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Best Overall VPN
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Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices
Best for Simplicity
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A simple, basic VPN service
Somewhat large network of servers
Wide compatibility of devices
In the wide world of VPNs, NordVPN stands out. It’s one of those rare products that does almost everything well — performance, privacy, server count, compatibility, and more. In fact, based on our testing, we’ve found NordVPN to be one of the best VPNs on the market.
StrongVPN, on the other hand, is a less widely known VPN that you may not have heard of. How does this underdog stack up to the venerable NordVPN? Let’s find out.
NordVPN is our favorite overall virtual private network. Its Basic plan offers excellent performance at a great price, and NordVPN includes tons of extra features — a password manager, ad blocker, data breach scanner, anti-malware browsing protection, dark web monitor, and identity theft recovery — with the more premium Plus and Ultimate plans.
StrongVPN is a simpler VPN without a ton of bells and whistles, but it still offers decent performance and security. There’s not much to say about its plans or offerings because there’s only an option to purchase a monthly or annual subscription, and both are the same. Plus, it only offers the bare minimum of what a good VPN provider should, including a no-logs policy, strong encryption, a kill switch (albeit limited to Android), and split tunneling features.
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| Price | From $3.39/mo (billed every two years) | From $3.97/mo (billed annually) |
| Max # of connected devices | 10 | 12 |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Apple TV | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Fire TV |
| # of servers | 6,400+ servers in 111 countries | 950+ servers in 30+ countries |
| VPN protocol | OpenVPN, NordLynx, IKEv2/IPsec | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs |
| Unblocks Netflix? | ||
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get StrongVPN |
We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.
Once we’ve completed the testing, our editorial rating is calculated by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each VPN in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, server count, speed, security, and features.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full VPN methodology here.
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market today, if not the best. In fact, it’s our pick for best overall VPN. We love it for its reliably fast speeds, strong privacy, and relatively affordable pricing. It also includes a ton of extra features like a password manager, dark web monitoring, and even identity theft insurance, all of which help further enhance your privacy and security online.
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Of course, nothing is perfect, and that includes NordVPN. It’s not expensive by any means, but there are a lot of really strong options that come in at a lower price, like Surfshark and Private Internet Access (PIA). NordVPN’s plan selection can also be a little confusing. There are three tiers of service available (Basic, Plus, and Ultimate), and then three subscription lengths for each service (monthly, one year, and two years). It requires some work to decide which specific plan and subscription is right for you.
These are relatively minor issues, though, and neither outweighs the positives. NordVPN is a great VPN choice for nearly anyone.
StrongVPN is an interesting service. It hits the VPN basics relatively well: it has a reasonable server count, allows you to connect a large number of devices at once, and offers good device compatibility. It’s also a simple service. While we love features, sometimes VPNs can add on so many that they become complex and confusing. StrongVPN focuses on the basics.
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However, if you’re going to limit your service to the basics, you really need to execute them well, and StrongVPN falls short in some key areas. First, the feature set is a little too limited, and some key features, like the kill switch and split tunneling, aren’t available on every platform. The user interface is difficult to navigate, which is odd considering the lack of features. Finally, the price is rather high for what you get. There are a ton of better options for less money, including NordVPN.
All this makes StrongVPN tough to recommend. It’s not that it’s bad, necessarily. It could just be so much better. Still, some users who just want a simple VPN with a simple plan structure might appreciate StrongVPN.
Best Value |
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| Price range | $3.39–$15.99/mo | $3.97–$11.99/mo |
| Best value plan | Basic 2-year plan for $3.39/mo (billed every two years) | Annual plan for $3.97/mo (billed annually) |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days | Yes — 30 days |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get StrongVPN |
Price-wise, NordVPN has both the lowest price and highest price of the two. It starts at $3.39/mo (billed every two years) for the Basic two-year plan and can get as high as $15.99/mo for the monthly Ultimate plan.
In our opinion, the best value plan is the Basic plan that’s billed biennially. It’s got all the essential features of a VPN at a really solid price. Runner-up would be the Plus plan at $4.39/mo (billed every two years). It adds some extra features like malware protection and a password manager to the VPN platform.
StrongVPN only has two plans: the annual plan $3.97/mo (billed annually) and the monthly plan at $11.99/mo. The annual plan is definitely the best value (it’s the same plan for less money) and the one we would recommend.
Neither provider offers a free trial, but both offer 30-day money-back guarantees. That means you can try them risk-free. However, note that StrongVPN only offers this on its annual plan.
Payment options may seem like an arbitrary rating category, but the reality is that VPNs are privacy tools. Users need to be able to pay in a way that can preserve their privacy (if they choose). NordVPN offers more options, including cryptocurrency.
We test VPN performance for every VPN we review. Due to how they work (routing your traffic through additional servers), VPNs tend to reduce performance. To help quantify that, we perform a speed test with our “plain” internet connection and then repeat the test connected to VPN servers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. The table below shows how much faster or slower each VPN was compared to the plain connection.
Our Pick |
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| US | 44.72% faster | 4.53% slower |
| Canada | 41.30% faster | N/A |
| UK | 31.47% faster | 49.9% slower |
| AU | 21.21% faster | 60.9% slower |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get StrongVPN |
NordVPN really surprised us here. It actually increased our internet speed, which is basically unheard of in the VPN world. StrongVPN performed more typically with slightly slower speeds in the U.S. and larger drops in the U.K. and Australia. These bigger performance hits are due to proximity to the servers — the further the signal has to travel, the more of a slowdown the user experiences.
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Our Pick |
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| Number of servers | 6,400+ servers in 111 countries | 950+ servers in 30+ countries |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs |
| VPN headquarters | Panama | New York City |
| Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| VPN protocol | OpenVPN, NordLynx, IKEv2/IPsec | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec |
| Kill switch | ||
| Split tunneling | Yes (Android only) | |
| DNS leak protection | ||
| Ad blocker | ||
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get StrongVPN |
NordVPN and StrongVPN both have similar security features in place, with strict no-logs policies, strong encryption, and a choice of VPN protocols. However, there are a few notable differences.
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Finally, NordVPN's no-logs policy has been independently audited and verified multiple times, while StrongVPN's has not been audited at all. This means you just have to trust that the company is following through on its promises, which can be a big deal when it comes to private data.
Our Pick |
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Linux | Yes (manual setup only) | |
| Routers | ||
| Smart devices | ||
| Browser extensions | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge | |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Live chat, email, online guides | Live chat, email, online guides |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get StrongVPN |
Both providers offer apps for the biggest platforms. Again, NordVPN has broader compatibility.
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StrongVPN lacks a native Linux app, and there are no browser extensions. StrongVPN’s interface is also not very user-friendly, which is odd for a VPN with so few extra features. Certain features, like the kill switch, are difficult to find. The only part of the interface that really makes sense is the server selection list.
Both providers offer 24/7 customer support, which is good. They also have similar customer service options, including live chat. We don’t really have any complaints about support from either provider. We had positive experiences with both when reaching out to representatives via live chat.
Overall, yes, we think NordVPN is better than StrongVPN. It’s got more features, faster performance, and a better interface, all at a lower price. That said, StrongVPN may appeal to users who value simplicity.
In our opinion, NordVPN is the best overall VPN on the market — it just does everything really well. However, there’s a lot of competition. Surfshark and Private Internet Access are very good and more affordable, ExpressVPN is compatible with basically everything, and Proton VPN has a strong privacy pedigree. You can’t really go wrong with any of these options.
StrongVPN is decent if you just want a simple VPN. However, we feel it leaves a bit to be desired. Our main issues are price (it’s expensive for what you get), the confusing user interface, and the limited feature set. For those reasons, we generally recommend looking at alternatives like NordVPN or Surfshark.
Normally, in these comparisons, we can find reasons to recommend both options. Everyone has slightly different needs and preferences, and there’s not always a large enough difference between services to say one is absolutely better than the other. However, this is not a typical comparison.
NordVPN offers so much more for potentially less money that it’s hard not to recommend it as the best choice. StrongVPN also has some odd quirks, such as platform-specific features, that make it less pleasant to use. If you really want a VPN that’s just a VPN, it could be an okay option, but for the vast majority of users, NordVPN is the way to go.
Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices
If neither of these VPN services appeals to you, don’t sweat it — there are tons of tested alternatives available. Three of our favorites are Surfshark, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN.
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| Price | $2.19–$17.95/mo | $2.03–$12.99/mo | $6.67–$12.95/mo |
| Free version | |||
| Max # of connected devices | Unlimited | 7 | 8 |
| # of servers | 3,200 in 100 countries | Servers in 100 countries | Servers in 105 countries |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
| No-logs policy | No logs | No logs | No logs |
| Headquarters | The Netherlands | Romania | British Virgin Islands |
| Netflix access | |||
| Learn more | Get Surfshark | Get CyberGhost | Get ExpressVPN |
Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices
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