TrickByte Review

// Review

curated review - researched and written by the smartdnscomparison desk · prose updated 2026-10-04 · facts as of 2026-10-04 · how we verify

Overview

TrickByte is a Smart DNS + VPN bundle that has been selling since 2013 (domain registered 2013-03-09, renewed through 2028 [6]). Its terms name Digiport OU as the operator [4] - an Estonian company; the original operator was Global Stealth Inc. of Seychelles [5], the same network behind Smart DNS Proxy and Getflix. The service is reachable and still sells [1], but everything about its maintenance says dormant: the last blog post dates from the mid-2010s [3], the copyright line is frozen years back, and the site sits behind an Imperva bot wall [1].

Coverage & Unblocking

The pricing page claims "350+ Websites with SmartDNS Network including Netflix, Hulu, HBO, BBC, Amazon Prime, Zattoo" [1]. The actual channels page is an uncounted per-country table that still lists Blinkbox and DramaFever - services that died years ago [3]. That gap between marketing and list is the most important signal in this review: the catalog is not being curated, so any per-service claim should be verified in person before paying. There is no independent recent unblocking test in our research; the last substantive community mentions are years old [1]. Every service still needs its own paid subscription [1].

Devices & Setup

No native apps are advertised - setup is DNS entries per device or router, with guides for PC, Mac, Android, iOS, consoles and TVs [1]. Multiple simultaneous locations are supported. The VPN side claims 200+ servers on 60+ locations [1].

Speed & Reliability

Smart DNS reroutes only the geo-check DNS lookups, so streams run at full line speed. On reliability the evidence is thin and dated: no status page, no recent tests, dead services on the list [3], and a registration flow we could not complete from our test environment because the signup sits behind Imperva [1]. The domain is paid through 2028, so abandonment is not imminent - but the site has not meaningfully changed in years [1].

Privacy & Logging

The privacy policy states the site does not "actively monitor user activity ... nor do we maintain direct logs of any customer's Internet activities" [2] - an unaudited operator claim. The jurisdictional picture is offshore: Digiport OU (Estonia) today, Global Stealth Inc. (Seychelles) historically [4][5]. Smart DNS does not encrypt traffic; the bundled VPN does [1].

Pricing & Plans

Documented pricing: $4.95 per month, $39.96 per year ($3.33 per month) or $49.92 for 24 months [1]. The 14-day trial requires no credit card [1]. There is no money-back guarantee: monthly cancellations get no refund for unused time, and any refund is "at our sole, exclusive discretion" [4]. VPN servers (200+, 60+ locations) are included in the same plans [1].

Reputation & History

Operating since 2013 [6], with a documented lineage into the Global Stealth/Digiport network [4][5]. Community mentions exist from recent years (router compatibility complaints) [1], but there is zero news coverage and no current independent testing. Dormancy signals: blog last posted in the mid-2010s, copyright frozen years back, checkout not verifiable end-to-end [1].

Verdict

TrickByte's price and 14-day no-card trial are attractive on paper [1], but a semi-dormant product with stale service lists, discretionary-only refunds [4] and unverifiable checkout is a poor bet for a paid plan. Test in the trial window and have alternatives ready.

// On TrickByte's site and in its client

Real captures of the public website and setup/client pages, taken by us. We do not fake product shots - pages we could not reach (bot walls, geo blocks) simply have no image.

// TrickByte FAQ

Is TrickByte legit?

Based on our checks as of 2026-10-04: TrickByte scores 4.5/10 in our weighted review. We logged no red flags. Facts are reported, not fully verified - test with the free trial first. User reports and operator background are documented with dated sources in the meta-review below.