All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
/images/2024/02/07/turbovpn-logos-idcuxc7jjb.png)
Includes a free plan option
Over 21,000 servers in 50 countries
All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
Turbo VPN is a moderately priced virtual private network (VPN) with a large server count and minimal features, even on the paid plan. We weren’t thrilled with the reports of data leaks, malware infections, and disclosure of user data rumors that have plagued Turbo VPN across the internet. We did experience data leaks and slow speeds and were unable to confirm the validity of its privacy policy, given there are no independent audits.
Still, other users have reported it to be a good option. Our testing didn’t reproduce good results, and it’s not a product we would use ourselves. We’ve outlined what we think Turbo VPN did right and the parts we think it got very wrong.
| Price | $4.17-$11.99/mo |
| Free version | Yes |
| Max # of connected devices | 5 |
| # of servers | 21,000+ in 50+ countries |
| VPN protocol | IKEv2, OpenVPN |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Headquarters | Singapore |
| Netflix access | No |
| Learn more | Get Turbo VPN
|
We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.
Once we’ve completed the testing, our editorial rating is calculated by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each VPN in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, server count, speed, security, and features.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full VPN methodology here.
We didn’t have any problems installing Turbo VPN. We logged in through the website and clicked the download link, which took us to the Apple App Store.
Since the installation and setup were so easy, we weren’t surprised when we discovered how easy it was to navigate the dashboard. Turbo VPN doesn’t offer a ton of features, so there weren’t a lot of menu options to sort through before finding what we wanted.
The problems came into play as we were casually using Turbo VPN. It would block certain aspects of apps we use daily, and when we tried testing it with streaming Netflix, it kept the page from loading entirely. When we switched to another server, it invalidated our credentials for Netflix, so we had to turn it off to log in. We also found that it would severely slow our speeds or block legitimate websites from loading.
We didn’t get malware like some users have reported, but we did find it to be problematic using the VPN. On almost every server we tried, we had connection and speed issues. Some of them leaked our data, which is a deal breaker for us.
Overall, we weren’t that impressed and wouldn’t use Turbo VPN ourselves.
/images/2024/02/06/turbo-vpn-review_leaked_data_02.jpg)
Turbo VPN offers a lot of servers, over 21,000 in 50 countries. If this is something that’s important to you, Turbo VPN may be a good choice. Just be careful, as there have been reported privacy concerns and the potential for malware.
Turbo VPN only has two options: a free plan and a four-tiered premium plan. The free plan is a budget option for anyone looking to save money on a VPN, while the paid plan has more features like an ISP throttling detector and private DNS.
There are several subscription lengths available with the paid plan. You can pay monthly, but there are also six-month, one-year, and two-year plans. Each payment tier is the same in regard to features. The only change is the subscription length.
The free plan is limited to a random connection you don’t choose, but the VPN protection is still active. The paid plan offers the full suite, including access to all of Turbo VPN’s servers, up to five simultaneous connections, and no data cap.
The two-year plan is the most economical option if you break it down by monthly expense. If you aren’t sure you want to commit to two years, you can try Turbo VPN free for 30 days and get a refund if you aren’t happy with it.
| Plan | 1-month plan | 6-month plan | 1-year plan | 2-year plan |
| Price per month | $11.99/mo | $6.67/mo | $5.00/mo | $4.17/mo |
| Price per period | $11.99 | $39.99 | $59.99 | $99.99 |
| Features | Free | Premium |
| Access to all server locations | Limited | Full |
| Max # of connected devices | 1 | 5 |
| No logs policy | ||
| Data cap | 500 Mbps daily | None |
Turbo VPN doesn’t offer a lot of advanced features, like torrenting support or a dark web monitor, but it does offer a lot of servers. With over 21,000 servers, it has one of the highest server counts we’ve seen.
It states a no-logs privacy policy, but we couldn’t find any evidence that the privacy policy has ever had a third-party edit to verify if it’s doing what it claims. Turbo VPN does offer a kill switch and some VPN protocol options, but not anything premium like a double VPN.
21,000+ servers is a lot of servers, especially considering all of these are within the walls of 50 different countries. Given the country count is so low, we didn’t expect every server to be a top performer.
When we tested, we found that many of the servers blocked us from being able to use basic functions in our other apps. Some even tanked our speeds to zero.
Then we tested some that were perfectly fine and worked exactly how we expected. It’s a toss-up as to which server is going to perform well for you and which will be a total bust.
Turbo VPN maintains that it offers a true no-logs policy for the security of its users. The headquarters are in Singapore, which is a Fourteen Eyes country. The Five, Nine, and Fourteen Eyes countries are cooperatives that allow each other to monitor and collect data on other citizens within those alliances. VPN and privacy enthusiasts generally consider VPNs headquartered in these countries to be less desirable than other VPNs outside of the Eyes alliances.
Many VPNs located in Alliance countries tend to have a no-logs policy due to the nature of data and privacy laws within their borders. This means that even if they were required to hand over your browsing data, by not keeping logs of what you’re doing, there’s nothing to hand over. It’s up to you whether or not you feel comfortable using a VPN headquartered in an Eyes alliance country.
The kill switch in Turbo VPN is easy to find from the settings menu. It’s a simple toggle off and on and will disconnect you from the internet if the VPN connection is ever lost. This is a security measure to protect your IP address in case of VPN failure.
/images/2024/02/06/turbo-vpn-review_kill_switch_01.jpg)
Split tunneling is when you funnel some of your internet traffic through a VPN channel and some of it outside of one. If your VPN has the option, you can even funnel traffic through two different VPN channels.
You can find the split tunneling tab in Turbo's settings. We tried to toggle it on, but we received a pop up from Turbo that our operating system (Windows) doesn't currently support this feature. We tried to search the site, but Turbo doesn't make it clear which operating systems support split tunneling.
On its website, Turbo VPN mentions that it offers IKEv2 and OpenVPN as protocol options, but it includes more than that. It also offers V2ray, SSR, and TurboLepus, and includes instances for when these protocols may be appropriate.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_11.png)
If you aren’t sure, there’s an automatic option that will connect to the most secure option for you.
We test every VPN for several key features like speed, streaming viability, and data leaks. Turbo VPN didn’t do well in our testing, and we were particularly surprised by the streaming and leak test results.
It’s important to test a VPN for key factors so you know it’s performing how it's expected. Turbo VPN did some things right, and some things very wrong.
Our testing was done on a PC laptop running Windows 11. During our last round of testing, Turbo straight-up tanked our connection speeds. It had some servers that didn't respond at all and returned a 0 Mbps download as well as a latency error. So we weren't really expecting much better this time around.
| Test type | No VPN | US to US | US to CA | US to EU | US to AU |
| Download speed | 90.55 Mbps | 91.94 Mbps | 91.88 Mbps | 48.60 Mbps | 26.67 Mbps |
| Upload speed | 94.63 Mbps | 90.42 Mbps | 43.98 Mbps | 41.99 Mbps | 73.12 Mbps |
| Latency (ping) | 4 ms | 28 ms | 48 ms | 111 ms | 315 ms |
| Download speed % difference | N/A | 1.54% | 1.47% | -46.33% | -70.98% |
| Upload speed % difference | N/A | -4.45% | -53.53% | -55.63% | -22.73% |
| Latency % difference | N/A | 600% | 1,100% | 2,675% | 7,775% |
However, we were pleasantly surprised by most of the results. Turbo even slightly sped up our download speeds while connected to servers in the U.S. and Canada.
The biggest slowdowns were with the U.K. and Australia servers, which is to be expected. The further your server location is from your physical location, the more likely your speeds will slow down.
Our latency took the biggest hit with Turbo, increasing significantly the further our server location was. This is something to keep in mind if you plan to use Turbo for gaming or other heavy-bandwidth activities.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_04_us_to_ca.png)
We tried a variety of servers to see if Turbo VPN would allow us Netflix access in any region, and it was a resounding “no” with every server location but the U.S.
We found on the Canada and U.K. servers that the Netflix page wouldn’t even load. We tried switching to other server options and refreshing the page but we were still unsuccessful.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_09.png)
When we switched to Australia., the page loaded, but Netflix immediately flagged Turbo VPN and didn't allow us to stream anything. Turbo only had the one free Australia server, so we couldn't test other servers out. This is definitely not the VPN you’ll want if your goal is to stream geo-restricted content.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_10.png)
| US to US | US to UK | US to Canada | US to AU | |
| Did it work with Netflix? |
DNS and WebRTC leaks may be one of the biggest controversies surrounding Turbo VPN. It’s been noted by others who have studied and reviewed the app that there are, indeed, data leaks. The entire point of a VPN is to encrypt your data.
During our last round of testing, Turbo VPN exposed our real IP address with some servers and hid it with others. This time, Turbo VPN didn't leak our IP address but it's hard to trust the result.
Since the “optimal connection” quick connect option chooses the server for you, we can’t be sure it won’t choose one that leaks. As far as data leaks are concerned, we can’t ensure that Turbo VPN won’t leak your data.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_06.png)
Turbo also failed its WebRTC leak test during the last round of testing, so we weren't surprised to find that Turbo failed this test again. Despite being listed as "no leak," we noticed our true IP address was listed.
WebRTC stands for Web Real-Time Connections. It enables real-time voice and video connections to be established through your browser. WebRTC leaks could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks or just leak your personal information.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_07_9O8qe4p.png)
A kill switch is an essential VPN feature. With the kill switch enabled, your internet will be disconnected if your VPN drops. That way, your data and online activities won't be exposed if your VPN connection falters.
Unfortunately, Turbo VPN failed its kill switch test. We started with a server connection in Chicago. After swapping to a Los Angeles server, IPLeak.net started showing IP addresses in Texas even though our kill switch was enabled.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_08.png)
If you want a VPN to keep you safer while gaming or to hide your phone’s data when on Wi-Fi, you need to make sure it’s compatible with your device. Turbo VPN offers compatibility with a wide range of devices, from mobile to gaming. We’ve rounded up the full list:
Turbo chat offers 24/7 live chat, email support, and online guides.
Turbo VPN offers 24/7 customer support via live chat. Initially, when we tried to access the chatbot on the site nothing happened. It didn’t even allow the chatbot to pop up. We kept pressing the prompt only to get zero response.
It did start to work once we disabled our content blocker. We’re not sure what coding is in Turbo VPN’s web chatbot, but if you find it doesn’t work for you, try disabling content blockers and trying again.
Turbo's chat starts with a virtual assistant but there's a "Get in Touch" option that immediately connects you to an agent. The virtual assistant almost immediately asked us for our email address to get back to us but the agent hopped in the chat not long after.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_12.png)
Once the agent joined the chat they were quick to respond and friendly.
/images/2024/05/24/turbo_review_2024_refresh_13.png)
Turbo also has a self-help section if you need to troubleshoot. Its major categories include troubleshooting basic problems, general information, and billing and account questions.
There’s also the option to email the support staff. Depending on how quickly you need assistance, however, the email option might not be the best choice.
VPNs transmit a lot of information, so you want to make sure you have a trustworthy one protecting your devices. The best VPNs include a variety of features in addition to the server list. We’re partial to the following because of the features and extras they provide, along with their proven security.
|
|
|
|
| Price | $3.39–$15.99/mo | $2.19–$17.95/mo | $2.03–$12.99/mo |
| Free version | |||
| Max # of connected devices | 10 | Unlimited | 7 |
| # of servers | 6,300+ servers in 111 countries | 3,200 in 100 countries | Servers in 100 countries |
| VPN protocol | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM | AES-256 |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs | No logs |
| Headquarters | Panama | The Netherlands | Romania |
| Netflix access | |||
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Surfshark | Get CyberGhost |
If you follow Reddit users and security experts, they all say Turbo VPN can’t really be trusted. From data leaks to malware warnings to servers that simply don’t work, Turbo VPN doesn’t have a great reputation.
As far as we’re concerned, the usability issues alone had us deleting this from our laptops as soon as we were done testing. It’ll definitely be up to you whether you trust the VPN service or want to opt for something with a better reputation.
Yes, there’s a free version of Turbo VPN that you can use. You’ll have limited access to servers and can only connect one device at a time. For additional features and the ability to connect to five devices simultaneously, you can upgrade to Turbo VPN Premium.
However, we’d recommend considering higher quality free VPN alternatives.
Turbo VPN is free for the basic VPN option and costs between $4.17-$11.99/mo for the Premium paid version. You have the option to pay monthly, or you can purchase longer plans. The longer the plan, the more monthly savings you’ll have, but those plans are billed at once.
If you choose a longer plan, you’ll have to pay for the entirety of the plan upfront. The “monthly” charge you see is what it breaks down to monthly based on the length of your subscription. A two-year plan costs $99.99 upfront, which is about $4.17/mo. If you were to pay monthly, at $11.99/mo, for two years you’d spend $287.76. So, the upfront cost may be higher with the longer-term plans, but you’ll save significantly over the month-to-month plan.
No, in our testing, Turbo VPN didn't unblock Netflix except for Netflix U.S. We were unable to even load the site when the VPN was turned on.
If you're using Turbo VPN and find that sites aren’t loading, you may want to try switching it off. Just make sure you have the kill switch option toggled off so you don’t lose your internet connection as well. The best VPNs for streaming will allow you to access the site easily and without having to search through server options for a viable connection.
Yes, in our testing Turbo VPN allowed YouTube to run without any advertisements. There was some lag when we were loading the page, but we connected to one of Turbo VPN’s optimal locations for the sake of speed. When we switched to one of the less stable servers, we had trouble loading YouTube. Overall, though, there are likely servers that will play without issue for you, but this isn’t one of the best VPNs for YouTube.
Turbo VPN doesn't appear to be safe, according to a variety of outlets and users on Reddit. Between reports of malware on mobile devices and ties to the Chinese government, there's too much controversy for a product tasked with protecting sensitive data.
Since the VPN hasn’t gone through any independent testing or audits, we can’t verify safety one way or another. One thing we did note, however, was that some Turbo VPN servers leaked data during our testing.
Turbo VPN isn’t our cup of tea. Between the usability issues, data leaks, and lack of features, we would choose to go with a different VPN option.
We didn’t find this VPN to be particularly robust or fast in our testing. While we didn’t experience any malware on our device like other users reported, it’s still worth taking the multiple reports of malware into consideration when choosing to install Turbo VPN.
We believe that the best VPNs come down to personal preference, but this isn’t one we’d be comfortable using. Instead, consider one of our recommended alternatives, which successfully passed their leak tests and haven't had malware reports.
Includes a free plan option
Over 21,000 servers in 50 countries
/images/2023/03/21/youtube-remote-control-smart-tv.jpg)
/images/2023/02/03/best-vpn-services.png)
/images/2024/07/26/does-vpn-protect-you-from-viruses.jpeg)
/images/2024/07/17/is_radmin_vpn_safe_featured_image.png)
/images/2024/07/12/verizon_digital_secure_featured_image.jpg)
/images/2024/07/11/how_to_watch_formula_1_vpn_featured_image.png)
/images/2024/07/09/how_to_get_the_nordvpn_3_year_plan_featured_image.png)
/images/2024/06/28/whats_a_vpn__protocol_featured_image.png)
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg){kind=small}
/authors/steph-trejos-allaboutcookies-editor.jpg){kind=small}
/authors/kate_quinlan_headshot_april_2024.png){kind=small}
/images/2024/02/07/turbovpn-logos-idcuxc7jjb.png)
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg)
/authors/steph-trejos-allaboutcookies-editor.jpg)