VPN Features

This page helps you look for the right thing based on your requirements.

Feature tool

    It must work on iPhone
    It must work on Android
    I want to use torrents/P2P
    No custom software install
    I don't have admin privileges
    I want to serve content

Features and terms

Get familiar with VPN related terms and expressions, so you can find the best service suitable to meet your requirements. The more you understand, the more likely you will find exactly what you need at a good price.

OpenVPN

OpenVPN is probably the most well known freeware and open source VPN client software. It provides a very secure way to connect and only requires a simple TCP or UDP connection. OpenVPN runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and Android devices as well.

PPTP

PPTP (or Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol) is used by default when you create a new VPN connection in Windows. You don't need to install any software, all you need is administrator privileges. PPTP requires a special GRE protocol to work. Unfortunately this is easy to block and rarely works from behind corporate firewalls. If you have an iPhone, it is the easiest to set up.

L2TP/IPSEC

The Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) was developed in cooperation between Cisco and Microsoft, combining features of PPTP with those of Cisco's proprietary Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) protocol. The L2TP client is built into Windows 2000, XP and 2003, but you can download client software for most pre-Windows 2000 operating systems (Windows 98, ME and NT 4.0). IP Security (IPSec), and more specifically its Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) protocol, provides the encryption for L2TP tunnels. This feature is more complicated to set up than PPTP or OpenVPN.

Simultaneous connections

The number of simultaneous instances of VPN connections that the provider allows (with a different internal IP address). If you want to use the VPN from two computers at the same time, this has to be more than one.

Unlimited time

Some VPN providers do not let you stay connected all the time, you can only use their services for a number of hours.

Unlimited bandwidth

Buy-a-VPN uses the word in its original meaning: the maximum speed (bandwidth) you can communicate with. A provider with unlimited bandwidth (and a server with a good connection) should allow speeds of up to even 10 Mbps in theory. Of course there are many factors that could affect this, but the idea is that they do not have a system in place to slow your traffic down.

Unlimited traffic quota

Traffic quota is the amount of data you can or receive in a given time. Providers that give you unlimited traffic quota do not have limits on how much you can transfer. There are two common catches with this one: limiting your speeds (so even if you transfer all day, with a slow VPN you can only transfer a given amount in that time), or fair use policies that let the provider decide when they think you are being "unfair". Make sure you always read the terms and conditions before choosing a provider that offers unlimited traffic quota.

Dedicated IP

The IP address visible to the internet when you use the VPN is exclusive to your account. This allows you to run services (a web or file server, for example) and accept incoming connections. Because there is noone else using the IP address, it affects your privacy negatively.

Shared IP

The IP address visible to the internet when you use the VPN is NOT exclusive to your account. You cannot run services normally (some providers will let you forward a few ports as an exception). Since more people are behind the same IP address, it is better from a privacy aspect.

Instant payment

After paying for the service, you are able to use it in less than 30 minutes.

No registration

Sites that allow you to use their service without registering first. Asking for the e-mail address alone still qualifies.

UKash / CashU

UKash is a popular form of payment in the United Kingdom. People buy a voucher anonymously in stores located in the UK and use the voucher code (made up of numbers) to pay online. CashU lets you to keep a balance and top it up using UKash and other methods, also allowing you to pay for your VPN access online.

Offshore VPN

There are many different definitions on what 'offshore' is. Buy-a-VPN defines it as a VPN where the IP and the company running the VPN falls under a jurisdiction that is outside the United States and the European Union such as Russia, Asia, Africa, South America etc. Keep in mind that an offshore VPN is no guarantee for avoiding legal action if you commit illegal acts. These VPN's also cost more and are generally less reliable and considerably slower as well.

No logging

Some VPN providers claim that they 'keep no logs'. We at Buy-a-VPN do not believe in paying any attention to these claims for the following reasons. It is virtually impossible to tell whether it is true or not. Even if it is true, the uplink provider (ISP) is legally forced to keep connection logs, which include the amount of data transferred in and out from all IP's. In case of a serious breach of law, this information may help law enforcement to find the criminals. You should never use a VPN for illegal acts and expect to get away with it.

Buy VPN !