Disclosure: We review VPNs independently, however we may earn commissions if you buy a VPN via links on our site.

StrongVPN Review

 Rated 4.95 out of 5 
34 user reviews
The StrongVPN application for macOS
Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more.

Fact-checked by JP JonesAdditional Testing by Alyx Morley

Ask Simon About StrongVPN

Our Verdict

8.18.1/10
How is this calculated?

Our overall rating is reached by combining several subcategories. The subcategories are weighted as follows:

  • Logging & Jurisdiction: 30%
  • Speed & Reliability: 25%
  • Security & Extra Features: 20%
  • Streaming: 10%
  • Torrenting: 5%
  • Ease of Use: 5%
  • Support: 5%

See our full methodology in how we review VPNs.

StrongVPN is a safe VPN with fast speeds and a strict no-logs policy. It’s a good choice for P2P torrenting, unblocking US Netflix, and bypassing online censorship in China. It also has a generous limit of 12 simultaneous connections, which you can use on iOS, Android, PC, Mac and more.

Ranked #19 out of 56 VPNs

StrongVPN Category Ratings

  • 8.88.8/10
  • 8.78.7/10
  • 9.99.9/10
  • 8.58.5/10
  • 7.97.9/10
  • 77.0/10
  • 8.88.8/10
  • 8.48.4/10
  • 88.0/10
  • 7.57.5/10

StrongVPN Pros & Cons

  • Fast & reliable speeds
  • Works with Netflix & BBC iPlayer
  • Torrenting & P2P allowed on all servers
  • No-logs & no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks
  • Apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
  • Up to 12 simultaneous connections

  • Small server network
  • No VPN browser extensions
  • Based in privacy-unfriendly USA

Why Trust Our Review?

We’ve spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing 56 VPN services using our impartial review process to recommend you the best VPN software.

Here are some of our key VPN testing statistics:

Total Hours of Testing30,000+
Weekly Speed Tests3,000+
VPN Services Reviewed56
Streaming Platforms Tested Daily12
IP & DNS Leak Tests Performed9,500+
How Much We've Spent On Testing$25,000+

StrongVPN is one of the oldest personal VPNs on the market. It started in 1995 selling dedicated servers, and in 2005 launched its first VPN service.

The VPN service has a robust no-logs policy and intuitive native apps, making it a great choice for beginners. We like that it offers a kill switch and a stealth protocol for all desktop users, Android and Amazon Fire TV. Unfortunately, port forwarding isn’t available at all and the kill switch isn’t available on mobile.

We recorded incredibly fast local connection speeds with StrongVPN. International connections, however, were not so impressive, and server coverage outside of the US, Europe, and East Asia is lacking.

The VPN is based in the US, which is a terrible jurisdiction for privacy. As part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, your VPN usage logs could be stored and made available to governments in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

StrongVPN’s no-logs policy should protect you from this, though.

In October 2021, J2 Global, the parent company of StrongVPN, split into two separate companies: Ziff Davis and Consensus Cloud Solutions. Ziff Davis is StrongVPN’s parent company and owns a majority of J2 Global’s assets.

All ibVPN and SaferVPN accounts have been shut down and migrated to StrongVPN.

StrongVPN Key Data

Data CapUnlimited
Speed91Mbps
Logging PolicyNo Logs
Data LeaksNo
JurisdictionUS (Five-Eyes Member)
Servers950
IP Addresses59,500
Countries42
US NetflixYes
TorrentingUnlimited
Simultaneous Connections12
Works In ChinaYes
Support24/7 Live Chat
Cheapest Price$3.66/mo over 12 Months
Money-Back Guarantee30-day Money-Back Guarantee
Official WebsiteStrongVPN.com

Privacy & Logging Policy

Zero-logs, but hasn’t been audited

9.99.9/10
How is this calculated?

We dissect the logging and privacy policies of every VPN. A VPN should never log:

  • Your real IP address
  • Connection timestamps
  • DNS requests

A base of operations outside of 14-Eyes or EU jurisdiction is preferable.

StrongVPN is owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns other VPNs including IP Vanish and a number of tech publications. The VPN is based in the US, which we don’t like, but it operates a zero-logs policy. We want to see an independent audit of the service to be sure it doesn’t record your data.

Ranked #1 out of 56 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy

StrongVPN was launched in 2005 by Strong Technology, LLC. It has changed hands a number of times over the years. In 2019 it was acquired by J2 Global, an American technology company.

In October 2021 J2 Global split in two as a company, becoming Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. and Ziff Davis. Its VPN properties now fall under ownership of Ziff Davis, a conglomerate digital media, affiliate marketing and technology company.

Despite this confusing latest change of ownership, we’ve seen no reason to believe that StrongVPN has changed as a service.

Based in Privacy-Unfriendly US

StrongVPN operates under US jurisdiction, which is one of the least privacy-friendly locations in the world. The US is a member of the Five Eyes international intelligence-sharing alliance. This means the government can demand surveillance data from companies and share it with an intelligence agency without your knowledge.

The VPN service states that it will comply with valid subpoena requests. But because StrongVPN doesn’t collect any customer activity logs, there’s no way of tying down any web activity to an individual user. It cannot submit information that’s already been deleted.

Logging Policy

We analyzed StrongVPN’s privacy policy in detail and found it to be zero-logs. It clearly states:

Screenshot of StrongVPN's Privacy Policy, showing that they collect an email address and payment information.

StrongVPN’s Privacy Policy confirms it does not log your web browsing activity.

To summarize, it doesn’t collect any data about its customers’ use of its VPN service. This includes even basic connection metadata such as timestamps, chosen server or bandwidth consumed.

StrongVPN Hasn’t Been Independently Audited

Our main concern about StrongVPN’s logging policy is its lack of external audit, which would verify the no-logs claim.

We would also like to see a warrant canary or official statement on the website. A warrant canary is published on a website to warn users that a company has been served a subpoena, and that the company may have to share your data.

Without this, the company might have no way of communicating to users if it has been asked to share data with the government.

Speed

Very impressive same-country speeds

8.58.5/10
How is this calculated?

Speed ratings are calculated using upload speeds, download speeds, and ping (latency).

We test average speeds regularly using a dedicated 100Mbps connection in London, UK. Local download speed is considered the most important factor.

StrongVPN’s speeds are fast enough for HD streaming and torrenting, both on same-country and long-distance connections. But it didn’t perform as well with connections to the US. Its low latency means it’s well-suited to gaming.

Ranked #28 out of 56 VPNs for Speed

StrongVPN is very fast on local connections, only causing an 8% reduction in our download speeds. This is fast enough for HD streaming, or even 4K if you have a 100Mbps line or faster.

We stick to a strict methodology to conduct our speed tests. First, we fix our internet speed to 100 mbps to have as our baseline. Then we record download, upload speeds, and ping times, before and after connecting to a server near our physical location in London, UK.

Local Speed Test results before using StrongVPN:

  • Download Speed: 99.93Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 98.69Mbps
  • Ping: 6ms

Local Speed Test results with StrongVPN:

  • Download Speed: 91.94Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 94.53Mbps
  • Ping: 9ms

Download speed loss when StrongVPN is running: 8%

International Speed Test Results

International connection speeds were mixed, meaning you can browse, stream, and game easily on some servers – but not all.

We tested StrongVPN’s connection speeds from our location in London, UK, by connecting to servers in the US, Germany, Canada, Singapore, and Australia.

Here are StrongVPN’s latest global speed test results:

  • US (New York):
    • Download: 46.88Mbps (53% slower)
    • Upload: 66.84Mbps (31% slower)
  • Germany (Frankfurt):
    • Download: 90.56Mbps(9% slower)
    • Upload: 96.5Mbps(1% slower)
  • Canada (Toronto):
    • Download: 55.56Mbps (44% slower)
    • Upload: 56.14Mbps (42% slower)
  • Singapore:
    • Download: 14Mbps
    • Upload: 45Mbps
  • Australia:
    • Download: 13Mbps (87% slower)
    • Upload: 44.6Mbps (54% slower)

Download speeds in Germany were excellent (only 9% slower). On the flip side, connections to the US and Canada averaged around 45 – 55 mbps. These are also great results, but we’ve seen better – take a look at our list of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested here.

Unfortunately, we saw poor results connecting across the globe to Singapore (75% drop) and Australia (87% drop). We also encountered some buffering and lagging while streaming. For these reasons, we wouldn’t recommend StrongVPN if you are intending to use it for very long-distance connections.

Server Locations

59 locations across 42 countries

7.97.9/10
How is this calculated?

The global spread and coverage of the VPN server network is the most important factor here.

We also consider the number of city-level servers, plus how many IP addresses are maintained.

This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.

StrongVPN operates 950 servers over 42 countries, including additional city level locations. This isn't the biggest server network we've seen, but it's made up entirely of in-house, bare metal servers.

Ranked #25 out of 56 VPNs for Server Locations

Globe with a blue flag
42 Countries
Image of a city landscape
59 Cities
Image of a pink marker
59,500 IP Addresses
"Screenshot of a map on StrongVPN's website. Cities with a server are marked on the map.

StrongVPN has great server location coverage in the US and Europe.

StrongVPN’s coverage is slightly on the smaller side, with around 950 servers spread across over 42 countries. We’d like to see StrongVPN serve more countries – ideally 50 or more – with better coverage of Africa and specific countries like New Zealand.

First-Party Server Ownership

StrongVPN owns and operates all of its own servers, just like its ‘sister’ VPN, IPVanish.

Ownership of its “infrastructure of global servers” is one of StrongVPN’s best selling points because it eliminates the risks associated with rental servers. It guarantees there is no “third-party meddling with [its] users’ activity,” and only trusted employees have access to the physical servers.

Lots of City-Level Servers

StrongVPN offers city-specific servers in 59 cities. Of these 59, 25% are based in the US. This is usual for VPNs, which often have a concentration of servers in the US and EU.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's Windows client. It shows a list of servers available.

A list of available servers on StrongVPN.

Multi-city servers can be found in:

  • Australia (4 cities)
  • Canada (3)
  • France (3)
  • UK (6)
  • US (15)

In the last few months, StrongVPN has brought down the number of servers in Germany and Brazil. The number of servers in Australia has increased from two cities to four.

There is good server coverage in Asia with servers located in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. South America counts servers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.

However, there are only two servers in Africa, both located in Johannesburg, and one in India, Mumbai. If there are only a couple servers in your continent, we recommend checking out a better alternative. In comparison, ExpressVPN has servers in four African countries (South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, and Algeria), and three in India (Mumbai and Chennai).

On the plus-side, StrongVPN does make a very high number of IP addresses available to its customers – almost 60,000 – which is great for maintaining high speeds.

Streaming

StrongVPN is a good VPN for streaming US Netflix

8.88.8/10
How is this calculated?

Streaming is rated by the number of different services unlocked, how many regional libraries are viewable, and how consistently the VPN can access them.

Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and more are all tested on a weekly basis.

StrongVPN is a good VPN for streaming, though it doesn’t have dedicated streaming servers. It works with US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Disney+. In fact, it unblocked almost every streaming service we tested, albeit inconsistently.

Ranked #13 out of 56 VPNs for Streaming

StrongVPN recently started working again with US Netflix on several of its US servers, after weeks of being completely blocked.

There are no dedicated streaming servers, though, which makes the task trickier. While it’s not too hard to find a working server, CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers deliver a far better user experience.

StrongVPN's server in Chicago unblocked US Netflix

StrongVPN’s Chicago server unblocked US Netflix.

While we could stream US Netflix content in HD quality, we couldn’t unblock any other Netflix region. We tested over 10 libraries, with no success.

In comparison, NordVPN unblocks 11 Netflix regions, including Germany, South Korea and the UK.

StrongVPN’s inconsistent access to BBC iPlayer

Streaming BBC iPlayer is a different story. StrongVPN unblocks iPlayer inconsistently, working on some days but not others.

StrongVPN unblocking BBC iPlayer on its London server.

StrongVPN’s London server unblocked BBC iPlayer.

Here’s a list of StrongVPN’s UK servers, and whether they currently work with BBC iPlayer:

If you want greater reliability, there are more reliable VPNs for BBC iPlayer.

StrongVPN is one of the best VPNs for unblocking Channel 4 (All 4), either through its VPN servers or StrongDNS.

StrongVPN works with most streaming platforms

StrongVPN unblocked most other US content platforms we tested. It worked with Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video USA.

Similarly to its issues with BBC iPlayer, StrongVPN doesn’t always work with other platforms, though. If a US server stops streaming, you’ll have to try different ones until you find one that works.

Torrenting

StrongVPN allows torrenting on all servers

8.78.7/10
How is this calculated?

We calculate the average download bitrate of every VPN using a bespoke torrenting setup.

Testing also factors in the percentage of servers which permit P2P, plus useful features like port forwarding.

StrongVPN is a safe VPN for torrenting. P2P is allowed on all servers and we've seen good speed in our P2P tests. However, it doesn’t support port forwarding.

Ranked #12 out of 56 VPNs for Torrenting

StrongVPN allows torrenting and P2P activity on all servers. This is unlike other VPNs which usually feature specialized servers just for torrenting.

Torrenting with StrongVPN connected to a UK server

Torrenting with StrongVPN, connected to a UK server.

In our latest P2P speed tests, StrongVPN registered an impressive average bitrate of 9.7MiB/s. This is just a small drop from the 10.0MiB/s without a VPN.

A strict no-logs policy means all your online activity remains private – which is great for anonymous file-sharing. This and AES-256 encryption has you covered for torrenting.

Dependable Kill Switch

Screenshot of StrongVPN's kill switch.

StrongVPN’s kill switch is easy to find in settings.

What’s more, StrongVPN also has a VPN kill switch and we didn’t detect any IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks in our latest round of testing (more on this below).

No Port Forwarding

Port forwarding speed ups file seeding, and is a feature keen torrenters often look out for in a VPN.

StrongVPN no longer sells dedicated IP addresses, which made port forwarding available. This is because all of StrongVPN’s servers now use shared IP addresses.

StrongVPN’s Kodi Add-on

StrongVPN also has a Kodi add-on that supports LibreELEC, OpenELEC, and XBMC. There’s a helpful setup guide on StrongVPN’s official website.

Bypassing Web Censorship

StrongVPN works in highly censored regions

77.0/10
How is this calculated?

Our remote-access server in Shanghai, China routinely tests if a VPN can beat restrictions and access a free, open internet. Obfuscation technologies and nearby servers are also a contributing factor.

This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.

In the past StrongVPN has been able to overcome China's firewall from our Shanghai server, but in recent months it has underperformed. It's obfuscation tools should be enough for other censored regions, though.

Ranked #21 out of 56 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship

StrongVPN is still a fairly good option to bypass aggressive web blocks in highly censored countries like China, Iran, Turkey and the UAE.

If you are able to access the website, StrongVPN gives useful advice about connecting in China:

Screenshot of advice on StrongVPN's website to use its San Francisco server to bypass China's firewall.

StrongVPN recommends using its San Francisco server to bypass China’s firewall.

EXPERT ADVICE: StrongVPN’s website is blocked in China and other high censorship countries, so we recommend you download and set up StrongVPN before you travel there.

The additional obfuscation tools you get with StrongVPN are very useful to evade online censorship.

Useful Scramble Feature

The scramble feature “disguises [your] traffic to look like regular unencrypted traffic,” making it very hard to detect.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's settings, showing their Scramble feature on OpenVPN. The screenshot is taken on macOS.

Select Scramble on the macOS client to obfuscate your traffic.

It’s available on Windows, macOS, Android, and routers running on StrongVPN auto installers (e.g. DD-WRT and Sabai routers). The feature is also only compatible with OpenVPN.

Security & Technical Features

Strong encryption and secure DNS servers

8.88.8/10
How is this calculated?

Top-rated VPNs offer OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a functional kill switch. We also consider additional security features and the global spread of VPN servers.

StrongVPN is a secure VPN that offers the trust WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. It uses AES-256 encryption and we've never detected a DNS or IP leak on the service.

Ranked #19 out of 56 VPNs for Security & Technical Features

ProtocolsAvailable in StrongVPN
IKEv2/IPSecYes
L2TP/IPSecYes
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)Yes
PPTPYes
SSTPYes
WireGuardYes
EncryptionAvailable in StrongVPN
AES-128No
AES-192No
AES-256Yes
BlowfishNo
ChaCha20No
SecurityAvailable in StrongVPN
DNS Leak BlockingYes
First-party DNSYes
IPv6 Leak BlockingYes
Supports TCP Port 443Yes
VPN Kill SwitchYes
WebRTC Leak BlockingNo
Advanced FeaturesAvailable in StrongVPN
Ad BlockerNo
Dedicated IPNo
Double VPNNo
Smart DNSYes
Static IPNo
SOCKSNo
Split TunnelingNo
Tor over VPN ServerNo
Tracker BlockerNo

StrongVPN has a kill switch that prevents your true IP address from being exposed. It uses AES-256 encryption and it operates its own DNS servers, meaning none of your web traffic will be routed through third-party servers.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's protocols.

StrongVPN offers multiple secure protocols on desktop and mobile.

StrongVPN also supports WireGuard on all its apps – an alternative to OpenVPN which is looking more and more likely to become the fastest option.

Despite StrongVPN’s website saying that many servers are only compatible with insecure PPTP connections, this is incorrect.

We got in touch with a customer service agent to find out more. They clarified that you can choose between 6 protocols on all servers, including trusted OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols.

StrongVPN DNS and IP Leak test screenshot

StrongVPN passed our leak tests.

We were also pleased to detect no DNS or IP leaks in our latest tests.

Device & OS Compatibility

Works with all popular devices plus routers

How is this rated?

A quality VPN should maintain functional, fully-featured applications and extensions for as many platforms and devices as possible.

This does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Ease of Use rating.

Strong VPN has apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Fire TV, as well as router compatibility and smart DNS for consoles. You can use StrongVPN on up to 12 devices at once which is far above the industry average.

You can have up to 12 simultaneous connections with one StrongVPN subscription. It’s a very generous offer and should be more than enough for the average household. If that’s not enough for you, though, you can also install StrongVPN on your router to protect all of your devices at once.

There are key differences between StrongVPN’s apps. Here’s a table of features available on each platform:

Apps

StrongVPN can be used on the following platforms:

  1. Windows
  2. Mac
  3. iOS
  4. Android
  5. Linux
  6. Router

StrongVPN provides custom VPN apps for all popular devices.

On its website, you’ll find manual setup guides for other types of devices, platforms and software like Linux, Amazon Kindle and Kodi.

StrongVPN also provides step-by-step instructions on how to manually set up the VPN on your router to protect all internet traffic in your home.

StrongVPN’s 12 simultaneous connection limit is very generous and one of the highest we’ve seen.

Windows

StrongVPN’s main screen is very stripped back, displaying only the important connection details:

    • IP address
    • Time elapsed
    • Visible location
    • Whether you’re connected to the VPN
Screenshot of StrongVPN's Windows client.

StrongVPN’s Windows main page is easy to navigate.

A range of settings can be found behind the cog icon along the top of the app. There aren’t a lot of options, but the essentials are covered, such as a functional kill switch and the option to reconnect automatically.

macOS

StrongVPN’s macOS client is very similar to Windows. The macOS client offers IPV6 Leak Protection, which the Windows does not.

To access the settings, click on StrongVPN on the Mac menu bar at the top of the page, and then click on Preferences. From there, you can adjust usability features, such as the kill switch, and change protocols.

Importantly, the kill switch is only compatible with OpenVPN or L2TP – we recommend sticking to the former to ensure your real IP address is not exposed.

A screenshot of the settings on StrongVPN’s macOS client.

StrongVPN selects OpenVPN TCP by default.

In terms of design, the macOS version is much sleeker than Windows. It has a minimalist white background, instead of navy and black, and you can’t switch to navy or black. Which one you might prefer comes down to your own personal preference.

Android

StrongVPN’s Android app is user-friendly and offers split tunneling. It’s compatible with WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IPsec. Unfortunately, the VPN service does not offer a kill switch on either Android or iOS, which should be a dealbreaker for frequent mobile VPN users.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's Android app. It shows the page for Split Tunneling, where you can select certain apps to route their connection through the VPN.

Split Tunnel on StrongVPN’s Android app.

Split tunneling is a convenient feature that lets you automatically route traffic on specific apps through a VPN. Importantly, StrongVPN’s split tunneling is only available on Android and is compatible with Wireguard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. We recommend just sticking to WireGuard or OpenVPN, though.

When you open the split tunneling feature, the apps are sorted alphabetically by default. They are sorted into categories such as “Recommended” and “User Apps.” You can also “Select all” and “Deselect all” in the hamburger menu.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's Android app, showing a chat with a bot. There is the option to "Chat with an agent" and "Leave a message."

A screenshot of the introductory bot message on Android.

There are great customer service features on both the Android and iOS versions of StrongVPN. The apps direct you to a conversation with a bot. And if you’d like to talk to a real person straight away, click Chat with an agent. We were able to speak to someone in less than five minutes.

iOS

The app is compatible with IKEv2, IPsec, and WireGuard – we recommend sticking to the latter. And despite the convenience of an auto-connect feature, it’s only compatible with IPsec and IKEv2, not Wireguard, which is the most secure of the options. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a kill switch or split tunneling.

StrongVPN’s iOS design is consistent with the macOS client. The background colour is white and gives the app a modern, minimalist look.

Screenshot of an article ("iOS IPSec Written Setup").

View StrongVPN’s guides and articles inside the iOS app.

You can easily access articles from the knowledge base in-app, including setup guides and FAQs. We appreciate the thought put into the user experience here. You don’t have to leave the app to view guides, then open up the StrongVPN app again.

As mentioned before, the live chat function is exactly the same on Android and iOS. This means you can chat with customer service almost immediately if you need assistance.

Fire TV

StrongVPN has a good Fire TV app that unblocks US Netflix and BBC iPlayer – though it sometimes struggles with the latter. In comparison, Windscribe gives you access to 30 Netflix libraries and consistently works with BBC iPlayer.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's Fire TV app homepage.

Screenshot of StrongVPN’s Fire TV app homepage.

On StrongVPN, you can choose between WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. WireGuard is the default, which is great since it’s fast and secure.

Screenshot of the Split tunnel feature in StrongVPN's Fire TV app.

Split tunnel specific apps on your Fire TV with StrongVPN.

Split tunneling is a great feature that lets you route certain apps through a VPN connection and not others. This part of the app wasn’t optimized for TV though. When scrolling through the apps, it didn’t highlight which we were hovering over on the screen.

It’s a shame the Fire TV app doesn’t have a kill switch. Without it, your IP address could be exposed if your internet were to drop.

Games Consoles & Streaming Devices

  1. Apple TV
  2. Amazon Fire TV
  3. Chromecast
  4. Nintendo
  5. PlayStation
  6. Roku
  7. Xbox

StrongVPN can be used with consoles and streaming devices by following the manual configuration instructions for installing StrongVPN on your home router.

There’s also a user-friendly native app for Amazon Fire TV devices, but it’s just not as good as some of the best VPNs for Fire TV Stick available.

EXPERT ADVICE: The StrongVPN app is only compatible on Amazon Fire TV devices released from 2016 onwards.

Router Compatibility

Setting up a VPN on your router saves you from having to reconnect each time on every device. It’s a great option if you don’t want to worry about being hacked through smart home devices or worry about forgetting to connect your VPN.

StrongVPN offers great options for both novice and experienced customers. There’s a full list of over 125 compatible routers on StrongVPN’s website, split into useful categories.

For beginners, here’s a list of preloaded routers available, all powered by Sabai OS:

  • VPN Accelerator
  • Linksys E2500
  • Asus RT-N12
  • Netgear Nighthawk X6 R8000

For confident users, you can set up StrongVPN manually on devices from these manufacturers:

  • Asus
  • Belkin
  • Buffallo
  • D-Link
  • GL.iNet
  • Linksys
  • Netgear
  • TP-Link

If you’re interested, check out our guide to installing a VPN on your router to protect all your devices at once.

Browser Extensions

  1. Chrome

The StrongVPN proxy failed to unblock geo-restricted streaming services like BBC iPlayer and Netflix, meaning it’s basically useless. It’s also only available to customers with a StrongVPN subscription.

Proxies aren’t the same as a VPN. They don’t encrypt your data and web activity, making it vulnerable to attack or exposure.

Screenshot of the Chrome browser. StrongVPN's proxy browser extension is enabled and connected from the UK to Atlanta, US. The browser shows "Access to netflix.com was denied."

In our tests, StrongVPN’s web proxy did not unblock US Netflix.

StrongVPN’s browser extension gives you access to 14 server locations, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Sweden, which is above average.

Ease of Use

Easy-to-use apps on all devices

8.48.4/10
How is this calculated?

This rating mainly consists of the intuitiveness of setup and everyday use.

Device or platform compatibility and customization options are also a factor.

StrongVPN is great for VPN-beginners. Its newly updated apps are intuitive and user-friendly. There aren’t a lot of options for customization, but it’s got all the basics covered.

Ranked #17 out of 56 VPNs for Ease of Use

On both the Windows and the macOS versions, the default server is the Best Available option, which is the server closest to your location. It’s a convenient feature if you just want to quickly connect to a nearby server.

On both desktop apps, the servers are sorted alphabetically by country and then city. There’s no further categorization by region or server specialization, since there aren’t any specialized servers.

Desktop users also have the benefit of a proxy browser extension that has 14 server locations — though it wasn’t able to access US Netflix or BBC iPlayer.

In comparison, the mobile client offers a superior experience because you can sort servers by city or country. On the plus side, you can use the search bar on both desktop and mobile clients to find a specific location.

Customer Support

Fast response time but some confusing advice

88.0/10
How is this calculated?

This rating is based on our assessment of each VPN’s:

  • Email support
  • Live chat support
  • Online resources

Not every VPN offers all of these, and they often vary in quality and response time.

StrongVPN offers 24/7 live chat and FAQs on its website, although we havn't always been able to use these to solve bugs or issues.

Ranked #27 out of 56 VPNs for Customer Support

Customer SupportAvailable in StrongVPN
24/7 Live Chat SupportYes
24/7 Email SupportNo
ChatbotNo
EmailNo
Email Support via Online FormNo
Tutorial VideosNo
Online ResourcesYes

Live chat is available 24/7, but most of the time we just ended up talking to a sales agent who copied and pasted answers from the FAQs section.

This was a little disappointing, but whenever they couldn’t solve our problems they did forward our details on to the tech team, who were always quick to respond.

The official StrongVPN website provides a great range of setup manuals for many different devices, including video tutorials and screenshots.

For basic instructions, the FAQ section should do the job, but for anything beyond simple help you’ll have to contact their customer support team.

Extensive & Useful Knowledge Base

The official StrongVPN website offers an extensive searchable knowledge base.

It’s full of setup guides for different devices, including video tutorials and screenshots. There’s even a couple articles written in Mandarin for Chinese users.

Screenshot of a Mandarin guide, showing you what to do if you can't login to the StrongVPN client.

An article written in Mandarin, showing you how to change your password if you can’t login.

Articles in the knowledge base are sorted into the following categories:

    • Android
    • iOS
    • macOS
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Routers
    • Amazon devices
    • App and operating system general troubleshooting
    • Network issues
    • Connectivity
    • Legacy app troubleshooting
    • China

Overall, the resources on the official website are more than enough to help you set up any device. You have access to 24/7 live sales, billing, and technical support. But you may encounter some issues with live agents who aren’t as knowledgeable.

Price & Value

Save 67% off StrongVPN with the latest promotion

7.57.5/10
How is this calculated?

Price & Value for Money receives a rating, but is not factored into our Overall Rating. We believe the reader should decide what is or isn’t a reasonable price.

A good rating here isn’t just based on how cheap the VPN is, but for the value it offers overall.

StrongVPN is not the cheapest VPN, but it’s still good value for money for long-term VPN users. The best price is $3.66 per month for a yearly subscription, which is about the same as top-rated VPNs. You also get 250GB of free online storage with any subscription. StrongVPN only offers four payment options, three of which are by credit card.

Ranked #12 out of 56 VPNs for Price & Value

StrongVPN offers two pricing plans. They have the exact same features, but you get a significant discount with the longer subscription.

The priciest option is the single month plan at $10.99. This is reduced by 67% to a very affordable $3.66 if you sign up to an annual plan.

On the plus side, StrongVPN offers a bundle deal, with a StrongDNS service and online storage. Both subscription plans include 250GB of free cloud storage with SugarSync. If you decide to switch VPN service, you will lose this storage.

  1. Monthly

    US$10.99/mo

    Billed $10.99 each month
  2. 12 Month(s)

    US$3.66/mo

    Billed $43.99 the first year, $79.99 thereafter
    Save 67%

Payment & Refund Options

  1. American Express
  2. Mastercard
  3. PayPal
  4. Visa

StrongVPN accepts the majority of standard payment options including most major credit and debit cards, PayPal and Alipay.

It’s disappointing to see a lack of cryptocurrency or other anonymous payment methods, however.

The VPN service also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for annual subscriptions, in place of a true VPN free trial. It doesn’t apply to monthly subscriptions though, meaning you could lose out on the $10.99 you paid.

This is for customers who are “less than 100% satisfied with the StrongVPN service.” There are no hidden restrictions or data caps during the 30-day refund period.

The Bottom Line

A Great Mid-Tier VPN

StrongVPN is fast, unblocks many popular streaming platforms, and is great for torrenting. StrongDNS also allows you to use the VPN service with AppleTV and gaming consoles. There’s also loads of customizable options for routers. There’s a user-friendly Fire TV app.

We also like that StrongVPN operates a no-logs policy, and it allows up to 12 simultaneous connections, which is very generous. Some of its privacy features need to be improved, and the server network isn’t as extensive as it needs to be to compete with bigger VPN services.

Nevertheless, StrongVPN is still a good VPN that does the basics right, and which we recommend to novice VPN users.

Alternatives to StrongVPN

NordVPN

NordVPN

9.59.5/10

Worried about StrongVPN's lack of locations? Try NordVPN: it has thousands of servers spread across dozens of countries all over the world. Read NordVPN review

AstrillVPN landscape logo

Astrill

8.58.5/10

Astrill is one of the most secure, safe, and advanced VPNs available today. It's so well-maintained that it even works to bypass censorship in China. Read Astrill review


User Feedback for StrongVPN

  • 34 user reviews
  • 0 questions answered