“Another Anti-Virus company getting into the field of VPN Service. It uses the infrastructure of Hotspot Shield VPN (including their VPN Protocol, Hydra). It is a low-cost VPN (at least for the first year) and supports up to 10 devices with a single subscription.”
Bitdefender, established in 2001, is a prominent cybersecurity company based in Bucharest, Romania, known for its comprehensive range of antivirus, internet security, and cybersecurity solutions tailored for both individual consumers and businesses. Over the years, the company has grown from a modest startup to a global leader in the field of computer security. Bitdefender’s product offerings include cutting-edge antivirus software, internet security suites, and advanced endpoint protection solutions, all of which are designed to protect against an array of digital threats, including viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
In addition to its core security features, Bitdefender often integrates privacy-focused elements such as VPN services, safe online browsing, and identity theft protection. Bitdefender VPN is a virtual private network service offered by Bitdefender. This VPN is designed to provide users with enhanced online privacy, security, and anonymity. It achieves this by encrypting internet traffic, making it difficult for third parties to monitor or intercept users’ online activities. Bitdefender VPN allows users to browse the internet securely, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks, protecting their sensitive data and personal information from potential cyber threats.
One of the notable features of Bitdefender VPN is its user-friendly interface and ease of use. It seamlessly integrates with Bitdefender’s other security products, making it a convenient addition for those already using Bitdefender’s antivirus or internet security solutions. While it offers valuable privacy and security benefits, it’s important to note that Bitdefender VPN primarily focuses on anonymity and encryption; it may not offer the same breadth of features and server locations as standalone VPN services.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
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| Bottom Line Bitdefender VPN is a VPN service from Bitdefender, a renowned cybersecurity company. You can get it as a part of their total protection package (in combination with their anti-virus) or as a standalone application. Under the surface, it uses the infrastructure of Hotspot Shield VPN, a popular VPN service provider. The pricing is decent (but only for the first year). There is a free version, however, it has 500MB per day data limitations. |
IN THIS ARTICLE
Initial Setup
Setting up Bitdefender VPN on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS is a user-friendly process. To get started, you’ll need to visit the Bitdefender website and either sign in to your Bitdefender account or create one if you don’t already have it. Once you’ve done this, you can download and install the Bitdefender VPN client on your respective operating system. After installation, launch the application, sign in with your Bitdefender account, and follow the on-screen instructions to activate the VPN service. You can select your preferred server location or let the app choose the best one for you.
For Android and iOS devices, simply go to the Google Play Store or App Store, search for “Bitdefender VPN,” download and install the app, open it, sign in with your Bitdefender account, and enable the VPN. In all cases, make sure you have an active Bitdefender subscription that includes the VPN service. The basic setup process remains consistent across platforms.
Safety and Privacy
Bitdefender VPN boasts a range of robust security features designed to enhance users’ online safety and privacy. First and foremost, it employs military-grade encryption protocols, typically using 256-bit AES encryption, to secure all internet traffic. Their use of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a powerful 256-bit version offers an exceptionally high level of protection against even the most advanced computing threats.
Additionally, Bitdefender has introduced ChaCha20 encryption with its recent integration of WireGuard, reinforcing its commitment to security. The inclusion of the RSA algorithm and SHA-256 hash functions further solidify the technical aspects of encryption, providing users with a strong sense of security and privacy. This level of encryption is exceptionally strong, ensuring that data transmitted between the user’s device and the VPN server is virtually impossible to decipher by cybercriminals or eavesdroppers.
Additionally, Bitdefender VPN offers features like a kill switch, which automatically disconnects the user from the internet if the VPN connection drops. This prevents any unprotected data from being transmitted and helps maintain the user’s privacy.
What sets Bitdefender VPN apart is its flexibility in offering multiple tunneling protocols. While it initially utilized the Catapult Hydra protocol, it has expanded to include WireGuard on various platforms, with plans to introduce it on Windows. Users also have the option to select OpenVPN UDP/TCP and IPSec protocols on Android and iOS. Catapult Hydra, though proprietary and less publicly documented, is widely recognized for its speed, having received accolades for being one of the fastest tunneling protocols in the market. This variety of protocols grants users the freedom to choose the one that aligns best with their specific security and performance requirements.
Furthermore, Bitdefender VPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t store any user activity or connection logs, adding an extra layer of anonymity. However, Bitdefender VPN collects some data that may concern users who prioritize privacy. The information retained includes names, email addresses, payment details, hashed user and device IDs, and IP addresses. The logging of IP addresses is particularly notable, as many reputable VPN providers have shifted away from this practice to enhance user anonymity and security.
Servers and Speed
Bitdefender VPN boasts a substantial network of 4,000 servers across the globe, a notable achievement for a VPN service associated with an antivirus provider. Users can select from a range of 53 countries, providing diverse geographic options for their online activities.
While the server count is impressive, one key distinction is that it can be challenging to discern which of Bitdefender’s servers are physical and which are virtual. Bitdefender has established a partnership with Hotspot Shield for their server infrastructure, and it is known that some of their servers are virtual. In contrast, the Hotspot Shield app explicitly labels the server types, offering greater transparency in this regard.
Bitdefender VPN’s server coverage is particularly extensive in Europe and Asia but the coverage in Africa and the Middle East is comparatively limited, presenting fewer server options in these areas.
Coming to speeds, we have a 300Mbps internet plan and without VPN, if we speed test our ISP server, then we get around 292Mbps download and 285Mbps upload speeds. After connecting to Bitdefender VPN in our local city and speed testing the same ISP server, we got around 205Mbps download and 160Mbps upload speed. The speed has fallen but still usable.
Apps
Bitdefender Premium VPN offers a versatile range of applications for various platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. To get started with Bitdefender Premium VPN, users are required to create an account with Bitdefender Central, the company’s online service hub. Unlike some VPN services that use a dedicated username and password combination, Bitdefender VPN follows the conventional approach.
The Windows app for Bitdefender Premium VPN has undergone a significant overhaul over the years. It now features a full-sized application centered around a map view with informative statistics displayed around the edges. While the map itself isn’t interactive, the app’s elegant green-themed design provides a refined user experience. It’s user-friendly, with a conspicuous Connect button at the bottom, and a Locations menu for choosing VPN servers by country or city, albeit without the option to select individual servers.
Bitdefender Premium VPN introduces useful features, including a Connection Time widget and Secured Traffic meter to track VPN usage. It also offers split tunneling capabilities, enabling specific apps or websites to bypass the VPN. The App Traffic Optimizer prioritizes traffic for up to three apps, and while it may not consistently improve speeds in every scenario, it’s a handy feature when managing multiple applications.
The Ad and Tracker Blocker is effective at removing ads from web pages and provides control over which sites can display ads. The Settings menu allows for fine-grained automatic connection settings, letting users define when the VPN should connect based on apps, URLs, content types, or specific activities. Bitdefender Premium VPN successfully allows streaming access to services like Netflix.
Specifications
| Name | Bitdefender VPN |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| VPN Protocols | Hydra, WireGuard |
| Servers | 4000+ |
| Countries | 50+ |
| Infrastructure | Based on Hotspot Shield VPN Servers |
| Free Trial | Yes. Data Limited Free Version |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30-Days |
| No. of Devices | 10 |
| Supported Devices | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS |
| Features | No Log Policy, Kill Switch, Malware Protection, Ad Blocker, Tracker Blocker, Split Tunneling (not on iOS) |
Price
For the first year, the monthly plan of the Bitdefender VPN is $6.99 while the yearly plan costs $2.5 per month. So, if you opt for a yearly plan, you need to spend just $29.99 for the first year. But from the second year onwards, you have to shell $69.99 every year, which translates to around $5.8 per month.
Final Verdict
Bitdefender VPN offers a mixed experience that combines both strengths and areas for improvement. On the positive side, it leverages one of the fastest tunneling protocols, provides essential features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and customizable auto-connect settings. However, there are notable concerns regarding its logging practices and limitations in the variety of tunneling protocols, which may not suit all usage cases. Streaming capabilities are also not a strong suit.
For users considering Bitdefender VPN as part of a bundled package with Bitdefender’s antivirus, it presents an attractive value proposition. While it may not match the same level of excellence as Bitdefender’s antivirus, it should not be dismissed outright. Over time, Bitdefender has made notable improvements to its VPN service, adding more features and enhancing its overall user experience. The renewed Bitdefender Premium VPN now offers a more compelling choice in the competitive VPN market, making a strong case for itself. Bitdefender’s commitment to improvement is evident, and the future of Bitdefender Premium VPN appears promising.
