I recently tried out UTunnel, a VPN service, and I’m excited to share my thoughts with you. As someone who values online privacy and security, I find it crucial to find a reliable VPN.
UTunnel caught my eye because it promises easy setup and strong protection. I’m not super tech-savvy, so I appreciated how user-friendly it was right from the start.
What stood out to me was the customizable features. I could set up my server or use one of theirs, which gave me flexibility.
Plus, the connection was fast and stable, perfect for streaming and browsing without any annoying lag.
In this review, I’ll dive into the pros and cons of UTunnel, how it performed for me, and whether it’s worth considering for your online security needs. Let’s see if UTunnel lives up to its promises!
What Is UTunnel VPN?
UTunnel VPN is a cloud-based VPN as a Service (VPNaaS) and Zero Trust networking solution designed to cater to small and medium-sized businesses that want to keep their network safe and provide secure remote access to their hybrid workforce.
Even though UTunnel is designed as a business VPN solution, personal users can also use it to set up their own private VPN servers for improved privacy compared to public VPN servers.
As a VPNaaS, UTunnel supports automated cloud VPN deployment through its integrations with popular cloud providers like Digital Ocean, Vultr, Linode, Kamatera, Hetzner, and UpCloud. Using this option, the server deployment process is super simple.
All you need to do is select your preferred cloud provider and data center location from 30+ locations globally, and then select an instance type with just a few clicks.
UTunnel also supports deploying your VPN server on an on-premise server or any cloud VPS with its on-premise/Bring Your Own Server (BYOS) option. This option is also fast and simple, requiring you to run less than five commands to deploy your VPN server.
This is geared toward the more technologically inclined customers who need much deeper controls over their VPN server.
Once you have your UTunnel servers deployed and have configured access to applications from these servers, you can further streamline your network access control using UTunnel’s OneClick access.
This solution uses Zero Trust principles, letting you provide segmented access to network applications for users without requiring them to connect to the entire network via the VPN.
What sets UTunnel apart from its competitors is its affordable pricing. It offers a wide range of networking and security features, along with a 14-day risk-free testing period without any commitment.
UTunnel comes in two plans – a basic plan which lets you deploy and manage your VPN with limited features and a standard plan with advanced business-centric features.
Using UTunnel’s interactive web console, anyone can effortlessly deploy and manage a VPN server, configure the server settings, and manage the VPN users.
UTunnel- Features and Functionalities:
UTunnel’s VPN solution provides flexible networking features that allow you to build and manage dedicated VPN servers to be used with your business network. Its core features include:
1. Easy Configuration –
UTunnel VPN’s quick and hassle-free VPN server setup process enables even novice users to deploy a VPN with a few clicks. Users can make use of the help articles to guide them through the configuration process.
In case you need any assistance, expert technical support is available whenever you need it.
2. Seamless Cloud Integration –
UTunnel provides its users with an impeccable cloud VPN deployment experience by partnering with prominent cloud providers like Linode, DigitalOcean, Vultr, Hetzner, UpCloud, and Kamatera.
Just by selecting your preferred cloud provider and a location from 30+ global locations, the user can easily set up their own cloud VPN in a few minutes.
3. BYOS Option for Technology-savvy Users –
For those technophile business owners who are particular about the devices they use, UTunnel allows the option of ‘Bring Your Own Server’ to set up an on-premise server.
The server can be any device installed with Ubuntu 20.04 and has a static IP address. The user can also bring in cloud servers provided by cloud providers like Azure, AWS, GCP, Oracle, etc. to set up their cloud VPN server.
4. Zero Trust Application Access via OneClick Apps –
You can Deploy your UTunnel server on your VPC or on-premise network and enable secure, clientless, and single-click access to those applications using UTunnel’s OneClick Access solution.
Zero Trust Access segments the users’ access within your network infrastructure helping to reduce attack surfaces and prevent lateral movement of threats.
5. Easy-to-use Organization Account –
Another important feature of UTunnel is the organization’s account. An organization account makes managing VPN users, teams, VPN servers, etc., easy.
After creating an organization account, UTunnel lets the user enjoy essential business features like Single Sign On, site-to-site tunneling, automatic user provisioning, etc.
6. Advanced Site-to-Site Connectivity –
The site-to-site tunnelling feature allows your business’s main office to stay connected with remote offices, internal resource networks, and virtual private cloud resources as if they are part of a single network and communicate with each other simultaneously.
7. Split Tunneling –
The split tunnelling feature comes in handy when the VPN is used for secure remote access.
This feature allows the user to route certain data traffic to the destined IP address or network. In contrast, the rest is routed straight through the internet, hence avoiding unnecessary data traffic through the VPN.
8. Custom DNS –
UTunnel comes with its own DNS server, but users are given the option to modify the DNS configuration with just a few clicks and add custom DNS servers instead. This is, again, a useful feature in the business context.
That accounts for the main features of UTunnel’s VPNaaS solution. We found these features competent enough to meet the dynamic VPN requirements of small and medium business owners.
UTunnel- Reliable Security & Privacy:
To ensure end-to-end data security for its users, UTunnel supports 256-bit encryption utilizing OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec tunneling protocols. UTunnel also provides its users with more security and privacy features, such as:
1. Multi-factor Authentication – This offers an extra layer of security, letting users authenticate themselves with an email OTP or TOTP from an authentication app before logging in to their UTunnel account and VPN client apps.
2. Single-Sign-On – UTunnel’s integrations with SSO providers like Okta, OneLogin, Azure ID, Google Workspace, etc., let you manage all your employees in one place and let them log in easily across different SaaS apps.
3. Role-based Access Control – Efficiently manage users & user groups and restrict their level of access based on their roles.
4. Access Policies – UTunnel allows admins to set up VPN access policies that would enable them to control access to the VPN based on the client devices’ OS, and even lets you manage a list of trusted devices, from which VPN connections are allowed.
5. Device Filtering – A very useful security feature that allows the server admin to decide which individual devices can connect to the VPN server. Any new devices would need approval from the admin.
6. User logs & stats – Though the logs are disabled as the default option, businesses could enable it to monitor their network activity. The user’s login and connection activity will be available to be monitored.
These flexible security & privacy features of UTunnel VPN are designed to offer organizations the much-required cybersecurity to safeguard their data resources.
UTunnel – Speed & Performance:
We tested UTunnel’s VPN speed with a few locations and found the speeds were within reasonable limits.
Consumer VPN providers run their own VPN servers, and in that case, testing the speed is relevant to checking their performance. But UTunnel is not a VPN provider; rather, it is a VPN solution that lets you deploy your own VPN servers.
In this case, you create and manage your VPN server, dictating its performance.
Based on our tests, we can assure you that UTunnel will give you optimal network performance when choosing the VPN server you choose. The network speeds would vary on the following factors:
- The distance between the user’s physical location and the VPN server
- VPN protocols
- Encryption strength
- VPN Server bandwidth
- Server Specs: CPU/RAM
- User’s internet speed
The performance won’t be much affected if the user and VPN server are at the same location. As the distance between the server and the user increases, the speed also starts going downward.
Even though UTunnel supports both OpenVPN (TCP, UDP) and IKEv2/IPSec, IKEv2 gives the best speed along with security.
UTunnel- UI & Ease Of Use:
UTunnel boasts a sleek and compact dashboard that presents information in a clutter-free style. Details like bandwidth graphs, CPU and memory usage, logs, and sessions are aesthetically showcased on the dashboard screen for the user’s perusal.
The user interface is easy to use and lets you manage your VPN server configuration, VPN users and user groups, site-to-site tunnels etc.
UTunnel’s web console is designed to allow people with little to no technical knowledge to easily navigate the settings and use its functionalities without a hitch.
UTunnel- Pricing Plans:
UTunnel VPN is offering subscriptions at two price plans: Basic for $6.00/month & Standard for $8/month.
1. The Basic plan is for users who want to set up a VPN server but do not want to go deeper into the server configuration or management.
It offers basic features like a static IP address, multiple protocol support, custom VPN protocol and port, VPN obfuscation, and manual VPN connections.
2. The Standard plan is for business users who want additional controls and business-centric features.
This plan sports extra features like site-to-site VPN tunnelling, split routing/tunnelling, device filtering, access policies, external/custom DNS servers, etc.
You can choose either of the plans above and then go for an integrated cloud server or an on-premise server, depending on your preferences. In the case of the cloud option, the cost of the VPN gateway will be additionally billed together with your user licensing cost, starting from $6 per month.
If you choose the on-premise option, you will set up your VPN server using your own physical server or a cloud VPS. In this case, you pay only for VPN user licensing.
You can use the Price Calculator provided on the UTunnel VPN pricing page, which gives you an insight into the subscription based on your requirements.
Also, UTunnel is providing a 14-day free trial for those who bring their own device(on-premise) and a 14-day money-back guarantee for those who choose an integrated cloud VPN server. So, either way, you get a 14-day testing period, which is fair.
UTunnel- Setup & Installation
Getting started with UTunnel.io is a seamless and user-friendly process. To set up your account, just a few basic details are required: your name, email address, and billing information.
This ensures a personalized and secure experience right from the start. Additionally, when you’re ready to establish your in-house or cloud servers, you’ll be prompted to enter your payment details.
This step is designed to be straightforward, ensuring a hassle-free setup for your secure VPN service.
Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues:
Encountering issues? Here are a few common problems and their solutions:
- Installation Error Messages: If you see any error messages, ensure your device meets all system requirements and that you have sufficient permissions on your device to install new software.
- Login Issues: Double-check your credentials. If you’ve forgotten your password, use the password recovery option on UTunnel’s website.
- Connection Problems: If you’re having trouble connecting to a server, try selecting a different server or protocol within the app settings.
UTunnel- VPN Client Applications:
UTunnel is offering its VPN client applications for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. So, all your devices can stay secure by easily connecting to your VPN servers.
UTunnel’s VPN client apps for all platforms boast a sleek and minimal design with a simple and compact user interface that allows easy navigation and configuration of the service. Both the mobile and desktop VPN client applications are easy to use.
UTunnel- Expert Assistance & Technical Support:
Efficient and timely customer support is the backbone of every service, and it is no different in the case of UTunnel.
UTunnel lets the user seek customer support by raising a support ticket via our support portal or by email, and the resolution is provided in a timely manner.
UTunnel also provides its users with a well-curated collection of help articles, including self-help guides on topics ranging from server configuration to billing. These articles contain detailed instructions and screenshots compiled to enable anyone to set up and manage their VPN.
It also offers Priority Technical Support that comes as a part of the Standard Plan and efficiently resolves grievances and issues raised by users faster.
UTunnel Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Simple installation and configuration.
- Budget-friendly plans.
- Tailored VPN services for businesses.
- Strong encryption and security protocols.
- Suitable for both small and large businesses.
Cons:
- Fewer servers compared to competitors.
- Performance may not be as fast as top VPNs.
FAQs
✔ What Platforms Are Supported by UTunnel?
The operating systems and devices compatible with UTunnel, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
💁♀️ Is Utunnel easy to set up and configure?
Yes, Utunnel is designed to be user-friendly and offers an intuitive interface for setup and configuration. Users with basic networking knowledge can easily set up the service.
👉 How does Utunnel compare to other VPN solutions in the market?
Utunnel offers a competitive range of features and pricing compared to other VPN solutions. However, the best choice for your organization may depend on specific requirements and preferences.
🤷♂️ Can I try Utunnel before purchasing a subscription?
Yes, Utunnel typically offers a free trial period for users to test its services and features before committing to a subscription.
👍 What kind of customer support does Utunnel provide?
Utunnel typically provides customer support through various channels, including email, live chat, and documentation. Premium support options may also be available.
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Conclusion: UTunnel Review 2024
UTunnel VPN, in a nutshell, is a very practical VPN solution that is available at an affordable price, keeping small and medium businesses in mind.
It simplifies the daunting task of setting up a VPN server and configuring it, allowing business owners to easily secure their network and data resources from the threat of malicious interceptions.
The integrated cloud option from UTunnel provides one of the easiest ways to set up a dedicated VPN server in the market. The on-premise or bring-your-own server(BYOS) option offers more flexibility to power users looking to easily set up a VPN on their server, offering them complete control.
One thing that would have made this VPN solution more tempting is Zero Trust Network Access, which shouldn’t let you turn down UTunnel. We have received information from them that they are introducing ZTNA as a part of their solution very soon.
With affordable and flexible pricing and ease of deployment, UTunnel VPN is a customer-centric VPN solution that is tailor-made for the security and network demands of SMBs. So, if you’re a business looking to set up a VPN, UTunnel could be the right choice!
