Wire Review – Is It Safe in 2024

Today’s digital world has become very robust and tricky: online space poses threats in terms of privacy, and the free world web is not as free as it may seem to be. Some personal data contains valuable details that can be interesting to online swindlers, yet it is not a single risk that derives from the unprotected individual information.

Also, there is a common global problem of content restriction in specific regions; users from different countries may desire to get specific content and cannot do this because some governments have made it accessible just for particular geographical areas. 

The solution to both problems is the virtual private network (VPN) software that protects private data and opens the doors to content inside the web. However, it appears difficult for users to master the VPN materials on their own because there is a lot of technical stuff.

Our dedicated resource was created with the sole purpose of helping consumers understand the essentials of this technology. We compose our reviews to be clear and human-readable, so everyone who is interested will benefit from them. We hope our work will be useful to you.

Pros

• Easy installation
• Distributions for various platforms
• 45+ free countries

Cons

• Users’ sensitive data collection
• Sharing data with third-parties
• Speed capabilities are extremely low
• No security options
• No settings in any app
• Does not work in highly restricted countries
• Support service does not work

Wire VPN Features

In the current review, we are going to acquaint ourselves with a VPN provider who is in the top of the  iOS VPNs positions list. 

We do not understand what “100% good VPN’ means, but the strict no-logs policy and unlimited bandwidth and devices are clear definitions. In other words the provider promises not to collect, share, or disclose users’ data in any way, and you are free to simultaneously connect multiple devices without limitations in traffic.

Wire VPN provider developed distribution for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, and all the applications are free. We are going to describe in depth all the features intrinsic for this vendor in following sections divided into the logical categories. 

Privacy and Logging

Except for cases when websites, applications, and various online resources collect users data it can do the VPN provider itself. It is not a rule but a widespread situation. Seeing that each provider is an individual network entity the privacy provisions are also unique, and there are no general rules for all the providers. A plenty of factors play a role here, and we are going to observe it right now.

We have highlighted in the screenshot the main point that we want to show to the consumers. It is the first paragraph of the page and from the start the provider warns users that he collects, stores, and shares private users data. By the way, it is nice to read it immediately on the top nor somewhere deeper in the text.

The general stack of information that Wire VPN collects contains sensitive information. We are not talking now about the name and email address because we are used to disclosing this data very often while registering for different services.

But the phone number and the IP address collection do not fit the strict no-log policy. The IP address can lead to your geographical location in specific circumstances.

The first point is related to account creation, and the second point is about product usage. If you use their service, hence you share private data. The third point says that they do it for some technical purposes, but it is not the best reason for collecting valuable private assets.

They mean that, in the event of a legal request, they will disclose personal data. Also, this paragraph means that the wire company is obligated by some jurisdiction to reveal the information.

The first thing that is interesting to know is about the exact third-party services they work with. And the explication ‘we try our best…’ also does not inspire any trust. The exact list of measures will describe the situation much better than the airy promise to do their best. As well, there is no guarantee that ‘their best’ will prevent your data leakage from third-parties.

Age limitation is a good and responsible practice, but the implementation of it is really bad. The company does not address its service to minors, but you cannot learn about it anywhere other than in the privacy policy, which is pretty long. The applications do not have even a pop-up with a notification about the age boundaries.

The provider promises to notify users when the privacy policy changes. And if you continue to use the product, it means that you have agreed with the amendments, so be attentive and try not to miss their messages.

We have finished the main privacy policy’s provisions, and now you can decide if it suits you. And now we are shifting to the next section.

Speed Tests – How Fast is Wire VPN

Virtual private networks always influence the speed of internet connections and do it to a different extent. Some vendors have well-adjusted software and hardware, and usually they decrease the results to not more than 10%. Occasionally, a well-built overall programming architecture can even increase the speed. Some vendors offer a decent connection velocity just for premium subscribers and a slow connection for the free plan.

We are not diving into the technical aspects; we are just reviewing the speed capabilities of the current service for general understanding. Usually we choose two locations if the free version allows: one is the US server, and the second is from the European region. If the free version does not imply multiple servers, then we use what we have.

The main indexes for us are:

• The download speed shows how fast your local machine can consume the traffic;
• The upload speed shows how fast your local machine can deliver the traffic to the web;
• Ping time response shows the latency of the response from the server or an opposite side. This parameter is especially important for live-time events like online calls, meetings, gaming, etc.

PC Test

MacOS

This is the speed result without VPN being turned on. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 91.2 mbps;
• The upload speed is 91.9 mbps;
• The ping time is 3 ms.

The top image of the picture shows the US results. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 2.32 mbps;
• The upload speed is 0.84 mbps;
• The ping time is 147 ms.

The download speed index drop is nearly 97%, the upload speed index loss is about 99%, and the ping time response increased from 3 ms to 147 ms.

The bottom image illustrates the connection speed of the Dutch server. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 67.4 mbps;
• The upload speed is 31.9 mbps;
• The ping time is 48 ms.

The download speed loss is nearly 26%, the upload speed index loss is about 65%, and the ping time response increased from 3 ms to 48 ms.

The speed deterioration of the US server is so significant by all the markers that you can not use it even if your ISP gives a good speed. The ping time response also overcame the range of affordable values to ensure smooth real-time events.

The Dutch location performed much better than the American one, but the indicators as well are out of efficient numbers and can cause lags on the cellular internet network. The ping time response demonstrated good results for the real-time events.

Windows

VPN is turned-off, The indexes are:

• The download speed is 89.8 mbps;
• The upload speed is 84.02 mbps;
• The ping time is 2 ms.

The top image of the picture shows the US results. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 1.18 mbps;
• The upload speed is 0.35 mbps;
• The ping time is 191 ms.

The download speed index drop is nearly 99%, the upload speed index loss is almost 100%, and the ping time response increased from 2 ms to 191 ms.

The bottom image illustrates the connection speed of the Dutch server. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 3.71 mbps;
• The upload speed is 6.17 mbps;
• The ping time is 48 ms.

The download speed loss is nearly 96%, the upload speed index loss is about 93%, and the ping time response increased from 3 ms to 48 ms.

The speed degradation of the US server is the same as on macOS and does not leave chances for normal usage. The ping time is too high for live-time events.

The Lithuanian location performed very badly as well on the Windows’s application. The outcome is almost the same with the American server, just a few percent better. The ping time is appropriate for the live-time events, but there is no sense in it because the velocity capabilities can not furnish necessary conditions.

Browsers’ Extensions Test

This section is empty because Wire VPN has not developed software for the browsers.

Mobile Test

IOS

The VPN is turned-on. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 46.4 mbps;
• The upload speed is 45.9 mbps;
• The ping time is 3 ms.

The top image of the picture shows the US results. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 2.68 mbps;
• The upload speed is 0.17 mbps;
• The ping time is 673 ms.

The download speed index drop is nearly 94%, the upload speed index loss is almost total, and the ping time response increased from 3 ms to 673 ms.

The bottom image illustrates the connection speed of the Dutch server. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 43.4 mbps;
• The upload speed is 38.9 mbps;
• The ping time is 43 ms.

The download speed loss is nearly 6%, the upload speed index loss is about 15%, and the ping time response increased from 3 ms to 43 ms.

The US server at the third time showed practically full speed deterioration and, at this time, an enormous ping time response.

The French location demonstrated a pretty nice outcome, especially for the download index. The upload index a little surpassed the relevant value, but not critically. You can use this server while on the Wi-Fi network or cellular network, and the workflow should be fine. The ping time response is as well sufficient for the live-time events.

Android

The indexes are:

• The download speed is 69.3 mbps;
• The upload speed is 78.2 mbps;
• The ping time is 10 ms.

The left image of the picture shows the US results. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 0.75 mbps;
• The upload speed is 0.39 mbps;
• The ping time is 147 ms.

The download speed index drop is nearly 99%, the upload speed index loss is almost total, and the ping time response increased from 10 ms to 147 ms.

The bottom image illustrates the connection speed of the Italian server. The indexes are:

• The download speed is 4.1 mbps;
• The upload speed is 0.93 mbps;
• The ping time is 79 ms.

The download speed loss is nearly 94%, the upload speed loss is 99%, and the ping time response increased from 10 ms to 79 ms.

The US server is sustainable, and its results are still almost at the zero point. The Italian server’s performance is very bad and does not predict any chances for convenient usage.

About Safety – How Secure is Wire VPN?

The provider has not given any information about their security measures on the website or in any of the applications. We assume that their security measures are based on very simple technologies. When the company has decent safeguard assets, she always talks about them to highlight their strengths.

Desktop Apps

Applications are available for the macOS and Windows platforms, and we will be observing now the visual representation and general traits of both desktop apps.

Windows

The main screen of the application is divided into two areas: a locations’ field on the left and a major field on the right. The locations field has two modes, which you can see under the search bar; however, there is no effect while switching between them. The major area contains a turn-on/off button, an IP address of the connected location, a timer, and a connected country flag and name.

The installation process is smooth, and you do not need to take additional actions to start using the application. Also, we did not meet bandwidth boundaries while exploring the app. One more minor drawback of the current software is that it is not resizable.

MacOS

The main screen is very minimalistic and includes three interactive elements: the turn-on/off button, the location field’s button, and an icon in the left-upper corner that leads to the menu.

The menu does not contain any settings, just general items. All these options can be found on the official website. The installation of the application is seamless; you do not need to proceed with registration or other additional actions in order to use the free version. We did not encounter the bandwidth limitations while using the app.

Mobile Apps

The provider has issued VPN software for the iOS and Android platforms. We are going to observe only one instance, seeing that the applications are identical for both operating systems.

The current software has a minimalistic style that is very similar to the macOS’s app. Here we have three interactive elements: the connection button, the locations field, and the icon in the left-upper corner that leads to the menu.

There are no valuable options that give you the ability to make adjustments. The existing items can be found on their website. The installation is easy and clear, and there are no traffic limitations. 

Browser Extensions

This section is empty because Wire VPN has not developed software for browsers.

Performance

The US location for all the applications demonstrated very palpable speed loss, near 100%. The ping time as well, in all the cases, exceeded the appropriate values. The European region has better results compared to the American one, but objectively only the iOS’s app could show really satisfying results; the Android application’s achievements are very bad.

The desktop macOS’s application can work on a Wi-Fi network, but it will barely be comfortable on the mobile network. The Lithuanian location on the Windows platform performed very badly, a little better than the US server. 

None of the programmes does not possess settings, and any programme does not reveal its security stack. Mobile and desktop applications contain third-party advertisements, which are a bit irritating.

Work in Highly Restricted Countries

There is no information about this query on the website or in the applications. 

Server’s locations

Each free application counts 90+ servers within 45+ countries that users can utilize.

What Bonuses Does the Paid Version Offer, and How Much Does It Cost?

The official website does not have any information about the paid version, and any application has not offered an option to buy a subscription.

About Support

You can find the support email in the footer of the official website, or you can open a contact option in the menu of every application except for Windows.

The left part of the image shows the general menu with the ‘Contact support’ field, and the right part of the image demonstrates what options the support feature contains. The ‘Need technical support’ option doesn’t encompass anything valuable; rather,  you will find the support service’s email there. And the ‘Contact us’ option offers you to write the question, to leave your email, and to wait for the response. We sent them a message directly by email and have not received a response.

Wire VPN Review: Final verdict

The overall impression of this provider is not very impressive; it has a lot of gaps from different sides. Their privacy policy implies users’ sensitive data sharing, disclosing private data in legal cases, and sharing private intelligence with third-parties.

The speed capabilities of the current provider are impressively low for almost all distributions. The exception is the European region on the iOS platform; its performance is quite nice.

The security aspect of the Wire’s VPN software is a mystery; the provider has not given any information about it. It is weird, and we assume that at the moment there is nothing serious embedded in their system.

The minimalist style of the software is not a perk in this case; there are no settings and convenient additional features for a smooth workflow. The support service is rather imaginative than real because nobody will answer your question. After consuming all the facts, we can not recommend the current provider as a reliable and efficient service.