Is it safe to use Psiphon VPN in 2023: Detailed Review and Analysis

Thinking to own Psiphon VPN. Do you really know about this VPN, Not Sure? You might have heard that this VPN is not safe, are these false claims because it’s free? Is this VPN really useful for privacy & personal use? Don’t worry, you will find everything about this VPN in today’s guide.

⏳Short in time? Here is a quick guide for you:

Hearing Psiphon is an open-source VPN you might get tempted about owing it. But neither a 😢privacy savior nor a VPN, it’s a proxy. It’s mentioned on their official site only, though you will have a decent server network (compared to other free VPNs). This runs on old-school VPN protocol & stores user data for about 60 days, Psiphon VPN is unsafe to use (know by reading other sections). Even when you look at the speeds they are more restrictive (<2 Mbps).

One of my old-school friends Joe wanted to access the Internet privately and without restrictions so searched the whole internet for a free VPN. But, he came across Psiphon (Free & Open-Source) VPN.

He called me and asked, “Is it safe for me to use🤔 Psiphon?“.

I explained to him everything and will do the same for you as well don’t 🤗worry. But if you are wondering what is this Psiphon? Don’t skip the section.

What is Psiphon?

Psiphon is a free VPN tool (Open Source), started in the year 2006 and users are mostly from Iran and India. Psiphon offers desktop and mobile apps surpassing proxy technology & VPN Services. Psiphon has servers in more than 27 locations, and its service is free of cost to use making this more pronounced in the user’s mind.

So far everything seems 🤩amazing, right? But in the next lines, we are going to explore everything in detail.

Security

Psiphon is an open-source VPN so anyone can verify the codebase. Though they use L2TP/IPSec protocol (outdated) running on industry-leading AES-256 bit encryption. They are very transparent & officially mention that “Psiphon doesn’t increase your online privacy & shouldn’t be considered as online security tool“.

There is ❌no kill switch feature which is very essential for a VPN, but there is a split tunneling feature if you configure it with a proxy for quick & faster internet access for trusted sources.

Psiphon is designed to access blocked websites as it primarily acts like a proxy server rather than a VPN. Also, they have gone through some security audits conducted by Cure53’s “There are no security risks“. But there are some WebRTC leaks during our test, so your data will be exposed.

Psiphon is not safe at all & not for privacy lovers. While there are some best no-log VPNs available.

Servers

We should appreciate the VPN for maintaining servers in 22 countries (*Server Count is not available). But the sad 😢part is, that they vary depending on your application. While there are 27 server locations in total in which common servers are available on all platforms.

Common	Common	Android	iOS
Austria	Slovakia	Norway	Switzerland
Bulgaria	Canada	Latvia	Belgium
Germany	France	Denmark
Poland	Italy
Sweden	Singapore

Also, there are some dedicated servers for Android & iOS (listed above). But its Windows version has 27 proxy servers, the majority of which are located in Europe, America, France, etc. There are no city levels to access country-specific content.

Neither do they officially mention how many servers they own nor the count. It’s really essential for a VPN to maintain a decent server network like NordVPN.

Speeds

Psiphon VPN speeds are very poor, what can we expect from a free VPN service. No matter which protocol you use or switch to, the speeds are way less than promised for mobile devices which is 2Mbps.

Psiphon VPN used L2TP/IPSec protocol for all of the devices and uses Windows SSH mode with an average speed of 150 Kbps (slow speeds). With these speeds, you can’t stream or torrent anything. Speeds are good on my regular internet rather than in VPN mode.

Everyone knows that speeds get affected by different factors. Psiphon servers are very far which throttle’s speed to 2Mbps (really slow).

Torrenting

Psiphon VPN does a great job as a free VPN for torrenting. Though its speeds are slow with limited servers, still it can unblock any website. This is a great choice for torrenting, but considering the lack of privacy feature & its logging of user data affects torrenting.

While torrenting itself is considered illegal in some countries, torrenting with a VPN (logs user data) will put you at 😢risk. It’s really sad that though this VPN has the capability of torrenting, ineffective to utilize it due to other factors.

If you want to stay safe while torrenting, consider using the other best VPNs for torrenting. So that you can enjoy downloading anything from the internet without any worries in your 🧠mind.

Streaming

Many people tried using Psiphon VPN for streaming Netflix. Nothing worked!, officially states “We uniquely designed this VPN to access everything at your fingertips“. But it couldn’t beat the geo-blocks of streaming services.

While its speeds are very poor😢 & its servers clearly proved that they can’t do anything about the country’s censorship. They are very clear about their limitations with a very clear statement on their home page “Never consider or used as an online security tool“.

Psiphon VPN 🚫 doesn’t have the capabilities (speed, encryption, bypassing) to be called Netflix VPN. This VPN isn’t suited for streaming, you can consider tiring other alternatives mentioned below.

Does Psiphon Work in China?

Psiphon works in China as a proxy service, its unlocking capability is the 💰selling point. There are more than 0.2M active users in China, but the fact it’s not a VPN service that beats the Great Firewall.

Only you can use obfuscation (SSH+) and it warns users about shifting to L2TP or Transport Mode. In other words, Psiphon VPN is blocked in China. There are some best VPNs out there with strong privacy and security. Know the best VPNs that work in China.

Customer Support

There is no live chat support available for Psiphon VPN. So you should rely on their limited online resource, while they mention contacting via E-mail📧. By doing so, we got a system-generated message that

“We Recieve many emails daily and might not be able to respond to every message individually“.

Keeping this aside, even for paid version there is no support which is really bothering as many paid VPNs offer 24/7 customer support along with an FAQ database, tutorials, videos, etc

Is it safe to use Psiphon?

Psiphon VPN is a free & fast torrenting VPN, but this is not really safe to use. But why🤔? Well, there are some issues you really need to know. After hearing them, you will certify it as “Not Safe“. Though this VPN might tempt you as it is available for free. But it’s really not.

1. Logs User Data

Using Psiphon VPN you are 😢risking your own privacy as its headquarters is located in Canada (5 eyes). A VPN should have a no-log policy to protect user data rather than exploit it. It officially mentioned that they are collecting user data for 60 days.

So, your data is neither private nor encrypted. Though they have mentioned some data points of what they collect, it’s still unclear what they are collecting from behind. It’s really unsafe to use a VPN that collect your data, rather it’s better to be without a VPN.

Though it used L2TP/IPSec protocol which is considered secure, they never mentioned which cipher or key🔑 they are using.

2. Ads Everywhere

Psiphon generates🤑revenue by displaying ads all over the screen, as it doesn’t encrypt the data all your activities will be monitored and shared with their sponsors. This is really 😢bad. They do share information like sites you are visiting from which country further aggregated with other information.

On their official website, they mentioned “We will discard the stored data after 60 days” which is enough time to put you at risk. We are not sure about the data they store & whether they are selling it to third parties. So, I don’t recommend using Psiphon if you care about your privacy.

3. Awful Speeds

Psiphon VPNs aren’t fast enough for your needs. Once you know the speeds of the Psiphon, you will uninstall it right away. It will restrict the app VPN Speeds to 2Mbps which is awful. All these speeds are due to automatic server location.

While there are very few servers available across the globe, which limit your speeds due to poor maintenance & bandwidth issues. So, you will be strictly under 5 Mbps always (🐌 super slow). You can’t enjoy even browsing with these speeds.

Also, there is no support for OpenVPN or WireGuard protocol. You will be strictly restricted to outdated L2TP protocol. So, I suggest looking after some all-rounders like NordPN or ExpressVPN which I am using personally, offering blazing speeds⚡.

4. Not for Streaming

If you want to unblock Netflix or Amazon Prime or any streaming. Psiphon VPN isn’t for you, they clearly stated that it can’t unblock any services. During my test, Netflix content is still blocked but this VPN worked for BBC iPlayer. So, if you are looking for a reliable VPN better to choose other VPNs.

Though it has the capability of torrenting, I don’t recommend it. Because it lacks encryption, your data will be leaked & it’s completely risky to torrent unless you are not protected completely (contains copyright in infringement). Due to all the above-mentioned reasons, Psiphon is not safe to be used as a VPN but can be used to unblock simple websites.

Try using another alternative VPN mentioned below. If you ask me what to use, I will prefer NordVPN as this is the most secure and fastest VPN will all its features.

Why is Psiphon free but all other VPNs need to pay?

If you 🤔rethink the quote “Nothing comes for free”. Let’s apply the same for Psiphon to find out why they are offering it for free. The real truth is, that they are earning from you in another way. Like how? Here are some of the ways that a VPN can earn

• Use your device as a cryptocurrency miner
• Collect user data & sell it
• Displaying ads & malicious links

Well, it’s quite surprising that Psiphon VPN does all 😢these things to its users. Let’s hear from the real Reddit users about what they are collecting. This VPN is a Canadian-based service (5 eye group) that can do anything with your data as per the government rules & policies. This means you are always (24/7) under surveillance which is against internet freedom & threat to your privacy.

While the free version is full of ads all over the screen that will ruin your user experience. So, Psiphon VPN is not recommended. Here are some of the best alternative VPNs available, have a look at them once.

Psiphon VPN Alternative’s

1. NordVPN– Best All-Rounder VPN (Review)

NordVPN is one of the best torrenting VPNs as it offers high-grade security without any DNS/IPv6 leaks (proven in tests). With its 5400+ servers in 62+ countries all over the world to quickly connect to a server, also offers Onion over VPN for complete anonymity. Download speeds skyrocket with the latest WireGuard protocol (Special protocol).

NordVPN has a very simple UI and is beginner-friendly and compatible with all the device platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. You can enjoy the service in six simultaneous connections per subscription NordVPN is a top VPN recommended by Reddit users. NordVPN is also a great choice for unblocking geo-blocked content on different platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and other streaming Apps.

NordVPN is very affordable compared to other VPNs, check out the full review. It also offers 30 days of the money-back guarantee program. So you can try this without any risk. So, if you don’t like the app then you will get your full refund within 5 days. And if you need a VPN for 1-2 weeks only then can try NordVPN for free using its money-back program.

2. Surfshark- Best Budget VPN(Review)

Surfshark is a very easy-to-use No Log VPN with a comprehensive interface for general users. This VPN has a great rating without any issues while connecting. You can get this VPN without much strain from your pockets at very low prices.

Camouflage mode in surf shark will hide the notification of using a VPN on your devices. Surfshark VPN is compatible with iPhone, Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, Android TV, Amazon FireStick, and Fire TV. In fact, this is the first VPN that works with FireTV Stick & Xbox.

Surfshark managed to unblock almost every Netflix library. While other VPNs don’t work and limit your device connection but Surfshark will beat them all with “Unlimited device connections“. Of Course!, you can observe the internet speed drop. But, users love having this option. Surfshark can unblock Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and many other websites along with torrenting.

Also, they offer 45 days risk-free money-back guarantee program. If you don’t want to empty your pockets for a VPN consider this one as an option.

3. ExpressVPN– Feature-Rich VPN(Review)

ExpressVPN offers 3000+ servers across 94 countries covering the entire world. All the servers work seamlessly in bypassing Netflix blocks. ExpressVPN maintains a balance between ⚡speeds & 🛡encryption with its new and refined protocols like Lightway along with OpenVPN, Ikev2, and L2Tp-IPSec.

There is a “Quick Connect” button that connects you to the fastest server with one tap. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws (100% Log Free). ExpressVPN can unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+ along with 36+ streaming services.

Also, there is a Smart DNS feature that can bypass the blocks without encryption or new IP. Packed with all other essential VPN features like Network Lock (Kill Switch), Split Tunneling, Auto-Connect, etc. ExpressVPN provides full bandwidth without any limitations supporting torrenting.

ExpressVPN has 30 days money-back program, whenever you don’t like the service “Claim for an Instant refund”. Don’t worry you will have 24/7 live chat support for all of your problems. If you want then there is a hidden page for low-price subscriptions.

4. CyberGhost– (Review)

Cyberghost is the best No-Log VPN for beginners especially brilliant at unblocking Netflix on Android. Its 2200+ servers in more than 60 countries offer great & reliable speed to stream your favorite content.

Like other VPNs on this list, CyberGhost has a zero-logging policy and completely makes you free from 14-eye surveillance. This VPN ranked third as there is no Split Tunneling and all the IP Addresses are static.

Cyberghost has multiple protocols like OpenVPN, and AES 256 encryption with a kill switch feature to protect you from unexpected disconnections. Cyberghost will also unblock popular video streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and many more that come along the way.

CyberGhost is specially designed to determine which server will work on your streaming services. They also have apps for almost all the platforms. Also, they are offering a 7-day free trial for Android, iOS, and Windows.

They offer 45 days risk-free money-back program and 24/7 live chat support for all of your problems. If you want then there is a hidden page for low price subscriptions.

Why Psiphon is so popular on the internet?

There are several reasons behind this VPN’s popularity. But, there is something you need to know so you call it a proxy pass or unblocker rather than a VPN. You can use it to unblock websites rather than streaming services and its compatibility with most similar features on all device platforms make this more 🔥popular.

Psiphon has obfuscated servers to break website censorship in other countries. Here are some of the free things that make this VPN so popular.

1. Open Source

First of all, Psiphon VPN is an Open Source. Open Source free VPNs are very rare in the market which gained more popularity to it. As open-source software’s code is available to anyone. So that anyone can verify its code-base for vulnerabilities.

2. Free

Psiphon doesn’t charge even a single penny to its users for using their service. But if you just remember the famous quote once “If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold“.

It’s full of ads that collect your activities (even might sell data to a third party). But they officially mentioned that this VPN is not for security & privacy purpose.

3. Servers

Being a free VPN, Psiphon maintains servers in 27 locations (22 countries). Though there is no exact server count available anywhere. They also maintain servers dedicated to iOS & Android. Though they can’t bypass geo-blocks, you can use it only to access websites.

4. Device Compatibility

It supports a few platforms Android and Windows and does not have apps for iOS and Mac. Psiphon is only available for Windows and Android this is one of the major drawbacks of this VPN.

Conclusion

I agree 🙌this is a decent free VPN, but there is no online privacy & security (officially mentioned). You might get tempted after listening it’s open-source & free. But it used outdated VPN protocols and there are leaks, Psiphon VPN also collects your data & stores it for 60 days. You can call it a Proxy rather than a VPN, yeah you can unblock websites (Not Streaming Content).

Also, it’s not recommended for torrenting (due to security reasons). Speeds are quite low😢 to browse, and servers are not great (limit your bandwidth). Like other Free VPNs, it shows ads and collects user data. But the only good thing is 27 server locations (being free).

This is why we don’t recommend free VPNs (unless they are good enough). Try out some of best other alternatives mentioned above.

FAQs Related to Psiphon VPN