StrongVPN Review 2024: Simplified VPN With Missing Features

You may be looking for a virtual private network for several reasons, but finding a dependable solution is important no matter how you plan to use it. A VPN encrypts your internet activity and gives you added security and anonymity when browsing the web.

In our tests, StrongVPN hit the VPN basics, offering more than 900 servers and the ability to have 12 connected devices. However, the overall user experience is lackluster, and you won’t be able to easily change settings without searching. For folks who want a feature-dense VPN for a similar price, we recommend checking out CyberGhost or Surshark.

Let’s look at the specifics of StrongVPN.

StrongVPN review at a glance

Who is StrongVPN best for?

• Recommended for simplified VPN usage

StrongVPN is a simple VPN solution. You won’t get overwhelmed with extra features, but you’ll be able to connect to StrongVPN servers all over the world easily. If you're looking for a VPN that encrypts your data and allows you to protect your online activity, StrongVPN can get that done. StrongVPN makes turning your protection on and off easy, and you can switch server locations fairly easily.

However, you’ll have to navigate to the StrongVPN preferences for any other changes. You can’t make any changes outside of the server location if the VPN is activated from the main dashboard.

StrongVPN pros and cons

StrongVPN features

StrongVPN lacks features that you may be looking for in a VPN. Many of its features depend on what type of device you’ll be using. StrongVPN does have an adequate server count, but it isn’t as significant as others in the industry.

From our testing, StrongVPN is a simple VPN with limited features. You can easily connect to a server, but you’ll struggle to find features that other companies offer, and you may not be able to tailor the VPN to your needs.

Server count and countries

• 950+ servers in 30 countries

StrongVPN includes a robust server list with over 900 servers in 30 countries, giving users ample access. Depending on how you plan to use the VPN, you may be interested in a particular country to access geo-restricted content. You can easily select that country from the list of servers inside StrongVPN's user interface.

If you don’t need to connect to a specific location, you can select “Best Available” from the server list, which will connect you to a server that will give you the best experience.

Different VPN providers may have more server locations or be established in more countries than StrongVPN. For instance, Surfshark has more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• StrongVPN logs policy: No Logs
• StrongVPN headquarters: New York City

StrongVPN does not collect information or logs about your VPN usage. The VPN solution outlines how it uses any user data in its privacy policy. StrongVPN collects personally identifiable information needed to set up your account, such as your email address and payment information.

StrongVPN is headquartered in New York City, which can cause privacy concerns for some due to its location in one the Five-Eyes Alliance countries. The United States is one of five member countries in the alliance, which pledges that the countries will share information with each other regarding national security matters. Because of this alliance, the government could try to obtain information about VPN usage if it were critical to national security.

Security features

If you’re looking for a VPN capable of split tunneling or one that has a built-in kill switch, StrongVPN may be able to help you — depending on what type of device you plan to use with the VPN. StrongVPN’s split tunneling feature is only available for Android. The kill switch functionality is available with Windows and Mac operating systems. Mac users will need to select either the OpenVPN or L2TP VPN protocol to enable the kill switch.

• Split tunneling: StrongVPN’s split tunneling feature is only available on Android devices. Split tunneling allows VPN users to pick which internet traffic is routed through the VPN.
• Kill switch: StrongVPN offers kill switch functionality on specific VPN protocols. A kill switch blocks your internet connection when the VPN is disconnected unknowingly.
• VPN protocols: StrongVPN offers several VPN protocols, including WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and IPSec. You can change the VPN protocol in StrongVPN’s advanced settings.

Our experience with StrongVPN

StrongVPN was a difficult system to understand. We had an easy enough time downloading StrongVPN on our devices, including a MacBook and an iPhone 15. But the user experience with StrongVPN is lackluster and confusing. Features that should be easy to find and control, like the kill switch, were difficult to find. The server list is the only setting we found easy to adjust.

Outside of the main dashboard, users will need to go to the StrongVPN preferences to access any other features — and those features are severely limited. From the preferences screen, you can set StrongVPN to launch and automatically connect at login. You can also adjust a few features based on the VPN protocol that you’re using. Advanced settings allow you to pick the protocol you want to use if you don’t want StrongVPN to select one for you.

StrongVPN test results

While a VPN may look good on paper, it’s always a good idea to test its capabilities before you rely on it to protect your data or give you access to geo-restricted content. When we evaluate a VPN, we test how the VPN connection affects internet speeds in several parts of the world. We also ensure that the VPN works with Netflix and other streaming platforms.

Speed tests

• StrongVPN speed test results: StrongVPN keeps speeds intact

No matter what VPN you decide to use, you can expect it to impact your internet speeds. Your internet traffic must be routed to the VPN’s servers before reaching its destination. When connected to servers farther away, you can expect to see lower internet speeds than when connecting to a closer server.

We tested internet speeds using a MacBook Air while connected to Wi-Fi. Overall, StrongVPN had minimal effects on our internet speeds when connecting to a server in the United States. While testing, we looked at download and upload speeds and latency, which is the time it takes for the data to travel from your device to its destination.

When we were not connected to the VPN, our internet speed was 207.5 Mbps download speed. Check out the results from our speed test below.

StrongVPN speed test results

StrongVPN Netflix tests

• StrongVPN Netflix test results: We could access Netflix with ease

A VPN can give you access to streaming content in other countries by unblocking geo-restricted content. Streaming libraries like Netflix have different shows available in different countries based on contracts and copyrights. You can use a VPN to mask your IP address so that sites like Netflix or Hulu think you’re in a different country.

By connecting a server in Mexico or Canada, you’ll be able to access different content than what you would find in the United States. We tested StrongVPN with Netflix to ensure it worked in several countries. We had no issues connecting to Netflix when connected to different country servers.

StrongVPN Netflix test results

DNS and WebRTC leak tests

• StrongVPN DNS leak test results: StrongVPN passed the DNS leak test when we were connected to a server.
• StrongVPN WebRTC leak test results: We did not find any issues when we conducted the WebRTC leak test.

When testing VPNs, we conduct a DNS leak test and a WebRTC leak test to determine if the VPN is encrypting your internet traffic and masking your IP address. A DNS leak test determines if your internet service provider (ISP) can see your web traffic. When connecting to a VPN, a DNS leak test should show a different IP address and server location from where you are.

The WebRTC leak test determines if your IP address is visible to other devices when establishing audio or video communication. WebRTC stands for Web Real-Time Communication and the leak test shows if the VPN is sharing your real IP address or if it's showing a public IP address from the VPN’s server.

We were pleased to see StrongVPN passed both the DNS and WebRTC tests. This means StrongVPN will keep your IP address and web activities hidden from your ISP and other prying eyes.

StrongVPN compatibility

StrongVPN is available for various devices, including computers, mobile phones, and routers. Here is a complete list of devices that StrongVPN supports:

• macOS
• iOS
• Windows
• Android
• FireTV
• Chrome OS
• Routers
• Kodi

StrongVPN customer support

There are several ways to access StrongVPN’s customer support. You’ll be able to ask common questions of a chatbot on the StrongVPN website. For general inquiries, the chatbot can return articles or support documents to help answer your question.

The chatbot also allows you to request support from a company representative. If you request this, you are given the option to start a chat or send an email. StrongVPN doesn’t provide a phone number, so you’ll have to rely on live chat for real-time assistance.

StrongVPN also has an extensive support section that provides information on how to use the VPN on various devices. You can also easily search these support documents for answers to any questions you may have.

StrongVPN prices and subscriptions

StrongVPN is priced high for what you get. The best deal is the annual plan, which costs $3.97/mo. If you’re looking to pay for the VPN monthly, you’ll pay $11.99/mo. 

You could save money on a VPN by choosing one that offers a more robust set of features and a better user experience for a similar price or less. For instance, NordVPN is one of our favorite services, and its best deal is $3.99/mo with a two-year contract.

StrongVPN cost

StrongVPN alternatives

While StrongVPN left a bit to be desired, we have a few other top VPNs that we’ve vetted. Each of these provides a great VPN experience based on our testing.

• CyberGhost: CyberGhost is an easy-to-use VPN with added features that make day-to-day use easier. CyberGhost offers servers in 100 countries, with several that have been optimized for certain activities such as streaming, gaming, or torrenting. CyberGhost also offers a kill switch and split tunneling. CyberGhost is one of the most affordable options. With a two-year commitment, you can get CyberGhost for $2.19/mo for up to seven devices.
  
  Get CyberGhost | Read CyberGhost Review
  
• Surfshark: Surfshark is another great VPN solution. It boasts more than 3,200 servers in over 100 countries. Surfshark gives users access to unlimited devices. We’re pleased by Surfshark’s selection of features, such as rotating IP addresses for greater anonymity and the Bypasser that allows you to choose specific websites and apps that can bypass the VPN. Surfshark also has more robust plans that can give you access to antivirus solutions, dark web monitoring, and a private web browser. Surfshark One will cost you $2.89/mo for two years, or the Surfshark Starter plan will be $2.29/mo for two years.
  
  Get Surfshark | Read Surfshark Review
  
• ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs that we recommend, but the cost is worth it if you’re looking for a top-notch product. You can get ExpressVPN for $6.67/mo (billed annually) with a one-year contract. We’d suggest ExpressVPN for a heavy user who is worried about their privacy and wants to invest in a VPN that will keep their data encrypted. ExpressVPN has servers in 94 countries and uses a proprietary Lightway protocol that is built to provide fast speeds for users. You can use ExpressVPN on up to eight devices at a time.
  
  Get ExpressVPN | Read ExpressVPN Review

StrongVPN FAQs

Bottom line: Is StrongVPN good?

Overall, StrongVPN left a lot to be desired. If you’re looking for a simple VPN, StrongVPN could work for you. The dashboard gives you limited functionality outside of switching server locations. But StrongVPN performed well at encrypting our traffic and giving us access to geo-restricted content. When testing internet speeds and streaming services, StrongVPN did not have a significant impact on speed, and we were able to access Netflix libraries in different countries.

For the price, several different VPN solutions may be a better fit. The best VPN services will depend on how you plan to use the VPN and if it will work well for your needs. Consider CyberGhost if you’re looking for more value or Surfshark for more features.

3.0

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

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On StrongVPN's website

StrongVPN

• A simple, basic VPN service
• Somewhat large network of servers
• Wide compatibility of devices
• Limited features

Author Details

Andrew Adams

About the Author

Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.