InvizBox 2
Instant VPN protection for all your home devices, no apps required
There’s no complicated setup process, and no need to install and learn assorted apps
£99 FROM InvizBox, invizbox.com FeatuRes Multiple VPN hotspots, ad blocking, parental controls
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he InvizBox 2 is a simple VPN router which makes it easy to protect every device in your home. There’s no complicated setup process. No need to install and learn assorted apps. You don’t even have to buy a VPN subscription, or enter any account details – the InvizBox 2 is powered by the excellent IPVanish VPN, and comes ready with everything it needs to access 30+ locations across 20 countries.
Setup is about as simple as you’ll get. Plug in the InvizBox 2, connect any device to one of its two Wi-Fi hotspots and traffic is automatically directed through the VPN.
In a convenient plus, the InvizBox enables setting up multiple hotspots to point at different VPN locations. You could have your smart TV set up for US Netflix, for instance, while other devices use your nearest location for the best speeds. Elsewhere, a handful of bonus features include built-in ad blocking, and a parental controls system which enables blocking web access by device and time of day.
The InvizBox hardware is relatively basic, with only 512MB RAM and a single LAN port. The official specs say it’s capable of ‘over 100Mbps at peak’, which isn’t bad, but might be an issue if you’re looking to connect a large number of devices.
Pricing starts at £99 for the regular InvizBox 2 and one month of VPN service, with subsequent months billed at £7. Upgrading to the annual plan for £159 gets you a year of service, renewing at an equivalent of £5 a month.
Setup and performance
InvizBox installation was speedy and almost entirely hassle-free. Connect to your router, plug in the power, and within a few seconds, a couple of LEDs turn green, indicating connection both to the internet and the VPN.
Checking our test laptop revealed a couple of new hotspots – InvizBox 2 VPN and InvizBox 2 VPN 5GHz. Trying to connect to either of these prompted a request for the password (printed on the base of the router). We set up some test devices, and verified their public IP address with IPLocation.net. The InvizBox 2 had lived up to its promises, protecting our identity by connecting us to the nearest VPN server.
The InvizBox provided a stable and reliable connection during our tests, with no connection drops or other issues. However we connected, the product just worked and there was nothing else to think about or consider.
Our website unblocking tests were more disappointing, as we were unable to access either BBC iPlayer or US Netflix. You may have more luck with other platforms, though, depending on their level of protection – we accessed US-only YouTube content from the UK, for instance.
InvizBox 2 is a good-looking router which makes it quick and easy to protect all your home devices with a VPN. It does tie you to IPVanish as your VPN provider, though, and the hardware is relatively basic. Mike WilliaMs