Bitdefender VPN review: Pros and cons in 2024
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 2:07 p.m. UTC March 13, 2024
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Bitdefender
Pros
- Very affordable.
- Encrypted traffic on up to 10 devices.
- Zero traffic-logs policy.
Cons
- Many complaints about slow download speeds.
- No free version of Bitdefender VPN Premium.
- No dedicated IP address option.
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Founded in 2001, Bitdefender provides cybersecurity solutions to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses around the world. Its VPN product, known as Bitdefender Premium VPN, offers a number of features, including unlimited encrypted traffic on up to 10 devices, a no traffic-logs policy, AES-256 security encryption and hidden location while browsing.
In this Bitdefender VPN review, we’ll go through these features, discuss Bitdefender VPN’s pricing plans, compare this product to competitors and answer some frequently asked questions.
Featured VPN service offers
NordVPN
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$12.99
Download speed (average)
235 Mbps
Surfshark
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$15.45
Download speed (average)
263 Mbps
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$11.95
Download speed (average)
124 Mbps
Bitdefender VPN overview
A VPN, or a virtual private network, allows you to encrypt your private information, such as IP address and browsing location, and avoid internet firewalls.
The Bitdefender VPN product provides these privacy features in a relatively inexpensive pricing plan that works on all major platforms – Android, Windows, Mac and iOS. The company provides access to more than 4,000 servers in over 50 countries internationally.
Bitdefender VPN pros and cons
Though Bitdefender VPN is relatively inexpensive and offers other benefits, it has a few drawbacks. Let’s take a look at some of Bitdefender VPN’s main pros and cons.
Pros
Bitdefender VPN offers an affordably-priced monthly plan for $6.99. For users who prefer to pay annually, the company offers an annual plan for $69.99, which saves businesses a good amount of money over the course of the year.
Bitdefender VPN’s useful features include unlimited encrypted traffic on up to 10 devices with one subscription. The product can be installed on any PC, Mac, laptop, iPhone or Android smartphone, as well as Android smart TVs and the Amazon Firestick. The company also includes a strict no-logs traffic policy with its VPN product, meaning everything you do while using the VPN is completely private.
Cons
Many Bitdefender VPN users complain of slow internet speeds after installing the product. To its credit, the company has addressed that issue with many guides on its website.
The company doesn’t offer a free plan for its Bitdefender Premium VPN product. They also do not offer a dedicated IP address option, which can offer an added layer of security as well as faster speeds.
Bitdefender VPN pricing and value
| MONTHLY | ANNUAL | |
|---|---|---|
Pricing
| $6.99
| $69.99
|
Max devices
| 10 | 10 |
Servers
| 50+
| 50+
|
Free trial
| Yes
| Yes
|
Money back guarantee
| 30 days
| 30 days
|
Bitdefender VPN offers a monthly plan at $6.99 and an annual plan for $69.99. Over the course of the year, the annual plan would save you 43% in cost.
Both plans offer all of the same features, including unlimited encryption for up to 10 devices, a no traffic-logs policy and access to more than 4,000 servers in over 50 countries internationally.
Features and add-ons
For such an inexpensive monthly price, Bitdefender VPN has its fair share of features. Some of these include:
Anonymous browsing
When using the Bitdefender VPN, all of your web traffic is anonymous and private.
This means even when you’re connected to an unsecured WiFi network – whether it’s at an airport, restaurant or hotel – you’ll stay protected from personal data theft or hackers trying to identify your IP address.
Split tunneling
This feature allows you to choose which apps and software use the VPN and which don’t.
When using a VPN, you may not be able to access locally hosted folders, network printers or mail servers because you’re actually not using your home network anymore. With split tunneling, you can choose to keep these items off the VPN. You can also choose which websites you want access to without the VPN, which may be helpful when it comes to bandwidth and speed.
Kill switch
The kill switch feature simply means your computer won’t revert to a default insecure connection if you lose VPN connectivity. This means your private data won’t leak or be made public if you lose the VPN.
With Bitdefender VPN, you’ll need to go to your settings to manually turn on this feature, as it is turned off by default.
Servers
Bitdefender has more than 4,000 available servers in 53 countries and six continents worldwide. In the United States, the company has servers spread across the country:
- Atlanta, Georgia.
- Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Chicago, Illinois.
- Dallas, Texas.
- Denver, Colorado.
- Houston, Texas.
- Los Angeles, California.
- Miami, Florida.
- New York City.
- Newark, New Jersey.
- Phoenix, Arizona.
- Portland, Oregon.
- San Jose, Texas.
- Seattle, Washington.
- Washington D.C.
Bitdefender also allows you to select the server you want to use in any of the U.S.-based cities, as well as Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver in Canada, and London and Manchester in the United Kingdom.
This is helpful for VPN users because the farther your encrypted data has to travel, the slower your internet speeds will be. So choosing a nearby city should improve your browsing speed.
Bitdefender VPN uses the Catapult Hydra protocol with its VPN connections. The company claims that Catapult Hydra “is seen as one of the fastest in the VPN industry, and this trait has been observed mainly in gaming and streaming platforms, where speed is essential.”
Bitdefender VPN also has a feature that will automatically connect you to the fastest server available to you.
Devices
Bitdefender VPN provides you with unlimited encrypted traffic on up to 10 devices using just one subscription.
You can install the VPN on any PC, Mac, laptop, iPhone or Android smartphones, as well as Android smart TVs and the Amazon Firestick. It also works on all major platforms: Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
Mobile app
Bitdefender VPN also has a mobile app that is available on both the Apple App and Google Play stores. The app provides all the same features available through a regular laptop and stationary connection.
The app is available for both the iPhone and iPad through the Apple App Store and currently receives a 4.8 out of 5 rating with nearly 8,000 reviews.
On the Google Play store, the Bitdefender VPN app receives a 4.5 out of 5 rating after more than one million downloads and nearly 27,000 reviews.
Bitdefender VPN vs. top competitors
| LOWEST MONTHLY PRICE | DEDICATED IP | NUMBER OF SERVERS | AVERAGE DOWNLOAD SPEED | MAX NUMBER OF DEVICES | LIVE CHAT | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bitdefender | $6.99 | No | Over 4,000 | N/A | 10 | No | ||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
 TunnelBear | $9.99 | No | Over 5,000 | 290 Mbps | Unlimited | No | ||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
 NordVPN | $12.99 | Yes | Over 6,000 | 356 Mbps | 6 | Yes (Bot) | ||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
 Surfshark | $10.99 | Yes | Over 3,200 | 330 Mbps | Unlimited | Yes (Bot) | ||||||||
|
Bitdefender VPN vs TunnelBear
Though it’s difficult to beat Bitdefender in terms of pricing – at only $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year – TunnelBear is the best VPN service on the market in 2024.
While Bitdefender VPN offers access to 4,000 servers worldwide on up to 10 devices simultaneously, you can use TunnelBear on an unlimited amount of devices with access to over 5,000 servers across the globe. Neither company offers a dedicated IP address option.
For just $3 more per month, TunnelBear provides a better value with fast download speeds and more features – such as a larger amount of servers to choose from and unlimited devices.
Bitdefender VPN vs NordVPN
NordVPN is a well-known VPN provider with more than 6,000 available servers worldwide and fast download speeds.
The maximum amount of devices you can simultaneously use with NordVPN is only six – compared to 10 with Bitdefender VPN. NordVPN does have a dedicated IP option, unlike Bitdefender VPN, as well as double VPN features for two layers of encryption. This makes it an excellent choice for users who prioritize security.
That said, the price might also turn off some potential users, as it costs $12.99 for the least expensive monthly plan – double the cost of Bitdefender VPN’s pricing.
Bitdefender VPN vs Surfshark
While Surfshark’s VPN allows you to use an unlimited amount of devices simultaneously, the service falls short of Bitdefender VPN in terms of the number of available servers – with 3,200 servers versus Bitdefender VPN’s more than 4,000 options.
Surfshark does have servers in more than 100 countries, which makes it a good option for frequent travelers. . Surfshark definitely spreads its options wider across the globe, nearly doubling the number of countries that have servers compared to Bitdefender VPN.
Surfshark’s $10.99 minimum monthly plan is definitely more expensive than Bitdefender VPN’s $6.99 option. But, if you travel often and want additional security, Surfshark could be a good value for you.
Methodology
Our team researches the key competitors within an industry to find the best products and services for your business. We identify what matters most, including pricing, features and customer support options, to ensure that our recommendations offer products that will meet the needs of various businesses.
We evaluate VPNs based on the inclusion of anonymous browsing, DNS protection measures, a dedicated IP, a kill switch, split tunneling and multi-factor authentication. Our data-driven approach encapsulates each company’s entire offerings and promotes a non-biased evaluation of the products and services.
Read our full guide to learn more about how we determine the best VPN service of 2024.
Featured VPN service offers
NordVPN
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$12.99
Download speed (average)
235 Mbps
Surfshark
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$15.45
Download speed (average)
263 Mbps
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$11.95
Download speed (average)
124 Mbps
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How you set up Bitdefender VPN will depend on which platform you use. The product can be used on Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS.
Each platform will have an installation kit that will walk you through the entire process. Bitdefender also provides a thorough guide for each installation process online to help you begin using its product.
No. Bitdefender VPN has a strict no-logs traffic policy that ensures you have the highest level of security and privacy while you are using its VPN product.
The company says its no-logs policy was independently audited by a third party in 2023, which allowed Bitdefender VPN to make specific changes that made its security features even stronger.
For only $6.99 per month, Bitdefender VPN offers a good value considering the many features it offers.
With simultaneous service on up to 10 devices with one subscription, plus access to more than 4,000 servers worldwide (including 15 in the United States), this product is a solid option for users who want VPN capabilities.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
