Bitdefender VPN Review

4 / 10Mediocre
BestVPNEditorial Team of BestVPN.fyi
Bitdefender VPN
"A great offering by cybersecurity experts"

Pros & Cons

  • 10 devices concurrently
  • Kill Switch and Split Tunneling
  • Parental Controls
  • P2P Support
  • No-logs Policy
  • Limited VPN Protocols
  • No Linux Support
  • Lack of Security Audits
  • Limited Payment Options

Quick facts

  • 📱Devices (up to): 10
  • 🖥️Servers: 4000
  • 🌍Available countries: 50
  • 📍Company location: Romania
  • 🔒Logging policy: No logs
  • 🎥Streaming: no
  • 🌊Torrenting: no

2.49USD / month

Coupon codes are not applicable

Claim Offer
  • Paypal
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Sofort

Subject to additional terms and conditions of Bitdefender.

Bitdefender, a cybersecurity titan hailing from Romania, has been a trusted name in the industry since its founding in 2001. Initially celebrated for its powerful antivirus software, Bitdefender expanded its offerings to include a VPN service, one that was often relegated to the sidelines as a free add-on to premium antivirus packages. However, recent developments have seen this VPN service step out of the shadows, proving itself to be a standalone service worth serious consideration​.

Bitdefender's VPN is characterized by its affordability and user-friendly nature, making it an attractive option for beginners. The applications are easy to navigate, devoid of perplexing menus and options that often confuse less experienced users. As for the technological aspects, the VPN employs the Catapult Hydra protocol from Hotspot Shield, delivering exceptional speeds that are complemented by AES-256 encryption for optimal security. The server network is expansive, boasting over 1,300 servers spread across 42 countries. A crucial element of Bitdefender's VPN is its commitment to privacy; it keeps no activity logs and does not share technical information with third parties. While it might not boast an array of features to entice power users, the simplicity and low cost make it a compelling choice for novices​.

As for the technical specifications, Bitdefender VPN comes with a competitive pricing structure, starting at $2.49 per month. It supports a wide range of operating systems, including Android, Windows, Mac, and iOS, and allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. Payment options are flexible, including PayPal and credit cards, among others​.

Speed and security are often considered the two cornerstones of a reliable VPN service. Bitdefender's VPN shines in these areas, maintaining a significant portion of the original internet speed even when using heavy encryption. Our tests demonstrated a consistent speed performance, without notable fluctuations during daily use. Connection to any server was quick, with the exception of Japan, where the ping was slightly higher due to distance. However, it's worth noting that Bitdefender seemed to affect upload speed more significantly than download speed, a minor trade-off given the overall high speed performance. This makes Bitdefender's VPN a worthy contender if your internet activities are heavily reliant on speed, such as streaming, downloading content, and online gaming​.

In terms of security, Bitdefender VPN provides a basic but robust security package. It uses AES-256 encryption, known for its strength, and runs on the Catapult Hydra protocol, which is renowned for its speed. An automatic kill switch is included, enhancing the security offered by this VPN service. The Catapult Hydra protocol was developed by Hotspot Shield as a means to reduce VPN latency, effectively mitigating the speed loss typically caused by strong encryption​.

In conclusion, Bitdefender's VPN service stands as a testament to the company's commitment to adapt and evolve. It offers a well-rounded package of speed, security, and simplicity, all while maintaining a competitive price point. As we delve deeper into the specifics of this VPN service in the following sections of this review, we invite you to join us in exploring the intricate details that make Bitdefender's VPN a service worth considering.

Pricing, Trial, Money Back, and Cancellation

Bitdefender provides a flexible pricing structure, offering different rates depending on the subscription duration:
  • Monthly Plan: $6.99
  • 3-Month Plan: $6.99 per month
  • 6-Month Plan: $6.99 per month
  • 1-Year Plan: $3.33 per month
  • 2-Year Plan: $3.33 per month
  • 3-Year Plan: $3.33 per month
Alongside these plans, Bitdefender offers a free plan to help users test its features before committing. If you are not satisfied, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all its plans.
Bitdefender does allow you to cancel the monthly subscription. However, it appears it’s not particularly easy to cancel, which may be a concern for some users.

Features

Bitdefender VPN offers a suite of features that help maintain privacy and security while surfing the web:
  • Kill Switch: This feature disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection is lost, ensuring your data isn’t exposed inadvertently.
  • Split Tunneling: This allows you to route some apps through the VPN while others bypass it, providing a balance between speed and security.
  • Concurrent Devices: Bitdefender supports up to 10 devices on a single subscription, allowing multiple devices to enjoy secure browsing simultaneously.
  • Parental Controls: This offers parents an additional layer of control and security for their children’s online activities.
Despite these useful features, Bitdefender does lack certain advanced features such as Double VPN, TOR over VPN, and obfuscation. These limitations could affect users looking for higher levels of privacy and security.
Dedicated IP
No
Parental Controls
Yes
Split Tunneling / Bypassing
Yes
P2P Support
Yes
Ad and malware blocking
Yes
Bandwidth limits and data caps
Yes
Live Chat
Yes
Customer Service 24/7
Yes

Security, Privacy, and Logging

Bitdefender employs AES-256 encryption, providing a high level of security for data transmission. However, it does not support popular protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, which may impact its compatibility and performance.
When it comes to privacy, Bitdefender operates a no-logs policy, meaning your activity isn’t tracked or recorded. Nevertheless, Bitdefender doesn’t have a warrant canary, which would alert users to any requests for data from law enforcement agencies. Additionally, there are no recent security audits, which could bring some uncertainty regarding its security claims.
Encryption
aes-256
OpenVPN
No
WireGuard
No
IKEv2/IPsec
No
Hydra
No
Config File Generators
No
Kill Switch Feature
Yes
No Logs Policy
Yes
DNS Leak Protection
No
IPv6 Leak Protection
No
Double VPN / Multi-Hop Feature
No
Server Obfuscation
No
Independent Security Audits
No
Warrant Canary
No

About Bitdefender

Bitdefender is a Romania-based VPN provider boasting a vast network of 4000 servers across 50 countries. It offers P2P support, an ad and malware blocker, and 24/7 customer service via live chat. However, it does not provide dedicated IP addresses or support for streaming services.
Headquarters
Romania
Founded in

Apps and Platform Support

Bitdefender provides broad platform support, including Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac. Unfortunately, it does not currently support Linux, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge extensions.
iOS
Yes
MacOS
Yes
Android
Yes
Chrome
No
Firefox
No
Windows
Yes
Linux
No

Reviews from Elsewhere

According to Trustpilot, Bitdefender has a score of 3.7 based on 7 reviews. On the Google Play Store, the Android app has a higher score of 4.7 from 369,000 reviews. On the iOS App Store, the Bitdefender app scores even higher at 4.8 based on 5500 reviews.
Trustpilot Rating
3.7 (out of 7500 reviews)
Google Play Store Rating
4.7 (out of 369000 reviews)
iOS App Store rating
4.8 (out of 5500 reviews)

Payment Methods

Bitdefender offers various payment options including PayPal, Sofort, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, and wire transfers. However, they do not currently accept mobile
PayPal
Yes
Sofort (Klarna)
Yes
Swish
No
iDEAL
No
Giropay
No
Amazon Pay
No
Google Pay
No
Apple Pay
No
Samsung Pay
No
Visa
Yes
Mastercard
Yes
Discover
Yes
American Express
Yes
Monero
No
Bitcoin
No
Ethereum
No
Wire transfer
Yes
Cash
No

FAQ