We review VPNs independently, but we may earn commissions if you buy a VPN via our links.

ZoogVPN Review

Screenshot of ZoogVPN's Windows app

Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society.

Fact-checked by Callum TennentAdditional Testing by Alyx Morley

Our Verdict

6.8/10
How is this calculated?

Our overall rating is reached by combining several subcategories. The subcategories are weighted as follows:

  • Logging & Jurisdiction: 30%
  • Speed & Reliability: 25%
  • Security & Extra Features: 20%
  • Streaming: 10%
  • Torrenting: 5%
  • Ease of Use: 5%
  • Support: 5%

See our full methodology in how we review VPNs.

ZoogVPN is fast, reasonably private, and it offers a decent free version. However, the VPN has too many drawbacks to recommend fully. It often failed to connect to a server, struggled to unblock streaming services, and was generally inconsistent in our tests. We found IP address leaks using ZoogVPN's kill switch on macOS — a feature which is completely absent on its mobile apps. Simply put, there are plenty of VPNs that outperform ZoogVPN for the same price or cheaper.

Ranked #27 out of 62 VPNs

ZoogVPN Category Ratings

  • 5.3/10
  • 7.0/10
  • 6.8/10
  • 9.4/10
  • 7.1/10
  • 7.2/10
  • 4.5/10
  • 6.0/10
  • 7.5/10
  • 7.0/10

ZoogVPN Pros & Cons

  • Fast local & international speeds
  • Works with BBC iPlayer & HBO Max
  • Servers optimized for P2P activity
  • Affordable price tag
  • Decent free version

  • Server connection failures
  • No kill switch on mobile devices
  • Kill switch leaks on macOS
  • Uses third-party DNS servers
  • Does not work with Netflix
  • No advanced security features & unreliable customer support

Why Trust Us?

We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.

Launched in May 2013, ZoogVPN is a solid mid-tier VPN that’s been around for a long time. It’s an independently run company, registered in Greece, but with operations based in Ukraine.

ZoogVPN has both a free and paid version. To review the VPN comprehensively, we put both versions through our rigorous VPN testing process to see whether it’s better than its competitors.

ZoogVPN Key Data

 Paid
Free
Data CapUnlimited10GB
Download Speed95Mbps93Mbps
Logging PolicyNo Identifying DataNo Identifying Data
Data LeaksYesYes
JurisdictionGreece (EU Member)Greece (EU Member)
Servers715
IP Addresses71+5+
Countries with Servers425
US NetflixNoNo
TorrentingPermittedPermitted
Simultaneous Connections101
Works In ChinaUnreliableNo
SupportLive ChatLive Chat
Cheapest Price$1.87/mo over 24 monthsFree
Money-Back Guarantee7-day Money-Back Guarantee-
Official WebsiteZoog.com

Privacy & Logging Policy

Can You Trust ZoogVPN?

6.8/10
How is this calculated?

We dissect the logging and privacy policies of every VPN. A VPN should never log:

  • Your real IP address
  • Connection timestamps
  • DNS requests

A base of operations outside of 14-Eyes or EU jurisdiction is preferable.

ZoogVPN doesn’t store any personally-identifiable data like your IP address, DNS requests, or timestamps. However, it does collect bandwidth usage and your account information. More worryingly, it uses third-party DNS servers, has not been independently audited, and its logging policy is yet to be verified in a real-world case. We don’t recommend relying on it if privacy is your first priority.

Ranked #23 out of 62 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy

Here’s a table summarizing the information that ZoogVPN logs:

Data TypeLogged by ZoogVPN
Account InformationYes
Browsing ActivityNo
Date of Last ConnectionNo
Device InformationNo
DNS QueriesNo
Individual Bandwidth UsageYes
Individual Connection TimestampsNo
ISPNo
Number of Simultaneous ConnectionsNo
Originating IP AddressNo
VPN Server IPNo
VPN Server LocationNo

You can read ZoogVPN’s full privacy policy on its website.

ZoogVPN claims to be a no-logs VPN, but in reality it does collect bandwidth data and account information (including your email address).

Saving your email address is typical for most VPN services, though it does mean ZoogVPN could confirm to the authorities that you have an account. We recommend using a fake email address with no personal information to be sure your identity is hidden.

Importantly, ZoogVPN doesn’t collect your originating IP address, DNS requests, timestamps, assigned IP address, or ISP. Without this information, ZoogVPN cannot help authorities identify a specific user’s browsing history.

We’d prefer if ZoogVPN adopted a true zero-logs policy, like Private Internet Access or Perfect Privacy.

Who Owns ZoogVPN?

ZoogVPN’s corporate ownership is confusing. The VPN service is owned by Zoog Services Single Member Private Company, which is incorporated in Greece, but is headquartered in Ukraine. A majority of its employees are also from Ukraine.

ZoogVPN is also featured as a product of Softoria, a company registered in Ukraine.
Softoria has business relationships with multiple other technology companies, including DataForSeo, RankActive, Traffmonetizer, and Dataimpulse.

We reached out via email for clarification on its ownership structure and employees. ZoogVPN confirmed that Softoria and ZoogVPN are owned by the same person, but didn’t confirm who this person was.

We’re disappointed ZoogVPN’s corporate structure and employees aren’t detailed on ZoogVPN’s website and prefer a VPN service with transparent ownership. It’s always a bit suspicious when parent companies of VPNs also operate advertising or data mining businesses.

No Independent Audit & Out of Date Warrant Canary

Unlike top-tier VPNs, ZoogVPN doesn’t publish regular third-party audits that confirm its privacy policy is being adhered to. It’s had no real-world events, like a server seizure or court case, to prove that it doesn’t log your IP address or browsing history.

Even worse, ZoogVPN hasn’t updated its Warrant Canary since March 2022, which is when we last emailed ZoogVPN and requested it to be updated. The VPN service also leases all of its servers and hasn’t adopted diskless servers, like ExpressVPN has.

Uses Third-Party DNS Servers

Using our IP and DNS leak test tool, we found that ZoogVPN passed our IPv4, IPv6, and WebRTC leak tests. However, it failed to mask our geolocation and uses third-party DNS servers.

A failed leak test with ZoogVPN connected to a server in Miami.

Our VPN leaks test detected Google’s DNS servers while connected to ZoogVPN.

As you can see in the image above, ZoogVPN doesn’t support first-party DNS servers, and instead routes all your traffic through Google DNS servers.

This isn’t a total breach of anonymity as your requests are still among thousands of others, but it still isn’t great if you’re using a VPN for online privacy purposes.

It’s fairly common for lower to mid-tier VPNs to rely on third-party DNS servers, but ZoogVPN will need to fix this to earn a higher rating in this category.

Security & Technical Features

Minimal Security & Missing Key Features

4.5/10
How is this calculated?

Top-rated VPNs offer OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a functional kill switch. We also consider additional security features and the global spread of VPN servers.

ZoogVPN provides a very basic level of security. It offers industry-standard encryption and a choice between OpenVPN and WireGuard, but it has very few additional features. The kill switch leaked our IP address on macOS, and there is no kill switch at all its mobile applications, which is a huge oversight. ZoogVPN will encrypt your data at the very least, but if you're looking for extensive security, we suggest looking elsewhere.

Ranked #43 out of 62 VPNs for Security & Technical Features

You can see the full selection of encryption and technical features that ZoogVPN offers below:

ProtocolsAvailable in ZoogVPN
IKEv2/IPSecYes
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)Yes
TLS VPNYes
WireGuardNo
EncryptionAvailable in ZoogVPN
AES-128No
AES-192No
AES-256Yes
BlowfishNo
ChaCha20No
SecurityAvailable in ZoogVPN
Diskless ServersNo
DNS Leak BlockingNo
First-party DNSNo
IPv6 Leak BlockingNo
Supports TCP Port 443No
VPN Kill SwitchYes
WebRTC Leak BlockingNo
Advanced FeaturesAvailable in ZoogVPN
Ad BlockerNo
Dedicated IPNo
Double VPNNo
SOCKSNo
Split TunnelingNo
Static IPNo
Tor over VPN ServerNo
Tracker BlockerNo

ZoogVPN doesn’t provide any additional features when it comes to security, but it does include the bare essentials.

It connects to OpenVPN by default — one of the most secure connection protocols available – and WireGuard has also been added.

Traffic is also encrypted with AES-256, a cipher that’s considered unbreakable.

ZoogVPN Settings on macOS

ZoogVPN security settings on macOS.

Outside of this basic foundation, ZoogVPN doesn’t have any advanced settings, like split tunneling or Double VPN. This might be enough for casual users, but if you’re experienced with VPN services then you might find the lack of options frustrating.

It does have a VPN kill switch for Windows and Mac, which is responsible for preventing personal data leaks should the VPN connection drop suddenly. However, we experienced some issues with ZoogVPN’s kill switch in our testing, which we detail below.

Unlike NordVPN, which has extremely detailed software release notes, ZoogVPN doesn’t release any software update notes for any platforms. This means you might miss out key details on important bug fixes and new features.

ZoogVPN Owns Some of Its Servers

Almost all of ZoogVPN’s servers are bare-metal (physical) servers based in the locations described. The service owns a few servers, but leases a majority of them from trusted third-party companies.

ZoogVPN doesn’t specify which of its servers are virtual or physical in the app, but in an email confirmed that servers in “exotic locations” may be virtual.

This isn’t as good as ExpressVPN, which owns its entire physical server network, or PIA, which labels clearly which servers are virtual.

Kill Switch Leaked Our Real IP Address on macOS

We had mixed results when testing ZoogVPN’s kill switch. On Windows, the kill switch was effective and never leaked our real IP address. But on macOS, ZoogVPN leaked our real IP address when switching servers and when our internet dropped.

ZoogVPN failed our kill switch test on macOS.

ZoogVPN failed our kill switch test on macOS.

Put simply, ZoogVPN’s kill switch did not work on macOS, and we don’t recommend relying on it if you’re using an Apple computer.

Even worse, a kill switch is not available on mobile at all. This is very disappointing, as most mid-tier VPNs at least have kill switches on Android devices.

Missing Technical Features We’d Like to See

ZoogVPN offers the bare essentials when it comes to security, which may be enough for beginners or irregular users. However, there are far better VPNs with stronger security and more features — often for a cheaper price, too.

For ZoogVPN to improve its security rating, it needs to invest in a kill switch for mobile devices, along with a suite of additional features.

Here are some features we’d like to see ZoogVPN add to its service:

  • Kill switch on iOS and Android devices.
  • Dedicated or static IP address to counter IP address blocklisting and annoying CAPTCHAs on search engines.
  • Double or multihop VPN servers to enhance your security and privacy on your VPN connection.
  • Open-source code to improve transparency.
  • Smart DNS for bypassing streaming service geo-restrictions.

Speed

Both Premium & Free Versions Are Surprisingly Fast

9.4/10
How is this calculated?

Speed ratings are calculated using upload speeds, download speeds, and ping (latency).

We test average speeds regularly using a dedicated 100Mbps connection in London, UK. Local download speed is considered the most important factor.

Both versions of ZoogVPN are fast on both local and international connections. We recorded a 5% speed loss on local connections, which is a surprisingly good result. Long-distance speeds were relatively strong, with 18% average international speed loss. Its ping times could be better on international connections, but most users won't even notice. As expected, ZoogVPN Free isn't as fast as its paid counterpart.

Ranked #13 out of 62 VPNs for Speed

ZoogVPN’s speeds didn’t disappoint — the VPN performed well, both over short-distance connections and further afield.

Speed test with ZoogVPN connected to a server in New York.

In our recent speed tests, we used ZoogVPN’s New York server to test its speeds.

Uploads and downloads were consistently quick enough for HD streaming and smooth torrenting when we connected to nearby VPN servers. This is much faster than other mid-tier VPNs we’ve reviewed.

Here’s a table showing ZoogVPN’s speed test results:

Ping times were a little less impressive, but shouldn’t affect the vast majority of users. For a lesser-known product, ZoogVPN’s speeds are great.

These speeds will enable you to stream, torrent, and browse without any buffering or lag.

ZoogVPN Free Speed Tests

ZoogVPN Free is very fast for a free VPN service. In our tests, ZoogVPN’s free version was almost as fast as the premium version. This makes ZoogVPN one of the fastest free VPNs around, with no sign of speed throttling.

Speed test with ZoogVPN Free.

We manually test both free and premium versions of VPNs to compare speed performance.

For the best speeds, we suggest choosing a server that’s close to your actual location. However, since ZoogVPN Free only has servers in 5 countries, a majority of people will not have a server nearby.

To mitigate this issue, we recommend using a free VPN like TunnelBear Free, which gives you access to servers in 47 countries.

Here’s a table showing ZoogVPN Free’s speed test results:

Server Locations

Which Countries Does ZoogVPN Have Servers In?

7.1/10
How is this calculated?

The global spread and coverage of the VPN server network is the most important factor here.

We also consider the number of city-level servers, plus how many IP addresses are maintained.

This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.

ZoogVPN has servers in 42 countries and 38 cities. This is above average, but doesn’t come close to beating top-tier VPNs, some of which have servers in double the number of countries. Some of ZoogVPN’s servers are physical and a majority of them are leased from third-parties. That said, ZoogVPN Free has a respectable five server locations to choose from across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Ranked #35 out of 62 VPNs for Server Locations

Globe with a blue flag
42 Countries
Image of a city landscape
38 Cities
Image of a pink marker
71+ IP Addresses

ZoogVPN has servers in the following regions:

Continent
ZoogVPN Premium Countries
ZoogVPN Free Countries
Europe
21
3
Asia
13
1
South America
2
0
North America
3
1
Oceania
2
0
Africa
1
0

Like most VPNs, a majority of ZoogVPN’s servers are concentrated in Europe. If you live in Africa or Oceania, there’s only one or two options near you.

All of ZoogVPN’s servers are in fact bare-metal servers — that means they’re physically located in the countries they claim to be, which helps prevent slower speeds than you might expect.

With ZoogVPN Free, you can get an IP address in five locations, including Singapore. Although this is half the amount of server locations that Windscribe Free provides, it’s rare for a free VPN to have servers in Asia. This makes ZoogVPN one of the best VPNs for Android.

A ZoogVPN subscription comes with multiple specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and obfuscation. These servers are designed to be faster and more efficient than regular servers at certain tasks. They are also clearly labeled in the app with icons:

Image of ZoogVPN's server list on Windows.

ZoogVPN’s specialized servers are spread across continents.

Here’s a table detailing the number of specialized servers ZoogVPN offers:

Subscription
ZoogVPN Premium
ZoogVPN Free
Streaming Servers
25
3
Obfuscated Servers
16
2
P2P Servers
25
1

Streaming

Can’t Unblock US Netflix, DAZN, or Hulu

5.3/10
How is this calculated?

Streaming is rated by the number of different services unlocked, how many regional libraries are viewable, and how consistently the VPN can access them.

Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and more are all tested on a weekly basis.

ZoogVPN disappoints when it comes to streaming. It offers lots of streaming-optimized servers, but not all of them work. We had success accessing Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, and ITVX. However, it didn’t unblock a single Netflix library, Hulu, or DAZN. Its Amazon Fire TV app also doesn’t work to unblock georestricted content.

Ranked #26 out of 62 VPNs for Streaming

Here are the results of our streaming tests when using ZoogVPN:

Streaming PlatformWorks with ZoogVPNWorks with ZoogVPN Free
Amazon Prime VideoYesNo
BBC iPlayerYesNo
Channel 4NoNo
Disney+YesNo
Hotstar IndiaNoNo
HuluNoNo
ITVXYesNo
MaxYesYes
Netflix USNoNo

ZoogVPN provides a bunch of streaming-friendly servers in several locations — they’re clearly marked with a play button symbol.

But they don’t always work; we managed to unblock geo-restricted content on Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and ITV Hub, but we failed to gain access to any Netflix library, including the US one.

You can easily find out which servers are intended to work with your favorite streaming service on ZoogVPN’s network status page.

As for the video quality, ZoogVPN’s speeds are more than fast enough for Full HD streaming with little buffering.

Tested: ZoogVPN Unblocks UK Streaming Services

In our streaming tests, ZoogVPN successfully bypassed geoblocks on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. We were able to stream shows like Doctor Who, Industry, and Love Island without blocks or buffering.

ZoogVPN with BBC iPlayer on macOS

We used ZoogVPN’s paid UK – London 1 server to access iPlayer.

ZoogVPN Doesn’t Unblock US Netflix

Using ZoogVPN, we weren’t able to access US Netflix or any international Netflix library. If you want a VPN that’s reliable with US Netflix and other streaming services, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming.

Connected to ZoogVPN’s New York server we weren’t able to stream Netflix.

Connected to ZoogVPN’s New York server, we weren’t able to stream Netflix.

Despite it not working with Netflix, we were able to stream Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and YouTube with ZoogVPN.

ZoogVPN Free Doesn’t Unblock US Netflix

ZoogVPN Free doesn’t unblock as many services as its paid version, which is typical for a free VPN. Its 10GB monthly data cap also doesn’t allow for endless streaming — it will run out after roughly four hours of Full HD viewing.

Using ZoogVPN Free, we weren’t able to access US Netflix or Disney+, but it did occasionally unblock HBO Max. We used it to stream The Last of Us in HD without buffering.

In our recent tests, ZoogVPN Free’s Washington server worked with HBO Max.

In our recent tests, ZoogVPN Free’s Washington server worked with HBO Max.

ZoogVPN Free doesn’t come with any streaming-optimized servers for US streaming services, but it does for Singapore.

Torrenting

25 P2P-Optimized Servers, But Not the Safest Torrenting VPN

7.0/10
How is this calculated?

We calculate the average download bitrate of every VPN using a bespoke torrenting setup.

Testing also factors in the percentage of servers which permit P2P, plus useful features like port forwarding.

ZoogVPN has 25 P2P servers that are optimized for torrenting, but we don’t fully recommend using it for file sharing. It comes with the necessary kill switch on desktop devices, but it’s faulty on macOS. Some of its apps record your individual bandwidth usage, and it doesn’t offer port forwarding.

Ranked #23 out of 62 VPNs for Torrenting

Torrenting Attribute
ZoogVPN Paid
ZoogVPN Free
Average Download Bitrate
9.6MiB/s
6.4MiB/s
No. of P2P Servers
25
1
Logging Policy
No Identifying Data
No Identifying Data
Kill Switch
Yes
Yes
Port Forwarding
No
No

ZoogVPN’s premium version offers P2P servers optimized specifically for torrenting.

These P2P-friendly servers are clearly marked within the app’s server locations list. They span 16 countries including Canada, the US, and a handful of servers in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

We picked up a fast average bitrate when using these servers – 9.6MiB/s. This makes ZoogVPN faster than ExpressVPN (9.4MiB/s) and NordVPN (9.8MiB/s), the best two VPNs on the market.

However, despite these fast speeds, ZoogVPN simply isn’t secure or private enough for torrenting.

We don’t like that on mobile and macOS, ZoogVPN records and shows your historical usage data from when you first activated the account.

Although it works on Windows, the kill switch on macOS actually leaks your IP address when your connection drops. This presents a serious risk if you’re using the VPN for protection while torrenting.

We used ZoogVPN’s WireGuard protocol for torrenting tests.

We used ZoogVPN’s WireGuard protocol for torrenting tests.

If you’re planning to purchase or use a free VPN for torrenting, we highly recommend checking out Private Internet Access or PrivadoVPN Free instead.

These two are the most secure paid and free VPNs for torrentingwith reliable kill switches, more private logging policies, and advanced leak protection. In contrast, ZoogVPN may leak your DNS server and your IP address on macOS.

Bypassing Web Censorship

Does ZoogVPN Work in China?

7.2/10
How is this calculated?

Our remote-access server in Shanghai, China routinely tests if a VPN can beat restrictions and access a free, open internet. Obfuscation technologies and nearby servers are also a contributing factor.

This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.

ZoogVPN works inconsistently in China, Russia, Turkey and the UAE. We used its obfuscated servers, automatic protocol selection, and a South Korea server to bypass the Great Firewall and access YouTube. We had to wait five minutes to connect to the server, but this is often the case for VPNs when connecting from a censored region. Disappointingly, when tested again the next day, ZoogVPN failed to bypass China’s Great Firewall.

Ranked #16 out of 62 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship

ZoogVPN has obfuscated servers and a feature called “Zoogshadowing” for bypassing online censorship. These tools can be effective, but they aren’t the most reliable over a long period of time.

Streaming YouTube in China with ZoogVPN connected to a server in Seoul.

Using ZoogVPN, we watched YouTube in China.

In our recent China tests with ZoogVPN, it took more than five minutes for the VPN to connect to a South Korean obfuscated server (KR – Seoul 2). However, once connected we were able to unblock YouTube and other censored websites.

While ZoogVPN’s paid version is sometimes able to bypass some firewalls, its free version isn’t as reliable in censored regions. We weren’t able to connect to a single server using ZoogVPN Free in China.

If you’re looking for a free VPN to use in censored regions, we recommend checking out Windscribe Free, which has six more server locations to choose from and more reliable obfuscation tools.

Device & OS Compatibility

Custom Apps for Many Devices, Including Firestick and Android TV

How is this rated?

A quality VPN should maintain functional, fully-featured applications and extensions for as many platforms and devices as possible.

This does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Ease of Use rating.

ZoogVPN is surprisingly widely-compatible for a mid-tier VPN. It has custom apps for a wide range of devices, including the most popular ones like Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, Fire TV Stick, and Android TV. ZoogVPN generously allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, which is much better than the industry average of five. It doesn’t offer browser extensions, but it can be installed at router-level for house-wide coverage.

Apps

ZoogVPN has apps for the following devices:

  1. Windows
  2. Mac
  3. iOS
  4. Android
  5. Linux

It is possible to install the software on Linux and routers, but it requires some manual configuration.

You can also use ZoogVPN on up to 10 devices at once using just one subscription, which is a generous amount compared to some of its main competitors.

Here’s a summary of the key differences between ZoogVPN’s applications:

Games Consoles & Streaming Devices

  1. Apple TV
  2. Amazon Fire TV
  3. Chromecast
  4. Nintendo
  5. PlayStation
  6. Roku
  7. Xbox

If you want to protect your streaming devices, ZoogVPN has custom apps for both Amazon Fire TV Stick and Android TV.

You can also install ZoogVPN on your router to cover multiple devices at once. We don’t recommend this solution to beginners as it’s quite a complex setup process, but ZoogVPN provides some instructions on its website for more advanced users.

Ease of Use

Simple but Unattractive Apps

6.0/10
How is this calculated?

This rating mainly consists of the intuitiveness of setup and everyday use.

Device or platform compatibility and customization options are also a factor.

ZoogVPN has stripped back simple apps that anyone can use without complications. It suits newcomers and those who want to use the free version for a quick fix. But this comes at the cost of advanced performance — we experienced slow connection times and frequent connection failures.

Ranked #45 out of 62 VPNs for Ease of Use

We found it easy to install and set up ZoogVPN on all our test devices. The VPN service has easy-to-follow tutorials on its website.

You can download ZoogVPN and start using it for free on all major platforms once your email address is verified. All versions of the app feature minimal features: just a choice of protocol and a kill switch toggle.

This is reasonable enough. But frequent connection failures see ZoogVPN’s ease of use rating plummet. On several occasions, we waited a long time for the VPN to connect only for it to fail altogether.

If you’re planning on using a VPN frequently, ZoogVPN might become frustrating quite quickly.

Here’s a more detailed look at the interface of each ZoogVPN application:

Desktop & Laptop (Windows & Mac)

ZoogVPN’s desktop clients have some key differences, including the number of protocols available and whether the client is size-adjustable.

Windows is simply the better client, with no bugs and easier navigation. However, both desktop versions have the basics: OpenVPN, a kill switch, and the option to launch the app on startup.

ZoogVPN's apps for Windows and macOS

In our tests, we found ZoogVPN has some annoying software bugs on macOS. After logging into ZoogVPN, the app window on macOS is fixed to the center of the screen and can’t be moved or resized.

We also experienced multiple connection failures using ZoogVPN’s OpenVPN protocol on our MacBook Pro. We were able to use IKEv2, but this isn’t the safest option. Other VPNs like PrivateVPN and NordVPN offer reliable OpenVPN connections on all major platforms.

Mobile (iPhone & Android)

ZoogVPN’s mobile apps are easy to install from official app stores, and straightforward to use on mobile. They are lacking advanced features like split tunneling or double VPN, though.

Both mobile apps feature the same dull green and gray color palette as on the desktop clients.

We’re shocked to see ZoogVPN shows you historical data usage from when you first activated your account till present. Not only does this feel unnecessary and intrusive, it also confirms that ZoogVPN logs your individual bandwidth usage.

ZoogVPN's apps for Android and iOS

There are other VPNs that are much more attractive on Android and iOS. The only redeeming quality is that ZoogVPN Free on iOS doesn’t require an email address.

The free version on Android and all other platforms requires you to hand over your email address for account verification.

Amazon Fire TV & Android TV

ZoogVPN’s custom apps for Amazon Fire TV and Android TV are user-friendly enough for beginners, but doesn’t actually perform well at unblocking georestricted video content.

It’s also missing key features more advanced users will need. You only have one choice of protocol (OpenVPN) and it doesn’t have a kill switch to prevent IP address leaks.

ZoogVPN's app for Fire TV

Unlike other ZoogVPN apps, there isn’t the option to search servers by country on Amazon Fire and Android TV. Instead, you have to manually scroll through every server available.

Lastly, you don’t get access to ZoogVPN’s full catalog of servers on Amazon Fire TV, but you can use 23 of its specialized streaming servers.

Customer Support

Intermittent Live Chat Support

7.5/10
How is this calculated?

This rating is based on our assessment of each VPN’s:

  • Email support
  • Live chat support
  • Online resources

Not every VPN offers all of these, and they often vary in quality and response time.

ZoogVPN has an online FAQ database, some setup guides, and a few online resources. You can also send an email for specific enquiries or contact the live chat support for quick assistance. There's a good amount of assistance available, but the chat doesn't operate 24/7 and the website information could be more in-depth.

Ranked #31 out of 62 VPNs for Customer Support

Customer SupportAvailable in ZoogVPN
24/7 Email SupportNo
24/7 Live Chat SupportNo
ChatbotNo
EmailYes
Email Support via Online FormNo
Live Chat SupportYes
Online ResourcesYes
Tutorial VideosNo

While only available intermittently, ZoogVPN’s live chat support is useful for quick answers to simple questions. A majority of mid-tier to top-tier VPNs offer 24/7 live chat support, so we’re disappointed to see ZoogVPN hasn’t adopted this.

For more technical questions, we recommend going straight to ZoogVPN’s email ticketing system. We waited an hour for a response, but replies were helpful when they eventually came.

Contact us page on ZoogVPN's website.

We used ZoogVPN’s website contact page to get in touch with customer support.

There’s a basic FAQ section on the ZoogVPN website, along with setup wizards for numerous platforms, but the online resources are far from comprehensive.

Price & Value

Cheap But No Refund Guarantee

7.0/10
How is this calculated?

Price & Value for Money receives a rating, but is not factored into our Overall Rating. We believe the reader should decide what is or isn’t a reasonable price.

A good rating here isn’t just based on how cheap the VPN is, but for the value it offers overall.

ZoogVPN is very cheap on its longest subscription plan, but there are higher-quality VPNs for a similar price. Its refund period is very short — only seven days — and it comes with unusual conditions like a 5% admin fee. The free version doesn’t require any payment details, but it does require an email address on some devices.

Ranked #19 out of 62 VPNs for Price & Value

If a relatively unknown VPN service is to really challenge the best VPN providers, then it also needs to come in at an attractive price point, and ZoogVPN’s is an absolute jaw-dropper.

On its two-year deal, ZoogVPN is one of the cheapest VPN services we’ve seen.

The paid version of ZoogVPN has three subscription plans:

  1. Monthly

    $9.99/mo

    Billed $9.99 every month
    Save 23%
  2. 12 Month(s)

    $2.99/mo

    Billed $35.99 every 12 months
    Save 77%
  3. 2 Year(s)

    $1.87/mo

    Billed $44.99 every 2 years
    Save 86%

At $1.87 per month on its two-year plan, ZoogVPN is one of the absolute cheapest VPN services we’ve seen.

If you’re looking for a shorter commitment, the 12-month plan is also a steal at $2.99 per month. Even if you pay month-to-month, it’ll cost you $9.99 — that’s cheap for a one-month plan.

However, despite its cheap price tag, ZoogVPN isn’t necessarily worth it because there are much better options that offer more value for your money.

For just 32 cents more each month, PIA has even faster speeds, the largest server network available, an effective kill switch on all popular devices, and a court-case verified no-logs policy.

Payment & Refund Options

You can pay for a ZoogVPN subscription the following ways:

  1. American Express
  2. Bitcoin
  3. Mastercard
  4. PayPal
  5. UnionPay
  6. Visa

ZoogVPN accepts the standard payment methods including credit and debit cards, PayPal, and Bitcoin.

It also accepts payments via Paymentwall, which lets you use various international methods such as AliPay.

ZoogVPN offers a seven-day money-back guarantee for new users that paid with credit/debit cards or PayPal, but it comes with some terms:

  1. You aren’t eligible for a full refund if you’ve used more than 2GB of data, but ZoogVPN may offer a partial refund at its discretion.
  2. You may only receive a partial refund if “only some of the desired services are not availalbe [sic].”
  3. Even if you do qualify for a refund you’ll be subject to a 5% admin fee.

All these conditions (an admin fee especially) are virtually unheard of in the world of VPNs. We’d much rather ZoogVPN took a similar approach to ExpressVPN or NordVPN, and offered a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.

There’s a free version of ZoogVPN available, too, which we recommend for trialing the service before making a purchase. The free version of ZoogVPN limits you to 10GB of data and five VPN server locations.

ZoogVPN Free

ZoogVPN has a completely free VPN service. You can sign up easily with no payment details needed. ZoogVPN Free gives you access to five server locations: US, UK, Germany, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

The service is also limited to 10GB of data per month. While this is restrictive, it’s actually one of the most generous data allowances around. Only Proton VPN Free is better, which puts no restrictions on your data usage at all.

ZoogVPN's homepage and server list on Android.

ZoogVPN Free shows how much monthly data you’ve used in the homepage.

Other restrictions include a one-device limit and inferior 128-bit encryption instead of AES-256.

With 10GB you’ll be able to watch around four hours of content in Full HD. Its Amsterdam server is also P2P-optimized, which means you can use it for torrenting, too.

ZoogVPN Free is not the safest free VPN. Its security package is almost identical to the premium version (the OpenVPN protocol is available), and is subject to the same privacy policy. There’s no speed throttling or annoying pop-up ads, either.

If you want a simple, free VPN to browse the internet with no strings attached, ZoogVPN is definitely worth checking out.