Overview: Can You Really Benefit From This App?

In this article, we’re going to investigate the truth about Android Thunder VPN: the application with a lot of various ads on different sources. Of course, all of them promise you an unforgettable customer experience, but you need more information to decide whether you can trust this service.

So, what do we know about Thunder VPN? This application is owned by the Signal Lab, which is also behind another popular app, Secure VPN. It doesn’t have a corporate website, and it is not so easy to find some information about the corporate structure, the company’s mission and values, its reputation.

The Thunder VPN website lists only physical contact details, and the only reference to such details can be found in Google Play magazine. Address Registration - in Arkansas, USA, California Index. Checking the company, renamed by this address, with Google Street View indicates that many organizations are registered there, but not Thunder VPN. And though you can find their corporate address, it is easy to understand that it is used for payment processes only.

And if you delve deeper, you can also find some information that Signal Lab stands for independent developers from Hong Kong. However, there are no companies with such a name currently registered there.

It is important to understand that this lack of transparency looks suspicious. If you don’t know the geographical location of Thunder VPN, you don’t know what country or region laws they are obliged to follow. Besides, you need to trust the company when you hire it to protect your data and secure your privacy. It is not so easy when you know nothing about it. There are some other important aspects to consider before you choose Thunder VPN or any other application for your Android device.

What Is a VPN and Why Do You Need It?

Previously, the state had a rather mediocre understanding of the Internet and its principles, so it did not legally interfere with users. These days, walking on the world wide web, you can come across the phrase: "This site is included in the register of prohibited ones" or "Your provider has blocked access." So, if you want to return complete freedom of action on the Internet and acquire another level of protection against third-party interference, then you certainly need to familiarize yourself with the technology of virtual private networks — VPN software, and Thunder VPN is one of the applications you may consider on this way.

VPN or Virtual Private Network is a secure, encrypted connection between two networks or between an individual user and a network. These apps allow you to browse the Internet while maintaining your privacy.

To better understand what it is, imagine that the Internet is a virtual road, and you are racing it on a bright motorcycle. You visit your favorite websites, shops, check your profiles, get news from your chosen sources, play games, and so on.

Anyone can follow your movements along these digital highways and lanes. To see your actions on the Internet, to find out who you are and where you like to go, just one glance. Even worse, you can be traced back to your home. You leave traces.

VPN technology works like an invisibility cloak - it disguises you and keeps you anonymous. Instead of a light motorcycle that is easy to identify, you get a rental car with tinted windows. You are hidden in encrypted data and safely hidden behind a different IP address.

There are maybe many factors why do people consider Thunder VPN and other similar solutions a good option to choose. However, even if you have some “pro”, it is always very useful to look at the second side, to understand what disadvantages the service has, and whether you’re ready to deal with them.

Pricing and Features

The first thing that attracts users is the price. Some people see the word “free”, and it is enough to make a decision. It is exactly about Thunder VPN since they have a promising motto, “free forever”. However, the word “free” doesn’t mean “the best”. It doesn’t mean “good”. And you should understand the fact that if the company doesn’t take money from you, it gets it from other sources. For example, from advertisers. Or from third parties that buy your personal and contact information.

Therefore, even if Thunder VPN is software with a free subscription, it definitely can’t compete with companies that provide users with Premium services. They use this money to make the app better, to improve its quality. Moreover, you are interested in this improvement because you pay money to get a decent quality. And when you receive the service for free, there are no arguments to be unsatisfied with something.

However, if you still like this application and want to use it without ads, with a faster connection, and a worldwide location, you can upgrade to VIP. There is no information about it on the website, but you can find it in the application. The weekly plan will cost you about $6, the monthly one about $10, and an annual plan costs $60. It is obvious that the last one is the most profitable, but we can assure you that there are much better solutions for the same price or even cheaper. Besides, it doesn’t look like they have a free trial to test the VIP advantages or some discounts to make the price more loyal.

Thunder VPN Specs

• Speed — Very slow even for free services;
• VPN protocols — No official information;
• Support — None;
• Streaming — Netflix and other popular services are not working;
• Visit Logs — Both logs and personal information are collected;
• Encryption — No official information;
• Server locations — 10, but some of them just don't work;
• Monetization — Through advertising or paid subscription.

VPN Protocols

Looking for the VPN software, it is important to understand what protocols it uses to ensure your security. In this context, Thunder VPN is not the best choice since it doesn’t support industry-standard security protocol, firewall, ad blocker, kill switch, etc. Let us explain in detail what they are and how you can benefit from them.

Kill switch

It is a common feature that is available in most premium VPNs, but not Thunder VPN. Kill switch is necessary for situations when the VPN server fails since it can sever your connection from the Internet. Using Thunder VPN, you can benefit from split-tunneling (to choose safe apps to run outside your VPN application), and it would be much better if they provide the kill switch feature as well.

SSL encryption protocol

The only protocol Thunder VPN offers is SSL encryption. We can’t say it is bad, but it is outdated. Even IPSec is considered to be better and more efficient.

Ad-blocker and firewall

To be honest, we weren’t surprised by the fact that Thunder VPN doesn’t offer a firewall or ad-blocker. If you install their free application, you’ll easily find out that this app makes its living off of ads. And, of course, they won’t provide users with a solution that is created to prevent pop-ups and malware from getting access to your device.

DNS\IP leak

We were ready for the worst, starting the DNS\IP leak test, but it surprised us. This test has not detected any leaks in Thunder VPN! The DNS and server address bost showed the same server we were connected to. That means our real location is hidden with Thunder VPN, and anyone won’t be able to track activity.

Servers and Server Locations

When you install your Thunder VPN application on the smartphone, you get access to the list of free servers in: Great Britain; Germany; Netherlands; The USA; Russia. If you need to reach faster servers, such as Finland, Hongkong, Luxembourg, France, Singapour (we have counted 17 various servers), you have an opportunity to upgrade to the VIP plan.

Your Privacy With Thunder VPN

When you’re looking for a VPN application, you should know that this software collects some form of data from you and other users. All providers do that, without exception. The difference is what exactly do they collect and how do they use this information.

For example, there are VPN providers with true no-logs policies. They never collect personally identifiable information from their customers, including IP, ISP, location, address, or any other data. If you read the Privacy Policy by Thunder VPN, you can easily understand that it doesn’t exactly claim its no-logs principles.

And it is crucial when you choose the VPN. You should ensure that the Privacy Policy of the company you like is solid and includes a true no-logs statement. It means with Thunder VPN, and other unreliable software tools, third-parties, Internet Service Providers, and even the software provider itself can get access to your data and use it. It is not necessary that Thunder VPN will share your traffic history, passwords, or any other information. But is it possible to trust the company that has such an opportunity? At least, they can sell your personal information to the highest bidder.

Hands On With Thunder VPN

The interface of Thunder VPN is pretty clean, and it is impossible to ignore the fact that their baby Thor looks nice. But though web design can be the icing on the cake, it is not enough to form the overall impression of the product. If you’re ok with the fact that Thunder VPN is very shy about important security features, you may appreciate that this app is easy to navigate.

When you want to connect to a server and hide your IP address, you can click the Auto Select button. The service will connect you to the best server available automatically. You also have the opportunity to choose the other one. Just click on the flag that is located in the upper right-hand corner. You’ll see the list of options to choose from.

Thunder VPN and Netflix\other streaming services

There are a lot of users who are looking for VPN software because they want to get access to such websites like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon, BBC, etc. The point is that most streaming services have geographical restrictions. For example, if you’re traveling abroad, you can’t watch your favorite Netflix TV show that is available for the USA only. You can’t unless your Internet Service Provider thinks you’re in the USA right now.

Unfortunately, these websites are well aware of VPN applications, and they fight against them. Some apps take care of their customers and do their best to bypass this blocking. But it is not about Thunder VPN. With this software, you can’t do something with geoblocks for streaming services. There are some exceptions like YouTube, but these websites are available with any VPN you can download online. And even when you reach the service, the speeds are just disgusting.

So, if you’re expecting streaming and affordability of your Thunder VPN app, it would be a better choice to check our other reviews that will help you to find out a solution that can bypass pesky blocks.

Is Thunder VPN good for torrenting?

A lot of people install a VPN when they need to get access to some information that is blocked. For example, when you can’t download a movie because of copyright. There are specific websites called torrents, and it is not a secret that they are forbidden in many countries.

Of course, the opportunity to use free software like Thunder VPN looks very attractive. However, don’t forget that you shouldn’t compromise yourself. Nobody must know who you are and where you are right now. Since Thunder VPN has an encryption protocol that may be secure enough for browsers but not for applications, it is not the best choice for torrenting. Moreover, there is no kill switch. And if you accidentally download the game or any other file you shouldn’t, it could be really bad for you.

Beyond VPN

To be honest, it doesn’t look like Thunder VPN builds its brand. They don’t have a community of customers, they just provide an app, and that’s it. You can’t appreciate any other features like ad-blocker, firewall, etc. There is absolutely nothing beyond this software except their nice design with a baby Thor who is a God of Thunder. Maybe they’ve started with some thoughts about branding, and they failed. Or they have big plans for the future, but we know nothing about them.

Speed Tests

Speaking about Thunder VPN speeds, we can say they are consistent. But not in a good way. Each server we tested to write this review had poor download speeds. However, the further you get from your true location, the better are upload speeds, and it can be really surprising.

What does it mean for you? If you want to watch YouTube videos or play a game online with your Thunder VPN, you can just forget about it. This application is too slow to stream, and you’ll face disconnects, lag, and freezing that can be crucial for your mood.

When testing Thunder VPN, we have started with excellent base speeds, and the drop for download was just ridiculous. It was over 95% for each server we accessed. And even when some upload speeds were better for several servers, they didn’t come close to our original speeds. High-quality streaming is out of the question, even if you manage to bypass geo-restrictions.

Thunder VPN on Other Platforms

There is only one opportunity to work with Thunder VPN: if you’re an Android user. They have an application for a smartphone, but there are no opportunities for the web. iOS users also can’t install this software, and it doesn’t look like they are going to change something and provide more opportunities. It is better to install an application that is compatible with different platforms. You can find the identical application on the Apple Store, but you should know that it is an unrelated product.

Customer Support

Even if you don’t pay for a Thunder VPN subscription, you can expect decent customer support since you use the service. Unfortunately, this company doesn’t take care of its users and doesn’t provide them with full-fledged support. When you install the application, you can find the FAQ section, but don’t be too happy because of it. It contains very basic questions like “Why do I need a VPN?” or “How can I close Thunder VPN?”, and the answers are very short as well.

So, if you have some issues with your application or connection, you won’t find the answer in the FAQ. The only option is to reconnect. However, it would be a better idea just to install another application.

Thunder VPN doesn’t provide its users with a live chat feature or even a contact number. You can send your request in the application, but they can answer for days and with basic messages without a concrete solution, which is very disappointing.

Online Reputation

It is very difficult to find something informative about Thunder VPN on the Internet. So difficult that you can ever ask yourself the question: Whether do they have customers at all? You know, when people install the application and use it, they have some kind of feedback, whether it is positive or negative. We have found one review where it goes about the slowness and obsolescence of this solution.

However, there are more reviews in Google Play where you can install this application. Some good comments are claiming this product is free and easy to use. However, you can easily find a lot of negative testimonials from customers that are not happy with Thunder VPN services.

There are three types of complaints from users: 1. It does not hide the real location and IP address. The app shows that it is connected, but sites do not react to this; 2. Loud advertising with sound even though the phone is silent; 3. Very low speed and persistent connection drops.

Pros and Cons

There are no applications that don’t have positive aspects at all. However, sometimes it is a real challenge to find them. And Thunder VPN is not the app you will fall in love with. It has so many disadvantages that the choice is obvious. Since we are trying to find something positive around us, it may be just impossible.

Thunder VPN doesn’t have advantages when comparing this software with other apps. It just has a couple of good features:

• Nice app design;
• Free plan;
• Android application.

• Low speeds;
• A lot of ads in the free version;
• No apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and other operating systems;
• Poor privacy policy;
• Limited number of servers and locations;
• Lack of customer support;
• Bad online reputation.

A Fine Line

Speaking about Thunder VPN, we definitely can’t call this application the best choice. It is even not a good choice. It may be a mediocre solution in the situation when you need a VPN right now, and there are no other opportunities but that. In this case, you can install the Thunder VPN app, but take care of your privacy. In any other case, there are so many other options to choose from, and it makes no sense to stick to this one.

Check our reviews to find out what we think about other VPN solutions and which ones we can recommend instead of the Thunder VPN with its negative reputation and the limited set of opportunities.

FAQ: All the Truth About Thunder VPN

Does Thunder VPN work in China?

You may think that if Thunder VPN has servers in Hong Kong, you can use them in China. However, we were unable to connect to any of them. Most likely, it can be explained by the fact this software is free and is not protected enough.

This application comes with no obfuscation tools, and there is little chance that it is going to work anywhere with censorship policy. So, if you’re traveling to China, Russia, Turkey, UAE, or any other country with strict rules, we don’t recommend you use Thunder VPN since it is not able to beat aggressive web filters and provide you with the content you need.

How many simultaneous device connections are available at time?

When you use the Thunder VPN with a free plan, you don’t have to register your account, and it means you can connect from any Android device. And if you prefer the paid plan, it is only one device for the time possible.

Can I use Thunder VPN on my personal computer?

There is only one option to install Thunder VPN: on your Android smartphone or tablet. If you want to run this application on Windows, Mac, or any other operating system, the only way is to use the Android emulator.

Why are there so many ads in the Thunder VPN application?

You should understand that there is nothing free in this world. Software developers are not volunteers, and they need to earn money. And when they don’t earn it from you, they go somewhere else. It means that they use advertising to make a living. Thunder VPN can also choose this way to persuade you to upgrade since the paid plan is ad-free. It is related not to this app only but to all VPN and other software providers. If you choose something for free, you should be ready to pay with your time and attention.

Are there some alternatives to Thunder VPN?

Don’t think that Thunder VPN is the only application you can install. There are very many alternative options with their advantages and disadvantages. You can experiment with them or check our reviews with an honest and independent opinion. It may take some time, but you need to ensure the app you use is secure, and you can get the most out of it.

Is it possible to turn on the sound of advertising in Thunder VPN?

According to customer reviews and our tests, there is nothing you can do about it. Even if your smartphone is in silent mode, the Thunder VPN program has permission to run in the background mode and control the sound.

Is it easy to install the Thunder VPN application?

At least, there is something good at the Thunder VPN. It won’t take you a lot of time to install and set up the application. Just open the Play Market, find this app, and click the Install button. You don’t have to register to use the free version. And if you decide to go VIP, they ask you to conduct the payment with your Google Play account.