TechRadar Verdict
Bitdefender’s minimal feature set won’t appeal to demanding types, but if you only need the bare VPN essentials, its solid speeds and budget price have a lot of appeal. Give it a try.
Easy to use with a clean design
Split tunneling
Unblocks BBC iPlayer
Effective kill switch
Extremely affordable
24/7 live chat support
Free plan
30-day money-back guarantee
Confusing privacy policy
Very few features
Logs some data
Doesn’t unblock US Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus
No split tunneling for apps
No dedicated IP address add-on
Why you can trust TechRadarWe spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best.Find out more about how we test.
With global connectivity and increased security, the importance of daily Internet access cannot be overstated. There is a growing need to secure one’s internet access, which is why so many people are turning to thebest VPNs, which protect your identity from online threats andhide your IP addressfrom intruders and hackers.
It’s here where Bitdefender Premium VPN sits. You may have heard ofBitdefender, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity technology companies, and its VPN offering is a product powered by the impressive standalone VPN serviceHotspot Shield.
As such, Bitdefender employs Hotspot Shield’s Catapult Hydra protocol, which is one of the fastestVPN tunnelingprotocols available on the market. Available through Bitdefender’s official app, it includes core essentials, withP2Psupport and aVPN kill switchto protect you if the VPN connection drops. There’s also AES 256-bit key encryption to ensure complete online anonymity. Bitdefender VPN boasts 4,000 servers in 49 countries.
Bitdefender Premium VPN: Pricing & plans
Bitdefender Premium price starts at $6.99 per month. To save up to 40%, consider using the discounted annual subscription for the first year for $29.99, which works out at around $2.50 a month. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee if the service doesn’t work out for you. Payments can be made by MasterCard, PayPal, or bank transfer.
Alternatively, you can try the Bitdefenderfree VPN. However, this is only accessible if you have an active security package with the provider. On the free plan, daily traffic is capped at 200MB, with no ability to select a location, so it won’t be of much use if you’re looking to access geo-restricted content online. Additionally, you can connect up to ten devices, including those running Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Bitdefender Premium VPN: Privacy & encryption
Nearly every common VPN website claims that “No Loging” however there is frequently a privacy policy that either provides very little information about any specifics or indicates that the firm does, in fact, log some of your information.
Bitdefender Premium VPN does not have complete control over its service logging policies because its software works by connecting to Hotspot Shield servers via the Hotspot Shield network. The company’s basic privacy statement explains what information is collected and how it is used:
“We collect for this service only randomly generated or hashed user and device IDs, IP addresses, and randomly generated tokens to establish a VPN connection for the sole purpose of providing the VPN service. For this service, we use AnchorFree as a data processor who processes data on behalf of Bitdefender in accordance with Bitdefender’s instructions and for the sole purpose of providing VPN services to users."
When we checked the Hotspot Shield privacy policy for more information, we were reassured that there is no monitoring of your web traffic or browsing history. However, data such as yourbrowsertype, device settings, network information, and more are logged in. While this does not allow the company to see anything of what you’re doing online, it is definitely more than you will find with the majority of the competition.
With support for theAdvanced Encryption Standard, employing a 256-bit version of it, theprivacy toolis impenetrable even to the most powerful modern computers and ensures complete online anonymity. The VPN also uses the superfast catapult hydra protocol so when you browse the internet yourIP addressis rerouted. Also, you won’t find any Domain Name System (DNS), Web Real-time Communication, or other leaks when using Bitdefender Premium VPN.
Bitdefender Premium VPN: Streaming
Bitdefender Premium VPN is sold mostly for the sake of encrypting your data and allowing you to anonymously browse the internet. But the website does claim that you can unlock media, videos, and messages from all over the world - it’s just a shame it doesn’t.
In our tests, we found this is certainly nostreaming VPN. In fact, it’s terrible for at it. It doesn’t work with top sites like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, andAmazonPrime. On the other hand, we were able to access BBC iPlayer when we connected to the UK server. If you’re looking for thebest VPNs for Netflixand the like, we recommendExpressVPN, as connections are great, it features lightning-fast speeds, and it’s simple to use across all apps.
We noticed that popular torrent applications likeBitTorrentandVuzeare compatible with all of its servers and the VPN allows P2P transmission, so you may have better luck using it as aVPN for torrenting.
Bitdefender Premium VPN: Speed & experience
In our testing, we discovered that the download speed peaked at 54.65Mbps when Bitfinder’s VPN was turned off.
When we turned it on, we found speeds decreased to 18.68mpbs, well below average. To be honest, since the release ofWireGuard, Bitdefender VPN isn’t as fast as providers like NordVPN, CyberGhost, and IPVanish that reach about 880Mbps.
Bitdefender Premium VPN: Customer support
The Bitdefender support staff can be contacted via phone, live chat, email, and phone. It should be noted that this is the general support team for all of Bitdefender’s products and services, not just Premium VPN.
And that’s a concern. Getting support from the support team may be simple, but we’re not sure a company that sellsantivirus softwarewith a VPN on the side can provide the kind of support offered by specialist providers.
Bitdefender Premium VPN: Apps
If you’ve ever used Bitdefender antivirus software, you’re probably already aware of Linux’s absence from it. Its VPN is the same - there is no Linux application. But there are programs for Windows and Mac, withmobile VPN appsfor Android and iOS.
Windows
The Windows interface for Bitdefender Premium VPN is clear and easy to use with useful settings such as the kill switch, which blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. Although the location list lacks favorites or previously used servers for easier reconnection, it allows switching locations without disconnecting the current connection. Desktop notifications also let you know when you’re protected and when you’re not.
The UI is recognizable with its sizable blue Connect button, the name of the location you are currently selecting, and, if you click it, a list of more locations to choose from.There is a search box, but no cities are provided (just countries), and there are no server load figures or ping times to help you in choosing.
The UI of the macOS version remains the same, but features have been drastically reduced, andsplit tunnelingand the most advanced auto-connect options are no longer available. It leaves you with a stripped-down version, but it still has the kill switch and it is still usable.
We were surprised to find a kill switch here - historically iOS apps have lacked the most features due to strictApplepolicies that make make adding features a challenge. Bitdefender’s iOS VPN app looks and feels very similar to its desktop counterpart, so it’s just as simple to use, but suffers from the same flaws: a basic location list, no cities, limited server information, and no favorites system to help reduce scrolling.
Although essentially identical to the iOS version, the Android version includes additional features that are unique to it. The mobile app can block local network traffic, by doing this, your phone becomes invisible to other Wi-Fi-connected devices, this might deter some attackers who are waiting in public hotspots.
The fact that mobile apps work well for simple tasks may explain why users give them such high ratings. We believe, however, that they have a long way to go before they can compete with the best in the field.
Bitdefender Premium VPN: Alternatives
Although Bitdefender is an excellent VPN service, it lacks some features provided by the market’s leading VPN providers, such as ExpressVPN,NordVPN,CyberGhost, andSurfshark. They do cost more, but provide plenty of tools, features, thousands of servers, and ultimately more bang for your buck. .
Verdict
If you want something cheap, fast, and with a familiar name the Bitdefender Premium VPN is for you. But it’s worth noting that the extent of their logging is unclear, noVPN auditreports are published, and streaming isn’t one of their strengths.
While Bitdefender is an excellent antivirus provider, its VPN isn’t the same, falling short of the advanced features and smart design found in the market leaders.
Aloysius Ejike Ukejeh is a seasoned tech and virtual private network writer. He has over 5 years of experience in the technology industry, focusing on streaming, web hosting, security, and privacy. Aloysius is an expert in virtual private networks (VPNs), and he frequently writes about the latest news and developments in this area. He is also a strong advocate for online privacy and security. Aloysius spends time reading about the latest technology news in his free time.
Smeg Combi Steam Oven review: a multi-functional countertop oven that looks stunning and cooks well
Five reasons why you need a dash cam – from protecting yourself against scams to fending off speeding fines
iStorage Group acquires Kanguru Solutions as it looks to expand security offering
