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Turbo VPN Review

Rob Mardisalu

Rob Mardisalu

Below is my Turbo VPN review…

Article Summary

  • Security concerns: Unverified no-logs policy with potential Chinese connections
  • Performance issues: Slow speeds with 89% reduction on distant servers
  • Limited functionality: Free version has ads, data caps, connection problems
  • Better alternatives: ExpressVPN and PIA offer superior features at similar costs

Turbo VPN is a Singapore-based VPN service that offers both free and premium plans.

The Virtual Private Network has over 300 million downloads worldwide, with most using the free version according to their official statements.

We’ve already had a few run-ins with free VPNs. Not many of them good.

Some either lack security, suffer poor performance, or even log and sell your data to third parties.

We’re going to find out in this Turbo VPN review if they suffer from the same flaws. Or if they’re the exception to the rule.

TurboVPN-download-screen

Turbo VPN Overview

OVERALL RANK: 78
USABILITY: 2/5
LOG FILES: Unverified No-Logs Policy
LOCATIONS: Claims 111 countries, 21,000+ servers
SUPPORT: 24/7 Live Chat (Unreliable)
TORRENTING: Limited Support
NETFLIX: Limited (US Netflix Only)
ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL: AES-256; OpenVPN, IKEv2, V2Ray, SSR
COST: Free or $3.33-$11.99/month
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.turbovpn.com

Turbo VPN Pros

Hoxx VPN, another ‘freebie,’ was one of the worst VPNs we’ve reviewed.

Thankfully, Turbo VPN doesn’t suffer the same fate.

For starters, they seem to take security more seriously than most free VPNs, which often amount to no more than a proxy service. They also provide multiple encryption protocols and strict security policies that reportedly don’t leak your IP, DNS, and WebRTC information.

There are servers that work with Netflix US, though most other streaming platforms remain inaccessible according to recent tests.

Here’s the full list.

1. Top of the Line Protocols and Encryption

Most free VPNs tend to skimp out on security measures.

But that’s not the case with Turbo VPN.

For starters, they use the best-in-class OpenVPN tunneling protocol. It’s an open-sourced system, so it’s kept up to date by a vast community watching each other’s backs.

They also offer several other protocols including IKEv2, V2Ray, SSR, and on mobile devices, WireGuard providing different levels of security and performance.

Paired with these protocols is government-level AES-256 encryption for premium users (though free users get AES-128 which is still strong but not as robust).

When government agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA want to encrypt their data, AES-256 is what they’re using. It’s been proven uncrackable by modern supercomputers.

An impenetrable VPN tunnel like this ensures your information is safe and sound.

The only threat to your anonymous web browsing experience at this point would be a DNS or WebRTC leak.

2. Mixed Results on Leak Tests

Leaks can undo even the best VPNs.

It doesn’t matter if they work flawlessly with Netflix or have a strict no-logging policy. If your tunnel sprung a leak, the VPN is essentially useless.

Leaks occur in two major forms.

First, there are DNS leaks, in which your VPN tunnel is bypassed, exposing your original IP to the Internet Service Provider.

The other common leak is a WebRTC leak. This time, APIs associated with the WebRTC project interfere with a VPN tunnel. WebRTC leaks are a perfect example of a good concept gone wrong.

Recent tests of Turbo VPN have yielded mixed results. While the company claims to provide full leak protection, some testers found that the Dublin server leaked their IP address. Other servers performed better in tests, showing that leak protection is inconsistent across their network.

TurboVPN-Your-IP-addresses

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TurboVPN-Leak-Test TurboVPN-currently-used-DNS-server

The leak test results for Turbo VPN have become more inconsistent in 2025, with some users reporting failures while others still get clean results. For best protection, we recommend using their kill switch feature (available only on premium plans) to prevent data exposure if your connection drops.

3. Limited Netflix Compatibility

Netflix shares many governments’ hatred of VPNs.

Netflix content is geo-locked, meaning that it is based on your geographic location, so being able to use a VPN to ‘trick’ Netflix into thinking that you were accessing the web from another country was a perfect way to unblock everything.

It didn’t take long before Netflix caught on, though.

And today, they deploy a VPN-detection software so sophisticated that very few VPNs have the ability to bypass it.

When you do manage to find a VPN that works with Netflix? Hold on tight.

Turbo VPN offers both good and bad news for Netflix seekers.

The good news is that Turbo VPN can sometimes access US Netflix when you connect to the right servers. However, tests with other Netflix libraries around the world have been unsuccessful for most users.

The bad news is that many of Turbo VPN’s specialty streaming servers either don’t connect at all or fail to unblock the intended content despite being specifically labeled for streaming platforms.

TurboVPN-Server-locations

So yes, you can use Netflix with Turbo VPN, but only the US library, and not consistently across all servers.

4. Limited Torrenting Support

Torrenting connects you to other users to download large files piece by piece. It’s fast and easy.

But it can also be incredibly risky.

By definition, you’re opening up your system to other users. Not all of them might share your same good intentions.

Cybercriminals have started to use popular torrenting sites to launch attacks.

A VPN helps to protect you from such attacks, hiding your information from prying eyes while also keeping you safe from any legal ramifications.

Turbo VPN offers limited support for torrenting. While they provide a P2P specialty server in the US, many users have reported that it frequently won’t connect. Other servers technically support torrenting but aren’t optimized for it.

What’s more concerning is that some Android users have reported that Turbo VPN’s policy states “please don’t use Bittorrent with VPN or it will get account blocked”, suggesting the company may not be entirely torrenting-friendly.

Turbo VPN Cons

Turbo VPN is nowhere near as bad as some of the other free VPNs we’ve reviewed.

They’re even better than some paid ones, too.

But they’re also a far cry from the upper echelon like ExpressVPN.

A slow connection speed and questionable logging policies start off a plethora of problematic issues.

Turbo has expanded beyond just being a mobile-only application, now offering apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chrome to meet diverse user needs.

An unreliable server network and inconsistent customer support round out this list of cons.

Let’s jump into the bad.

1. Questionable Logging Policy

Logging is always a deal breaker.

That includes logging of all shapes and sizes.

Logging is an area in which many free VPN services fail our review. And it makes sense when you think about it.

“When the product is free, you’re the product,” so goes the old saying.

All companies have to make money. Servers aren’t cheap. So a lot of free VPNs make their money by selling your personal information to advertisers.

Every VPN will swear up and down that they’re not logging any of your information. But when you examine their privacy policy, you see how false that truly is.

Turbo VPN claims to have a strict no-logs policy, stating they don’t log personal information, IP addresses, browsing histories, or DNS queries according to their privacy policy.

However, this policy has never been independently audited or verified, raising concerns about its validity especially given some controversial reports about the company.

In 2022, many customers reported receiving strange notifications in Chinese on their phones after installing Turbo VPN, leading to suspicions about the app’s security and raising questions about potential hacking or Chinese ownership.

While the logging policy isn’t the worst we’ve seen, there’s more than enough questionable behavior here to make users nervous.

2. Singapore Jurisdiction with Chinese Connections

Turbo VPN is officially registered in Singapore, which puts it outside the extended 14-Eyes Alliance.

This agreement basically allows countries around the world to spy on each other’s users, and then share the findings with virtually half the developed world, including:

  1. The United States
  2. The United Kingdom
  3. Canada
  4. New Zealand
  5. Australia
  6. Denmark
  7. Germany
  8. Italy
  9. Netherlands
  10. Norway
  11. Sweden
  12. France
  13. Belgium
  14. Spain

If they’re in Singapore, and outside this agreement, that’s great… right?

Well, yes and no.

It’s true they don’t have to worry about those countries.

But there are concerns that Turbo VPN may have connections to China, with their privacy policy allowing them to send collected data to servers based in China.

China isn’t exactly known for their support of privacy.

They’re notoriously strict on internet censorship, going so far as to create what is known as the Great Firewall to prevent access to certain foreign websites. The Chinese government blocks access to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube, and more.

Singapore, while outside the 14-Eyes Alliance, has been suspected of sharing information with these countries, further complicating the jurisdictional advantages.

So you’d be right to be skeptical about how much privacy this VPN truly provides.

3. Slow Speeds

Turbo repeatedly claims on their official website that they’re the “fastest VPN.” This claim doesn’t hold up in independent testing.

TurboVPN-speed-of-a-hare

Recent speed tests show that Turbo VPN significantly reduces connection speeds, particularly on long-distance servers. Tests revealed an average drop of 25% on nearby servers and a massive 89% reduction on long-distance connections.

Every VPN will slow you down a bit. It’s part of what you give up for an anonymous browsing experience.

But the best of the best will only take your performance level down a little bit, to the point where you’d hardly even notice.

That wasn’t the case here.

Some testers even reported that speeds from Brazil showed a 96% loss from baseline, making the connection virtually unusable, even for casual browsing.

What’s particularly strange about Turbo VPN’s performance is that sometimes servers farther away performed better than nearby ones, showing inconsistent optimization across their network.

Turbo VPN is clearly not a name that you’ll see on our list of the fastest VPNs.

4. Expanded Device Support But Limited Connections

In a positive development, Turbo VPN is no longer mobile-only. The service now offers apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chrome expanding its utility significantly.

TurboVPN-mobile-only-download

However, premium plans only allow for 5 simultaneous connections which is relatively limited compared to other VPNs in the same price range. Many competitors now offer unlimited simultaneous connections.

Unlike most premium VPN services, Turbo VPN doesn’t offer router compatibility, though they do provide instructions for setting up a WiFi hotspot on your PC to support game consoles and smart TVs as a workaround solution.

5. Unreliable Server Network

Turbo VPN claims to have over 21,000 servers in 111 countries according to their website, which would be one of the largest networks in the industry if true.

However, independent testing has raised doubts about these claims. One reviewer could only count 46 countries available in the macOS app, and many of the servers simply wouldn’t connect at all.

Problems with server connections are frequently reported, with users encountering error messages like “The VPN server did not respond. Verify the server address and try reconnecting” when attempting to use various locations.

The specialty streaming servers are particularly problematic, with many failing to connect or being unable to access the services they’re supposedly optimized for.

Turbo VPN’s kill switch (available only on premium plans) provides a last line of defense against leaks, but the unreliability of the server network makes this feature all the more essential if you choose to use this service.

6. Inconsistent Customer Support

The best VPN systems in the world have 24/7 live chat or email to help at a moment’s notice.

Turbo VPN does offer 24/7 live chat support, but the quality and reliability are questionable. Users report frequently being placed low in the queue, sometimes waiting up to 30 minutes to speak with an agent.

Even when connected, support staff often lack knowledge about basic technical aspects of the service. Some testers found the support completely useless, with agents disconnecting before questions could be asked or providing vague answers unrelated to the queries.

Email support is equally problematic, with many users reporting that their messages go unanswered.

The website does provide a basic knowledge base, but it lacks comprehensive information and troubleshooting guides that would be helpful for resolving common issues.

7. Ad-Filled Free Version & Performance Issues

The free version of Turbo VPN continues to be plagued with advertisements that interrupt the user experience.

TurboVPN-in-App-Store

Free users also face significant limitations, including:
– A daily data cap of 500MB which is insufficient for streaming or heavy browsing
– Access to only 7 server locations compared to the premium version’s expanded network
– No access to the kill switch feature, increasing security risks
– Slower connection speeds with a 2Mbps limit making HD streaming difficult
– Constant advertisements that disrupt the browsing experience

Even the premium version has its share of performance issues. Multiple users have reported crashes on Windows devices, with one tester experiencing a complete system crash (blue screen of death) that required a full device reset.

All in all, it remains a frustrating experience, particularly for those using the free version.

Turbo VPN Costs, Plans, and Payment Options

Turbo VPN offers both free and premium plans, with the premium options providing additional features and removing advertisements.

TurboVPN-Costs

The premium plans include:
– Monthly: $11.99 per month
– 6-month plan: Variable pricing with discounts
– 1-year plan: Variable pricing with discounts
– 2-year plan: $3.33 per month (the most economical option) offering a significant discount

All premium plans include:
– Access to the full server network
– No advertisements
– Faster connection speeds
– 5 simultaneous connections
– Access to all security features including the kill switch
– 24/7 customer support

Payment options have expanded to include:
– Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
– PayPal
– Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin through Coinify) for anonymous payments
– App Store and Google Play billing

Turbo VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all premium plans allowing users to request a full refund if not satisfied with the service.

Do I Recommend Turbo VPN?

No, I do not.

Don’t get me wrong, as far as free VPNs go, this is one of the better options.

That’s not saying much, though.

The free version is severely limited with ads, data caps, and reduced security features. The performance is inconsistent, with frequent server connection failures and significant speed reductions.

Their privacy policy raises concerns, particularly with the unverified no-logs claims and potential connections to China. Customer support is unreliable, and there are better options available at similar price points.

The premium plans do offer improvements, but they’re overpriced compared to more reliable competitors. Services like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access provide more features, better speeds, and proven security for similar costs.

If you’re planning on spending any kind of money or want to do anything more than just casually browse the web, there are much better options out there.

I recommend you check out those, instead.

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    1 user reviews for Turbo VPN

    Greg 1/10 March 01, 2019

    TurboVPN Customer Support

    Hi there. I never subscribed to this service, yet they are billing my credit card. Despite many attempts to contact them I have had no luck. There are many other people out there with the same problem. There are no contacts details at all available - website, other users, nothing. Whether the service works or not, if they get your credit card - it's a sad day - you'll never get off their list.