⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: StrongVPN starts at $3.97/month on its Annual Plan. Malwarebytes plans start at $44.99/yr.
- Best for: StrongVPN for streaming, torrents, and big households. Malwarebytes for people who want antivirus and VPN on one bill.
- Key difference: StrongVPN covers 12 devices and five protocols. Malwarebytes runs WireGuard only on a smaller network.
- Our pick: StrongVPN for most users. It does more VPN work for less money.
Malwarebytes VPN and StrongVPN both promise to keep you safe online.
But they come from very different places.
Malwarebytes is an antivirus company that added a VPN later.
StrongVPN has sold nothing but VPN services since 2005.
That history shapes almost every difference between them.
Overview
This Malwarebytes VPN vs StrongVPN comparison covers pricing, speed, privacy, streaming, and device support.
We reviewed documentation, pricing pages, and independent speed tests for both tools.
Our writers also spent hands-on time with each virtual private network.
Those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
By the end, you’ll know which VPN fits your online activities.
What is Malwarebytes VPN?
Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is the VPN service from the Malwarebytes antivirus team.
It runs on the WireGuard VPN protocol for quick, secure connections.
Behind the scenes, Malwarebytes servers come from Mullvad’s network.
You get 470+ servers across 45+ countries.
Apps cover Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Most buyers get it bundled with Malwarebytes antivirus software.
Malwarebytes products now also include Browser Guard and identity protection.
So how does Malwarebytes Privacy VPN work day to day? This video walks through the app.
Malwarebytes VPN
A simple WireGuard VPN from a known antivirus brand. Best value if you already pay for Malwarebytes protection.
Malwarebytes Pricing
Here’s what Malwarebytes costs in 2026. All plans bill yearly.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $44.99/yr | Antivirus-only protection |
| Plus | $59.99/yr | Antivirus plus Privacy VPN |
| Total | $159.99/yr | Security, VPN, and identity protection |
Pricing verified October 2026.
Free trial: Yes. Malwarebytes gives you a 7-day free trial.
Money-back guarantee: 60 days on every plan.
📌 Note: The VPN starts on the Plus plan. Payment options are PayPal and credit or debit cards. Crypto isn’t accepted, and Malwarebytes runs no extra discounts on the VPN.
⚠️ Warning: Some countries add VAT, which can raise your total by up to 20%. There’s also no month-to-month option.
💲 Price check: Some review sites list standalone Privacy VPN plans by device count. They show $39.99/yr for one device, $49.99 for three, and $59.99 for five. Confirm current prices at checkout.
Key Benefits of Malwarebytes VPN
Here’s what makes Malwarebytes worth a look:
- WireGuard speed: Connections start fast. Your web traffic is wrapped in AES-256 encryption.
- Antivirus on the same bill: You get an anti malware solution and a VPN together. Bundle buyers get all the same features as standalone users.
- MultiHop routing: Traffic can pass through two servers in different countries. That adds an extra layer of online privacy.
- Kill switch: All traffic stops if the VPN connection drops. Your real IP address stays hidden.
- Connection Rules: Certain apps or IP addresses can bypass the VPN. Expert Reviews notes this works on Windows only.
- Private DNS: Malwarebytes runs its own DNS server. It doesn’t track your lookups.
- Auto connect: The VPN can switch on when you join untrusted Wi-Fi. You can also set it to auto launch at startup.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN and spent time with its desktop app. Here’s what stood out:
Malwarebytes VPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- WireGuard protocol keeps connections quick to start
- 60-day refund window beats most VPNs
- Bundles neatly with Malwarebytes antivirus
- Kill switch and MultiHop in a simple app
❌ Cons
- Only 470+ servers in 45+ countries
- Often fails on Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer
- No third party audits of its no-logs claims
What is StrongVPN?
StrongVPN is a standalone VPN company based in the United States.
It has worked in the VPN industry since 2005.
The network has 950+ servers in 30 countries.
Every location uses physical servers, not virtual servers.
One subscription covers 12 simultaneous connections.
Each plan also includes 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage.
Want to see the app in action? This video gives a quick tour.
StrongVPN
A no-frills VPN with five protocols and 12 device slots. Free cloud storage comes with every plan.
StrongVPN Pricing
Here’s what StrongVPN costs in 2026. Both plans unlock every feature.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Plan | $3.97/month | Long-term users who want the lowest rate |
| Monthly Plan | $11.99/month | Short trips or a quick test |
Pricing verified October 2026.
Free trial: No. StrongVPN has no free trial or free version.
Money-back guarantee: 30 days on every StrongVPN subscription.
📌 Note: Payment options include credit cards, PayPal, and Alipay. Every plan unlocks all StrongVPN features, including the 250GB SugarSync bonus.
⚠️ Warning: The annual price rises after year one. We strongly advise checking the renewal rate before you pay.
💲 Price check: Some review sites list the monthly plan at $10.99. Others show $69.99 for the first year, renewing at $89.99. Confirm at checkout.
Key Benefits of StrongVPN
Here’s what makes StrongVPN worth considering:
- 12 simultaneous connections: One account covers a whole household. StrongVPN claims that beats most rivals.
- Five VPN protocols: Pick WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, or L2TP. That helps on picky networks.
- StrongDNS: This Smart DNS feature unlocks geo-blocked shows. It doesn’t slow your speed.
- P2P on every server: You can download torrents on any location. No hunting for special servers.
- No virtual location tricks: Each server sits in the country it lists. What you pick is where you connect.
- Free cloud storage: 250GB of SugarSync storage comes with every plan. Back up photos and files at no extra cost.
- Router support: Manual setup guides cover routers and other devices. One router can protect your whole home.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer set up StrongVPN on a Windows laptop and an Android phone. Here’s what stood out from that hands-on time:
StrongVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- 12 simultaneous connections on one subscription
- Five VPN protocols, including WireGuard and OpenVPN
- P2P allowed on all 950+ servers
- 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage included
❌ Cons
- No free trial or free version
- Server network spans just 30 countries
- No independent audit of its no-logs claims
Feature Comparison
Here’s how Malwarebytes VPN and StrongVPN compare across 10 key areas. We start with the most important features: security features and privacy.
| Feature | Malwarebytes VPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $44.99/yr | $3.97/month |
| Free Plan | ❌ (7-day trial) | ❌ |
| Servers | 470+ in 45+ countries | 950+ in 30 countries |
| Simultaneous Connections | Up to 5 | 12 |
| VPN Protocols | WireGuard only | 5 protocols |
| Kill Switch | ✅ | ✅ |
| Smart DNS | ❌ | ✅ |
| Router Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Built-in Antivirus | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cloud Storage | ❌ | ✅ 250GB |
| Best For | Existing Malwarebytes users | Streaming and big households |
1. Security & Encryption
Malwarebytes VPN: It uses AES-256 encryption and a kill switch. If the VPN drops, all traffic stops. The bigger perk is its antivirus software, which helps protect Windows devices from malware.
Malwarebytes also offers AdwCleaner, a free tool that strips adware from Windows PCs.
StrongVPN: It also pairs AES-256 strong encryption with a kill switch. You turn the kill switch on from the settings menu. It adds DNS leak protection and passes independent leak tests. There’s no malware scanner, so you’ll still need separate antivirus.
2. VPN Protocols
Malwarebytes VPN: You get one VPN protocol: WireGuard. It’s modern and fast to connect. But you can’t switch if a network blocks it.
StrongVPN: It supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, and L2TP. Five options help on school, hotel, and office networks. Beginners can stay on WireGuard and never touch the rest.
3. Server Network
Malwarebytes VPN: It offers 470+ servers in 45+ countries. That’s a small server network next to many VPNs. It borrows Mullvad’s worldwide servers instead of running its own.
StrongVPN: It runs 950+ servers in 30 countries. All of StrongVPN’s servers are physical. You get more servers but fewer server locations.
Both use shared IP addresses. Your traffic blends in with other users on the same server.
⚠️ Warning: Neither network is large. NordVPN and ExpressVPN both reach far more countries.
4. Privacy & Logging
Malwarebytes VPN: It says it doesn’t store DNS requests, IP addresses, or bandwidth usage. It may keep anonymized data, like a public key, to set up your connection. Critics call the privacy policy unclear.
StrongVPN: It follows a strict no logging policy. It doesn’t log browsing history, timestamps, or IP addresses. The only personal information it keeps is your email and payment information.
StrongVPN claims it never sells user data to third parties. Malwarebytes makes a similar promise about your browsing activity. So is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN safe? For everyday browsing, yes, but trust rests on its word.
⚠️ Warning: Both companies are US-based, inside the Five Eyes alliance. Both publish strict no logging policies, but neither has passed an independent audit yet.
5. Streaming & Smart DNS
Malwarebytes VPN: Streaming is its weak spot. It has no dedicated streaming servers. Reviewers often see it fail on Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer.
StrongVPN: It reaches major streaming platforms with minimal buffering in third-party tests. StrongDNS works as a Smart DNS tool. It changes your apparent region without slowing your connection.
6. Speed & Gaming
Malwarebytes VPN: WireGuard helps, but independent speed tests show big drops. One test saw a 34% loss on nearby servers. Distant servers lost 62%, and gamers report high ping.
StrongVPN: It does better on nearby connections. One test showed just a 5-7% speed loss, while others averaged about 20%. One reviewer logged 31% for download and 13% for upload speeds against base speed.
Using a VPN always costs some speed. StrongVPN’s local ping is low, but long-distance latency trails top rivals. Both handle browsing and HD video fine on a decent internet connection.
💡 Pro Tip: Pick the server closest to you. The closest server usually gives the lowest ping. Neither tool is the fastest VPN on the market.
7. Device Support & Apps
Malwarebytes VPN: It has a Windows app, Mac desktop app, iOS app, and Android app. There’s no Linux, Chrome OS, router, Amazon Fire TV, or gaming consoles support. It does add Browser Guard, a free browser extension that blocks scam sites.
StrongVPN: It offers native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The Android app is on the Google Play Store. Router setup guides let even consoles connect through your home network.
Neither tool relies on browser extensions for the VPN tunnel itself. Both offer mobile apps, so mobile devices get the same protection. Each lets you pick the app that matches your operating system.
8. Split Tunneling & Censorship
Malwarebytes VPN: Its version is called Connection Rules. It lets certain apps skip the VPN on Windows. Reviewers say it struggles to beat censorship in China.
StrongVPN: Both tools offer split tunneling, but only in limited form. On Android devices StrongVPN offers it through its Android apps. Five protocols give it more ways around network blocks.
9. Identity Protection & Extras
Malwarebytes VPN: This is where Malwarebytes wins. The Total plan adds identity theft protection, a personal data remover, and dark web monitoring.
The personal data remover helps scrub your details from data broker sites.
Dark web monitoring alerts you if your info shows up in a leak.
StrongVPN: Its main extra is 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage. That’s handy free cloud storage for photos and backups. There are no identity tools, though.
10. Pricing & Cost
Let’s compare the plans side by side.
| Plan | Malwarebytes VPN | StrongVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ❌ (7-day trial) | ❌ |
| Monthly | ❌ | $11.99/month |
| Entry | Standard: $44.99/yr (no VPN) | Annual Plan: $3.97/month |
| Mid | Plus: $59.99/yr | — |
| Top | Total: $159.99/yr | — |
Malwarebytes VPN: Plans bill yearly only. You need Plus or Total to get the VPN. The 60-day refund window lowers your risk.
StrongVPN: The Annual Plan is the better deal, with a monthly option for short stays. There’s no free trial, but you get a 30-day money back guarantee. Watch the renewal price.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tight budget | StrongVPN | Lower entry price, more devices |
| Antivirus and VPN together | Malwarebytes VPN | Built-in malware protection |
| Streaming | StrongVPN | StrongDNS and better unblocking |
| Torrenting | StrongVPN | P2P on every server |
| Identity protection | Malwarebytes VPN | Dark web monitoring, data remover |
| Longest refund window | Malwarebytes VPN | 60 days vs 30 days |
| Many devices | StrongVPN | 12 connections plus router support |
💰 Your Budget
StrongVPN gives you more VPN for less money. Malwarebytes only makes sense if you also want its antivirus.
🔌 Your Devices
Need a router, Fire TV, or 12 devices covered? StrongVPN handles that, while Malwarebytes sticks to computers and phones.
🎬 Streaming and Gaming
StrongVPN is the safer bet for movie nights. Neither is ideal for competitive gaming on distant servers.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Both apps are simple to learn. Malwarebytes has fewer settings, and StrongVPN keeps its extra protocols out of the way.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Malwarebytes gives a seven-day trial period. StrongVPN has no trial, so use its refund window to test.
🛟 Support Options
StrongVPN support is easily accessible by live chat, phone, and email. Malwarebytes support gets praise for quick replies when you open a support ticket.
🔒 Privacy Priorities
Both are US-based with unaudited no-logs claims. Privacy purists should compare audited rivals like Mullvad or ProtonVPN.
Switching Guide
Already using one of these tools? Here’s what to expect if you switch.
🔄 Switching from Malwarebytes VPN to StrongVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- 12 simultaneous connections instead of 5
- Smart DNS and better streaming access
- 250GB of SugarSync cloud storage
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Built-in antivirus and Browser Guard
- The 60-day refund window
- MultiHop double-server routing
📋 How to switch:
- Turn off auto-renewal in your Malwarebytes account.
- Sign up for StrongVPN and install the app for each device.
- Turn on the kill switch and connect to a nearby server.
🔄 Switching from StrongVPN to Malwarebytes VPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Antivirus and VPN in one subscription
- MultiHop routing for extra privacy
- Identity tools on the Total plan
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Five VPN protocols to choose from
- Router and Fire TV support
- Your 250GB of SugarSync storage
📋 How to switch:
- Download your files from SugarSync before you cancel.
- Buy a Malwarebytes plan that includes the VPN (Plus or Total).
- Install the app, sign in, and turn on auto connect.
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on everyday users and small households. We didn’t test router setups, business licensing, or reliability over many months. Speed figures come from independent tests, and your results will vary by location. Prices reflect October 2026 and may change.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | StrongVPN |
| 🌍 Server Network | StrongVPN |
| ⚡ Speed | StrongVPN |
| 🎬 Streaming | StrongVPN |
| 📱 Device Support | StrongVPN |
| 🛡️ Security Extras | Malwarebytes VPN |
| 🆔 Identity Tools | Malwarebytes VPN |
| 👶 Ease of Use | Malwarebytes VPN |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | StrongVPN |
🏆 WINNER: STRONGVPN
StrongVPN wins 5 out of 8 categories.
Best for: Streaming, torrenting, and households with many devices
Malwarebytes VPN and StrongVPN solve different problems. Malwarebytes is a security suite with a VPN attached. StrongVPN is a VPN first, with nothing else in the way.
Malwarebytes is a fine pick if you already trust its antivirus. It’s simple, and the long refund window lowers your risk.
The best VPN for you depends on your online activity. For most people, that is StrongVPN. You get more devices, more protocols, and real streaming access for less.
More of Malwarebytes VPN Compared
The best VPNs today back their privacy claims with audits. Here’s how Malwarebytes VPN stacks up against other VPN services:
Malwarebytes wins on: Antivirus in the same plan, a 60-day refund vs 30 days, and a simpler one-screen app.
NordVPN wins on: An audited no-logs policy, a much larger server network, and Smart DNS for TVs.
Malwarebytes VPN vs ExpressVPN
Malwarebytes wins on: Lower yearly entry price, built-in malware scanning, and MultiHop routing.
ExpressVPN wins on: The Lightway protocol, a dedicated router app, and wider streaming access.
Malwarebytes wins on: An antivirus bundle, a longer refund window, and identity tools on its top plan.
ProtonVPN wins on: A free plan with no ads, Swiss jurisdiction outside Five Eyes, and audited open-source apps.
Malwarebytes VPN vs Surfshark
Malwarebytes wins on: A longer refund window, a malware engine from a security specialist, and very simple setup.
Surfshark wins on: Unlimited devices, the CleanWeb ad blocker, and an audited no-logs policy.
More of StrongVPN Compared
Here’s how StrongVPN measures up against other premium VPN brands. This video covers a few StrongVPN alternatives.
StrongVPN wins on: 12 device slots vs 10, bundled SugarSync storage, and all-physical server locations.
NordVPN wins on: A Deloitte-audited no-logs policy, Threat Protection blocking, and far more countries.
StrongVPN wins on: A cheaper first year, more simultaneous devices, and free cloud storage.
ExpressVPN wins on: RAM-only server tech, its own Lightway protocol, and broader country coverage.
StrongVPN wins on: 12 connections vs 10, SugarSync storage, and low local ping times.
PureVPN wins on: A KPMG-audited no-logs policy, 140+ countries, and a 31-day refund window.
StrongVPN vs Surfshark
StrongVPN wins on: Extra protocols like SSTP and L2TP, no virtual locations, and bundled storage.
Surfshark wins on: Unlimited devices, MultiHop and Camouflage Mode, and CleanWeb ad blocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malwarebytes VPN any good?
It’s good for basic privacy, especially if you already use the Malwarebytes antivirus. As a standalone VPN, it lags on streaming, server count, and speed.
Does Malwarebytes VPN log data?
The company says it doesn’t log DNS requests, IP addresses, or bandwidth usage. It may store anonymized connection keys, and no independent audit has verified the policy.
Is StrongVPN free?
No. There’s no free version or free trial. You can test it risk-free with the 30-day refund window instead.
How many devices can you have on StrongVPN?
You can connect up to 12 devices at once. That covers phones, laptops, tablets, and a router on a single subscription.
Does Malwarebytes VPN work on Netflix?
Results are inconsistent. It has no dedicated streaming servers and often struggles with Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer. StrongVPN is the safer choice for streaming.
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