StrongVPN Review: Price, speed & Features (2025)

Searching for an honest StrongVPN review? You’re likely wondering if its long-standing promise of being a simple, no-fuss VPN holds up in 2025, or if it’s just a relic from a bygone era. Think of it as choosing between a classic flip phone and a modern smartphone – one is simple, but is it what you really need?

In today’s digital world, choosing the right VPN is more critical than ever. A slow, outdated, or poorly located service doesn’t just offer a bad experience; it can provide a false sense of security, potentially exposing you to the very risks you’re trying to avoid. Your privacy shouldn’t be a trade-off for simplicity.

With years of hands-on experience testing dozens of VPNs for Safelyo, I’ve seen many legacy providers struggle to keep pace. They often rely on their brand name while falling behind on critical aspects like audited privacy policies and modern security features. StrongVPN, with its us jurisdiction and unaudited claims, fits this profile perfectly.

Don’t settle for a VPN that might compromise your data. Let me walk you through the hard evidence to help you decide if StrongVPN is a strong choice or a risk you can’t afford to take.

1. Quick verdict: Is StrongVPN still strong in 2025?

For those short on time, here’s the bottom line. After extensive testing, my verdict on StrongVPN is clear, and it’s not what the name suggests.

StrongVPN Review: Safelyo's 2025 Verdict
Overall Rating: 4.5/10

• Speed:  (4/10)
• Security:  (6/10)
• Privacy:  (2/10) 
• Streaming:  (6/10)
• Pricing:  (5/10)

A fundamentally simple VPN that’s easy to use but is critically held back by its us jurisdiction, inconsistent speeds, and an outdated feature set that can’t compete in today’s market.

• Who it’s for: Users who need a VPN for only the most basic, non-sensitive tasks and are not concerned about our data-sharing laws.
• Who it’s not for: Anyone prioritizing privacy, consistent streaming, high speeds, or modern features like split tunneling.

Better Alternatives We've Tested:

1. Surfshark: Best overall value for a modern feature set.
2. Private Internet Access: Proven privacy with a massive server network.
3. CyberGhost: Great for beginners and optimized for streaming.

You might be looking at that low score, especially the one-star privacy rating, and wondering how a VPN with “strong” in its name could fall so short.

Here’s a simple way to think about it: StrongVPN is like an old, heavy-duty padlock. It looks tough, and it can certainly keep an amateur from getting in. But it’s based in a “house” (the US jurisdiction) where the landlord (the government) has a master key and can enter whenever they want, no questions asked. The lock itself might be decent, but the location makes it fundamentally insecure for anyone who truly values their privacy.

In my years of reviewing security tools, this is the biggest red flag I look for. A VPN’s primary job is to build trust. When a service is based in a 5 Eyes country and hasn’t undergone a single independent audit to prove its no-logs claims, that trust is broken from the start. It’s a risk I would never recommend taking with your personal data.

2. My honest take on the pros and cons

Every VPN has its strengths and weaknesses, but with StrongVPN, the gap between them is particularly wide. After putting it through its paces, I found that what it does well is overshadowed by some significant, fundamental flaws. Here’s a quick breakdown of what I found:

Pros (What I Liked)

Cons (What I Disliked)

On one hand, the simplicity is undeniable. It’s like having a remote control with only one button – you can’t mess it up. And their use of AES-256 encryption is the correct standard. However, the “Cons” column tells the real story. For me, as a privacy analyst, the US jurisdiction is an immediate deal-breaker. It’s like a restaurant telling you your conversation is private, while knowing the authorities can place listening devices at any table. This, combined with an unaudited no-logs policy, means you are operating entirely on blind trust. In an industry where trust is everything, it’s a risk I would never recommend.

Let’s unpack these points.

2.1. Pros of StrongVPN

Extremely simple interface

I’ll give it this: StrongVPN is incredibly easy to use. The app is basically a giant “connect” button. For someone who has never used a VPN and feels intimidated by settings, this is a plus. It’s like having a remote control with only one button – you can’t mess it up.

Strong AES-256 encryption

It uses the same military-grade encryption standard that top-tier VPNs and financial institutions rely on. This is the bedrock of good security, and it’s good to see they haven’t cut corners here. Your core traffic is securely scrambled.

Worked with us, Netflix (in my tests)

I was pleasantly surprised that StrongVPN managed to unblock the US Netflix library during my testing session. However, as you’ll see later, this performance can be inconsistent, so I wouldn’t rely on it as a dedicated streaming VPN.

Helpful customer support

The 24/7 live chat is a highlight. I reached out with a query about their supported protocols and got a clear, helpful response from a human agent in under two minutes. This is a solid point in their favor.

2.2. Cons of StrongVPN

Based in the United States (a 5 Eyes country, for me, as a privacy analyst, this is an immediate deal-breaker.

The us is a core member of the 5 eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, with laws that can force companies to secretly log and hand over user data. A VPN’s primary purpose is to protect you from this kind of surveillance, making its location a major conflict of interest.

Owned by a media corporation (Ziff Davis)

StrongVPN isn’t owned by a cybersecurity-focused company, but by Ziff Davis, a media giant that owns publications like PCMag and Mashable. Their business model revolves around data and advertising. This raises serious questions about whether their primary focus is truly protecting your privacy or leveraging assets.

Unaudited no-logs policy

StrongVPN claims it doesn’t keep logs, but this has never been verified by an independent third-party audit. It’s like a restaurant telling you their kitchen is spotless but refusing to let a health inspector inside. In contrast, providers like Surfshark and NordVPN regularly undergo audits to prove their claims. StrongVPN is asking you to rely on blind trust.

Very slow and inconsistent speeds

My speed tests confirmed user reports. While my local us connection was usable for basic browsing, connecting to a server in the UK or Asia felt like a throwback to the dial-up era. 4k streaming or large file downloads are simply not feasible.

Outdated and limited apps

The simplicity I mentioned earlier comes at a cost. The apps feel clunky and lack essential modern features like split tunneling on most platforms, which allows you to choose which apps use the VPN and which don’t.

Small server network

With just over 950 servers, its network is tiny compared to competitors who offer thousands. Fewer servers mean more user congestion, slower speeds, and less choice for bypassing geo-restrictions.

2.3. A brief history: How StrongVPN fell behind

To understand why StrongVPN feels the way it does, you have to look at its history. Think of the VPN industry as a marathon. For a long time, StrongVPN was one of the early, reliable runners, setting a steady pace and offering a solid, no-frills service when options were few.

But in the last five years, a new generation of runners like Surfshark and CyberGhost joined the race. They came with better technology (like faster protocols), a focus on user experience, and a commitment to transparency (audits). While StrongVPN kept jogging at the same pace, its competitors started sprinting, innovating with new features and rapidly expanding their server networks. This history explains its current identity: a functional but basic tool that has been left in the dust by a faster, more modern market.

3. Key features breakdown: A hands-on test

Now that we’ve covered the big picture, it’s time to get our hands dirty. This is where we move past the marketing claims and look at the hard evidence from my own testing. How does StrongVPN really perform when put under the microscope?

3.1. Ownership & jurisdiction: A major red flag for privacy?

Let’s start with the most critical question: Is StrongVPN safe, and who owns StrongVPN? The answer is more concerning than you might think.

StrongVPN is owned by Ziff Davis, a massive US-based media conglomerate that also owns publications like IGN, PCMag, and Mashable. For me, this is an immediate conflict of interest. Imagine asking a newspaper company, whose business often relies on user data for advertising, to be the sole guardian of your private diary. It’s just not a good fit. A company focused on media and publishing doesn’t have the same privacy-first DNA as a dedicated cybersecurity firm.

Worse yet is the StrongVPN jurisdiction. Being based in the United States places it squarely within the 5 eyes intelligence-sharing alliance.

Think of it this way: A VPN based in a 5 Eyes country is like building a secret vault in the middle of a police station. No matter how strong the vault door (encryption) is, the authorities have legal tools like national security letters and gag orders to force the company to grant them access, and they can forbid the company from ever telling you about it.

As a privacy advocate, I always advise users to be extremely cautious with VPNs in these locations. This isn’t just a theoretical risk. It’s a fundamental vulnerability that undermines the very purpose of using a VPN for privacy.

3.2. Security and privacy: How safe is it really?

Beyond the jurisdiction issue, I dug into their technical security. On paper, things look standard. StrongVPN offers solid encryption (AES-256) and modern protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. This is the absolute minimum you should expect from any paid VPN service.

However, the major problem lies with their no-logs policy. StrongVPN claims they don’t log your activity, but they’ve never had this claim verified by an independent audit.

Once again, here’s an analogy: It’s like a new restaurant bragging about how clean its kitchen is but refusing to let a health inspector through the doors. Meanwhile, top-tier VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark have undergone multiple public audits from respected firms like PwC and Deloitte to prove their kitchens are spotless. StrongVPN simply asks you to trust them, which, given their jurisdiction, is a huge ask.

On a positive note, my tests showed no IP, DNS leaks, or WebRTC leaks. This means the basic VPN tunnel is working correctly and not accidentally exposing my real IP address.

While this is good, it’s like having a strong lock on the front door of that vault inside the police station. It might stop a common thief, but it does nothing to protect you from the overarching threat of legal surveillance.

3.3. Speed and performance: Our 2025 speed test results

Conflicting reports about StrongVPN’s speed are everywhere, so I decided to get my own definitive data for this StrongVPN speed test. I conducted several tests from my base in the us, using a 1 Gbps connection. Here are the average results:

The numbers tell a clear story. While the local US server speed is acceptable for basic browsing and SD streaming, the performance drops off a cliff when connecting to international servers. A 91% speed drop to the UK is simply not competitive. Trying to watch 4k content or join a video call on a server in Asia was a frustrating, buffer-filled experience.

3.4. Streaming, torrenting, and ease of use

When it comes to StrongVPN Netflix access, the results were mixed. In my tests, it successfully unblocked the US Netflix library. However, it was completely blocked by BBC iPlayer and was hit or miss with Hulu. This unreliability makes it a gamble for anyone who takes streaming seriously.

For torrenting, while it’s technically allowed, I strongly advise against it. The combination of slow speeds and, more importantly, the us jurisdiction makes it a risky choice for any P2P activity.

The biggest issue in day-to-day use, however, is the outdated user interface. The apps feel like a piece of software from a decade ago. It’s simple, yes, but it lacks the polish and functionality of modern competitors. There are no convenient server search filters, no ping indicators to help you find the fastest server, and crucial features like split tunneling are missing on key platforms.

This becomes glaringly obvious when you see it side-by-side with a modern VPN.

4. StrongVPN pricing and plans

StrongVPN keeps its pricing structure as simple as its app. There are no confusing tiers or hidden features – you get everything they offer regardless of which plan you choose. But as we’ve already seen, “everything they offer” isn’t much to begin with.

4.1. StrongVPN’s pricing at a glance

Here’s a direct comparison of the two plans available, based on the latest pricing.

4.2. Which plan should you choose?

Looking at the table, my advice is straightforward.

The monthly plan is not a good option for almost anyone. At $11.99, it’s priced like a premium VPN service without offering any of the premium features. The lack of a money-back guarantee means that if you’re unhappy after a day, your money is gone. I would only consider this if you absolutely need a VPN for a few weeks and cannot commit to a year for some reason.

Therefore, if you are determined to try StrongVPN, the annual plan is the only logical choice. Why? Because of the 30-day money-back guarantee. This is your safety net. It essentially allows you to treat the annual plan as a 30-day trial. You can test it thoroughly, see if the slow speeds and privacy issues are deal-breakers for you, and still get a full refund if you’re not satisfied.

4.3. But is it good value for money?

Even with the annual plan’s lower introductory price, the fundamental question of value remains. Is it worth it?

Here’s a simple analogy I often use: Paying for StrongVPN is like buying a 15-year-old car for nearly the price of a brand-new, budget-friendly one. The old car will probably get you from point A to B, but it lacks modern safety features (like independent audits), has terrible fuel efficiency (slow speeds), and comes with a clunky, basic dashboard (outdated ui).

Now, consider a modern competitor like Surfshark. You can often get a long-term plan for a similar or even lower monthly price. For that money, you get:

• A fully audited, privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
• Significantly faster and more consistent speeds.
• A polished, modern app packed with features like an ad-blocker and split tunneling.
• Unlimited simultaneous device connections.

So, is StrongVPN worth the price? In my professional opinion, absolutely not. You are paying a mid-range price for what is now a bottom-tier service. The value proposition completely falls apart when you realize you can get a vastly superior, safer, and faster VPN for the same or less money.

5. StrongVPN vs. Surfshark: A battle of old vs. new

To truly understand where StrongVPN stands in 2025, a direct comparison is essential. While you could put it up against giants like NordVPN, I find a more telling matchup is with Surfshark. Why? Because they often compete in a similar price bracket, but what they offer for that price is worlds apart.

From my perspective as a reviewer, this isn’t just a comparison of two products – it’s a comparison of two philosophies. It’s like comparing a basic, 10-year-old sedan to a brand-new one. They might both have four wheels and an engine, but the technology, safety, and overall experience are fundamentally different.

This head-to-head battle makes the choice incredibly clear.

The table really speaks for itself. For a similar, and often lower price, Surfshark offers an objectively superior service in every single category that matters for a modern VPN user.

You get a service based in a country that respects privacy, backed by proof (audits) instead of just promises. You get speeds that are dramatically faster, which is something you’ll feel every single day. You get the freedom to install and use it on every device you own simultaneously. And you get a modern app that is a pleasure to use, packed with features that actually enhance your security.

This isn’t just a battle of features – it’s a battle of eras. StrongVPN represents the past of the VPN industry – functional but basic. Surfshark represents the present and future – secure, fast, transparent, and packed with value. For any user looking for the best performance and security in 2025, the choice is obvious.

6. My final verdict: Who should (and shouldn’t) use StrongVPN in 2025?

So, we come back to our original question: Is StrongVPN’s approach a case of “classic simplicity” or is it “simply outdated“?

After rigorous testing and analysis, my conclusion is unavoidable. In 2025, StrongVPN’s simplicity feels less like a feature and more like a limitation. It is simply outdated. The core functionalities of a VPN are there, but it fails on the three pillars that matter most today: Privacy, performance, and value.

To be perfectly honest, it’s difficult for me to recommend this VPN to anyone. However, if I had to define its ideal user, it would be an extremely narrow niche: StrongVPN might only suit an existing, long-time user who is already familiar with its interface and only uses it for the most basic, non-sensitive web browsing on a local server. Even then, they would be overpaying for a subpar service.

For everyone else – especially those new to VPNs, or anyone who values their digital privacy, needs consistent speeds for streaming, or simply wants the best value for their money – there are far superior, safer, and faster options on the market today.

Don’t let the name fool you. There are many stronger choices available to protect you.

7. FAQ about StrongVPN

We get a lot of questions about legacy VPN providers like StrongVPN, especially regarding how they stack up in the modern market. Here are the clear, direct answers to the most common queries we receive.

8. Conclusion

Our final analysis for this StrongVPN review is clear: What was once a simple and reliable choice has been thoroughly surpassed by more modern, secure, and feature-rich competitors. Its simplicity no longer feels like a benefit but rather a symptom of a service that has failed to innovate and keep pace with the industry’s standards for privacy and performance.

To summarize, here are the key points to remember about StrongVPN:

• Critical privacy concerns due to its us jurisdiction and lack of independent audits.
• Outdated interface and a bare-bones app that lacks essential modern features.
• Inconsistent and slow speeds, especially over long distances, make it unsuitable for streaming or large downloads.
• Poor value for money, as superior alternatives are available at a similar or lower price point.

Don’t let the name fool you; there are much stronger VPN choices available to protect you in 2025. To find a service that truly lives up to its promises of security, speed, and privacy, Safelyo recommends you explore our curated list of the Best VPN services we’ve tested this year.