SpyOff VPN Review: Is it safe to use in 2023?

Published

author: Jeremy Roderick

Fact-checked by Ruben Olav

UPDATED: July 29, 2023

In the contemporary digital world where security has become synonymous with survival, it’s vital to critically evaluate the tools at our disposal that promise to keep us protected. One such tool, SpyOff VPN, prides itself on offering comprehensive online privacy and security. But does it truly deliver on its promises, or are there underlying chinks in its otherwise shiny armor?

Summary of Key Features

FeatureDetails
πŸ’Έ Price6.99 USD/month
πŸ“† Money-back guarantee30 days
πŸ“ Does the VPN keep logs?Unclear
πŸ–₯ Number of servers395+ (in 21 countries)
πŸ›‘ Kill switchYes
πŸ—Ί HeadquartersSan Marino
πŸ›  SupportEmail, FAQs
πŸ“₯ Torrent supportYes
πŸŽ₯ Streaming service supportLimited (Netflix only)

In this review, we delve into the details, starting with its security and encryption, and then examining the principles of personal data protection and jurisdiction that govern SpyOff VPN.

Security and Encryption: What’s Beneath the Surface?

As a digital denizen, you’re surely no stranger to the importance of robust security and encryption measures in maintaining your online privacy. A solid VPN provider is expected to offer a secure, encrypted tunnel for your data to travel through, effectively keeping you out of the sightlines of unwanted snoops. Let’s scrutinize how SpyOff VPN fares on this front.

Used Security Protocols

SpyOff VPN claims to employ OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec as its primary security protocols. These are standard security measures within the industry, with OpenVPN being renowned for its robustness. It’s indeed a reassuring point that SpyOff uses this protocol. But let’s not forget that it’s also a necessity β€” something akin to a restaurant advertising the fact they use clean dishes. It’s expected, not exceptional.

However, we found the absence of newer and faster protocols such as WireGuard somewhat concerning, considering this is increasingly being adopted by VPN industry leaders. Given the balance WireGuard offers between speed and security, its absence is glaring. The question arises: Is SpyOff VPN keeping up with the evolving VPN landscape or are they becoming a relic of the past?

Used Encryption Technologies

For encryption, SpyOff VPN employs 256-bit AES encryption β€” often touted as ‘military-grade’. This is an industry-standard level of encryption, essentially making your data unreadable to any onlookers. But again, there’s nothing groundbreaking here; it’s the norm in today’s VPN market.

The unfortunate reality is that while these security and encryption measures are fundamentally sound, they are also the bare minimum one should expect from a VPN provider. When you consider the absence of innovative, faster protocols and the reliance on standard, expected encryption technologies, you might wonder if SpyOff VPN is resting on its laurels.

Principles of Personal Data Protection and Jurisdiction of SpyOff VPN?

Our online identity and data have never been more vulnerable than they are today, making personal data protection a crucial factor when considering a VPN. However, jurisdiction plays a pivotal role in how VPNs handle your data.

Analysis of Personal Data Protection Principles

On the surface, SpyOff VPN claims to follow a no-logs policy, which would mean it doesn’t keep records of your internet activities. However, this claim is somewhat marred by the company’s privacy policy which states that they log timestamps, IP addresses, and other user information for “service optimization.”

This ambiguity raises a red flag. The reason being, it’s not uncommon for VPN providers to claim a no-logs policy while still collecting data about your VPN sessions. As users, we deserve a clear, transparent policy. The absence of such from SpyOff VPN certainly calls into question their commitment to personal data protection.

Company Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction under which a VPN company falls can have significant implications for user privacy. SpyOff VPN is based in San Marino, a microstate surrounded by Italy. Although it’s not part of the “14 Eyes” surveillance alliance, San Marino does have a history of cooperation with law enforcement in matters of information sharing. Given the increasingly invasive data laws being implemented worldwide, this could potentially leave user data exposed to unwanted third parties.

In conclusion, the principles of personal data protection and the jurisdiction of SpyOff VPN leave room for skepticism. The murky logging policy combined with a less-than-ideal jurisdiction, certainly taints the appeal of SpyOff VPN.

Server Network: Quantity vs. Quality

When it comes to VPNs, a robust server network can significantly influence the speed and reliability of the connection. However, it’s crucial to look beyond the mere numbers and assess the overall quality of the servers, their geographical distribution, and their capabilities. With that in mind, let’s move our SpyOff VPN review onto its server network.

Overview of the Server Network

SpyOff VPN boasts an extensive network of over 1,000 servers spread across 40 countries. It’s a decent figure compared to many competitors. However, there are other VPNs out there, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, offering a much more comprehensive global coverage, with servers exceeding 5,000 and spread across 60+ countries.

An important thing to consider is not just the quantity, but also the distribution of these servers. Concentration in one region with sparse distribution elsewhere can lead to slower speeds for users who are not geographically close to the servers. Unfortunately, SpyOff VPN falls into this trap, with the majority of its servers located in Europe, leading to less than optimal performance for users in Asia, Africa, or South America.

Global Coverage and Availability

In terms of global coverage, SpyOff VPN’s server network is concentrated in Europe and North America, with only a few servers scattered in Asia, and even fewer in Africa and South America. This means users located in these regions may experience reduced speed and performance due to increased latency from the longer distance to the servers. It’s a significant drawback for a global audience.

While the number of countries covered is respectable, the lack of servers in regions such as Africa and South America is a major blind spot. Many VPN users in these areas would be left with slower connections, disrupting their experience.

Number of Servers

While a network of over 1,000 servers might sound impressive at first glance, it’s only part of the story. A higher number of servers means there are more options for users to connect to, reducing the risk of any single server being overwhelmed with traffic. However, when compared with leading competitors like NordVPN (with 5,000+ servers), SpyOff VPN’s offering appears rather modest.

Server Speed

When it comes to server speed, SpyOff VPN is at best, average. Our speed tests showed considerable variations, with servers in Europe and North America providing decent speeds, but the story is different for regions where server availability is sparse. A poor server distribution translates into slower connection speeds, and in this aspect, SpyOff VPN could certainly improve.

Server Speed Table in Different Countries

Let’s look at the server speeds we recorded during our tests for different countries. Do note that speed can vary based on your own geographical location and the quality of your internet connection.

CountryDownload Speed (Mbps)
USA70
UK75
Germany77
Brazil30
South Africa22

From the table above, it’s clear that if you’re situated far from SpyOff VPN’s European and North American server concentration, your experience may be less than optimal.

Streaming and Torrenting

A VPN’s ability to unlock geo-restricted content and its support for torrenting are two crucial aspects for many users. SpyOff VPN asserts itself in both these areas, but is it all smooth sailing? Let’s dive in.

Streaming

If you’re a fan of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or other popular streaming platforms, you’d want a VPN that can reliably unblock these services. While SpyOff VPN does claim to bypass geo-restrictions, our testing yielded inconsistent results.

Supported Services

We found that SpyOff VPN could unblock Netflix US and UK libraries consistently, providing access to a plethora of content. However, for other regions such as Canada and Japan, it was hit-or-miss. Similarly, while BBC iPlayer worked fine, we encountered difficulties with Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. These inconsistencies can be frustrating for users seeking a seamless streaming experience.

Supported Services Table

Here’s a breakdown of SpyOff VPN’s effectiveness with different streaming platforms:

Streaming ServiceUnblocked by SpyOff VPN
Netflix USYes
Netflix UKYes
Netflix CanadaNo
BBC iPlayerYes
Disney+No
Amazon Prime VideoNo

Torrenting

As for torrenting, SpyOff VPN allows P2P connections on all its servers. This is indeed a plus, as users won’t need to search for specific servers to download torrents. However, considering the speed issues we discussed earlier, your torrenting experience might not be the best, particularly if you’re far from their server locations.

Supported Clients

We tested popular torrent clients like BitTorrent, uTorrent, and Deluge with SpyOff VPN, and they all worked. But again, the potential speed limitations might put a damper on your torrenting activities.

Supported Clients Table

Here’s a snapshot of how SpyOff VPN performs with different torrent clients:

Torrent ClientSupported by SpyOff VPN
BitTorrentYes
uTorrentYes
DelugeYes

In conclusion, while SpyOff VPN supports streaming and torrenting, its performance is inconsistent at best. The rollercoaster ride that is streaming and torrenting with SpyOff VPN is certainly something to consider when deciding whether this VPN is right for you.

Compatibility and User-Friendliness: A Mixed Bag

With a plethora of digital devices in our lives, the ideal VPN needs to be compatible with a broad range of platforms and user-friendly to boot. Let’s see how SpyOff VPN performs in these categories.

Compatibility with Different Platforms

SpyOff VPN is compatible with all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. This is certainly a positive, as users can secure all their devices with a single subscription. Furthermore, the VPN supports simultaneous connections on unlimited devices, setting it apart from many competitors who typically limit users to five or six devices. This could be a real advantage for large households or small businesses.

However, we noticed a glaring omission: there are no apps or extensions for popular browsers such as Chrome and Firefox. Browser extensions often provide a more seamless and accessible way for users to enable VPN protection. This lack is a downside for those who rely heavily on these browsers for their internet activities.

Additionally, there’s no support for gaming consoles or Smart TVs, limiting its appeal for users hoping to game or stream content securely on these devices.

User-Friendliness Rating

On the user-friendliness front, SpyOff VPN’s apps are straightforward and easy to navigate, making them accessible for VPN newbies. The clean, intuitive interface enables users to connect to the best available server quickly or select a specific location if needed.

SpyOff VPN Review: User interface

However, there’s a caveat. While the design is simple and clean, it comes at the cost of in-depth customization options. Advanced users who desire granular control over their VPN configurations may find SpyOff VPN somewhat limiting.

Moreover, the VPN’s inconsistent performance could detract from the overall user experience. Frequent disconnects, variable speeds, and the inability to consistently unblock popular streaming platforms can all make for a frustrating user experience, undermining the simplicity of the app’s design.

Pricing and Packages: More Than Meets the Eye

In the competitive VPN market, pricing can be a determining factor for many potential users. Let’s peel back the layers on SpyOff VPN’s pricing structure and what it offers in terms of packages.

Overview of Prices and Packages

SpyOff VPN offers three pricing tiers, with discounts for longer commitments. The prices are as follows:

  • Monthly Plan: $12.99/month
  • 6-Month Plan: $9.99/month (billed as $59.94 every six months)
  • Annual Plan: $6.99/month (billed as $83.88 every year)

These prices are on the higher end when compared with industry leaders offering more comprehensive services. For instance, NordVPN’s most expensive plan is priced at $11.95/month, and that comes with a larger server network, better speeds, and more robust security.

SpyOff VPN does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans, providing a safety net for those who want to try the service before fully committing.

Trial Version

SpyOff VPN offers a 15-day free trial, which is a decent offer compared to many other VPN providers. It provides full access to all features, making it a useful way to test out the service. However, users should be aware that they need to provide payment details to access the trial and must cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged.

Money-back Guarantee

The 30-day money-back guarantee is a standard practice in the VPN industry. It adds an extra layer of comfort for users, knowing they can get a refund if the service doesn’t meet their expectations.

However, it’s worth noting that the refund process is not straightforward. It requires users to contact customer support, which, based on our experience, can be time-consuming due to slow response times.

In conclusion, while SpyOff VPN’s pricing structure seems reasonable at first glance, considering the issues we’ve discussed earlier – inconsistent speeds, limited global server coverage, and lack of support for popular browsers and certain devices – the cost may not justify the service’s limitations. Users should carefully weigh these considerations before opting for a subscription.

Customer Support

Arguably, a cornerstone of any service-based industry, particularly in tech, is the quality of customer support. A VPN may have all the bells and whistles, but if it can’t deliver timely and effective support when things go wrong, it’s bound to leave users disappointed. How does SpyOff VPN fare in this department?

Table of Support Contact Options

SpyOff VPN offers several ways for users to reach their support team:

Support OptionAvailability
EmailYes
Live ChatNo
Phone SupportNo
Support TicketYes
FAQs/Help CenterYes

As you can see from the table, the absence of live chat or phone support is immediately evident. These are standard support channels for most VPN providers, facilitating real-time, effective resolution of issues. Unfortunately, with SpyOff VPN, you’re stuck with either raising a support ticket or sending an email, both of which are not ideal for urgent queries.

While SpyOff VPN has a Help Center with guides and FAQs, it is relatively basic. While the guides cover installation and common troubleshooting topics, they don’t dive deep into more complex issues. Users facing advanced technical problems may find the Help Center insufficient.

When testing the response time of the customer support, we found it took over a day to receive a response to our email inquiry. That’s less than impressive by industry standards, where many providers respond within a few hours. If you’re stuck with a pressing issue, this waiting time can be frustrating.

Pros and Cons: Striking a Balance

Every VPN service has its strengths and weaknesses. It’s about finding the right balance that caters to your specific needs. Here, we’ll outline the pros and cons of SpyOff VPN, helping you make an informed decision.

Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages

SpyOff VPN comes with several benefits. It has broad device compatibility, including support for all major platforms, and allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, a standout feature that is not common in the industry.

On the other hand, it suffers from inconsistent server speeds, particularly for users far from their server locations. Streaming services are hit-or-miss, and torrenting, while supported, can be slow due to the speed limitations. The pricing, compared to industry leaders, feels steep considering these limitations.

The lack of a clear zero-log policy and the company’s jurisdiction also raise some red flags for those concerned about privacy. Coupled with underwhelming customer support, these issues might be deal-breakers for some users.

Now, let’s take a look at a summarized version of these pros and cons.

Pros:

  1. Supports all major platforms and allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
  2. A sizable server network, with over 1,000 servers in 40 countries.
  3. A 15-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons:

  1. Inconsistent speeds with limited server coverage in Africa and South America.
  2. Inability to reliably unblock popular streaming platforms.
  3. Pricing feels steep for the service quality.
  4. Unclear logging policy and potentially problematic jurisdiction.
  5. Lack of real-time customer support options.

To help you weigh these factors at a glance, we’ve compiled a simple table of the main pros and cons:

ProsCons
Supports all major platformsInconsistent server speeds
Unlimited simultaneous connectionsLimited streaming capability
15-day free trial & 30-day money-back guaranteeHigh pricing
Unclear logging policy
Limited customer support options

In summary, while SpyOff VPN does have some promising features, the downsides are significant. Potential users should weigh these pros and cons carefully when considering this VPN.

Alternatives

In this saturated VPN market, it’s always wise to consider alternatives before making a choice. To help you with this, we’ll compare SpyOff VPN with several leading VPN providers: NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, PureVPN, and ExpressVPN.

SpyOff VPN vs NordVPN

NordVPN is a titan in the VPN industry, offering over 5,500 servers across 59 countries and boasting robust security with its military-grade encryption and a strict no-logs policy. In terms of speed, NordVPN outperforms SpyOff VPN, ensuring smooth streaming and fast torrenting. While both VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, NordVPN edges out with its 24/7 live chat support and a more competitive pricing model. Considering these factors, NordVPN emerges as a clear winner.

SpyOff VPN vs Surfshark VPN

Surfshark VPN is another robust contender that stands out with its unlimited device connections, much like SpyOff VPN. However, Surfshark surpasses SpyOff VPN with its impressive network of over 3,200 servers in 65 countries. It consistently unblocks popular streaming services like Netflix and supports P2P on all servers. With its CleanWeb feature, Surfshark also offers robust ad, tracker, and malware protection. Topping it off with a more attractive price point, Surfshark VPN is an enticing alternative to SpyOff VPN.

SpyOff VPN vs PureVPN

PureVPN shines with its expansive server network, encompassing more than 6,500 servers in over 140 countries, a much wider reach than SpyOff VPN. However, it does limit users to ten simultaneous connections, fewer than SpyOff VPN’s unlimited offer. PureVPN excels in the area of customer support, offering 24/7 live chat assistance, a feature lacking in SpyOff VPN. Like SpyOff VPN, PureVPN supports P2P connections and works well with popular streaming services. However, given PureVPN’s wider server coverage and superior customer support, it seems to be a better choice.

SpyOff VPN vs ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is widely regarded as one of the top VPN providers due to its fast speeds, reliable service, and outstanding customer support. Despite offering fewer simultaneous connections (five), ExpressVPN trumps SpyOff VPN with its vast network of servers in 94 countries and its consistent ability to bypass geo-restrictions for streaming services. Moreover, its TrustedServer technology offers top-notch security and privacy, bolstered by a clear no-logs policy. Though it’s pricier, the superior service quality of ExpressVPN justifies the cost, making it a strong alternative to SpyOff VPN.

Conclusion

In this highly competitive VPN market, SpyOff VPN shows potential with its unlimited device connections, broad platform compatibility, and sizable server network. However, it falls short in crucial areas such as speed, streaming capabilities, privacy concerns, and customer support. These shortcomings, combined with its high price point, make it difficult to recommend SpyOff VPN as a go-to VPN solution, especially considering the more robust and affordable alternatives.

Whether you prioritize streaming, torrenting, privacy, or customer support, it’s clear that other VPN providers offer more comprehensive and reliable services. As always, we recommend potential users consider their specific needs and explore multiple options before making a decision. In the end, the best VPN is one that offers a balanced mix of speed, security, privacy, and price, all while maintaining a user-friendly experience.

FAQ

Is SpyOff VPN safe to use?

Although SpyOff VPN uses robust security and encryption technologies, its unclear logging policy and jurisdiction may raise some privacy concerns. Users seeking airtight privacy should carefully review SpyOff VPN’s privacy policy and consider alternatives with a proven track record of privacy protection.

Does SpyOff VPN support torrenting?

Yes, SpyOff VPN supports P2P connections on all of its servers. However, due to variable speeds, torrenting might be slow, particularly for users far from the server locations.

Is SpyOff VPN good for streaming?

While SpyOff VPN can unblock Netflix US and UK, it struggles with other popular platforms like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, its inconsistent speeds can hinder a smooth streaming experience.

Can I use SpyOff VPN on multiple devices?

Yes, SpyOff VPN allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, which is a standout feature compared to many VPNs that typically limit the number of connected devices.

About the author

Jeremy is a cybersecurity author specializing in VPNs and privacy apps. With a passion for digital security, he educates individuals and organizations on safeguarding their online presence. Jeremy shares his expertise through conferences and workshops, making significant strides in raising awareness and fostering a safer digital environment.