SkyVPN

SkyVPN is a provider of virtual private networking connections and services for personal use. The company maintains servers in 11 strategic jurisdictions for the benefit of millions of users from around the world; the services can only be accessed through the installation of software apps for various operating systems. In the case of Microsoft Windows, SkyVPN offers a client that can work in versions as old as Windows XP, although it is optimized for Windows 10 and later versions. Once you connect to SkyVPN, your internet protocol (IP) address is effectively masked, thus making your browsing and downloading private, anonymous, and safe.

Using SkyVPN for Windows

The download, installation, and configuration process of SkyVPN is simple and straightforward. The Windows client and the basic VPN service are free to use with unlimited browsing and downloading; however, the bandwidth allocation leaves a lot to be desired. Although the SkyVPN business model for users in the free tier provides some incentives such as watching specific advertising and completing simple tasks to train artificial intelligence constructs, the full experience and benefit can only be accessed with a subscription.

Even if you are not familiar with VPN apps, you should not have any problems with SkyVPN for Windows. The point-and-click interface allows you to accomplish everything you need to connect; the list of servers is right on the splash screen, and browsing protection begins when you select one and click on the connect button.

SkyVPN Features

Those who are familiar with VPN services may be surprised to learn that SkyVPN does not use the OpenVPN protocol, and this is actually good news because that open-source project is often targeted by hackers. The connection process is seamless, and the inobtrusive notifications are concise. While the functionality of SkyVPN is pretty much standard, there are a few features that make the Windows client more interesting.

The kill-switch feature of SkyVPN prevents automatic reconnection to servers, websites, or networks that are outside the company's servers; this is an added layer of protection that is absolutely needed in 2023. You can always check if your connection is 100% private and secure with the DNS leak testing feature. Finally, the split-tunneling feature makes it easy to manage how SkyVPN is used; for example, you can set a browser with a work-from-home session to skip VPN connections in case geolocation is a condition of employment.

Using the free version of SkyVPN is good for casual browsing, but not so much for video streaming or downloading large files because your bandwidth and connection speeds are limited; plus, you only get to choose servers located in the United States. The premium version of SkyVPN provides generous bandwidth along with access to hundreds of servers in a dozen countries. Keep in mind that while SkyVPN does not keep logs of your internet activity, you should be familiar with the laws governing the sharing of digital files on peer-to-peer networks such as BitTorrent.

SkyVPN Pros

• Easy to use.
• No logging of internet activity.
• Additional safety features.

SkyVPN Cons

• Does not offer API access.
• Could use a greater geographical diversity of servers.