In this Unlocator review, I explore a VPN service that stands out for its streaming capabilities, offering access to major platforms with impressive speed. At $4.99 per month, Unlocator provides over 45 servers supporting torrenting and Netflix in Australia.
While it features a user-friendly interface and compatibility with various devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, it lacks Linux support and has limited simultaneous connections compared to competitors.
Security features, including a kill switch and split tunneling, are decent, but the logging policy raises privacy concerns. Compared to other VPNs like ExpressVPN and Surfshark, Unlocator doesn’t provide as many servers, keeps usage logs, and doesn’t deliver satisfactory connection speeds to its users.
Our Verdict
Ranked #21 out of 56 VPNs
Unlocator is a fairly good streaming VPN considering the huge number of channels it can unblock. It also has an attractive and user-friendly UI which makes it a good choice for users. However, the VPN lacks in the torrenting and speeds department which is a letdown.
Unlocator Category Ratings
Key Findings – Unlocator Review in Australia
At the time of writing this Unlocator review in Australia, I tested the service on the rating criteria described below:
- Pricing – VPN plans are costly.
- Servers – Servers are available in a few countries.
- Security – Keeps logs, but the security features are not that satisfactory.
- Speeds – Disappointingly slow speeds.
- Streaming – Unlocator excels in unblocking geo-restricted content.
- Torrenting – Some P2P servers work, and some don’t.
- Compatibility – Offers apps for most operating systems.
- Installation of Apps and Ease of Use – Straightforward installation and easy-to-use apps.
- Customer Support – Replies within an hour.
Pros & Cons – Unlocator Review in Australia
Below, you’ll find a compilation of Pros and Cons that I discovered during my Unlocator Review in Australia:
Pros
- Offers Smart DNS feature
- Compatible with a majority of streaming services
- Free trial for 7 days
- Kill switch
Cons
- Speeds are rather slow
- Privacy features need improvement
- Expensive pricing plans
- Fewer features compared to other VPNs
Pricing & Plans – How Much Does Unlocator VPN Cost in Australia?
Its pricing is relatively on the higher side. Unlocator currently offers different pricing plans starting at US$4.99/mo. Here’s an overview:
| Plan | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Smart DNS Monthly | US$4.99 | 30 Days |
| Smart DNS Half Yearly | US$6.58/mo | 6 Months |
| Smart DNS Yearly | US$4.16/mo | 12 Months |
| Smart DNS 2-Year Plan | US$3.29/mo | 24 Months |
| Smart DNS + VPN Monthly | US$11.99/mo | 30 Days |
| Smart DNS + VPN Half Yearly | US$8.17/mo | 6 Months |
| Smart DNS + VPN Yearly | US$6.99/mo | 12 Months |
| Smart DNS + VPN Two Yearly | US$4.99/mo | 24 Months |
Unlocation free is not available; they must get a subscription.
On the payment front, the service does not offer various options in Australia. You can only use several payment methods like Credit Card, PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
A free trial of Unlocator is offered for seven days, allowing subscribers to test the service at its best before paying. The best part is that its free trial version requires no credit card information. Last, you can avail yourself of 5 simultaneous connections with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The free trial and simultaneous connections may be appealing, but the prices definitely hold me back.
Servers and Locations– How many servers are offered by Unlocator in Australia?
Unlocator only offers 45+ servers in 39 countries worldwide. The service has to improve its existing server network significantly if it wants to compete with other VPNs in the industry.
Unlocator VPN server network is a bit limited as compared to competitors
Sadly, the low number of servers is a big red flag for me as the server network may get congested very quickly. If a swarm of users tries to use the same server simultaneously, it’ll heavily affect the speeds. Even though Unlocator is working towards increasing the number of servers, you cannot sit idle until then.
I’d suggest you opt for premium VPNs like NordVPN or ExpressVPN as they offer plenty of servers in Australia.
Security and Privacy – How secure is Unlocator in Australia?
According to my Unlocator review research, Unlocator is a strong and secure VPN in Australia, only when using its OpenVPN protocol. However, its Smart DNS alone can’t encrypt your data so you ought to get a Smart Unlocator DNS + VPN subscription.
On the other hand, they offer different protocols like PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. In terms of encryption, they deliver obfuscation 256-bit military-grade encryption, and SHA-512 authentication.
Encryption Protocols
Unlocator employs 256-bit encryption, the standard in online security, along with popular protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2, to safeguard your privacy. Using Unlocator VPN, your device is secured with military-grade encryption to protect your sensitive information.
Your online activities are kept anonymous by masking your IP address, and Unlocator doesn’t keep any logs of your browsing history. By subscribing to Unlocator, you can enjoy top-notch security features that will give you peace of mind.
Jurisdiction
Unlocator’s online privacy protection mechanism is inadequate. Despite claiming to have measures in place to prevent monitoring of its users’ online activities, the service is based in Denmark, a country that belongs to the 14 Eyes jurisdiction.
Unlocator states that it doesn’t retain sensitive user data, but in reality, this is not entirely accurate. These factors contribute to Unlocator being considered a privacy-unfriendly service, which exposes user information to third-party entities and government agencies.
Unlocator Logging Policy
In terms of logging data, unfortunately, this Denmark-based service keeps its users’ usage logs for a day at least as Unlocator’s primary focus is on geo-dodging and not privacy. Unlocator states in its privacy policy that it stores the following information on its users:
- Name
- Address
- Credit card information
- IP Address
- Location data
- Usage logs
- Cookies and tracking technologies
It’s quite possible that you, like us, would feel uncomfortable knowing that your personal information and internet activities are being shared without your knowledge. Despite Unlocator’s assurance that it uses cookies to enhance its site, targeted ads may still bother you.
Therefore, it’s important to familiarize yourself with VPN logging policies in Australia and understand the essential factors to look out for in any VPN’s privacy policy. This will help you make informed decisions about your online privacy and security.
In my leak protection testing, I discovered that the Unlocator is impenetrable.
IP Leak:
I connected my device to a Bulgarian server and tested my IP address. As you can see in the screenshot below, my actual IP address is not visible. Here are the results of my Unlocator IP leak test results:
Unlocator easily passed my IP leak test.
Similarly, I also tested my connected device, which had a Bulgarian IP address, for any DNS leaks in Australia. Thankfully, I didn’t face any DNS leaks whatsoever. Here are the results of my Unlocator DNS leak test results:
I faced no DNS leaks while using Unlocator VPN.
I also conducted a webRTC leak test just to be sure. Luckily, I didn’t face any leaks here, either. You can see the image below; despite using a Bulgarian server from the US, my actual IP address is hidden. Here are the results of my Unlocator WebRTC leak test results:
There were no webRTC leaks while using Unlocator.
I tested its Android app link on VirusTotal and received no virus at all:
The unlocator’s setup was free of bugs.
Kill Switch
While Unlocator may not offer the same range of features and extras as some of its more well-known competitors, it does possess one of the most valuable options in the VPN industry: a kill switch.
This mechanism is designed to terminate your internet access if the VPN connection is lost. As a result, it effectively prevents any of your data from being exposed to unauthorized parties.
Simultaneous Connections
Simultaneous connections refer to the ability of a VPN service to connect multiple devices to its network using a single subscription. This means that users can connect multiple devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, to the VPN at the same time.
Unlocator VPN offers up to five simultaneous connections on a single subscription, making it an excellent option for users who want to protect all their devices with a single VPN account in Australia.
Speeds and Performance – How Fast is Unlocator VPN in Australia?
Speed is a crucial aspect, as users like to use fast VPNs in Australia. Paying for high-speed internet only to experience slower speeds due to ISP throttling in Australia or interruptions while using a VPN service is an undesirable outcome for anyone.
After conducting speed tests across various locations and times, the average download speed for Unlocator was 6.89 Mbps. The tested servers were located in North America, Europe, and Asia, with the speed performance relatively slow across all regions.
Surprisingly, the Hong Kong server performed better than the UK server during testing.
As you can see, there is a decline of 77% in speed.
On the US server, I received just a 5.43 Mbps download speed and an upload speed of 2.54 Mbps on the same base connection. As you can observe, there was a speed drop of 81.9%:
With such speeds, I couldn’t carry out tasks in Australia.
Unlocator also performed well during online gaming when connected to a VPN server close to the user’s physical location. Only a small hiccup occurred when attempting to connect to another player in the same area as the VPN server, which could have been an issue on the other player’s end.
Streaming – Does Unlocator Unblock Streaming Platforms In Australia?
Unlocator is a reputable VPN option for reliable streaming, providing access to a vast array of streaming channels that can be unblocked through its website. It includes a Smart DNS service, making it even more suitable for streaming in Australia.
Unlocator’s impressive capabilities extend to its ability to unblock multiple streaming sites, including both international and local TV channels. Popular examples of these include BBC America, Amazon Prime, BT Sport, DStv, Hayu, Optus Sport, Stan, ZDF, and many others.
While Unlocator possesses various strengths, it falls short of being considered as the best VPN for streaming in Australia primarily due to its limited ability to unblock streaming channels, especially Netflix. This limitation stems from Unlocator’s support for Netflix being restricted to just three regions.”
Unlocator is capable of unblocking three Netflix libraries.
My team tested Unlocator’s claim and successfully unblocked Netflix US. However, I noticed average video resolution and buffering issues, impacting binge-watching.
Therefore, for a smoother streaming experience, consider using the best free VPN for Netflix in Australia, which may improve video quality and reduce buffering.
I unblocked Netflix US using Unlocator’s US – New York server.
Torrenting – Is Unlocator P2P Compatible In Australia?
Yes. Unlocator allows its users P2P activities in true letter and spirit. They advise their users to avail themselves of servers located in P2P-friendly countries.
Based on my experience while penning the Unlocator review, I concluded that Unlocator is not that reliable for bypassing torrent blocking in Australia.
Even though it offers P2P servers, some didn’t work for us. Furthermore, if you try to download pirated content, Unlocator states in its Terms and Conditions that your account will be terminated without a refund.
Unlocator speeds pose a significant obstacle when it comes to torrent files. To illustrate, it took me an entire hour to download a 2GB file. Undoubtedly, you would be inclined to opt for the best VPN for torrenting rather than sticking with this one.
Compatibility – Which Devices are compatible with Unlocator In Australia?
The following devices work well with Unlocator:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android
- Apple TV
- Boxee
- Chromecast
- iPad iPhone and iPod
- Kindle Fire
- LG
- Nexus Player
- OS X.
- Playstation 4 & 5
- PS Vita
- Roku
- Ubuntu
- Vista
- Western Digital
- Wii
- Wii U
- Win Phone 8
- Windows 10
- Xbox 360 and Xbox One
You can find the setups for various operating systems and devices on Unlocator’s Setup Guides page.
Unlocator takes an edge over many paid VPN services with its compatibility in terms of devices. Unlocator is available across iOS, Android, Tablets, Smart TVs, and gaming consoles. They deliver interactive apps for different platforms like Windows, Mac, and Amazon as well.
Installation of Apps and Easy to Use in Australia
Unlocator VPN is easy to install and set up, with a simple and intuitive interface. It is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and more, making it a convenient choice for users looking for a user-friendly VPN service.
Installing Unlocator on Windows
Here are the steps to easily install Unlocator VPN on Windows OS.
- Download the Unlocator setup file for Windows from their website.
- Double-click the installation file in your Downloads folder.
- Check for additional shortcuts for convenience and click Next.
- Click Install.”
- Log in with your account credentials once the setup is completed.
- Click on the server name to access the server list.
- Choose a server from the list.
- Click Connect” to encrypt and anonymize your data.
Installing Unlocator on macOS
Here are the steps to install Unlocator VPN easily on macOS.
- Visit Unlocator’s official website and download the macOS setup file.
- Locate the .dmg file in your Downloads folder.
- Move the Unlocator VPN app to the Applications folder.
- Open the Unlocator VPN app from the Applications folder.
- Click Open” and enter your credentials.
- Click on the server name and choose a server from the list.
- Click the Connect button.
- You are now connected to Unlocator’s VPN service.
Installing Unlocator on Android
Here are the steps to easily install Unlocator VPN on Android.
- Visit Unlocator’s official website and download the Android setup file.
- Find Settings
- Select Connections
- Tap Wifi
- Select Wifi network’s Settings
- Tap Advanced
- Choose Static for IP Settings and select DHCP
- Input Unlocator DNS servers: DNS 1: 183.37.37.37 & DNS 2: 185.37.39.39
- Tap Save
- Restart your device
Is Unlocator’s Customer Support Helpful in Australia?
Yes, Unlocator’s customer support is helpful, especially For Australian Users. You can get in touch with them through their live chat. To get their attention, you can leave them a message, and soon, an agent will be assigned to you and address your queries in Australia.
I had a terrific experience with customer support while researching for my Unlocator review. After sending a greeting on their live chat, I was joined by a representative within minutes. I didn’t have to wait long. The representative was pretty helpful and patiently answered all my queries.
This way, you may solve all your VPN issues immediately.
I found Unlocator’s customer support helpful.
- Setup Guides
- FAQs
- Knowledgebase
All in all, I had a good experience with Unlocator’s customer support.
Alternatives to Unlocator VPN in Australia
Unlocator is not an option For Australian Users who wish to experience secure browsing. For them, other VPN providers will do a better job. Here are their reviews.
FAQs – Unlocator Review In Australia
Why is Unlocator not working in Australia?
Unlocator may not be working For Australian Users because they may not have set up your device correctly. Simply visit your Unlocator account from the same device you’ve set up your DNS. Otherwise, you’ll keep running into the Error – Your DNS is not set up correctly” error on your Unlocator VPN.
Will Unlocator slow my speeds down in Australia?
Yes, Unlocator may slow down your speeds, but very slightly. Although while using a VPN such a drop in speeds is completely normal and it’s completely worth it for enjoying complete privacy and security while browsing the internet.
Where is Unlocator based?
Unlocator is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Is Unlocator legal in Australia?
Yes, Unlocator is legal and can be used for legal purposes as long as you are committing any crime. Its website states in particular, that it is not responsible in any way if the users violate any laws. Illegal acts being committed through Unlocator are still illegal and punishable by law. So we’d suggest you avoid participating in such acts.
Can Unlocator work with Netflix in Australia?
Yes, you can unblock Netflix using Unlocator. It claims that thanks to its DNS and VPN technology, you can access geo-restricted sites, including Netflix. Simply install Unlocator, and you won’t ever have to miss any of your favorite shows at all. The speeds I received for streaming weren’t good enough for me to stream Netflix, and I had to put up with buffering incessantly.
Is Unlocator VPN safe in Australia?
Yes, Unlocator VPN appears to be a relatively safe VPN service, with no known major security issues or scandals but there are potential risks and concerns to consider, such as the possibility of logging and data leaks. It is always advisable to thoroughly research and evaluate any VPN service before using it.
Conclusion: Do I Recommend Unlocator In Australia?
No, I don’t recommend Unlocator to privacy seekers in Australia.
As a SmartDNS service, Unlocator offers a lot more than other DNS providers. Whether unblocking, streaming, or exploring media on the internet, Unlocator performs well in all three areas. However, regarding reliable online protection, Unlocator is definitely not a preferred option.
The service keeps usage logs and hails from 9 Eyes jurisdiction, which is not a good sign from users’ privacy point of view. Likewise, the service has also fallen short in the speed domain to a great extent.
My Unlocator review shows that the provider has earned 6.7/10 stars overall. You may explore ExpressVPN or NordVPN for efficient unblocking capability and various servers to enjoy using a VPN.
