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Bitdefender VPN Review: Solid But Not Ideal for Streamers

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As a leading name in cybersecurity, Bitdefender has expanded its services from anti-virus to a comprehensive digital security suite, including a VPN. But does its VPN service live up to the same reputation? That’s what this Bitdefender VPN review aims to figure out. Whether you’ve got a Bitdefender VPN service from the Bitdefender Total Security plan, or are just attracted by its relatively cheap price, you’re in the right place.

Bitdefender VPN Review

We’ve rigorously tested the Bitdefender VPN and are committed to delivering an up-to-date review covering its price, speed, unblocking capability, security, use cases and more.

Bitdefender VPN Review: Given a 78 Out of 100

To give you an immediate answer to Bitdefender performance, we’ve scored it across all metrics that matter to a VPN service.

Bitdefender VPN PerformanceOur RatingPoints lost in
Free Trial10/10/
Ease of use9/10Not an independent enough audit
Server network9/10Fewer server numbers than others
Pricing8/10Unclear auto-renewal price
Unblocking9/10About a 5% chance of unblock failure
Security9/10Not independent enough audit
Support8/10Hard to get in touch with live support
Features6/10Fewer VPN features than others
Compatibility6/10Only for PCs, phones, and some TVs
Speed4/10Slow speed
Total78/100Solid, but not for streamers

Our tests showed that Bitdefender VPN impresses with a completely no-strings-attached free trial and a vast global server network, but we were frustrated by its speed.

How Much Does Bitdefender VPN Cost?

Bitdefender VPN offers two primary subscription plans: Basic and Premium. Additionally, new users can get a 7-day free trial.

  • Basic Subscription: It is a limited free plan, providing 200MB of VPN data per day per device, but it restricts location changes. This free plan is available to anyone who downloads the Bitdefender VPN app.
  • Free 7-Day Trial: New users can also take advantage of a 7-day free trial, which includes all premium features and supports location change. No credit card or any other payment info required! Here are other 8 VPN free trials we tested that are worth trying.
  • Premium Subscription: The Premium subscription offers unlimited data and can be purchased as a standalone package or as part of Bitdefender’s Premium/Ultimate Security plans.
Subscription TypeTime DurationFirst Month/Year PriceData CapAuto-renewal
Any Downloaded UserBasicForeverFree200MB/day/device/
Bitdefender Premium SecurityBasic1-Year$59.99200MB/day/deviceYes
New UsersFree trial7-DayFreeUnlimited/
1-Month VPN PlanPremium1-Month$6.99UnlimitedYes
1-Year VPN PlanPremium1-Year$34.99UnlimitedYes
Bitdefender Ultimate Security PlusPremium1-Year$79.99UnlimitedYes
BitdefenderUltimate SecurityPremium1-Year$89.99UnlimitedYes
BitdefenderUltimate Security PlusPremium1-Year$119.99UnlimitedYes

Compared with many other mainstream VPN service providers, Bitdefender charges much less for its standalone VPN product, which is believed to be a budget-friendly choice. However, the auto-renewal prices are not specifically listed when making a purchase, which could potentially cause a higher cost at the next time to pay. You can check our VPN auto-renewal survey to compare how other service providers do.

Get Started with Bitdefender VPN: Installation & Setup

Bitdefender VPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android phone, Android smart TVs, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick. Instead of downloading Bitdefender VPN from their official website, you are recommended to get it directly from the app stores, as the download option is quite hidden on the website, and most of the buttons lead you to pay directly.

How to Use Bitdefender VPN?

Step 1. Download and install the VPN app.

Step 2. Create a Bitdefender Central account with a name, email, and password.

Step 3. You’ll receive a verification email. Press the “Verify” button to get all things started.

Step 4. Click the “Start now” button to start your 7-day VPN free trial, with no strings attached.

Bitdefender VPN 7 Day Free Trial

Step 5. Click the “Locations” button to find a server you prefer, connect and enjoy.

Bitdefender VPN User Interface

The home screen of Bitdefender VPN displays the connection status and data analysis. The analysis section also includes features such as an ad/tracker blocker and a kill switch. However, options like location selection and other VPN-related settings are somewhat hidden.

Bitdefender VPN User Interface

Compared to other VPN providers, Bitdefender’s interface may not be as intuitive, especially since the location list is often more critical than the data analysis section. Nonetheless, the setup and connection process is straightforward, although you might spend additional time locating protocol settings and features like split tunneling.

Bitdefender VPN Servers & Features

Though the location list is relatively hidden, the server network is quite impressive. Bitdefender VPN helps change your IP address to over 100 countries/regions with 4,000+ VPN servers worldwide. Most of the countries are provided with 1 fixed connection city, while Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and the US have several cities to choose from.

RegionTypical Countries
AmericasCanada, US, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, etc.
EuropeFrance, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, UK, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, etc.
Asia-PacificHong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Australia, etc.
Africa & Middle EastAlgeria, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, etc.

Additionally, it provides several Double-hop server groups. For example, the Austria and Germany server group will first route your traffic to its servers in Austria before rerouting it to Germany for added security.

As a security suite add-on, Bitdefender VPN offers fewer features compared to other dedicated VPN service providers.

  • Kill Switch: Auto stops all internet traffic if the VPN connection is lost.
  • Split Tunneling: Select websites and apps that don’t need VPN protection.
  • Ads & Tracker Blocker: Block ads and trackers for a cleaner web.
  • Data Analysis: Daily, weekly, and monthly VPN data usage.

Bitdefender VPN Performance Test

Here comes what users care about most: how Bitdefender VPN performs in terms of speed and unblocking capabilities. We test them separately.

Protocols Speed Test

Navigate to Settings > Advanced > Protocol, where there are 3 options provided: Wireguard, OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP. By default, Bitdefender will auto-select the one that matches your current network the most. Here’s my internet speed before connecting to the VPN.

Internet Speed Before Connecting to Bitdefender VPN
ProtocolDownload SpeedUpload SpeedPing
Wireguard68.2423.590
OpenVPN UDP18.322.99175
OpenVPN TCP24.8410.77284
Bitdefender VPN Protocols Speed Test

Sorry for my bad primary internet speed. Upload speeds and ping values ​​dropped significantly for all three protocols, but Wireguard’s download speeds only dropped by about 10 Mbps.

Please always keep in mind that the speed could vary in various aspects. When speed matters most to you, connect with their auto-connect option to always find the fastest location for you. I connect to the same Adelaide(Australia) VPN server with the 3 protocols only for better comparison.

Streaming Unblocking Test

Then we come to test how Bitdefender VPN unblocks streaming services. We tested Bitdefender VPN on Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Sling TV, and Tubi TV. The success rate reaches up to almost 95%, despite the fact that the speed is not suitable for streaming.

1. Netflix

I connected to a server in Japan for some Japanese Netflix series, and it works.

Bitdefender Unblocks Netflix Successfully

2. BBC iPlayer

After changing my IP to the United Kingdom, combined with an incognito mode, I successfully unblocked BBC iPlayer. However, the internet speed drops significantly.

Bitdefender Unblocks BBC iPlayer Successfully

3. Sling TV

When connected to the United States, Bitdefender VPN helps me access Sling TV with its servers in the US. The same old problem is the constantly loading internet.

Bitdefender Unblocks Sling TV Successfully

For most dedicated VPN services, providers tend to offer dedicated video, gaming, and torrent lines for a better experience. However, Bitdefender offers no services like that, making the entertainment use cases less satisfying.

Is Bitdefender VPN Safe?

Another key point about a VPN service is how safe they are. This Bitdefender review checks its encryption technology, leaks of IP, DNS, and WebRTC, logging policies, and independent audit.

1. Encryption

Bitdefender VPN utilizes the industry-standard AES-256 encryption, which is trusted to be secure.

2. Logging Policy

Bitdefender VPN explains in its no-logging policy that it doesn’t record the following information that could be linked to a user’s personal identity:

  • Real IP address
  • Browsing history
  • Connection timestamps
  • Destination website

However, like most mainstream VPNs, it processes minimal, anonymized operational data to ensure service stability and prevent abuse, collecting randomly generated user/device IDs, server IP addresses, and tokens. This non-personally identifiable data is temporary, striking a balance between user experience and privacy.

While not meeting the ideal of “100% zero data,” it remains a pragmatic and secure approach for most users seeking privacy and content access.

3. Security Audit

The security audit is complex under the VPN relationship and partnerships. The underlying technology and protocols that Bitdefender VPN relies on, provided by Pango Group, were indeed assessed by the third-party security firm Aon in 2022 and again in 2025. This provides some confidence in the security of its core protocols, indicating that there are no significant vulnerabilities in its underlying infrastructure.

However, it is important to note that this audit focused on the technology provider, Pango, rather than Bitdefender’s specific implementation. Furthermore, the full details of the audit report have not been made public, and we cannot independently verify its comprehensiveness. Therefore, while this is a positive sign, it should not be considered a complete guarantee of the security of the current Bitdefender VPN application.

4. VPN Leaks

When running tests for potential leaks, the Bitdefender VPN’s internet speed just dropped so much that we could barely finish the test. After switching servers and changing testing tools one after another, we found that there’s no IP leak, no DNS leak, but there is a potential WebRTC leak with some servers.

Bitdefender VPN Leak Test Result

To ensure the justice of the test, we’ve tested them on several tools, including both 3rd party testing websites like “dnsleaktest.com”, “ipleak.net”, and online leak test features offered by VPN providers, AstrillVPN, Surfshark, X-VPN, and CyberGhost.

Bitdefender Customer Support

Within the app, users are encouraged to get support from Bitdefender Support Center or ask the Community. If there’s nothing that can help, you can also contact their support from the web pages. For example, the unclear auto-renewal prices we mentioned before, I filled out the online contact form for the support team.

From Chat 7/24, call us, send us an email, I chose chat. Sadly, instead of a real support person, the AI answered my question. Even sadder, I can not know the exact renewal price ahead of time until I make my purchase.

Bitdefender AI Chat Support

Bitdefender VPN Pros & Cons

Overall, our Bitdefender VPN review found it to be an excellent VPN for changing locations, unblocking streams, and maintaining online security. However, there are also some drawbacks that we hope to see an improvement in the future.

Pros:

✅ Free VPN trial with no payment info required.

✅ Relatively affordable.

✅ Large global server network.

✅ Impressive stream unblocking capabilities.

✅ Various support methods.

✅ Does not log user data.

Cons:

⚠️ The free version’s 200MB per device per day is insufficient.

⚠️ Compatible with fewer devices than a dedicated VPN product.

⚠️ No built-in server speed test widget, which we believe can help users choose faster servers.

⚠️ Likely difficult to find live customer service.

❌ Slow connection speeds.

❌ Fewer VPN features.

❌ No special optimization for streaming or gaming situations.

❌ Unclear auto-renewal pricing.

Verdict – Is Bitdefender VPN worth it? Yes, given its low price and large server network, we think it’s worth a try. However, it would be better if it could improve connection speeds.

How We Test and Rate VPNs?

Our Bitdefender VPN review and verdict aren’t based on simply app store customer reviews or first impressions. To ensure a fair, transparent, and objective assessment, SafePaper put every VPN through a series of standardized tests.

Testing DevicesMacbook Air (M3), Samsung Galaxy S25, OnePlus 13, Samsung, Google Pixel 8a, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Testing Period6 Days
Speed Test Toolspeedtest.net, fast.com, openspeedtest.com
Leak Test Tooldnsleaktest.com, ipleak.net, AstrillVPN leak test, Surfshark leak test, X-VPN leak test, and CyberGhost DNS leak test
Server Locations TestedAustralia, Belgium, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, US, UK, Vietnam

Conclusion

Our review of Bitdefender VPN found it to be solid, but not exceptional. While it excels in some areas, like offering a free trial and a vast server network, its speeds and streaming experience aren’t as good as those of top providers. It’s best suited for users of the Bitdefender suite or casual browser users who need an affordable option.

FAQs

Is Bitdefender VPN Free?

No, Bitdefender VPN is a paid premium VPN service. However, it offers every user who downloads the VPN app 200MB of free data per day per device. Additionally, there’s a 7-day free Bitdefender VPN trial for new users.

Is Bitdefender VPN Good?

Yes, Bitdefender VPN is good if you are already a Bitdefender user, or a casual user looking for a simple, affordable tool primarily to access global services. However, it is not good if you are looking for a VPN for 4K streaming.

Can I Use Bitdefender VPN for Torrenting?

Yes, Bitdefender VPN offers a feature named Peer-to-peer apps in its Settings, indicating that this VPN works when using a peer-to-peer file sharing app. However, always ensure that you have the right to share or download the content you are accessing via torrents. Do not use a VPN for any illegal activities.

How Does Bitdefender Compare to Norton?

Both Bitdefender and Norton are antivirus giants that bundle a VPN with their security suites. Bitdefender is cheaper than Norton when it comes to standalone VPN products, while Norton’s security suite is more affordable when bundled with its VPN service.

How Does Bitdefender Compare to NordVPN?

When comparing the security suite add-on Bitdefender VPN to a dedicated VPN like Nord, the best choice depends on your needs. Choose Bitdefender if you’re already a user or want a budget-friendly option. Opt for Nord if you need 4K streaming, advanced security features, and prefer a standalone product. Check our NordVPN security analysis before making a decision.

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Paige West
Paige West

With her six years of experience in the 3C electronic industry, Paige West is a trusted voice in SafePaper now. She is dedicated to delivering the latest cyber news and insightful technological trends. In her spare time, Paige enjoys assembling various models, which helps her better understand the connections and tell the stories well.

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