We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
This is always a bit of an unfair fight with ExpressVPN, as its continually the fastest VPN around. StrongVPN performs well with speeds however, achieving better upload and download speeds than many other popular VPNs. It’s entirely suitable for streaming without buffering, but ExpressVPN can provide better video qualities.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Download speed reduction | 11% (UK) | 41% (UK) |
| Upload speed reduction | 16% (FRA) | 38% (FRA) |
| Ping time to google.com | 24ms | 83ms |
| Average time to connect (sec.) | 11ms | 11ms |
| Unblock successful for |
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| Visit Site | Visit Site |
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
ExpressVPN offers an adequate 148 server locations in 94 total countries around the world. While StrongVPN has 650 server locations, they are crammed into a total of 20 countries, so your options are limited somewhat.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | 148 | 950 |
| Server Countries | 94 | 35 |
| IP Addresses | 1,500+ | 59,000+ |
| Dynamic Server Switching | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
The ratio of servers to countries is an important factor to look at when choosing a VPN. Only paying attention to location or number of servers can get you in trouble. More servers generally means faster speeds, but if VPN X has a few more servers than VPN Y but twice as many users, VPN X will typically have slower speeds. Ideally, you want a VPN that has a lot of servers in every location. This way you won’t have to worry that server/country that you want will be overburdened and running slow.
Both of these VPNs provide outstanding customer support. ExpressVPN and StrongVPN both have 24/7 live chat, fast email ticketing, and large knowledge bases and resources available on their respective websites, and plenty of video tutorials as well.
| VPN vendor |
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|---|---|---|
| Email Response Time | 0.3 | 8 |
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Knowledge Base | ||
| Video Tutorials | ||
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
Downloading and installation of ExpressVPN was fast and easy.
Upon launching the application, I found myself effortlessly enjoying uninterrupted streaming of my preferred shows on platforms like Netflix and Hulu. ExpressVPN’s exceptional speed played a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless experience, as buffering was never a concern.
We tested out our IP address in numerous countries without a problem and found the interface easy enough for a beginner to use. If you are worried about getting around China’s firewall, there is a solution to that: Just download ExpressVPN prior to your arrival. It can be installed on an Android device or laptop, but not the iPhone, so keep that mind.
With this connection, you can still visit your favorite sites and protect your information from authorities. Another thing of note is that ExpressVPN can unblock content on most any streaming platform — another reason why it’s so popular.
After a standard registration process, you can download and setup Strong VPN rather quickly.
The interface itself is a lot simpler than it used to be, and most novice users should be able to find their way around with little effort. Setting up the VPN manually may be slightly more challenging compared to other VPN services, which might initially be frustrating for some users. However, the straightforward approach proves to be effective, and the configuration process remains consistent across various platforms, including desktop, mobile, and reader tablets.
Strong VPN can unblock most streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, BBC Player, and more. It also bypasses China’s firewall, and allows P2P file sharing.
