⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: Bitdefender bundles start at $59.99/yr. A StrongVPN subscription starts at $3.97/month on the annual plan.
- Best for: Bitdefender VPN suits people who already want antivirus. StrongVPN suits router owners and heavy streaming platforms users.
- Key difference: Bitdefender VPN runs 4,000+ servers in 54 countries. StrongVPN runs over 950 servers in 30 countries.
- Jurisdiction: Bitdefender sits in Romania, outside 5 Eyes. StrongVPN is US-based, inside the Five Eyes alliance.
- Our pick: Bitdefender VPN, for its bigger server network and friendlier privacy jurisdiction.
Two very different companies built these two products.
Bitdefender is an antivirus brand that added a virtual private network.
StrongVPN has been providing VPN services since 2005.
That gap shapes almost every difference you will read below.
One sells security as a bundle. The other sells a standalone VPN service.
Overview
This Bitdefender VPN vs StrongVPN comparison covers pricing, security, speed, and server locations.
It also covers apps, support, and who each VPN provider actually suits.
Our sources are published specs, documentation, and independent leak tests.
Our writers also spent hands-on time with both VPN services.
Those notes sit in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
What is Bitdefender VPN?
Bitdefender VPN is the virtual private network built into Bitdefender’s products.
It encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP addresses from certain websites.
You manage it from your Bitdefender Central account on web or mobile.
The VPN service runs on Hotspot Shield’s Catapult Hydra protocol.
Bitdefender Premium VPN is the paid tier with unlimited bandwidth usage.
The company is based in Romania, outside the 5 Eyes alliance.
Here is a closer look at how the apps behave day to day.
🏆 Winner: Bitdefender VPN
Over 4,000 servers across 54 countries. Kill switch, ad blocker, and split tunneling included. Covers 10 devices on one license.
Bitdefender VPN Pricing
Bitdefender sells the VPN inside four security bundles. Here is what each one costs.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender Total Security | $59.99/yr | Households wanting antivirus plus a VPN tunnel |
| Bitdefender Premium Security | $79.99/yr | Users who want Bitdefender Premium VPN unlimited |
| Bitdefender Ultimate Security | $89.99/yr | Adding identity monitoring to the same number of devices |
| Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus | $119.99/yr | Full identity protection and all advanced features |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: No open free trial. A limited free version ships with an active Bitdefender product, capped at 200MB of daily traffic.
Money back guarantee: 30 days on both monthly and annual Bitdefender Premium VPN plans.
📌 Note: Sold on its own, Bitdefender Premium VPN pricing starts at $6.99 per month. The annual subscription is $39.99, which works out to $3.33 per month for the first year. Payment options include credit and debit cards plus PayPal. There is no crypto and no bank transfer.
⚠️ Pricing conflict: Our CSV stores the four bundle prices above. Bitdefender’s own page lists standalone Bitdefender Premium VPN at $6.99 monthly. We kept the CSV figures in every table and in the schema, and flagged the gap here.
Key Benefits of Bitdefender VPN
Here is what the service does well.
- Large server list: Over 4,000 servers in 54 countries. You can pick the closest server or let the app automatically connect.
- Strong encryption: AES-256 protects every VPN connection. It is the strongest encryption available today.
- Kill switch: An automatic kill switch cuts internet traffic if the link to a VPN server drops.
- Split tunneling: Choose which apps and domains use the VPN tunnel and which bypass it.
- Ad blocker and anti-tracker: It filters harmful sites and blocks intrusive ads. That also cuts down on targeted ads.
- Public Wi-Fi protection: It secures your internet connection on café and airport networks automatically.
- Romanian jurisdiction: Outside the 5 Eyes alliance, which is a friendlier home for online privacy.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer installed the Windows and Android apps and ran them for everyday browsing. Here is what stood out during that hands-on time.
Bitdefender VPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Over 4,000 servers in 54 countries
- AES-256 encryption with an automatic kill switch
- Romania-based, outside the 5 Eyes alliance
- Ad blocker, anti-tracker, and split tunneling included
- Clean app design that beginners can navigate
❌ Cons
- No Linux, router, Apple TV, or Fire TV Stick support
- Fails to unblock US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+
- Vague privacy policy with no separate VPN logging policy
- Does not work in China due to missing obfuscation
What is StrongVPN?
StrongVPN is a standalone VPN service from a US-based VPN company.
It has been in the VPN industry since 2005.
Strong VPN routes your web traffic through its own physical servers.
StrongVPN does not use virtual server locations at all.
Every subscription also bundles 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage.
That free cloud storage is unusual for a VPN provider at this price.
The video below walks through the Windows app and the settings menu.
StrongVPN
Twelve simultaneous connections and native apps for every major platform. Routers, WireGuard, and StrongDNS are all included. Comes with 250GB of cloud storage.
StrongVPN Pricing
Pricing is simple here. There are only two plans.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Plan | $3.97/month | Long-term users who want the lowest cost |
| Monthly Plan | $11.99/month | Short trips and month-to-month flexibility |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: None. StrongVPN does not offer a free trial or a free version.
Money back guarantee: 30 days on every StrongVPN subscription.
📌 Note: Payment methods include credit cards, PayPal, and Alipay. Both plans carry identical security features, so the cheaper tier is not a stripped-down one.
⚠️ Renewal warning: The annual price rises to $89.99 after year one. Public listings also show $10.99 monthly and $69.99 yearly in some regions. We kept the CSV figures above and flagged the difference here.
Key Benefits of StrongVPN
These are the StrongVPN features that matter most.
- 12 simultaneous connections: One StrongVPN subscription covers 12 devices. StrongVPN claims that is more than most rivals allow.
- Protocol choice: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP. Pick the VPN protocol that fits your network.
- SmartDNS included: It bypasses geo restricted content without any speed reduction.
- Wide device support: Native apps for iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, and routers. Setup guides cover the rest.
- Real server locations: All servers are physically located in the countries they represent.
- Cloud storage bonus: 250GB of SugarSync storage ships with the plan at no extra cost.
- Nearby speed: Download speed retention on nearby servers shows only a 5-7% speed loss.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer set the service up on a Windows laptop and an Android phone. These notes come from that session.
StrongVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- 12 simultaneous device connections on one plan
- WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP support
- Router, Amazon Fire TV, and Chrome OS setup guides
- Only 5-7% download speed loss on nearby servers
- 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage included
❌ Cons
- Small server network of over 950 servers in 30 countries
- US base sits inside the Five Eyes intelligence alliance
- No independent security audit of its no-logs claims
- No free trial and no browser extensions
Feature Comparison
Both VPN providers cover the basics well. The gaps show up once you look closely at protocols, server locations, and device support. Here are ten areas that decide the match.
| Feature | Bitdefender VPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $59.99/yr bundle | $3.97/month annual |
| Free Version | ✅ 200MB daily | ❌ |
| Servers | 4,000+ in 54 countries | 950+ in 30 countries |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 | 12 |
| WireGuard and OpenVPN | ❌ | ✅ |
| Router Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Kill Switch | ✅ | ✅ |
| Split Tunneling | ✅ | ✅ |
| Independent Audit | ❌ | ❌ |
| Best For | Antivirus users wanting online security | Router owners and streaming platforms |
1. Encryption and Online Security
Bitdefender VPN: AES-256 encryption secures every session, backed by an automatic kill switch that blocks internet traffic the moment a tunnel drops. The ad blocker and anti-tracker screen out online threats and intrusive scripts before they load. Public Wi-Fi protection kicks in on unsecured networks without you touching anything.
StrongVPN: It also uses AES-256 encryption to protect user data, plus a kill switch that severs your internet connection if the VPN drops. DNS leak protection is built in, and independent leak tests have come back clean. The security features are solid but plain compared with what specialist providers now ship.
2. Logging Policy and Online Privacy
Bitdefender VPN: The no-logs policy says it stores no traffic logs, no IP addresses, and no browsing history. It does keep some technical data for fraud prevention, including hashed user and device IDs stored as randomly generated tokens. There is no separate logging policy for the VPN service, and the wording stays vague.
StrongVPN: It runs a strict no logging policy and does not record browsing activity, timestamps, or IP addresses. The only personal information it collects is billing details and an email address. The catch is jurisdiction: it is US-based, inside the Five Eyes alliance, and the policy has never been audited.
⚠️ Warning: Neither VPN company has published an independent audit. Both use strict no logging policies on paper only. If verified privacy is your top requirement, we strongly advise looking at audited providers instead.
3. VPN Protocols
Bitdefender VPN: The service leans on Catapult Hydra, the proprietary protocol licensed from Hotspot Shield. Catapult Hydra is tuned for fast, stable connections and it delivers on nearby routes. Documentation also lists industry-standard options such as WireGuard and OpenVPN, though Catapult Hydra remains the default on desktop.
StrongVPN: You get five choices: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP. That range matters on restrictive networks where one VPN protocol gets blocked and another walks straight through. Switching takes a few taps in the settings menu.
4. Server Network and Server Locations
Bitdefender VPN: Over 4,000 servers across 54 countries gives you a lot of reach. More servers usually means shorter hops and better ping times. The app can connect to the server closest to you or you can browse the full server list yourself.
StrongVPN: Over 950 servers in 30 countries is a small server network by 2026 standards. The upside is that StrongVPN’s servers are all physical, never a rented virtual location. P2P transfers are allowed on every one of them.
5. Speed and Download Speeds
Bitdefender VPN: Catapult Hydra is known for fast speeds on a nearby VPN server. Performance drops noticeably on distant routes, especially Japan and Australia. It is not the fastest VPN available, and it trails NordVPN and ExpressVPN on raw throughput.
StrongVPN: Nearby connections lose only 5-7% of base download speeds, which is good. Longer routes are harsher: average download speed measured 31 percent of base speed, and upload speeds fell to 13 percent. Latency runs higher than the fastest rivals, so competitive gaming is not its strength.
💡 Pro Tip: Both apps slow down over distance. Connect to a UK server for British content and a local one for everything else. Switching takes a few seconds and keeps connection times low.
6. Streaming Platforms and Geo Restricted Content
Bitdefender VPN: Documentation says it supports P2P and unblocks Netflix and Disney+, but real-world results contradict that. BBC iPlayer works. US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ mostly do not. There are no dedicated streaming servers, and no Apple TV or Fire TV Stick apps to install.
StrongVPN: It safely reaches major streaming platforms from anywhere, with minimal buffering in testing. StrongDNS handles geo restricted content without routing everything through the VPN tunnel. Amazon Fire TV setup guides make it easy to get onto a TV.
7. Apps, Mobile Devices and Platform Support
Bitdefender VPN: App compatibility is limited to Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. There is no Linux client and no router firmware, so anything outside those four is out of reach. The mobile apps are clean, and desktop notifications tell you when a session starts.
StrongVPN: Native apps cover iOS, Windows, macOS, and Android devices, plus routers and Chrome OS through manual setup guides. The Android app comes straight from the Google Play Store. Devices StrongVPN cannot reach natively usually have a guide, though there are no browser extensions.
8. Ease of Use and Additional Features
Bitdefender VPN: The app is clean and beginner friendly. You sign in through your Bitdefender Central account, hit connect, and you are online in a few seconds. Split tunneling and the ad blocker sit one tap away, and Bitdefender’s instructions cover setup on every supported platform.
StrongVPN: The interface is simple, with a favorites system for the locations you use most. It does offer split tunneling on the main platforms. The latest version keeps the same layout on desktop and on Android apps, so nothing needs relearning.
9. Customer Support
Bitdefender VPN: Live chat runs 24/7, and phone support lists numbers for different countries. Email replies can take at least half an hour. The support team handles every Bitdefender product, so you reach a general support team rather than VPN specialists.
StrongVPN: Support comes through live chat, phone, and email. The knowledge base is built around setup guides for routers and other awkward hardware, which is where other users usually get stuck.
10. Pricing & Cost
Here are the two price lists side by side.
| Plan | Bitdefender VPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Entry tier | Total Security: $59.99/yr | Annual Plan: $3.97/month |
| Mid tier | Premium Security: $79.99/yr | Monthly Plan: $11.99/month |
| Upper tier | Ultimate Security: $89.99/yr | ❌ |
| Top tier | Ultimate Security Plus: $119.99/yr | ❌ |
| Money back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Bitdefender VPN: You are buying a security suite, not just a VPN connection. At $59.99/yr the antivirus, the tunnel, and the ad blocker all arrive together. That is fair value if you needed antivirus anyway, and poor value if you only wanted premium VPN access.
StrongVPN: $3.97/month on the annual plan is a genuinely low entry price for a standalone VPN service. Add the cloud storage and the 12 device allowance and the value holds up. Just budget for the renewal jump in year two.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Antivirus plus a VPN | Bitdefender VPN | One bundle covers both |
| Router or Chrome OS coverage | StrongVPN | Bitdefender has no router support |
| Most server locations | Bitdefender VPN | 4,000+ servers, 54 countries |
| Reliable streaming platforms | StrongVPN | SmartDNS and wider unblocking |
| Lowest standalone price | StrongVPN | $3.97/month on the annual plan |
| A safer legal jurisdiction | Bitdefender VPN | Romania sits outside 5 Eyes |
💰 Your Budget
If a VPN connection is all you want, StrongVPN costs less up front. If antivirus is already in your budget, the Bitdefender bundle absorbs the VPN for free.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
Bitdefender only runs on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Anyone with Linux boxes, routers, or a Fire Stick needs StrongVPN.
📺 Your Streaming Habits
Bitdefender handles BBC iPlayer but stumbles on US Netflix and Prime Video. StrongVPN opens more of those doors with less friction.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Both apps are beginner friendly and take one click to connect. Bitdefender hides more of the settings, which suits people who never want to touch a VPN protocol.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Neither one has a real free trial. Bitdefender offers a 200MB daily free tier with an active licence, and both refund inside 30 days.
🛟 Support Options
Bitdefender runs 24/7 live chat and phone support across many countries. StrongVPN’s help centre is smaller but far better on router setup.
Switching Guide
Already paying for one of them? Here is what changes if you move.
🔄 Switching from Bitdefender VPN to StrongVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Router, Chrome OS, and Amazon Fire TV coverage
- WireGuard and OpenVPN instead of one proprietary protocol
- Two extra device slots and 250GB of cloud storage
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Roughly 3,000 servers and 24 country options
- The bundled antivirus, ad blocker, and anti-tracker
- Romanian jurisdiction, traded for a US base
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel auto-renewal inside your Bitdefender Central account
- Buy the annual plan and install the apps you need
- Flash or configure your router using the setup guides
🔄 Switching from StrongVPN to Bitdefender VPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Over 4,000 servers and 24 more countries to pick from
- Antivirus, ad blocker, and anti-tracker in the same licence
- A jurisdiction outside the Five Eyes alliance
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Router, Linux, Fire TV, and Chrome OS support
- Protocol choice and the SmartDNS service
- 250GB of SugarSync storage and two device slots
📋 How to switch:
- Note your router config before you cancel the subscription
- Pick a bundle and create your Bitdefender Central account
- Install on up to 10 devices and enable the kill switch
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
We focused on individuals and small households. We did not test business licensing, dedicated IP addresses, or long-term torrenting loads. We also could not verify either no-logs claim, since neither VPN company has published an independent audit. If you are buying for a team or routing an office through one VPN tunnel, your results may differ from ours.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Standalone Pricing | StrongVPN |
| 🔐 Security Features | Bitdefender VPN |
| 🕵️ Privacy and Jurisdiction | Bitdefender VPN |
| 🌍 Server Network | Bitdefender VPN |
| ⚡ Speed | StrongVPN |
| 📺 Streaming | StrongVPN |
| 📱 Device Support | StrongVPN |
| 🛟 Customer Support | Bitdefender VPN |
| 👶 Ease of Use | Bitdefender VPN |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | Bitdefender VPN |
🏆 WINNER: BITDEFENDER VPN
Bitdefender VPN wins 5 of 9 categories.
Best for: Everyday online privacy, public Wi-Fi safety, households that also need antivirus
These are not really the same product. Bitdefender VPN is a security suite with a tunnel attached. StrongVPN is a VPN provider that does one job.
Bitdefender wins on the things most people never check until they matter: server count, jurisdiction, and support hours. It is the safer default for staying safe online.
StrongVPN is the better buy for one specific reader. If you own a router you want to protect, watch a lot of geo-locked video, and do not want antivirus, it is the stronger fit at a lower price.
More of Bitdefender VPN Compared
Here is how it lands against other VPN providers people shortlist alongside it.
Bitdefender VPN wins on: Cheaper monthly entry price, antivirus in the same licence, simpler app for first-time users
NordVPN wins on: Audited no-logs policy, far higher download speeds, working Netflix access in most regions
Bitdefender VPN wins on: Roughly half the price, bundled malware protection, ad blocker built into the client
ExpressVPN wins on: Router firmware and Linux clients, obfuscation that works in China, consistent speed on distant servers
Bitdefender VPN vs SurfsharkVPN
Bitdefender VPN wins on: Wider antivirus product range, 24/7 phone support, Romanian data jurisdiction
SurfsharkVPN wins on: Unlimited device connections, WireGuard by default, streaming unblocking across far more platforms
Bitdefender VPN wins on: More servers overall, integrated device security suite, easier setup for non-technical users
ProtonVPN wins on: Open-source audited apps, a genuinely unlimited free tier, Swiss privacy law and Linux support
More of StrongVPN Compared
And here is where it sits against the rest of the field.
StrongVPN wins on: Physical-only server locations, bundled SugarSync storage, no upsells layered into the app
NordVPN wins on: Thousands more servers, Panama jurisdiction well outside Five Eyes, verified audits and threat protection tools
StrongVPN wins on: No virtual locations anywhere in the network, longer track record since 2005, cleaner client design
PureVPN wins on: Much wider country coverage, dedicated IP add-ons, an audited no-logs claim
StrongVPN vs CyberGhost
StrongVPN wins on: Twelve device slots on every plan, simpler two-tier pricing, included cloud storage
CyberGhost wins on: Purpose-built streaming and gaming servers, a 45-day refund window, Romanian jurisdiction
StrongVPN vs Private Internet Access
StrongVPN wins on: Friendlier interface for beginners, SmartDNS for TVs, 250GB of storage thrown in
Private Internet Access wins on: Court-tested no-logs record, open-source clients, unlimited simultaneous connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitdefender VPN trustworthy?
Mostly. It keeps no traffic logs and sits in Romania, outside 5 Eyes. The privacy policy is vague, though, and no independent audit has confirmed those claims.
How much does Bitdefender VPN cost per month?
Bought alone, the premium VPN runs $6.99 per month or $39.99 for the first year. Our stored bundle pricing starts at $59.99 yearly and adds antivirus.
Is StrongVPN free?
No. There is no free version and no free trial. The annual plan costs $3.97 monthly, the rolling plan $11.99, and both carry a 30-day refund.
How many devices can you have on StrongVPN?
Twelve at once on a single account. That covers mobile devices, desktops, and a router, which effectively protects every gadget behind your home network too.
Is NordVPN better than StrongVPN?
For most people, yes. It has more servers, audited no-logs claims, and faster long-distance routes. The cheaper option still wins on simplicity and bundled cloud storage.
English 
Spanish 
Chinese 
German 
French 
Arabic 
Russian 
Portuguese 
Japanese 
Korean 
Italian 
Turkish 
Dutch 
Polish 
Indonesian 
Thai 
Vietnamese 