FastestVPN Review 2019

The next contender on our ever-growing list of VPN service providers is FastestVPN. You can imagine why this one caught our attention by simply glancing at its not-so-subtle name. Not relatively-fast VPN, not even fast VPN, but fastest.

Nowadays on the software market, it can be really difficult to compete with other developers who might be promoting the same type of service you are, but with a pinch of boldness most of them can really pull it off.

Well, today we’re going to find out together if FastestVPN lives up to its name and is, indeed, the fastest VPN provider out there. Of course, we’ll be focused on many other aspects as well, since, as we know from previous reviews, speed comes in second (ironic, right?) when it comes to things you should be checking out when trying a new VPN service (first comes security, obviously).

Now, with this in mind, let’s dig some information about the company behind this project and elaborate on details such as VPN features, what privacy policy they embrace, what happens with your data, subscription plans, and many others.

We totally understand that maybe you just don’t have that much time to waste and indeed this does look like a long, boring, tedious read, but don’t worry about it. If you find certain sections to be downright not that interesting or are curious about specific parts of this VPN service provider, you can simply use the table of content that we’ve included below. That way, you can find your experience with FindYourVPN to be both enjoyable and efficient.

• A bit of background checking
• Good location choice
• FastestVPN’s Terms of Service analysis
• Privacy Policy rundown
• Quick intro to FastestVPN
• Protocols used
• Many device types supported
• Large number of maximum devices supported
• Creating a FastestVPN account
• Downloading FastestVPN
• Checking for malware
• Installing FastestVPN on your computer
• Running it for first-timers
• Rundown on its main features
• Configuring settings
• Getting it online
• Locations list
• Unlocking restricted content
• Caution is advised
• Torrenting with FastestVPN
• The Customer Support experience
• We got the security results back!
• Speed results are also here
• No trial, although advertised
• 7-day money-back
• Multiple subscription plans
• Conclusion

A bit of background checking

First thing’s first, the company behind the FastestVPN project is based in the Cayman Islands. It put together a team of IT specialists who developed this privacy software solution and, according to their website, are committed to providing you with both high-quality security features as well as high speed.

Not many other details can be found regarding the company, but take it this way: if they’re so protective with their data, that means that most probably they’re going to do the same with yours.

Good location choice

What do we do about the Cayman Island? Well, for starters it’s a popular destination for spending your holidays. You know, lounge chairs, the beach, sunrise and sunsets, cocktails with tiny umbrellas. Sounds familiar?

Another thing that you probably might not be aware of is that Cayman Island is renowned about protecting the privacy of its inhabitants; from bank account details to other types of personal information, you name it. On top of that, it’s not a member of the (in)famous 5, 9 or 14 Eyes alliances. These things make it a desirable location for giving birth to a VPN project such as FastestVPN.

FastestVPN’s Terms of Service analysis

Remember how understanding we were about you wasting your time with large chunks of this review and how you might not be interested in certain sections of this read and whatnot? Well, you’ll soon find out that we’re also human, and we know all about the things that you’d rather skip than go through.

Kind of like, let’s say, terms of service documents? No? How about End User License Agreements? Still nothing? We know you skip them every time you see them, so it’s no use trying to hide around the finger.

However, being that we’re human and all and we understand that many of you are prone to hitting those “skip,” “next” or “accept” buttons as soon as they spawn on your screen, we’ve decided to simplify things for you by reading the agreements ourselves, extracting their essentials and bringing them back to you here on FindYourVPN. How’s that sound? Good? Great, let’s begin!

• First of all, there is no middle way: you either accept the entire “TERMS OF SERVICE” document along with every single condition that’s bound within it or you don’t. If you don’t, you are absolutely not allowed to use FastestVPN’s website or services;
• FastestVPN claims that while their VPN service does elevate your devices’ protection status, 100% privacy can not be guaranteed;
• While FastestVPN attempts to provide you with reliable, dependable and authentic information, it claims no responsibility for the accuracy of the content that’s provided by third-parties on the website;
• FastestVPN also doesn’t provide you with a warranty for the accuracy and absolute completeness of the content or service, without limitations;
• FastestVPN disclaims any third-party-provided information about their service being error-free;
• FastestVPN does not provide you with any warranty for technical errors or service interruptions;
• FastestVPN does not claim any responsibility for damages, direct or indirect or for any losses that arise from their service or from the inability to use the service;
• FastestVPN reserves the right to modify information from any part of the website, service or terms of service at any time and without any prior notification;
• You can only purchase plans that are 6 months or less by using Payment Wall;
• FastestVPN may be able to secure your identity, physical location, and activity, but you have to agree on not abusing the system;
• You may benefit from a free FastestVPN trial, but only once, upon signing up for the app and installing it on your device;
• For iOS devices, signing up to use the FastestVPN services is optional, while other platforms require that you register for an account to start using the FastestVPN services;
• Upon the trial completion on iOS devices, you must sign up and subscribe to one of the available paid subscription plans if you want to continue using the FastestVPN services;
• During the registration process, only a valid email address and a password are required, so that you can use the same credentials on various devices;
• A free trial is only available for new customers, so you can’t benefit from it if you’re already a FastestVPN customer;
• FastestVPN claims to be offering the best possible services, but that if you’re not fully satisfied with them or if you find that the services don’t meet your standards, you can notify FastestVPN via email within 15 days of your purchase;
• Once the refund has been claimed, your account will be suspended immediately;
• The refund might take as long as 15 days to be processed and reach your account or credit card, depending on the payment method you chose;
• FastestVPN has zero-tolerance for any violation of their terms and conditions, manipulation or violation of rights and terms of use, so if you’re caught doing any of the above, your contract will be terminated on the spot;
• You will not be refunded if your account was suspended as a result of you violating the terms of the agreement;
• You will not be refunded if the payment method you chose does not offer a refund option;

What strikes me is that no mention of breaking applicable laws was made in the agreement, but we’re hoping to find something relevant in the privacy policy section of the website, which we’re going to analyze next.

Privacy Policy rundown

FastestVPN claims that the company is totally committed to keeping your online activities as they should be: private. In this section, you will get to understand better what information FastestVPN keeps, how are they collecting it and what that information is being used for.

We do not store your logs in anyway. Any information or logs related to your browsing history – the websites you visit, the content you download or stream, your traffic destinations, or your DNS queries – stays with you and you alone.

Information that FastestVPN keeps:

• Your email address;

FastestVPN claims that the email address is the only thing that’s being kept by them and that you’re the one who willingly provides it during registration. The email address is kept for billing purposes and account registration.

Once you deactivate your account, your associated email address also disappears from the FastestVPN database. By that we mean that they delete it, of course. Third parties such as Google Analytics, Livechat and Hotjar are being used by FastestVPN to enhance your experience and increase the performance of the website.

In reality, the rest of the document is written as an FAQ, which makes it very easy to read and understand.

Since we don’t log any user activity, we can’t connect any activity to a specific user. The only information that we keep, as mentioned above, is the email address – that too for billing purposes. We do not log any history or session data, hence cannot provide any data to the authorities.

• FastestVPN is not legally bound to store any user data or share it with anyone;
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing is allowed on all of the servers;
• Any government request to share data can’t be tied to any specific users since FastestVPN doesn’t store activity logs;
• You are also responsible for preserving the safety of your FastestVPN account and user information while online;
• FastestVPN does not claim responsibility for the way third parties might collect data on their end, so you might want to refer to their Privacy Policy;
• You must be 18 years or older to use FastestVPN’s services;
• The Privacy Policy might be changed at any given time without prior notice, but you’ll be notified about the modifications via email;
• Only the most recent version of the privacy policy document is applicable;
• The last time the FastestVPN Privacy Policy was updated was August 19, 2019;

Quick intro to FastestVPN

Moving on, we know that FastestVPN is based in Cayman Island and doesn’t log your data, but let’s discover a few more essential details before plunging into the depths of this VPN service provider.

A quick glance at the features section displayed on its website reveals that besides the perks already mentioned, this service has a lot more to offer. For instance, FastestVPN comes with both an ad blocker that’s embedded in the app and also anti-malware capabilities.

These can come in quite handy, especially considering that nowadays users everywhere tend to be reckless with their devices, choosing not to use anti-malware solutions because they hog device resources or simply because they don’t fully understand the implications of using such tools.

Protocols used

Actually we’re going to discuss a few things about security measures, not just the protocols in use. First thing first, they use 256-Bit AES encryption, which means that malevolent agents of any nature would need to try a tremendous amount (2 to the 256th power) of different combinations. 256-Bit AES encryption is used by several professionals, Government agencies, and even the military.

An embedded NAT Firewall adds an extra layer of security by making sure that your security is not jeopardized by any incoming traffic that shouldn’t be there. More so, you get to benefit from Wi-Fi security features without lifting a finger.

Last, but not least, the list of protocols used by FastestVPN is as follows:

• PPTP – also known as Point-to-Point Tunneling protocol; this is an obsolete protocol that is most often preferred for its high connection speed, since it comprises basic encryption capabilities;
• L2TP – Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol; this is a protocol that doesn’t pack any encryption or privacy capabilities, but instead relies on an encryption protocol to do so;
• IKEv2 – Internet Key Exchange (v1 or v2, depending on its version) protocol is the newest and most reliable choice when it comes to security; however, not all devices support it;
• TCP – this protocol is more reliable than UDP, can bypass firewalls, but this comes with a price: slower speed;
• UDP – an alternative to TCP if you want faster connections (when streaming, for instance), but at the cost of reliability; when using OpenVPN, UDP is the protocol of choice;

Many device types supported

As many other similar VPN providers, FastestVPN didn’t choke the threshold of supported device types and as a result, you can deploy its app on more than just one device type. Therefore, you can install it on Android, Mac, Windows and iOS devices.

Although this might not seem a wide range of device types at first glance, you’ll be glad to know that using the app isn’t the only way to take advantage of FastestVPN’s capabilities. The VPN is also compatible with various routers, Linux devices, Kodi, Fire Stick, Android Box, Xbox, Roku, PS3, PS4, pfSense, Synology NAS, Apple TV, Chromebook, Fire TV, and more.

You might need to perform a bunch of additional operations in order to use FastestVPN on the device of your choice (in case there’s no app for it yet), but their website provides you with an extensive knowledge database full of helpful guides regarding configuring and using the VPN. So it’s safe to say that you’re most likely covered, no matter what device you’re on.

Large number of maximum devices supported

Ok, maybe this title isn’t exactly the most suggestive one; what we meant is that, compared with other competitor VPN service providers, FastestVPN lets you use the same account on 10 devices at the same time.

That can come in really handy especially if your household has more than just one computer or if you’re a technology aficionado who likes to stay connected on more than just one device, such as a Smart TV, a gaming console, a tablet, a router, and so on, and so forth.

Creating a FastestVPN account

If you didn’t skip the part of the review where we discussed the wonderful terms of service, along with its conditions and whatnot, you probably know that FastestVPN requires you to create an account before you can start using its services.

Yes, there is a trial and yes, there is an exception where you don’t need an account to benefit from the trial, but if you’re not the owner of an iOS device, then buckle up because we’re going to create a FastestVPN account and we’re going to show you how.

1. Go to FastestVPN;
2. Choose a subscription plan from the menu by simply clicking it;
3. Choose between Credit Card and Paypal payment methods;
4. Type your name, email address and email address confirmation in the designated fields;
5. Review and confirm your order by pressing the payment button;

That’s it! You now have a FastestVPN account, but the best part is that you’re also the proud owner of a paid subscription plan, which means VPN galore for you!

Downloading FastestVPN

It is necessary that you register for an account and purchase FastestVPN now and save 92% so that you can use FastestVPN on your device to its fullest extent since there’s no trial version that you can download and test the features before buying them.

However, downloading the app doesn’t require that you have an account with a paid subscription. Simply navigate to their website, access the “Apps” section at the top of the page and scroll down until you reach a pane full of device names (such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and so on).

Clicking any of these entries will either download the required file directly to your device, bring you to a product page (for iOS devices) or provide you with a setup tutorial for certain devices (Linux, routers).

Checking for malware

Surely there’s some mistake, you must’ve reached for the installation part of the review, right? Well, if you’re THAT carefree about the wellbeing of your device, then skip straight ahead to the setup part, I’m sure your PC is immune against viruses, malware and the such.

However, if you’re a responsible user, hear me out: a lot of online content is potentially hazardous, especially since nowadays cybernetic attacks have gotten to the point that virtually anyone could be a target.

Although you can’t pretty much prevent this from happening (i.e. content getting infected), you can at least be aware if there is something nasty going on with your file and refrain from deploying it on your computer.

Without further ado, we checked our file over at VirusTotal and the results came out fine, so the FastestVPN archive wasn’t compromised or anything, but don’t just take our word for it: check the results page for yourself. Also, take a look at the screenshot below.

Installing FastestVPN on your computer

I know we’ve mentioned a large number of devices above, but we’re only going to run you through the basics of installing this application on your Windows computer. Why? Because we believe that most users will attempt to deploy it on a Windows computer and because it’s the most commonly used device in a household. Plus, the website has got you covered with quick guides for everything, putting all of that info here would be overkill.

The first thing that seemed a bit out of place was that the installer came packed in an archive, as opposed to competitors’ products who just deliver an executable to your PC. No trouble there, though, just unpack the archive and run the installer from there. Once you do that, you’ll notice that there’s not much else you have to do, no extra steps, no complicated configuration. Click this-click that, you’re done. The version we installed on our system is 1.2.8.8.

During our VPN-discovery trip, we’ve encountered some VPN services who were not too user-friendly when it came to placing the download button on their website and made you wander around for a long time before finally spotting it. Not the case with FastestVPN.

Running it for first-timers

After you’ve deployed the app on your target computer, you can start using it just like that. There’s no complicated stuff regarding this chapter, and as a matter of fact, the app can be launched automatically after the installation is completed.

Obviously, the first step you need to take after you’re inside the app would be to log in using valid credentials. After doing so, you’ll reach the app’s dashboard, which is as simple as it gets.

The main window is simple enough to be used even by computer novices since no complex controls are available in its layout. Simplicity is more effective in this case since the whole purpose of this service is not to complicate your life, but to offer you efficient privacy protection as quickly and hassle-free as possible.

Rundown on its main features

As you’ve probably noticed already, the main screen lets you see various connection details such as your current location and IP address, the download and upload speed values, the current plan you’re using with FastestVPN as well as the list of servers that you can connect to.

Clicking the location that the app’s defaulted to will bring you to the full list of servers that you can choose from. It’s not an impressive list, to be honest, the selection of servers is quite narrow and a quarter of this list is made of servers located in the USA, so you can imagine that they aren’t big on variety, either.

However, we expect the servers to be nothing short of the “fastest” ones available since that’s what this product is trying to sell (it’s in the name, after all, right?).

Clicking the hamburger button (the button that looks like three horizontal lines) lets you access the application’s main menu, which is how you navigate through the app’s features. At first sight, you get a locations list, the settings section, information about your account, quick-access to the FAQ, a “share” button if you want to spread the word, an “Upgrade” function for, guess what, upgrading your plan and the “About Us” section where you can check the version of the app and read some quick info about the project.

Configuring settings

If you’re a tinkerer looking for a thrill, then accessing the “Settings” window won’t deliver your fix as you expected. I’m not saying that you can’t configure almost anything, but this section is so simple that you couldn’t go wrong even as a rookie.

Again, not saying that you should go nuts and start pressing random buttons KNOWING that you CAN’T go wrong since some of the stuff there (the protocols) can mess up your security if you don’t know what you’re dealing with. Some of the options there are entirely harmless, such as launching the app at Windows startup and enabling the Internet Kill Switch.

The Kill Switch is disabled by default, but we strongly advise you to enable it and leave it like that, since it has the potential to save you if, for instance, you’re torrenting, your VPN connection drops and your PC decides to reconnect to your default connection, leaving you vulnerable, in the open.

The “Settings” section also has a shortcut to Windows’ Network Diagnostics tool that you can rely on if you have any kind of trouble with your connection. I’m not saying it’s 100% effective, but sometimes it’s faster than looking on the Internet for a fix.

Getting it online

We’ve talked about configuring and accessing some of its features, but now it’s time to actually put this tool to work. Getting on one of their servers can be done as easily as selecting your favorite location and hitting the large button with a lightning bolt in the middle that says “Click to connect.”

After doing so, you’ll notice that your “Current Location” status will change to match the one you’ve selected and the IP address will be also different. The download and upload counters at the bottom of the screen will also suddenly become active and start recording your traffic information and displaying it in real-time for you to see.

Locations list

As mentioned before, the list of locations and servers that FastestVPN can get you connected to is not exactly impressive, since other similar products offer a much wider range of locations and a larger network of servers.

If you check the current locations list, you’ll notice that there’s a total of 36 locations and 8 of them (that’s almost a quarter) point only to US servers. That leaves us with 28 regions that are outside of the US.

So, as you see, not exactly breathtaking. However, at the top of the page, they brag about “Blazing Fast Servers” in the locations listed above. Guess we’ll just see about that.

Unlocking restricted content

Normally there are users who try VPN services for security concerns, then there are those who want to unlock some geo-restricted contents on the Internet, but ultimately, a good VPN can effortlessly cover both of these functions at the end of the day.

But we’ve talked about security stuff, now let’s humor users who’re looking for unlocking restricted content. A lot of online services receive one form of censorship or another in some countries, but luckily, VPN providers have the key.

From entertainment services such as Netflix, Spotify, Twitch, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and such, to social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Kik, Telegram and so on, there’s a huge chance that each of them has some sort of censorship policy in some countries.

How a VPN can help is by assigning you a virtual address, one that’s based in a different country than your original one, so that the services you’re trying to access let their guard down, thinking you’re in some region they didn’t ban. All of the services mentioned above (and probably more) can be easily unlocked with FastestVPN. Usually, if a service is not available after establishing a VPN connection, you should just try switching to another server in another country. If the service is still non-functional, try addressing this issue with the customer support team and they’ll gladly help you.

Caution is advised

However, you should be aware that some of the services mentioned above are not pleased with this behavior and attempt to stop it from perpetrating as soon as possible. What does that mean? Well, an example of such an event is when Netflix waged war against VPN users who attempted to use their platform without actually living in the US.

Originally, Netflix was only available for US inhabitants, but now their gates are open for users located in other countries as well. However, their services cost the same no matter where you’re from, and if you’re “unlucky” enough to be outside of the US, some TV series and movies are not even available for you to enjoy. So you pay the same, but for half the entertainment.

VPN might not be the safest solution to access this stuff you’ve been kept away from, but it’s the best choice we’ve got. You should be aware though, that in the event of Netflix discovering that you’re using a VPN, they might terminate your account, and that’s your responsibility. Most likely you won’t get any refund from VPN providers, either. The same goes for other services, not only Netflix.

Torrenting with FastestVPN

Ah, yes, torrenting. This type (P2P) of file transfer is among the most efficient ones there are today. It would receive much more praise than it does were it not for pirates who chose it as their favorite way of sharing contents illegally. So it’s not unusual for your torrenting to be frowned upon, even if you’re downloading or uploading totally acceptable content.

Since its potential for piracy is huge, torrenting has caught the attention of various people, including lawyers, government agencies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and even hackers who might attempt to use your illegal torrenting to blackmail you. Hey, don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.

Although I would like to say that FastestVPN doesn’t condone torrenting illegal contents or any behavior of the sorts, a bunch of links proudly displayed on the website might contradict my claims. You are even offered a bunch of alternatives to popular torrenting websites, which is a big no-no. Keep in mind that FindYourVPN.com does not advocate for piracy and we are just pointing these things out so you can be as informed as possible.

The Customer Support experience

Since the moment you access their website you’ll be prompted to change a few words with one of the Support team members. A large “We are here!” prompt will pop in the bottom-left corner of your Internet browser’s window, letting you get in touch with the support team as soon as you want to. Clicking the prompt or, if you closed it, the “Online” bar, will ask you for your name, email address, phone number (optional) and a question you want to ask or message you want to send.

After providing the necessary data, you can begin exchanging messages with the support team. Our experience was good, we received an answer in a bunch of seconds and the conversation was overall pleasant. However, if you’re not a fan of chatting live with anyone, you can send an email with your inquiry, but keep in mind that it WILL take them longer to reply.

Alternatively, if you are more of a “do-it-yourself” kind of person, checking their knowledge base will let you access several guides on how to configure the service on a plethora of devices, troubleshoot errors and even bypass some limitations in case using the app traditionally doesn’t work. For instance, if you’re located in China and your VPN is blocked by the firewalls.

It is also possible to follow them on their social media pages since you’ll be able to find certain updates and news that won’t be posted in other places.

We got the security results back!

If you’re not familiar with our reviews, know that we’ve been consequent regarding our testing tools, so that we provide each VPN service with a fair chance at an honest review and fair test results. With this information in mind, we’re informing you that security tests (and the most important ones, also) will be done as described in this article and the results will be (aside from being discussed here with you) posted so that you can compare it to yours.

After vigorously testing for leaks and such, we’re proud to bring you back the results of our little procedures.

Overall, FastestVPN seems capable of protecting your privacy and not leak any important data to the prying eyes of any malevolent user out there. The tests have spoken!

Speed results are also here

Now that we’ve finished with testing for holes in its security system, it’s time to shine the spotlight on FastestVPN’s signature feature: its connection speed values.

They are as follows:

As you can see, not only these speed values aren’t the TOP of what we’ve seen till now, they’re not even in the top 5. On top of that, the locations aren’t that many and neither are they varied enough. However, once we got them established, the connections were stable, so at least they got that going on.

No trial, although advertised

There’s no trial available for you to test the application’s features before deciding to purchase a subscription plan, even though on their website you can find the following message:

“You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain with a free trial of our intuitive VPN apps.”

However, on the “Common Questions” section you can see this fragment:

“We currently do not offer any free trials, but we do have a 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee policy for all users. So, if somehow you are not satisfied with our services, we will give you your money back.”

7-day money-back

The trial that’s erroneously advertised on their website is probably referring to the 7-day money-back guarantee and although you there’s no actual trial, you can at least get your money back if you decide this service is not exactly fit for your needs.

For this to happen, you need to register for a subscription plan and pay for it first, so you can’t skip giving away your bank details and sharing personal information such as name, address, and email with FastestVPN.

Multiple subscription plans

As of today, you can purchase a lifetime subscription plan for 80$ instead of 1600$. The offer becomes available as soon as you access the buy page, so if you can’t find it, there’s a huge chance it probably expired.

So here’s the list of subscription plans:

Although security-wise the service is indeed flawless (as any modern VPN provider should be), but speed-wise it’s somewhat disappointing, considering its name advertises high connection speeds, the price per month is a bit high.

Conclusion

So, to wrap it up, we have this VPN service provider that’s called FastestVPN but is not even close to being the fastest one out there. It also provides you with a quite narrow range of server locations, but what lacks in the number of servers and speed values it makes up with security features. Security-wise it has everything it needs and then some, providing you with a NAT firewall, an ad-blocker, and an anti-malware component.

A zero-logging policy is enforced and also backed by the location of the company (Cayman Island), and their Privacy Policy is easy to follow, so it’s a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” kind of situation. The customer support section is comprehensive and provides you with several services, ranging from live chat and email support to a knowledge base so from this point of view they’ve got you covered.

Although no trial is offered to you, you can at least get your money back if, after 7 days of trial, you’re not entirely satisfied with their product. The standard 1-month subscription plan is a bit pricey for what it has to offer, but if you decide to give them a shot, you can purchase a bigger plan, since the discounts are really generous.

Do we recommend FastestVPN? Yes.

PROs:
+ Customer support is comprehensive; (5)
+ Good security features; (5)
+ Ad-blocker and anti-malware; (4)
+ Zero-log policy (Cayman Island); (5)

CONs:
– Narrow range of server locations; (1)
– Relatively low connection speeds; (2.5)
– Standard subscription costs are a bit pricey; (2.5)

FastestVPN got a 3.57/5 rating.