What FastestVPN does well
1. Strong value for money
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FastestVPN offers very low-cost plans and even a lifetime subscription option which is rare. For example, one review mentions a “lifetime plan priced at $40” and a 31-day money-back guarantee. WizCase+3TechRadar+3Tom’s Guide+3
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Many users note that for the price you get “good enough” protection and features:
“It works fine considering the low price for a lifetime subscription.” Reddit
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It supports up to 10 simultaneous connections on many plans. TechRadar+1
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It is based in the Cayman Islands, a jurisdiction often viewed as more privacy-friendly (no mandatory data-retention laws) than many others. Tom’s Guide+1
2. Decent security & privacy base
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They claim a no-logs policy; one independent audit by “Altius IT” found no identifying logs. Tom’s Guide+1
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Standard strong encryption: OpenVPN, WireGuard support (depending on region/plan) have been reported. Tom’s Guide+1
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Basic features like kill-switch, DNS leak protection are in place and have passed tests in some reviews. Tom’s Guide+1
3. Good streaming/unblocking potential
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Despite the name “Fastest”, the real world speeds vary (see below), but the service is still reported to unblock major streaming services (e.g., US Netflix). For example: “Everything we threw at FastestVPN worked… Netflix, Hulu, HBO.” TechRadar+1
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Torrenting / P2P support is available, including “dedicated P2P servers” in some reviews. TechRadar+1
👎 Where FastestVPN falls short
1. Speed & performance inconsistency
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Many reviews concluded it is not among the fastest VPNs despite the name. For instance:
“Despite its name, FastestVPN doesn’t quite live up to the ‘fastest VPN’ claim.” TechRadar
“We experienced more than a 60% drop in speed on average.” The VPN Experts -
Some servers (particularly long-distance ones) show quite reduced performance. TechRadar
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A smaller server base (800 servers in ~49 countries) compared to top providers, which impacts load, latency, and choice. vpnMentor+1
2. Smaller server network / geography gaps
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Coverage is weaker in regions like Africa and South America. TechRadar
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Fewer servers overall means higher likelihood of congestion during busy times. vpnMentor
3. Software/app quality & advanced features
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Some users report the apps (especially for certain OSes) are less refined, buggy, or unstable. For instance:
“Windows app leaks DNS requests” and “some connectivity failures & bugs”. Top10VPN
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Some advanced features found in premium VPNs (multi-hop, large network of dedicated obfuscated servers, very large server farms) are either limited or missing. Tom’s Guide+1
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Customer support is okay but not exceptional; some users found slower response times or less helpful replies. Tom’s Guide+1
4. Lifetime-deal caveats
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The “lifetime” price looks very attractive, but reviewers warn that with very low pricing it may strain the company’s resources, or future updates/features may be limited for those locked in. For example:
“Some of the reviews I read complain about the lifetime plan running out or having other subscription issues.” TechRadar
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Also, server speeds for those lifetime accounts may degrade over time if newer customers share same infrastructure. This is a general risk of lifetime deals.
🔍 Deep dive – Features & practical experience
Server network & devices
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According to TechRadar: 800 servers in 49 countries, 100+ locations. TechRadar
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Top10VPN reports 800 servers in 49 countries. Top10VPN
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Device support: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, browser extensions (Chrome/Firefox), and manual setups for routers, Linux. TechRadar+1
Security, protocols & privacy
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Headquartered in the Cayman Islands. No logs policy audited. Tom’s Guide+1
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Protocols: OpenVPN, and in many reviews mention WireGuard (or at least ad options that say “WireGuard”). However some earlier reviews say “does not offer WireGuard” (depends on plan/time). Comparitech+1
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Features: kill switch, DNS leak protection, ad blocker, malware blocker (though “malware protection” here often means domain blocking rather than full antivirus). Tom’s Guide+1
Streaming & torrenting
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Streaming: Works for many major services (Netflix US etc). But other reviewers found issues/unblocking inconsistencies. For example, VPNMentor: “While successfully unblocking Netflix US … it proved inadequate for any other popular streaming platform” (e.g., Hulu, HBO Max). WizCase
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Torrenting: Supported and allowed; but some user reports mention needing configuration tweaks (binding adapter etc) for full functionality. Reddit+1
Speed tests & real-world use
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TechRadar example: On a 100 Mbps baseline connection, nearby server got about 58.25 Mbps download and 14.82 Mbps upload; a US East server ~37.94/11.89 Mbps. TechRadar
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Comparatively slower than top-tier VPNs, but perhaps “good enough” for general streaming and browsing.
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Some users report poor performance or reliability:
“Some of the reviews I read complain about… servers stop working after being on for a few hours” WizCase
Pricing & plans
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Monthly plan: ~US$10 (depending on region) per month in some reviews. TechRadar
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Long-term & lifetime options: For example, one review: “3 years for $39.96 ($1.11 / mo)” or “Lifetime for $40.00 ($0.03/mo)” (though such deals may be limited-time). Top10VPN
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Money-back guarantee: Many reviews mention a 15- or 31-day money-back guarantee. Comparitech+1
🎯 Who is FastestVPN good for – and who isn’t?
Good for:
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Users on a tight budget who want a full VPN service (encryption, no-logs, streaming/torrenting) and are willing to accept some trade-offs in speed/feature depth.
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Casual users whose main needs are safe browsing on public WiFi, avoiding basic geo-blocks, torrenting casually, and who don’t need ultra-high speeds from far-flung servers.
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Users for whom price is more important than “top-tier” performance or massive server selection.
Less good for:
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Power users who need very high speeds (e.g., frequent 4K streaming, game streaming, large file transfers across continents) and minimal latency.
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Users in heavily censored regions (e.g., China, Iran) where you need obfuscated servers, strong anti-detection capability, and a large server network located in varied jurisdictions. Some reviews suggest FastestVPN may not perform as well in those contexts. 01net.com
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Users who need a large server network with many country-specific options, many simultaneous connections (e.g., unlimited), or advanced features like multi-hop, dedicated IPs, threat-manager, etc (or who are willing to pay more for best-in-class).
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People relying on lifetime deals expecting maintenance and upgrades indefinitely – lifetime deals may shift in terms/features/support.
📝 Final verdict
FastestVPN offers very good value and a decent core service: reliable encryption, a no-logs policy, decent streaming/unblocking, torrent support, and workable apps across major platforms. If your use-case is moderate and cost matters a lot, it’s a reasonable choice.
However, if you want top performance, ultra-fast global speeds, massive server networks, the best support, advanced features, or rock-solid reliability in challenging regions, then you might be better off opting for a more premium provider (and paying a bit more).
In short: “Good budget VPN” rather than “best VPN overall” — it serves many users well, but you’ll need to be aware of the compromises.
