X-VPN Review 2024 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying

With a huge server network and claims of being able to unblock all major streaming platforms, X-VPN looks pretty appealing on the surface. But I don’t think it lives up to the promises it makes.

I was able to unblock a couple of major streaming services, but X-VPN leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to security and privacy. It’s important to pick your VPN very carefully. Keep reading for detailed test results and information that will help you decide if it’s the right VPN for you.

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Streaming — Limited Unblocking Capability

In my tests I was able to stream Netflix UK, US, and Japan. I also successfully streamed Disney+ and ITV. However, very few servers out of the long list were able to bypass geoblocks for these platforms. I was unable to bypass geoblocks for BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Hulu, and Peacock TV. Take a look at these tried and tested VPNs for flawless streaming.

Unblocked: Netflix US, Netflix UK, Netflix Japan, Disney+, and ITV

For some countries, X-VPN has a list of servers recommended specifically for streaming. These servers are shown when you click on the streaming option at the top of the X-VPN app.

I like that X-VPN lists servers for streaming separately

I had to test several US and UK servers before I could find the ones that unblock Netflix and Disney+. Most of them don’t, and it’s annoying to spend so much time trying different ones.

Netflix Japan was faster to unblock than Netflix US or UK

I was also able to watch ITV after trying a few of the UK servers.

I was glad to see that the same server that unblocks Netflix UK also unblocks ITV

Blocked By: BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Hulu, and Peacock TV

I tried connecting through every available UK server, but could not unblock BBC iPlayer, despite the fact that X-VPN claims to be able to do so on their website.

I was disappointed that X-VPN doesn’t unblock BBC iPlayer

Unfortunately, X-VPN also couldn’t get around geoblocks to access HBO Max, Peacock TV, or Hulu. I was able to log in and view the Hulu catalogue, but was unable to play any videos.

X-VPN doesn’t unblock HBO Max, among others

Speeds — Good for Streaming, Okay for Gaming

I tested speeds by connecting to many servers in different countries and found the speeds to be good enough for HD streaming. If gaming is your priority, this may not be the best VPN for you. Instead, you might want to look at these superfast VPNs.

My baseline speeds were not too fast

My baseline speeds were decent to begin with, with a download speed of 86.11 Mbps and an upload speed of 5.22 Mbps. The response time from my laptop to the server and back, or ping, was a decent 14 ms.

After connecting to a U.S. server south of the border from my location in Canada, my download speed increased to 308.38 Mbps and my upload speed increased to 15.36 Mbps. The ping more than doubled, but I didn’t notice any difference while streaming.

Connecting to a U.S. server gave me faster speeds

Speeds were slower when I connected to a server in Europe. However, I was still able to stream in HD with no buffering.

Connecting to a server in Spain still provided speeds fast enough for streaming

As you would expect, connecting to the servers farthest away from my location in western Canada resulted in the slowest speeds. The farthest available server was in South Africa, which had a ping of 321ms and slow download and upload speeds.

I wasn’t surprised that connecting to far away servers meant much slower speeds

Even at these relatively low speeds, I was able to stream high-quality videos without interruption.

Are X-VPN’s Speeds Fast Enough for Gaming? Yes

I noticed that if I connect to the fastest server as suggested by X-VPN, then speeds are fast enough for gaming without lags. However, depending on where in the world you are, you may not find a server fast enough for gaming without being disconnected once in a while. Here are a few alternatives for PC gaming.

X-VPN has special servers to help you play three popular games. This allows you to play games with people from certain countries and get around geoblocks that may prevent you from playing these games in your country.

I was surprised to see special servers for playing PUBG, Roblox, and LoL Wild Rift

Server Network — Large Network of Global Servers

With over 8,000 servers in more than 65 locations, X-VPN seems to have a huge network on par with top VPN competitors. They are spread out among all major geographic areas, including Asia Pacific, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East.

You need a premium subscription to access all these servers. The free version of the VPN has a very small number of servers and doesn’t let you choose which one to connect to. X-VPN uses a mix of physical and virtual servers, meaning some servers aren’t actually located in the country they are labelled as. For comparison, these are some top VPNs known for excellent server networks.

Security — Basic Protection

X-VPN uses standard AES 256-bit encryption, has a no-logs policy, and an optional kill switch. The kill switch option is only available to premium subscribers, not for users of the free mobile app. Beyond these basics, it does not have any advanced features that some top competitors offer.

I like how easy it is to turn on the kill switch within the X-VPN app

Unfortunately, X-VPN is secretive about the proprietary protocols it uses so it’s impossible to judge the safety of the protocols.

I performed an IP/DNS leak test and was disappointed to see that X-VPN leaked my true IP address when using a Chrome browser.

A leak test done in Chrome browser showed my true IP address in Canada.

However, when I tried the same test using a different browser, I got different results.

X-VPN passed the leak test in a Safari browser

This time, my true IP address remained hidden. It seems the leak was caused by my Chrome browser and not the VPN.

Privacy — Could Be Better

X-VPN states that it does not log your traffic data, browsing history, or DNS queries.

It’s based in Hong Kong, which means it is outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. It wouldn’t be obligated to hand over any of your data to government intelligence agencies. X-VPN has a no-logs policy and expresses a commitment to user privacy.

I found the first part of X-VPN’s privacy policy satisfactory

However, a detailed read of the privacy policy reveals that X-VPN does collect timestamps of your VPN usage, protocols you choose, device information, data usage, and city-level location. All this data is collected each time you use the app. Also, though it is registered in Hong Kong, X-VPN stores user information on servers located in the EU. You may want to explore alternative VPNs with solid privacy policies.

In terms of privacy, X-VPN opts to keep details about its protocols confidential. The service labels these protocols using an alphabetical system, but doesn't provide additional information to users regarding the specific nature of each protocol.

I found it strange that X-VPN keeps its protocols a secret

X-VPN claims this information is to protect its users, but this doesn’t make sense to me and makes me question what is happening in the background.

Torrenting — Unclear Whether It’s Supported

There is no clear information on the website or within the app about torrenting. I found this a bit odd, as most top competitors clearly state whether torrenting is supported or not, and if so, which servers are best to use.

While there are no servers designated specially for torrenting, I was able to torrent using the server I tried. I didn’t feel comfortable doing so given lack of clarity on where X-VPN stands on this and privacy concerns. There’s plenty of other options for safe torrenting.

Does X-VPN Work in China? No

Although X-VPN talks about avoiding censorship by using the service, it does not work in China. Take a look at some hardy VPNs proven to work in China.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Up to 5

You can use X-VPN on up to 5 devices at the same time, which is the standard minimum among top competitors.

Device Compatibility — Supports All the Usual Suspects

X-VPN can be used with routers and Amazon FireTV. It is also compatible with all common operating systems, such as iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. It also offers a Chrome browser extension that tunnels just the browser’s traffic.