article

Urban VPN: A Free VPN Worth Using?

Urban VPN is a 100% free VPN with global server options and unlimited bandwidth—but its usability comes with significant trade-offs.
Urban VPN: A Free VPN Worth Using?

Urban VPN is a 100% free VPN with global server options and unlimited bandwidth—but its usability comes with significant trade-offs. Let's dive into how it works, its pros and cons, and when you might want to upgrade to a premium solution like MrScraper’s proxy platform.

What Is Urban VPN?

  • Free VPN service available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and as browser extensions.
  • Boasts 350+ server locations and unlimited bandwidth.
  • Operates on a peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture—your traffic routes through other users' devices.

Core Features

  • Unlimited data: no caps or throttling.
  • Easy to use: simple interface with one-click connect.
  • Global reach: access content from over 80 countries, switch locations freely.
  • Security basics: AES‑256/OpenVPN encryption and DNS leak protection, though missing advanced protections like kill‑switch.

Performance & Reliability

  • Speeds vary widely: some users experience major drops in download speed.
  • Frequent disconnects, especially on distant servers.
  • P2P dependencies can make server availability unstable.

Privacy & Security Concerns

  • Collects user data including IP addresses and browsing history—and may sell anonymized data.
  • As a US-based P2P service, it falls under 5‑Eyes jurisdictions.
  • Doesn’t support kill-switch, perfect forward secrecy, or third-party audits.

Real User Feedback

Reddit users offer mixed but cautionary takes:

“Free VPNs are not safe at all … They will sell your data”

“Used it to watch regional content…connection froze…it was Urban doing something”

Some found it useful for quick use:

“Surprisingly fast for ‘free’ VPN … no leaks”

When to Use Urban VPN

Best used when you just need to unblock sites quickly, don’t care about anonymity, and are willing to accept speed and security risks. Not suitable for sensitive tasks, streaming, or long-term use.

Alternatives: VPNs vs Proxy Solutions

Use Case Urban VPN Premium VPNs (e.g., NordVPN) MrScraper Proxies
Cost Free $3–$13/month Varies by usage
IP Masking Yes Yes Yes + rotation
Speed & Stability Inconsistent Fast and reliable Optimized for scale
Privacy/No‑Logging No (logs & sells data) Yes (audited/no-logs) Yes (user-controlled logs)
Scraping & Automation No Limited Yes (built for scraping)
Geo‑targeting Limited Good Excellent with granular control

So, Is Urban VPN Right for You?

  • For occasional, low-risk browsing on public Wi-Fi or basic geo-unblocking.
  • Avoid it for privacy, streaming, gaming, or serious work.

A Better Option for Scraping & Automation

For more advanced needs, MrScraper offers:

  • Rotating residential, datacenter, and mobile proxies
  • Geo-targeting, session control, retries, and anti-block mechanisms
  • No-logging, high-speed, reliable infrastructure tailored for automation

Upgrade from a free VPN to professional-grade proxy solutions at MrScraper.com.

Final Takeaway

Urban VPN is a decent free entry point for light browsing or unblocking. But its P2P model, privacy concerns, and inconsistent performance make it a poor choice for serious users. If speed, anonymity, and scalable scraping matter to you, MrScraper offers a secure and effective alternative.

Let me know if you need a shortened version, social media snippets, or visual diagrams to accompany this blog.

Get started now!

Step up your web scraping

Try MrScraper Now

Find more insights here

How to Unblock Websites: Safe and Effective Methods in 2025

How to Unblock Websites: Safe and Effective Methods in 2025

Learn safe, effective ways to unblock websites using VPNs, proxies, DNS changes, and more. A complete guide for bypassing online restrictions in 2025.

Capsolver: The AI‑Driven Captcha Solver You Need for Web Scraping

Capsolver: The AI‑Driven Captcha Solver You Need for Web Scraping

Discover how Capsolver helps solve CAPTCHAs like reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Turnstile fast and reliably for web scraping and automation tasks.

GitHub Unblocked: How to Access GitHub on Restricted Networks

GitHub Unblocked: How to Access GitHub on Restricted Networks

Can't access GitHub? Discover safe ways to unblock GitHub on restricted networks using VPNs, DNS changes, or proxies from MrScraper.

What people think about scraper icon scraper

Net in hero

The mission to make data accessible to everyone is truly inspiring. With MrScraper, data scraping and automation are now easier than ever, giving users of all skill levels the ability to access valuable data. The AI-powered no-code tool simplifies the process, allowing you to extract data without needing technical skills. Plus, the integration with APIs and Zapier makes automation smooth and efficient, from data extraction to delivery.


I'm excited to see how MrScraper will change data access, making it simpler for businesses, researchers, and developers to unlock the full potential of their data. This tool can transform how we use data, saving time and resources while providing deeper insights.

John

Adnan Sher

Product Hunt user

This tool sounds fantastic! The white glove service being offered to everyone is incredibly generous. It's great to see such customer-focused support.

Ben

Harper Perez

Product Hunt user

MrScraper is a tool that helps you collect information from websites quickly and easily. Instead of fighting annoying captchas, MrScraper does the work for you. It can grab lots of data at once, saving you time and effort.

Ali

Jayesh Gohel

Product Hunt user

Now that I've set up and tested my first scraper, I'm really impressed. It was much easier than expected, and results worked out of the box, even on sites that are tough to scrape!

Kim Moser

Kim Moser

Computer consultant

MrScraper sounds like an incredibly useful tool for anyone looking to gather data at scale without the frustration of captcha blockers. The ability to get and scrape any data you need efficiently and effectively is a game-changer.

John

Nicola Lanzillot

Product Hunt user

Support

Head over to our community where you can engage with us and our community directly.

Questions? Ask our team via live chat 24/5 or just poke us on our official Twitter or our founder. We're always happy to help.