Award VPN Review : Can You Trust This Service? [2024]

Award VPN has gained popularity by offering a completely free version, which attracts many users looking for basic VPN services without a subscription fee. The promise of a no-cost VPN appeals to those who prioritize simple online anonymity and basic security. However, the question remains: is Award VPN the best option in the market, or are there better alternatives that outshine its features and performance?

While Award VPN offers a free version, there are more reliable providers like PrivadoVPN, AdGuard VPN, and ProtonVPN that also offer completely free versions with additional features and a stronger reputation for security and privacy.

Award VPN Quick Review: A Free VPN Solution ⭐ 3.5/10

Is Award VPN Safe to Use?

Award VPN was found to suffer from several security vulnerabilities that compromise its reliability as a secure VPN service:

• DNS Leaks: During testing, it was confirmed that AwardV PN suffers from DNS leaks, which means that DNS requests are still visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) even when connected to the VPN. This compromises the primary goal of VPNs, which is to ensure private browsing by hiding your web activity from third parties.
• No WebRTC Leaks: In contrast to DNS leaks, no WebRTC leaks were found during the testing process. This indicates that Award VPN is effective at preventing WebRTC from exposing your real IP address when using services that rely on this protocol.
• No Kill Switch: Award VPN lacks a Kill Switch, a crucial security feature that automatically cuts off your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. Without this, your real IP address and data could be exposed during any disconnection from the VPN, leading to potential privacy risks.
• Limited Leak Protection: Aside from DNS leaks, Award VPN does not provide clear protection against other types of leaks, such as IPv6 leaks. This leaves some uncertainty about how well the service can safeguard your privacy in all scenarios.

Award VPN suffers from several security vulnerabilities, including DNS leaks and the absence of a Kill Switch, which are critical for maintaining privacy and preventing data exposure. While it doesn’t exhibit WebRTC leaks, the existing issues are serious enough to compromise user security. Given these concerns, it is not recommended to use Award VPN for those who prioritize strong privacy and security measures.

Award VPN Server Performance

Award VPN often fails to meet the performance expectations required for activities like streaming or gaming, as it is notorious for slow server speeds across many regions. While the service is free and accessible, the server performance significantly lags compared to other VPN providers, especially on international servers.

US Server Performance

On the US server, the download speed was recorded at 5.09 Mbps with an upload speed of 54.07 Mbps. Despite a decent upload speed, the download speed is notably low, which negatively affects activities such as streaming videos or downloading large files. The performance is well below what would be considered optimal for most users.

UK Server Performance

The UK server provided slightly better results, showing a download speed of 25.47 Mbps and an upload speed of 65.63 Mbps. While these speeds are an improvement over the US server, they still remain insufficient for smooth HD streaming or online gaming. The performance, while better, is still not up to par for users who demand faster, uninterrupted browsing.

Germany Server Performance

The Germany server yielded a download speed of 17.50 Mbps and an upload speed of 20.45 Mbps. Again, while these speeds may be passable for basic web browsing, they are far too slow for tasks that require higher bandwidth, such as streaming in high-definition or large file downloads.

Award VPN’s Performance in Preventing Leaks During Use

When assessing the security and privacy provided by a VPN, it’s essential to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing leaks. Leaks occur when a VPN fails to fully mask your IP address or DNS queries, which can expose your true location and browsing activity to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or third parties. Award VPN claims to protect users from such leaks, but testing reveals some mixed results.

DNS Leak Test Results for Award VPN

In a recent test, Award VPN was found to suffer from a DNS leak, as shown in the following results:

Despite being connected to the VPN, the DNS queries were routed through Cloudflare servers based in Sydney, Australia, and Paris, France. This indicates that Award VPN failed to fully secure the DNS requests, which can compromise user privacy by exposing browsing activity to external entities. The test results highlight the service’s inability to prevent DNS leaks, raising concerns for users who prioritize online privacy.

Is Award VPN Good for Streaming?

When it comes to streaming, Award VPN struggles to provide a seamless experience. The service does not reliably support all major streaming platforms, which limits its usability for accessing geo-restricted content. Unlike premium VPN services that are known for unblocking popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer, Award VPN falls short, working on only a handful of sites.

Even for the few platforms where it does manage to bypass restrictions, Award VPN’s performance is poor. Users often face significant slowdowns, resulting in long buffering times and poor video quality, especially when trying to stream in high definition. The slow speeds and unstable connections make it difficult to enjoy streaming without frequent interruptions.

Given the underwhelming performance and limited platform access, Award VPN cannot be considered a reliable option for streaming content smoothly or consistently. For those who prioritize uninterrupted streaming, exploring other services with stronger support and faster speeds would be a more viable choice.

Comparing Award VPN with Competitors

Here’s a quick comparison of some of the top free VPN services, highlighting their main features and benefits. These alternatives offer more reliable performance and security compared to Award VPN, making them ideal choices for users seeking strong privacy protections with free plans.

1. Surfshark: Affordable with Unlimited Connections

Surfshark is known for offering unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, making it highly suitable for households or users with multiple devices. It uses top-tier AES-256 encryption and has adopted RAM-only servers, ensuring all data is wiped after each session. It supports popular protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, ensuring both speed and security. While Surfshark does not offer a free plan, its affordable pricing makes it an appealing option for users who want full-featured access to all servers and advanced features like MultiHop and obfuscated servers for added privacy. The starting price for Surfshark is $2.19/month, making it one of the most cost-effective premium VPNs on the market.

2. PrivadoVPN: 10 GB Free Data with P2P Support

PrivadoVPN offers a reliable free version, which allows up to 10 GB of data per month and access to 12 server locations. Unlike many other free VPNs, PrivadoVPN allows P2P file sharing even on its free plan, making it a standout choice for users who engage in torrenting. The paid version offers faster speeds, additional servers, and unlimited data usage. In terms of pricing, the premium plan starts at $1.99/month, providing excellent value for those who need secure connections at a low cost. However, the service has not undergone independent audits, which may concern users looking for transparency regarding logging policies.

3. AdGuard VPN: Privacy-Focused with 3 GB Free Plan

AdGuard VPN is designed with privacy in mind, offering a free plan that includes limited bandwidth and server access. The free version provides up to 3 GB of data per month. It uses AES-256 encryption and supports essential VPN protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN. The free version is limited in terms of server locations, but it remains a solid choice for users seeking basic privacy features without any cost. The paid plan is competitively priced at $2.99/month, providing access to more servers and higher bandwidth. While not as feature-rich as Surfshark, it remains a good option for privacy-focused users who want affordable protection without compromising on security.

4. ProtonVPN: Secure with Unlimited Free Data

ProtonVPN is one of the few services that offer a free plan with unlimited data. However, the free plan restricts users to three server locations (the US, Japan, and the Netherlands) and does not support streaming or P2P file sharing. ProtonVPN is headquartered in Switzerland, which offers strong legal protections for privacy. Its paid version unlocks faster speeds, support for streaming services, and access to over 4,800 servers globally. Starting at $4.99/month, it offers robust security with features like Secure Core servers, designed for users who require heightened security. ProtonVPN also provides strong privacy protections with an audited no-logs policy, but it is slightly more expensive than its competitors.

Conclusion: Should You Go for AwardVPN?

AwardVPN is not recommended for those who value strong data protection and high-performance VPN services. The service faces significant limitations, including poor server speeds, lack of essential security features, and inadequate support for streaming and other intensive tasks. Users looking for robust privacy and a seamless online experience would do better with premium options.

For those who are serious about protecting their privacy, a reliable paid service like Surfshark is a much better alternative, offering enhanced security, faster speeds, and more advanced features. However, if cost is a concern, free services like AdGuard VPN or PrivadoVPN offer more comprehensive free plans without compromising on performance or privacy. These services deliver a much better balance between cost and functionality, making them more suitable choices than AwardVPN.

FAQs