FastestVPN Review 2024: Does It Live Up to Its Name? (2024)

FastestVPN is a mixed bag of good privacy and security with some performance issues. We liked its security setup, proven no-log policy, and affordable pricing. However, its server count is smaller than many premium VPNs, which could become an issue because many servers we tried didn't work at all.

If you're seeking a VPN for casual use, then this might be the right service for you. Learn all about its features and performance in our FastestVPN review below.

Overview

Our experience

Our FastestVPN testing started with a hassle-free download and installation of its Windows app.

The VPN client is clean and well-designed. You should have no problem finding your way around, even if you've never used a VPN. Navigating the app felt intuitive, and we like having all the settings within a single screen.

The issues started cropping up once we started connecting to servers. We connected to a server in Dallas during speed testing, but we couldn't load any websites.

This wasn't the only server we had issues with either, we kept having to switch servers while testing. So while FastestVPN is deceptively easy to use, it proved to be a frustrating VPN experience.

Who is FastestVPN best for?

• Recommended for: Beginners or casual VPN users who want to stay safe online.

We recommend FastestVPN if you don't need super-advanced features and blazing speeds. It can protect you online and its had some successunblocking Netflixand other streaming platforms.

Its prices are surprisingly low for the value it offers, including an ad blocker and a free password manager. You can even get their lifetime plan and save a lot of money in the long run.

Its limited server network will result in considerable speed drops, so there are better options for power users.

FastestVPN prices and subscriptions

FastestVPN provides an excellent price-to-value ratio. On top of the VPN, it also offers an ad blocker and malware protection.Every subscription also comes with a free year of PassHulk password manager.

FastestVPN is one of the rare services with a lifetime plan: A one-time $40.00 payment gets you permanent VPN protection.

If you need more than 10 simultaneous connections, you can add them for $4.00 per device. You can also buy dedicated IPs and port forwarding for $1.49/mo and $1.20/mo, respectively.

FastestVPN is cheaper than services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN. However, it lacks a lot compared to these two services. NordVPN has thousands of servers, and both VPNs offer servers in 100-plus countries. We were also impressed that both of these VPNs increased our speeds with each server connection, while FastestVPN significantly decreased our speeds.

Ultimately, you're better off with one of these VPNs if you're looking to purchase the best service available.

FastestVPN features

FastestVPN offers a decent collection of features, ranging from solid VPN protocols to split tunneling. However, the service is still not on par with the biggest VPNs on the market. Keep reading to learn why.

Server count and countries

• 800+ servers in 49+ countries

FastestVPN operates 800+ servers in 49+ countries and 100+ locations. This is a modest network that can't rival NordVPN's 6,400+ servers, for example. Having an extensive network ensures better speeds and connectivity with less server crowding.

We liked that FastVPN’s servers are optimized for lag-free streaming and safe torrenting. Furthermore, FastestVPN's 99.99% server uptime claims held up during our testing. We did find some servers that were duds, so keep that in mind if you need a bigger network.

If you need help finding the best server for your location, the Smart Connect feature can pick one automatically. You can also create a list of favorites for easier access.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• FastestVPN logs policy: No logs
• FastestVPN headquarters: Cayman Islands

FastestVPN is headquartered in the Cayman Islands, which is a VPN-friendly location. It has no mandatory data retention laws and doesn't belong to the Eyes alliance. In other words, they're not legally obligated to log your private data.

The company maintains a no-logs policy verified by Altius IT in an independent audit. They only record your email, payment method, and connection duration. None of these logs can be used to identify you or trace your online traffic back to you.

The Cayman Islands court is the only entity that can request user data from FastestVPN. However, the company would have nothing dangerous to hand over in this scenario.

Kill switch

A kill switch is a fail-safe that cuts your internet connection if your VPN stops working. It prevents you from accessing the internet without protection and leaking your data.

To find the kill switch, select the settings tab and hit the toggle for Internet kill switch.

Split tunneling

A feature that lets you exempt parts of your traffic from VPN protection. For example, you can browse your local news site without a VPN and unblock Netflix US simultaneously.

From the settings tab, select Split Tunneling. From there, you can hit theEnable Split Tunneling toggleand check off the apps you wish to avoid VPN protection.

VPN protocol

FastestVPN supports OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), IKEv2, and WireGuard. OpenVPN will meet most of your needs, thanks to its speed/security balance. WireGuard is faster but not great at geo-unblocking. IKEv2 is the best tunnel for your phone — it won't disconnect your VPN when changing networks (for example, when you switch from mobile to Wi-Fi).

If you want to set up servers manually, you can also employ PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenConnect. We don’t recommend this unless you have the necessary tech skills.

Malware protection

FastestVPN offers free server-side malware protection. However, the support team didn't give us a good explanation of how this actually works. We presume it only detects malicious websites and blocks your access; it can't handle any actual malware.

VPNs with real antivirus add-ons likeSurfsharkprovide them for a fee. So, we don't believe FastestVPN can match them for free. As such, we don't recommend using it as a substitute for agood antivirus program.

Ad blocker

It eliminates annoying ads, trackers, and malicious pop-ups. It worked well during our tests on YouTube and some torrenting sites known for intrusive ads.

NAT firewall

A built-in NAT firewall protects you against external threats. It's enabled automatically, and you can't turn it off.

Multi-hop

This feature routes your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. It adds an extra layer of encryption, which helps with geo-unblocking and internet censorship. However, it’s also slower than regular VPN connections. We don’t recommend using multi-hop unless you absolutely have to.

FastestVPN test results

We checked FastestVPN's performance, security, and stability during our testing phase. These aspects are crucial for a good user experience. If your VPN is slow, frequently crashes, and leaks your data, you shouldn't use it. The main goal of our testing circuit is to help you avoid such services.

Speed tests

• Speed test results: FastestVPN had an inconsistent impact on our download speeds, but it tanked our upload speeds.

We tested FastestVPN's impact on our internet speed while connected to various servers in the U.S, Canada, the U.K., and Australia. We completed our testing from a PC laptop running Windows 11 from a physical location in the U.S.

Test results as of 06/24/2024.

Our upload was drastically lowered across the board. So, we don't recommend FastestVPN for upload-heavy tasks like video conferencing or streaming your content.

Our download speed wasn't knocked down much, typically 15% to 20%, except for the Canadian server, which dropped our speed by 50%. The ping values were also high, so FastestVPN is not ideal for online gaming.

In conclusion, FastestVPN didn't live up to its name during our tests. There are plenty of faster VPNs out there. Even with significant drops, our original speed was high enough to remain serviceable. However, we don't recommend using FastestVPN if you're on a much slower network.

Netflix tests

• Netflix test results: FastestVPN unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tried but failed to unblock Netflix Australia.

Beyond testing for speed, we also test VPNs for their ability to unblock Netflix libraries. One benefit of a VPN is being able to change your digital location.

While connected to FastestVPN, we managed to unblock Netflix U.S., Canada, and U.K. during our testing. The only issues we noticed during our stream was with Netflix Canada, which took some time to reach maximum streaming quality.

Test results as of 06/24/2024.

The only library we couldn't unblock was Netflix Australia. We started while connected to the Australia Streaming server, but Netflix detected our VPN use. This error persisted with the other Australia servers we tested.

DNS leak test

• DNS leak test results: FastestVPN passed its DNS leak test.

DNS (Domain Name System) is the phonebook of the internet. We primarily work with domain names like allaboutcookies.org. However, web browsers communicate through IP addresses. DNS translates domain names to IP addresses in your browser, allowing it to display the site you're requesting.

DNS leaks occur when your queries leak out of the VPN tunnel. In such cases, your ISP, hackers, and third-party organizations can see your IP address, browsing activity, location, and more.

Fortunately, there were zero leaks during our DNS leak testing.

WebRTC leak test

• WebRTC leak test results: FastestVPN passed its WebRTC leak test.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications) enables real-time video, text, and voice communication between devices and web browsers. A WebRTC leak refers to the unwanted visibility of your IP address.

FastestVPN passed this test with flying colors; our IP was masked at all times.

Kill switch test

• Kill switch test results: FastestVPN failed its kill switch test.

A kill switch is an essential VPN feature. If your VPN connection drops, then a kill switch will stop your internet connection. This prevents your data and browsing activities from being leaked.

We started our kill switch test by toggling on this feature then connecting to a server in Atlanta. After opening ipleak.net, we switched to a server in Portland. Unfortunately, ipleak.net immediately revealed our true physical location, so its kill switch isn't reliable.

FastestVPN compatibility

Modern VPNs should work on all the devices in your home. Here are the platforms you can secure with FastestVPN:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• iOS
• Android
• Amazon Fire TV Stick
• Roku
• PS4
• Apple TV
• Chromecast
• Routers

FastestVPN has native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV Stick. It also offers Edge, Chrome, and Firefox extensions. If you want to use it on different systems, you'll have to set it up manually.

FastestVPN customer support

FastestVPN offers live chat, email, and a comprehensive knowledge base for customer support.

Live chat

You can reach FastestVPN's support agents 24/7 via live chat. When we initially reached out to live chat support, we didn't receive a response for several minutes so we disconnected from chat. Once we reached out again, the agent responded quickly.

Our agent were helpful and polite.

Email

The other way you can get in contact with a human is by sending an email to FastestVPN support.

After sending a question via email, we received an automated response from FastestVPN. There was no indication of how long the response would take, but we received a response in about 10 minutes.

Online guides

Its website features all the manuals and setup guides you'll ever need. There's also an FAQ section and a decent blog.

Top alternatives

While FastestVPN offers a range of features suitable for many users, some of the best VPN services might better suit your specific needs. Here are a few top-tier alternatives:

FAQs

Bottom line: Is FastestVPN good?

FastestVPN offers a solid balance of security, privacy, user friendliness, and affordability. It also excels at geo-unblocking — you can use it for anything from accessing Netflix US to bypassing online censorship. Its customer support team was also a pleasant surprise. They're available 24/7 via live chat and always ready to help.

Having said that, FastestVPN's server network is modest at best, and its speeds are not great. If you're on a slower network, you'll definitely feel the speed drops. Having servers optimized for streaming and torrenting is a big plus, though. A few multi-hop options can also help with severe online censorship.

With all that in mind, we recommend FastestVPN to beginners looking to secure their traffic on a budget. But if you're looking for a high-performing VPN service, we recommend looking over our FastestVPN alternatives.

Steph Trejos is an Editor at All About Cookies, leveraging her expertise in the cybersecurity field. She holds a B.A. in English: Editing, Writing, and Media, as well as Media/Communications Studies. With over five years of professional writing experience, she has garnered recognition for her work on anti-financial crime topics, such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and cyberthreats.