Browsec VPN is what is called a “freemium” service. It installs in the browser you are using and can be accessed from there. Since it is browser-based, it is available on all desktop operating systems. Additionally, it is available for Android and iOS operating systems as well. Despite being a freemium product, it is quite a bit less concerning. On the Chrome download page, there are over 4 million users and has a high rating. In this review of Browsec VPN, we will see if it is deserving of such high praise.
About the Company
The name Browsec seems to be a combination of the words browse and the word sec (for secure). While information for the company is not abundant, their website is professional looking and what we would expect from a modern VPN provider. The site is registered in Nassau, BS (The Bahamas) at the Ocean Centre, which is likely a just a business center. We would be willing to bet that there are a number of businesses located there. That is not uncommon for various companies. That also means that it is outside the jurisdiction of the 14 eyes countries. Those are countries that share information with each other. Because of where Browsec is registered, all privacy inquiries are subject to the laws of The Bahamas. Of course, that is a good thing if you are worried about your privacy.
Pricing
As we mentioned, this service is “freemium”. However, the company offers 2 types of plans that are not free. For one month of service, it is $3.99 a month. In comparison, you can get a year of the service for $29.94. That averages out to $2.50 a month. While they do not offer a premium trial, they do have a 7-day moneyback guarantee. Registration-wise, the company seems to require very little data. All you seem to need is an email address to register. As far as payment types go, the company accepts Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and PayPal.
Features
Features-wise, the company offers 2 options. The free option is free, but only gives you access to 4 servers. Additionally, those servers are slow, even on a high speed connection. Another interesting thing is since it is browser-based, you are only protected for things inside that browser. When you move to the premium version, there are some differences.
- Speeds of up to 100 Mbps instead of 1 Mbps
- Premium locations
- Premium servers
Server Locations and Countries
As we said before, the free version gives you access to 4 countries. Those are the US, the UK, Singapore, and the Netherlands. In comparison, the premium version offers 41 locations. Those are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and United States (West). As you can see, there are roughly 10 times the number of servers available than there is in the free version.
Hands-On Testing
As far as the VPN goes, it is pretty straight forward. After you add it to your browser (which ever one you use), there are only a few steps you have to do.
- Locate the globe badge.
- Open the panel. As you see, you can change servers here. move the slider to the on position.
- Close the console. You will notice now the initials of whatever country you chose.
Now that you have connected, it is time to test the speed.
Browsec Speed Test
Browsec makes no bones about the fact that their free service is slow. That said, we will show you the difference in speeds. While we expected slow speeds, it is actually even a bit faster than we anticipated. It won’t be fast on the free version, but it is tolerable.
Why you should use a VPN
Since so many establishments now offer free WiFi, you will want to use a VPN when you conneect. While WiFi is great, the cybercriminals think it is great as well. By connecting to the server of your choice, you create a secure and encrypted connection. That way, you greatly reduce the risk that criminals or cybertheives will steal your private information.
Another reason to use a VPN is to help you get around geo-restrictions. No matter where you are, connecting to a server there will help. That is because it makes the blocking software think you are located somewhere else. That can be a real advantage if you are trying to access certain regions or you are being blocked from viewing content. Simply connect to a server and you can start browsing or viewing the content you want to access.
What About Leaks?
Even though this is a free VPN service, we were a bit surprised to see that we did not have any leaking issues. To find that out, we used our favorite comprehensive leak tester at www.doileak.com. We like using this one because it shows you the different areas where it detects problems. As you can see by the image to the right, there are no issues except for the personal preference issues on our machine.
Should I Use this VPN?
Getting down to the basics, using this VPN service (if you go for the free version) will be slow and limited. That said, despite the slowness, this VPN maches the security we would expect from premium services. If you want a service with good security and higher speeds, you may wish to try the premium version of this product. This one passes our litmus test.
Final Thoughts About Browsec VPN
While the speeds are slow for the free version, it certainly does a good job at checking the boxes we look for. Because it does not leak and is based in the Bahamas, it would be a good choice to get around geo-restrictions and protect your privacy. Again, if you are going to stream anything, you will want to make sure your speeds are faster. While the rate you see is not bad, it is not great, either. No one wants their favorite show or live event buffering. Remember, you should always protect yourself when you are on WiFi. This free service is very slow, but the lack of leaks is impressive. Just remember that you will only be able to connect to the USA, the UK, Netherlands, and Singapore. It could help you get around geo-restrictions if you want to use something like SoundCloud, Pandora, or others. Feel free to take a look at our top 10 VPNs for comparison.
