Thunder VPN Review 2025: Limited Features & Privacy Concerns
Free, but slow & not private
Introduction and Ownership
Thunder VPN is among the most popular free VPNs on Android today. It has over 100 million downloads on Google Play and more than 1.66 million predominantly positive reviews, with an average rating of 4.4/5. All this sounds very good on the surface, but it doesn’t necessarily mean we’d recommend Thunder VPN.
In fact, as we’ll discover below, this service has a lot of drawbacks too, the first among which is the fact that Thunder VPN’s developer, Secure Signal Inc., isn’t exactly the most open and upfront. They appear to potentially be US-based, but it’s difficult to confirm that. Additionally, even if they are, this is usually not great for a VPN, as the US is a part of the Five Eyes Alliance, which means your data can be given to the US government whenever they decide they want it.
Thunder VPN Core Highlights
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Logging Info | Partial logs for ads |
| Country | Possibly unknown |
| Price | Free (ad-based) |
| Streaming Unblocking | Basic unblocking, region switching, not advanced |
| Torrenting / P2P | Not recommended, no mention of P2P |
| Protocols | Possibly basic IPSec or custom proxy |
| Kill Switch | No |
| Supported Platforms | Android only |
Pros
- Has both free and paid subscription versions
- Split tunneling feature
- Decent leak protection
- Easy-to-use ap
Cons
- Available on Android only
- Very expensive paid version
- Lacks advanced privacy and security features
- Only basic encryption
- No torrenting and P2P support
- No independent auditing
- Unknown country of origin and jurisdiction
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Logging, Security & Privacy
Logging Details
Thunder VPN has very dubious and not fully disclosed logging policies, which is a major red flag for a VPN. There isn’t any no-logs policy, and there haven’t been any reputable third-party audits done ever since this VPN’s inception in 2017, which almost certainly means that your logging, timestamp, and location data is stored by the VPN and used for tailored ads and/or to sell to other advertisers and services. All this is a problem in and of itself, but it also raises further questions for users who choose paid subscription plans, as those users also share their payment details.
Encryption & Protocols
The exact protocols and encryption tools used by Thunder VPN also aren’t exactly disclosed, with the service most probably using a standard basic IPSec protocol or a custom proxy. This means a relatively basic and lackluster protection – usually enough for general browsing and leak protection, but nothing more significant than that.
Especially given the lack of additional privacy and security tools, such as a kill switch, server obfuscation, multi-hop servers, malicious ads and tracker blocks, RAM-only servers, and others, we definitely wouldn’t recommend Thunder VPN for stuff such as online banking or any other activity that involves your sensitive personal data.
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Server Network & Speeds
As is expected from a free and basic VPN, Thunder has a very limited server network. The exact number of its servers is undisclosed – a bad sign in and of itself – but they seem spread across just 19+ countries. This is usually not enough for most VPN-related tasks, such as streaming and gaming, but what’s worse is that Thunder VPN’s server speeds were also very slow in all our testing. This means that using this VPN will slow down your internet speeds to a great degree, which can be frustrating even when merely browsing.
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Streaming
The limited server list and slow speeds almost immediately make Thunder VPN a very bad choice for activities such as streaming. Additionally, the unblocking tools of this VPN appear very lackluster and insufficient for any major and worthwhile streaming platform, be it Max, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or any other.
All this makes Thunder VPN a bad option for streaming unless what you’re looking to stream is obscure and unprotected streams with low visual quality on your phone. Anything else is either usually inaccessible or can be streamed only with severe buffering and connectivity issues.
Thunder VPN does have a list of “streaming-optimized” servers, which is a saving grace, here, but even those aren’t good at unblocking streaming platforms. Add the lacking privacy features Thunder VPN has (and doesn’t have), and even if you manage to unblock something on Netflix, chances are that the streaming platform will spot your activity and suspend your account.
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Torrenting
Thunder VPN doesn’t support torrenting and P2P. This, together with the VPN’s slow speeds and lack of privacy tools, makes it a bad choice for anyone looking to torrent things through a VPN. At best, Thunder VPN will slow your download and upload speeds down tremendously, and at worst, it won’t protect your privacy while torrenting, which can be a problem for internet providers in many countries.
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User Experience & Advertisements
Like most free and basic VPNs, Thunder does offer a very simple and easy-to-use experience. Its app is quite easy to navigate and smooth to use. This is partly due to its decent design, but also thanks to its very short list of features. In other words, it’s difficult not to make an app easy to use when the app itself doesn’t offer that many different options, features, and tools.
Regardless, this is a benefit to Thunder VPN and one of the main reasons why many users seem satisfied with the service. For many people, the fact that a VPN has a free version and is easy to use is more than enough for a 5-star rating, as long as they are lucky enough not to stumble upon any problems while using the VPN.
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Support & Payment Methods
Thunder VPN is often talked about as a free VPN, but it also has a paid version. What’s more, the paid subscription to this VPN is extremely expensive, with plans ranging from € 6.49 per week and € 10.99 per month to € 64.99 per year, making even the yearly plan more expensive per month than most premium VPNs out there. The paid version does have faster speeds and a few streaming-focused servers, but it still isn’t ideal for streaming.
Furthermore, there is no free trial or any money-back guarantee with the paid plans unless you count the free subscription version as a “free trial.” Various payment methods, such as PayPal and debit/credit cards, can be used, but we wouldn’t trust our payment details with this app. As far as support is concerned, that too is lackluster, with only in-app email support being available and not all that helpful.
Thunder VPN - Reddit Reviews
Thunder VPN has garnered Reddit’s attention for its affordability and ease of use. However, discussions reveal a mix of experiences, particularly concerning its security, speed, and reliability.
Key Takeaways from Reddit Users
Thunder VPN’s Security and Privacy Concerns
While Thunder VPN offers a free service, Reddit users express concerns about its security protocols and data logging practices. The VPN employs outdated SSL encryption, which may not fully protect user data. Additionally, the lack of a clear no-logs policy raises questions about user privacy.
“Though I tried Thunder VPN, I didn’t trust it very much. It can be annoying to try to stream or browse the web because the link drops a lot of the time and the speeds aren’t always stable.”
Read the entire Reddit discussion: Reddit thread on Thunder VPN’s security
Performance: Speed and Reliability
Users report mixed experiences regarding Thunder VPN’s performance. While some appreciate its ability to bypass geo-restrictions, others highlight issues with connection stability and speed reductions.
“I’ve had a very positive experience with Thunder VPN. While the connection when using VPN can be occasionally flaky but a good budget choice overall.”
Read the entire Reddit discussion: Reddit thread discussing Thunder VPN’s performance
User Experience and Accessibility
Thunder VPN’s simplicity and free access appeal to some users, especially those new to VPN services. However, in-app advertisements and limited platform support can hinder the overall experience.
“I tried Thunder VPN after hearing good things about it. It’s really easy to set up and works well for basic browsing and streaming. The connection speed is decent, but I’ve noticed it sometimes drops when I’m using it for long periods.”
Read the entire Reddit discussion: Reddit thread about Thunder VPN’s user experience
Streaming Capabilities
Thunder VPN’s ability to unblock streaming services is limited. While some users successfully access platforms like Amazon Prime Video and YouTube, others report difficulties with services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
“Thunder VPN fails the ultimate streaming test as it cannot allow you to watch shows on Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, iPlayer, and HBO Max.”
Read the entire Reddit discussion: Reddit thread on Thunder VPN’s streaming capabilities
Suggested Alternatives
Based on user feedback, here are some recommended VPN services:
- Mullvad: Known for its strong privacy policies and reliable performance.
- ProtonVPN: Offers robust security features and a strict no-logs policy.
- Surfshark: Provides a functional kill switch and responsive customer support.
Final Verdict & Alternatives
Thunder VPN is very popular with people looking for a free VPN to just tack on while browsing and feel safe. And, for those lucky to avoid any issues online and not looking for any advanced VPN uses, Thunder can feel like a good service.
However, for anyone actually needing a worthwhile VPN, this service isn’t it. If you’re looking for a free VPN that does good in most areas where Thunder VPN fails, the best service to try right now would be Proton VPN.
FAQs about Thunder VPN
Thunder VPN offers basic encryption and leak protection features for browsing online, but it lacks most of the features necessary to keep you protected when it really counts. This VPN doesn’t have a kill switch, RAM-only server infrastructure, obfuscation, or any other key security feature to be secure enough for online banking or to keep you protected from malicious sites and trackers.
Thunder VPN has both a free version and several paid subscription plans. However, while the paid version is very lackluster in its features and not really useful for much, the paid plans are very overpriced. As such, a paid subscription is more useful, but even it can’t really be defined as “worth it,” given how many premium VPNs are out there that are both better and more affordable.
The unblocking capabilities of this VPN are insufficient for circumventing the geo-restrictions of major streaming platforms, such as Netflix or Disney+. Even if they weren’t the sub-par server fleet and slow speeds aren’t ideal for streaming either.
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