There are many VPNs for computers and phones, but which one should you choose? It is hard to tell one from another. However, iTop offers a bit more than the usual VPN and is worth considering.
You probably know what a VPN is, but for those that have been living on another planet for the last few years, they are essential apps that perform several useful services.
One benefit is that they increase your privacy when connected to the internet and they are especially useful if you use public Wi-Fi hotspots at cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, train stations, airports, conference centers, hotels and so on. Free Wi-Fi is widely available these days, but is it safe? A VPN makes it much safer by encrypting your internet connection so no-one can spy on you.
You can also use one at home if you want to prevent your internet service provider from knowing what you are doing online.
In addition to security and privacy, a VPN enables you to fake your location. Some people use this feature to watch streaming media or access other services that are available somewhere else in the world, but not where they are currently located. If you are travelling abroad, you could use a VPN to pretend you were back at home so you can watch Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and so on. You might otherwise find it difficult to watch US streaming services from outside of the US, for example.
There are many good reasons for having a VPN and no shortage of options when it comes to choosing a service. There are many of them. Let’s take a look at iTop VPN.
iTop Free VPN
iTop VPN is just one of many VPN services, but it manages to stand out from the crowd with some extra features that you might find useful. For a start, it has a free plan, which not all VPN providers offer. A few do, but many don’t.
You can download the iTop VPN app for Windows PC from the website, Google Play Store for Android or the iPhone App Store and immediately secure your internet connection. (There is no Apple Mac app, check out PureVPN for Mac, PC and phones (affiliate link).
There is no sign up, no need to create an account, no information needs to be provided. You just click the big Connect button and you are connected. You have instant internet security and privacy.
There are some limitations with a free plan as you might expect, but the 700 MB a day data limit is quite generous. You cannot stream media, but it is fine for general web browsing, email, and other internet activities you want to make private and secure. There are only free 16 servers around the world, but that is better than the free plans offered by some rival services. iTop VPN free plan is actually quite good.
You don’t have to sign up for a paid plan at iTop and you can use it for free as long as you want, but here are the benefits to taking out a subscription:
- 1800+ servers worldwide
- Unlimited data
- 10x faster connection
- Extra browser privacy
- Streaming, gaming and social servers
- Block ads, trackers and malware
Do not get the 1-month plan! All VPN services are cheaper when you buy at least one-year or better still, multiple year plans. When I looked, the best iTop deal was the ‘1-year + extra 1 year’, making it effectively 80% cheaper than the 1-month plan. The price is competitive.
Connect to a VPN server
iTop VPN app for Windows has a big Connect button that secures your internet connection for browsers, email and any other software that uses the internet. If you want to, you can choose the protocol. Click Protocols and there is a choice of Auto, TCP, UDP and HTTPs.
The location can be left to the app if all you need is privacy and security, but you will probably want to select it yourself if you have a specific purpose in mind. This is where the iTop VPN app gets interesting.
In the left panel there is For Streaming, For Social, For Gaming and All Servers. Selecting any of these options displays a list of servers you can connect to, but this is a bit different to the usual list of VPN servers than many other apps offer.
All Servers shows all the countries around the world that have servers. You can select a country, connect to it and it looks like you are a resident, with access to all the local services.
Select For Streaming for example, and there are servers like Disney+ Los Angeles or New York, Amazon Prime Video, Streaming US Hulu, Streaming US Paramount, BBC iPlayer, Formula One, Netflix Korea or United States. These servers are most useful for people outside of the US of course, or US residents currently abroad.
Select For Social and there is Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and others. Select For Gaming and there are PUG servers, Roblox and COD Warzone. In some parts of the world, social networks are limited or even banned, so iTop offers a way to access them.
The Quick Access menu organizes servers by category, such as Browser Securely & Privately, Hide Location, Watch Netflix or HBO, Unblock WhatsApp or Telegram and so on. It is a way to select the VPN server you need by the type of activity you want to engage in.
A subscription is required to access all the servers and you just get 16 with a free plan. It is great the way that VPN servers are categorized and it makes it easier to select the right one.
Privacy and security
Select Privacy & Security in the sidebar and there are six modules to clean up browsing tracks and increase your security and privacy online. Some features can be accessed on the free plan, but some are reserved for paying subscribers.
Browser Privacy lists the browsers installed on your computer and enables you to clean the caches, browsing and download histories. Security Reinforce is useful for disabling unnecessary services and shares in Windows. A Kill Switch blocks internet access if the VPN loses its connection and this prevents browsers and apps from leaking information.
DNS protection precents DNS setitngs from being modified and provides alternative DNS servers to the ones you are currently using, which may be monitored. There is also an ad blocker and IP checker.
Conclusion
There is no app for Apple Mac, (try PureVPN affiliate link), but if you have a Windows PC, iPhone or Android phone, you are OK. You can download the app and secure your internet connection without signing up or providing any personal information whatsoever.
A free account is limited of course, but less so than some other free VPN offerings. Subscriptions to iTop VPN are competitively priced and I like the way that servers are categorized by activity, such as unblocking social, streaming media or games.
The extra tools that enable you to clean the browser and improve privacy and security are useful. iTop VPN has a no-log policy and does not record any information.
It seems pretty good for Windows, iOS and Android users who need to boost privacy and security on the internet.
