Objective Bitdefender VPN Overview With Pros And Cons

Of course, this does not negate the fact that many users are genuinely interested in Bitdefender VPN. That's why we decided to do a little research and write this review about Bitdefendervpn. We tested this software on different devices and found several advantages. However, Bitdefender VPN also comes with a lot of flaws, so we want to tell you more about them.

The main idea that you need to learn is that you should not use a software application, even such as Bitdefender VPN, that is aimed at ensuring your security; without understanding how reliable it is. The Internet offers a huge number of benefits, but it contains an endless list of threats at the same time. Be careful enough since it is you who are responsible for your online security.

What Is a VPN?

Let’s start with the most basic information: why do you need Bitdefender VPN at all? Is it possible to avoid this software and use the Internet without protection? Maybe it would be enough to choose a reliable antivirus tool?

Each time when you’re online, and especially when you’re online from an unsecured Wi-Fi network, you’re vulnerable. Different third parties, such as your Internet Service Provider, local authority, or even hackers, can access your private information. Your browsing habits can also be compromised. That's where a VPN can save you. It is a must-have software for all people who take care of their privacy.

Remember all the times when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks. People do it all the time. Reading emails, checking bank accounts, surfing the newsfeed on social media. Each online session that is not protected enough can become a goldmine for people who are looking for a way to harm you.

Bitdefender VPN creates the encrypted tunnel between your device and the server that is located somewhere else and has a different IP address. It means your Internet Service Provider or a curious stranger doesn’t have the opportunity to access your data. Moreover, they don't even know where your data is. It looks like your online connection is traveling, somewhere in another region or even abroad.

Pricing and Features

Looking for a software provider, all people check the pricing policy firstly. And for a reason. Even if the company offers you the best value, it doesn’t matter if their prices are too high.

Speaking about Bitdefender VPN, this company has two types of plans you can choose from: 1. Monthly with a payment of $6.99; 2. Yearly with a payment of $49.99 ($29.99 for the first year).

Of course, the second option looks more interesting because it is only $2.49 per month for your first year. However, you should brave enough to pay $30 at once because you don’t know yet whether Bitdefendervpn worth it. Yes, there is a free version to try, but your data cap is limited to 200 MB a day, and you also don’t have an opportunity to choose a server location.

Speaking about payment methods, Bitdefendervpn offers credit cards, PayPal, and bank\wire transfers. Not so many opportunities, but most users find these options enough.

Though this company promises you a 30-day money guarantee, don’t be too silly to believe this information. Check their Terms and Services firstly to understand what are the conditions of the refund. And you can also look for other customers’ testimonials to find out whether they got their money back.

Servers and Server Locations

Of course, there is always one country where the VPN provider is incorporated. However, it doesn’t mean that it has servers only there. When it comes to server locations, there are dozens of countries where you can “travel” during your online connection. Most VPN providers let their users pick one of the various servers in about 30-40 countries. Some companies let you choose between concrete cities within the country.

The number of countries and servers is important because it affects your speed. You need to find the one that is close enough (whenever you are right now) and that is not overcrowded.

So, what about Bitdefendervpn’s servers and their locations?

Bitdefender VPN provides its customers with 1300 servers in over 30 countries. You can find a spot in the USA, Europe, Oceania, Asia, etc. Africa is the only continent that is left out.

Your Security With Bitdefendervpn

Bitdefender VPN users’ data is protected with military-level AES 256-bit encryption because of Hotspot Shield. It is good to know that this encryption is almost impossible to decrypt, and even supercomputers are not able to manage this.

However, it is not the only security option. Both iOS and Android users will appreciate a kill switch. It means that if your VPN connection fails, this tool disconnects any apps and websites run from the Internet right now. And without the kill switch, your data becomes vulnerable at once. Your Internet Service Provider, local authorities, or hackers can trace your online activity when it is not hidden appropriately.

With Bitdefendervpn, you do not need to worry about public Wi-Fi. Try its auto-on feature to protect your smartphone the moment you start it, so you are never vulnerable.

With all these opportunities that sound great, you should understand that it is not the level you expect from one of the world’s leaders in security. Bitdefender VPN didn’t even take care of double VPN to twice the encryption. And they also forgot about ad blockers, so you have to deal with those pesky ads all the time. These features are just basic, and they could provide you with more opportunities. And they didn’t.

Your Privacy With Bitdefendervpn

Hotspot Shield doesn’t keep your logs when you’re connected to the server, but Bitdefender VPN does it. At first look, it isn’t very unusual since this information can be useful to provide you with some opportunities or to fix glitches in the product.

But it is important to understand that Bitdefendervpn’s privacy policy is not A-level. For example, they may ask you for some potentially harmful permissions. They let apps receive your:

• IMEI;
• name;
• phone number;
• address.

Of course, this list is not limited to this data, but it is not always easy to understand what exactly does the company gather and how does it use this information. It is very important to read the Privacy Policy and to ensure it is absolutely clear and transparent.

Hands On With Bitdefender VPN

We decided to install the Bitdefendervpn application for Windows to understand whether it is convenient to use this software. The good news is that this client is pretty simple and with a nice interface. It supports a Dark Mode (a good design decision!) and can be used in about 20 languages. You can easily find the big blue Connect button that will move you to another country once you tap it. You can open the list of available locations as well, but you won’t find server load figures and ping times there.

Speaking about the useful setting, you have the opportunity to set your Bitdefender VPN the way so that it launches along with your operating system. You can also ask it to connect automatically once you’re connected to untrustworthy Wi-Fi. Or to enable a kill switch that will protect your data if the VPN fails.

There is one more nice opportunity that can be even surprising. However, it is the thing that you expect of a professional cybersecurity developer. You can ask Bitdefender VPN to connect each time when you launch a P2P app automatically. There are not so many providers that offer this opportunity just by checking a box.

Though the Windows app is very simple, the core system didn’t work as we expected. There were some delays between the connection, and the application closes the current connection before it switches to the next location. Besides, your desktop becomes full of notifications that tell you when you’re using Bitdefendervpn and when you’re not connected.

While some advantages are impossible to ignore, we still noticed several minor drawbacks that may affect the overall impression. For example, your location list doesn’t have an option to add your favorite servers. There is also no opportunity to check what your recent locations were. And when you need to quickly reconnect with some of them, you have to remember them. Of course, it takes a lot of time and energy.

Besides, there is only one status on your connection available: active. No other information is there. The Bitdefender VPN Windows application doesn’t show your new IP address, and if you choose the best option, automatically, you can’t even find out what server you are exactly connected to. It means you can’t choose it when you need it, and you don’t know what country you are “traveling to” right now.

Bitdefendervpn and Netflix

There are many reasons why people install VPN software on their computers and smartphones. But there is the one that is the most common: they want to have access to their favorite content. If your favorite TV shows are blocked in your country, or you’re traveling abroad and even can’t watch Netflix since it has another offer, you can try the VPN.

However, the Bitdefender VPN may not be the best choice. Though the company claims it can unblock Netflix libraries, this website is constantly fighting against such services. So, you may find a server that works well enough with Netflix, Hulu, or BBC, but you still don’t have guarantees. Besides, there are some speed issues as well, and you’ll read about them pretty soon.

Bitdefendervpn protocols

Most VPN providers these days develop products using several tunneling protocols. It is because all of them have their advantages and disadvantages, and a list of options provides users with more flexibility.

However, the same can’t be said for Bitdefender VPN.

It uses only two protocols: OpenVPN (Windows and Android) and HydraVPN (iOS and macOS). What do you think? Are they enough? Of course, not! Even though OpenVPN is secure, Bitdefendervpn shouldn’t limit your choice. Moreover, you can’t even switch between these two protocols. If you install the application on your Windows device, there is only one option for you. And even if things go wrong, you don’t have other options, you’re just vulnerable, and that’s it.

Limited Kill Switch

We have already mentioned that Bitdefender VPN provides its users with a kill switch tool, but you should know that it is pretty limited. It can’t be explained why they think that Windows and Mac versions need to be protected from exposing personal information if the Bitdefendervpn cuts out, and other devices don’t require this feature. Moreover, you can’t even choose the protocol because it is defined with your smartphone or computer. And if you ask their customer support whether they can help you with this, all they will say is, “you can always disconnect from our VPN.”

So, the fact that the Bitdefender VPN goes with the kill switch doesn’t matter too much.

Speed Tests

When you hear that Bitdefender VPN utilizes Hotspot Shield, you expect amazing speeds. We expected them as well. However, we were disappointed with the performance. It took a major hit, regardless of the server. Even when we tried to connect to some locations that are trustworthy and are normally good, upload speeds were just planted.

And when we tried to connect to the server in the USA, things went even worse. With latency like Bitdefender VPN has, it is impossible to use this software for streaming shows, gaming, sending files, and so on.

What are the most common reasons for people to use VPN software? They want to protect their personal information, and they want to get access to some content that is usually blocked because of particular restrictions. Speaking about Bitdefender VPN, it is just an average product. It seems like the company has created the product just to claim it is available. We have no reasons to think they want to develop this software and provide their users with something worth it.

Customer Support Quality

When you work with a company like Bitdefendervpn, you have some expectations. It is a famous brand, and it should appreciate its customers, as well as prospective customers who can buy other products.

Of course, Bitdefender VPN isn’t the worst offer on the market since it has some nice features. It is just disappointing because of all those expectations we have mentioned. And there is a cherry on the top: their customer support service.

When you have some questions or issues, you expect to contact the chat support manager, who will gladly help you. You go straight for it, and what do you receive? The slow and pretty ill-informed service! You can’t even discuss your problem with a real person because they invite you to “ask Luna,” their virtual assistant. It can provide you with basic template answers, but it definitely can’t help you with something more advanced. Luna will help you to install Bitdefender VPN or to upgrade your subscription. But if you’re going to ask about low speeds, the kill switch, or a money refund, you have to ask Luna to connect you with the live agent.

And here is where real problems begin. Their managers may take a very long time to provide you with a response. We don’t know whether they are busy with their customers, or there are only a couple of agents who are not ready for hundreds or disappointed questions; Bitdefender VPN is not able to provide you with 24\7 customer support and instant responses.

Moreover, it doesn’t look like their managers are really on your side. They provide you with answers because they need to do their job, and that’s it. You shouldn’t expect a careful attitude when the manager does one’s best to help you.

Bitdefendervpn Online Reputation

Of course, it is not enough to read just one review to decide whether you’re ready to continue with Bitdefender VPN. We know for sure that there are people who like this software. Maybe they are really lucky because we were incredibly disappointed with this product.

In any case, before you choose software, you should check its online reputation. Don’t trust the official website since the company’s representatives can edit and delete negative testimonials. It is better to look for information at TrustPilot, SiteJabber, Reddit, and other independent platforms.

Honestly, we weren’t surprised to meet so many 1-star reviews. People say it is an irony to have no trust in the company that should defend. Yes, there are some positive comments, but they matter nothing when you read a lot of negative. Pay attention to the fact that Bitdefendervpn leaves its responses as well, but they are identical. The company’s representatives claim the company is constantly developing, and that’s it. Not a single word about the compensation all those people deserve.

Pros and Cons

Of course, it is impossible to ignore the fact that all companies have their advantages and disadvantages. A product that is 100% negative wouldn’t exist in the market because there is no reason for people to pay for it.

So, what about Bitdefender VPN pros?

• Free trial: It is a very good opportunity when the company provides its users with a short test drive before they purchase the product. Speaking about Bitdefendervpn, it has a 7-day trial to understand how its premium plan works. But don’t forget to cancel your subscription until you want it to prolong automatically. This company also has a free plan, but it is limited to 200 MB of data usage daily, and it is not enough to explore the software.
• Unlimited server switches: Bitdefendervpn is one of the companies that don’t decide for you how many servers you can connect to. It means that if you want to try all of them, your VPN provider won’t limit you.
• Dynamic IPs: Many companies provide their users with static VPNs, and the good news is that Bitdefendervpn takes the more secure road. every time you log on, you receive a dynamic IP that makes you feel more protected

Along with these pros, you shouldn’t forget about essential drawbacks, such as:

• No split tunneling;
• No multi-hop;
• Poor choice of protocols;
• No clear information about the servers number and region coverage;
• No access to Torrenting;
• No access to Netflix and other streaming services;
• Bitdefender VPN logging policy;
• Their refund policy (according to customers’ reviews;
• Low speeds;
• Limited kill switch feature;
• Poor customer support service.

A Fine Line

It is easy to understand that we are not ready to recommend this service. Though Bitdefender VPN operates under a pretty famous brand, it doesn't help it to earn brownie points with its customers. There are just too many disadvantages to using this software. So, if you’re looking for a good VPN, then consider some other alternatives.

Though this solution is cheap and has a user-friendly design, it is also not so fast, and it is not customer-oriented. Furthermore, Bitdefendervpn is not a standalone app, so you need to buy other products this company sells.

Our advice? Fortunately, there are many decent VPNs on the market you can choose from. Don’t trust the first provider just because you’ve heard its name. You deserve a better solution, and you can check other reviews from us to find the best one.

FAQ

Where are Bitdefender VPN’s headquarters located?

It is interesting to know that Bitdefender VPN is a company registered in Romania. And it is good news because this country is outside the 5, 9, and 14-Eyes Alliance that unite different countries to exchange information they gather from online users. Still, Bitdefendervpn processes its data through Aura. And it is definitely within the Alliance.

Is Bitdefendervpn good for gaming?

Unfortunately, gamers won’t appreciate this software because its speed is not so fast. Besides, we have experienced numerous lags while playing on different Bitdefendervpn servers. You can try some of them during your 7-day free trial but remember that the best servers are often overcrowded.

Can I use Bitdefendervpn for torrenting?

First of all, you can install Bitdefender VPN on your Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android device. If you’re a paid user with the premium plan, you have the opportunity to have up to 10 connections at the same time. However, this software also provides you with an opportunity to choose the family pack version, which goes with 15 connections. If you install this VPN on your Android or iOS device and use the app for free, there is only one connection for the device possible.

Is there Kill Switch available?

When you connect to a VPN, you can visit various websites safely with the understanding that there is someone who has your back. It is the primary reason why people go in for software like Bitdefender VPN. But what should you do if this connection was cut for some reason? From this moment, your internet service provider, as well as local authorities and even frauds and hackers, can access your online activity. That’s why the kill switch is a very necessary feature. Though Bitdefendervpn has implemented a kill switch, it is pretty limited, and you can’t feel secure with it.

Can I use Bitdefender in China?

We don’t want to disappoint you; however, if you’re traveling abroad or live in a country with strict censorship, Bitdefendervpn is not the best option. The company’s representatives have even told their software can’t be used in: UAE; Turkey; Iraq; Iran; China; Belarus; Russia; Oman. So, if you are from one of these countries or are going to visit it, it would be a better idea to install the another application that can bypass restrictions and ensure your online security.

Is Bitdefender a standalone app?

We commended this software for its overall friendly usability. However, it is not so easy to prove this because you know that Bitdefendervpn is not a standalone app. You simply can’t install it without the Total Security product by this company. And what does it mean for you? Firstly, you’re required to delete the antivirus app you use right now. Depending on what product it is, you might have to have some difficulties with the proper uninstalling. And once you set up the Total Security antivirus, you need to activate your VPN plan separately. So, you should be a big fan of this company to choose its tools. This way to promote their products looks very strange since people these days want to be free when choosing software. Maybe you need to consider some other providers that don’t limit you in any way.

Will Bitdefender shorten the battery life of my device?

It is a convincing reason why you can’t use the VPN software all the time. And it is a pity that you just can’t be focused on your security since you need to think about the battery life of your smartphone or laptop. So, if you are not ready for unnecessary consumption, use this software only when you need it.