VPN Gate Review 2021

You can find out the performance of dozens of other VPNs on our VPN reviews 2021 page.

My Rating Criteria

I tested VPN Gate with my own created 8 steps criterion that includes:

My Rating Criteria

1. Pricing – How much is VPN Gate?
2. Security – Protocols, Encryption & Features
3. Jurisdiction – Where is this VPN Based?
4. Speed – On the Lower Side
5. Streaming – Does it work with Netflix, Torrenting & Other Streaming Services
6. Leaks – IP, DNS, WebRTC & Virus Tests
7. Trustworthiness – Logging Policy, Customer Support & Reddit Reviews
8. Compatibility – Does it support  all platforms & Devices

Pricing – How much is VPN Gate?

VPN Gate is free, and it will remain that way throughout its existence. The individuals behind this brilliant venture have no plans on introducing paid plans.

This is something unusual as we have previously seen ‘free VPNs’ venture into paid pricing plans. However, it seems as if money is not the motivational factor for the good people at Tsukuba University.

Security – Protocols & Encryption

As VPN Gate servers are run by worldwide volunteers, each server can support different protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec,  or SSL-VPN. However, I didn’t find PPTP protocol, which is not a big issue since PPTP is an obsolete technology anyway.

VPN Gate has an interesting mechanism for tunneling protocols and encryption. Here is how it works:

Server operators of VPN Gate have the freedom to choose which encryption they would like to use on their server. They can use anything up to 256-bit military-grade encryption.

Therefore, you are never too sure which encryption level is being used until you test the VPN yourself. It varies from server to server.

Jurisdiction – Where is this VPN based?

VPN Gate is a freemium privacy solution and a subsidiary of SoftEtherVPN that was introduced in Japan.

The VPN service was initially launched as a research project at the University of Tsukuba, Japan.

Recently, internet freedom has declined to a certain extent as the official authorities have started banning manga piracy sites.

As a result, law enforcement agencies have arrested numerous copyright violators. Therefore, you should not use the VPN gate for downloading copyrighted material.

Servers Network

VPN Gate offers a massive server infrastructure consisting of about 6000+ public VPN relay servers distributed across prime regions of the world.

The exact number of public VPN relay servers keeps changing, but on average, VPN Gate offers around 12 to 13 active servers in the US.

These servers are located across New York, Florida, Texas, and more cities.

They are also available in other countries like Ukraine, Georgia, UK, Germany, Canada, Poland, Japan, the Philippines, Brazil, Norway, India, Mexico, and Thailand.

Moreover, you can use VPN Gate in China too.

Speed – On the Lower Side

The server speed of VPN Gate is not good enough at all. I explored this reality when I connected to its US server. I used a 24 Mbps internet connection, and after connecting to its US server, I received a mere 3.98 Mbps connection speed.

I noticed a considerable drop of more than 80% in speed:

Streaming – Does it work with Netflix, Torrenting & Other Streaming Services

VPN Gate is an impressive option when it comes to unblocking US Netflix securely. That said, connection speeds at times can hamper your streaming experience a great deal.

Torrenting

A VPN with L2TP/IPSec is considered a safe and perfect solution to download torrents anonymously. This Japanese service offers L2TP/IPSec, but you shouldn’t use VPN Gate for torrenting purposes.

As VPN Gate servers are run voluntarily by worldwide users, your online activities might get shared with ISP or copyright trolls. Thus, in the VPN Gate review, I suggest users steer clear of VPN Gate, especially for torrenting activities.

It is important to know for all streaming fans that VPNGate works exceptionally well on Kodi.

When it comes to unblocking Live TV Channels or safe streaming, it is a go-to option, So is the best VPN Kodi.

For more torrenting VPNs, visit the best VPN for torrenting 2021.

Leaks – IP, DNS, WebRTC & Virus Tests

VPN Gate is secure as it does not leak your IP, DNS, and WebRTC information. Moreover, its app did not reveal any virus or malware during the testing phase.

IP Leak:

DNS Leak:

WebRTC Leak:

Virus Test:

I checked its Windows file to see if it exposed any virus or not. Fortunately, it did not expose any malware.

Trustworthiness – Logging Policy, Customer Support & Reddit Reviews

You may easily find the logging policy of the VPN Gate on the server list page. Here, the providers make it clear that they keep logs for two weeks.

Other than that, VPN Gate also maintains a strict anti-abuse policy. For that purpose, it records connection logs that include:

• Time and date
• IP address, ID, and VPN server’s destination hostname
• Type of action (disconnect and connect)
• Choice of VPN protocol (L2TP, SSL-VPN, SSTP, or OpenVPN)
• Hostname and Original IP address of the source VPN client computer
• VPN Client software-name, id, and version
• Debug data of communication errors and number of bytes and packets during the VPN connection

All this information ends up on the university’s logging server through all of the VPN Gate servers.

While examining customer service for this VPNGate review, I wasn’t able to find any 24/7 live chat or helpline for timely customer support.

As a free VPN service, VPN Gate offers a detailed discussion forum where users can find basic VPN Gate information.

VPN Gate Reddit Reviews

Some Redditors asked, “Is VPNGate safe“? The replies showed that people trust this service.

Interestingly, reddit users also recommend VPN Gate for unblocking Japanese Netflix. Now, although this quite possible, the slow speed of the VPN might hinder the streaming experience.

Check more VPN reviews by Reddit users here.

Compatibility – Does it support all platforms and devices?

VPN Gate is available on a range of platforms. Users can freely use the VPN on Windows, Android, and iOS.

However, they will need to set up this VPN on these devices manually.

Windows users can use VPN Gate on their laptops and desktops to protect against prowling hackers, snoopers, identity thieves, state surveillance, and more cyber threats.

While conducting this review, I found no official VPN Gate client for iPhone, iPad, or other iOS devices.

Unlike iPhone, VPN Gate does not offer a native app for Android. Furthermore, the service does not have extensions for browsers such as Opera, Chrome, and Firefox.

The provider has not specified if it supports routers, smart TVs, or gaming consoles as well.

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