BlufVPN Review 2024 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying

BlufVPN promises a lot of great features from high-security features to streaming-optimized servers. So far so good but, before I could recommend it, I needed to do some testing.

While my tests gave me reasonably good results for streaming, I found plenty of important features missing. And a deep dive into the VPN’s privacy policy revealed even more red flags. Right now, BlufVPN has a lot to improve and can't yet compete with the best VPNs.

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Streaming — Reasonably Capable

BlufVPN unblocked Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more. However, even with the optimized servers there were some interruptions.

Unblocked: Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer

I could access Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer with BlufVPN’s Movies & TV server. Hulu was unblocked without issue.

I was easily able to watch Love Island (UK)

I could also watch Disney+, which is quite hard to access without a reliable VPN.

BlufVPN got me uninterrupted access to Disney+

I had the same experience with HBO Max, as the Movies & TV server bypassed its geo-restrictions immediately.

BlufVPN let me watch Succession in HD

For my next test, I connected to the UK.

I could stream Vigil in HD with the UK servers

Connecting to the UK took seconds and I was able to access my BBC iPlayer account without any problems.

Blocked By: Netflix, 10Play

The Netflix-optimized servers struggled

While testing long-distance servers, I also tried to access the Australian-exclusive streaming site, 10Play.

BlufVPN couldn’t unblock Australian 10Play

Not only was I unable to get past 10Play’s geoblocking, but the speeds I got from the Australian server made it essentially unusable.

BlufVPN did an okay job at unblocking some platforms but not being able to access Netflix is a dealbreaker for me. If you feel the same then check out these best VPNs for Netflix.

Speeds — Major Slowdowns

I experienced significant speed drops on BlufVPN’s servers. While the long-distance servers slowed me down by 99%, the local ones performed a little better.

I started by measuring my base speed where I had 305.64 Mbps download, 313 Mbps upload, and a ping of 3 ms.

I experienced an 80% drop on BlufVPN’s US server

On the US server, download speeds dropped by 80% and upload by 85%. Even though I still had more than 10 times what I would need to stream in HD, this was only because of the fast base speed. With a regular 20 Mbps connection, an 80% drop would take me down to 4 Mbps, which is not enough for HD streaming.

BlufVPN has an optimal server selection so I tested that next.

BlufVPN’s optimal server provided me with the fastest connection

Download speeds dropped by 74% and upload by 96%. The optimal server managed to keep the ping within a more acceptable range, and lowered the download speeds less than the US server. However, there was still a massive drop and my upload speeds were even worse than before.

The next server I tested was in Australia, where my speeds dropped by 99%.

BluffVPN’s Australian server slowed my connection by 99%

Not only were the Australian servers unable to unblock region-exclusive streaming services like 10Play, but the speeds and ping were terrible.

Overall, BlufVPN's speeds were disappointing. The optimal servers (which performed best) kept download speeds within HD-capable levels, but this was only because of my fast base speeds. For buffer-free streaming check out this list of superfast VPNs.

Server Network — Wide Server Network

BlufVPN has more than 500 servers in over 54 countries. This is a modest number, and if too many people connect to the same location, you may notice slowdowns as I did.

Despite its smaller size, the network is well-distributed so I was able to find servers in most of the countries I needed. However, as my streaming results show, these servers weren’t always 100% reliable at unblocking geo-restricted content.

Security — Great Security

BlufVPN uses AES-256-GCM encryption and multiple security protocols. This is the industry standard and will stop malicious hackers from being able to read your data. For added protection, it uses a 4096-bit DH key.

My app gave me the choice of OpenVPN or IPSec/IKEv2 protocols. These are both fast and secure but you only get this choice on mobile apps unfortunately. The desktop apps are quite basic and you won’t find any special security features there.

BlufVPN is lacking important security features

The kill switch is also unavailable for now, and it’s only announced in the mobile apps.

I ran a couple of IP and DNS leak tests on its servers to see if my connection was safe and I didn’t encounter any issues. BlufVPN kept my IP address and DNS requests private.

My IP address was kept hidden at all times

There are some impressive security features, but some conspicuous gaps too. Not being able to change between all available protocols and the lack of a kill switch is disappointing. If you’re looking for a high-security VPN there are definitely better options.

Privacy — Stores Some Data

BlufVPN keeps quite a lot of information about its users. The moment you create an account, it records your name, email, company, as well as information about your team members.

Considering some services only require you to use your email address and password to sign up, I found this a bit concerning.

When I dug into the privacy policy, things got worse. I found out that the VPN automatically records your IP address, browser type, operating system, device manufacturer, country, the total amount of web traffic for each session, as well as the session dates.

According to the privacy policy, this information is deleted as soon as your session ends. But I would feel more comfortable if it wasn’t collected in the first place.

The good news is that BlufVPN is based in Estonia, which is outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance territories. That means it’s not legally required to hand over any of this data to authorities. However, the privacy policy specifies that your personal information will be shared “in the process of litigation and regulatory investigations.”

It even goes on to say your personal data will be shared with affiliates and third-party services for “everyday business purposes.”

Despite BlufVPN’s claims, this is not a true no-logs service. If you’re looking for a provider that really takes your privacy seriously then check out these VPNs instead.

Torrenting — Dedicated servers

BlufVPN has dedicated P2P servers for torrenting and file-sharing.

Unfortunately, its servers cause massive speed drops. Your connection may be optimized for P2P traffic but it won’t be fast enough for satisfying downloads.

Plus, the VPN’s kill switch is not available yet and the privacy policy is concerning. This means that your data could be even exposed if the VPN fails or its servers get hacked.

I never condone illegally downloading copyrighted content but there’s always a risk of doing so accidentally when torrenting. With BlufVPN, you could get in legal trouble if you do.

For a better P2P experience, check out our list of the best VPNs for torrenting.

Does BlufVPN Work in China? Probably Not

BlufVPN doesn’t make any statements about it working in China and I couldn’t get in contact with its support team to ask.

Even if the VPN were to function, the absence of a kill switch and possible concerns about logging would make me uncomfortable using this service in China.

If you’re looking for a service that can safely bypass the Great Firewall, take a look at these VPNs.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Up to 5

BlufVPN allows 5 simultaneous device connections on any of its plans. If you’re using it for personal use only this might be enough. If you need more than 5, there aren’t any options to increase this number.

Device Compatibility — Most major platforms

BlufVPN works with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It’s not compatible with any other devices, such as routers, gaming consoles, or smart TVs.