VPN One Click, a budget-friendly VPN service based in the UAE, offers high-speed connections and ease of use. However, its subpar desktop application, inconsistent performance, and lack of support for OpenVPN render it a niche provider with limited appeal.
Features
VPN One Click boasts servers in 41 countries, offering PPTP with 128-bit encryption and L2TP/IPSec with 256-bit encryption. It supports various platforms including Windows desktop, Windows Mobile, iOS, and Android. Despite these features, it falls short of being a comprehensive VPN solution.
The Android application is functional but basic, offering only connect and disconnect options with no customization. The Windows desktop application, however, is notably inferior. It lacks settings, customization options, and transparency regarding the connection protocol.
The user interface is particularly problematic. The application’s window is not adjustable and features a non-interactive map that occupies unnecessary space. This design flaw impedes usability on smaller screens, such as a 14-inch laptop, where navigation is cumbersome due to the hamburger icon being off-screen.
Additionally, the server list is inconveniently nested, requiring multiple clicks to access servers listed by IP address rather than by city or region. This inefficiency makes it challenging to connect to servers in nearby locations, bypass sporting event blackouts, or assess server load and ping times.
The VPN client also demonstrates significant issues with connection management. It fails to notify users of disconnections, and if the application window is closed while the VPN is active, it does not terminate the connection. Upon reopening the application, it often fails to recognize that the VPN is still connected, leading to potential confusion about connection status.
VPN One Click does not support OpenVPN and does not permit torrenting. Users attempting to torrent may experience client crashes or errors. The service also does not offer simultaneous connections, though a subscription can be used on multiple devices within the same platform, provided the same Apple ID or Google Play ID is used.
The service lacks essential features such as a kill switch, firewall, protocol or port options, DNS controls, and the ability to manage favorite servers.
Pricing
VPN One Click accepts payments via PayPal, Bitcoin, iTunes, and Google Play. Pricing is as follows:
- Windows PC: $4.99 per month or $24.99 per year
- Windows Mobile and tablets: $1.99 per month, $10.99 for 6 months, or $19.99 per year
- Mac: $4.99 per month, $14.99 for 6 months, or $24.99 per year
- Android and iOS: $2.99 per month or $14.99 per year each
The subscription model is device-specific, making it costly if coverage for multiple devices is required. Managing numerous subscriptions for a single service can be cumbersome.
Free Trial
VPN One Click theoretically offers a free trial. However, the practical implementation is flawed, with applications often displaying as “expired” upon installation. Support staff suggested that this issue was due to previous installations, but their proposed solutions, including reinstalling the trial version, proved ineffective. Attempts to install the trial version on multiple devices resulted in the same expiration issue, rendering the free trial effectively unusable.
Tests
VPN One Click successfully prevented DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks.
The application did not notably impact my connection speeds, which is expected given that it does not support OpenVPN. OpenVPN is known for its robust encryption, which often affects VPN speeds. However, with protocols like PPTP or IPSec, while speeds are generally better, security is compromised.
Netflix promptly detected the use of a VPN. Streaming on BBC iPlayer was possible, although it was accompanied by persistent buffering issues.
I tested Australian Channel 9 and was able to bypass the geo-blocking restrictions.
Support
If you encounter similar issues, exercising patience is crucial to making this VPN function effectively. The most reliable approach is to utilize their 24/7 live chat support. My own experience required six days of persistent live chat and ticket interactions with customer service, who were polite yet indifferent and somewhat uninformed. The resolution only came after I expressed my intent to leave a negative review on Google Play.
Privacy and Security
One notable positive aspect is that the service does not require an email address for subscription. Upon installation, the app generates a unique ID for payment processing.
Conversely, VPN One Click employs the less secure PPTP protocol. While the website also claims the use of L2TP/IPSec with 256-bit encryption, it is unclear which protocol is used during connection, which may not satisfy more discerning users.
The parent company, Kryptotel, is based in the UAE, with additional offices in Hong Kong and Seychelles. The company asserts that it cannot be compelled to disclose user data to law enforcement due to its policy of not collecting logs or personal information and having no international obligations.
However, their Privacy Policy and FAQs are lacking in technical detail and appear to cater more to novice users rather than addressing the concerns of informed customers. Overall, the website falls short in convincing skeptical users of its credibility.
