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OysterVPN launched in 2023, so it is not fairly as well-known as VPN titans like NordVPN and Surfshark. Nonetheless, regardless of this, it is a strong service with superior unblocking energy and wickedly fast WireGuard speeds, in addition to robust core VPN options.
Issues get even higher when you think about how cheap OysterVPN is – and the truth that it is one among solely a handful of providers to supply a lifetime subscription. There’s nonetheless room for enchancment, nevertheless, and we have put OysterVPN underneath the microscope to look at its safety, speeds, ease of use, and general worth for cash, to see the way it stacks up in opposition to immediately’s best VPNs.
As a part of our new evaluation of OysterVPN, we’ve put it by means of one other spherical of testing. The excellent news is that speeds are a lot improved due to OysterVPN’s current implementation of the WireGuard protocol. The VPN additionally continues to be a robust unblocker of streaming providers. Sadly, there are few new options of word, that means it is nonetheless a half-step behind the competitors.
Options
OysterVPN is comparatively mild on options. There are not any Double VPN (MultiHop) servers as you’d discover with ProtonVPN, neither is there a password supervisor like ExpressVPN. What it does have is a built-in advert blocker, which is robotically activated while you hook up with a server. The excellent news is that this built-in advert blocker banished most advertisements throughout our testing – however the Courageous browser tends to be extra thorough in our expertise.
Split tunneling is on the desk, which we have been glad to see. It is a nifty device that permits you to select which apps bypass the VPN connection and which do not, which is helpful if you wish to maximize velocity and do not significantly care about encryption, like when streaming your favourite Netflix content material!
Nevertheless, it is solely obtainable by way of OysterVPN’s Home windows and Android apps. That is disappointing, as loads of different VPNs supply cut up tunnelling on Mac now, too.
OysterVPN boasts DDoS safety, which is able to intrigue people on the hunt for the best gaming VPN.
Most VPNs safeguard you from DDoS attacks, to an extent, by hiding your unique IP deal with. Within the occasion of a DDoS assault, solely the VPN IP deal with is affected. You possibly can then swap servers to proceed looking as regular. OysterVPN takes a extra proactive method, nevertheless, by actively monitoring and filtering malicious site visitors throughout its server community, stopping DDoS assaults from occurring within the first place.
One space by which OysterVPN falls quick is its simultaneous connection allowance. With it, you’ll be able to safe as much as 5 gadgets without delay. That ought to be sufficient for some customers, however might show limiting if you wish to share your safety with buddies or household, or cowl a big fleet of devices.
These days, most main VPN suppliers permit 10 or extra simultaneous connections per account, whereas Surfshark and Private Internet Access every have an unlimited connection allowance.
OysterVPN simply doesn’t supply many options to get enthusiastic about. Its web site particulars what every subscription plan consists of, itemizing “Limitless Information” and “Limitless server switching”, each of which we’d anticipate a paid VPN to supply anyway. It will be good to see extra common additions to its lineup of options.
Options rating: 6/10
Server community
When you think about that ProtonVPN now has almost 13,000 servers in 115 nations and NordVPN has over 7,000 servers protecting 118 nations, OysterVPN’s community of 350+ servers in 20 nations is on the small aspect.
Having stated that, OysterVPN doesn’t want to supply hundreds of servers as a result of it’s serving far fewer customers. The hope is that as OysterVPN expands, its server depend will enhance, too, guaranteeing that congestion points are nipped within the bud.
Oh, and we have been additionally glad to see that OysterVPN has a set of specialty streaming servers in a handful of places, together with the US, UK, and Australia.
When you’re within the US, you’re nicely taken care of with servers in Ashburn, Kansas, Los Angeles, and Miami. Servers will be discovered throughout the border, too, in Canada (Montreal and Vancouver) and Mexico (Mexico Metropolis).
Nonetheless, relying on the place you’re situated and whether or not you’re attempting to entry geo-restricted content material, the absence of connection factors in sure areas might pose an issue. We have been shocked to see that OysterVPN lacks apparent server locations akin to Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden.
Even for those who can’t discover a server in your nation, you might be able to join to at least one in a rustic close by, significantly for those who’re in Europe. The difficulty is that for those who’re in South America, you don’t have any close by server places to select from, and South Africa is the one server location OysterVPN presents in Africa.
This has an affect not solely on the content material you’ll be able to and might’t unblock, however the velocity of your connection. The better the space between a VPN server out of your location, the additional information has to journey and the slower the connection is more likely to be.
Torrenting is allowed on all OysterVPN servers. OysterVPN states that these servers are P2P-optimized, and we will second this declare, as all of our downloads accomplished in a flash. All in all, OysterVPN is an honest torrenting VPN that will not sluggish your seeding and leeching to a crawl.
Server community rating: 6/10
Apps
OysterVPN is obtainable to obtain and set up for many main operating systems. This consists of desktop (Home windows and Mac) and cell (Android and iOS). Like most VPNs these days, Oyster VPN additionally has an app for Amazon Fire TV. When you solely must encrypt your browser site visitors and never that of your apps, browser extensions can be found for Chrome and Firefox.
What OysterVPN does lack, nevertheless, is native Linux help. Whereas NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all have GUI Linux apps, OysterVPN requires you to manually configure a connection by downloading OpenVPN recordsdata. That’s not perfect for those who’re not comfy with handbook setup and simply need a fast and simple solution to get protected on Linux.
You may also manually arrange OysterVPN on numerous routers. I believe there are better router VPNs. ExpressVPN has customized router firmware, for instance. OysterVPN’s help pages present some related info relating to router setup, however many really feel unfinished or missing intimately.
Apps rating: 7/10
Ease of use
We discovered the signup and setup with OysterVPN to be extraordinarily easy with no hiccups alongside the way in which. As soon as contained in the apps, we have been happy to discover a clear and uncluttered interface. It’s the form of structure that shouldn’t trigger any confusion even for first-time VPN customers.
The desktop app is split into two sections. On the left is the total listing of server places, topped with Oyster VPN’s streaming servers, and a search bar above for those who don’t fancy scrolling. On the suitable of the house view is a fast join button. Connecting to and disconnecting from servers often takes only a second or two.
Above the short join button is the situation of the server to which you’re linked and the corresponding IP address. A easy vertical menu runs down the left-hand aspect of the app, and from there you’ll be able to entry your account, help, and settings.
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Oyster VPN’s cell app has a house view that includes an enormous quick-connect button and an expandable listing of server places. You possibly can filter by particular areas in addition to any servers you’ve favorited. It’s a disgrace that these filter choices aren’t obtainable by way of desktop, nevertheless.
A hamburger menu within the high left-hand nook of the cell app brings up the Settings, Account, and Help pages. It’s there that you simply’ll additionally discover some instruments, akin to the choice to examine your IP deal with and take a look at for DNS leaks. Though there’s a password generator device, the hyperlink takes you to OysterVPN’s web site, which, once more, references the function, besides it’s nowhere to be discovered.
One factor we didn’t like concerning the cell app is that, as soon as linked, we weren’t in a position to choose the server listing and instantly join to a different server. As a substitute, we needed to disconnect earlier than doing so. Though we have been nonetheless in a position to see the server listing on our desktop whereas linked, we additionally needed to hit disconnect earlier than reconnecting. Most VPN apps simply allow you to seamlessly swap between servers, so the additional step feels a bit clunky as compared.
Ease of use rating: 7/10
Pace and efficiency
We have been impressed with the general velocity of OysterVPN whereas linked to a server. For reference, we used a 1 Gbps Wi-Fi connection at 11 AM on a weekday and recorded speeds of 300 Mbps earlier than connecting to the VPN.
Subsequent, we selected a server near our base in Madrid, Spain, utilizing the WireGuard protocol, and noticed the connection speeds fall to 208 Mbps. It is a drop of 30% however, even so, we did not discover a distinction whereas going about our ordinary looking and streaming.
How we carry out velocity assessments
We take a look at from two completely different digital PCs, one within the UK and one within the US. We’re anticipating huge issues out of NordVPN, as each of those servers have a 1 Gbs connection. You will discover out extra in our VPN testing methodology.
We anticipated a heavier dropoff in velocity when connecting to a server in Los Angeles, some 6,000 miles away. Surprisingly, it was quicker than the native Madrid-based server, clocking in at 218 Mbps. We did expertise some hiccups with different US-based servers, nevertheless. Connecting to the streaming server in Ashburn, for instance, resulted in a sluggish connection that made it troublesome to load the velocity testing device (and different websites) to start with.
OysterVPN’s speeds are respectable and far more than you may must take pleasure in HD streaming, on-line play, and easy torrents. In spite of everything, Netflix itself claims that you simply solely want 25 Mbps to take pleasure in 4K film marathons. Nonetheless, OysterVPN cannot match our shortlist of fastest VPNs, a few of which maxed out our testing line utterly.
Pace and efficiency rating: 7/10
Unblocking
OysterVPN carried out nicely in our hands-on unblocking assessments, making mild work of BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, ITVX, and Prime Video. It additionally labored with the UK Netflix library.
We bumped into bother with Netflix’s US content material, nevertheless, and have been unable to entry the American web site regardless of switching between three completely different servers. For that reason, we will not advocate OysterVPN because the best Netflix VPN.
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Nonetheless, this doesn’t suggest that the service will not be just right for you – chances are you’ll must swap between servers till you discover an IP deal with that hasn’t been blacklisted.
OysterVPN additionally had bother with DAZN. To be honest, this can be a fairly widespread incidence, as DAZN has a number of the strictest anti-VPN measures of any streaming platform. Even the very best streaming VPNs are recognized to battle with it.
For probably the most half, streaming was easy and with out the interruptions of buffering or lag. It was solely throughout peak utilization instances that we observed occasional efficiency points when trying to stream in 4K decision.
Unblocking rating: 8/10
Privateness and Safety
OysterVPN hadn’t applied the WireGuard protocol the final time we reviewed it. The excellent news is that, lastly, the protocol is now available, including further velocity and safety to the consumer expertise.
OysterVPN additionally presents the IKEV2, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols. IKEV2 is especially appropriate for cell gadgets, given the velocity with which it’s in a position to reconnect to a community following a disruption or swap. OpenVPN continues to be one of the vital fashionable VPN protocols for the excessive degree of safety it offers, coupled with the flexibility to bypass firewalls. We don’t advocate L2TP, nevertheless, because of the inferior safety it presents and the vulnerabilities which may come up in consequence.
Relying on the VPN protocol you select, your web site visitors is secured with 256-bit AES (OpenVPN) or ChaCha20 (WireGuard) encryption, which is as safe as you may get. We ran DNS and IP leak assessments when linked to OysterVPN servers and didn’t observe any leaks, which is nice information.
OysterVPN comes with a kill switch that’ll lower your web site visitors within the occasion that the VPN connection drops. This prevents your information from being uncovered whereas unprotected.
Sadly, we have been unable to toggle the kill swap on when utilizing the Mac app. Each time we did allow the kill swap after which navigate away from the menu, we would revisit it later to seek out that it’d someway been toggled off. We reached out to OysterVPN’s help about this concern and, fortunately, they assured us that they are already on the case.
Alongside safe protocols and encryption strategies, OysterVPN claims to function a strict zero-logs policy. There’s no publicly obtainable information to recommend it’s undergone an unbiased audit, although, which is one thing we would prefer to see corrected within the close to future.
We reached out to help once more, and the agent requested us to e mail the group to obtain the related documentation. A number of days later, we have but to obtain a reply with any proof of an audit. That’s to not say it doesn’t exist – it would simply be that their help is sluggish to answer to emails.
We even have some considerations with OysterVPN’s privateness coverage. Though OysterVPN claims to not acquire timestamps, DNS queries, or VPN server utilization, the knowledge offered inside the privateness coverage is imprecise. Like OysterVPN’s web site, the privateness coverage comprises numerous errors, which hardly instill confidence and belief in what is meant to be an expert product. Worse nonetheless, OysterVPN’s privateness coverage was final up to date in August 2022.
Privateness and safety rating: 5/10
Monitor document
OysterVPN is a comparatively new VPN service that launched in 2023. Fairly merely, it’s too younger to have constructed up a lot of a observe document. What’s promising is that WireGuard was added to the lineup of obtainable VPN protocols in January 2025, bringing OysterVPN in keeping with the highest VPN suppliers by way of protocol providing.
Nevertheless, its imprecise and outdated privateness coverage and the shortage of any unbiased audits of its apps and logging practices make it tougher to belief.
Monitor document rating: 6/10
Buyer help
OysterVPN offers 24/7 buyer help by way of each reside chat and e mail. We discovered the reside chat to be hit-and-miss, although we appreciated not having to navigate a ineffective AI chatbot first.
Having skilled a difficulty with the kill swap on the Mac app, we acquired in contact by way of reside chat solely to be advised that somebody from the event group would contact us by way of e mail within the subsequent few hours.
4 days later, we’d nonetheless not obtained a reply, and chased the problem up. We then obtained an e mail stating {that a} technical concern had resulted in emails turning into misplaced and was the rationale for the delay – not perfect, however we recognize the honesty, and it is higher than no follow-up in any respect.
The web site incorporates a help part with assist guides and FAQs. Nevertheless, we discovered the setup and troubleshooting guides to be missing in comparison with different VPNs. None that we got here throughout included the useful annotated screenshots offered by different VPN providers.
Buyer help rating: 7/10
Pricing and plans
It is arduous to argue with OysterVPN’s general worth for cash. It offers one-month, one-year, and lifelong subscriptions. The one-month plan prices simply $5.99 a month. Higher nonetheless, you get two further months free, which implies you solely pay $5.99 for the primary three months after which $5.99 a month thereafter.
When you think about that Surfshark prices $15.45 a month for its base plan and $20.65 with all options included, it’s clear that OysterVPN is a standout cheap VPN.
OysterVPN’s one-year plan prices $39.99. This works out at $3.33 a month, a 44% saving over the month-to-month plan. The lifetime plan prices simply $59.99, nevertheless, for those who’re after an actual long-term dedication.
We often advocate exercising warning with lifetime plans. In spite of everything, a service might shut down or be purchased by one other firm in some unspecified time in the future. We just lately noticed VPNSecure’s new proprietor cancel lifetime subscriptions of its customers. Nonetheless, you solely want the lifetime subscription for 18 months earlier than it begins paying for itself in comparison with the one-year subscription, making it a reasonably low-risk funding.
Pricing and plans rating: 8/10
Do you have to use OysterVPN?
OysterVPN is a budget-friendly supplier with newly revamped speeds courtesy of the WireGuard protocol. It really works with most streaming platforms, too, and makes use of industry-standard encryption to make sure that your on-line exercise stays safe and personal. On the subject of ticking off fundamentals, OysterVPN does it with ease.
The difficulty is that OysterVPN’s privateness coverage lacks element, and there’s no proof as but that its no-logs coverage has been independently audited. There’s additionally an absence of superior instruments for energy customers – and add-ons, like a password supervisor, which extra VPNs are investing in.
Nonetheless, for those who’re on the lookout for an easy-to-use service that will not break the financial institution, OysterVPN is nicely value investigating as a substitute for the {industry}’s huge names.
Total rating: 67