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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

StrongVPN Review 2024: Great, but Is It Worth the Price?

Our Score: 8.1/10
Ranked 26th out of 306 VPNs
Matthew Amos Updated on 14th March 2024 Fact-checked by Anneke van Aswegen Senior Editor

StrongVPN is one of the oldest VPNs, and many people praise it. However, its monthly plans don't offer a money-back guarantee, and you may find it too expensive if you only need a VPN for a short time.

To determine whether it's worth the yearly commitment, I tested every aspect of StrongVPN, including speed, security features, and a thorough investigation of its privacy policy.

Overall, I can wholeheartedly recommend StrongVPN. It's fast, great for gaming, and will keep you safe online and protect your privacy. However, it still needs to improve in a few areas to compete with the best providers. Our highest-ranked VPNs are on this list.

Try Strong VPN Risk-Free >>

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pros

Cons

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StrongVPN Features — 2024 Update

8.4
💸 Price 3.97 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 950+
💻 Number of devices per license 12
🛡 Kill switch Yes
🗺 Based in country United States
🛠 Support 24/7 Live Chat Support
📥 Supports torrenting Yes

Streaming — Hit-Or-Miss for Secure Viewing

6.0

My global team and I had mixed results using StrongVPN for safe streaming. It worked with some of our local services but not with others. StrongVPN often requires some troubleshooting as well.

While you could theoretically use Strong VPN to access platforms unavailable in your region, this could result in a copyright infringement. My teammates and I only connected to servers in our respective countries while testing.

Important. The vpnMentor team is against any form of copyright violation. Strong VPN follows a no-logging policy, so it won’t collect or share your information. That means you’ll be responsible for how you use it. We urge you to follow all applicable laws and to never break the terms of service agreements for any streaming platform you use.

Works With: Netflix, Disney+, and Max

From the US, I could safely watch Netflix while connected to US servers.

Screenshot of Netflix player streaming Delicious in Dungeon while connected to StrongVPN's Dallas serverMy videos all loaded nearly instantly in full HD quality

My colleague in Canada could also watch her full Netflix library, but she did have to switch from Firefox to the Chrome browser. Unfortunately, my teammate in Australia could only watch Netflix Originals while connected to the Melbourne server. This is a version of the site that only has the content Netflix owns, so you miss out on region-specific titles.

Screenshot of Disney+ player streaming The Marvels while connected to StrongVPN's New York server I used the OpenVPN UDP protocol with the Scramble feature

I was happy that I could watch Disney+ without issues using US servers near me. My experience was similar with Max. On my first test with the Miami server connected through the IKEv2 protocol, I could easily encrypt my connection and stream the former HBO Max. I didn’t run into any buffering while watching The Alienist.

Screenshot of Max player streaming The Alienist while connected to StrongVPN's Las Vegas serverI was able to watch the full episode in top-notch quality

Unfortunately, we had a more frustrating experience with many of our other local services.

Doesn't Work With: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer

Most streaming platforms use anti-VPN technologies to prevent people from watching in unlicensed regions. Unfortunately, this can stop you from safely watching them even if you’re in the proper location, connected to a server in your own country.

Screenshot of Hulu login page showing an error message while connected to StrongVPN's Miami serverWith WireGuard enabled, I couldn't even log in to my account

I attempted to use OpenVPN with the scramble feature (that hides your VPN use) enabled. This let me browse Hulu’s library, but any time I tried to watch a video another error message would appear. I couldn’t watch Amazon Prime Video no matter what protocol I tested either.

Our teammate in the UK was also unable to use StrongVPN to securely stream BBC iPlayer. She attempted to troubleshoot by using different browsers, protocols, and each server available in England. But, there was just no way for her to safely watch the platform.

StrongVPN does encourage using its Strong DNS feature for streaming. This feature could possibly allow you to bypass speed throttling while you’re watching videos. However, since it doesn’t encrypt your connection or hide your ISP, I wouldn’t recommend using it to protect yourself while you watch movies and shows.

There are many VPNs that let you encrypt your connection without interrupting your regular viewing schedule. To stay safe while you enjoy your local platforms, I recommend you try out one of the best VPNs for streaming in this list.

Speed — Good Chance You Can Maintain Fast Rates

7.0

StrongVPN shouldn’t lower your speeds too much on nearby servers. While we’ve tested much faster VPNs, my teammate and I concluded that StrongVPN’s speeds are adequate on most locations.

To conduct our tests, we had to record speeds on many international servers. This was only done to create fair comparisons with its competitors and to judge its overall performance. As stated earlier, we are firmly against copyright infringements and urge you to use any VPN responsibly.

Our speed expert in Indonesia recorded these results by testing each server at least 10 times to create averages for the chart you see below. We try our best to get all of our speed tests done from the same location with the same connection, so it’s easier to see how they all stack up.

Screenshot of a chart showing StrongVPN's speeds on various worldwide serversSpeeds fell 30% on nearby servers and 45% on distant ones

Those tests were done with the WireGuard protocol because it was the fastest. Since I’m in Austin, Texas, I had some servers even closer to me. I tested the nearby Houston location (266 km away) while connected to WireGuard. It lowered my speeds by 10%, which was slightly faster than some of our speed guru’s tests, but not by much.

Screenshot of Ookla speed tests done with no VPN connected and while connected to StrongVPN's Taiwan serverThe close-by server in Taiwan only lowered our speeds 14%

StrongVPN’s only virtual server is in India, so I wasn’t surprised it was faster than you’d expect. However, some other distant servers outperformed nearby ones too. I can only guess that this happened due to overcrowding.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t give you any indication of how many people are using its servers (often referred to as server load). I hope it adds this feature in the future.

The top VPNs will lower your speeds by 10-20% on close to mid-range servers. You should expect drops of about 40% on average with long-distance locations. So, StrongVPN is relatively fast, but it isn’t quite at the level of the best VPNs in this category.

You can find a VPN that’s faster and likely has more servers near you in this list.

Gaming — Low Ping and Easy to Use on Gaming Devices

9.6

StrongVPN is fast enough for gaming without lag. The most important factor while gaming is your ping. If it’s too slow, your character won’t respond immediately to your commands, and the game stops being fun. It’s optimal to have a ping under 85 ms to avoid lag.

On the closest server to me, my ping rate was only 17ms. So, if StrongVPN has servers near you, it’s great for gaming.

Screenshot of Steam running Counter Strike 2 while connected to StrongVPN's Houston serverI could run, jump, duck, and shoot without any added delays

The VPN can’t be installed directly on gaming consoles, but you can set it up on your router to protect any device connected to your WiFi. Overall, StrongVPN is excellent for gaming. The only issue is its small server network that could prevent you from finding a nearby location. I’ve never found a VPN that allows you to game with low lag on a distant server.

Server Network — Missing a Few Popular Countries and Features

7.0

With 950 servers in 30 countries, StrongVPN has a fairly small network. On the positive side, it offers a good amount of city-level locations and a very high number of IP addresses (which reduces overcrowding). But it’s also missing many countries other VPNs include. For example, you can’t connect to any country in Africa.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's Windows app highlighting where to find its server listYou can also type in a location name with its search bar

It covers over 15 locations in the US, so US residents can connect to a server closest to them to get the best speeds. In addition to the US, StrongVPN has multi-city servers in the UK, Canada, Australia, and France.

All its servers are entirely owned and operated by StrongVPN. This is great, as it means that no third parties have access to your data, which enhances your privacy.

Plus, it basically only uses physical servers (except for one virtual location in India). Some VPNs have a ton of virtual servers, which are located somewhere other than the country listed. This could have helped StrongVPN add more countries, but I do appreciate that every server is actually as far away as you think it will be.

Besides offering more locations, I also wish StrongVPN included dedicated IP addresses. Many VPNs let you pay extra to get one, and they can be helpful, especially if you run a website. You can try a VPN with dedicated IP addresses and a larger server network in this list.

Security — Safe With Many Necessary Features

8.0

StrongVPN is a secure provider. It doesn't offer as many security features as some of the best VPNs out there, but it has a strong basis with a wide range of security protocols and military-grade encryption.

The VPN also offers other features such as an automatic kill switch that cuts off your internet connection if the VPN connection drops. There’s also DNS leak protection that prevents your ISP from seeing which websites you visit. Split tunneling is available, so you can decide which apps to use with the VPN while letting other apps access the internet directly.

Additionally, StrongVPN supports multiple VPN protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), IKEv2, and L2TP, which offer varying levels of encryption and security to suit different needs and use cases. The only significant features it’s missing is an ad blocker and multihop. These would be nice, but they’re not necessary to keep you safe.

Military-Grade Encryption

StrongVPN uses AES-256 encryption to protect your vital data and ensure privacy and security.

Screenshot of a leak test done on ipleak.net while connected to StrongVPN's Belgium serverI recorded successful tests with every protocol available

This is currently the strongest encryption standard available, and it's used by governments and militaries around the world to protect their sensitive data. All the top VPNs use this encryption level, so StrongVPN is in good company.

Kill Switch

StrongVPN offers a kill switch for its desktop apps, but not for mobile. It prevents data leaks by disconnecting your internet if the VPN connection drops, and it's an essential feature to ensure you’re always protected.

Scramble

When enabled, the Scramble feature hides the fact that you are using a VPN, making it more difficult to detect and block your VPN traffic. This can be helpful when you need to access something like your banking app while you’re out of the country. Just be aware it will slow down your speeds significantly, and it only works with the OpenVPN protocol.

Privacy — Keeps No Logs, but Based in the US

7.4

StrongVPN offers a lot when it comes to privacy, but there are 2 issues it could resolve. The privacy policy is excellent, and I believe it won’t store any of your information. However, it’s located in one of the worst countries for privacy. The policy also hasn’t been audited, which is a great way for a VPN to prove it sticks to its claims.

Does StrongVPN Keep Logs? No

The only information StrongVPN logs about you is your payment information and your email. Both are required for creating your account. It doesn’t log or share any information related to your online activity, such as your browsing history, timestamps, or IP addresses.

Was Strong VPN Audited? No

Unfortunately, StrongVPN hasn’t been independently audited. The best VPNs undergo regular audits to prove their no-logs claims. Some also publish a warrant canary to warn users about any data requests the company has received. So, to be sure that StrongVPN really is a no-logs service, I’d like to see it publish a transparency report, or conduct a security audit.

Based in the US

StrongVPN is based in Winter Park, Florida. This isn’t the most favorable location for VPN headquarters, since that means the company is obliged to hand over your data if requested by law enforcement. Additionally, since the US is part of the 5 Eyes Alliance, your data would not only be accessible to the US authorities, but also to the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the VPN has a strict no-logs policy, so it wouldn’t have anything to share.

Does Strong VPN Work in China? Maybe

Support stated it doesn’t work with its iOS apps, but it might with the others. They recommend using the Scramble feature but can’t guarantee it will always be successful.

Screenshot of a conversation with StrongVPN support staff where they say the VPN only works in China on select devicesThey told me the v.1 app isn't available on its mirror sites

The Chinese government has banned many VPNs, but there have been no publicly-reported cases of them going after individuals for utilizing them. We don’t condone any illegal activities and strongly advise you read up on the local laws before deciding to use a VPN in China.

Torrenting — Good Speeds and Privacy Features for P2P

9.0

StrongVPN allows P2P transfers on all its servers. Since it also has a strict no-logs policy, robust security features, and good speeds on most servers, I can recommend it as a good choice for torrenting.

I could download the 1.62 GB file Night of the Living Dead in about 3 minutes with no VPN connected. With Strong VPN, I could finish the download in about 5 and a half minutes. So, the change in speeds was barely noticeable.

Torrents are legal in most countries, but downloading copyrighted files isn’t. You should only access torrents within the public domain to make sure you don’t break any laws.

The last thing I’ll say is StrongVPN doesn’t support port forwarding, which can potentially increase your downloading and seeding speeds. However, since my results were so good, it’s not a big concern.

Installation & Apps

9.6

Installation & Apps — Works Great on Tons of Devices

StrongVPN is easy-to-use, and every app is pretty similar.

Screenshot of the StrongVPN Windows app highlighting how to access the various settings tabsI especially like how well-organized the settings are

There are 5 tabs in the settings menu. Most important is the Options tab that lets you access the kill switch and set up connection features (Auto Reconnect, Connect on Launch, Connect on Startup). The rest are pretty self-explanatory, like Protocol & Update.

Setup & Installation

The apps can be installed in a few clicks. You can find the installation links for all supported operating systems on the VPN’s website, as well as manual setup guides for each one of these platforms.

Screenshot of StrongVPN's download page for the Windows app There are also manual setup guides for tons of devices

Setting it up on my Windows laptop only took 2 minutes. It’s just as easy to configure on mobile, where you can find it in the appropriate app store. In addition, the smart DNS feature lets you hook it up on any device with DNS settings in 5 minutes or less. This can possibly let you avoid speed throttling, but be aware it doesn’t encrypt your connection or change your IP.

Device Compatibility

StrongVPN has native apps for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Fire TV, and Chrome OS. Here are the main differences between StrongVPN’s apps for different platforms:

Windows Mac Android iOS Fire TV
Protocol OpenVPN,
Wireguard,
IKEv2,
SSTP,
L2TP
OpenVPN, Wireguard,
IKEv2,
IPSec,
L2TP
OpenVPN,
Wireguard,
IKEv2
Wireguard,
IKEv2,
IPSec
OpenVPN,
Wireguard,
IKEv2
Kill switch
Split tunneling

You can also install it on routers to protect the non-compatible devices in your household.

Desktop — Apps for Windows and Mac

As you can see in the chart above, StrongVPN’s Windows and Mac apps are virtually identical, besides starting out with different color schemes (although this can be changed).

You can also manually connect to servers on Linux through OpenVPN, and it’s compatible with the popular Ubuntu distro. However, to get a full-featured app on your device, I recommend you check out our list of the best VPNs for Linux.

Android and iPhone (iOS)

The mobile apps are well-designed, easy to use, and offer a range of features that cater to different needs. There aren’t as many security protocols as on the desktop apps, but both include the safe and fast WireGuard.

The main difference is that the Android app is the only one to offer split tunneling. Other than that, both mobile devices are pretty much equal. I especially like that you can directly contact support through these app versions.

Unfortunately, StrongVPN's mobile apps do not currently have a kill switch. This can be a potential security risk, especially if you frequently use public WiFi or other untrusted networks.

Browser Extensions for Chrome

A browser extension is available for Chrome, but only as a proxy, not a full-fledged VPN. This means you can use it for changing your IP address on a browser level, but your data won’t be encrypted. Additionally, you only get access to 14 server locations, with half of them in the US.

Apps for Amazon Fire TV

StrongVPN offers a dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV devices. The app is available on the Amazon Appstore, and you can install it directly from the device — it doesn’t require any manual installation. It supports all major VPN protocols and offers high-grade encryption, which makes it easy for users to secure their streaming and browsing activity.

One tip for Fire TV is to make sure you have the latest version installed. This is because the app may not work correctly on older versions of the software. For other smart TVs, you’ll need to connect to proxy servers over Strong DNS or hook up your router. This is also how you can connect your game consoles to the VPN.

Router Compatibility

StrongVPN supports a wide range of routers, including those from Asus, Netgear, and Linksys, among others. This is a great option if you want to protect all of your devices without having to install separate VPN apps on each device. It also lets you encrypt your connection on any device including Rokus, Chromecast, Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo game consoles.

You can find detailed installation guides for all supported routers on the VPN’s website. If you don’t want to bother with manual installation, you can buy a router with StrongVPN pre-installed (all with the Sabai OS).

Simultaneous Device Connections

StrongVPN allows 12 simultaneous device connections, which should be more than enough for most regular users. This is very generous since most premium VPNs only let you use their apps on 5 devices. I didn’t notice any drop in performance when I used the VPN on 3 phones and 2 laptops at the same time. So, this is just one more area where StrongVPN really stands out.

Pricing

8.0
Annual Plan
$ 3.97 / month per month
Monthly Plan
$ 11.99 / month per month

Pricing — Good Value but There Are Cheaper Options

StrongVPN offers monthly and yearly pricing plans. The yearly subscription comes with a significant discount and a money-back guarantee, offering much better value for your money even if you only want to test the service. However, the price will nearly double after the first year. There are also some great VPNs, like PIA and Surfshark, that are cheaper.

I also wish StrongVPN’s monthly subscription included a money-back guarantee. It comes at a similar price as some of the best premium VPNs, but with fewer servers and features. In the past, the VPN offered 250GB of free cloud storage with SugarSync — a nice extra considering the fact you can get a better-rated VPN at a similar price — but this is no longer the case.

You can pay with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay and Alipay. Most premium VPNs also accept payments with cryptocurrencies for added privacy, so I expect StrongVPN to keep up.

Reliability & Support

9.0

Reliability and Support — Easy to Get in Touch With Knowledgeable Agents

StrongVPN offers 24/7 live chat support, as well as a comprehensive help section. Each time I contacted support, the agents responded immediately and were very helpful. You can also contact them by email.

Screenshot of a conversation with support via its 24/7 live chat where they let me know split tunneling is only available for Android devicesThe knowledgeable support staff always understood my queries

The help section includes FAQs, setup guides, billing support, and technical support articles for both StrongVPN and StrongDNS. There’s also a search bar where you can type your query to find all the articles related to your keywords. Alternatively, you can type your question directly in the chat window, and StrongVPN’s chat bot will suggest articles you may find helpful. If you still need help, you can talk to an agent.

Compare StrongVPN With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
Our Score: 9.7
Our Score: 9.5
Our Score: 9.4

The Bottom Line

Final Verdict — Very Good VPN With Some Drawbacks

StrongVPN is a pretty good service with tons of positives. As long as there are servers near you, it’ll offer great speeds for high-bandwidth activities like gaming and torrenting. It’s available for tons of devices, and its customer support is excellent.

However, it does have a few issues. Its server network is pretty small, which could affect its speeds depending on where you live. I also hope its privacy policy is audited in the future, and it’s disappointing that there’s no money-back guarantee for its monthly plans.

Overall, if it offers servers where you live, it could be a good VPN for your needs. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay quite a bit upfront to test it out. So, if you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to try out one of our top-ranking VPNs that all honor refund policies for monthly plans.

  • Fast on nearby servers
  • Top security features
  • Strict no logging policy
  • Torrent on any server
  • Great for gaming
  • Works on tons of devices

FAQs on Strong VPN

Can I use StrongVPN for free?

No, StrongVPN doesn’t offer a free version. There’s an option to try it out and get your money back if you’re not 100% satisfied, but this only applies to long-term subscriptions. The money-back guarantee isn’t included with monthly plans.

Is StrongVPN safe?

Yes, StrongVPN is a secure and private VPN. It uses the military-grade AES 256-bit encryption along with some of the most secure protocols available today, like OpenVPN and WireGuard. Your privacy is protected by a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. Additionally, the VPN owns and operates its entire network of servers, which allows for better security and performance compared to services that rely on third-party servers.

Is NordVPN better than StrongVPN?

Yes, NordVPN is better than StrongVPN in a few categories. StrongVPN is great for gaming and torrenting, and it also offers reliable security. However, NordVPN is faster, has a much larger server network, works with more streaming platforms, and it has a money-back guarantee for its monthly plans.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 30
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: 12
VPN Plans: strongvpn.com
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
StrongVPN User Reviews (User reviews are not verified)
3.2
Based on 21 reviews in 3 languages

Write a Review on StrongVPN

Please rate VPN.

All Speed Streaming Security Сustomer service
Farid
Farid
2/10
Access cut off

I have a Lifetime subscription of StrongVPN and since two days ago, I cannot connect to any of their servers. I contacted support staff regarding the issue and as soon as I told my country they told me they no longer offer service in my region! I have an active subscription that I've paid for it and expect to get full support and service for it! It's very unprofessional and unacceptable to do this to user which have active subscription already!

Jacob Johnson
Jacob Johnson
2/10
VPN not working and support system is very bad

VPN not working and the support system is very bad they send auto reply mail in support and after uninstalling the VPN my internet Driver was corrupt and the Internet is not working. Also, the refund policy is not mentioned clearly.

Joe Lim
Joe Lim
2/10
Fraud Scam VPN not Strong

The VPN company is made for scams because when you purchase this VPN, the VPN does not work on your computer and when you ask for a refund they will tell then refund policy, which applies only to annual subscribers. I don't recommend this VPN.

About the Author

Matthew is a writer and editor for VPNMentor with a proven track record of providing in-depth analysis of the most highly regarded VPNs, including ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. His unparalleled expertise has enabled him to consistently deliver cutting-edge insights on the most sought-after (and newest) VPN services.

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