Thunder VPN Review 2025: Warning, Still Not Safe To Install
Key Takeaways at a Glance
A dangerous choice that actively puts user privacy and data at risk.
Logs user data, lacks a kill switch, and uses outdated, weak encryption.
Speeds are slow and inconsistent. Fails to unblock major streaming sites like Netflix.
Operated by Signal Lab, known for releasing multiple low-quality, risky apps.
Our Honest Thunder VPN Verdict: A Quick Summary
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict is clear: we strongly advise against using Thunder VPN. While the promise of a free VPN is tempting, the service has fundamental security flaws, a concerning privacy policy, and questionable ownership that make it unsafe for any user. You are risking your data by using this application. In this review, we’ll break down exactly why.
What is Thunder VPN?
Thunder VPN presents itself as a user-friendly and fast “free VPN proxy service.” It is an Android-only application developed by a company named Signal Lab and is available on the Google Play Store, where it has amassed over 100 million downloads.
Its immense popularity is almost entirely due to its free price tag. However, as our deep dive reveals, “free” comes at a significant cost to your privacy and security.
Security & Privacy Analysis: A Deep Dive into the Dangers
A VPN’s entire purpose is to protect your privacy. This is where Thunder VPN fails most catastrophically.
Logging Policy & Jurisdiction
While Thunder VPN claims it has a “no-logging” policy, its own Privacy Policy directly contradicts this. The company explicitly states that it collects user data, including your IP address, Internet Service Provider (ISP), connection timestamps, and the amount of data used. This level of logging completely defeats the purpose of using a VPN for anonymity.
Making matters worse, Thunder VPN is operated from the United States. The US is a founding member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, a coalition of countries that monitor their citizens and share surveillance data. A VPN company based in this jurisdiction can potentially be legally compelled to hand over user data to government agencies. This is a major red flag for any privacy-conscious user.
Missing Security Features: No Kill Switch & Weak Encryption
A reliable VPN is built on a foundation of strong security features, nearly all of which are missing from Thunder VPN.
There is no kill switch. A kill switch is a crucial safety net that automatically cuts your internet connection if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly. Without a kill switch, your real IP address can be instantly exposed if the connection drops, revealing your identity and location.
Furthermore, the app doesn’t use standard, secure VPN protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2. Instead, it relies on SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for encryption. While SSL is fine for securing a website, it is an outdated and insufficient protocol for tunneling all of your devices’ traffic securely.
IP & DNS Leak Test Results
In our hands-on tests, the results were alarming. We ran multiple checks for IP and DNS leaks while connected to a Thunder VPN server. In several tests, the service leaked our real DNS server addresses, which can be used by an ISP to see which websites a user is visiting. This kind of leak makes the “privacy” offered by the VPN completely worthless.
Speed & Performance: How Fast is Thunder VPN?
To measure its performance, we conducted several speed tests from a baseline connection of 100 Mbps. The results were consistently poor and unreliable.
While download speeds were occasionally passable for basic browsing, they were highly inconsistent across servers. Upload speeds were disastrously slow across the board, making activities like video calling, online gaming, or sharing files nearly impossible.
| Test Server Location | Download Speed (Baseline: 100 Mbps) | Upload Speed (Baseline: 100 Mbps) | Latency (Ping) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | ~35 Mbps (-65% drop) | ~2 Mbps (-98% drop) | 75ms |
| United States | ~28 Mbps (-72% drop) | ~1 Mbps (-99% drop) | 140ms |
| Germany | ~36 Mbps (-64% drop) | ~4 Mbps (-96% drop) | 81ms |
Streaming & Torrenting with Thunder VPN
Can Thunder VPN Unblock Netflix?
The short answer is no. In our tests, Thunder VPN was consistently blocked by Netflix, and we were unable to access any region-locked libraries. We had similar failures with other major streaming services like Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. While we managed to stream on BBC iPlayer on one occasion, the connection was unreliable and not something we would count on.
Is it Safe for Torrenting?
Absolutely not. Using Thunder VPN for torrenting or any P2P file sharing is extremely dangerous. The combination of its invasive logging policy, lack of a kill switch, and proven DNS leaks means your real IP address and online activity are highly likely to be exposed to your ISP and copyright holders.
Is Thunder VPN Actually Free? The Catch
Thunder VPN operates on a “freemium” model. The base app is free to use but is supported by intrusive ads. There is also a “VIP” subscription available that removes ads and gives you access to supposedly faster servers for a monthly fee. However, paying for the VIP service does not fix the fundamental security flaws, logging policy, or privacy risks. It is not worth the money.
3 Better & Safer VPN Alternatives
Given the serious risks, we recommend avoiding Thunder VPN entirely. Here are a few trusted alternatives that prioritize user security:
- NordVPN: An industry leader with an audited no-logs policy, a functional kill switch, and advanced security features. It’s an excellent all-around choice for security and streaming.
- Surfshark: Offers fantastic value with unlimited simultaneous connections, strong encryption, and reliable performance for unblocking streaming sites.
- ExpressVPN: Known for its blazing-fast speeds and top-tier security. It has a proven no-logs policy and is one of the most reliable VPNs on the market.
Final Verdict: Why You Should Avoid Thunder VPN
To summarize, Thunder VPN is a hazardous application masquerading as a security tool. Its invasive data logging, US jurisdiction, lack of critical features like a kill switch, and questionable ownership by Signal Lab make it a significant threat to your online privacy. Do not trust this VPN with your data. The risks far outweigh the benefits of it being “free.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Thunder VPN safe to use? No, Thunder VPN is not safe
It logs your IP address and other sensitive data, lacks essential security features like a kill switch, and uses weak encryption protocols. We strongly recommend avoiding it.
Does Thunder VPN keep logs?
Yes. Despite its claims, its privacy policy clearly states that it collects user data, including your IP address, ISP, and connection timestamps. This makes it a poor choice for privacy.
Can Thunder VPN unblock Netflix?
No. In our comprehensive tests, Thunder VPN was unable to bypass geo-restrictions and was consistently blocked by Netflix and other major streaming platforms like Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
What is the best free VPN?
While some reputable VPNs offer limited free versions (like Proton VPN or Windscribe), most completely free VPNs come with risks, such as selling user data, showing intrusive ads, or having weak security. For true safety, a low-cost premium VPN is always the recommended choice.
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