGuard service files, of up to 5, through their online support and apply those files through a proxy service that allows for WireGuard. It does offer OpenVPN, a highly secure and reliable protocol. OpenVPN is one of the most popular choices for VPN users due to its strong encryption and cross-platform compatibility. BulletVPN provides users with options like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPSec protocols, ensuring flexibility based on their needs for speed and security. While WireGuard is faster and newer, OpenVPN remains a solid option for robust security, and it’s fully supported by BulletVPN. You will not be compromising your identity with any government agencies.
What About Pricing Plans for BulletVPN?
BulletVPN offers several pricing plans aimed at providing flexibility for different user needs. The available plans include monthly, yearly, and two-year plans, with the longer-term subscriptions offering significant discounts compared to the monthly option.
- Monthly Plan: This is the most expensive option per month, ideal for users looking for short-term VPN access.
- Yearly Plan: Comes with a substantial discount, providing better value for users looking for longer-term security but without a multi-year commitment.
- Two-Year Plan: BulletVPN’s most cost-effective option for users willing to commit to a longer subscription. The two-year plan significantly reduces the monthly cost and offers access to the same features available in the shorter-term plans, including unlimited bandwidth, access to all server locations, and the ability to bypass geo-restrictions on streaming platforms.
All plans come with unlimited bandwidth, which is crucial for streaming, gaming, or downloading large files. BulletVPN also offers optimized servers for P2P file sharing, providing better performance for torrenting. Despite being a smaller service, BulletVPN maintains competitive pricing that positions it as an affordable alternative to more established VPNs.
Payment options are flexible and include popular methods like credit card, PayPal, and cryptocurrency, which caters to users seeking additional privacy. BulletVPN also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to test the service and request a refund if it doesn’t meet their expectations.
Overall, BulletVPN’s pricing plans cater to different user profiles, and while it doesn’t have the lowest prices in the VPN market, its features—such as obfuscated servers, reliable speeds, and access to geo-blocked content—make it a worthwhile investment, particularly for users looking for privacy, security, and the ability to unblock streaming services.
How About Security?
BulletVPN prioritizes security with the following features:
- AES-256 Encryption: This is the industry standard for strong encryption, used by government agencies and trusted for securing sensitive data, across their short and long distance servers.
- Kill Switch: BulletVPN includes a kill switch to protect your data in case the VPN connection drops. This ensures that no information is leaked while the connection is reestablished.
- BulletShield: An extra layer of security that blocks your internet connection unless you’re connected to the VPN. This feature is particularly valuable for users, using their long-distance servers and short-distance servers, who are serious about security and want to avoid accidental exposure. We detected no DNS leaks on the first pass.
- Multiple Protocols: BulletVPN supports OpenVPN, L2TP, IKEv2, and PPTP, allowing users to choose their preferred level of encryption and speed.
In terms of security, BulletVPN delivers well and should meet the needs of users who prioritize keeping their data safe from prying eyes.
What About Privacy?
BulletVPN has a no-logs policy, meaning they do not store your browsing activity, IP addresses, or session information. This is a critical feature for privacy-focused users, ensuring that even if requested by authorities, there would be no data to hand over. However, as the company is based in Estonia—a privacy-friendly jurisdiction—it also avoids being subject to the strict data retention laws of countries like the U.S., U.K or any government agencies.
No IP or DNS leaks were detected during tests, indicating that BulletVPN lives up to its privacy promises. Nevertheless, it’s always a good idea for users to read the privacy policy carefully and stay informed about any updates.
Using on Torrent Sites?
BulletVPN allows P2P file sharing and torrenting on several of its servers, long-distance servers and short-distance servers, though it does not dedicate specific servers for torrenting. This makes it an option for users who frequently download files via BitTorrent or other peer-to-peer services. However, since the service can suffer from inconsistent speeds on distant servers, users who want to torrent large files may need to be selective about which server they connect to for optimal performance.
What About Support?
Customer support is available via 24/7 live chat and email. While BulletVPN offers multiple support channels, reviews have highlighted issues with slow response times, particularly through email, where users sometimes wait hours or even days for a reply. The live chat is convenient but can also be inconsistent, sometimes going unanswered during peak times.
The company offers a comprehensive help center on its website, with setup guides, troubleshooting tips, and FAQs to assist users with common issues.
What is the Speed?
Speed performance is one of BulletVPN’s weaker points. While local servers generally deliver decent speeds, making it suitable for browsing and streaming in HD, long-distance servers tend to slow down significantly. This can be particularly frustrating for activities that demand high bandwidth, like 4K streaming or online gaming using distant servers.
Speed drops were especially noticeable when connecting to servers located far from the user’s physical location. If you require fast, reliable performance on international connections, you might find BulletVPN less competitive compared to other top-tier VPN services.
Setup and Installation?
BulletVPN prides itself on its easy setup and installation process. The VPN is compatible with a wide range of devices, including:
- Windows
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
- FireTV
- Routers
The Bottom Line
BulletVPN is a solid option for users seeking strong security features and the ability to unblock major streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Its no-logs policy (avoids retention laws of the UK and the US) and robust encryption make it a good choice for privacy-conscious users. We consider it in our 20 top-tier VPN service, However, the service is hindered by its small server network and inconsistent speeds, particularly on long-distance connections.
For users who prioritize privacy and want access to global streaming content, BulletVPN offers a viable, if not premium, option. However, users seeking top-tier speeds or a broader range of features may want to explore alternatives with more comprehensive offerings