Touch VPN Review

Our Verdict

Overall Rating: 3.1/10

Touch VPN is a free VPN service that falls short across several key areas. Its lack of security, combined with a concerning logging policy and its US jurisdiction, raises significant risks. Additionally, Touch VPN does not support streaming services, blocks BitTorrent traffic, and enforces a 500MB daily data cap. Given these limitations, we strongly advise against installing Touch VPN on your device.

Ranked #40 out of 61 VPNs

Touch VPN Category Ratings :
  • Streaming: 0.0/10
  • Torrenting: 0.0/10
  • Privacy & Logging: 2.8/10
  • Speed: 6.6/10
  • Server Locations: 7.5/10
  • Bypassing Censorship: 1.0/10
  • Security & Features: 2.0/10
  • Ease of Use: 6.0/10
  • Customer Support: 2.0/10
Touch VPN Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly applications
  • No requirement for personal or payment details upon signup
  • Servers in 24 countries

Cons:

  • Utilizes the least secure VPN protocol (PPTP)
  • Highly intrusive logging policy and based in the US
  • DNS request leaks
  • Fails to unblock streaming services
  • Lacks essential security features, including a kill switch
  • Blocks torrenting traffic

Touch VPN, a lesser-known free VPN from US-based software company Aura (also the owner of Betternet and Hotspot Shield), was thoroughly tested across its various apps and extensions.

Unfortunately, it exhibited poor performance in key areas, particularly in privacy, security, and streaming capabilities.

Touch VPN Key Data
Data Cap 500MB
Download Speed 97Mbps
Logging Policy Intrusive Logging
Data Leaks No
Jurisdiction US (Five Eyes Member)
Servers Not disclosed
IP Addresses Not disclosed
Countries with Servers 24
US Netflix No
Torrenting No
Simultaneous Connections Unlimited
Works In China No
Support Email and Online Resources Only
Official Website TouchVPN.net

Privacy & Logging Policy

Excessive Data Logging & US-Based Jurisdiction

Privacy & Logging Policy Rating: 2.8/10

Touch VPN falls short in protecting user privacy, primarily due to its extensive data logging practices. The service collects detailed information, including data usage, approximate geographic location, and even temporarily stores users’ real IP addresses. Compounding these concerns is Touch VPN’s US-based ownership, placing it within one of the least favorable jurisdictions for privacy due to strict data retention laws and surveillance practices.

Ranked #45 out of 61 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy

Below is an overview of the data Touch VPN collects:
Data Type Logged by Touch VPN
Account Information No
Browsing Activity No
Date of Last Connection No
Device Information Yes
DNS Queries No
Individual Bandwidth Usage Yes
Individual Connection Timestamps Yes
ISP Yes
Number of Simultaneous Connections No
Originating IP Address Yes
VPN Server IP No
VPN Server Location No

You can review Touch VPN’s complete privacy policy on its official website.

Touch VPN gathers a significant amount of data, which poses a substantial risk to user privacy. It permanently logs details such as your originating location and Internet Service Provider (ISP). When combined, this information could potentially be used to identify you.

On a positive note, Touch VPN only retains your real IP address during your active VPN session. However, this does not prevent the service from utilizing your IP address for broader purposes:

touch-vpn-privacy-policy-extract

Concerns with Touch VPN’s Data Collection Practices

Although Touch VPN considers your approximate geographic location “non-identifiable,” we have concerns regarding how this data is collected and stored. The service justifies this by claiming that knowing your location enhances the user experience. However, this rationale is insufficient, as many higher-quality VPNs can optimize their services with significantly less intrusive logging practices.

To build user trust and improve transparency, we recommend that Touch VPN clearly articulate its logging policies and reduce the amount of data it collects. Additionally, we encourage the company to undergo an independent third-party audit of its logging practices to bolster confidence in its privacy claims.

US-Based Ownership

Touch VPN is owned by Aura, a digital security company based in the United States, which also develops Betternet. Being headquartered in the US raises significant privacy concerns, as the country is subject to invasive data privacy laws and is a founding member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance.

Given that Touch VPN openly logs user web activity, its US-based ownership further heightens concerns over potential surveillance and data sharing.

Speed Performance

Fast Local Speeds, but Poor International Performance

Speed Rating: 6.6/10

Touch VPN demonstrated minimal impact on local connection speeds, with an average speed reduction of just 3%. However, performance drastically declined when connecting to distant servers, where we experienced an average speed loss of 89% on international connections.

Ranked #44 out of 61 VPNs for Speed

Our speed tests were conducted across servers in four different continents, using a consistent 100Mbps internet connection for accuracy. Below is a detailed table of Touch VPN’s speed test results:

No VPN (New York) US (New York) UK (London) Japan (Tokyo) Australia (Sydney)
Server Location rFb3dB09 usa flag - Touch VPN rFb3dB09 usa flag - Touch VPN dHeUYe6K uk flag - Touch VPN M33DfTj2 japan flag - Touch VPN GBxJPLv7 australia flag - Touch VPN
Download Speed 100Mbps 97Mbps 29Mbps 2Mbps 0Mbps
Upload Speed 100Mbps 96Mbps 74Mbps 40Mbps 33Mbps
Ping 1ms 5ms 120ms 350ms 401ms
Distance 0mi 5mi 3,500mi 6,700mi 9,900mi

For a free VPN, Touch VPN’s average download speed loss of just 3% is impressive. However, this advantage is limited by the 500MB data cap, restricting users from benefiting from these speeds for anything beyond basic browsing.

When connecting to international servers, Touch VPN’s performance drops significantly. For instance, we observed a 98% decrease in download speeds when connecting to a server in Japan, which severely limits its usability beyond simple web browsing. Similarly, our connection to a distant UK server resulted in an average speed reduction of 71%—one of the slowest US-UK connection speeds we’ve recorded, making it unsuitable for most online activities.

If you’re looking for a free VPN that delivers consistently fast speeds across all server locations, we recommend PrivadoVPN Free. In our tests, it provided fast international speeds, averaging 92Mbps on downloads. Additionally, it offers stronger security features, including a strict no-logs policy, AES-256 encryption, and OpenVPN support on all platforms, making it a safer alternative to Touch VPN.

Server Locations

Decent Server Network for a Free VPN

Server Locations Rating: 7.5/10

Touch VPN offers a reasonably good server network for a free VPN, though its coverage varies depending on the platform you’re using. The network is primarily focused on Europe, North America, and select parts of Asia.

Ranked #25 out of 61 VPNs for Server Locations

  • 24 Countries
  • 29 Cities
  • Undisclosed number of IP addresses

Below is a breakdown of the number of servers Touch VPN has across different continents:

Continent Number of Countries
Europe 16
Asia 4
North America 3
South America 0
Oceania 1
Africa 0

Touch VPN offers servers in 24 countries and 29 cities, which is impressive for a free VPN service.

City-level server options are available for both the US and UK:

  • United States: Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, San Jose, New York
  • United Kingdom: London, Manchester

The server network is relatively diverse, with additional options across Asia, including Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, providing broader global access.

touch-vpn-server-locations-iostouch-vpn-server-locations-iostouch-vpn-server-locations-iostouch-vpn-server-locations-ios

The iOS and Android versions of Touch VPN feature the same server network as their desktop counterparts, with the exception of the Bulgaria and Hong Kong servers, which are restricted behind a paywall.

Unfortunately, no servers are available in Africa or South America on any platform, which is a notable limitation. However, with coverage across four continents, the server reach remains commendable for a free VPN.

For those seeking a free VPN with a more extensive server network, we recommend TunnelBear Free, which offers servers in 47 countries, identical to its paid version.

Streaming

Incompatible with All Streaming Services

Streaming Rating: 0.0/10

Touch VPN is ineffective at unblocking any streaming service we tested. It failed to access Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other popular platforms. Even if Touch VPN could bypass these restrictions, its 500MB data cap would limit HD streaming to approximately 10 minutes, making it impractical for regular streaming use.

Ranked #61 out of 61 VPNs for Streaming

As with most free VPNs, Touch VPN is unable to access the following streaming services:

Streaming Platform Works with Touch VPN
Amazon Prime Video No
BBC iPlayer No
Channel 4 No
Disney+ No
Hotstar India No
Hulu No
ITVX No
Max No
Netflix US No

Our tests revealed that Touch VPN consistently fails to unblock US Netflix and other popular streaming services across both its VPN apps and browser extensions.

In each instance, the streaming services either displayed an error message or outright prevented us from logging in, making Touch VPN unsuitable for accessing geo-restricted content.

touch-vpn-max-error-message-scaled

Additionally, Touch VPN’s 500MB data limit severely restricts streaming duration. Based on Netflix’s data usage guidelines, you would only be able to stream approximately two hours of content at the lowest video quality setting with Touch VPN, compared to 33 hours with Windscribe Free.

For those looking to access international Netflix libraries on a budget, consider using one of these free VPNs that offer more generous data allowances and better performance in bypassing geo-restrictions.

Torrenting

Logs Activity & Incompatible with Torrent Clients

Torrenting Rating: 0.0/10

Touch VPN is unsuitable for P2P file-sharing. It logs your torrenting activity, lacks essential security features, and fails to function effectively with torrent clients.

Ranked #52 out of 61 VPNs for Torrenting

Below are the results from our torrenting tests with Touch VPN:

Torrenting Attribute Result
Average Download Bitrate 4.4MiB/s
No. of P2P Servers Not Disclosed
Logging Policy Intrusive Logging
Kill Switch No
Port Forwarding No

Previously, Touch VPN did not support P2P file-sharing on any of its servers. For clarification, we reached out to Touch VPN’s support team and received the following response:

touch-vpn-customer-support-torrenting

Despite Touch VPN’s claims, torrenting is still prohibited. Our tests revealed that the torrenting client paused every time Touch VPN was active.

touch-vpn-torrenting-scaled

Even if Touch VPN allowed torrenting, it would still not be recommended due to its extensive data logging practices and its base in the privacy-unfriendly US. Consequently, any downloaded content, whether intentional or accidental, could potentially be shared with your ISP or law enforcement.

Additionally, Touch VPN’s security is insufficient for safe torrenting, as it lacks a kill switch and relies on the outdated PPTP protocol for encryption.

To ensure your downloads remain secure and private, we recommend considering our top-rated VPNs for torrenting.

Bypassing Web Censorship

Inadequate for Circumventing Censorship

Bypassing Censorship Rating: 1.0/10

Touch VPN is ineffective at bypassing web censorship. It lacks the essential security features and obfuscation tools needed to circumvent censorship, making it a poor choice for use in highly restricted regions.

Ranked #51 out of 61 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship

For users needing to connect from China or other heavily censored countries, Touch VPN falls short. Our tests using the Shanghai server revealed that we could not access blocked sites such as Instagram or YouTube. Additionally, the VPN app sometimes failed to launch in China, posing a real risk to user safety.

The absence of obfuscation tools, which are crucial for masking VPN usage and avoiding detection by ISPs or governments, further limits Touch VPN’s effectiveness in circumventing censorship.

Even if Touch VPN could bypass web censorship, its extensive data logging and inadequate security features make it too risky for use in restricted regions.

Security and Technical Features

Lack of Modern Protocols and Kill Switch

Security and Technical Features Rating: 2.0/10

Touch VPN is considered insecure and is recommended to be avoided. The service relies on the outdated PPTP protocol for its desktop and iOS applications, posing significant security risks. Additionally, there is no kill switch feature available, except for the Android app, which could result in potential exposure of personal data.

Ranked #53 out of 61 VPNs for Security and Technical Features

Protocols

Protocols Available in Touch VPN
IKEv2/IPSec No
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) Yes
PPTP Yes
Proprietary Yes
WireGuard Yes

Encryption

Encryption Available in Touch VPN
AES-128 No
AES-192 No
AES-256 No
Blowfish No
ChaCha20 No
Undisclosed Yes

Security

Security Available in Touch VPN
Diskless Servers No
DNS Leak Blocking No
First-party DNS No
IPv6 Leak Blocking No
Supports TCP Port 443 No
VPN Kill Switch No
WebRTC Leak Blocking Yes

Advanced Features

Advanced Features Available in Touch VPN
Ad Blocker Yes
Dedicated IP No
Double VPN No
SOCKS No
Split Tunneling Yes
Static IP No
Tor over VPN Server No
Tracker Blocker No
Touch VPN Utilizes an Insecure Protocol

Touch VPN’s website and apps provide minimal information regarding their encryption and VPN protocols. Upon reaching out to their support team, we received the following response:

“All devices compatible with Touch VPN use PPTP encryption, which is set automatically.”

PPTP is an outdated and insecure protocol that should be avoided due to its vulnerability. Research indicates that a skilled attacker can compromise a PPTP-encrypted connection within minutes, raising significant security concerns.

Given that Touch VPN apps, except for the Android version, do not disclose the protocol in use, it is reasonable to infer that they all employ PPTP.

To confirm this, we analyzed our traffic using a packet analyzer while connected to Touch VPN’s Windows app and obtained the following results:

touch-vpn-wireshark-scaled

As demonstrated, Touch VPN’s reliance on PPTP resulted in inadequate encryption of our traffic.

On Android devices, users have the option to select Touch VPN’s proprietary Hydra protocol or industry-standard protocols such as OpenVPN and WireGuard. These alternatives offer significantly better security and are more reliable for safeguarding your connection.

DNS Leak Issues on Windows

We evaluated all Touch VPN applications for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks using our custom leak test tool.

touch-vpn-microsoft-app-dns

Our testing revealed that DNS requests were leaking on Windows devices, which indicates that your browsing activity may be exposed to anyone monitoring your connection.

Absence of Kill Switch on Desktop and iOS

None of Touch VPN’s free applications, except for the Android version, include a kill switch feature. As a result, your personal data remains vulnerable in the event of an unexpected VPN disconnection.

touch-vpn-kill-switch-test-scaled

We assessed Touch VPN with our kill switch testing tool to determine if the iOS app featured a hidden kill switch enabled by default. As anticipated, Touch VPN consistently leaked our real IP address, confirming that no kill switch is present.

Ad Blocker Performance

Notably, Touch VPN has implemented a split tunneling feature in both of its mobile applications. Additionally, the iOS app includes an integrated ad blocker. However, the performance of this ad blocker is suboptimal.

touch-vpn-ad-block-results-ios

The Fireshield ad blocker underperformed in our tests, successfully blocking only 22% of the most common advertisements and trackers.

In contrast, traditional ad blockers such as uBlock Origin achieved a 91% blocking rate, highlighting the significant shortcomings of Fireshield’s ad blocker.

Expert Advice: For a VPN that effectively blocks ads, consider opting for a top-rated service with a robust built-in ad blocker. We recommend Private Internet Access, which features the MACE ad blocker and achieved an 80% blocking rate in our evaluations.

Device and OS Compatibility

VPN Apps for Essential Platforms Only

Device Compatibility

Touch VPN offers applications for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It also provides extensions for Chrome and Firefox, although we do not recommend using them due to consistent issues with incorrect IP address assignments. Additionally, Touch VPN cannot be installed on routers or streaming devices.

Available Apps

Touch VPN can be downloaded and installed on the following devices:

  • Windows
  • Mac
  • iOS
  • Android

The available VPN protocols, security features, and additional functionalities vary significantly depending on the platform in use. We have detailed some of the key differences below:

HydraVPN WireGuard OpenVPN PPTP Ad Blocker Split Tunneling Kill Switch
Windows
Microsoft Store
macOS
Android
iOS
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Touch VPN does not require account details for sign-up, allowing you to install the VPN on an unlimited number of devices.

Browser Extensions

Touch VPN offers extensions for the following browsers:

  • Chrome
  • Firefox

However, we encountered significant issues with these extensions. The Firefox extension failed to load webpages, and the Chrome extension frequently assigned incorrect IP addresses. We recommend avoiding the installation of these extensions on your device.

Ease of Use

Easy to Use Once Installed

Ease of Use Rating: 6.0/10

Touch VPN is relatively easy to use once installed but presents challenges during the setup process on PC and Mac. The installation involves multiple steps and installers, which can be cumbersome. After installation, however, Touch VPN simplifies connection with a single click.

Ranked #44 out of 61 VPNs for Ease of Use

The setup process for Touch VPN on Windows is particularly complex. Downloading the app directly from its website results in an outdated Microsoft installer that may require several attempts to function properly. In contrast, the version available from the Microsoft Store offers a significantly improved experience.

We recommend that Touch VPN streamline its Windows installation by providing a single, cohesive app that integrates seamlessly with your PC.

On macOS and mobile platforms, the setup process is straightforward and free from complications.

Hands-On Experience:

Desktop & Laptop (Windows & Mac)

Touch VPN’s desktop apps are designed to be user-friendly and straightforward.

touch-vpn-windows-vs-macos

Touch VPN’s apps feature a clean white, green, and orange color palette, which is compatible with a wide range of screen resolutions.

However, we found it inconvenient that the desktop apps cannot be resized, which was particularly challenging when testing the VPN alongside streaming services.

To initiate a VPN connection, simply click the connect button, and the VPN will update automatically.

Once connected, the simplicity of the interface diminishes with the addition of unnecessary graphics such as connection time and bandwidth usage, which we found distracting and inefficient in terms of screen real estate.

On a positive note, the app provides a clear display of your remaining data in the bottom-left corner, helping to prevent inadvertent data overuse.

Mobile (iPhone & Android)

The mobile version of Touch VPN offers a more streamlined setup process and features a more polished and professional design compared to its desktop counterparts.

touch-vpn-android-vs-ios

The iOS app, in particular, features a sleek, minimalist design with only a few buttons for essential functions such as connecting and switching servers.

Connecting to Touch VPN on mobile is straightforward—simply tap the connect button once. However, the experience is somewhat diminished by the requirement to view a video ad each time you connect.

Similarly, the Android app continuously displays a static banner ad while connected, which can be inadvertently clicked, causing frustration.

Browser Extensions

Touch VPN’s browser extensions differ significantly in both design and functionality from its desktop and mobile applications.

touch-vpn-chrome-extension

The browser extensions are still user-friendly; connecting is as simple as clicking the connect button. However, we initially found the inconsistency in design confusing.

We frequently encountered issues with the Chrome extension, which often assigned us incorrect IP addresses. For instance, selecting a Canadian server would result in being assigned a UK IP address.

This issue became particularly frustrating when using the extension for basic tasks, such as web browsing.

Customer Support

Unhelpful & Limited Support

Customer Support Rating: 2.0/10

Touch VPN’s customer support is notably inadequate. Email support requires a paid subscription, and the responses provided are often inaccurate and demonstrate a lack of technical expertise. Additionally, the Touch VPN website offers no useful online resources, and the in-app ticketing system is malfunctioning.

Ranked #55 out of 61 VPNs for Customer Support

Customer Support Available in Touch VPN
24/7 Email Support No
24/7 Live Chat Support No
Chatbot No
Email Yes
Email Support via Online Form No
Live Chat Support No
Online Resources Yes
Tutorial Videos No

Touch VPN’s online resources are virtually non-existent. The website provides minimal information, and selecting the “Contact Us” option redirects you immediately to the customer support email.

touch-vpn-proof-of-subscription

Customer support is restricted to users who have purchased Touch VPN’s premium package and can provide proof of subscription. It is unusual for a VPN service to limit support access to paying customers.

touch-vpn-support-windows

For contacting support, the Windows client is the most effective option, offering an in-app ticket system and a selection of FAQs.

The macOS support section closely resembles the Windows version but requires a premium subscription to access the ticket system.

On iOS, the Help tab in the settings redirects users to the support email, with access contingent upon having a premium account.

The Android app includes a “Send Feedback” section, but inquiries submitted through this feature did not receive a response.

I'm Mihir Thumar, a dedicated movie enthusiast who never misses the release of new movies or TV series. My discovery of VPN and IPTV services unlocked a world of entertainment, providing a vast selection of TV channels, movies, and web series—all in one place.

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