Hoxx VPN is more like a proxy service than a full VPN. It promises to unblock geo-restricted websites, hide your IP address and encrypt your internet connection. It offers both free and paid versions to protect your personal data when using public Wi-Fi.
Hoxx VPN is owned and operated by a company called VPN1 LLC. They are based in the United States.
Their product has been on the market since 2014 and, according to their official website, over 7 million users have used it across their network of servers located in approximately 50 country locations.
Those numbers are impressive, to say the least.
Hoxx promises “100% safety, privacy, and protection.” All three things VPNs should aspire to.
But do they deliver? That’s what we set out to find in this review.
Hoxx VPN Overview
| OVERALL RANK: | #75 out of 78 VPNs |
| USABILITY: | 1/5 |
| LOG FILES: | Extensive Logging Policy |
| LOCATIONS: | 50+ (exact count undisclosed) |
| SUPPORT: | Slow email support with vague responses |
| TORRENTING: | Not supported |
| NETFLIX: | Limited success with some servers |
| ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL: | Outdated 4096-bit RSA; HTTP Tunneling, Shadowsocks |
| COST: | Free or $1.99/month |
| OFFICIAL WEBSITE: | www.Hoxx.com |
Hoxx VPN Pros
Hoxx VPN offers the same promises as every other VPN on the market:
- Grant you anonymity on the web by masking your public IP and relocating you to a server in another country.
- Access geo or government blocked content in a secure environment, including entertainment streaming services and social media platforms.
But here’s the thing.
We used this VPN app to try doing those things.
Here’s what worked (and what didn’t).
1. Decent Number of Servers with Unlimited Connections
Hoxx VPN allows for an unlimited number of connections. This is good considering that internet users divide their time between desktop and mobile devices.
Especially when many other VPNs limit simultaneous connections.
Premium users have access to all 50+ servers located across various countries. This number is reasonable and means your chances of finding a server near you are decent.
But to be honest, this is pretty much where our positive impressions ended.
The experience quickly turned problematic in numerous areas.
So without further ado…
Hoxx VPN Cons
We have multiple significant concerns with this VPN, from its extensive logging policies to its outdated security standards.
Our hands-on testing revealed many issues too. So let’s dive into the details.
1. Hoxx VPN LOGS Your Web Activity
Hoxx is surprisingly honest about its logging practices.
They state in their Frequently Asked Questions page that they do keep logs of your internet activity to fight against illegal actions.
While their stance against criminal activity is understandable, the whole point of a VPN is to not have your activity logged. Their practices directly contradict the primary purpose of using a VPN.
Looking deeper into Hoxx VPN’s privacy policy reveals just how extensive their logging is:
They log information on your browser, access times, pages viewed, IP address, and even the page you viewed before activating their services.
Additionally, they don’t guarantee that your personal information is safe while using their software.
Not only are they logging your information, they’re also reserving the right to save it. But that’s alright because they won’t share it, right?
And there it is.
Hoxx clearly states that your information is not safe on their server. They can and will turn over your data to government or law enforcement if they deem it necessary.
This is extremely concerning for a VPN service that should prioritize user privacy.
2. U.S. Jurisdiction Means Five Eyes Alliance Member
VPN1 LLC, the parent company of Hoxx VPN, is located in the United States.
The United States is a member of the 5 Eyes surveillance alliance. This means in addition to U.S. intelligence agencies keeping your personal data on record, they’re also potentially sharing it with Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
(Photo Credit: pbs.org)
In other words, if one of these countries collects information, they may share it with the other four.
This is particularly concerning when combined with their extensive logging policy mentioned above.
3. Outdated Encryption and VPN Protocols
Hoxx VPN uses 4096-bit RSA encryption, which is significantly outdated.
This used to be considered secure many years ago, but researchers were able to crack it in 2013 using relatively simple hardware.
This falls far short of the industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption used by most reputable VPN services and government agencies. AES-256 encryption remains virtually uncrackable even by modern supercomputers.
Regarding protocols, Hoxx doesn’t use the widely recommended OpenVPN protocol. Instead, it utilizes HTTP tunneling for browser add-on services and the Shadowsocks protocol for its Android and desktop apps.
Notably, Shadowsocks is technically a proxy protocol, not a true VPN protocol, which limits what programs can be protected through it.
4. IP and DNS Leaks Detected
Every VPN we review goes through extensive testing to check for DNS and WebRTC leaks.
A DNS leak occurs when your VPN server is bypassed due to an error, exposing your real IP address to your ISP and rendering the VPN useless.
WebRTC leaks occur when APIs interfere with the VPN and expose your original IP address.
In our testing, Hoxx VPN failed multiple leak tests, suffering from both DNS and WebRTC leaks. This is a critical security failure for any VPN service.
Out of our standard six leak tests, it failed three – a 50% failure rate that clearly indicates security problems.
A combination of outdated encryption and poor leak protection makes this VPN service highly questionable for privacy-conscious users.
5. Significant Speed Reductions
All VPNs cause some speed reduction, but Hoxx VPN’s performance is particularly poor.
Current tests show speed drops between 49% and 99.9% depending on server location, with most servers significantly underperforming.
Our tests with EU servers showed:
EU Speed Test:
- Ping: 39 ms
- Download: 29.66 Mbps (69% slower than benchmark)
- Upload: 46.21 Mbps (12% slower than benchmark)
Our US server test showed:
US Speed Test:
- Ping: 197 ms
- Download: 48.99 Mbps (49% slower than benchmark)
- Upload: 2.78 Mbps (94% slower than benchmark)
These speed results are far from impressive compared to top-tier VPNs. The upload speed reduction on US servers is particularly problematic at 94% slower than baseline.
6. Limited Streaming Service Compatibility
Recent tests show that Hoxx VPN has mixed results with streaming services. Some servers can unblock Netflix, but the experience is inconsistent and video quality is often subpar.
While some users report success with certain servers, the overall streaming capability is unreliable compared to leading VPN services that consistently unblock multiple streaming platforms.
The significant speed drops also make streaming high-definition content difficult even when connection is successful.
7. Does Not Allow Torrenting
Hoxx VPN continues to maintain a firm stance against torrenting on their Frequently Asked Questions page.
While many VPNs limit torrenting to specific servers, Hoxx VPN doesn’t support it at all.
If you’re looking for a VPN specifically for torrenting, check out our list of top torrenting VPNs instead.
8. Limited Device Compatibility
Hoxx VPN primarily focuses on browser extensions rather than full system protection. It offers support for:
While Hoxx works with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Android, iOS, Mac, and Opera, it has significant limitations. The Windows and Mac desktop applications are problematic, with many users reporting they function more like browser proxies than true VPNs.
The mobile apps are somewhat more functional but still have limited features compared to leading VPN services.
Additionally, Hoxx doesn’t offer support for routers, gaming consoles, or smart TVs.
Most critically, it doesn’t include a kill switch feature. In the event of a connection drop, a kill switch would prevent your real IP from being exposed. Without this essential security feature, you remain vulnerable even during momentary disconnections.
9. Discourages Use of TOR Network
Many VPNs support using the TOR network as an additional privacy layer. Using a VPN with TOR provides extra protection by preventing anyone from knowing you’re using TOR in the first place.
However, Hoxx VPN explicitly discourages TOR usage on their FAQ page, even incorrectly stating that it’s illegal.
This is factually incorrect. TOR is legal in most countries and was even initially developed with U.S. government funding. It’s widely used by journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious individuals worldwide.
This mischaracterization shows a concerning lack of understanding about privacy tools.
10. Significant Performance and Installation Issues
Recent tests with Hoxx VPN continue to show significant usability problems across platforms. Multiple reviewers in 2024-2025 have reported:
• Installation failures on Windows and Mac systems
• Connection timeouts
• Frequent disconnections
• Browser extensions functioning better than desktop applications
• Complete lack of internet connectivity when connected to certain servers
The desktop applications appear to function more as modified browsers using proxy connections rather than true system-wide VPNs, which explains many of the performance issues.
Many reviewers report that the actual experience falls far short of what’s advertised on the Hoxx website.
11. Slow Customer Support with Limited Options
Hoxx VPN offers customer support primarily through email and contact forms, but response times are slow and often unhelpful.
Current users report waiting 24+ hours for responses, and when answers do arrive, they’re often vague or generic rather than addressing specific issues.
Premium users supposedly receive priority support, but even this appears to be considerably slower than the industry standard of immediate live chat support offered by leading VPN providers.
Hoxx VPN Cost, Plans & Payment Methods
Hoxx offers both free and premium plans. The premium plan is priced at $1.99 per month, which is considerably lower than most premium VPNs.
The main differences between free and premium plans are:
Free accounts have daily bandwidth limits while premium accounts offer unlimited bandwidth. Premium users also get access to more server locations and supposedly better encryption, though as we’ve noted, even their “better” encryption is outdated by industry standards.
Hoxx accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies for those seeking anonymity.
The service offers a 7-day refund policy, which is considerably shorter than the 30-day money-back guarantees offered by most premium VPN services.
Do I Recommend Hoxx VPN?
Absolutely not.
This VPN continues to fail in nearly every important category we evaluate.
Its extensive logging policies alone are enough to disqualify it as a privacy tool, not to mention the numerous security leaks identified in testing.
The outdated encryption and protocols are easily compromised by modern standards. Speed reductions are severe, making even basic browsing frustrating.
Hands-on testing reveals an unstable service with frequent connection issues, timeouts, and crashes.
While the price is low, you’re essentially paying for a service that fails to deliver the core functionality of a VPN: privacy and security.
You would be much better served by a reputable VPN like NordVPN or ExpressVPN that offers genuine privacy protection, reliable connections, and proper security standards.
Add your own Hoxx review
4 user reviews for Hoxx VPN
Thomas Wu
Don't use Hoxx or any service by VPN1 LLC!!
Yes, is completely right.
I wanted to tell you all, a VPN that keeps logs, gives information to the government, doesn't allow torrenting, and even calls Tor illegal is just pathetic. Please to anyone reading this, don't get tricked by VPNs like this because VPNs like Hoxx, are completely defeating the purpose of a VPN (even though it at leasts changes your IP address).
Monsieur Rioux
Hoxx does what I want
My sole reason for a VPN or Proxy service is accessing UK TV - Mainly BBC and ITV - from Canada. That's all.
Oblivion
It's certainly not a VPN, but it does have a different purpose
The privacy protection on this is shit, I definitely agree, but this has a different purpose to a LOT of people that I know.
This is one of the ONLY working VPN extensions for Firefox that works on our school campus grounds, meaning that this is the only way that we can bypass the strict security filter that the school set up on our Macs. The connection speed is great for any purpose, from Twitter to Discord. And, since this is at school, I don't have any need for security/protection/privacy/blah blah etc., and that's a lifesaver for me since I rely on these blocked sites to work at my job during school hours. Don't know why they call it a VPN, though.
Mario
Probably yes
Probably the worst in Security and all the other stuff you mentioned, but definitely based in my experience in China the thing works everywhere here for the streaming devices. All the other ones works depending of the local firewall, this one as simple as it is works like a charm to see international TV.