Speed | 7.0 / 10 |
Servers | 5.0 / 10 |
User Experience | 6.0 / 10 |
Support | 5.0 / 10 |
Pricing | 5.0 / 10 |
SlickVPN Review 2024: Before You Buy, Is It Worth It?
SlickVPN Overview
When I saw SlickVPN’s claims of strong security, fast connection speeds, and unlimited bandwidth, I was eager to see if it could back them up. My curiosity was piqued after seeing so many features at such an affordable price, so I tried it myself to see if it’s worth getting.
SlickVPN delivers fast connection speeds and keeps you secure with industry-standard encryption. It has a no-logs policy but keeps some information such as payment data, Google analytics data, and temporary cookies. It can also unblock Netflix, but it failed to access the other major streaming services that I tested. So, it’s not the best option for streaming.
I believe SlickVPN is a decent VPN, but it still needs improvement in some areas. Its small number of servers and limited streaming capabilities mean that there are better options out there. If you’re looking for a VPN that’s better at getting around geoblocks and has a larger server network, I recommend checking out these top VPNs.
Don’t Have Time? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary
- Unblocks Netflix. I used SlickVPN to access and stream my home Netflix Library. Learn more about the streaming experience.
- Fast speeds for browsing and streaming. SlickVPN offers fast connection speeds, even when connected to long-distance servers. Read more about the speeds here.
- Small server network. SlickVPN offers just over 150 servers across 40 countries, which is less than many other VPNs. Here’s my experience with the servers.
- Built-in kill switch. SlickVPN automatically disconnects your device from the internet if your connection to the VPN fails. Read about SlickVPN’s security features here.
- Average customer support. SlickVPN only offers email support and doesn’t come with 24/7 live chat or a ticketing system. Read more about my conversations with customer support.
- 30-day money-back guarantee. You can get your money back within 30 days if you aren’t satisfied with SlickVPN’s service. Learn how this works.
SlickVPN Unblocks Netflix (But Can’t Access Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer)
I was disappointed to learn that SlickVPN can’t access most of the streaming services I tested. It’s impressive that such a small VPN can easily unblock Netflix, but I was hoping it would let me access all my favorite streaming platforms. I tried opening HBO Now, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer with SlickVPN but couldn’t do so.
Netflix: Unblocked
To test SlickVPN’s unblocking capabilities, I asked my colleagues in the US and UK to access their home Netflix libraries with SlickVPN. In both cases, they could easily access Netflix and stream in HD without any buffering. The libraries can often take a minute to load, but you won’t feel any slowdowns once you start watching something.
Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer: Blocked
SlickVPN couldn’t unblock HBO Now, Disney+, or BBC iPlayer in my tests. It cannot bypass the geoblocks on these websites and many others, so it isn’t the best VPN for streaming.
When I tried to access Hulu, I was able to get to the login page after which I received an error regarding proxy services. Trying to access Disney+ gave me an error that it isn’t available in my region. Finally, I asked my colleague in the UK to see if SlickVPN could access BBC iPlayer, but it showed an error stating that it only works in the UK, which means it detected the VPN connection. Every platform aside from Netflix presented error codes like the one below that blocked me from accessing the service.
There are much better options than SlickVPN if you want a VPN that’s great for streaming. CyberGhost can access most geo-blocked sites, so you can easily use it to access most streaming platforms and watch your favorite shows.
Speed
- 7.0 / 10SlickVPN Offers Fast Connection Speeds
One of SlickVPN’s biggest plus points is that it delivers fast connection speeds across most of its servers. I had a smooth browsing experience without any slowdowns while using it and could stream in HD without buffering.
Speed Test Results
I achieve consistent download and upload speeds of around 33Mbps with my primary connection. These speeds experienced an average reduction of 20% when I connected to the majority of SlickVPN’s servers.
I tried different server locations including Seattle, London, Lille, and Mumbai and the experience was similar for all of these. Mumbai is the closest server location to me and Seattle is the farthest, but, in both cases, the speeds remained high.
All things considered, SlickVPN is great in terms of connection speeds. It maintains fast speeds, even on long-distance servers, which is very impressive.
Why Most Speed Tests are Pointless & How We Correctly Test VPN Speeds
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
Servers
- 5.0 / 10Server Network — Servers in 40+ Countries
SlickVPN has 150+ servers in 40+ countries. This is a small network for a premium VPN considering there are other affordable VPNs with over 1,000 servers. Most of the servers are based in Europe and the US, while there are barely any servers in Asia, so there’s a limited variety of locations to pick from.
The following table consists of SlickVPN’s current server locations:
Continent | Countries |
North America | United States, Canada, Panama |
South America | Brazil, Chile |
Europe | United Kingdom, France, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Norway, Austria, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Romania, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Estonia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Iceland, Bulgaria |
Africa | South Africa |
Asia | Turkey, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Israel, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Indonesia |
Oceania | Australia |
It’s really easy to connect to any of the servers in the SlickVPN desktop app. Simply click the locations menu, scroll down to find the server you want, and double-click to connect to it. Plus, SlickVPN’s app mentions your distance from each server and comes with a built-in speed test to show what your connection will be like.
SlickVPN also labels its CORE servers in the app. It claims that its CORE servers are faster, more secure, and better at bypassing geoblocks. However, my experience with CORE and standard servers was very similar, and I didn’t experience any differences in speed or unblocking capabilities.
Some SlickVPN servers don’t seem to work, though. I tried connecting to the Paris, France server but kept getting messages saying waiting and reconnecting. The VPN stops trying to connect to a server after a while if the connection can’t be established.
SlickVPN also has a load balancing feature to keep its servers from slowing down. It automatically selects a gateway depending on load to make sure that the servers don’t get overcrowded.
I would’ve liked to see a server load indicator in the SlickVPN app, though. Currently, there’s no way to see if a server is overcrowded so you have to connect to it and check if you’re getting good performance.
There are better VPNs available with bigger and more reliable server networks. I recommend looking into CyberGhost as it has 11,670+ servers across 100+ countries.
Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Security — Reliable Security With AES 256-bit Encryption
I found SlickVPN’s security very impressive because it uses industry-standard encryption to keep you secure. It also supports both IPsec and OpenVPN protocols. IPsec in SlickVPN uses 128-bit encryption and is only available for macOS and iOS. OpenVPN is more secure as it uses 256-bit encryption while also being available for all compatible platforms.
SlickVPN has a built-in kill switch to disconnect you from the internet if the VPN connection ever drops. It also passed the DNS leak test and never revealed my real location while connected.
You also get additional security through HYDRA, which is SlickVPN’s implementation of multihop.
You can use this feature by simply double-clicking on HYDRA in SlickVPN’s location menu. HYDRA will route your traffic through multiple servers to give you an additional layer of security at the cost of some speed.
Privacy — Stores Some User Data
After using SlickVPN and looking into its privacy policy, I found that it isn’t the best when it comes to privacy. The VPN has a no-logs policy in place, but the privacy policy states that it keeps some user data. It collects information like your email, username, password, Google analytics data, and cookies. Your browsing activity when using the VPN isn’t tracked, though.
SlickVPN is based in the US, so it’s within the jurisdiction of the 5, 9, and 14 eyes alliance. Also, the privacy policy says that it may be required to disclose your information to comply with local law. This means that you’re better off picking another VPN if you value privacy.
SlickVPN does have a warrant canary, though. This will let you know if they’re ever asked to reveal your data. It’s still active on their website, which means they haven’t had to share user data with any third party up until now.
There are other VPNs available that take privacy far more seriously. I advise getting ExpressVPN if privacy is critical for you because it has a strict no-logs policy. Plus, it’s based in the British Virgin Islands, which means it’s outside the 5, 9, and 14 eyes alliance’s jurisdiction.
Torrenting — You Can Use SlickVPN to Safely Download Torrents
SlickVPN’s claims to support P2P on its website, but I wanted to verify this myself. I reached out to its customer support to confirm this, and they assured me that this is correct.
I also successfully downloaded a torrent that’s available on the public domain and got fast speeds while doing so. The download speeds were a little slower than my base connection, but they rarely dropped any more than 10%–15%. In conclusion, SlickVPN’s servers fully support P2P, so you can use it to download torrents safely and anonymously.
Keep in mind that my team and I do not condone downloading copyrighted files. You should always check your country’s regulations on torrents before downloading them.
Does SlickVPN Work in China? Maybe
I couldn’t personally test SlickVPN in China because I live elsewhere. However, I contacted customer support to ask about this. I didn’t get a firm answer, but support said that some people can use it without issues. So, it may work in some cases.
I advise getting ExpressVPN if you’re traveling to China and need a reliable VPN to browse the free web. It’s been tested and proven to work in the country without issues. Keep in mind that it’s illegal to use VPNs that aren’t approved by the Chinese government. However, there are currently no cases of tourists being penalized for using a VPN during their stay. Rather, Chinese authorities technologically block such VPNs from working.
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.
Server Locations
User Experience
- 6.0 / 10Simultaneous Device Connections — Allowed but Faulty
SlickVPN claims to allow up to 5 simultaneous connections. However, the VPN failed to deliver on this claim in my tests. I tried to connect two Windows PCs at the same time but faced several issues.
SlickVPN usually wouldn’t establish a connection on one device while another was already connected. When it sometimes did connect both devices at once, one of them disconnected itself after some time. I reached out to support for help regarding this issue, but I did not receive a helpful response, and I had to send multiple emails before I even got a response.
Device Compatibility — Only Has Apps for Windows and macOS
SlickVPN comes with very limited device compatibility. It only has native apps for Windows and macOS. While the VPN does work on Android, iOS, and Linux, you can only use it on these platforms by setting it up via OpenVPN.
You can also configure SlickVPN to work on routers. Its website’s help section has guides that explain how you can do this.
Ease of Setup & Installation — Simple but With Some Issues
Installing and setting up SlickVPN is really easy on platforms with native apps. You’ll find the download link after logging in once you’ve created your account. From there, it takes a few minutes to get the VPN running.
I did face one problem when trying to install SlickVPN, though. The password I used when creating my account didn’t work when I tried to log in. Thankfully, customer support resolved my issue by providing a working temporary password that I could change after using it to log in.
How to Install and Use SlickVPN on Windows
- Subscribe to one of SlickVPN’s plans and log in to your account page.
- Download the app and run the setup to install it.
- Launch the SlickVPN app and enter the username and password from your account page.
- Open the locations tab and simply double-click on a server to connect to it.
Overall, you should have no trouble installing and running SlickVPN. This only applies to macOS and Windows, though, because these are the only two platforms that SlickVPN has native apps for.
Support
- 5.0 / 10SlickVPN’s customer support is average because it only offers email support. There’s no live chat so you can’t get instant answers to your queries.
There aren’t any specific hours and the VPN’s support team has multiple people answering questions throughout the day. This increases your chances of getting a timely response when needed.
I emailed SlickVPN’s support multiple times to see how helpful they are and they answered my questions in a somewhat timely manner. Their fastest response was in 30 minutes and the slowest took 10 hours. The responses were helpful and most of them had just the information I was looking for.
I want to mention here that the support can be a bit inconsistent. I reached out to them for help regarding my issues with connecting multiple devices, but they wouldn’t even respond initially. I left 2 separate emails and got a generic reply after 4 days which didn’t really help.
There’s also a help and support section on SlickVPN’s website that has helpful information for newcomers to get started. Plus, there’s an FAQ page that you can consult for common questions and queries.
How We Test Customer Support and Why Should You Care
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
Pricing
- 5.0 / 10SlickVPN’s affordable pricing is one of the main reasons it caught my eye. It has monthly, 6-month, and yearly payment plans.The VPN offers its best value with the 1-year plan, and you can pay for it with a credit card, PayPal, or cryptocurrency.
SlickVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee. You have the opportunity to thoroughly test the VPN before making any commitments. If you find the VPN’s services unsatisfactory, you can request a refund via email within this designated time period.
SlickVPN offers the following plans
Final Verdict
Overall, I found SlickVPN to be an average VPN at best. It delivers fast connection speeds on most of its servers, but the actual variety of servers is very limited. It was able to unblock Netflix which was good, but it failed to access any other geo-blocked streaming service.
SlickVPN’s security impressed me because it offers robust 256-bit encryption. The VPN isn’t the best for privacy, though, because it keeps some information after you create your account. There’s also a lack of live chat and native apps. Also, you can’t use it on multiple devices simultaneously even though it claims to support 5 connections at once.
I suggest getting ExpressVPN if you need an effective VPN. It has a large network of servers, the best possible security, and can access most major streaming platforms. Plus, it comes with a proper no-logs policy and has 24/7 live chat support as well.
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.
FAQs About SlickVPN
Is SlickVPN good?
Can I use SlickVPN for free?
SlickVPN doesn’t offer a trial which means you can’t use it for free. The VPN does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee that’ll let you test it before making a commitment. You can apply for a refund via email if you aren’t satisfied with its services.
If you’re looking for a free VPN, these are the best VPNs you can get. Just keep in mind that using free VPNs often comes with certain drawbacks. They often aren’t as fast or as secure as premium VPNs.
Is SlickVPN really safe?
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.