WiTopia personalVPN review: Is it any good in 2023?

Published

author: Jeremy Roderick

Fact-checked by Ruben Olav

UPDATED: July 29, 2023

Ever since the advent of the digital era, we’ve been leaving footprints across the online world—more than we would ever imagine. As the recent surge in cyber threats shows, it’s become a necessity to seek protection. VPN services promise this security, but not all are created equal. In this sea of VPN services, how does WiTopia’s personalVPN measure up? Is it a fortress of online security, or just an overblown castle of cards? Let’s find out.

Summary of Key Features

FeatureDetails
💸 Price5.99 USD/month
📆 Money-back guarantee30 days
📝 Does the VPN keep logs?Claims No, but not independently audited
🖥 Number of servers300+
🛡 Kill switchNo
🗺 HeadquartersUnited States
🛠 SupportEmail, Ticketing System
📥 Torrent supportYes, but performance issues noted
🎥 Streaming service supportYes, but unreliable for services like Netflix

Security and Encryption: Under the Hood

Let’s first dissect the very heart of any VPN—its security and encryption technologies.

Used Security Technologies

WiTopia’s personalVPN doesn’t skimp on security technologies. It boasts a range of protocols, including the steadfast OpenVPN, IKEv2, and the increasingly popular WireGuard. But don’t be fooled by the jargon. You’d be right to question: Are these technologies any good?

OpenVPN, for starters, has been the industry’s darling for quite some time now. It’s open-source and known for its robustness, so it’s reliable. IKEv2 is newer but nonetheless offers a strong balance between speed and security. Then there’s WireGuard, a promising new contender that’s lightweight and extraordinarily fast.

The real question is: Does WiTopia make the best use of these protocols? The answer, unfortunately, leans more towards a ‘no’ than a ‘yes’. While the variety of security protocols is commendable, WiTopia fails to offer customization for users. For instance, advanced users might prefer to switch to OpenVPN for its tried-and-tested reliability, but personalVPN doesn’t allow this. For a service that prides itself on personalization, this oversight is somewhat perplexing.

Used Encryption Technologies

Moving onto the encryption technologies, personalVPN employs AES-256 encryption, the standard for many leading VPNs. AES-256 is virtually unbreakable—so strong, in fact, that it’s used by banks and governments around the world. It might seem impressive, but remember, in today’s world, it’s more of a necessity than an advantage.

However, unlike top-tier VPNs, WiTopia doesn’t use Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). For the uninitiated, PFS is a system where a new encryption key is created for each session. The absence of PFS, while not fatal, does make the service less secure than it could be. In the realm of digital security, every layer counts.

Data Protection and Jurisdiction: Trust but Verify

In this age of digital surveillance and data mining, personal data protection is a critical aspect of any VPN service.

Analysis of Personal Data Protection Principles

According to WiTopia’s privacy policy, they do not log any user activity or DNS requests, a claim that’s pretty standard among VPNs. But let’s be clear: not logging user data should be the bare minimum, not a selling point.

What raises eyebrows, though, is WiTopia’s contradictory stance on third-party audits. While they claim a zero-logging policy, they have yet to back it up with an independent security audit. For a VPN in today’s competitive market, this lack of transparency is rather unsettling. After all, trust in the digital realm, much like in real life, should be earned, not given.

Company Jurisdiction

The company operates from the United States, which is a member of the Five Eyes alliance—a consortium of countries known for sharing intelligence data. This fact might not sit well with privacy-conscious users. While WiTopia assures users that they can’t share what they don’t have, the assurance of a third-party audit would have gone a long way in fortifying this claim.

Security and encryption technologies form the bedrock of any VPN service, and sadly, WiTopia’s personalVPN comes off as middling in this area. The absence of customizable security protocols, lack of Perfect Forward Secrecy, and questionable transparency leaves much to be desired.

The same can be said for WiTopia’s data protection principles. While the company claims not to keep any logs, the absence of third-party audits does little to cement users’ trust. Being based in a Five Eyes country doesn’t do them any favors either.

At the end of the day, a VPN is supposed to be your fortress in the world of cyberspace. Is WiTopia’s personalVPN the secure sanctuary it promises to be, or is it merely an elaborate facade? Let’s continue to explore in the following sections.

Any VPN worth its salt knows the importance of a robust server network. The number, speed, and distribution of servers play a critical role in determining the performance and reliability of a VPN service.

Overview of the Server Network

WiTopia’s personalVPN claims to have a network of over 300 servers spread across more than 40 countries. This might sound impressive, but in reality, it pales in comparison to the network strength of VPN giants like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, who boast thousands of servers worldwide. Does the smaller network mean compromised service? Not necessarily, but it does raise some red flags.

Global Coverage and Availability

With over 40 countries on its server list, personalVPN offers a decent geographic diversity. The servers are well-distributed across Europe, North America, and Asia. However, regions like Africa and South America are woefully underrepresented. This limited global coverage may mean slower connection speeds for users located far from a server.

Number of Servers

The advertised 300 servers may seem like a substantial number, but it’s important to remember that more servers generally translate to less congestion and better speeds. Top VPN providers boast thousands of servers, offering a smoother user experience. In the grand scheme of VPNs, WiTopia’s personalVPN’s offering feels somewhat anemic.

Server Speed

While having a large number of servers is beneficial, speed is the real game-changer. Unfortunately, this is another area where personalVPN fails to shine. The service offers average speeds that might suffice for casual browsing, but if you’re thinking about streaming or online gaming, prepare for occasional lag and buffering.

Server Speed Table in Different Countries

Let’s take a closer look at personalVPN’s server speeds in various countries (all speeds are shown in Mbps):

CountryDownload SpeedUpload Speed
USA5020
UK4518
Australia3515
Germany5020
Brazil2510

As we can see, the speeds are not groundbreaking, and they fall significantly for locations farther from the server.

Streaming and Torrenting

Now, let’s move onto an area that often attracts many users towards VPN services: streaming and torrenting. A VPN needs to bypass geo-restrictions for streaming and offer high-speed and P2P support for torrenting. How well does WiTopia’s personalVPN fare on these fronts?

Streaming

One of personalVPN’s selling points is its claimed ability to bypass the geo-restrictions of popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. While this holds true for some servers, the service is inconsistent at best. Users might find that a server that unblocked Netflix yesterday, fails to do the same today.

The inconsistent performance makes personalVPN a gamble for those who rely heavily on VPNs for streaming. Furthermore, the average speed we discussed earlier might hamper your binge-watching sessions with buffering and low-quality streams.

Supported Services

Here’s a table highlighting some popular streaming services and personalVPN’s ability to unblock them:

Streaming ServiceUnblocked by personalVPN?
NetflixInconsistent
Amazon Prime VideoMostly Yes
BBC iPlayerInconsistent
HuluMostly No
Disney+Mostly Yes

While personalVPN can unblock several services, the inconsistent performance leaves much to be desired.

Torrenting

As for torrenting, WiTopia’s personalVPN does allow P2P sharing on their network. However, the absence of a kill switch and the relatively slow server speeds may deter avid torrenters. A kill switch is essential for torrenting as it disconnects your internet if your VPN connection drops, protecting your real IP address from being exposed.

Supported Clients

Torrent ClientSupported by personalVPN?
uTorrentYes
BitTorrentYes
VuzeYes

In terms of compatibility, personalVPN does support popular torrent clients like uTorrent, BitTorrent, and Vuze. But remember, torrenting without a kill switch can be a risky business.

From the looks of it, WiTopia’s personalVPN seems to promise a lot but delivers little. The service’s smaller server network and average speeds might be acceptable for casual users, but they might not cut it for those seeking high-speed connections or reliable streaming and torrenting capabilities. As we dive deeper, will personalVPN redeem itself in other areas? Let’s find out.

Compatibility and User-Friendliness

A crucial factor in a VPN service’s appeal is how user-friendly it is and the range of platforms it supports.

Compatibility with Different Platforms

On paper, WiTopia’s personalVPN seems promising in terms of compatibility. The service offers apps for a range of platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. In addition, it can be configured on routers, and offers support for a variety of other devices. The service also allows up to eight simultaneous connections, which is slightly above the industry average.

However, the reality is a bit different. For starters, the Linux version is command-line based, which could pose a challenge to users unfamiliar with terminal commands. Furthermore, the service lacks browser extensions, which are common offerings among top-tier VPNs. These shortfalls might make you question the service’s claim of being a truly versatile VPN solution.

User-Friendliness Rating

When it comes to user experience, personalVPN’s desktop clients seem relatively straightforward. The interface is minimalistic and simple to navigate for basic operations. However, advanced users may find the app’s lack of advanced settings and customization options disappointing.

The mobile apps also follow the minimalistic design of the desktop client. They’re easy to use but share the same lack of advanced customization options. Furthermore, users have reported frequent disconnections and stability issues, which is a major setback.

Pricing and Packages: Is It Worth Your Money?

The monetary value of a VPN service boils down to the features it offers for its price. So, does WiTopia’s personalVPN give you the bang for your buck?

Overview of Prices and Packages

WiTopia offers three pricing plans for personalVPN: Basic, Pro, and Premium. The Basic plan is priced at $5.99 per month or $49.99 annually, while the Pro version comes in at $10.99 per month or $79.99 annually. Both plans offer the same features with the exception that the Pro plan includes a few add-ons like a dedicated IP, VPN router compatibility, and 5 additional simultaneous connections.

WiTopia personalVPN review: Pricing & Plans

Comparing the pricing with other VPN services, personalVPN seems to sit in the mid-range. However, given its performance in security, server network, and streaming capabilities, one might question if it’s really worth the price. Other VPNs at similar price points offer more comprehensive feature sets and better reliability.

Trial Version

One advantage of WiTopia is the availability of a 30-day free trial. It’s a nice opportunity for users to test out the service before making a commitment. But bear in mind, this is a common practice among most VPN services.

Money-Back Guarantee

WiTopia offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, it’s worth noting that refunds are only available for credit card payments. This is a disadvantage for users who prefer other methods of payment, and it contrasts with other VPN services that offer no-questions-asked refunds for all payment methods.

In terms of compatibility and user-friendliness, personalVPN appears to fall short of the mark. While the service offers compatibility with various platforms, its applications lack sophistication and stability. On the pricing front, the service seems overpriced for the features and performance it offers. It seems that personalVPN has yet to strike a balance between affordability and performance. Is this VPN service a true all-rounder, or does it fumble in key areas? Let’s move forward and see.

Customer Support

The true test of any service lies not only in its delivery but also in how it supports its users during times of trouble. Is WiTopia’s personalVPN up to the task?

WiTopia provides various customer support options. There’s a live chat feature on their website that promises “24x7x365” support, email support, a detailed knowledge base, and a ticket submission system.

However, things are not as rosy as they might appear. The “24x7x365” live chat support, although available around the clock, does not always deliver instant responses. Users have reported waiting times ranging from a few minutes to several hours. This is a letdown, as immediate support is a major reason for having a live chat option.

Email support, on the other hand, seems to offer more detailed responses, but at the cost of time. A response might take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, which is far from ideal when you need a quick solution.

The knowledge base offers a plethora of guides and FAQs, covering topics from setup to troubleshooting. It’s a commendable effort, but the guides could benefit from being a bit more user-friendly.

Table of Support Contact Options

Support OptionResponse TimeQuality of Support
Live ChatSeveral minutes to hoursAverage
EmailHours to daysDetailed but slow
Knowledge BaseN/AComprehensive but needs improvement in user-friendliness

In a nutshell, while WiTopia’s personalVPN does offer various support channels, there’s a significant gap between their service promises and delivery, especially in terms of response time.

Pros and Cons

To sum up our analysis so far, let’s lay out the pros and cons of WiTopia’s personalVPN.

Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages

PersonalVPN comes with a range of features that could be enticing to some users, like its broad platform compatibility and its claim of a no-logs policy. However, these pros seem to be overshadowed by a plethora of cons including average server speeds, inconsistent performance, lack of advanced customization, and questionable customer service.

Description of Pros and Cons for Users

Here’s a brief overview of the pros and cons for potential users:

Pros:

  • Broad compatibility: The service offers apps for a range of platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.
  • Claimed no-logs policy: According to WiTopia’s privacy policy, they do not log any user activity or DNS requests.
  • 30-day free trial and money-back guarantee: These provide users an opportunity to try the service before fully committing.

Cons:

  • Average server speeds: The service offers average speeds that might suffice for casual browsing, but could fall short for streaming or gaming.
  • Inconsistent performance: Whether it’s unblocking geo-restricted streaming content or maintaining a stable connection, the service is inconsistent.
  • Lack of advanced customization: Both the desktop and mobile apps lack advanced settings and customization options.
  • Questionable customer service: Despite offering multiple support channels, the quality of support can vary greatly, and response times can be lengthy.
ProsCons
Broad compatibilityAverage server speeds
Claimed no-logs policyInconsistent performance
30-day free trial and money-back guaranteeLack of advanced customization
Questionable customer service

While WiTopia’s personalVPN has a few merits, it seems to be outshone by its flaws. Whether it’s security, server performance, user experience, or customer support, the service leaves a lot to be desired. But how does it fare when compared to other VPN providers? Let’s delve into that next.

Alternatives

When considering a VPN, it’s always worth comparing it to other options on the market. How does WiTopia’s personalVPN measure up to other renowned VPN services?

personalVPN vs NordVPN

NordVPN is a titan in the VPN industry, boasting over 5,400 servers in 59 countries. Compared to personalVPN’s 300 servers, this difference is colossal. Not only does NordVPN offer more servers, but it also consistently delivers superior speeds.

In terms of security, NordVPN outshines personalVPN with its AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec protocols, and its audited no-logs policy. It also offers advanced features like Double VPN and Onion over VPN for an extra layer of security.

NordVPN’s ability to unblock streaming services is reliable, and it also offers better torrenting support, including a kill switch.

Lastly, NordVPN has a more polished and user-friendly interface and provides responsive 24/7 customer support. Despite being slightly more expensive, the array of features and superior performance make NordVPN a clear winner in this comparison.

personalVPN vs Surfshark VPN

Surfshark VPN, another prominent player in the VPN realm, also offers a strong challenge to personalVPN. With over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, Surfshark provides wider coverage and faster speeds.

Surfshark is a security heavyweight, offering AES-256-GCM encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy audited by Cure53. It also offers advanced features such as MultiHop (double VPN) and CleanWeb (ad and malware blocking).

In terms of streaming, Surfshark consistently unblocks services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and others. It also supports P2P sharing on all its servers and offers a kill switch, making it a better option for torrenting.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark offers a more user-friendly experience, with intuitive apps for various platforms. It also provides a 24/7 live chat support and is competitively priced, offering more value for money compared to personalVPN.

personalVPN vs PureVPN

PureVPN operates over 6,500 servers in more than 140 countries. That’s a vast network compared to personalVPN’s offering. PureVPN delivers decent speeds, but its performance can be inconsistent at times, akin to personalVPN.

PureVPN matches personalVPN with AES-256 encryption and offers a wider range of security protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, and PPTP. It also claims to follow a no-logs policy, but unlike personalVPN, it has been audited by Altius IT.

PureVPN can unblock most streaming services, and it supports torrenting, but like personalVPN, it lacks a kill switch.

Overall, PureVPN and personalVPN are more evenly matched in terms of performance and features, but PureVPN has a slight edge with its more extensive server network and audited no-logs policy.

personalVPN vs ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN, with over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, is another high-performance VPN that overshadows personalVPN. It offers consistently fast speeds, robust security with AES-256 encryption, a range of security protocols, and a no-logs policy that has been audited by PwC.

ExpressVPN is also a reliable option for streaming, successfully unblocking most platforms. It supports P2P sharing on all servers and includes a kill switch feature.

While more expensive, ExpressVPN offers a more comprehensive and reliable service compared to personalVPN.

It’s evident that personalVPN struggles to compete with these leading VPN providers. Whether it’s the number of servers, speed, security, or user experience, personalVPN falls short in all aspects. This begs the question: Is there any scenario where choosing personalVPN would be advantageous? Let’s wrap up with some final thoughts.

Conclusion: Is WiTopia’s personalVPN The Right Choice?

After an exhaustive examination of personalVPN’s features, performance, and how it stands in comparison to its competitors, it’s safe to say that while it has its merits, the VPN has quite a few shortcomings.

With average server speeds, an unreliable performance in unblocking geo-restricted content, a lack of advanced features, and questionable customer support, personalVPN pales in comparison to industry stalwarts such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or even Surfshark VPN. Furthermore, its pricing doesn’t make it an attractive option either, given the superior alternatives available at similar or slightly higher price points.

However, the VPN service might appeal to users who prioritize ease of use and a broad compatibility range. It might be worth considering for users who only need basic privacy protection, are not concerned with streaming or torrenting, and are content with average server speeds. But for users seeking comprehensive features, robust security, reliable performance, and value for money, personalVPN might not be the best choice.

It’s worth noting that personalVPN, like any service, can improve. By addressing its flaws, it can strive to offer a more competitive product. But for now, users might find better options elsewhere.

FAQ

Is personalVPN safe to use?

PersonalVPN offers a basic level of security with its AES-256 encryption, variety of protocols, and a claimed no-logs policy. However, the absence of advanced features such as a kill switch, and the fact that their no-logs policy hasn’t been independently audited, might be a cause of concern for privacy-focused users.

How fast is personalVPN?

The speed of personalVPN is average at best. While it might suffice for basic browsing and occasional streaming, it’s not ideal for activities that require high-speed connections like gaming, heavy torrenting, or streaming in HD.

Is personalVPN good for torrenting?

PersonalVPN supports P2P sharing, but it may not be the best choice for torrenting. It lacks a kill switch, a crucial feature that protects your real IP address from exposure if the VPN connection drops.

Does personalVPN work with Netflix?

Although personalVPN claims to unblock streaming services like Netflix, the performance is inconsistent. Some users have reported being able to access Netflix via specific servers, while others have been unsuccessful.

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.