Radmin VPN Review (2024): Free Virtual LAN Tool for Gaming
Radmin VPN is a virtual LAN (local area network) service launched by Famatech in 2016. The company is primarily known for its popular remote control software. The name “Radmin” is simply an abbreviation for “remote administrator.”
Famatech boasts that 40% of Fortune 500 enterprises and millions of home users are loving their software. With that in mind, we decided to test their VPN service by running it through our relentless testing circuit.
How did Radmin VPN perform during our testing? Is Radmin VPN safe? Read about that and much more in our full Radmin VPN review below.
Radmin VPN: A Short Review
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
AES-256 encryption | Logs your IP address |
Plenty of gaming networks | Not a true VPN |
User-friendly client | Windows-only service |
Fast and easy installation | No live chat |
100 Mbps speed cap | |
Free with no hidden fees | |
Incorporated in the BVI | |
Lively Discord community |
Radmin VPN is a niche product that allows you to connect to other Windows devices and create private virtual networks. This means Radmin VPN is not technically a VPN the same way that other popular VPN providers are.
Instead, Radmin VPN is particularly convenient for gamers and business teams with members scattered around the world. The connection is encrypted via the AES-256 cipher, and you can create or join as many networks as you wish. The speed within the tunnel is capped at 100 Mbps.
Radmin VPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, which is definitely good news, as the BVI is not a member of the 14 Eyes alliance.
Radmin VPN is a completely free service, which explains its lack of advanced features. However, it will connect you to gamers around the globe and/or your coworkers — and that’s exactly what Radmin VPN was made to do.
Although Radmin VPN offers a decent service when it comes to fulfilling the goals they set out to achieve, we rated it as an actual VPN, meaning that it scored lower than it could have, if it hadn’t called itself a VPN service.
If you’re looking for a free VPN that actually does what a VPN should do, we recommend checking out our list of best free VPNs. Especially PrivadoVPN has a great offer you might be interested in. Would you like to go for a premium VPN? Then NordVPN will give you anything you could possibly ask for.
💵 Price |
Free! |
📱 Operating systems | Windows |
💻 Connections | Unlimited |
💳 Payment methods | None |
🔒 Protocols | Unknown |
📥 Torrent options | Torrenting not allowed |
📅 Money-back guarantee | None Offered |
📋 Logs | Keeps logs |
Speed – How Fast is Radmin VPN?
Speed is a vital factor in any VPN. The fastest VPNs out there are the ones that manage to retain most of your original speed despite heavy encryption. You shouldn’t feel speed drops on faster networks.
That’s why we test the speed of every single virtual private network we review. However, Radmin VPN is a different sort of service, and its performance can’t be measured by standard tools. After our improvised test, however, we gave it an 8 out of 10 for performance.
Speed test results for Radmin VPN
Radmin VPN doesn’t secure your browsing or any other activity on your Windows computer. It only encrypts direct connections between two or more devices. As such, it’s impossible to measure its impact on your speed with conventional tools.
Still, we tested our speed with Radmin VPN from the Netherlands, and our speed remained unchanged. Our IP address stayed the same, as well, which is expected from this service.
In order to truly test its performance, we started a multiplayer game and checked our FPS. We tried a number of Radmin VPN Minecraft groups and didn’t see any FPS drops. Granted, our initial speed was 94.02 Mbps, so we had a lot of room for potential encryption hits.
If your internet is much slower, you might experience some lag. Note that the speed within Radmin VPN secure tunnels is capped at 100 Mbps, so having an ultra-fast Wi-Fi won’t count for much here.
After our improvised test, we can say that Radmin VPN provides decent speeds that should keep your FPS high even on average networks. However, if you’re looking for a true beast when it comes to sheer speed, we recommend going with Surfshark.
Speed during daily use
Since Radmin VPN doesn’t affect anything outside its secure tunnels, your day-to-day operation will remain unaffected. In other words, you won’t see any difference when browsing, gaming, or watching shows on Netflix. Note that you won’t be protected or anonymous, either.
Safety – How Secure is Radmin VPN?
The best VPNs out there have a couple of important tasks when it comes to user security. Namely, they have to hide your true IP, encrypt your traffic, and (ideally) maintain a strict zero-logs policy.
Radmin VPN doesn’t hit all of these points. In fact, since it doesn’t properly hide your IP, it can barely be called a VPN. That’s why we gave it a 4 out of 10 for security. Here’s a quick rundown of our observations:
- Radmin VPN uses AES-256 encryption but doesn’t disclose the employed protocols.
- It logs personal data (including your IP address) when you visit the official site and use the service.
- It doesn’t offer a kill switch.
- The registration process doesn’t require any personal info.
Protocols
The company doesn’t specify which protocols they’re using to enable their private networks. Many Radmin VPN reviews tend to speculate and point out which options they’re most likely employing. We’re not fond of speculating, though; without an official response from the company, we can’t say anything for sure.
However, we do know that Radmin VPN secures the tunnels between devices via the AES-256 cipher. This is the strongest encryption method we currently have. It’s also employed by the military, hospitals, banks, and other institutions. If you ever see the term “military-grade encryption,” this is what they’re talking about.
Logging and privacy
Radmin VPN’s official website states that this service is located in the British Virgin Islands.
The BVI has no mandatory data retention laws, and it’s outside of the 14 Eyes alliance. Although sharing the same monarch as Great Britain, the BVI has its own legislature and an independent judiciary.
Radmin VPN’s privacy policy is a very sparse document that offers only the basic outlines of its logging policy.
According to its privacy policy, Radmin VPN records your domain, IP address, browser type, and operating system when you visit its website. The document also states that this info can’t be used to identify you, which we strongly disagree with. Your IP address CAN be used to identify you. The only question, though, is whether or not the company monitors the traffic inside the protected tunnels. It is never mentioned in their privacy policy if they do.
Famatech won’t share your info with anyone outside the company unless it’s legally bound to do so. In other words, they will share your data with the authorities in response to law enforcement requests.
In our opinion, Radmin VPN is logging too much data, even though it doesn’t have to. We’d prefer to see a full no-logging policy. With that in mind, we recommend going with one of the options from our list of no-logging VPNs.
Kill switch
A kill switch is a security mechanism that blocks your internet connection if your VPN malfunctions for whatever reason. This prevents your real IP address from leaking.
Radmin VPN doesn’t have a kill switch but, arguably, it doesn’t need one. Since you’re only connecting to other users, a VPN failure would only result in you disconnecting. So, there’s no real danger of data leaks.
If you’re looking for a “real” VPN with an excellent kill switch, we recommend going with ProtonVPN. It also offers the so-called “permanent” kill switch that blocks all internet access when you’re not using your VPN.
What information does Radmin VPN need?
You can download, install, and start using Radmin VPN without providing any personal info whatsoever. This is a refreshing approach that definitely gets a huge thumbs-up from us. You don’t even have to create an account in order to activate the service.
Usability – How User-Friendly is Radmin VPN?
Radmin VPN is a beginner-friendly service without any complicated options reserved for advanced users. Its current setup gets it a 7 out of 10 in usability.
Here’s a quick overview of the main points regarding user-friendliness:
- Radmin VPN’s website is simple and easy to use.
- The app is minimalistic and beginner-friendly.
- The installation is quick and effortless.
- It’s a completely free service.
- Customer support could use some work.
Radmin VPN’s website and installation process
Radmin VPN’s website is quite simple and easy to navigate. Clicking the big “Free Download” button will start the download immediately. You don’t have to go through any registration screens or provide any personal info. The home page is pretty short, outlining Radmin’s most prominent selling points.
There’s no personal dashboard or user area on the official site. All you get is Radmin VPN’s client on your computer. Note that this is a Windows-only service that can be used on an unlimited number of devices. Naturally, there are no browser extensions.
The installation of Radmin VPN was quick and effortless. You can use it on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. Here are the steps you’ll have to go through:
- Go to Radmin VPN’s official website.
- Click on “Free Download” at the top of the home page.
- Wait for the app to download.
- Click on the downloaded file to start the installation.
- Follow the instructions.
Note that Radmin VPN will also install Radmin Viewer 3 without asking you. This is a remote administration tool for local and remote computers. Even though these tools work well together, we’d still like some notification during installation. We’re not fans of installing programs secretly on our devices.
Radmin VPN’s appearance and ease of use
Radmin VPN’s client is simplicity itself. There are no super-advanced options, so you’ll be mastering it in no time. Power users might be put off by this, but complete beginners will love it.
The main screen only features a prominent on/off button paired with the “name” of your computer and your IP. The main window also keeps track of the recently used networks so you can access them quicker.
The “System” option in the top-left corner allows you to create firewall exceptions and access the Settings menu. Here, you can do the following:
- Choose your color theme (light/dark)
- Change the language
- Enable automatic updates
- Use a proxy server
The “Network” menu allows you to create your own network or join an existing one. You can use this option to connect your business computers or use one of the many gaming networks available with Radmin VPN.
Radmin VPN client currently supports 30+ languages, including some rare options like Persian, Arabic, Thai, Greek, Hebrew, and others.
Pricing and payment methods
If you’re looking for a budget VPN, you can’t go any lower than this. Radmin VPN is a 100% free service without any hidden costs or fees.
Having said that, it also comes as-is without any warranty. This means that the company won’t be responsible for anything that happens while you’re using Radmin VPN.
The software’s price tag is undoubtedly one of its biggest draws. However, since it doesn’t provide secure connections, we still suggest getting a VPN. You can view our curated list of free VPNs to further protect your online activity.
Customer service
Radmin VPN is a free service, so we didn’t expect any premium customer support features. And our expectations were met.
Radmin comes with a ticket support system and a decent knowledge base on the official website. You’ll find plenty of setup guides and troubleshooting manuals that should solve the majority of your problems.
Here, we’d usually complain about the absence of the live chat feature. However, we are talking about a free service, so we can’t expect the company to maintain a full live support team and bleed money over time.
Having said that, Radmin VPN does have a Discord server where you can find a lot of useful information. There’s a channel called “Tech-Support” where you can ask people for advice or help other users.
Radmin VPN’s Server Network
We usually say that “bigger is better” when it comes to VPN server networks. However, instead of servers, Radmin VPN offers private networks for passionate gamers. The current number of easily accessible gaming networks is convenient, but in terms of unblocking, this service won’t do you much service. For that reason, it gets a 5 out of 10.
Some of the key points here:
- Radmin VPN connects you to thousands of gaming networks.
- Dedicated IPs are unavailable.
Number of servers and locations
As already mentioned in this Radmin VPN review, this service doesn’t offer traditional VPN servers. In other words, you can’t, for example, get a US IP address simply by connecting to a server located there. That’s not what Radmin VPN does.
This also means that you can’t use it to deal with online censorship or unblock geo-restricted content. A VPN service like Private Internet Access would be a much better choice for this.
On the other hand, Radmin VPN does offer plenty of gaming networks for pretty much any game you can imagine. You can simply search for a group that speaks your language, join, and then start gaming.
You can also create a network for your gaming party or business team. You just have to name it, create a password, and share it with your team. You can also join an existing private network simply by entering its credentials. Gaming networks are usually password-free.
Note that you’ll have to install Radmin remote server on your computer in order to access any networks that you do not own. The same goes for your gaming party or business team members. You can find this option in the “Help” menu.
Once someone joins your network, you can grant them admin rights, see when they’re online, and check their IP address.
However, if you want a more traditional VPN that keeps you safe on public gaming servers, we recommend checking our list of the fastest gaming VPNs and best free VPNs for Fortnite.
Dedicated IP address
Radmin VPN doesn’t offer dedicated IPs because it doesn’t need them for what it’s trying to accomplish. If you want a VPN service with dedicated IPs, we recommend going with NordVPN.
A dedicated IP address is tied to your VPN account, and nobody else can claim it. It helps you avoid Netflix IP blacklisting, for example, facilitates online payments, and gets around CAPTCHA pop-ups. Dedicated IPs are also recommended if you’re running your own website or a business computer network.
Radmin VPN’s Options
Since Radmin VPN is basically a virtual LAN tool, we can’t expect those extra, nice-to-have features offered by “regular” VPNs. Radmin is simple and devoid of the extra utilities we’ve grown accustomed to with modern VPN services.
Here are the main conclusions about Radmin VPN’s extra options:
- It doesn’t unblock Netflix or other streaming services.
- It doesn’t secure your torrenting sessions.
Radmin VPN and streaming (Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, BBC iPlayer)
Radmin VPN doesn’t secure your browsing, so it can’t unblock regional versions of Netflix. It also doesn’t have any servers you can connect to in order to change your IP address.
If you want to watch Netflix with a VPN, we recommend picking one of the excellent options from our list of the best VPNs for Netflix. These services will also allow you to access other streaming platforms like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Crunchyroll, and many others.
Looking for a free VPN for Netflix? Here are some of the best Netflix VPNs that are completely free of charge.
Radmin VPN and torrents
What we said about Netflix goes for torrenting, as well. Radmin VPN can’t secure your P2P sessions since it wasn’t made for that.
If you can’t imagine a day without firing up your uTorrent, you can find great security tools on our list of the best VPNs for torrenting.
Our Experience With Radmin VPN
Radmin VPN is a niche product created to help business teams and gamers connect. It allows you to create virtual networks with your gaming crew and the people you work with. That is the full extent of its utility.
That’s why we believe it shouldn’t even be called a VPN provider, since it lacks the majority of the features implied by that term. It can’t secure your browsing, hide your IP, or unblock geo-restricted content.
Having said that, if you’re a part of its target market, Radmin VPN will meet your needs. It’s fast, relatively secure, and, most importantly, free. We don’t like its logging policy, however, so we would recommend using a “real” VPN on top of using Radmin VPN.
The problem is that everything that Radmin VPN does can be replaced with a superior product. You can create and secure your business network using an enterprise-grade VPN. Every online game has its own multiplayer servers you can access with a regular VPN. The only reason for ever considering Radmin is the fact that it’s free.
So, if you’re looking to play LAN games, meet gamers around the world, or connect with your coworkers for free, Radmin might be the tool for you. On the other hand, if you don’t mind sparing a couple of bucks a month for a significant privacy and security boost, our list of the best VPNs is the place to start. Not to mention the extra features you’ll have that Radmin VPN simply can’t match.
Looking for quick answers to some questions about Radmin VPN? Check our list of FAQs below.
Radmin VPN is not a great VPN compared to others we have reviewed. While speed is fine, their focus on privacy is lacking, their service is less than user-friendly, and their servers leave a lot to be desired based on our testing. If you don’t want to think about the logging practices of your VPN provider and just want a solid service, we recommend checking our list of the best VPNs for this year.
No, Radmin VPN doesn’t affect your browsing or other activities on your Windows computer. It only connects you to other devices to create a secure virtual private network for gaming or business. It offers no protection or anonymity outside of that protected tunnel. If you’re looking to hide your real IP and boost your online security, we recommend going with a service like NordVPN.
Radmin VPN’s software is safe since it uses the AES-256 cipher to encrypt your connection to other devices. However, its privacy policy reveals that it logs your IP address. The owners also don’t talk about the potential monitoring of the protected tunnel between devices. If requested to do so, the company will hand over your data to the authorities. So, Radmin VPN’s client is safe, but its lax privacy policy could expose you to potential attacks and legal problems. Learn more about this and much more in our full Radmin VPN review.