PacketStream Review: Can You Still Earn Selling Bandwidth in 2025?
- Bailey
- Jun 20
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Table of Contents
Introduction & Quick Verdict Hook
What if I told you your idle internet connection could put a few extra dollars in your PayPal, without surveys, ads, or endless “tasks”?
Sounds like one of those “get rich while you nap” scams, right? Trust me, I get the skepticism.
That’s the promise of PacketStream, one of the oldest bandwidth-sharing platforms still running today. You install a small app, share unused internet, and get paid in return.
It sounds simple enough, but is it still worth it? Can you actually make money with it, and is it safe to run on your device?
Quick Verdict: PacketStream works exactly as advertised, but don’t expect more than $5–$20 a month unless you live in a high-demand country with unlimited, fast internet. It’s low-effort passive income, not a goldmine.
This PacketStream review will break down how it works, what you earn, and whether it’s safe to run in today.
What is PacketStream? (In a Nutshell)
PacketStream is a peer-to-peer residential proxy network that pays you for sharing your unused internet bandwidth. You install a tiny app on Windows, macOS, or Linux. The app runs in the background. It routes encrypted web requests through your IP when buyers need real residential addresses.
It was founded in 2018 by Ronald Bell and Arthur Aivazian, based in Los Angeles, California.
Buyers are usually businesses or researchers who need honest-looking IPs for things like web scraping, SEO checks, ad verification, and testing geo-blocked content. That is the demand driving the whole system. PacketStream drops your contribution into a shared pool and pays you for the data you provide.
Short version. It's simple. It's passive. It's not anonymous to your ISP. If you run it on an always-on home connection in a high-demand country, it can really earn you spare change without effort.
Key Features & How It Works
PacketStream isn’t complicated. That’s part of the appeal. You install the app, keep your device online, and your internet connection gets rented out in tiny chunks.
Here’s how it works step by step:
Install the App
Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. No browser extensions or messy setups.
Run in the Background
The software quietly shares your unused bandwidth. You don’t have to click, fill surveys, or keep checking in.
Buyers Tap Into Your IP
Businesses, researchers, and developers pay PacketStream for real residential IPs. They need them for tasks like:
SEO monitoring
Web scraping
Ad verification
Market research
Testing geo-restricted sites
You Earn Money
For every gigabyte of data that flows through your connection, you get paid $0.10. Simple math.
Notable Features
Cross-Platform Support – Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Encrypted Traffic – Buyers don’t see your browsing or personal info. Everything routes through a secure tunnel.
In short, PacketStream is a bandwidth marketplace. Buyers get affordable proxy traffic, you get a slice of the payout, and the app just keeps running quietly in the background.
How Much Can You Really Earn?
As mentioned before, it pays a flat $0.10 per gigabyte of bandwidth you share. That’s it. The rate hasn’t changed in years, and at this point, it probably won’t.
So what does that look like in practice?
Share 10 GB → earn $1
Share 100 GB → earn $10
Share 200 GB → earn $20
The big catch: traffic demand isn’t equal everywhere.
High-demand regions like the US, UK, Germany, Canada, and Australia usually get more activity.
Low-demand regions may see your meter barely move.
Your results also depend on how stable and fast your connection is. A device online 24/7 on a residential broadband line will pull in more data than a laptop that sleeps half the day.
Most users report making a few bucks per month, with some pushing $15–$20 if they leave a spare PC or mini server running nonstop. It’s passive, but it’s not paying anyone’s rent.
Cashout is straightforward: you can withdraw once you hit $5 via PayPal. No crypto payouts yet, so if you want Bitcoin or USDT, you’ll have to convert it yourself.
Pros and Cons of PacketStream
Like every passive income app, PacketStream has its ups and downs. Here’s the breakdown:
✅ Pros
❌ Cons
Earnings are low unless you’re in a high-demand country
No mobile app or crypto payout options
You can’t see what traffic passes through your IP
May violate ISP terms depending on your provider
Heavily dependent on your location and connection stability
In short, PacketStream is steady but limited. It’s reliable for passive pocket money, but not scalable into a serious side hustle.
Is PacketStream Safe and Legit?
This is the big question. You’re letting outside traffic pass through your internet connection, so is it safe?
The short answer: yes, PacketStream is legit.
A few things to know:
Traffic is encrypted – Buyers don’t see your browsing, location, or personal data.
You can uninstall anytime – No lock-ins, no hidden junkware.
No malware or crypto miners – The app just shares bandwidth.
That said, there are some caveats:
You don’t see the traffic logs – PacketStream filters requests, but you have to trust their system.
Your ISP may not like it – Some providers forbid “reselling” bandwidth, so check your terms if you’re worried.
Not ideal in restrictive regions – If you live in countries with strict surveillance or heavy internet laws (China, Russia, parts of the Middle East), using a proxy-sharing app could be risky!
For most users in the US, Europe, and other open regions, PacketStream is safe enough to run. Just don’t expect 100% control or transparency.
Who Should Actually Use PacketStream?
PacketStream isn’t for everyone. Here’s who it works best for:
Good fit if you…
Have fast, unlimited home internet with a stable connection
Live in a high-demand region like the US, UK, Germany, or Canada
Own a spare PC, mini server, or always-on device you don’t mind leaving online
Already use apps like Honeygain or PawnsApp and want to stack another passive stream
Don’t mind the “black box” factor of not knowing the exact traffic routed through your IP
Not worth it if you…
Rely on mobile data, public Wi-Fi, or a capped internet plan
Live in a country with strict internet regulations or aggressive ISP monitoring
Expect serious money from it (this is pocket change, not paycheck money)
Are extremely privacy-conscious and need full visibility of traffic logs
If you check the “good fit” boxes, PacketStream can quietly cover a couple of your monthly coffees.
[PacketStream Review] Final Verdict & Should I Download?
PacketStream has been around long enough to prove it’s not a fly-by-night scam. It does what it says: you share idle bandwidth, and you get paid. The rate is fixed, the payout system works, and the app doesn’t sneak in junk.
But let’s keep it real. At $0.10 per gigabyte, you won’t get rich. Most users see between $5 and $20 a month, depending on their location and connection. It’s pocket change, not passive wealth.
So should you download it?
Yes, if you’ve got an unlimited home internet plan, a spare device you can keep online, and you just want a set-it-and-forget-it background earner.
No, if you expect anything more than a trickle of side cash or if your ISP is strict about bandwidth sharing.
Think of it like cashback for your internet connection. It’s not life-changing, but it’s free money for doing nothing, and that’s still a win today.
Note: This blog post include referral/affiliate links. If you signup or make a purchase via any of these links, I will earn a modest commission without any extra cost to you. This helps sustain the blog and enables us to create more content like this for you. We appreciate your support! Rest assured, our ratings and recommendations remain unbiased and unaffected.
