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DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G 5G NR AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router review

6:42 am | August 4, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: VDSL | Comments: Off

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: 2-minute review

DrayTek keeps raising the bar for small-to-medium business networks with powerful routers and cutting-edge features. The Vigor2865Lax-5G is the newest member of the (extended) 2865 family, adding to the multi-WAN flexibility with a built-in dual SIM quad-antenna 5G/4G LTE modem for the fastest possible mobile broadband.

We have previously reviewed the DrayTek Vigor2865ax (with similar specs but no 5G) and found it excellent. The Lax-5G model has a few key feature upgrades, but also retains (almost) everything that we liked about the 2865 series. For a start, you get a VDSL2 modem with 35b Supervectoring and ADSL2+ backward compatibility, so you can still pull up to 300 Mbps from a fiber-to-the-node line.

There’s also a switchable Gigabit Ethernet WAN/LAN port, plus a USB 2.0 socket for extra 4G/3G fallback, a printer, storage or even a temperature sensor.

Of course, where the 2865Lax-5G really stands out is the inclusion of a dual Nano-SIM slot and an integrated Cat 19 5G/LTE modem. You can set it up as a backup with automatic failover or load balancing between other connections, including VDSL and WAN.

Wireless performance remains the same as the 2865ax, with AX3000-class Wi-Fi 6 radios running 2×2 MU-MIMO with dual antennas. That gives you up to 2,402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. While we would have liked to have seen a Wi-Fi 6GHz 6E or 7 update, we respect the decision to keep it simple and reduce costs. Especially since the router is best networked to an array of Wi-Fi access points, and in fact DrayTek also sells the router as a 2865L-5G model with no Wi-Fi at all.

Under the hood you’ll find hardware acceleration to keep multi-WAN traffic and encrypted tunnels from becoming a bottleneck. Like the 2865ax, IPsec throughput can hit 800 Mbps and SSL VPN sessions manage 130 Mbps. With up to 32 VPN tunnels (including 16 SSL VPN) available, the router makes it easy for remote teams to tap into their company's main network.

This router maintains the series’ robust feature set: support for 16 VLANs and eight LAN subnets, a high-performance firewall with content filtering and QoS, plus zero-touch management of up to 20 DrayTek access points and 10 switches. If you run the VigorACS 3 network management software, you also get SD-WAN orchestration for even smarter traffic routing.

So the spec is good, but how is it to actually use in the real world? Setup was straightforward, and I always enjoy using DrayTek’s plain but robust web interface. As expected, wired performance is rock-solid, and in our tests Wi-Fi throughput peaked at around 578 Mbps at close range, tapering to roughly 377 Mbps at ten meters.

Using the 5G connection we saw maximum downlink speeds of 304 Mbps, with uplink around 121 Mbps – though keep in mind that this is highly dependent on your 5G service provider, cellular bands used, signal strength and the capabilities of the cellular tower you are connected to. While the modem itself is capable of very high speeds in theory, it’s connected into the router via USB 2.0, which limits the maximum throughput to about 400 Mbps.

All told, I was quite impressed with the Vigor2865Lax-5G. Sure, there are little niggles that I expand on further down, but it does manage to combine the 2865 series’ enterprise-grade routing and security with the flexibility of high-performance 5G. So all in all, I think it’s an excellent choice for businesses that need cutting-edge mobile broadband along with a lot of flexibility.

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Price & availability

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G no cellular antennas — The Vigor2865Lax-5G looks like a standard router without the 5G antennas installed (Image credit: Future)

How much does it cost? $799 / £699 / AU$1,250
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Stocked in most major markets including the US, UK and Australia

The DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G isn’t always the easiest to find, but head to your local DrayTek website (or your country's authorized reseller) for more info on local purchase options.

While comparatively easy to find in Australia and the UK, the Vigor2865Lax-5G is harder to buy in the US and at times has been unavailable.

There’s not a huge amount of competition in the 5G-capable VDSL2 modem-router space, but overall the Vigor2865Lax-5G is priced well against similar products.

Value: 4 / 5

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Specifications

Cellular: Rx Cat 19, Tx Cat 18 5G/4G LTE
Antenna: 4 external LTE/5G, 2x external Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi: 802.11ax 2×2 MU-MIMO
Interfaces: 1x GbE WAN/LAN, 4x GbE LAN, 1x RJ-11, 1x USB 2.0
Wireless Speed: 2.4 GHz up to 574 Mbps, 5 GHz up to 2402 Mbps
Dimensions: 241 × 145 × 44 mm
Weight: 650 g

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Design

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G from the front — The Vigor2865Lax-5G puts most of the status LEDs and wired port interfaces on the front (Image credit: Future)

Four external magnetic 5G antennas
Wall and rack mountable
Easy to access front ports

The DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G looks just like the rest of the 2865 series, albeit with a few minor differences and the addition of the cellular antennas. The router puts all the ports and status LEDs on the front, while the antennas, SIM card slot and power are at the rear.

The cellular antennas can be mounted directly to the router, but space is tight, or they can use the included bases with 100 cm cables. The bases are solidly weighted and include a magnet and are easy to spread out and securely attach to metal surfaces.

The SIM card slot has a cover secured by two screws, and once removed, the tray can be pressed to release and it pops out. The SIMs themselves sit on each side of the tray. Note that there is no eSIM support.

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G from the rear — The power connector, Wi-Fi antennas, 5G antenna connections and sim card slot are all on the rear (Image credit: Future)

The 2865Lax-5G is powered by the included 12V, 3A PSU. It can be wall mounted using the attachment points on the underside and includes two screws for this. Alternatively, it can be rack-mounted with the optional DR101 rack-mount bracket.

You also get an RJ11 and RJ45 cable in the box. Other optional accessories include an external USB thermometer for temperature monitoring and alternate Wi-Fi antennas.

Overall, the design is good, with everything easily accessible but not unnecessarily showy for a device that will likely be out of sight.

Design: 4 / 5

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Features

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G interface dashboard — The Vigor2865Lax-5G web interface is comprehensive yet laid out in an easy to use way (Image credit: Future)

Dual SIM cellular modem
VDSL2 modem
Flexible multi-WAN management

The key design goal of the Vigor2865Lax-5G is flexibility, with its combination of 5G connectivity, a VDSL2 modem, fast Wi-Fi and loads of management options. The need for a VDSL modem varies, but for businesses (or remote offices) without fiber, being able to extract the most from a VDSL connection is critical. With 35b Supervectoring, the router can handle up to 300 Mbps over VDSL, making it ideal for those still reliant on fiber-to-the-node or copper-based services. The inclusion of ADSL2+ compatibility is also great, as it gives useful support for legacy connections.

Of course, what sets the Lax-5G apart is its integrated 5G modem and dual Nano-SIM slots, which offer native mobile broadband support without the need for USB dongles. The modem’s 5G connection is rated for a maximum NSA (non-standalone) downlink rate of 3400 Mbps, with an uplink of 550 Mbps. For standalone (SA) 5G, it is rated for 2400 Mbps downlink and 900 Mbps uplink. It uses the 5G bands n1, n20, n28, n3, n38, n40, n5, n7, n77, n78 and n8. Supporting both NSA and SA 5G means the router is relatively future-proof, as it can operate entirely on 5G as needed.

For LTE (4G), you get category 19 for downlinks (up to 1600 Mbps) and Cat 18 for uplinks (up to 200 Mbps). It supports FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) bands 1 (2100MHz), 20 (800MHz), 28 (700MHz), 3 (1800MHz), 5 (850MHz), 7 (2600MHz), 8 (900MHz), plus TDD (Time Division Duplexing) bands 38 (2600MHz), 40 (2300MHz), as well as WCDMA (3G) bands 1 and 8.

While the cellular modem here is excellent, with the latest technology, it is connected internally in the router via USB 2.0, which will limit throughput to under 400 Mbps. But more on that later. The Vigor2865Lax-5G also supports sending and receiving SMS, using SMS for hotspot verification, as well as sending SMS alerts for status changes, such as loss of WAN or VDSL connection.

While the router accepts dual SIMs, only one can be used at a time, but they can be set to failover. This is ideal as a backup when relying on cellular, as you can have services from two providers. It also allows flexibility if traveling between areas with varying coverage. You can even add an external USB 4G/5G dongle as an entire extra backup mobile connection that can run at the same time as the built-in 5G connection, including using load sharing.

The cellular connections can also be managed alongside the other internet options, so the router can maintain internet access via VDSL, Ethernet WAN or 5G, with automatic failover and load balancing to switch between them as required. These capabilities are backed by robust traffic management tools like bandwidth limiting, QoS prioritization and advanced routing rules. Not to mention, you can still add in an extra USB 4G dongle for a secondary backup mobile connection.

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DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G close up of sim card slot — The rear card slot takes two SIMs (one on each side of the holder) (Image credit: Future)

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DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G cellular antenna — The 5G antennas can can be position at various angles to maximize the connection speed (Image credit: Future)

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DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G antenna magnetic base — The 5G antennas have a weighted magnet base, so can be easily position in a variety of ways (Image credit: Future)

Wi-Fi is handled by an AX3000-spec dual-band radio supporting Wi-Fi 6. While you don’t get access to the 6GHz band, it’s still enough for excellent wireless performance. Plus, the router also supports wireless WAN modes and mesh networking, and is ideally set up to act as a central manager of additional DrayTek access points.

As always, DrayTek’s overall ecosystem approach is a major benefit. The 2865Lax-5G can manage up to 20 Vigor access points and 10 switches, making it an ideal base for expanding small to medium business networks with simplified, centralized control. The USB port also adds further flexibility by supporting external devices such as printers, temperature sensors or storage drives.

To ensure top-notch performance, the Vigor2865Lax-5G incorporates hardware acceleration to maximize routing and VPN throughput. Dual-WAN configurations get the benefit of up to 1.3 Gbps of NAT throughput, and IPsec VPN sessions can hit up to 800 Mbps. The idea here is that even when combining VDSL, 5G, and Ethernet WAN, network traffic won’t hit any major internal bottlenecks.

Like the rest of the 2865 series, the Lax-5G includes a comprehensive array of business-focused features. These range from an advanced captive hotspot portal with custom landing page options, to a full-featured firewall, web content filtering and secure remote access via SSL or IPsec VPNs.

DrayTek Vigor ACS 3 demo — The online Draytek Vigor ACS 3 demo is a good way to see if this management option is the right fit for your business (Image credit: Future)

One of the key features of the Vigor2865Lax-5G for business users is its ability to manage a wider DrayTek-based network. Directly through the router’s interface, you can control up to 20 Vigor access points and 10 Vigor switches, including support for mesh networks with up to seven wireless nodes. This makes it a strong foundation for small to medium-sized deployments that may need to scale over time.

Even before reaching a high number of devices, network management can start to feel complex. While the router supports TR-069 provisioning tools, DrayTek also offers a more advanced option in the form of VigorACS 3. This server-based management platform unlocks SD-WAN features on supported hardware, including the Vigor2865Lax-5G. SD-WAN is a practical choice for businesses with remote staff, offering secure and flexible access to company resources from home or while traveling.

There’s a lot to unpack, but overall the Vigor2865Lax-5G offers a well-rounded mix of modern wireless, fixed-line, and cellular connectivity in a single, business-ready device without jumping to enterprise price tiers.

But don’t take my word for it – the DrayTek website has online demos available that let you poke around the interface and explore the features yourself. I highly recommend you take a look, as I don’t have the space here to cover everything the 2865Lax-5G can do. Check out the 2865 series demo at http://eu.draytek.com:22865/.

DrayTek also makes it easy to give VigorACS a try, and buying a compatible device means you get a free 30-day trial. Or, if you want to take a look right now, there’s also an online demo.

Features: 4.5 / 5

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Performance

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G close up of status lights — The Vigor2865Lax-5G has a variety of easy to read status lights on the front panel (Image credit: Future)

Excellent failover and load balancing
Useful hardware acceleration
Decent performance for the spec

Getting the Vigor2865Lax-5G up and running was straightforward and entirely handled through the web interface. For basic setups it’s quick, but once you start digging into more advanced features, the interface does get dense. That said, DrayTek provides an excellent range of support materials, including detailed manuals, step-by-step guides and a knowledge base that is very helpful if you get stuck.

DrayTek also has an app available, and while I preferred the web interface, it lets you handle most of the setup and control, with some limitations for the more advanced configuration changes, diagnostics and firmware updates.

For hands-on testing, I slotted the 2865Lax-5G into a mixed network that included DrayTek access points, a Vigor switch, a NAS, IP cameras and a wide variety of connected devices. I tested with both 5G as the primary WAN, and as a backup, combined with a connection via the WAN port. The router handled multiple WAN sources without issue and automatic failover and load balancing worked as expected.

Testing in Australia, I used a Telstra data SIM on the 5G network with high signal strength. At peak, downloads reached 304 Mbps and uploads hit 121 Mbps, with latency averaging around 35 ms. I ran the 5G as my primary connection for a week, and had no issues at all, even with sustained high throughput. As mentioned earlier, the cellular modem uses an internal USB 2.0 connection, which limits the maximum bandwidth to no more than about 400 Mbps. Considering the modem is capable of much more, this is a potential bottleneck for the future, but in the real world right now not many setups would sustain more than this anyway. Load balancing across 5G and WAN during this test worked reliably, with the router distributing traffic as needed.

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G close up of wired interface ports — The Vigor2865Lax-5G includes a 1Gbps LAN/WAN port, plus 4x 1 GbE ports and an RJ11 DSL port (Image credit: Future)

Wi-Fi performance was solid overall. Mesh setup with other DrayTek access points was fast using the built-in wizard. Once connected, mesh handover between nodes worked well. At short range on a Wi-Fi 7 laptop, I measured top speeds of 578 Mbps. Two internal walls dropped that down to 404 Mbps, and at a distance of ten meters it managed 377 Mbps.

That’s a respectable result for Wi-Fi 6, though not exceptional, and at longer range, performance was decent but nothing spectacular – likely due to the relatively low-gain stock antennas. For those who want to optimize wireless coverage, DrayTek offers optional higher-gain and directional patch antennas that can help improve the experience in more demanding spaces.

I also tested with large network file transfers, though these were capped by the speed of the Gigabit LAN ports. As the LAN/WAN port is also Gigabit Ethernet, the router won’t suit faster 1Gbps+ internet connections.

Overall, the Vigor2865Lax-5G handled everything I threw at it with aplomb, and there were no failures or even hiccups, to report. Bandwidth allocation, VPN tunnels, VLAN separation and WAN prioritization all worked exactly as described and managing the wider test network of DrayTek devices through the 2865’s interface was straightforward.

Of course, getting the router set up the way you want takes time, but once configured, the Vigor2865Lax-5G is a workhorse, and gives stable multi-WAN connectivity with the added benefit of built-in 5G for backups and in the field connections.

Performance: 4 / 5

DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Final verdict

The Vigor2865Lax-5G is a capable and well-rounded router that brings built-in 5G to the already versatile 2865 router series. For businesses without access to fiber, or those needing a reliable backup or mobile WAN option, the combination of VDSL2, Ethernet WAN, 5G and even USB 4G fallback makes it a very flexible option.

While some of the hardware is not cutting-edge, performance is solid overall with no issues encountered during testing. Hardware acceleration gives the router enough throughput to comfortably handle high network usage, VPN connections, load balancing and a range of management and QoS options without choking under pressure. It is limited by its Gigabit-only ports, so it will not suit offices with multi-gigabit fiber plans, but for typical SME use cases, it has more than enough headroom.

It’s important to reiterate that the 2865Lax-5G works best when used as part of a wider DrayTek setup. With support for managing access points, switches and full integration with the VigorACS management platform, it becomes a practical core device for branch offices, mobile sites, or retail networks. SD-WAN functionality, VPN policy control and centralized monitoring all add significant value for those who need a lot of flexibility.

DrayTek continues to deliver strong support and the router is backed by extensive online documentation, setup guides and a responsive help site, which makes it easier to unlock the full range of features. While the web interface and app are not exactly glamorous, both are reliable, easy-to-use interfaces with excellent depth of control.

There are some limits to be aware of, like the lack of multi-gig ports, USB 2.0 connections and old Wi-Fi 6 spec, but these are understandable trade-offs at this price point. So if your business needs dependable, multi-WAN connectivity and 5G as part of its network, the Vigor2865Lax-5G delivers exactly what it promises with very little fuss.

Should you buy the DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G?

Value	Well priced for the fairly unique set of features	4 / 5
Design	Simple yet effective	4 / 5
Features	Loads of business-focused features that give excellent management and internet redundancy options	4.5 / 5
Performance	Some limits due to the hardware chosen but well suited to its target audience.	4 / 5
Overall	A versatile modem-router that will suit small to medium businesses with varied networking needs	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You need a fast primary or backup 5G connection
The dual SIM 5G makes for very cheap yet versatile backups, or enables high-speed connections where there are no wired options.

Your business uses an FTTN or copper-based connection
The built-in modem with 35b Supervectoring support means you can max out the VDSL speeds, while ADSL2+ backward compatibility is still surprisingly important in many regions.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t need the VDSL modem
For those who want the 5G and the other WAN options, but don’t need the built-in DSL modem, consider options like the DrayTek Vigor2927Lax-5G instead.

You don't need a cellular connection
Having built-in 5G backup is fantastic, but if you don’t need it, then the DrayTek Vigor2865ax has all the same features (minus the cellular connection) for half the price.

We tested out the best mesh routers for helping you stay connected.

Movavi Video Suite 2025 review

6:53 pm | August 1, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Video editing tools are everywhere these days. You have cheap, not very powerful options bundled with your computing device, you can purchase expensive, very powerful apps with a steep learning curve, or you can opt for a more middle of the road option: software that is brimming with features, looks fun to use, and is affordable.

And it's in the latter camp that I'd place Movavi. It's unlikely to trouble the likes of Premiere Pro and Resolve any time soon, but it's superior to the likes of Apple iMovie or ClipChamp. And it might be one of the best video editing software for beginners around right now.

I took Movavi Video Suite 2025 for a spin to see how it handles the post-production process, and precisely where it fits into this crowded field.

Movavi Video Suite 2025: Pricing & plans

A choice of subscription or one-off fee for a perpetual license, with a massive discount at time of review

The Movavi Video Suite is available as both a subscription service or a perpetual licence, with wildly fluctuating prices throughout: you have the standard cost, and more often than not, you’ll have a special limited time discount, which, in our experience with other software and services, almost always gets reset and extended when their time runs out. But in case it doesn’t, we’ll list you all the prices we found on their website.

The monthly subscription is the only one that remains static at around $30. By contrast, the yearly subscription should cost you a little under $250, but was discounted to around $100 as of this writing.

If you fancy combining your rentals, you can grab the Video Suite and Movavi’s Photo Editor for a yearly subscription of $234 (currently discounted to $105).

Should you not be a fan of renting your software however, you have the option of purchasing the latter (i.e. the Video Suite and the Photo Editor) for $334 - or $150, if the discount holds.

All of the above come with a 30-day money back guarantee, and you also have the ability to download a 7-day free trial which works without you having to hand out your card details. This trial has limitations, as you’d expect, such as limiting the length of your outputs and watermarking them, for instance.

You can check out the full pricing details on Movavi's website by clicking here.

Score: 4/5

Movavi Video Suite 2025: Getting started

Movavi Video Suite 2025 during our review — (Image credit: Movavi // Future)

The software made it somewhat tricky for us to get to a language we understood, so we could start using it

Launching Movavi Video Editor for the first time, we were greeted with a difficult conundrum, one which never happened to us before, so it couldn’t have been our computer’s setting, and we felt it was worth us mentioning it, should it also happen to you: everything was in Japanese, which made any kind work impossible if you’re unfamiliar with that noble language.

Thankfully, feeding a screenshot of the settings window to Google Translate helped us see which menu led to our preferred language. It’s not a hard issue to resolve, but it would’ve been preferable had the software noticed which language our computer was using, and default to it during installation.

Score: 2.5/5

Movavi Video Suite 2025: Interface

Movavi’s video editor is well-organized and surprisingly simple to use, with all the tools you need easily accessible, including some very well-implemented and powerful features

Movavi Video Suite is essentially broken down into three separate tools: the Video Editor, the Video Converter, and the Screen Recorder. We’ll focus primarily on the former as that’s where anyone interested in filmmaking will be spending most of their time, and we suspect, if you’re reading this, that this means you.

And frankly, we were really impressed with it. It’s clean, simple, well organised, and gives you access to all the tools you need quickly and efficiently. The interface offers the media section, top left, the preview window, top right, and the timeline taking up almost half of the screen real estate at the bottom.

To the left you have a sidebar, giving you access to tools, effects, transitions, titles, even Movavi’s online store. Just above the Timeline are the editing tools you’ll use most often, and also includes other features, such as ‘auto subtitling’, which is almost too easy to use (and more competent and flexible than what some higher end software offer).

The whole interface is extremely friendly: drag footage from a hard drive straight onto the media section, then drag the clips you want onto the timeline to start building your edit. You can work with multiple layers of audio and video, apply transitions and various effects just by dragging them onto the clip you wish to affect. It’s all very simple. So much so in fact, that what could be moderately tricky to complex actions, are handled with ease.

We found the AI Tracker, for instance, to provide excellent results with the user barely doing anything to make it work, and the algorithms behind the ‘Background Remover’ were remarkably good, even when the background itself was quite complex (such as foliage).

Movavi’s Video Editor also has an online store which is accessible via the ‘Packs’ menu, on the left sidebar. As it’s a store, most items are Premium ones (they have a little dark pink crown, top right of their thumbnail), but a handful can be used for free. In any case, you’re allowed to download even the Premium ones and include them in your project. You’ll just need to deal with financial matters upon export.

Speaking of Exports, this video editor comes with numerous options. MP4 is chosen by default (which makes sense as it’s so ubiquitous), but you have numerous other options available to you, including DVD formats, and even the long obsolete SWF. In addition to generic formats, you also have presets for specific devices, such as iPhones, Xbox and more, and you can upload your project directly to social media with links to YouTube, Vimeo, and TikTok. It’s a well stocked series of options.

Score: 4.5/5

Movavi Video Suite 2025: Converter & Screen Capture

The Movavi Suite comes with two other apps, one to convert video and images to numerous different formats, and the other to record your screen (or take screenshots). Both are full featured, offering numerous options, and very easy to use

The Movavi Video Suite isn’t limited to their excellent Video Editor: it also comes with a Video Converter and a Screen Capture tool. Let’s quickly take a look at them.

The Video Converter’s interface is sparse, but then again, what do you need to convert image and video? An area to drag files onto, and a list of formats to choose from, and that’s exactly what Video Converter offers. It’s incredibly easy to use, whether you’re after software that does it all for you, in which case just select the preset you’re after and you’re done. But should you need to manipulate every available parameter, those are but a drop down menu away.

On top of this, Video Converter also offers you a surprising range of editing tools, from adjusting the audio, to making basic colour correction, applying effects, adding subtitles or a watermark, and cropping and trimming the footage. It’s unexpectedly full featured.

When it comes to Screen Recorder, you have the choice of taking a screenshot or a video. The software can instantly recognise open windows (it even selects the frontmost one by default), or allows you to set a specific area, or forego all of that and capture the entire screen.

It will also record the computer’s audio, an external microphone and your webcam, which it burns into the recording (you can’t choose to move it around after the recording or remove it altogether after the fact). Frustratingly, as is the case with every other screen capture tool, you have to grant it so many permissions for it to work properly, it can take a while.

Score: 4.5/5

Should I buy Movavi Video Suite 2025?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for editing software that covers everything from editing, to formatting, and even has a powerful screen capture tool, with interfaces that are sleek and well designed, to make it as easy as possible for you to get your work done.

Don't buy it if...

You’re put off by the additional tools that come with the suite beyond the editing options, as you either already have similar products or don’t need them, or feel the features available are just too advanced for your needs.

For more creative apps, we've tested and reviewed the best video editing software, the best free video editing software, and the best video editing apps for mobile devices.

Medium review 2025

3:20 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Website Building | Tags: SEO | Comments: Off

Medium stands out as one of the most writer-friendly platforms in our comprehensive best blogging platforms roundup. Unlike traditional blogging tools, it functions more like a social network for long-form content, where your stories can reach millions without any marketing effort.

Our reviewers have tested 140+ of the best website builders and blogging tools giving us deep insight into what makes each platform unique. What sets Medium apart for us is its focus on content over customization. You won't find the design flexibility of Wix, our top pick for 2025. But the tradeoff’s not for nothing.

Instead, Medium prioritizes discovery and engagement through its algorithm-driven feed system. The platform currently serves over 100 million monthly visitors and pays writers more than $2 million monthly through its Partner Program.

What is Medium?

Medium is essentially a hybrid between a blogging platform and a social media network, designed specifically for long-form written content. Founded by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams in 2012, it removes the technical barriers of traditional blogging by handling all the hosting, design, and infrastructure for you. You simply create an account and start writing. No coding, no theme selection, no server management required.

Think of Medium as a digital magazine where anyone can contribute articles, called "stories" in Medium's terminology. Your content appears not just on your personal profile but also gets distributed through Medium's recommendation system to readers who might be interested in your topics. This built-in audience discovery is Medium's biggest advantage. Your first article could potentially reach thousands of readers without any promotional effort on your part.

Features

Medium's feature set reflects its philosophy of simplicity over complexity, offering just enough tools to create engaging content without overwhelming writers with options.

The platform excels at content creation and discovery features but falls short on customization and branding capabilities that business users typically need. At $5 monthly for the basic membership, Medium offers reasonable value for writers focused purely on content creation, though it can't compete with full-featured platforms for businesses requiring extensive customization.

The platform's strength lies in its community-driven features like publications, follower systems, and engagement tools that help writers build audiences organically. However, you'll miss advanced features like custom domains, detailed analytics, or ecommerce integration that competitors offer. Medium's pricing becomes more justifiable when you consider the built-in audience and monetization potential through the Partner Program, though serious bloggers may eventually outgrow these limitations.

Content editor

Medium's editor stands out for its clean, distraction-free interface that focuses entirely on writing. The editor uses a simple plus-sign system to add multimedia elements like images, videos, and code blocks, while text formatting appears when you highlight content. This approach eliminates the complexity found in traditional CMS platforms, letting you focus purely on crafting your message.

Publications system

Publications function like digital magazines where multiple writers can contribute content around specific themes or topics. You can either create your own publication or submit stories to existing ones with established audiences. This system provides an excellent way to reach targeted readers beyond your personal followers, with some publications boasting thousands of dedicated subscribers.

Partner program monetization

The Partner Program allows writers to earn money based on reading time from paying subscribers, with earnings calculated through factors like engagement, follower bonuses, and story boosts. Writers can earn anywhere from a few dollars to thousands monthly, with top performers making substantial incomes. The program requires a $5 monthly membership and at least one published story to qualify.

Social features

Medium incorporates social networking elements like following other writers, clapping for stories (similar to likes), and highlighting specific text passages for comments. These features create a more interactive experience than traditional blogs, encouraging community building and reader engagement. The platform also offers audio narration for stories, expanding accessibility for different types of content consumption.

Ease of use

Medium interface — You create an account, choose topics to follow, and can immediately start writing or reading. (Image credit: Medium)

Medium prioritizes simplicity above all else, making it one of the most beginner-friendly publishing platforms available. The onboarding process takes just minutes. You create an account, choose topics to follow, and can immediately start writing or reading. The interface feels more like using a word processor than managing a complex website, with all technical aspects handled automatically in the background.

The writing experience centers around Medium's elegant editor, which reveals formatting options only when needed. New paragraphs show a plus sign for adding multimedia, while highlighting text reveals options for bold, italic, headers, and links. This progressive disclosure approach prevents interface clutter while keeping powerful features accessible when you need them.

Medium's approach to publishing reflects founder Evan Williams' vision of removing friction from content creation. Unlike traditional blogging platforms that require decisions about themes, plugins, and hosting, Medium handles everything automatically. You write, hit publish, and Medium's algorithm immediately begins showing your content to potentially interested readers based on their reading history and followed topics.

The platform does have some accessibility considerations worth noting. While the clean design works well for most users, the limited customization options mean you can't adjust fonts, colors, or layouts for specific accessibility needs. However, Medium's built-in audio narration feature helps serve users who prefer listening to reading.

Pricing

Medium plans — The $5 monthly membership unlocks unlimited reading of all stories, enables Partner Program participation for earning money, and includes audio narrations. (Image credit: Medium)

Plan	Starting rate (paid annually)	Renewal rate (paid annually)
Free	$0/month	$0/month
Medium Member	$5/month	$5/month
Friend of Medium	$12.50/month	$12.50/month

Medium's pricing structure is refreshingly straightforward compared to most blogging platforms. The free tier allows unlimited publishing and reading of non-member stories, but limits you to three member-only articles monthly. A freemium approach lets you test the platform thoroughly before committing to a paid plan.

The $5 monthly membership unlocks unlimited reading of all stories, enables Partner Program participation for earning money, and includes audio narrations. The $15 monthly "Friend of Medium" tier provides the same features but pays writers 4x more when you read their content, making it more of a supporter tier than a feature upgrade.

Unlike traditional blogging platforms, Medium has no transaction fees, hosting costs, or additional charge. The membership fee covers everything.

Customer support

Medium support center — Medium's customer support operates primarily through email and social media channels, with no live chat or phone support available for immediate assistance. (Image credit: Medium)

Medium's customer support operates primarily through email and social media channels, with no live chat or phone support available for immediate assistance. You can reach their support team by filling out a form at help.medium.com or contacting them directly at yourfriend@medium.com. For specific issues like complaints or feedback, they provide dedicated email addresses including trust@medium.com for platform concerns and legal@medium.com for legal matters.

The quality of customer support receives mixed reviews from users. According to customer satisfaction data on TrustPilot, Medium scores just 1.7 out of 5 stars for customer service, with most users reporting dissatisfaction with response times and issue resolution. Only 5% of customers who contacted support reported having their issues resolved on PissedConsumer, which is concerning for a platform serving millions of users. The average call time when reaching their phone line is just 1 minute, suggesting limited depth in support interactions.

Medium's support structure reflects their focus on self-service solutions rather than hands-on customer care. They maintain a comprehensive knowledge base for common questions and troubleshooting. However, this approach can frustrate users dealing with account issues, billing problems, or content disputes that require human intervention. The lack of real-time support options like live chat makes Medium less suitable for businesses requiring immediate technical assistance.

For serious publishers or businesses considering Medium, the limited support infrastructure represents a significant drawback. You'll need to rely heavily on community forums and self-help resources when problems arise. This hands-off approach works fine for casual writers but becomes problematic when dealing with monetization issues, publication management, or account security concerns that demand prompt resolution.

Alternatives

Medium occupies a unique position in the blogging landscape as a social publishing platform rather than a traditional content management system. With over 99,522 companies using Medium globally as of 2025, it holds a modest market share compared to competitors like Tumblr (72.09%) and Google Blogger (5.33%). Medium's strength lies in its built-in audience of 100 million monthly readers and its focus on content discovery over customization.

The platform works best for individual writers, thought leaders, and content creators who prioritize reaching audiences over building branded websites. It's particularly valuable for freelance writers building portfolios, startup founders establishing thought leadership, and journalists sharing insights without technical overhead. Medium's Partner Program makes it attractive for writers seeking immediate monetization opportunities based on reader engagement rather than traditional advertising models.

Medium's main competitors serve different needs across the blogging spectrum. WordPress.org dominates for users wanting complete control and customization, while platforms like Ghost cater to professional publishers seeking speed and membership features. Substack competes directly in the newsletter space, and newer platforms like Bullet.so target Notion users wanting SEO control with custom domains. Newer solutions like Wix offer more design flexibility for brand-focused creators.

For businesses requiring custom branding, SEO control, or advanced features, Medium's limitations become apparent quickly. The platform's algorithm-dependent distribution and lack of custom domains make it unsuitable for companies building long-term digital assets. However, for writers prioritizing content creation over technical management, Medium remains one of the most accessible publishing platforms available, especially when combined with its built-in monetization and discovery features.

Medium: Summary

Medium succeeds as a streamlined publishing platform that removes technical barriers between writers and their audiences. Its clean editor, built-in readership, and Partner Program monetization create an appealing package for content creators focused purely on writing. The platform's social networking features and algorithmic distribution help new writers gain exposure that would take months or years to achieve on independent blogs.

However, Medium's limitations become significant for users requiring control, customization, or long-term brand building. The lack of custom domains, limited design options, and algorithm dependency make it unsuitable for businesses or serious bloggers planning sustainable content strategies. While Medium works excellently for individual writers and thought leaders, its constraints ultimately position it as a stepping stone rather than a permanent solution for most professional content creators.

Medium review: FAQs

Can I use my own domain with Medium?

Medium offers custom domain support only for publications, not individual writer profiles. This means you can connect a custom domain if you create a Medium publication, but your personal Medium profile will always use the medium.com/@username format. This limitation significantly impacts branding efforts for businesses and professional writers who want to build their own digital presence rather than relying on Medium's platform.

How much money can I make through Medium's Partner Program?

Earnings through Medium's Partner Program vary dramatically based on your content quality, audience engagement, and publishing frequency. Top writers can earn thousands of dollars monthly, while most participants make anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. Your earnings depend on reading time from paying subscribers, with factors like follower bonuses and story boosts affecting your total compensation. You need a $5 monthly membership and at least one published story to qualify for the program.

Can I export my content from Medium if I decide to leave?

Medium allows you to export your stories, but the process has limitations. You can download your data through your account settings, which includes your published stories in HTML format. However, you'll lose the engagement metrics, comments, and social proof built up on the platform. The exported content also requires reformatting for use on other platforms, and you won't retain the SEO benefits or backlinks generated through Medium's domain authority.

Is Medium good for SEO?

Medium provides mixed SEO benefits due to its high domain authority but limited control over optimization. While your content benefits from Medium's strong search engine presence, you can't customize meta descriptions, URLs, or implement advanced SEO strategies. Medium automatically handles basic SEO elements like canonical tags and meta titles, but you're restricted to their format and structure. For serious SEO efforts, dedicated blogging platforms offer much better control and long-term visibility potential.

What's the difference between Medium's free and paid memberships?

Medium's free tier allows unlimited publishing and reading of non-member stories, but limits you to three member-only articles monthly. The $5 monthly membership unlocks unlimited reading of all stories, enables Partner Program participation for earning money, and includes audio narrations of articles. The $15 monthly "Friend of Medium" tier provides the same features but pays writers 4x more when you read their content, functioning more as a supporter tier than offering additional features for your own content creation.

Substack review 2025

12:58 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Website Building | Comments: Off

Substack has been a genuine surprise among blogging platforms in 2025, aimed for writers who want to ditch the search and monetize their content directly. Unlike some conventional options featured in our best blogging platforms roundup, Substack focuses on newsletter subscriptions and social discovery over traditional SEO. This unique publishing experience has gained significant traction among independent creators, especially journalists and influencers.

Our reviewers have spent thousands of hours testing 140+ of the best website builders and blogging tools, giving us deep insight into what makes platforms succeed or fail. While Wix remains our top pick for overall blogging excellence in 2025, Substack carves out its own niche with a distinctly different philosophy. It prioritizes simple publishing workflows and direct reader relationships over complex features and design flexibility.

Substack's growth trajectory has been remarkable, with writers building substantial audiences and generating significant revenue through paid subscriptions. Its success stems from its focus on quality content and genuine reader engagement, creating an environment where thoughtful writing thrives over algorithm-chasing tactics.

What is Substack?

You can think of Substack as a hybrid between a blog and an email newsletter service, designed specifically for writers who want to build direct relationships with their readers.

At its core, Substack is a content publishing platform where you can share newsletters and monetize your writing. Unlike traditional blogging platforms that rely heavily on search engine traffic, Substack delivers your content directly to subscribers' inboxes while also maintaining a web presence for broader discovery.

This platform operates on a simple premise: writers create content, readers subscribe to receive it via email, and successful creators can charge for premium subscriptions. Substack handles all the technical aspects — payment processing, email delivery, subscriber management — so writers can focus purely on creating content. This unique model has attracted everyone from independent journalists to niche experts who want to build sustainable businesses around their expertise, without dealing with complex website management or marketing automation tools.

Features

Substack social discovery — Substack's community features help writers discover audiences and build relationships with peers. (Image credit: Substack)

Substack offers a focused feature set that prioritizes writing and reader engagement over extensive customization options. The platform provides essential tools for content creation, email distribution, basic analytics, and monetization, making it particularly well-suited for writers who want to start publishing immediately without technical barriers. While feature-rich compared to basic newsletter services, Substack deliberately keeps things simpler than full-featured content management systems, which may disappoint users looking for advanced functionality.

The pricing structure reflects this streamlined approach. Core features like writing, publishing, email distribution, notes, videos, podcasts, and analytics are completely free. You only pay when you start earning through paid subscriptions, with Substack taking a 10% platform fee plus payment processing costs. This model makes it accessible for beginners while scaling costs with success, though the lack of advanced email marketing features like segmentation and automation may limit monetization potential for experienced marketers.

Writing and publishing tools

Substack's editor focuses on clean and distraction-free writing with basic formatting options that keep content readable and professional. The platform supports multimedia content including images, videos, and embedded podcasts, allowing creators to build rich publications without technical complexity. Publishing is instantaneous. You write, hit publish, and your content goes live on your profile page and optionally hits subscriber inboxes.

Email newsletter system

Email functionality forms Substack's backbone, automatically formatting your posts for inbox delivery with professional templates. Subscribers receive posts directly in their email, creating more intimate reader relationships than traditional blog followers. The system handles subscriber management, delivery optimization, and basic segmentation between free and paid subscribers. But it lacks advanced email marketing features like automated sequences or detailed subscriber tagging.

Monetization features

Substack's subscription system allows writers to offer free content alongside premium paid tiers, with flexible pricing for monthly, annual, and founding member subscriptions. The platform handles all payment processing through Stripe integration, manages subscriber access to paid content, and provides revenue analytics. Writers can experiment with different pricing strategies and offer various subscription benefits, though the system lacks sophisticated pricing experiments or advanced subscriber lifecycle management.

Community and discovery tools

Substack Notes functions as the platform's social layer, allowing writers to share shorter thoughts and engage with other creators' content. The Recommendations feature enables cross-promotion between compatible publications, creating organic growth opportunities within the Substack ecosystem. These community features help writers discover audiences and build relationships with peers, though discoverability remains challenging for new creators without existing audiences.

Analytics and insights

Basic analytics cover essential metrics like open rates, click-through rates, subscriber growth, and revenue tracking. The dashboard provides clear insights into content performance and audience engagement, helping writers understand what resonates with their readers. However, the analytics remain relatively simple compared to advanced email marketing platforms, lacking detailed subscriber behavior tracking or sophisticated conversion analysis.

Ease of use

Substack design — Your writing experience feels natural and distraction-free, but the simplicity comes with trade-offs that some users find limiting. (Image credit: Substack)

Substack excels in simplicity, offering perhaps the most straightforward onboarding experience among content platforms. New users can create an account and publish their first post within minutes, with no technical setup required. The minimal interface eliminates the overwhelming array of options that plague traditional blogging platforms, allowing writers to focus on content creation rather than configuration.

Your writing experience feels natural and distraction-free, with a simple editor that handles formatting automatically while maintaining professional appearance. Publishing requires just a single click, the platform handles email distribution, web posting, and subscriber notifications seamlessly. This extends to subscriber management, where basic analytics and payment tracking remain accessible without complex dashboards or confusing metrics.

However, simplicity comes with trade-offs that some users find limiting. Customization options are minimal. You can adjust colors, add a logo, and choose from basic layouts, but advanced design control simply doesn't exist. Writers who want unique branding or complex page layouts will find Substack restrictive compared to platforms like WordPress or Ghost.

The platform occasionally suffers from performance issues too, with some users reporting unresponsive pages during editing sessions. While these technical hiccups don't affect the core publishing experience, they can frustrate users trying to customize their publications or manage subscriber settings. Despite these limitations, most writers appreciate the focus on content over complexity, finding it liberating rather than restrictive.

Pricing

Substack payments and fees — Substack operates on a unique revenue-sharing model with no traditional subscription tiers. (Image credit: Substack)

Plan	Starting rate (paid annually)	Renewal rate (paid annually)
Free	$0/month	$0/month
Pro	10% of subscription revenue + processing fees	10% of subscription revenue + processing fees

Substack operates on a unique revenue-sharing model with no traditional subscription tiers. The platform is completely free to use for publishing free content, regardless of subscriber count.

Writers only pay when they enable paid subscriptions, at which point Substack takes a 10% platform fee plus payment processing costs through Stripe (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, plus 0.5% for recurring billing). You also pay a one-time fee of $50 if you’d like to connect your own domain, which can be purchased separately from a domain registrar.

This aligns Substack's success with creator success. It only profits when writers earn money. For a typical $50 annual subscription, total fees would amount to approximately $7.10, leaving writers with around $42.90. While a percentage-based model can become expensive for high-earning creators compared to flat-rate alternatives, it eliminates upfront costs and makes the platform accessible to writers just starting their monetization journey.

Customer support

Substack support — Only about 10% of callers manage to speak with an actual person, with the average resolution rate being just 1%. (Image credit: Substack)

Substack's customer support has become a significant pain point for many users, with the platform heavily relying on AI-powered chatbots in 2024-25. The company launched an automated support system in early 2024, claiming it resolves over 90% of user inquiries. However, user experiences tell a different story, with many reporting frustrating interactions and difficulty reaching human representatives.

The primary support channel is a chatbot that appears on Substack's support page, though users can still email support@substack.com. While Substack claims there's a "seamless handoff" to human support when needed, many users report getting stuck in automated loops without receiving actual human assistance. The platform does provide a phone number (415-592-7299), but customer satisfaction ratings are extremely low at just 1.4 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot.

Real user experiences reveal significant issues with the support system. People report being charged multiple times for subscriptions, unable to cancel payments, and receiving only automated responses despite repeated attempts to reach human support. AI sometimes fabricates email addresses or provides incorrect information, leaving users without resolution for weeks or months. Only about 10% of callers manage to speak with an actual person, with the average resolution rate being just 1%.

For urgent security issues, you can contact security@substackinc.com, which appears to receive more attention than general support requests. However, the overall support experience remains frustrating for most users, with many describing it as "nonexistent" and recommending alternative platforms partly due to these service limitations.

Alternatives

Substack occupies a unique position in the content publishing market as a hybrid newsletter-blog platform focused on direct reader monetization. While competitors like WordPress offer more customization and Ghost provides better technical control, Substack's strength lies in its social publishing features and built-in community elements. The platform combines traditional newsletter functionality with social media-style interactions through Notes, recommendations, and cross-promotion features that most competitors lack.

For writers seeking maximum customization and control, WordPress remains the strongest alternative, offering extensive themes, plugins, and the ability to sell various digital products beyond subscriptions. Ghost CMS appeals to technically-minded creators who want full ownership without revenue sharing, providing advanced analytics and automation features that Substack lacks. Beehiiv and ConvertKit serve writers focused purely on email marketing with sophisticated automation tools.

Substack works best for independent writers and journalists who prioritize simplicity over customization and want to build direct relationships with readers. It particularly suits creators who appreciate the social discovery aspects and don't need complex email marketing features. However, writers requiring advanced design control, detailed analytics, or diverse monetization options may find better fits elsewhere.

The competitive landscape shows Substack maintaining its lead through community features rather than technical superiority. While platforms like MailerLite offer more comprehensive email tools and Gumroad provides broader monetization options, none match Substack's combination of publishing simplicity and social discovery. This positioning makes Substack ideal for content creators who want to focus on writing rather than platform management.

Substack review: Summary

Substack succeeds as a streamlined publishing platform that removes technical barriers between writers and their audiences. The platform's greatest strength lies in its simplicity. Writers can start publishing and monetizing immediately without dealing with complex setup, payment processing, or email delivery systems. The built-in social features like Notes and recommendations create genuine discovery opportunities that traditional blogging platforms lack, while the direct subscription model aligns creator and platform incentives effectively.

However, Substack's limitations become apparent for creators seeking growth beyond basic newsletter publishing. The minimal customization options, basic analytics, limited SEO capabilities, and problematic customer support create significant constraints for serious content businesses. Writers who need advanced email marketing features, detailed subscriber insights, or professional design control will quickly outgrow what Substack offers, making it hard to recommend as a long-term publishing solution for ambitious creators.

Substack: FAQs

Can I use my own domain with Substack?

Yes, Substack allows custom domains for your publication, giving you a more professional appearance and helping with branding. You can set up a custom domain through your Substack settings, though you'll need to purchase the domain separately and configure DNS settings. This feature helps maintain your brand identity and makes your publication look more established to potential subscribers.

How much does Substack cost for creators?

Substack is completely free to use for publishing free content with unlimited subscribers. You only pay when you enable paid subscriptions, at which point Substack takes a 10% platform fee plus payment processing costs (approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through Stripe). This means for a typical $50 annual subscription, you'd pay around $7.10 in total fees, keeping roughly $42.90. There are no upfront costs or monthly subscription fees.

Can I export my subscriber list from Substack?

Yes, you own your subscriber list and can export it at any time through your Substack dashboard. This includes both free and paid subscriber information, ensuring you're not locked into the platform. The export feature gives you flexibility to move to other platforms if needed, though you'll need to handle the technical migration and payment processing setup elsewhere.

Does Substack help with content discovery?

Substack offers several discovery features including Notes (short-form social content), recommendations between publications, and curated lists that can boost visibility. However, discoverability remains challenging for new creators without existing audiences. The platform's algorithm-based discovery is limited compared to social media platforms, making it essential to bring your own audience or actively participate in the Substack community to gain traction.

What content formats does Substack support?

Substack supports various content formats including written posts, images, videos, podcasts, and embedded media. You can publish both long-form newsletter content and short-form Notes, create podcast series, and include multimedia elements in your posts. However, the platform lacks advanced formatting options and design flexibility compared to traditional blogging platforms, keeping the focus on clean, readable content rather than complex layouts.

Read why I found Deluge to be the best free torrent client

1:34 pm | July 31, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Torrenting clients give users access to a deluge of content. Unsurprisingly, one of the most popular free torrent clients is aptly named Deluge. It’s a free and open-source torrenting client that’s a favorite for many.

I decided to test Deluge to see whether it’s better than other clients I’ve used. My test centered on its features, performance, user-friendliness, and security, among other crucial factors. Read on to learn my opinion about choosing Deluge as a torrenting client.

Deluge: Versions

Extensive PC compatibility is one of the first things that stood out about Deluge. Its official downloads page listed apps for macOS, Windows, and various Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora.

However, I was disappointed that Deluge lacked an Android app. Many free and open-source software tools have Android apps, which I cherish using to control downloads remotely on my PC. Given Apple's unfriendliness to torrenting apps, I didn’t expect an iOS app. No torrenting app I’ve reviewed is directly compatible with iOS.

Deluge: Features

Deluge might not be as popular as rival torrenting clients like Vuze, but it packs many features that give it a competitive edge. I liked that Deluge can be easily customized with plugins that provide extra functionalities. For instance, I used the Notifications plugin to get notified via email about completed downloads.

Like most torrent clients, Deluge lets you add a .torrent file and download the corresponding content. This file contains the metadata of the movie, audio, software package, or any other content you want to download. When added to Deluge, it extracts the metadata and downloads the required content.

Unlike some torrenting clients I’ve tested, Deluge doesn’t offer a built-in way to find .torrent files. Instead, you’ll get them yourself from external sources. Some torrenting clients have built-in search engines to make finding these torrents easier, but not Deluge.

If you don’t have the torrent file for the content you want to download, you can provide a magnet link or an info hash. Both contain the same metadata as a .torrent file, so Deluge can still extract the data and download the corresponding content.

Deluge is ad-free, a feature I appreciate after testing some torrenting clients. Some free clients had ads covering large parts of my screen, often for dodgy products. However, despite being free, Deluge doesn’t include ads for monetization. It’s an open-source tool maintained by a team of volunteer developers.

One major benefit of using Deluge as a torrenting client is its sophisticated encryption software. It uses techniques like Protocol Encryption and Message Stream Encryption to prevent unauthorized third parties from spying on your torrenting activities.

For further security, I turned on a VPN before downloading torrents via Deluge, and you should, too. A VPN routes your traffic through a secure remote server, preventing your ISP and other third-parties from monitoring your downloads. People often run into issues with their ISPs because of torrenting, so a VPN is crucial for protecting yourself.

I liked that Deluge provided both a graphical and command-line interface. The graphical interface is the easiest to use, with a minimalistic feel and neatly arranged elements. Yet, I sometimes enjoy feeling like a nerd and using the command-line interface to control my torrenting activities.

The command line lets users connect with Deluge remotely. Normally, I use Android apps for remote connections, but Deluge doesn’t have this feature. I got some solace because I could control my Deluge torrenting activities from another PC. For example, you can be at work and controlling torrenting activities on your home PC. This way, you avoid any issues concerning torrenting on your office network.

When you download any torrent on Deluge, you automatically become a seeder uploading the same torrent for other users. Torrenting is made possible by users acting as file seeders for each other. The more seeders available for a torrent, the faster the download speed.

The thought of constantly uploading files made me wary of my bandwidth consumption, but then I remembered that most torrenting clients let users limit file upload speeds to conserve bandwidth. Deluge makes this process easy, allowing users to limit their upload speeds and the number of simultaneous connections.

Deluge is a feature-rich torrenting client I enjoyed using. It doesn’t have every feature I wanted, but having its existing features for free is a boon.

Deluge: Interface and in-use

With my experience testing numerous torrenting clients, I can attest that Deluge has one of the best user interfaces. It’s not overtly modern, like some torrenting clients that feel overdesigned, and it’s also not too old school, like some torrenting clients that looked designed in the 1990s.

Deluge’s interface strikes the right balance between form and function. You can access it via a graphical interface, command line, or web interface. The web and graphical interfaces look very similar. The command line interface can get complicated, but it’s meant for technically adept users who prefer that mode. An average person can quickly become familiar with graphical or web interfaces.

Deluge: Security

Deluge has the standard encryption features of torrenting clients. It encrypts your activities to prevent unauthorized access, but relying on your torrenting client’s security is enough. I always turn on a VPN to provide an extra security layer when downloading torrents.

I ran Deluge through software scanning tools, and the results were clean. Deluge isn’t known to host malware and hasn’t had any history of negligent security practices. My only issue is that Deluge lacks a built-in anti-virus scanning tool for torrents. I had to rely on another tool to scan torrents for malware, unlike some torrenting clients with built-in scanners.

Deluge: Final verdict

I appreciate Deluge’s user-friendliness, feature richness, and the ability to add plugins for more functionalities. It’s a lightweight app that’s easy to use on any PC, and I’ll recommend it to anyone seeking a reliable torrenting client.

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qBittorrent review

10:18 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

If you enjoy diverse content like me, torrenting is an easy way to access it. It involves exchanging files via the BitTorrent protocol and can be done via torrent clients. I’ve embarked on a mission to test many torrenting clients to help users choose the best ones. Today, I’m focusing on qBittorrent, a prominent app in the torrenting community.

qBittorrent is a free and open source torrent client, and compatible with the most popular desktop operating systems. I tested it extensively to provide an honest opinion. Read on to learn about its features, user-friendliness, security, and other vital factors.

qBittorrent: Versions

qBittorrent is compatible with the three most popular PC operating systems; Windows, macOS, and Linux. I use a macOS PC and easily downloaded qBittorrent from the official website. You can also do this for the Windows and Linux versions.

However, I noticed that qBittorrent does not have an Android app. I like torrenting clients with Android apps that let me control my PC’s torrenting activities from a smartphone.

I didn’t expect iOS compatibility, as Apple famously doesn’t allow torrenting apps to appear in its App Store.

qBittorrent: Features

qBittorrent has the typical features of a torrenting app. To download content, I needed to get the .torrent file from an external source. This file contains the metadata of the relevant content to be downloaded, and qBittorrent reads the information to kickstart the download.

If you don’t have the .torrent file, you can provide the magnet link for the relevant content. A magnet link is a hyperlink containing the same metadata as the .torrent file. I pasted multiple links into qBittorrent, and it downloaded the required content without hassle.

I also downloaded content via RSS feeds. This feature lets users subscribe to a specific RSS feed and automatically download new torrents added to the feed. For example, if you subscribe to an RSS feed of your favorite series, you can automatically download all new episodes.

I like that qBittorrent allows plugins that provide extra functionality. My favorite is the search plugin that lets you find torrent files within the app. Instead of spending time discovering and downloading these .torrent files on external websites, I did that directly on qBittorrent, enabling much faster downloads.

There’s no single search plugin for qBittorrent. Instead, the app is compatible with numerous unofficial plugins built for torrenting clients. Installing a search plugin was a noticeably simple process.

Torrenting works when users exchange files via the BitTorrent communications protocol. When you download specific content on qBittorrent, you automatically become a seeder uploading that content for other users to download. This process of simultaneous downloads and uploads enables users to freely access content via qBittorrent and other torrenting clients.

Whenever I use a torrenting client, I always seek to limit my upload speeds to conserve bandwidth. qBittorrent makes this easy. You can limit the upload speed to any level you’re comfortable with, ensuring you upload files for other users without consuming excessive bandwidth.

I appreciated that qBittorrent gave me significant control over my torrenting activities. For instance, I could queue torrents and prioritize specific downloads over others. I could also select specific files within a torrent instead of downloading the whole package. For example, this feature comes in handy if you have a software package missing a few crucial files. You can download just the missing parts instead of re-downloading the software package and wasting bandwidth.

This torrenting client supports IP filtering for security purposes. Users can upload blocklists and prevent any IP on that list from sharing files with their PC. This feature protects you from interacting with malicious actors sharing malware via torrenting clients.

Before downloading torrents, I always turn on a VPN for further security. A VPN routes your traffic through a secure remote server, preventing your ISP and other third-parties from monitoring your torrenting activities. I advise everyone to always use a VPN when torrenting.

My main complaint is that qBittorrent does not have an Android app that allows me to remotely control my torrenting activities. However, I was pleased that its remote control feature is available via a web interface.

The remote web interface is very similar to qBittorrent’s regular interface. You can use it to control your torrenting activities from another PC or smartphone, e.g., starting and pausing downloads on your home PC while at work. However, setting it up was complex, unlike Android apps where it’s usually straightforward.

qBittorrent: Interface and in-use

qBittorrent has a minimalistic interface that I enjoyed using. It’s not overtly modern yet not outdated. Features are arranged neatly on the left, configurations are accessible at the top, and the main dashboard lies on the right. Each feature incorporates a relevant icon that defines their functions. This uncluttered arrangement makes it easy to find any feature and tweak your desired configurations.

qBittorrent: Security

As mentioned, qBittorrent allowed me to block specific IP addresses from interacting with my device. This security feature is crucial because torrents are a common vector for introducing malware into unsuspecting devices.

qBittorrent has no ads and no history of negligent security practices. It’s a free tool maintained by volunteer developers, so there’s little incentive to sneak in adware for commercial purposes, which a handful of torrenting clients are guilty of.

Despite its standard encryption and other security features, I reiterate my advice to always turn on a VPN before using qBittorrent.

qBittorrent: Final verdict

qBittorrent is a free, user-friendly torrenting client I genuinely enjoy using. It’s not as feature-rich as some clients I’ve tested, but it performs its functions well. It’s an ideal torrenting tool for anyone seeking easy access to digital content.

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Palicomp AMD Destiny desktop PC review

6:40 pm | July 30, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: PC, Tomb Raider | Comments: Off

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

One of the most aggravating things about buying technology is that you can always go one further. Spend a little more, get a little more. And that’s exactly the case if you increase your budget from £1,000 to £1,250, with the Palicomp AMD Destiny offering a significant speed hike over the CyberPowerPC opposite.

The vast majority of this is due to the presence of an RTX 4070 Super card rather than an RTX 4060. At retail, the 4070 Super costs around £600 compared to £300 for its lesser sibling, and it’s roughly twice as fast, too. 3DMark Time Spy is a great measure of this, with the Destiny scoring 18,932 versus 10,518 for the Infinity X145 Elite.

In practice, I can simplify the differences between the two machines in one sentence: the Destiny is a solid option for 4K gaming where the Infinity is not. That’s shown by a trio of results at 4K and High settings in Cyberpunk 2077, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt 5, where Palicomp’s PC returned averages of 79fps, 114fps and 119fps compared to 39fps, 57fps and 54fps. It doesn’t take a mathematician to spot that the Destiny’s scores are almost exactly twice as fast.

Palicomp has given the RTX 4070 Super a helping hand by using one of the fastest gaming processors on the planet, namely the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The chip’s X3D suffix indicates the extra Level 3 cache (made possible by a 3D-stacked chipset) that AMD adds over the standard 7800X, which gives an instant boost in most games.

Close-up view of the Palicomp AMD Destiny's RTX 4070 Super graphics card — **An RTX 4070 Super graphics card takes center stage** (Image credit: Future)

The downside of AMD’s X3D range of chips is that they don’t have an unlocked multiplier and can’t boost to as high frequencies as their “X” counterparts, so if gaming isn’t your main use then you’re better off with the 7800X (or even the Ryzen 7 7700X, which is roughly 7% faster in multicore tasks). However, in its own right the 7800X3D is a brilliant day-to-day processor, pushing the Destiny to 2,705 and 14,806 in Geekbench 6, 110 and 1,028 in Cinebench 2024, and 1,765 and 17,017 in Cinebench R23 (single-core results first, multicore second).

An overall score of 8,772 in PCMark is also one of the highest I’ve seen, and here I must give due praise to the supporting cast of 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB Adata S70 Blade SSD. The latter is particularly fast, with an astounding 7,476MB/sec sequential reads transfer rate in CrystalDiskMark and a none-too-shoddy 5,461MB/sec result in the writing test.

Palicomp AMD Destiny benchmarks — (Image credit: Future)

If you’re thinking 1TB is too small for your needs, there’s one empty M.2 slot on the AMD TUF Gaming motherboard, while removing the right side of the chassis reveals two mounting spaces for 2.5in SSDs and one 3.5in hard disk caddy. There’s also a rat’s nest of cables, but at least that allows Palicomp to keep the visible side of the Destiny relatively empty. This is mainly for aesthetic reasons, as on-board upgrades are minimal: only one PCI-E x1 slot is accessible.

You can at least add to the memory, with two unimpeded DIMM sockets lying empty despite the size of the air cooler. DeepCool isn’t a name I’m familiar with, and while it does its job well – together with the total of six RGB fans on the front, top and back of this PC – it contributes to a continual hum from the Destiny. It’s by no means annoying (more the kind of hum that you only notice when the PC is switched off) but it’s reflected in the idle power draw of 84W compared to 52W for the CyberPowerPC Infinity.

The Kolink Observatory HF Mesh chassis is basic, but does allow all those RGB lights to shine through and has a handy hinged door to make accessing the innards simple. Palicomp also saves money by choosing a CIT 80 Plus Bronze-rated power supply, rather than a bigger name with better efficiency ratings, but at 700W it won’t hold you back.

Side view of the Palicomp AMD Destiny with three cooling fans — **The Destiny is designed with 4K gaming in mind** (Image credit: Future)

One of Palicomp’s perks is that you can pick from a variety of components at time of purchase, from CPU to GPU to PSU, and you can also upgrade the warranty. I would consider doing this, as it’s one area where this PC falls behind CyberPowerPC – only the first year includes parts, and you have to pay for courier costs. £108 buys three years of C&R cover. You may also be tempted to pay for faster delivery than the standard ten working days, with £75 accelerating that to the next business day.

Overall, the Destiny isn’t as refined a package as the CyberPowerPC opposite, but there’s no arguing with its powerful components, which are all geared towards one thing: making games run fast.

For on the go play, we've also reviewed the best laptops for work and gaming

I tested DJI’s portable power station – and there’s a good reason why drone operators are going to want to check it out

6:18 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

DJI is well-known for their excellent lineup of drones, videography gimbals and actions cams etc, but all these devices have one thing in common. They are all powered by batteries.

And that's where the DJI Power 2000 comes in, letting you charge your DJI drone (amongst other devices) while out in the field. It's not the first from the company, but is it the best portable power station for drone operators? I put it to the test.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

2048Wh capacity from LiFePO4 batteries

3000W continuous output

4 x AC sockets, 4 x USB-A and 4 x USB-C

0-80% charge in 45minutes

Multiple methods of charging

Fast 10ms response UPS

For drone operators, 30 minutes of flight can equal hours of charging unless they were to buy several expensive, propriety batteries which only have one use, drone power.

DJI may now have the answer for drone operators who not only want to fast charge their drone batteries but other things as well with added flexibility.

Not wanting to miss out on the action, about a year ago DJI brought out their Power 1000 Station. Now they have released the Power 2000 increasing everything for those who need more which we are reviewing with some accessories.

DJI Power 2000 34 — (Image credit: Future)

DJI Power 2000: Packaging

The power station and its accessories were all packaged individually in non-descript, plain cardboard boxes with only simple outlines of the products and what they were printed on the box. No fancy glossy or satin box with listed features, photos, pictures or illustrations.

Removing the Power 2000 from the box, we were given only the quick start guide, certificate of conformity and AC power cable, no other accessories were provided.

DJI Power 2000 3 — (Image credit: Future)

DJI Power 2000: The power station

Once out of the box, the Power 2000 measures 448 × 225 × 324mm or 17.6 x 8.9 x 12.7 inches (L x W x H) and weighing in at 22kg (or 48.5lbs).

The Power 2000 has two large, grippy handles on the top to facilitate portability

All the sockets, plugs, ports etc are at the front of the Power 2000 as is the status screen. The sides and back are bereft of anything much save for some threaded holes which we will come back to later.

At the front of this UK model are the following sockets/plugs:

4 x UK Type G sockets outputting 230V at 50Hz AC pure sine wave

4 x USB-C sockets, 2 x max. 140W and 2 x max 65W

4 x USB-A sockets, each able to output 24W

1 x AC charging socket

2 x SDC multi use sockets

And the status screen

DJI Power 2000 19 — (Image credit: Future)

DJI Power 2000: Charging

Switching on the Power 2000 the first time showed us a state of charge of 51%. We were pleased to see that the AC charging socket was an industry standard C13/14 connector.

But it was here that we stumbled on the first hurdle, the cable has screws on either side to prevent accidental disconnection, but the screws were too small, tool free thumb screws would have been better.

Next to the AC charge socket is a small switch that allows you to set it for fast or slow charge, on slow charge the Power 2000 was charging at 1300W and on fast nearly double that at 2200W.

The AC charging socket at the front wasn’t well received, having reviewed several power stations, they often segregated charge on the side or back and discharging sockets on the front.

Also, to the right of the AC socket is a mysterious multi pin socket, is not documented in any of the manuals or software, our assumption, it’s a terminal used by DJI for servicing.

Charging it using solar panels sent for this review, it was noted that this was a third-party panel made by “IBCPower”. Fortunately, the panel uses MC4 connectors. Using the provided MC4 to XT60 cable means that the panels can be used for other power stations.

Plugging in the panels into the Power 2000 is a nuisance. The panels plug into the provided DJI Solar panel adapter module (MPPT). A small adapter box with three XT60 sockets, this allows you to plug three panels to the Power 2000 via this box which is plugged into the Power 2000’s large SDC sockets to charge it.

With only one 200W panel on a moderately bright day, we were only seeing 180W input with already 89% charged, an estimated 92minutes to full charge. Charging from 0% to 100% using only one panel would likely take over 10 hours.

Mentioned before were the screw holes on the sides and back of the Power 2000. You can see that the MPPT box has screw holes through it and it is here that the MPPT box is screwed on to the side of the Power 2000 to secure it in place so you don’t lose it. Screws and a hex wrench are provided.

DJI Power 2000 22 — (Image credit: Future)

DJI Power 2000: In use

The status screen is your typical affair that shows all the useful information that you will need at glance such as state of charge, input and output wattage. Output voltage and AC Hz, USB as well as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.

Putting the Power 2000 through its paces, using it to power a variety of high draw household devices such as a rice cooker, mini-induction cooker, hair dryer, air fryer. The Power 2000 was able to power all of them separately and remained silent throughout.

Using the USB is about as ubiquitous as it is, it was able to charge a variety of phones, a Lenovo ThinkPad, MacBook Air laptops with ease.

The Power 2000 has a combined output power of 3000W continuous power.

A feature that stood out to us was the Uninterruptable Power Supply or UPS feature, whilst other power stations are capable of this, most advertise a 20 to 30ms response time or require setting up. The response time is the time the power station detects grid outage and switches over to battery.

The Power 2000 boasts a fast 10ms response time. UPS mode is automatically activated when the Power 2000 is plugged into mains, AC is on and power drawn.

We tested this by plugging in a typical home office setup, into the Power 2000 via multiplugs. The setup drew around 200W, we let the set up drain the Power 2000 for about two hours taking it from 89% to 61%.

We then switched the mains on to charge the Power 2000 back to 100%, you can see the UPS logo (small, orange battery with arrows under the “INPUT”) automatically activated and the Power 2000 began charging at 1360W in slow mode.

Once at 100%, we flicked the mains switch again whilst keeping an eye on the setup, not a flicker. The set up carried on as if there were no power outage, the Power 2000 drew power from the batteries and the UPS mode switched off.

DJI Power 2000 23 — (Image credit: Future)

One prominent feature that stands the Power 2000 different to other power stations is the inclusion of two SDC ports on the far upper right.

These are multi use sockets able to charge or discharge from the Power 2000 using DC power, the connectors are essentially QS10 sockets/connectors which are high current anti spark connections.

We were only able to use this to charge the Power 2000 via the afore mentioned MPPT solar adapter box.

The SDC connections would allow a user to plug in add on batteries to the Power 2000 or charge it faster using separately available cables and adapters capable of up to 1800W of input.

The other is to allow fast charging of DJI drone batteries using one of the appropriate adapter cables. It can charge a DJI Mavic 3 series battery from 10% to 95% in about 32minutes. The Mavic 3, Mavic 4, Air 3, Matrice 30, Matrice 4 and Inspire 3 drones, each cable costs £19 at time of review.

Also provided as part of this review is the DJI Power Series Hand Truck.

Essentially a hand trolley with a sculpted foot for the DJI Power Series batteries so that a power station such as the Power 2000 sits nicely at the base. The trolley supports a further two add on batteries to stack on top of the main one with a simple ratchet strap to batten them down.

Also, we mentioned the screws on the back of the Power 2000, these are for the middle handle retaining arm to screw into so that the Power 2000 has at least two points of anchorage to the trolley.

The trolley has 12cm heavy duty rubberised wheels, it can also be folded up for storage but the handle cannot be shortened or extended. The handle height is 98cm high.

DJI Power 2000 6 — (Image credit: Future)

DJI Power 2000: The app

This is one place we think that DJI could vastly improve upon and was one where we had some concerns.

Most brands of power stations such as Jackery or Bluettti have apps that go beyond just simply controlling the power station. They are the place where you access your profile/account for that brand as many have loyalty schemes. It is the app that allows you to access your power stations hidden features, settings to tweak to your liking, even if just once.

The competition, mentioned above, have well translated apps that are downloaded from your app shop of choice, here we used the Google Play Store.

On setting up the Power 2000, we searched the Google Play Store to get the DJI Home app and could not find it. It was then discovered that you have to manually download and install the APK file from the web, not exactly what we like doing as it isn’t as curated as it would be from the Play Store.

On firing it up, the first menu is a DJI Product Improvement Project that gives us the choice to disagree or “加入”? It was in Chinese but we were able to translate this as “Join In”. Not off to a good start.

Detecting the battery and setting up was straight forward but once in the app you can see the Power 2000, see where/what is drawing power, state of charge etc. There are limit options you can tweak.

DJI Power 2000: Pricing

Currently the Power 2000 is on retail in the UK DJI store for £1185

DJI Power 2000: Final verdict

The Power 2000 is a solid power station but needs some improvement here and there.

If you have already invested in one of DJIs above mentioned drones and are in the market for a power station, then the Power 2000 is the one for you. The SDC connectors allows you fast charging of your drone batteries will allow you to fly more for longer.

The UPS feature was among the fastest response and easiest to set up and its near silent operation means that it can happily work silently in your home office too.

However, it is let down by some poor decisions such as the AC charging socket at the front and the woeful app, both in getting it and it being a glorified status screen if anything.

For more power solutions, we've reviewed the best UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).

Dropbox Passwords Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing and more

1:46 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Comments: Off

There aren’t many bigger names in online storage than Dropbox, but fewer people know about its Dropbox Passwords product.

It’s been a free offering as part of the wider Dropbox suite since 2021, and it promises to deliver an effective password manager that’s easy to use – ideal for anyone who wants to beef up their security without the tech-heavy language and features you may have to wade through elsewhere.

Dropbox Passwords: Plans and pricing

Dropbox Passwords is free and a part of the wider Dropbox ecosystem – it’s included in the basic tier. With that product a single user gets 2GB of secure storage, the option to connect three devices and the ability to store fifty passwords. Beyond cloud storage and password storage, you get instant syncing, thirty days of file recovery and sharable links. For people who need basic password management and cloud storage, it’s compelling, although other free options like Bitwarden allow unlimited password storage across unlimited devices – albeit without cloud storage.

If you’re willing to pay, though, you get unlimited password storage and unlimited devices in every product tier. The Plus product costs $9.99 / £9 / AUD$15 per month if you pay annually, and it gives a single user 2TB of cloud storage, improved multi-factor authentication and loads of storage and sharing features. The family plan costs $16.99 / £16 / AUD$25 and enables those features for up to six users.

You’ve got more options if you want to use Dropbox in a business environment. The Professional tier delivers 3TB of storage alongside better sharing options. The Standard business product costs $15 / £15 / AUD$24 per user per month. It delivers 5TB of space and a six-month file recovery period. Unlimited space is available in the Advanced tier, which costs $24 / £22 / AUD$35 per user per month and also deploys better security. Enterprise pricing is available on request.

Dropbox Passwords starting up — (Image credit: Dropbox)

Dropbox Passwords: Setup

It’s easy to get started with Dropbox Passwords, even for people without much techy knowledge. Sign up for a free Dropbox Basics account and verify your email address and you’ll be right into the browser extension.

The setup process is designed to make password storage as seamless as possible. The app gives users a list of common apps, like Google, Facebook and Amazon, that can be added quickly and easily – so you can start saving passwords immediately. If you want to add your own, a separate window allows you to log your username, password and any notes, and Dropbox Passwords also supports payment cards.

Existing passwords can also be imported from Chrome and Firefox and directly from CSV files that have been exported from other password managers. You can also use Dropbox to create your own password export as a CSV.

Once you’ve saved a password, you can copy the credentials or simply use a link to open the site with the details already filled in. It’s very straightforward. This system works similarly on Dropbox Password’s iOS and Android apps. You’re also invited to create a passphrase to unlock your Passwords app, like the master passwords deployed elsewhere.

Dropbox Passwords dashboard — (Image credit: Dropbox)

Dropbox Passwords: Interface and performance

More of the features included in Dropbox Passwords are tailored to ease of use. Select a password in the app and a separate window shows you its details and strength rating – but also highlights if it’s been involved in any breaches.

The app’s Security Dashboard is straightforward: one window gives you a big warning if your data has been compromised, and a second window delivers alerts for weak or re-used passwords. You can also choose whether you monitor all of your email addresses or just a selection.

You can share passwords with other people – simply enter their email address and they’ll be invited to log in to their own Dropbox Passwords account. Editing an entry is similarly simple: type in the correct details and click save.

The interface is well-designed, too. It’s spacious, with large buttons, and it’s sensibly designed – the main screen delivers a simple list of passwords, and the Security Dashboard uses two straightforward windows. The settings menu is easy to use, with common options split into four categories and a slick graphic that illustrates how close you are to your storage and device limits. You’re not confronted with overwhelming technical data, so people without loads of tech knowledge won’t be intimidated.

Dropbox Passwords preferences — (Image credit: Dropbox)

All of this makes Dropbox Passwords great for anyone who isn’t overly familiar with tech, or people who don’t need to store loads of passwords using a complex bit of software.

However, this simplicity means that Dropbox Passwords misses out on some features. You can add passwords or payment cards on this app, but most others include more categories and templates for saving a wider range of data – and some others also allow you to store more information in each listing, including documents and images, and let users add custom fields.

There’s more platform support elsewhere, too. Dropbox Passwords works on Windows and macOS and it’s got iOS and Android apps – and its browser extension functions in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. But look elsewhere and you’ll find extensions for a broader range of browsers and apps with Linux support.

Advanced features are absent, too. More import options are commonplace elsewhere, and some free tools even include unlimited cloud storage and optional self-hosting. Dropbox’s password generator allows you to customize the length of your password and opt to use symbols and numbers, but elsewhere you’ll find generators with more versatility, like the option to make passwords pronounceable.

Dropbox Passwords: Security

Dropbox Passwords might lack high-end functionality, but there’s no quibbling with its security credentials. As with the rest of the Dropbox ecosystem, Passwords are protected with 256-bit AES encryption – a rock-solid industry standard.

SSL and TLS is deployed to protect data when it moves between Dropbox apps and the company’s servers, and the app can lock itself after a period of inactivity. Alongside using your passphrase to sign in, Dropbox Passwords can be unlocked with facial or fingerprint recognition and two-factor authentication. Dropbox is also a zero-knowledge provider, meaning no one at the company can access your data.

This is another area where you’ll certainly find more ability elsewhere, especially if you want high-end security options for organizations.

Dropbox Passwords: Support

Because Dropbox Passwords is included in every Dropbox product, the support on offer varies depending on which tier you’re using.

If you use the free Dropbox Basics product you can access live chat and an email form, and Dropbox also offers a Help Centre with a good selection of articles. There’s a forum, too.

Buy the Plus, Family or Professional plans and you get broadly similar options, although your emails are given priority. But if you upgrade to the Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plans, you get phone support too.

Dropbox Passwords: The competition

If you’d like a free password manager without the cloud storage component then you’d be better off with Bitwarden. It’s our current free favorite, and for good reason – it includes unlimited password storage and optional self-hosting, so it’s instantly a more versatile option than Dropbox.

If you want to upgrade to the paid plans then Dropbox looks more compelling, but we’d still recommend people look towards Dashlane or LastPass for pure password management. Both include broader ranges of password-specific features and both are cheaper than a Dropbox package, albeit without Dropbox’s enviable sharing and cloud storage capabilities.

Dropbox Passwords: Final verdict

Indeed, that’s the crux of the situation for Dropbox. As a free password manager, Dropbox is acceptable, especially if you don’t need advanced features. Combine the free product’s decent password management with 2GB of cloud storage and its robust security protocols and you’ve got a good option for anyone who needs fuss-free storage and password management.

Its paid products are better thanks to a market-leading range of cloud storage and sharing features, and all include Dropbox Passwords – although the price does quickly become steep when compared to pure password management software.

If you want a free password manager, then Dropbox Passwords gets the job done. But only spend cash on the paid tiers if you also want its cloud storage features.

We've listed the best password recovery software.

Dropbox Passwords Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing and more

1:46 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Comments: Off

There aren’t many bigger names in online storage than Dropbox, but fewer people know about its Dropbox Passwords product.