Psiphon VPN: Freedom Online

Psiphon VPN: Freedom Online

Psiphon VPN is an open-source circumvention tool with 100M+ downloads and 4.5/5 rating, offering internet freedom and bypassing censorship, though it has faced some recent connection issues and forced app installations.

Psiphon VPN is an open-source circumvention tool with over 100 million downloads and a solid 4.5/5 rating on Android. The service has built a reputation for providing internet freedom and bypassing censorship, making it a trusted choice among users in restricted regions. What sets Psiphon VPN apart is its open-source nature and circumvention focus. The service includes automatic protocol selection, constantly changing servers, and research-backed security technologies. The service also includes advanced features like multi-language support and NGO partnerships for enhanced privacy protection. Unlike consumer VPNs like NordVPN, Psiphon focuses specifically on circumventing censorship and restrictions. However, Psiphon VPN's circumvention approach comes with both benefits and drawbacks. While the service offers good bypassing capabilities and open-source transparency, it has faced some criticism for recent connection issues, forced app installations, and loading delays that have frustrated users. For users seeking a more reliable general-purpose VPN, Proton VPN offers better connection stability. For users who prioritize internet freedom and are willing to work within the service's limitations, Psiphon VPN remains a solid choice. However, those seeking specialized VPN functionality or experiencing connection issues might find better value with alternatives that offer similar features with better reliability, such as ExpressVPN or Surfshark VPN for general VPN needs.

Key Features

  • Open-source transparency – Built on cutting-edge, research-backed security technologies
  • Automatic protocol selection – Server automatically selects best protocol for reliable connection
  • Constantly changing servers – Secure network of constantly changing servers for access
  • Multi-language support – Smooth, secure experience with international support
  • Internet freedom focus – Designed for circumventing censorship and restrictions
  • NGO partnerships – Trusted by international broadcasters and independent media

Pros

  • Open-source and transparent
  • Automatic protocol selection
  • Constantly changing servers
  • Multi-language support
  • Internet freedom focus
  • NGO partnerships
  • Research-backed security
  • Free unlimited personal use

Cons

  • Recent connection issues
  • Forced app installations
  • Loading delays and stalling
  • Connection drops reported
  • Speed limitations
  • Update difficulties
  • Some servers not working
  • Billing concerns reported

Pricing

Psiphon VPN operates on a freemium model with free access and premium subscriptions.

Free Tier:

- Free and unlimited personal use - Open-source and transparent - Automatic protocol selection - Constantly changing servers - Multi-language support - NGO partnerships

Premium Subscriptions:

  • Premium 1 Week: $2.99
  • Premium Monthly: $9.99/month
  • Premium Annual: $71.99/year
  • Android Pricing: $0.99 - $69.99 per item
  • Enhanced features
  • Priority support
  • No connection limits

Key Features Included:

  • Open-source transparency
  • Automatic protocol selection
  • Constantly changing servers
  • Multi-language support
  • NGO partnerships
  • Research-backed security
  • Internet freedom focus

Payment Methods:

  • Credit cards
  • Google Play/App Store
  • PayPal (some regions)

Subscription Management:

  • Auto-renewal can be turned off
  • 24-hour cancellation notice
  • Account settings management
  • Free trial portions forfeited on purchase
Psiphon VPN's pricing reflects its circumvention positioning, with competitive pricing for an open-source internet freedom tool. For users seeking general VPN functionality, Proton VPN offers a more comprehensive free tier with better reliability.

Review

7.1

In our review of Psiphon VPN, we considered the categories Features, Design, Ease of Use, Security & Privacy, Value for Money and Performance. Each category was given equal importance and we'll dive into the details of each in the following section.

Features
8.0

Psiphon VPN offers a comprehensive set of features that justify its circumvention positioning. The service includes open-source transparency, automatic protocol selection, and constantly changing servers. The service also includes advanced features like multi-language support and NGO partnerships, making it more than just a basic VPN.

What sets Psiphon VPN apart is its open-source nature and internet freedom focus. The service also includes advanced features like research-backed security and NGO partnerships, making it more than just a basic VPN. However, unlike Proton VPN, it lacks some advanced privacy features like kill switch and split tunneling.

However, the service lacks some advanced features found in dedicated VPN providers, such as specialized servers for specific use cases and some cutting-edge privacy features. The service also doesn't offer some advanced features like obfuscated servers or specialized streaming servers that some competitors provide.

Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN offers good features, but the connection issues make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives. The service provides good value for users who need circumvention features.

Design
6.5

Psiphon VPN's interface strikes a basic balance between functionality and circumvention usability. The main screen provides quick access to connection controls and key settings. The interface is functional but not particularly polished, with basic attention to detail and user experience.

The app's design is functional and well-organized, with clear navigation between different features. The connection status is clearly displayed, and the settings menu is basic. The interface doesn't overwhelm users with complex options while still providing access to advanced features.

The interface is generally user-friendly and provides good visual feedback about connection status and app performance. The design reflects the circumvention positioning of the service, making it suitable for users in restricted regions.

Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's design is functional but not as polished. The interface is basic and functional, with adequate attention to detail for circumvention users.

Ease of Use
6.0

Psiphon VPN is moderately easy to use for basic circumvention functionality, but requires some technical knowledge for optimal use. The app's design is functional, but most users need to understand circumvention concepts to get the best results. The service works well for most circumvention use cases and provides good performance when functioning properly.

The service offers automatic protocol selection and constantly changing servers, making it accessible to users with technical knowledge. The app doesn't require complex configuration, and the circumvention connection process is straightforward. The service works well for most circumvention use cases and provides good performance when functioning properly.

However, the service's ease of use is compromised by recent connection issues and forced app installations. Many users report VPN connection failures and the need to manually reconnect multiple times. The app can be frustrating to use due to connection issues and loading delays.

Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's ease of use is similar but not significantly better. The connection issues can be frustrating for users who expect reliability from a circumvention tool.

Security & Privacy
8.5

Psiphon VPN takes security and privacy seriously, with open-source transparency and research-backed security technologies. The service includes automatic protocol selection and constantly changing servers. The service also includes advanced features like NGO partnerships for enhanced privacy protection.

The service's privacy features are comprehensive for a circumvention solution, with open-source transparency and research-backed security. The service also includes advanced features like NGO partnerships for enhanced security and privacy protection.

Psiphon VPN has an excellent security record, with open-source transparency and community oversight. The circumvention focus ensures complete transparency, and the NGO partnerships mean the highest security standards are maintained.

Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's security practices are excellent. The service provides the highest level of protection for users who prioritize circumvention and transparency.

Value for Money
7.5

Psiphon VPN's value proposition is good for circumvention users, with open-source transparency and internet freedom features. The service offers competitive pricing compared to other circumvention tools, with the ability to get open-source circumvention for free being a significant advantage.

The service's pricing is competitive with other circumvention tools, and the open-source nature makes it particularly attractive for users who want complete control and transparency. The comprehensive features and privacy protection add value beyond basic circumvention functionality.

However, the service's value is impacted by connection stability issues and forced app installations. Many users report frequent disconnections and the need to manually reconnect multiple times. The connection issues make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives like Proton VPN or NordVPN.

Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN offers good features but at a similar cost. The connection issues make it difficult to recommend over circumvention alternatives that offer similar performance with better reliability.

Performance
6.0

Psiphon VPN's performance is inconsistent, with good circumvention capabilities when working but frequent connection issues that significantly impact usability. The service offers decent connection speeds and automatic protocol selection, but the frequent disconnections and loading delays make it difficult to use reliably.

The service works well for basic circumvention protection when connected, but many users report VPN connection failures and the need to manually reconnect multiple times. The connection issues are particularly concerning given the circumvention positioning.

The service's performance issues are particularly concerning given the circumvention positioning. Users expect reliability and performance from a circumvention tool, but Psiphon VPN's connection problems make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives that offer similar features with better performance.

Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's performance is below average. The connection issues make it difficult to justify the circumvention positioning, and users might find better value with alternatives that offer similar features with better reliability.

Conclusion

Psiphon VPN offers good circumvention capabilities and open-source transparency, but its value proposition is compromised by recent connection issues and forced app installations. The service provides excellent internet freedom features and NGO partnerships, but the connection problems and loading delays make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives. For users who prioritize internet freedom and are willing to work within the service's limitations, Psiphon VPN offers a solid feature set with good circumvention capabilities when working properly. However, those seeking specialized VPN functionality or experiencing connection issues might find better value with alternatives that offer similar features with better reliability, such as Proton VPN for general VPN needs. Ultimately, Psiphon VPN's open-source approach and internet freedom focus make it a good choice for users seeking circumvention tools, but the connection stability issues and forced installations make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives that offer similar features with better performance. For general VPN usage, consider NordVPN or ExpressVPN for more reliable connections.