Buffered is a VPN company formed in Hungary that has since developed close ties with the British Overseas Territory Gibraltar as well. Obviously, their main agenda is to provide people gateways to a more free internet through their VPN service. Among their strengths is a generous 30-day refund option. This more or less cancels out the fact that they have no free trial to speak of; a lot of companies provide a tryout with reduced VPN capabilities, but Buffered VPN gives you the full package for a month. Connections run on OpenVPN, the staple of online security encryption today. With great customer service and decent speeds to top these off, Buffered VPN is a decent joint venture between the three friends who founded the company in 2014.
First of all, we would like to mention the Windows clients for multiple reasons. First, because we conducted all our tests on them, and secondly – yes, there are two of them, at least for the moment. Buffered VPN is currently in the process of developing a new version of their client.
But first, in with the old. The Windows desktop client is of a more simpler design, but it gets the job done. There is a built-in download test, network check and several connection options to speak of. You can get on a VPN network on TCP, UDP and four different ports by default, all of which are interchangeable; they are available in every combination. Additionally, there is a port finder in the client, allowing you to add multiple new gateways to connect with. However, there is a problem with this old version: it does not seem to handle OpenVPN-based connections (the only kind available) too well. We encountered related connection errors during and at the moment of the start of data transfer as well. Our general experience was that countries with the most default bandwidth – like the Netherlands – ran the best on the legacy client. Still, because of these inconsistencies, we already advise you to download the beta software instead.
Speaking of which, in with the new! The beta client is much more stable than the – dare we say – outdated version. It is similarly well-equipped with features. Next to reliability, the main difference is the looks. It is less crowded and is much easier to navigate yourself.
We must also commend the official website for the same reason; simply by scrolling down on the main page, you are provided with most necessary info. Our only very minor dissatisfaction was that while you are logged in, you cannot view your payment options in advance on the pricing page, while you can if you are logged off. Considering that most companies go to lengths to hide such information from potential customers (thereby forcing them to create a PayPal account in the last minute, for example), you are still very well off.
You can connect to over 28 different countries with Buffered VPN. Apparently all of them have one server available, except the United States, which hosts two. Sadly, it is not signaled whether or not you are automatically connected to a different server if there are multiple available for one country; you can only select the destination on the connection screen.
Speed tests were decent, though; despite using the most taxing type of encryption – OpenVPN – we got good results. Therefore, judging from the overall user experience, the only weak (but soon to be better) point is the client itself. Once the new beta version goes live, there should not be any problems that prevent you from a great VPN experience.
The company is a bit worse than standard when it comes to its privacy policy. The only lesser seen phenomena occurs when you browse their official website. Buffered VPN collects your IP address, hardware and general internet use patterns on their site. This is a bit more than other organizations. However, during VPN use, your logs aren’t collected, so you can roam the internet freely without anyone keeping checks on you.
Currently, the only type of encryption available for Buffered VPN is OpenVPN. For some, this might be less favorable, since it reduces connection speeds. However, it is the safest by far, and as you can observe above, there is not much decline going on as far as the quickness of the VPN connection goes. Nevertheless, Buffered VPN’s zero logs policy is what’s most important here, so there is nothing to worry about with regards to privacy.
In terms of device support, Buffered VPN has sufficient selection. For desktop operating systems, you have the client for Windows 7, 8 and XP, while Windows XP and Vista are also supported. Linux is also part of the roster, along with Mac OS X. Mobile devices include Android and iOS, a standard pair. The rest are the following: pfSense, and for routers both Tomato and DD-WRT, which is very good. For Tomato, the software’s Shibby variant is similarly welcome at Buffered VPN. Overall, there is nothing too out of the ordinary here; we consider this an average device support in terms of numbers.
Buffered VPN is a bit more expensive than usual. There are three plans on sale, each providing the same, total experience. The other sad thing we had make amends with (our emotional health is just fine, thank you) is the complete lack of a free trial. This means that you must make a purchase to even try Buffered VPN out. Luckily, you have a full month of refund time. The base monthly package costs $12.99. Half a year is 23% off, with $9.99 per month ($59.94). Sadly, this is the standard price for monthly plans elsewhere. Buffered VPN’s best offer has a 36% discount attached to it, resulting in a monthly $8.25 ($99.00) price. A company comparable to these numbers is ExpressVPN, which is one of the best around. Buffered VPN does not hit that ceiling, so we think your spent money is a bit less efficient here.
Your payment options include PayPal, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
First and foremost, it is important to state that on the official website, there are two separate sections reserved for customer service. The “support” button takes you to the knowledgebase. It contains an extended FAQ that as a rare example also deals with more complicated problems and you can also find setup tutorials here, which contain some troubleshooting as well nevertheless. The “contact” button is what takes you to actual methods of writing to the company. The easiest way to do this is by filling out the form presented to you there, but social media is also a good opportunity to ask for help. Facebook is mostly reserved for news, but Buffered VPN’s Twitter page is often greeted with replies. As yet another possibility, you can also read the blog of the organization. Overall, we found the quality of customer service to be satisfactory.
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I’ve thought a bit as to how I’d describe Buffered and their team, and the best way I can describe them is this: If you were an HR manager in charge of hiring new recruits, there isn’t a single person there I wouldn’t bet my reputation on. They are that good. But what’s more, refreshingly sincere. Knowhow is all important and necessary, but whatever happened to empathy? Tech users, advanced and beginners, when they need to reach out to the people that “know” are not exactly excited at the prospect of doing so. It’s hard. It’s frustrating. And most likely, you’ve already been trying to fix the darn thing yourself for hours. And so yes, knowhow is important, but let’s not forget how we’d like to be treated when calling for help. If you can’t relate, try calling COMCAST, or the bank, or your mobile phone company. And I’m not talking about the good calls. I’m talking about the calls that go south as soon as the irritated person on the other side answers. And he/she could care less about your issues. You’ll never experience that with Buffered. They’re smart, they’re sincere, and they care. And unless you’re some super-techno-VPN-expert, this is in my opinion their truly distinguishing feature.
But yes, yes, that’s not the whole story. This “service,” combined with their easy to use interface and terrific speeds are what keep me with Buffered. It’s a combination for me. As it should be for you. As much as I just spent a paragraph extolling the virtues of “service,” lets be pragmatic. The tech is as good as the service, and that’s what’s endeared me to Buffered. Technologically speaking, my primary want being new to VPNs was speed. I don’t know about cryptography, I can’t speak to 256 blowfish encryption (I’m sure it’s good), it was speed for me. And it’s superb! Companies, including Buffered, advertise that their speeds are the best. And I understand that depending on the location, distance, time of day, and a host of other features this will vary. I can’t speak for all of Buffered customers, but I’ve been Surfing the Web like Kelly Slater rushing the North Shore! During the night, I get almost all of my internet provider’s advertised speeds. That’s actually kinda rare (100 MB incase you’re wondering). I also use two popular competing services and though their interfaces are more polished, their speeds are slower during all hours. Buffered on the other hand is like the favorite old car you’d wished you’d never gotten rid of. It turns on, it works, and it’s fast.
Lastly, I’d also like to quickly address “frankness ” and “honesty.” When I pose questions to Buffered, I often think to myself, “it’s a company, they’ll give me the sounds good answer.” But they never do. Case in point: I asked about a recent period where I’d noticed speeds were slower for a few weeks. And the refreshing answer was that they were attacked by the “NETFLIX NATION.” hahahah! Can you believe it? Too funny. They informed me they were aware of it, they let me know they’d been working around the clock to address the issue. They gave me insights into how they were planning to do better in the future. I mean…wow! I like this type of response. It makes me trust them more. You should too. Well worth the money. ***I took the time to write this review on my one day off, I seldom write any. But people and companies who do the hard work, and who are sincere, should receive some recognition. Keep going guys!
This is a solid VPN that works consistantly better than the two others that I ran before. Additionally, access to foreign content streaming sites, such as the BBC iPlayer, is exceptional with none of the annoying breaks in service seen in the others.
Support is incredible on the few occasions I have needed it. The upgrade in OS on one of my MacBooks gave me headaches with the VPN, but support was solid and very quick, goal seeking to make sure I was satisfied.
I do find it a little expensive, but if you want the best you pay for it.
Top-notch VPN. Perfect for downloads, streaming and watching overseas TV contents. Above all, Buffered makes me fell much safer for all online activity. Works for me all day long. Great customer service as well.
Buffered is great! Simple to use, easy to setup and fantastic customer support.
I’ve had very little trouble using it, and on the couple of occasions I did, the customer service was quick to respond and the problem was rectified within a matter of hours.
I have no hesitation in recommending the service to anyone.
Yes, Buffered is a little more expensive than some of the opposition, but you only get what you pay for. There is a large range of servers to connect to in a variety of countries. No logs are collected while the VPN is active which is very important. These days running an open VPN connection with Windows and its endless updates can be a challenge, but the help desk at Buffered is very good and has improved considerably over the past couple of years. I have had reason to use it on a couple of occasions and the response time was really good. Connection speeds are close to the max allowable on my internet connection. At times, connection speeds may slow down due to a number of possible variables outside the control of the VPN server. Changing to a different server in another country is easy and can help when this occurs. I have a very slow ADSL internet connection and receive the full speed of the line 90% of the time. My mobile devices work really well with Buffered as you are allowed up to five connections. I see no reason to change from Buffered as it is improving all the time and provides good functionality and service.
Works great for US Netflix and HBO Go outside the states. Best customer support ever. Way to go guys!
I have tried a few VPN’s but ease of setting up and poor speed made me look at other options. I read the reviews for Buffered and started the 30 trail. My internet speed is not good, but Buffered works well for streaming, downloads with ease. Helpdesk is very responsive and helpful and the service has to date been reliable. I would certainly recommend Buffered as a good VPN solution.
An amazing level of personal service. As a long term expat I rely on VPNs mainly for BBC iPlayer and had to switch from my previous one as it just stopped working. I also had a problem with Bufferred but they sorted it by making sure they understood the issue, fixed it and followed up. It’s so unusual to find such good service in this area so fully recommend.
I have used about 6 different VPN services and Buffered is by far the most diligent at getting things up and running again when Netflix blocks the server. Their customer service is also on point! Worth every penny
Easy interface and perfect streaming for Netflix. That’s mainly what I have been using this VPN for so far. I am more than happy with this service. The product is excellent and the customer service is outstanding. Their reply to any questions I have is always fast and friendly.
Could not be happier. A++++
Top notch VPN. Perfect for watching US Netflix outside the states.
Very impressed with their first-class support. Their platform is also super user-friendly with many servers to choose from. I know next to nothing in computers (truly) but it only took minutes to install on windows and on my iphone. At first I got Buffered for torrents and streaming but now I mostly use it to watch US Netflix and HBO Go from Europe (yes it works perfectly for US Netflix! on both windows and iOS app). I’m hooked!
I was with another vpn service for two years but recently their service stopped being able to hide my IP from certain online streaming sites. Buffered keeps me hidden and their speeds are excellent. This is the third VPN service that I’ve tried and so far it’s the best. Good support too.
The customer service is very prompt! Program is easy to use too!
Very impressed with their first-class support. Their platform is also super user-friendly with many servers to choose from. I know next to nothing in computers (truly) but it only took minutes to install on Windows and on my iPhone. At first I got Buffered for torrents and streaming (great download speed) but now I use it mostly to watch US Netflix and HBO Go from Europe (yes it works perfectly for US Netflix! on both windows and iOS app). I’m hooked!
I asked them to cancel my subscription. That did not do that and charged my for two months until I realised.
with any vpn i was wary because yet again i’m putting my information in that hands of someone claiming to protect me.
i tryout a lot of programs in general because i strive to find the best of the best for me and i’ve quite literally tried every commercially successful or under the radar vpn &/or proxy free/paid and all of them have either made me worried or completely failed to grant me a pleasant service.
finally months later i’m so pleased to have come across these guys.
i never thought i’d use this service after one of my random hardcore programs hunts seeing there name pop up somewhere but i would recommend these guys without hesitation regardless of the so called cons, money isn’t an thing if the service makes you glad to use it (costs less than one pizza for a month so i can’t complain) and neither is any of the other stuff as long as your secured and you can perform all forms of internet based tasks without major decrease.
there design is simple but colourful, the web account/program interface is also simple and easy to navigate which is a big plus because a lot of people really and truly don’t understand vpn because it comes across so confusing no matter your age or so called experience, they have plenty of servers for a shared ip service which aren’t blacklisted from what i know at least (unlike many other vpns/proxys), their speeds allow me to do pretty much everything i want from continuous hd streaming of all types to hardcore surfing without hiccups and lastly there customer support is absolutely amazing – the time difference for me is crazy but i’ve contacted them a few times and they’ve replied at times under 2 minutes literally and i’ve had full on real conversations with them without even realising.
customer support from any company does not reply in the same day most of the time at all, i’ve had to wait 5 days or more for some which is really annoying when you need urgent help so these guys really won me there and let’s not forget they’ve sorted every problem n did what they said they would when your asked for patience – hopefully they see this and keep up the great work guys because i’ll be sticking around for the long run if i can still afford pizza lol
I was a bit skeptic at first since Buffered costs quite a few bucks more than other similar VPNs, but they’ve been proving their worth for me so far. They have pretty reliable VPN servers overall, their client works well for me. I’m mostly using it for my ESPN streams and occasional browsing.