StrongVPN 2023 Review: Is This USA-Based Provider Good?

We can guess the first question on your mind, “how strong is StrongVPN really?” That’s something we’ll answer in-depth. But, we can’t tell you whether to buy this VPN over tens of other alternatives. We’ll simply help you discard the VPN providers you don’t want to use. By leaving a few that are excellent, we’ll narrow down your choice and hopefully make it a little easier. One thing is undeniable, you need to use a VPN to hide your IP. There’s just too much throttling, privacy invasion, and censorship nowadays, preventing you from retaining freedom online. With that said, let’s get into our StrongVPN review.

StrongVPN Features

Because StrongVPN isn’t a free VPN service, you can expect to get quite a bit out of it. Here are some of the primary features of StrongVPN:

Headquarters

StrongVPN is currently owned by J2 Global, Inc., based in Los Angeles, California, United States, and launched its VPN service in 2005. The location is far from ideal, however. We explained this in our review of IPVanish and the Hotspot Shield VPN review as well. Luckily, that’s not a deal-breaker. StrongVPN owns its server architecture instead of renting it, so there’s no third-party involvement.

Server base

StrongVPN has 950+ servers across 46 cities in 30 countries and offers 59500+ VPN IP addresses. This is far from the biggest number. As you can read in our review of CyberGhost VPN, they offer more than 6800+. However, it’s not the quantity but the quality that matters, and we’ve tested them below.

Zero-logging policy

You don’t have to fear your connection history or browsing activities, since StrongVPN has a strict no-log policy. They only store your e-mail address and payment information so they can set up an account and charge you.

Encryption

While reviewing StrongVPN we found that like many competitors, it uses an AES-256 encryption algorithm to protect the Internet traffic coming and going between you and their VPN server. This is a gold standard in encryption and is used by the United States government.

Speed

We ran the first test by connecting to a StrongVPN server in the UK using Best Location. When compared to our real location in Europe, the download and upload speed were reduced by 10%. Unfortunately, latency went up five-fold. Repeating the speed test with a server in Germany yielded a download speed reduction of 12% while the upload only went down by 8%.

A speed test using a USA server showed a download speed reduction of nearly 30% while the upload speed went down by nearly 60%. To push the limits of StrongVPN, we decided to use Best Location and connect to a VPN server in Australia. The reduction was severe – 35% in download, and almost 90% in upload speed.

Unlimited Bandwidth and Data Usage

The provider offers unrestricted data usage and unbounded bandwidth while connected to their servers. In fact, you might experience faster speed if you are the victim of ISP throttling.

Concurrent Connections

StrongVPN allows for up to 12 simultaneous VPN connections across devices. This is higher than many VPN providers offer, typically between 4 and 7. On the other hand, that’s lower than Surfshark and Windscribe, since they don’t have a limit.

Unblocking Streaming Services

StrongVPN can bypass the Netflix VPN block. We also had no trouble circumventing BBC iPlayer’s anti-VPN measures. That makes it one of the best VPN for the UK too. Using StrongVPN we also unblocked:

• Hulu
• Crunchyroll
• ABC
• ITV
• Sky GO
• Sling TV
• Spotify
• YouTube

Security protocols

During our review of StrongVPN, we found it offers PPTP, L2TP, IPSec, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), and IKEv2 protocols. They’re also the 1st commercial VPN provider to offer WireGuard, a protocol that aims to be superior to IPSec and OpenVPN.

No IPv4, IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks

When we checked a VPN connection, we found no leaks with StrongVPN. We were particularly happy that StrongVPN owns its own DNS servers. This feature, called simply StrongDNS, is bundled with a VPN subscription. You see, DNS (Domain Name System) translates IP addresses to a hostname. If it’s different from the VPN IP address, it could not only prevent you from hiding a VPN but also leak your real identity and location.

Does StrongVPN Work in China?

StrongVPN works in China although the website itself is blocked in the country. So, you’ll need to download it and carry it on a USB stick. Their US servers are also constantly being blocked by the Chinese government. We tried the USA (San Francisco) server and bypassed the VPN block right away.

Additional Features of StrongVPN

Here are some of the bonus features of StrongVPN that you might not use as often:

P2P Support

StrongVPN supports torrenting (P2P transfer) on all of its VPN servers.

Works with Skype

For those that need it, this VPN provider saves hundreds of dollars. You see, if you use a VPN, Skype will use the StrongVPN‘s location to establish a price for in-country or international calls. By connecting to a VPN server in the same country as the one you’re calling, you can avoid expensive international fees.

Kill Switch and Split Tunneling

Although both features are industry-standard nowadays and StrongVPN offers both, it lacks in the second one. Instead of offering split tunneling across all apps and devices like the majority of VPN providers, they only offer it on Android.

24/7 Customer Support

The team of highly-skilled tech support representatives is available 24/7/365 through e-mail or live chat on the website. They’re also available via phone calls 5 days a week, Monday through Friday.

StrongVPN Installation and User Interface

Downloading StrongVPN is a breeze. After installation, you’ll notice that the Graphical User Interface (GUI) is reminiscent of Windows 10. And just like the aforementioned system, it comes with both Light Mode and Dark Mode. The Settings section is split into basic categories (Options, Protocol, Diagnostics, Information, and Updates), which is perfect for first-time users. Connecting to a server is just as easy. On both desktop and mobile, there’s one Connect button. With the Best Location feature, StrongVPN will connect you to the server with the best download/upload speed and lowest latency.

What is StrongVPN Compatible with?

StrongVPN works on Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Linux Ubuntu, Smart TV (install StrongVPN on Apple TV), Windows (Surface, RT, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 9, 10), Kodi, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire TV, gaming consoles, Kindle, Chromium, and Synology NAS. Additionally, not only do they offer easy-to-understand guides for a VPN on routers, but they also sell pre-configured VPN routers (ASUS, Sabai, DD-WRT, Mikrotik, and Tomato).

StrongVPN Pricing

The price of StrongVPN is split into two subscription plans:

• 1-month plan – $3.50/month with a 65% discount ($10/month regularly)
• 1-year plan – $2.04/month with a 65% discount ($5.83/month or $69.99/year regularly)

How does StrongVPN price compare?

The discounted prices are extremely cheap in comparison to other VPN providers, but only with 50-70% discounts. As if that wasn’t enough, StrongVPN also bundles 250 GB of SugarSync Secure Storage with both plans. This allows you to store your files (photos, videos, documents) safely in the cloud. You can pay with PayPal, Alipay, and all major credit cards. We really wished there was a cryptocurrency option, which would ensure anonymity. Additionally, we would have liked a free trial option, but the 30-day money-back guarantee is a good alternative.

Is StrongVPN suitable for me?

What does StrongVPN have to offer? Is it really a good fit for me? If you are wondering about the same questions, then scroll down as we explore who might benefit from StrongVPN and why.

Cheap

First off, the VPN is undoubtedly cheap. Even for a mid-tier service, albeit with some of the best privacy and security features on the market, the low price of $3.97 is a steal. If you are on a budget, you might consider StrongVPN. And while it’s true that there are VPNs much cheaper than this, they surely do not pack this many features for the price range.

Favors streaming and torrenting

StrongVPN might have a smaller VPN network with 950 servers in 30 countries, but it sure does offer customized traffic. While some servers are geared to offer speed, others are optimized for P2P file transfer. Some servers even position themselves to aid streaming. And then there is the SmartDNS feature, which allows users to stream content on their favorite devices even if the app is not supported. But then, the provider does offer apps for almost every popular platform, including routers and streaming devices such as Firestick and Kodi.

Prevents leaks

StrongVPN has in-built IP leak prevention and DNS leak protection, and it disables WebRTC leaks. Hence, it is a secure app that ensures your privacy by removing leaks from the equation. By using StrongVPN, one can remain safe on the web.

Has a legacy

StrongVPN is no greenhorn in the VPN market. The company originally sold computer peripherals and software solutions as early as 1994. Since then, it has also expanded into other areas, including VPNs, and in 2005, it came out with StrongVPN. Thus, the provider is familiar with the ups and downs of the VPN industry, despite being a mid-tier service.

Conclusion

While we reviewed StrongVPN, we couldn’t stop thinking about its affordability when on a discount. At that price point, its downsides can be overlooked, and for a casual user, none of them are significant. We’d love to see a slightly larger number of servers in the future to reduce load. Additionally, we would like to have cryptocurrency as a payment option. Except for split tunneling not being available on all platforms, StrongVPN is a feature-rich, user-friendly, constantly updated VPN service. It’s ideal for bypassing censorship, streaming on some websites, and holding onto your privacy and freedom online.