Urban VPN Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?

Decent and Reliable Performance

Urban VPN delivers solid performance on nearby servers, but expect some speed drops with distant ones. Urban VPN mentions it’s a peer-to-peer VPN, meaning you share resources with other users and vice versa. This setup can impact the speed and performance you experience.

However, finding the fastest server is tricky due to the absence of server ping and load data in the app. Real-world use reveals longer website loading times than initial tests suggest. This discrepancy can affect your browsing experience, particularly in terms of speed and efficiency.

Despite these issues, Urban VPN works well for streaming, especially on nearby servers, but still be prepared for occasional slowdowns. This variability in performance can be a drawback for more time-sensitive activities such as gaming, as you will likely see higher pings than usual and the occasional lag.

Speed Test Results

Urban VPN reduced my connection speed by an average of 42%. After verifying my UK internet speeds at 120 Mbps download and 6.2 Mbps upload without a VPN, I tested Urban VPN on servers in the UK, US, France, and Singapore. These locations were chosen for a mix of nearby and distant servers, reflecting typical usage.

The closest UK server decreased speeds by 31% to 82 Mbps download and 5.1 Mbps upload. It was the fastest, showing that server proximity affects speed. Suitable for most online tasks, it offers a good mix of speed and stability, ideal for general browsing and streaming.

In France, speeds dropped by 35%, reaching 78 Mbps download and 5.5 Mbps upload. This performance was similar to the UK’s, confirming that European servers maintain respectable speeds. Despite the reduction, the server supports regular internet activities effectively, making it reliable for users in and around Europe.

The US server showed a larger drop of 38%, with 74 Mbps download and a low 2.6 Mbps upload. This significant decline, especially in upload speed, suggests challenges for upload-heavy tasks. Distance clearly affects performance, particularly impacting activities requiring high upload speeds.

Singapore, the furthest, had a notable 66% decrease to 40 Mbps download, but a better 3.6 Mbps upload than the US. While usable, it underperforms compared to other VPNs. Overall, Urban VPN delivers adequate speeds, especially nearby. However, real-world browsing experienced longer website loading times than tests indicated.

Is Urban VPN Fast Enough for Gaming? No!

My experience testing Urban VPN with Warzone on my PC was disappointing. Despite using a local server and having decent speed, the VPN’s unstable performance significantly disrupted gameplay. The lack of specific console support also undermines its effectiveness for console gaming, making it unsuitable for this use.

When playing slower games on an Android mobile, the experience slightly improved, but lag issues persisted. This problem became especially problematic in cloud gaming, where the input lag was so significant it ruined the gaming experience. The persistent lag made gaming far from smooth and enjoyable.

For a smoother gaming experience, I suggest you opt for a more reliable VPN like ExpressVPN. It offers better speed and stability, which is crucial for intense gaming sessions. This is particularly important in high-speed games where even slight lag can drastically affect your performance and overall gaming enjoyment.

Server Network — Decent Global Reach

Urban VPN promotes a wide-reaching server network, boasting coverage in more than 80 locations. However, upon examining the app closely, I discovered that it actually operates in about 66 countries. Unfortunately, when it comes to specifics like the exact number of servers and where they are located, things get a bit unclear.

You’ll find servers across various continents, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, and even in less commonly served areas like Africa and the Middle East. This means that you will always have a server to connect to if you find yourself in any of these locations.

Unlike some services that offer specialized servers for streaming, gaming, or torrenting, Urban VPN adopts a more general approach. This means that while you can connect globally, the service might not be optimized for your specific online activities.

If you’re in search of a VPN that caters to these specific needs, consider testing CyberGhost for a broader range of server options. It boasts an impressive 11,670 servers across 100 countries.

Security — Lacks Advanced Features

Urban VPN takes a straightforward approach to online security, making it a user-friendly choice if you’re new to VPNs. However, this simplicity comes with a cost. Unlike many other VPN providers, this provider lacks the key features that are now almost standard in the industry.

The limited set of features provided comprises:

• Military-grade encryption – Urban VPN uses 256-bit encryption, which is like a high-end lock for your online data. This level of encryption is a gold standard in the VPN world, offering a solid layer of protection for your information.
• Single protocol option – the service only offers the OpenVPN protocol. While reliable, it’s old-fashioned by 2024’s standards. The lack of alternatives like WireGuard or IKEv2 limits your options to tailor the VPN experience to your needs.

A critical feature absent in Urban VPN is the kill switch. This is an important part of a VPN because it hides your real IP address if your VPN connection drops. Without it, your private information could be exposed.

Urban VPN uses a peer-to-peer network run by BI Science, known for its Geosurf technology. This approach is similar to that of Hola VPN, which raised some eyebrows in the past. In fact, BI Science faced legal issues with Hola’s sister company, Luminati, over alleged patent infringement, although this was resolved in 2020.

In tests, if the VPN connection was lost, sometimes there was a warning, but other times there wasn’t, exposing your real IP address. While the connection did re-establish itself quickly in some cases, the absence of a reliable kill switch is a significant drawback.

Urban VPN also falls short in IP/DNS leak protection. This means your real IP address could sometimes be seen even when using the VPN. My tests showed good results in hiding the IP address, but without consistent leak protection, these results are not always reliable.

If you add Urban VPN’s extension to your browser, you get an ad-blocker. This feature blocks ads and pop-ups pretty well, though it’s not as thorough as some dedicated ad-blocking apps. It even displays the number of blocked ads, which is a nice touch for tracking purposes.

Overall, Urban VPN is very basic and best if you want something simple with basic data protection. But if you really care about keeping your online activities private, it might not be the best choice because it’s missing a reliable kill switch, different protocol choices, and strong leak protection.

Privacy — Confirmed Data Logging

Urban VPN base in the United States raises immediate red flags concerning user privacy. It is a key player in the “5 Eyes” alliance, a group known for strict data surveillance and retention laws. Simply put, being in the US means Urban VPN is in a territory where government monitoring is prevalent, potentially putting your online privacy at risk.

The service’s approach to data logging is quite extensive and worrying. While it doesn’t ask for your email during registration, claiming to respect your anonymity, its actions speak differently. Its privacy policy is a lengthy document that reveals another story.

Scrolling down the exhausting text, you can see that the provider isn’t shy about collecting every bit of information regarding your identity and browsing history. This includes your approximate geolocation, the type of browser you use, your operating system, and other similar bits of information.

Urban VPN doesn’t stop at basic data. It also keeps tabs on your online identifiers (like IP and advertising ID) and your browsing activities – which websites you visit, the videos you watch, your products, and even delivery details.

A particularly troubling aspect is Urban VPN’s use of customers’ IP addresses and network resources to provide residential IPs to others in its user community. This practice potentially allows others to use your IP address and resources anonymously, posing significant security and privacy risks.

According to its policy, your data isn’t just for internal use. It’s shared with various service providers and even advertisers, tagged as Business Partners. This broad sharing practice is a significant concern for anyone mindful of their online privacy.

On Urban VPN’s homepage, there’s a “Do Not Sell” option, which might seem like a way out of this data sharing. Clicking it leads you to its premium plan, which is not only expensive but also doesn’t offer good value for money. This feels like a coercive tactic to push its paid service.

To put it simply, Urban VPN is far from ideal if you’re seeking online anonymity. Its intrusive data logging and sharing practices are a major concern. If you prioritize privacy, I strongly recommend you consider ExpressVPN for its strict no-logs policies and commitment to user privacy.

Torrenting — Supported but Not Advised

Urban VPN supports torrenting on all servers and works with popular P2P clients. However, it doesn’t provide specialized servers or features such as port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy servers that make P2P file sharing easier.

I strongly caution against the use of Urban VPN for torrenting, as the possibility of IP exposure is significantly higher in the absence of a kill switch. Additionally, due to the peer-to-peer configuration of the network, you may be using other user’s IP addresses, which could also pose a safety concern for them.

A more optimal solution would be to go for a premium provider like ExpressVPN that possesses a superior level of privacy protocols. It operates within a jurisdiction that condones torrenting, thus affording a safer environment for downloading, which minimizes the risk of malware threats.

My team and I are thoroughly informed on the legality of torrenting and thus advise you to familiarize yourself with the applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction. It is imperative to ensure that the torrents acquired are devoid of any copyrighted material.

Does Urban VPN Work in China? Unlikely!

Urban VPN offers servers in China through its community-powered service, but they are unlikely to be effective. The provider doesn’t have a stealth or obfuscation feature, which is essential for making VPN traffic appear like normal internet use. This capability is particularly important to prevent detection in China.

China’s internet restrictions are in place to protect its citizens from harmful content. This means you won’t be able to use popular websites and apps unless you connect to a premium VPN like ExpressVPN first. Otherwise, connections to your favorite content will be blocked by China’s Great Firewall.

Be aware that using non-approved VPNs in China is illegal, though there are no recorded instances of tourists facing penalties for VPN use. Rather, China employs technological measures to block many VPN services.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Urban VPN’s customer support leaves much to be desired. It provides support exclusively through email, but it’s challenging to locate and often unresponsive. To reach it, navigate to the “Urban VPN for Business” section at the lower left corner of the homepage.

Here, you’ll be asked for your company name, full name, and email in hopes of reaching it. However, despite multiple attempts through this method, I received no response.

Unfortunately, there is no live chat feature available, and its website’s knowledge base lacks beginner-friendly installation guides and detailed support articles. Despite also maintaining a regularly updated blog, it doesn’t adequately address common troubleshooting issues.