Astrill is located in the Seychelles, giving it a significant selling point for those who want some jurisdictional layering and added privacy protection. This provider has limited pricing options but does deliver in terms of speed and ease of use.
Pricing & Plans
Astrill offers personal VPN plans that come with unlimited speed and transfer. The pricing is based on your length of service and is as follows:
You can pay via credit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin and several other payment options.
Free Trial/ Money-back Guarantee
Astrill offers a 7-day free trial for its potential customers. As an account holder you can also send out an invite link to your friends so that they can try Astill out for 7 days free of charge. If your friends decide to subscribe to the service, Astrill will reward you with 30 days of service for each invited friend.
Privacy & Anonymity
Astrill is privately owned and is incorporated in The Republic of Seychelles. They do not store any information or keep logs because the Astrill VPN Server Network is operated off-shore and there are no laws that obligate them to keep logs on their customers.
Astrill VPN Logging Policy
Astrill has a strict no-logs policy. While they try to keep as little personal information as possible, there is some information that is necessary for the technical functioning of their services. Their system keeps track of active sessions including connection time, IP address, device type and the Astrill VPN app version. However, once disconnected this information is removed permanently. No personally identifiable information is kept.
Torrent Policy
Astrill allows torrent use. For P2P applications like BitTorrent, you need to use OpenVPN, StealthVPN or WireGuard protocol.
Customer Support
Customer support is readily accessible. When setting up our free trial, we had to contact support to get it activated. It took all of two minutes via live chat. The company also provides extensive documentation and an online knowledge base.
Product Testing
Astrill has multiple available applications including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and VPN Router Applet
Astrill’s client is small and easy to use. It’s really about as simple as it gets, with a large On/Off button controlling the connection. You can change your VPN protocol by selecting from a dropdown menu at the top of the client screen.
Astrill Desktop Application
Astrill Mobile Application
VPN Server Locations
Astrill has VPN servers in 110 countries across 58 countries.
Countries Supported:
Speed Test
IPCheck and DNSLeak Test
The easiest way to check your IP address with Astrill is to select “Check my IP” from the tray or context menu. The IP address assigned to you is shared among customers. Upon our IPCheck, IP addresses match that of the servers they have. Astrill also offers private IP addresses which can be purchased for $5.00 per month on top of your basic plan.
Astrill also provides several privacy enhancing settings like Fix DNS Leaks which prevents DNS leaks caused by a flaw in Windows 10 operating system. They also have options to fix IPv6 and WebRTC leaks.
Feature Summary
- Fast VPN servers in 50+ countries
- Free Applications for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Router
- Unlimited bandwidth & Server switches
- Connect Unlimited devices in your household
- Easy to use – connect to VPN with one click
- Kill Switch Feature – stops sending or receiving Internet traffic to and from your device
- Secure Torrenting
- Smart mode – tunnel only international websites through VPN and let local websites be accessed directly with your real IP for faster browsing
- Application Filter – choose which applications go through VPN connection and which go through your residential IP
Additional Bonus Features
Astrill offers extra features that can be included on top of your existing VPN plan
- Private IP on a specific server – get dedicated IP on selected servers that is used only by you and nobody else. Private IP is static and stays the same for the duration of your membership.
- VIP add-on – offers optimized speed and reduced latency for clients in Asia and gamers. VIP package allows prioritized traffic on all servers. Comes with Multi-hop VPN for increased anonymity.
- Multi-hop VPN – allows you to connect to a server in country A and have an exit in country B to provide better privacy and faster speeds.
Private IPs cost $5.00 per month and VIP add-on costs $10.00 per month.
We Liked
- Anonymous Surfing – hide your online identity and surf the web anonymously
- Always accessible and fast – to make surfing faster select the server or country closest to you
- Bypass Censorship – surf through filtered or blocked content without any restriction
- VPN Sharing – via simple configuration of network settings, any device in a user’s local network can use VPN to secure internet traffic.
- VPN Port Forwarding – an advanced feature which enables you to access any device or server from anywhere, through VPN IP. Astrill VPN allows you to take advantage of port forwarding on selected servers.
- Astrill VPN offers 3rd party VPN software connection to some of its VPN servers.
- In-app speed test
- Ads Blocker – only available in OpenWeb mode
- Privacy enhancing settings – Fix DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leaks
Areas for Improvement
There are some features that Astrill has and can be improved. For example, their Smart Mode feature is only available when OpenWeb protocol is used and works only in China.
Conclusion
Astrill definitely offers a competitive service. They don’t log, they take Bitcoin and they’re located outside of the US, which are all advantages. Their VPN client isn’t quite as sophisticated as some of the other providers out there but, if that’s not an issue for you, they’re worth looking into.
Does Astrill work with Nigerian ISPs
Astrill has an affiliate program with attractive commissions. After siging up, they said that they are no longer able to use Paypal to send my payment (despite still advertising it on their site). They then claimed they were having trouble sending the commissions to my bank. Eventually they were able to use Alert Pay to make small payments. Astrill eventually changed the conditions of the affiliate program (several times) without notifying me or other affiliates. They then erased my login credentials, and still owe me a sum of 2,232 USD, which they refuse to pay, and refuse to acknowledge this situation. Most emails are ignored, and those that are responded to make no mention of this sum of money, and if it will be paid or not. In addition, they are rude and short-spoken, but that’s beside the point.
Extremely inconsistent connections. Most of there servers will work for a short time then totally shut you down. I have to constantly change servers when using Astrill, and while they have a lot, sometimes it is hard to find one with more than 10 Kbps flow.
I’ve used Astrill for a few years now (needed here in China). I left it after the first year, but then switched back when China cracked down on VPNs as my other one couldn’t cope with being blocked, and Astrill could.
That said, I agree with the above comment. Just lately I’ve had to switch out various servers (mainly the US ones) until I’ve found one that works for more than five minutes.
Not as good as it used to be.
I have had unending problems with Astrill and their customer support have proved worthless, which was the same treatment I received from their tech support. Astrill loses connection multiple times an hour, the 43 servers they boast of do not all connect, and in fact most of the time only 2-3 of them are worth even attempting, depending on your location. In short, I can’t recommend that you try something other than Astrill more highly.
I just almost finished 12 months with Astrill. I have had nothing but issues. When I initially paid there was a problem and they closed down the account as fraudulent, probably because my Paypal account has a UK address and I live in China. I instead created a new account and got a relative in the UK to pay from there and it was sorted. The speeds were often pathetic and switching servers made no difference at all. The tech support was really bad compared to other vpn providers and they seemed more concerned with deflecting any possibility their vpn was the problem even though I was having no issues using other free trials elsewhere.
When it did work it worked well but this was to random and I was not the only one in China to complain about this. 2.7 appears to have fixed a few things but this could be coincidental and it may have just been working well again when I installed the new beta.
My biggest gripe now is that just prior to my 12 months expiring they have accused me of my account being linked to a fraud scheme and terminated it. No real details or evidence just their word and goodbye. I had 4 months to go on top the the 12 as I had used their invite a friend system and gained them 4 new customers giving me a free month as a gift. Funny how after alomst 12 months of service, account expiring on the 16th of March and today being the 3rd, that they choose now to decide there is fraud connected with my account 🙂 It could be coincidental but one has to wonder……
As far as I am concerned they can STICK their free 4 months where the sun doesnt shine. Reading some of the comments posted from other users plus people I know around my city I am glad to be moving on to another company. The tech support are often quite rood and condescending and seemingly quite happily lead you into an argument when all you were doing is seeking help, trying to use what you have paid them for.
I wouldnt recommend this vpn to anyone unless you enjoy being talked to like you are stupid, risk having your service cut without any notice based on their word they have evidence for soemthing you know cannot be you and enjoy having to constantly change servers as the speed just stops.
Stick it Astrill. You had and conveniently LOST my business. Give yourselves a big hearty round of applause. Great job, Well done all. NOT
I used Astrill for about 10 months from the U.S. I was going to pay for another year when my 1 year approached. But recently Astrill changed all that. I could not log in (error #399). I tried to reset my password on their site. It said it changed and sent me an email confirmation but I still couldn’t log in. I contacted the web support. Mark curtly replied that I should contact level 2 support. He completely ignored my requests for a hint of what might have gone wrong (ignored for about 10 minutes). Level 2 support got back to me in about 1/2 a day. Here is what they sent:
–
Hello,
Your account has been automatically suspended, because you have logged on from a computer connected with one of the accounts involved in a fraud scheme. The computer you kept logging on from is connected to over 112 other accounts, this is considered account sharing and is against Astrill Terms of Service.
Your account has been terminated due to Astrill Terms of Service violation, under section 5. Use of the Services by you
–
So my last message from them is one in which they claim I was stealing their service which just isn’t true. I got no warning, no explanation, no attempt at helping me figure out what had gone wrong.
Up until then, I was perfectly happy with their service. It had a few glitches, but all VPNs do. But I won’t put up with being treated this badly from someone who is taking my money.
As a followup to my post dated March 9: Approximately 48 hours before the March 9 post I had sent Astrill a possible explanation with screenshots of why they might think I had been stealing their service. I told them I would give them 24 hours to give me back my account. Well it turns out that I was right — using a Parallels VM inside of a Mac seemed to set off their alarm bells. Unfortunately for both Astrill and ME, they completely ignored me for over 2 WEEKS! I have since found another VPN provider. I verified beforehand that this VPN provider does not mind my VM setup. This is just too little, too late, Astrill.
For those who are shopping for a VPN service, I would like to share with you the e-mail that I received from Astrill over two weeks too late:
–
Hello,
We have learned that virtual machine caused your account to be suspended.
Your account is now fixed. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.
You can use your Astrill VPN account now. If we have refunded you already, you will need to place a new order from Members section (link deleted by Ed).
Best regards,
Astrill Support
–
I hadn’t had a problem with them until I started inviting my friends to join (they offer 1 month for free for every friend that joins). The problem is, it didn’t seem to work. We contacted them and the customer service staff was very “brief” and passive-agressive, which made me very uncomfortable about contacting them, especially because I was helping them to get new customers!
Finally, to get the real proof, I created one account for my friend using the invitation link, in front of me, and it didn’t work – meanwhile I had another friend that was waiting to join but he said he contacted the staff and they told him there was no invitation from me (even that I had sent it more than three times), so the whole thing was a confusion.
I contacted them again and, after a long time chatting with the staff, the guy left the chat room and called me a dumbass! No joke, I have the printscreen and it is as rude as that. I mean, I have never seen customer service like that, it is outrageous. After I evaluated his service, he sent me an email apologising, saying that he was “arguing with his colleague about my problem”, offering me three months for free, like that was going to make a difference at that point. Now I’d much rather go for a refund, but that will make me go through the pain of contacting them again, which I really don’t want to.
In a nutshell, their product is not bad, works on ipad and PC, good speed and ok price, but as a service business they are, in my point of view, the worst company I have ever seen!
I normally wouldn’t complain so much about a service or product, but this situation even made me find a website to review them and hope it helps people to think twice before buying it – because I should have had!
I’ve been with Astrill for over a year already and have had nothing but unreliable connections, appalling customer service and tech support that was more headache than help.
As someone above mentioned already, there are only 2 or 3 good servers depending on where you are located. The rest can’t connect or get disconnected in less than a few hours. I’ve had that same experience as well.
But the cherry on top has to be at the 1 year mark. I was so dissatisfied with their service I was going to move to another provider. Then they say “we have this new StealthPro and RouterPro service. Guaranteed to be trouble free and undetectable”. So I end up paying the basic year again AND adding on $120 USD charge for this additional service. BS!!! It works no better than the original service, still has dropped connections and their tech support won’t lift a finger to help you.
Worse….VPN….Provider….Ever!
they are a scam , do not use them, paid for service , but service does not work and refuse to refund even use credit card to pay, open credit card dispute and can not get refund back. scam company
Astrill does not work properly all the time, it crashes a lot in China. Their tech support said they can’t do anything so I asked for my money back and they said they don’t do that. Now I have a VPN that does not work and I paid for. They are full of SHIT and rude as hell!!!! Don’t trust them, go somewhere else!!!
Wow!! nice post. I am at the process of purchasing a plan with this company. {Astrill). I have read here nothing good about their services.. Could anyway refer me to better , reliable and more efficient VPN company??? Your help would be greatly appreciated.. I am base here in China . Thank u.
Stan
hi Stan .. I would start your investigation here to choose among the best VPNS https://vpnreviewz.com/best-vpn-service-providers/
I wonder if you could help me?
I would like to contact the manager or the person in charge of their CSR support at Astrill for a complain.
I tried several to ask the CSR (about 20 times via chat and via telephone) but no luck.
She kept making up all kind of excuses, I got disconnected, etc.
If you would happen to know how I could get in touch with the right person, I would greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
L. Poulin
Terrible customer service! Very rude!
I had my account removed because I used a marketing tool that crawled my website (400 requests, which I don’t think is so much) one time.
I contacted customer service and they were very rude and unwilling to unblock my account or even give me a refund although I paid for a year!!!
Horrible customer service and rude, will never use them again.
Don’t use Astrill.
I only had them two weeks and they blocked my account as ‘fraudulent’ because I had the nerve to spend a weekend out of the country. Their customer service refuses to even reply to your emails, and even insulted me calling me rude for sending multiple disgruntled emails when no one actually got in touch to help.
I sent photo ID and a picture of my credit card to prove that I was legitimate, as they asked, and was met with silence. I’m still yet to hear back from them.
They stole my money and wasted my time.
Avoid like the plague
I have been trying for weeks to sort out my Astrill system.
I have paid them until May 2015 for Astrill Stealth VPN, however I can only get Astrill OpenWeb.
Getting a password to get into OpenWeb was difficult enough now
moving to VPN seems impossible and as per the August 2014 comment I am not receiving a decent service.
No one responds to tell me how to receive the service I have paid for ie Stealth VPN
Last month August was canceled with the excuse that was be used for spamming, I lost near 4 months and the only assistant just gave my an stupid answer with cold goodby saying that my account was under proving.
There service it’s getting worse in China, this is just another bad company. Don’t trust your credit card or other sensible information with this company.
I can’t believe how poor their customer service is. Regardless of the product, I have never had a company be as rude as they were. I develop mobile apps for a living and when I asked them to tell me how to set up an effective desktop application because it hadn’t been working for a month, the online support said, “have you ever seen a computer?” I couldn’t believe it.
And they just enrolled me in a service that doesn’t work in China and after two months on a two year contract that I purchased based on their customer service rep stating it works in China, they refuse to give me any money back.
DO NOT USE THEM. We now use ExpressVPN and it is pretty good. Use any of the other services.
Read below post by Astrill ex-employee and judge for yourself. (Original post: http://bit.ly/1Ub4HAm)
“I worked for Astrill so I can tell you the claims attributed to them on that page are mostly bullshit.
1) We do not keep logs
Reality) False. They do keep logs. With reguard to http traffic, they log every single single page loaded for every customer using their VPN servers. They log your account number, the requested url, the time of the request. This information is kept for months at a time and then thrown into a journal system.
2) We do not disclose your customer information
Reality) Mostly true. Astrill is mostly concerned with closing the accounts of people who abuse their network. If anyone asks they will say they can’t identify what customers are doing, but in reality is Astrill is constantly scanning through their logs looking for people running scripts which hit google/facebook (or any other site) too frequently, and then those accounts are disabled.
3) We may enable logs on a server in case of network abuse
Reality) False. Http requests are logged on all servers and that data is kept for a minimum of three months. Always. When I asked about this discrepancy between what they say publicly and what they do privately I was told we would do whatever it takes to run the company (even if that includes deceiving the customers).
4) We do not store any files, we provide IP transit only. Therefore, we can’t fulfill any “take down(s)”
Reality) False. Astrill receives a whole bunch of take down notices every single day and then blocks users from reaching those destinations. One of the uses of the logs they keep is to locate copyright troll IPs. We developed scripts to compare take down requests (which include our offending torrent IP addresses and time stamps) to locate the trolls, and then block our clients from connecting to them. We still did a lot of take downs, but by locating copyright troll IPs (by running scripts on our logs) we were able to block many IPs.
5) The majority of users use shared IP space therefore we are not able to identify the customer
Reality) False. We knew exactly who registered what accounts and logs every one’s activity. We can and do identify your account. We close accounts each day for abuse. We were working on a system to throw abusive accounts onto one server. I don’t know what progress was made in this endeavor.
6) P2P activity is allowed on many of our servers
Reality) True. These are the servers marked with a star in the connection tools we provide.”
Our company had 13 astrill vpn.
but they were suspended all today.
support team said “Your account was automatically suspended by the system because you have logged on from a device connected with one of the accounts involved in violation of our Terms of Service.”
and no reply.
Please help this issue.