StrongVPN Review: Too Expensive Compared to Features (2026)

Despite the fact that they’ve been in business twice as long as most of their competitors, StrongVPN is still a relatively unknown company.

Although StrongVPN has significantly improved its services since the last time I reviewed it, there are still several outstanding issues that may or may not preclude you from joining its customer base.

To help you make an informed and data-driven decision, I’ll be reviewing StrongVPN in detail, going over everything from its speed to customer service to unique features and compatibility. By the end of this review, you’ll know whether StrongVPN lives up to the name.

StrongVPN Overview

OVERALL RANK:	#25 Out of 30 VPNs
USABILITY:	Easy To Use
LOG FILES:	No Logging Policy
LOCATIONS:	950+ Servers, 30 Locations
SUPPORT:	24/7 Live Chat & Email Support
TORRENTING:	P2P & Torrenting Allowed
NETFLIX:	Very Limited Support
ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL:	AES-256, WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
COST:	From $3.97/mo
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:	www.strongVPN.com

Background & Features

Founded in 2005 under the umbrella of Strong Technology LLC., Strong VPN is headquartered in Winter Park, Florida (previously Lake Tahoe).

This company has been providing technology services since 1994, starting with PC sales and dial-up internet before expanding into VPN servers over two decades ago.

With 950+ servers spread across 30 locations, StrongVPN’s server base has grown significantly from our last review and now provides solid global coverage, though it still falls short of industry leaders that offer servers in 60+ countries.

Its services are compatible with most major devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, Linux, and Fire TV. StrongVPN also provides its customers with an extensive help center where they can find detailed instructions for setting up StrongVPN with home routers. The VPN is also compatible with TOR if you want that extra protection.

StrongVPN allows its customers to connect using multiple modern protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and IPsec. It also modernized the infrastructure to include the newer WireGuard protocol, which offers faster speeds and improved security.

There’s also built-in kill-switch protection for desktop applications (Windows and Mac).

Finally, the VPN allows for 12 simultaneous connections, which is above the industry average.

So far, things are looking pretty good.

But let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons of StrongVPN to see if its service lives up to its name.

Pros of Using StrongVPN

1. Works With US Netflix and Select Streaming Services

Netflix has been cracking down on VPNs, proxies, and unblockers with an intensity that is widely considered too strict.

Since 2016, the Netflix IT department has defeated the efforts of some of the strongest and most renowned VPN companies on the market.

Taking these facts into consideration, I had assumed that my efforts to stream Netflix using StrongVPN’s services would result in this.

After all, the last time I reviewed StrongVPN, it was one of the worst VPNs that I had ever reviewed. Right now, StrongVPN is more of a mixed bag.

I loaded up StrongVPN’s UK servers and tried to log into BBC iPlayer. I was able to stream Michael McIntyre’s Big Show through Manchester without any slowdown, so we’re off to a good start.

Next up, I switched over to US East servers to check out Disney+. Similarly, it worked the first time, so I was able to watch The End of an Era without any buffering.

Most VPNs struggle with Netflix US now, and it’s the same case with StrongVPN. No matter which server I tried, I couldn’t get access to Netflix’s US streaming library.

However, it’s a different case with Netflix DE via StrongVPN’s servers in Germany. I was able to watch The Office on their DE library.

I haven’t been able to access Paramount Plus DE on those same servers, unfortunately.

Finally, I tried out Amazon Prime DE. I was able to log in, but it detected that I was using a VPN, and nothing could change that.

With about half of our streaming service tests coming back positive, that means StrongVPN isn’t the best VPN for unblocking streams, but it’s not the worst either.

2. Improved Customer Service With 24/7 Support

It’s not often that I am able to include customer service under the “Pros” section of a VPN review, but StrongVPN has made notable improvements in this area.

The company now offers 24/7 live chat support alongside their traditional email support system. During testing, response times for live chat were typically under 5 minutes, with knowledgeable agents able to help with technical issues.

The support team has expanded their technical knowledge base and can now provide assistance with:
– Server selection for streaming
– Protocol configuration
– Router setup guidance
– Troubleshooting connectivity issues

While phone support is no longer prominently featured, the live chat system has proven to be more efficient and accessible for most users’ needs.

To ensure the accuracy of this review, I checked recent customer feedback and found that support quality has remained consistently positive throughout 2025 and 2026.

3. Military-Grade AES-256 Encryption and Modern Protocols

With cybersecurity threats evolving rapidly in 2026, the importance of strong encryption cannot be overstated.

Luckily, StrongVPN uses AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by government agencies and military organizations worldwide.

Beyond encryption, StrongVPN has modernized its protocol offerings
– WireGuard: Now its default protocol, offering improved speeds and battery efficiency
– OpenVPN: Available in both UDP and TCP configurations with scramble obfuscation
– IKEv2: Excellent for mobile connections with fast reconnect capabilities
– IPsec: Legacy protocol support

This means that you can sleep easy knowing that your personal data is protected with industry-standard encryption.

To verify the service’s statements, we perform several tests to ensure there are no leaks. Firstly, we check for IP and DNS leaks. DNS is a system that tells the servers where your visited website is located. If it is leaking, then your ISP or a malicious actor can track you online.

So, we loaded up IPLeaks.net while connected to StrongVPN. As you can see, we have an alternative IP address assigned by the VPN. Also, there is an alternative DNS server, so StrongVPN passes both tests successfully.

We moved on to BrowserLeaks.com to see whether StrongVPN would leak WebRTC. WebRTC is a protocol that allows browsers to talk to each other, but it’s notorious for sidestepping VPN tunnels. StrongVPN protects against WebRTC leaks, according to our tests.

So far, so good. Moving on to StrongVPN’s obfuscation settings, then. Obfuscation is how VPNs disguise their traffic when faced with network blocks. By disguising the network traffic a VPN sends as normal encrypted browsing traffic (HTTPS), you can establish an encrypted VPN tunnel without giving the game away that you’re using one. If your ISP won’t let you connect with a VPN or your local network admin is blocking your VPN connection, it’s ideal.

StrongVPN uses OpenVPN scramble, which essentially adds junk data to the VPN stream to make it look like regular traffic. It looks like a random set of packets being sent, but it’s a little more suspicious than full-on obfuscation using HTTPS. Below, you can see we have successfully connected to obfuscated servers.

Finally, we had to make sure that the StrongVPN kill switch actually works. A kill switch keeps your connection locked down if you lose access to the VPN server. It’s essential if you’re in an environment where you’re sending personal data and need to make sure your connection is always encrypted, like at a coffee shop or in an airport.

It’s pretty important to know that any VPN’s kill switch has your back if you’re relying on it. So, we booted up StrongVPN and turned the kill switch on, then disconnected the VPN. Our results show that it works as expected, as we weren’t able to route any traffic out of the device while the connection to StrongVPN was down.

4. Verified No-Logs Policy

Something that I’ve always found concerning about the VPN industry is that certain VPN companies actually make your online browsing less secure.

Even though they promote a “No-Logs” policy on their website, if you read the fine print, you will quickly realize that many VPNs (especially free VPNs) not only log your information and activity, but they then turn around and sell it to third parties and affiliates.

Luckily for StrongVPN, its logging policy remains solid and has been consistently maintained.

StrongVPN’s current privacy policy clearly states they do not log:
– Browsing history or websites visited
– IP addresses assigned to users
– Bandwidth consumption
– Traffic data or metadata
– Connection timestamps

They only collect necessary account information like email addresses and payment details required for subscription management, which is standard industry practice.

5. Good 3rd Party Ratings

Apple Store

StrongVPN has some pretty good ratings on the iOS store at 4.4 stars, but only 6.4K ratings.

Google Play Store

Strong VPN’s score on Android is a little worse but still respectable at 4.0 stars after 5.1K reviews, and has been downloaded over 1 million times.

Trustpilot

StrongVPN is also well-rated on Trustpilot with 4.6 stars over 2,684 reviews.

Cons of Using StrongVPN

While its Netflix compatibility, customer service improvements, and modernized protocols are all positive developments, StrongVPN still comes with some significant cons that potential users should consider carefully.

1. Inconsistent Speeds Across Server Network

StrongVPN’s performance isn’t particularly impressive. Most of the servers we checked performed far below our expectations, especially those physically distant from our custom testing rig. We check all of our reviewed VPNs using a 250Mbps download and upload line.

2. Limited Server Network Compared to Competitors

While StrongVPN has increased its server count to 950+ servers across 30 locations, this network remains smaller than most premium VPN competitors in 2026.

Current server limitations include:
– Only 30 locations covered (industry leaders offer 60-100+ locations)
– Limited presence in Asia, Africa, and South America
– No servers in China, Russia, or restrictive internet regions
– Missing many city-level options in covered countries

For comparison, competitors like NordVPN offer 9,000+ servers in 181 locations, while ExpressVPN covers 105 locations. This smaller network can result in:
– Overcrowded servers during peak times
– Limited options for bypassing geo-restrictions
– Fewer choices for finding optimal connection speeds
– Less redundancy if specific servers go offline

The positive aspect is that StrongVPN owns and operates all its servers directly, providing better security and control than VPNs that rely on third-party server providers.

3. Premium Pricing Without Premium Features

This is where StrongVPN’s value proposition becomes questionable.

While they’ve improved their service quality, their pricing structure remains expensive compared to what they offer, especially when compared to feature-rich competitors.

Current Pricing (2026):

Monthly plan: $11.99/month
– No money-back guarantee
– Month-to-month billing
– All features included

Annual plan: $47.69 first year ($3.97/month), then $89.99/year ($7.5/month)
– 30-day money-back guarantee
– Significant price increase after the first year
– Same features as the monthly plan

Comparison with premium competitors:
– Surfshark: Often under $1.99/month for long-term plans
– NordVPN: $3.09/month with a larger server network
– PIA: $1.98/month with 1000s of servers

The pricing becomes particularly problematic when considering missing features like:
– No ad blocker
– Limited split tunneling (Android only)
– No multi-hop connections
– Smaller server network
– No dedicated IP options

Payment methods include PayPal, major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Alipay, though cryptocurrency payments are notably absent for users seeking maximum privacy.

4. U.S. Jurisdiction and Five Eyes Concerns

StrongVPN’s location in Winter Park, Florida, puts them squarely within U.S. jurisdiction, which means they could be subject to:
– Government data requests and subpoenas
– Potential gag orders preventing disclosure of requests
– Surveillance alliance information sharing (Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, Fourteen Eyes)

Although this is a valid concern that should be taken into consideration when deciding which VPN client you will use, StrongVPN’s strict no-logging policy provides some protection.

However, as we’ve seen with various VPN providers throughout the years, privacy policies can change, and when it comes to personal security, many users prefer VPNs based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions like Panama, Switzerland, or the British Virgin Islands.

5. Platform-Specific Feature Limitations

One of the most frustrating aspects of StrongVPN is that key features are not available across all platforms, creating an inconsistent user experience.

Kill Switch Availability:
– ✅ Windows and Mac desktop apps
– ❌ iOS and Android mobile apps
– ❌ Browser extensions

Split Tunneling:
– ❌ Windows and Mac
– ✅ Android only
– ❌ iOS

Protocol Options:
– Desktop: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPsec
– Mobile: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 (limited selection)
– Browser: Proxy only (not full VPN)

This inconsistency means users who rely on mobile devices or need split tunneling on desktop platforms will find StrongVPN lacking essential features that are standard on competing services.

The Chrome browser extension functions only as a proxy, providing IP address changes without encryption, which significantly limits its security value.

Do We Recommend StrongVPN?

Unfortunately, StrongVPN is not good enough to recommend.

StrongVPN is definitely a VPN that’s getting better over time. They have made substantial improvements, including upgraded server infrastructure, expanded protocol support with WireGuard, enhanced customer support with 24/7 live chat, and better streaming compatibility. Plus, you can load 12 devices onto one subscription, slightly more than the average top-tier VPN provider.

The issue is that this is just the baseline for a VPN in 2026. To truly stand out in the industry, you need to offer more. The only real standout is StrongDNS, which allows you to stream on devices where you can’t load the full VPN client. However, pretty much every VPN provider worth mentioning also offers their own DNS streaming solution at this point. Plus, at StrongVPN’s current pricing, it’s not really value for money.

Instead, if you are looking for VPNs that are either cheaper or offer better value, we’d recommend you check out some of our picks below.

Bottom Line: StrongVPN is a functional VPN, but it’s not worth the price and it’s not a particularly good privacy VPN either.

Alternative Recommendations:

• For streaming: NordVPN or ExpressVPN
• For budget-conscious users: Surfshark
• The best free VPN: ProtonVPN
• Need a 45-day money-back guarantee: CyberGhost
• Servers in all 50 states: Private Internet Access