OverPlay: A review
[Presented by BestCloudBest.com]
Many Internet users want to protect their privacy and security when they browse the Internet. Are you one of them? You are likely looking for a “Virtual Private Network” (VPN). OverPlay is a UK-based VPN provider.
Many VPN providers compete intensely for market share, and many of them make tall claims. In addition to providing privacy and security, they claim to unblock geo-restricted streaming services like Netflix. VPN providers claim to offer secure access to P2P/torrenting services, moreover, some VPNs also state that they can bypass Internet censorship.
The reality is often very different though! How about OverPlay? What does it promise and what does it deliver? Does it meet your requirements and should you buy it? In this review, we answer all of these questions. Read on, and make an informed decision.
The main features of OverPlay VPN
You would like helpful features in a VPN that you buy, wouldn’t you? We will now evaluate what OverPlay offers.
Your privacy at OverPlayVPN
Do you prioritize privacy as most VPN users do? You will then look for a VPN provider that doesn’t log your activities on the Internet.
OverPlay fits the bill since the company maintains a “no logs” policy. On the “Privacy Policy” page of its website, OverPlay states that it doesn’t log or collect any Internet traffic information of its VPN users.
Note that OverPlay also provides a “SmartDNS” feature, which masks your IP address when you browse the Internet. You can use it to unblock geo-restricted content. SmartDNS is not the same as a VPN since it doesn’t encrypt your Internet connection. SmartDNS doesn’t change the IP address of your device either. If you want to connect to the Internet in a secure and private manner, you need to use VPN.
In its privacy policy, OverPlay states that it doesn’t monitor or log your activities via its SmartDNS service either.
OverPlay makes it clear that it doesn’t sell or share your personal information with 3rd parties. The company does collect a valid email address and the information about the valid payment method if you buy its products and services.
If you buy its product using a credit card, then you need to provide some more personal information. This information is as follows:
· Your first and last name;
· Your valid billing address;
· A valid credit card number.
OverPlay processes this personal information in accordance with applicable laws like GDPR. Users of its VPN should have no concern with the company collecting this level of personal information.
When you visit the OverPlay website, the company collects some information using cookies, tracking pixels, and similar tools and services. The company lists all such tools and services on its website. It specifies the information it collects in its privacy policy. This information includes page requests, browser type, etc. This poses no risks to its VPN users.
Note that the jurisdiction of OverPlay is the UK. This country is a part of the “14 Eyes” coalition that conducts mass surveillance, therefore, it’s not the ideal jurisdiction for a VPN. The authorities in the UK could conceivably force OverPlay to hand over information concerning its users to law enforcement agencies.
Most VPN users browsing the Internet in a lawful manner shouldn’t have a concern with it. In any case, OverPlay states on the “Terms of Service” page of its website that it will not allow any illegal activities on its network. However, privacy enthusiasts wouldn’t like a VPN provider with its jurisdiction in the UK. The fact that OverPlay doesn’t log the Internet activities of its users should satisfy them.
Overall, we found that OverPlay has implemented an effective “no logs” policy. We are satisfied with its privacy track records.
Is your network traffic safe with OverPlay VPN?
If you are planning to buy a VPN, then you prioritize security while browsing the Internet, don’t you? We will now evaluate the security features of OverPlay.
OverPlay supports secure protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP, and IKEv2. It also supports PPTP, however, we don’t recommend you to use it. PPTP has known vulnerabilities. We recommend that you use OpenVPN since it is the most secure VPN protocol.
Note that OverPlay doesn’t support OpenVPN for mobile. If you are planning to use it on your Android device, then you need to use one of the protocols like IKEv2, L2TP, and PPTP. You need to use L2TP or PPTP on your iOS device.
OverPlay uses AES-256-CBC encryption, which is the strongest you can get. It also supports AES-128 encryption, and you can choose it if want a faster connection. We recommend that you stick to AES-256 if you are dealing with sensitive information when browsing the Internet. OverPlay uses RSA-2048 keys, which is a very robust solution. While some VPN providers use RSA-4096 keys, we are happy with the encryption solution that OverPlay has implemented.
OverPlay prevents all IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. It features “kill switch”, therefore, your sensitive information is protected even if the VPN connection drops suddenly. OverPlay will block your Internet connection, thanks to the “kill switch”.
We are happy with the security solutions of OverPlay. However, for its price, it should offer the “Perfect Forward Secrecy” (PFS) feature. PFS helps in the unlikely event of a cybercriminal getting hold of your encryption key. PFS changes the key regularly, therefore, the cybercriminal can’t use the stolen encryption key for any significant amount of time. Moreover, OverPlay should support OpenVPN on mobile devices too.
Where are the servers of OverPlay VPN located?
While privacy and security are your priorities, you don’t want a slow VPN, do you? Well, VPN providers that have a sufficient number of servers across key geographies can provide good speed. How does OverPlay fare on this count?
This VPN provider has over 650 SmartDNS and VPN servers. It has a presence in over 70 locations, which are spread over 50+ countries. You can view its “Server Locations” page to learn where OverPlay has its infrastructure.
OverPlay has a presence in all key geographies, e.g., North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, and Africa. The company has an impressive number of locations and servers in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. As a result, OverPlay offers good speed. OverPlay also allows unlimited server switching.
On what platforms can you take advantage of OverPlay VPN?
You will surely want a VPN that supports all kinds of devices you have, won’t you? Let’s evaluate OverPlay against this yardstick.
OverPlay supports desktops like Windows and Mac, and it supports mobile platforms like Android and iOS. It offers custom apps for Windows and Mac, however, it doesn’t have them for mobile devices. You can use its guides to set up OverPlay on your mobile devices. OverPlay allows 3 simultaneous connections
This VPN doesn’t support Linux. Among routers, OverPlay supports DD-WRT and Tomato. It provides guides for you to set up OverPlay on these routers, however, the company recommends that only advanced users should try to do this.
OverPlay should support Linux since most leading VPN providers do so. Leading VPN providers also allow more simultaneous connections. For its price, OverPlay should support all key platforms, moreover, it should provide custom apps for them.
Note that the SmartDNS service from OverPlay supports streaming devices, Smart TV platforms, and gaming consoles. The SmartDNS service also supports more routers.
However, we are evaluating its VPN and we would like that to support all key platforms. In summary, we find that the OverPlay VPN lags behind its competitors in terms of platforms they support.
Unblocking streaming services using OverPlay VPN
Are you looking for a VPN to access geo-restricted streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu? On its website, OverPlay claims that you can access any website from anywhere. The company also talks about its “JetSwitch” feature, which gives you more control over your virtual location.
Given this, you would expect OverPlay to consistently unblock geo-restricted streaming services. However, the reality is different.
While OverPlay can sometimes unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and ABC, it can’t do so consistently. If you want to consistently unblock these streaming services, then you should explore other market-leading VPNs.
Torrenting with OverPlay VPN
Are you one of those Internet users that look for a VPN to access P2P/torrenting services in a secure manner? You will be happy with OverPlay since this provider allows P2P/torrenting.
Note that OverPlay allows P2P/torrenting for personal use. Also, on its “DMCA” page, OverPlay makes it clear that it supports intellectual property rights. It won’t allow any copyright infringement.
How much does OverPlay VPN cost?
You would want a reasonably-priced VPN, wouldn’t you? Let’s see how OverPlay fares on this count.
OverPlay has two pricing plans for its “SmartDNS + VPN” package, which are as follows:
· Monthly: $9.95 per month;
· Yearly: You pay $99.95 once a year.
If you are only looking for a SmartDNS service and not VPN, then you can check out the SmartDNS plans for OverPlay. These are as follows:
· Monthly: $4.95 per month.
· Yearly: You pay $49.95 once a year.
You can pay using popular credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. OverPlay also accepts payments via PayPal. The company has a secure payment process, therefore, your personal information is safe with it.
OverPlay has a refund policy. If you are less than 100% satisfied with its product or service, you can request a refund within 5 days of buying. OverPlay won’t honor refund requests made after 5 days of purchase. You can’t get a free trial with this provider.
We find that OverPlay is expensive. You can get a more comprehensive offering at a cheaper price if you explore market-leading VPNs.
Note: OverPlay explicitly mentions on its “Terms of Service” page that it won’t sell its products or services to anyone in Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria, and Ghana. The company makes it clear that it follows this policy to uphold applicable laws.
The pros and cons of OverPlay
You would like to get a comprehensive understanding of the pros and cons of a VPN before you buy it, wouldn’t you? We present that here.
OverPlay offers several advantages, which are as follows:
· It has a “no logs” policy and its privacy credentials are robust.
· OverPlay is secure, thanks to its secure protocols, robust encryption, and a “kill switch”.
· It has over 650 servers in 70+ locations in 50+ countries. OverPlay offers good speed.
· OverPlay allows P2P/torrenting within the limits of the law.
· It supports most of the key platforms, and it offers custom apps for Windows and Mac.
· OverPlay offers excellent documentation and knowledgebase, moreover, it has a competent customer support team.
There are also a few disadvantages, and they are as follows:
· OverPlay doesn’t support Linux.
· It doesn’t offer custom apps for Android and iOS.
· You can’t use OverPlay with the highly-secure OpenVPN protocol on your Android and iOS devices.
· OverPlay is expensive.
· You can’t get any free trial for this VPN.
· This provider doesn’t offer live chat support.
· It can’t unblock geo-restricted streaming services like Netflix consistently.
· Its jurisdiction is the UK, which isn’t ideal for a VPN.
A few quick facts about OverPlay VPN
We summarize a few quick facts about OverPlay so that you can decide whether to buy it. Here they are:
· OverPlay is a privacy-focused UK-based VPN with a “no logs” policy.
· It supports secure VPN protocols and features strong encryption.
· This VPN has over 650 servers in over 70 locations across 50+ countries.
· It supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, however, it doesn’t support Linux.
· It has user-friendly custom apps for Windows and Mac, however, it offers guides to set its VPN up on Android and iOS.
· OverPlay has excellent documentation and good customer support.
· It’s an expensive VPN compared to its competitors and it offers no free trial.
· It can’t unblock Netflix consistently.
Is OverPlay VPN easy to use?
You are surely looking for a VPN that’s user-friendly, aren’t you? We will now evaluate how user-friendly OverPlay is.
When you visit its website, you will be impressed with the ease of navigation it offers. You can easily locate the key menu options like “Sign up”, “Login”, “Setup”, and “Support”. The website prominently displays the “Get Started Now” button. You can buy an OverPlay product easily, with a few intuitive steps.
OverPlay offers custom apps for Windows and Mac, and you can easily install them. You will find these apps easy to use, moreover, they offer several configuration options. However, OverPlay doesn’t have custom apps for Android and iOS. Custom apps make life easier for VPN users that aren’t tech-savvy, therefore, OverPlay should offer custom apps for mobile devices.
The customer service at OverPlay VPN
You will surely want to buy a VPN where you can get great customer support, won’t you? It’s time we evaluate the customer support capabilities of OverPlay.
OverPlay offers detailed guides for its custom apps. If you want to set up OverPlay manually on Windows and Mac instead of using its custom app, you can do so with the help of its guides. It also provides comprehensive guides for platforms where it doesn’t offer a custom app.
OverPlay has a searchable knowledgebase. You can find useful articles covering a wide range of topics, e.g., switching regions, SmartDNS setup, etc.
You can reach out to its customer support by submitting a request through its website. The customer support personnel of OverPlay are responsive, prompt, professional, and knowledgable. Overall, we are happy with the customer support capabilities of OverPlay.
OverPlay doesn’t offer customer support via live chat. Market-leading VPNs offer live chat support, and OverPlay should offer it as well.
Where is OverPlay VPN based?
The jurisdiction of OverPlay is the UK. We don’t consider this country as the ideal jurisdiction for a privacy-focused VPN provider. The UK is part of the “14 Eyes” countries that conduct mass surveillance, and the authorities there can compel OverPlay to hand over data about its users.
OverPlay states in its “Terms of Service” that it doesn’t allow any illegal activities using its infrastructure. Law-abiding Internet users shouldn’t have any concern with this.
On the other hand, OverPlay also states that it doesn’t log the Internet activities of its users. That means that OverPlay can’t hand over any data concerning its users’ browsing activities.
In our view, law-abiding users of OverPlay should have no concern with its jurisdiction since the company doesn’t log its activities. Having said that, privacy enthusiasts don’t consider the UK as the right jurisdiction for a VPN. If you are a privacy enthusiast, then you should explore other market-leading VPNs that have jurisdiction outside the “14 Eyes” countries.
Does OverPlay VPN keep any logs?
As we have explained, OverPlay has implemented a “no logs” policy. The company affirms that in its privacy policy. OverPlay also offers SmartDNS services, and it maintains the same “no logs” policy for that too.
If you buy an OverPlay product, then you will need to provide your valid email address. You also need to provide relevant information about a valid payment method. If you buy using a credit card then you need to provide your first name, last name, a valid billing address, and a valid card number. As OverPlay states, it doesn’t sell or share this information with 3rd parties. This poses no privacy risks to its users.
If you visit the OverPlay website, then the company collects information like browser, pages visited, etc. This provider uses tools like cookies, tracking pixels, and similar technologies, and it lists all of them in its privacy policy. VPN users don’t have a reason to worry about this since this is completely different from their Internet browsing sessions using OverPlay.
OverPlay processes all information it collects in accordance with applicable laws. We find that OverPlay has an effective “no logs” policy.
Encryption and data security of OverPlay VPN
As we have explained, OverPlay has implemented a strong set of security solutions. It supports OpenVPN, L2TP, and IKEv2 protocols, and all of these are highly secure protocols. We noticed that OverPlay supports the PPTP protocol, however, you don’t need to use it. This protocol has security vulnerabilities, and we don’t recommend you to use it.
With AES-256-CBC encryption and RSA-2028 keys, OverPlay offers the strongest possible encryption. You don’t need to worry about IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks if you use OverPlay. This VPN features a “kill switch”, therefore, it will block your Internet connection if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
OverPlay doesn’t support OpenVPN for mobile devices. It should do so since OpenVPN is known as the most secure VPN protocol. We also think that OverPlay should offer PFS, which will provide added security.
Our short conclusion regarding OverPlay VPN
With so many VPN providers in the market, you might find it hard to choose one that works for you. OverPlay is one such provider with a strong focus on privacy and security. It has a “no logs” policy, and it has invested in a robust set of security solutions.
OverPlay supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, however, it doesn’t support Linux. This VPN provider offers custom apps for Windows and Mac. It doesn’t have custom apps for Android and iOS, however, it offers guides for setup. OverPlay lags behind its competition since it doesn’t support Linux and doesn’t offer custom apps for some of the platforms it supports.
OverPlay has a large network of servers, therefore, it offers good speed. This VPN can’t unblock Netflix consistently. OverPlay allows P2P/torrenting within the limits of the law. The overall customer support capabilities of OverPlay are robust, however, it doesn’t offer live chat support.
We find that OverPlay is expensive considering its offering, and we wouldn’t recommend you to buy it. If you don’t need a VPN that supports Linux and if you don’t mind paying a bit more, then you can buy a monthly plan. Since OverPlay has a 5-days refund policy, you can try it for 5 days and see if OverPlay works for you.
