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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Generous VPN Review 2024 - Why 4.5 Stars?

Our Score: 4.5/10
Unfortunately, this VPN is no longer active.
Click here to see our recommended VPNs.
Kate Veale Updated on 20th August 2024 Former Senior Editor
Important. Generous VPN has shut down. Current customers have been moved to Windscribe for continued online protection. You can check out Windscribe's review here.

Generous VPN is a freemium VPN project that started in 2016. Its provides security and online freedom for people living in restrictive countries. Generous VPN doesn’t turn a profit and aims to be as open-source as possible.

It operates servers in the Netherlands and allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Generous VPN keeps a strict no-logs policy and protects your data with AES-128 CBC encryption. Premium users can opt to use military-grade 256-bit encryption. But, Generous VPN might not be as generous as it sounds. Save yourself the hassle of installing and limited streaming access, by opting for a premium vendor like ExpressVPN.

Streaming - Does Generous VPN Work with Netflix?

No. Generous VPN’s servers are in the Netherlands, so it isn’t able to stream geoblocked content from other countries. If you’re looking for a VPN to unlock Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services, I recommend ExpressVPN instead.

With this in mind, I decided to see if Generous VPN can unlock popular streaming services from the Netherlands.

KIJK: Yes, I could stream KIJK in high definition.
NPO Start: I was able to stream NPO Start with Generous VPN.
NPO Zapp: I could also stream NPO Zapp.

Generous VPN Speeds

Speeds can make or break a VPN service, especially if you’re using it to torrent or stream.

It’s normal to experience some speed loss when you’re using a VPN because your data has to travel farther to reach its server. It also takes some extra time to encrypt and decrypt your data. But, if you’re using a premium VPN, the difference should be barely noticeable.

I was expecting Generous VPN’s connections to be slow, but I was pleasantly surprised. When I tested my speed before connecting to Generous VPN, it was running at 12.37 Mbps download, 0.88 Mbps upload, and 38 ms ping.

Speed test before connecting to Generous VPN.

I live in Australia, so my data has a long way to travel to reach a VPN server in the Netherlands. When I connected to Generous VPN, my speed dropped to 3.65 Mbps, but I didn’t notice much difference when browsing and sending emails.

Speed test performed on a Generous VPN server in Amsterdam.

My ping rose to 368, which meant websites took a little longer to respond. Overall, my connection was still fast enough to facilitate high-speed streaming and torrenting.

Is Generous VPN Good for Torrenting?

Yes. Generous VPN supports P2P connections, and its encryption protocols will keep you safe and anonymous while you torrent.

Security - is Generous VPN Safe?

Yes, Generous VPN is safe. Its security protocols, policies, and encryption are strong enough to protect you online.

Does Generous VPN Keep Logs?

Generous VPN doesn’t log any of your data.

Generous VPN doesn't track user activity

It is based in the Netherlands, which is part of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance.

This can be risky, as Generous VPN can be summoned to give its records to the authorities at any time. However, since it doesn’t keep any logs, it wouldn’t have any meaningful data to hand over.

Who's behind the project

Does Generous VPN Have an Ad Blocker?

Yes, every premium subscription includes an ad blocker.

Does Generous VPN Work in China?

Yes, Generous VPN was designed specifically for users living in areas with restricted internet access, like China. The premium version includes SOCKS5 to ensure a reliable, secure, and undetectable way to bypass the Great Firewall.

Price and Value for Money

Generous VPN’s free version offers everything you need to protect your online freedom. Its low-cost premium subscription includes extra features, like SOCKS5 and an ad blocker, that make it great value for your money.

Generous VPN Premium

Does Generous VPN Have a Free Version?

Yes, Generous VPN offers a free version as well a paid, premium subscription.

Generous VPN’s Refund Policy

All its premium plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is Generous VPN Compatible with My Device?

Generous VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections and is compatible with almost every platform.

Generous VPN FAQ

Generous VPN has apps for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Encryption

Free account users are protected by AES-128 CBC encryption. Premium subscribers can choose from corporate level AES-128/UDP or military-grade AES-256/TCP.

Automatic Kill Switch

Generous VPN utilizes an automatic kill switch that halts the transmission of unencrypted data from your local network in the event of a VPN connection failure.

Generous VPN Customer Service

It took a few minutes to track down Generous VPN’s customer service email, but getting support was otherwise quick and easy. The email isn’t listed on their website, but I found it on its Trustpilot review page.

Generous VPN contact information

I contacted them to ask about the encryption level offered for free VPN accounts, as it isn’t specified anywhere on the website. I received a polite, helpful, and friendly answer from the VPN’s creator. It took less than 30 minutes for them to reply to my email. This is impressive for a free VPN service that likely gets hundreds of emails a week.

Email

User Experience

Generous VPN is quick and easy to set up. It’s focused on security and provides all the tools you need to bypass censorship and surveillance.

OpenVPN is simple to use. All you need to do is download Generous VPN’s config file, import it into the program, and click connect. There’s no need to sign in or configure any other settings.

My connection was fast and reliable. Because it only has servers in the Netherlands, you can’t use Generous VPN to unlock geoblocked streaming services from other countries.

However, it could unblock streaming services based in the Netherlands, like KIJK.

Its customer support is fast and helpful. I received a response from the creator within 30 minutes of emailing. Based on its user reviews, technical problems are fixed promptly and effectively.

Generous VPN review

Although it lacks the fancy features that premium VPNs like ExpressVPN have, Generous VPN is a delightful service to use.

Conclusion

Generous VPN is an important internet security tool. Although it isn’t feature-rich, it has everything you need to protect yourself online.

It uses OpenVPN, which is lightweight and easy-to-use. Its installation guides make setup a breeze, even if you’re new to VPNs.

Generous VPN offers a comprehensive free account with AES-128 CBC encryption. Its premium accounts are low-cost, and a great investment. They come with some added features, like an ad blocker and SOCKS5.

It passed all of the speed and security tests I put it through. Unfortunately, because its servers are based in the Netherlands, it can’t unblock Netflix US. If you want to unblock Netflix, you can find our experts’ top VPN recommendations here.

If you’re looking for a freemium VPN for security, anonymity, and torrenting, Generous VPN might be your perfect match.

Generous VPN Features — 2024 Update

5.5
💸 Price 0 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 1+
💻 Number of devices per license 50
🛡 Kill switch Yes
🗺 Based in country Netherlands
📥 Supports torrenting Yes

Installation & Apps

5.6

It’s easy to install Generous VPN. Once you have registered, you’ll receive an email with detailed installation guides for its supported platforms.

Installation

All you need to do is download Generous VPN’s config file, and import it into OpenVPN. If you don’t have OpenVPN installed on your device, the installation guide contains a link to download it.

Overall, it only took about four minutes to get Generous VPN up and running. You don’t need to configure any settings. Once you’ve imported the config file, it’s ready to go. You don’t even need to sign in.

Generous VPN only operates servers in the Netherlands, so you won’t be able to choose or change servers. This is great if your primary concern is security, but it means that Generous VPN isn’t a good match for streaming content from other countries.

Pricing

3.6
Free
$ 0 / month per month
Premium
$ 2.18 / month per month

Generous VPN offers a free package and a low-cost, yearly premium subscription. Its premium subscriptions offer extras features, like tougher encryption, an ad blocker, and the use of SOCKS5.

Generous VPN doesn’t make a profit. It uses its premium users’ subscription fees to cover its costs so that it can continue to offer a free VPN service to protect those who need it.

The free version offers AES-128 CBC encryption, which is enough to protect regular users. But, if you’re a journalist or someone who needs unbreakable encryption, the premium subscription is worth the investment. Generous VPN accepts credit card and PayPal payments.

Reliability & Support

3.6

Generous VPN’s website is basic, and aside from a limited FAQ section, there are no troubleshooting guides available. There is no live chat, and Generous VPN’s contact details aren’t listed on its homepage.

I ventured to its Trustpilot reviews page to see if any others users had contacted them. There, I noticed that the creator had uploaded their contact details. It was an email address for Generous VPN, so I reached out with a question.

A lot of the reviewers said they had received a personal response from Generous VPN’s creator within a few hours of emailing. I received a response in under 30 minutes, even though my question wasn’t urgent. The reply I received was polite and extremely helpful.

Even though it is a small organisation offering a free service, customer support is one of Generous VPN’s strong points.

The Bottom Line

Generous VPN is a lifeline for people who are facing online censorship and surveillance. Its free version is accessible to those who are in need, but may not have the funds to pay for a VPN. This makes Generous VPN an important part of the fight for online freedom.

It doesn’t make a profit, and covers its costs using funds from its premium subscriptions. If you have money to spend, it’s a great investment. The premium subscription is cost-effective and offers some useful additional features, like tougher encryption and an ad blocker.

Even though it’s a small organisation, Generous VPN’s customer service is fast and efficient. I received a polite and helpful response within 30 minutes of emailing them.

Because it only operates servers in the Netherlands, you can’t use it to bypass Netflix’s geoblocks. So, if you’re looking for a VPN for Netflix, this might not be the best match for you.

But if security and online freedom are your main concerns, I recommend Generous VPN.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 30
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: 50
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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Editor's Note: Transparency and impartiality are important to us when bringing you our best selection of VPNs. Some of the industry-leading products on our list, including Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company. The VPNs we choose are derived from a thorough testing process.

About the Author

Kate worked at vpnMentor from 2018 to 2024. She is driven by her passion for helping people to protect themselves from online threats.

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