Bitdefender Review

Updated Nov 11, 2024

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Callum Tennent

Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society. Read full bio

Fact-checked by Simon Migliano

Ranked #26 out of 60 VPNs

The Bottom Line

We don’t recommend using Bitdefender VPN, even if you have access to it via an antivirus bundle. Although it’s fast, it temporarily logs your IP address and its kill switch is faulty. It fails to unblock most streaming platforms including Netflix, and it can’t be safely used for torrenting due to its privacy flaws.

Overall Rating

5.8/10

This rating is calculated by combining the ratings from our 9 testing categories, each weighted according to its relative importance.

1. Speed 9.4/10
2. Streaming 0.8/10
3. Privacy 6.7/10
4. Security 6.5/10
5. Server Locations 6.4/10
6. Torrenting 4.5/10
7. User Experience 5.9/10
8. Device Compatibility 6.1/10
9. Additional Features 4.4/10

Pros

• Very fast speeds
• Unblocks BBC iPlayer
• Allows torrenting
• Simple app design

Cons

• Fails to unblock streaming services like Netflix & Disney+
• Small server network
• Faulty kill switch
• No Firestick app, no Smart DNS & no router support

Bitdefender is most well-known for its antivirus software, but it also offers a VPN service that’s available through a cybersecurity package or as a standalone subscription.

Bitdefender VPN isn’t entirely operated by its parent company. The VPN service is actually a ‘white-label’ version of Hotspot Shield, meaning it uses Hotspot Shield’s server network, protocols, and technology.

Pricing Plans

$ $ $ _$_USDGBPAUDCADEURSGD

| 1 month | $6.99 | | 12 months | $39.96 ($3.33/mo) |

Free Trial Options

| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | | Free Trial | 7 Days | | 100% Free Plan | No |

Privacy

6.7/10

We calculated this rating by examining the VPN's logging policy, jurisdiction, ownership, and privacy features. We also evaluated its history of handling user data and responding to legal requests.

Ranked #22 out of 60 VPNs for Privacy

| Originating IP Address | Yes | | Browsing Activity | Yes | | Individual Connection Timestamps | Yes | | Date of Last Connection | No | | VPN Server IP | No | | Device Information | Yes | | Individual Bandwidth Usage | Yes | | Account Information | No |

| Jurisdiction | Romania (EU member) | | Privacy Policy | Identifiable Data | | Transparency Reports | No | | Diskless Servers | No | | Anonymous Payment Options | No |

You can read Bitdefender's full privacy policy on its website.

Romania & US Jurisdiction

Bitdefender is based in Romania, a country subject to EU data retention laws and data-sharing agreements.

To make the situation worse, Aura is based in the US, which is a notoriously bad region for data privacy.

Streaming

0.8/10

We calculated this rating by identifying which streaming services the VPN could unblock and measuring how consistently it could access them.

Ranked #39 out of 60 VPNs for Streaming

Speed

9.4/10

We calculated this rating using our proprietary tests of download, upload, and ping speeds across servers in 10 countries.

Ranked #12 out of 60 VPNs for Speed

Security

6.5/10

We calculated this rating by testing the VPN's security protocols, encryption, leak protection, and kill switch reliability. We also assessed the provider's track record and any past security incidents.

Ranked #42 out of 60 VPNs for Security

| Independent Audit | No | | VPN Kill Switch | Yes | | Leak Protection | Yes |

| OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) | Yes | | Hydra | Yes | | WireGuard | Yes | | ChaCha20 | Yes | | AES-256 | Yes |

Server Locations

6.4/10

We calculated this rating by assessing the number of countries and cities available, their geographic spread, and availability in popular regions.

Ranked #16 out of 60 VPNs for Server Locations

User Experience

5.9/10

We calculated this rating by assessing the VPN’s ease of use, interface design, and setup process across multiple platforms.

Ranked #47 out of 60 VPNs for User Experience

Torrenting

4.5/10

We calculated this rating by assessing the VPN's torrenting features, including P2P servers and port forwarding support. We also evaluated its average bitrate and stance on file-sharing.

Ranked #38 out of 60 VPNs for Torrenting

Device Compatibility

6.1/10

Bitdefender is available on the four most popular platforms: PC, macOS, iOS and Android. Disappointingly, it isn't compatible with routers at all and doesn't have any browser extensions.

Simultaneous Connections: 10

Additional Features

4.4/10

We calculated this rating by evaluating the VPN's extra capabilities beyond the basic VPN service.

Great Ad & Tracker Blocker

As an antivirus company, it’s no surprise to see the VPN’s ad and tracker blocker excel in our tests. It managed to block over 90% of intrusive ads and trackers, which is even better than some top tier VPNs.

Bitdefender VPN Key Data