VPN Reviews

MetroPipe VPN Review – Is The Service Worth Subscribing?

By Paul Liu
Thursday, August 8th, 2013

MetroPipe is a security provider that has been around for more than a decade. Launched in 2002, the company offers a secure VPN solution (known as Tunneler) which claims to keep your internet activities totally private and secure. In this detailed MetroPipe VPN Review, we will take a look at the features offered by the service and decide if it is worthy of our time and money.

Server Locations and Site Access

MetroPipe has multiple VPN servers in United States of America. The company’s VPN setup is tailor-made for those who are looking for a way to access their favorite sites from behind firewalls or who wish to unlock premium US based sites from another country. With the help of MetroPipe’s VPN solution, you would be able to access Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, Vonage, YouTube, Google Voice and gaming sites from your corporate network and countries such as UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Brazil. Moreover, it would be easy to unlock premium US streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, ABC, NBC, Fox TV, CBS, HBO Go, MTV, Amazon Prime, Pandora, Vudu, CWTV, NFL, MLB, Xfinity and Dramafever from abroad since these are available only to those people having US IP addresses.

VPN Speed and Bandwidth

MetroPipe delivers unrestricted bandwidth and unlimited speed to its customers. The speed and bandwidth on offer is suitable for activities like streaming, downloading, FTP, VOIP and online gaming. The actual speed available would depend on the speed provided by your ISP and your current location so can expect a noticeable drop in speed while using the service.

Privacy Settings

MetroPipe delivers its VPN solution through the OpenVPN protocol. The protocol is 100% unbreakable but it is not yet compatible with all devices (mostly with mobile devices like Smartphones and tablets). The service secures all kinds of online activities (FTP, messaging, browsing, VOIP and emailing) and even protects your personal data from hackers and sniffing programs when you are connected to a low security wireless network at public park, airport, mall, hotel or library.

Supported Operating Systems

MetroPipe’s Tunneler solution works with Windows (XP, Vista, 7), Mac OSX (10.2 and above) and Linux (Ubuntu and other implementations). The client is easy to install on most systems and it provides a one-click interface to the company’s VPN network. For those who need support with installation, you may have to do some fidgeting on your own or contact the support staff since the company’s documentation portal is currently not available.

Customer Support

The company offers customer support through email and Skype. Through Skype, the support staff can deliver text, voice and file transfer support. However, a lot of customers have complained about the quality of support and turnaround time so be prepared for doing some troubleshooting on your own if you are facing recurring technical problems.

Pricing Options

MetroPipe’s Tunneler PRO VPN service is available from $59.95 for 6 months ($99.95 for 1 year and $179.95 for 2 years). The company also offers a proxy based privacy solution (Tunneler Gold) starting from $29.95 for 6 months. The company does not provide a free trial so it is impossible to test the quality of the service without investing money. Although the company offers a 5 day money back guarantee, a lot of customer complaints are floating online alleging that the company did not refund money even when the customers were unable to use the service.

Final Verdict

MetroPipe VPN service clearly is a high risk proposition. The company’s VPN plans are expensive, the support is slow (or non-existent at times) and the company may have ripped off some of its customers. Considering the negative feedback associated with the company, we recommend staying away from the service and investing your money elsewhere. For more information, please visit: www.metropipe.net.