SlickVPN positions itself as one of the most budget-friendly options in the VPN market, claiming robust protection against privacy breaches, throttling, and buffering. While their introductory promises may seem exaggerated, it’s worth exploring whether SlickVPN truly delivers on its claims.
Features
Established in 2012 and based in the United States, SlickVPN may not be a household name, but it offers respectable server coverage with 145 locations across 46 countries.
The service provides native applications for Windows and Mac, while Android and iOS users must configure the OpenVPN Connect app. Although this might seem inconvenient, OpenVPN is widely recognized for offering top-tier mobile protection, and configuration is a one-time task.
The Windows client installs easily, but its user interface may divide opinions. The design appears somewhat outdated, and the help link redirects to a browser-based FAQ section, which is not the most user-friendly approach. Support is available 24/7 via a ticket-based system, accessible only through the browser dashboard. While this process could be more streamlined, the support team is responsive and effective.
Within the desktop application, users can sort servers by city, country, and server count, but there is no initial indication of server load. To assess server performance, the app includes a speed test feature where servers can be sorted by name or proximity and subjected to various speed tests. The inclusion of a 2D server map seems unnecessary.
The preferences section allows for basic adjustments such as startup options and logging. Users can enable IP and DNS leak protection, customize protocols, and toggle load balancing, which enhances streaming stability.
The advanced settings tab permits the addition of OpenVPN parameters, though the interface suggests this feature is intended for more experienced users.
While the app does offer a quick view of connection logs, it’s not the most intuitive VPN client and could benefit from a redesign, particularly for novice users.
SlickVPN supports up to five simultaneous connections per account, with unlimited installations across devices. The software includes an embedded kill switch that disconnects if an IP or DNS leak is detected.
Notably, SlickVPN offers a feature called “Scramble,” which obscures OpenVPN headers to bypass Deep Packet Inspection. Another proprietary technology, “Hydra,” employs multi-hop connections to enhance anonymity. However, enabling Hydra requires consulting the user guides.
P2P torrenting, video streaming, and bypassing geo-restrictions are all supported, though finding the fastest servers may require some trial and error.
Pricing
SlickVPN’s pricing is straightforward: $10 per month, $20 for three months, $30 for six months, and $48 for a year, making the annual plan particularly affordable.
All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, without restrictions, which compensates for the absence of a free trial. These prices are competitive, and anonymous payment via Bitcoin is available.
Performance Tests
During synthetic speed tests, there was a slight drop in performance, but streaming remained smooth with minimal lag.
However, real-world performance was inconsistent. Some servers delivered excellent speeds, while others were slow or even unusable.
The results of leak tests were mixed; while WebRTC and IPv6 tests passed, the DNS leak test failed.
Moreover, the client occasionally became unresponsive when encountering errors.
Accessing geo-restricted content is a common use case for VPNs, and in this regard, SlickVPN had mixed results. While it successfully bypassed BBC iPlayer’s geo-blocks and allowed for HD streaming, it struggled to unblock Netflix US.
Privacy
One potential drawback is that SlickVPN is based in the US, which may be concerning for users with strict privacy requirements. If SlickVPN receives a DMCA notice while a connection is active (an unlikely scenario), the connection is terminated, and the user is notified. The company also complies with valid court orders, and there are some inconsistencies in their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For example, their front-page claim of protecting users from “anyone” is somewhat contradicted by their privacy practices.
Although SlickVPN claims to keep no logs, they do store billing information on servers located in and outside the US, and this information may be shared with third parties, which may not meet the trust standards some users expect from a VPN service.
Security
On the security front, SlickVPN employs AES-256-CBC encryption, and DNS leak protection is built-in. Users can choose between PPTP, IPSec, and OpenVPN protocols, with an option for 128-bit encryption for faster connections. The service uses SHA-1 for hash authentication and 2048-bit RSA for handshaking, which are solid security measures.
Combined with the Hydra and Scramble features, as well as DNS and IP leak protection, SlickVPN presents a robust security profile. The inclusion of a Warrant Canary page further enhances their transparency efforts.
