Last tested: March 2026 · Tested from Brisbane, QLD on 100Mbps NBN
Speed Test Results — Australian Servers
All speed tests were conducted on a 100Mbps NBN FTTP connection in Brisbane using WireGuard protocol. Tests ran between 7–9 PM AEST on weeknights during peak congestion hours.
| Server Location | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Ping (ms) | Speed Retention |
|---|
| Sydney, AU | 83.6 | 33.4 | 20 | 84% |
| Melbourne, AU | 80.2 | 31.7 | 27 | 80% |
| Brisbane, AU | 86.1 | 35.2 | 9 | 86% |
| Singapore | 69.4 | 26.1 | 99 | 69% |
| US West (Los Angeles) | 52.8 | 19.1 | 166 | 53% |
| UK London | 46.3 | 16.2 | 281 | 46% |
| Japan (Tokyo) | 64.7 | 24.3 | 118 | 65% |
Key takeaway: StrongVPN delivers respectable domestic speeds — 80-86% retention on Australian servers is perfectly adequate for streaming, browsing, and day-to-day use. International speeds are middling, particularly to the US and UK. The Japan server performed well thanks to geographic proximity, making it a good option for accessing Japanese content. Overall, speeds are fine for the price — not class-leading, but not disappointing either.
Streaming: What Works in Australia
We tested all major Australian and international streaming platforms over two weeks in March 2026:
- Netflix AU ✅ — Works on Sydney server
- Stan ✅ — Reliable on Australian servers
- Kayo Sports ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Binge ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Disney+ ❌ — Blocked on most servers; occasional success on Sydney
- Paramount+ ✅ — Works on AU servers
- 7plus ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- 9Now ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- ABC iView ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
StrongVPN handles most Australian streaming services without major issues. Netflix AU, Stan, Kayo, and the free-to-air catch-up services all worked reliably throughout our testing. Disney+ was the main failure point — it detected and blocked StrongVPN's servers most of the time. International Netflix libraries (US, UK) worked intermittently, requiring occasional server switches.
Honest note: StrongVPN's smaller server network means fewer IP addresses in rotation, which makes it easier for streaming platforms to detect and block. If streaming international content is important to you, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are significantly more reliable.
Privacy & Security Deep Dive
Jurisdiction: United States. Like TorGuard, StrongVPN operates under US jurisdiction — a Five Eyes member with broad surveillance capabilities. This is a genuine concern for privacy-focused users. However, StrongVPN's no-logs policy means there should be nothing to hand over even if compelled. The US jurisdiction is the most significant privacy trade-off with this provider.
Logging policy: StrongVPN maintains a no-logs policy — they don't record browsing activity, connection timestamps, IP addresses, DNS queries, or bandwidth usage. The policy is clearly stated in their privacy documentation. However, it has not been independently verified by a third-party audit, which is a notable gap in 2026 when audits have become an industry standard.
Audit history: None. StrongVPN has not undergone any independent third-party security or privacy audit. This is the service's biggest privacy weakness — competitors at similar or lower price points have invested in audit verification, and StrongVPN's absence from this trend is concerning.
Encryption: AES-256 on OpenVPN and IKEv2, ChaCha20/Poly1305 on WireGuard. Standard, solid encryption implementation. Perfect forward secrecy is enabled on all protocols. Nothing exceptional, but correctly implemented.
Kill switch: Available on Windows, macOS, and Android. We tested it by forcing a VPN disconnect — traffic was blocked within 2–3 seconds on desktop. Functional but not the fastest kill switch response we've measured. iOS does not have a kill switch (a limitation shared with some competitors). The kill switch must be manually enabled in settings.
DNS leak tests: Zero DNS leaks detected across all tested servers. StrongVPN routes DNS through its own servers when connected. No IPv6 leaks detected — StrongVPN disables IPv6 when the VPN is active.
Additional features:
- WireGuard support: Full WireGuard implementation across all platforms — this was added in recent years and significantly improved StrongVPN's speed performance
- StrongDNS: Smart DNS service included free — unblock streaming on devices that don't support VPN apps (similar to ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer)
- No data caps: Unlimited bandwidth on all servers and plans
App Experience
StrongVPN's app is clean and simple — almost to a fault. The main screen shows a large connect button with your selected server location. There's a server list, a settings menu, and not much else. It's the antithesis of feature-bloated VPN apps, and whether that's a positive or negative depends entirely on your preferences.
Clicks to connect: One click for auto-connect (selects the best available server). Two clicks to choose a specific location. The app is responsive and connects quickly, particularly on WireGuard. There's a "Best Available" option that auto-selects the fastest server based on your location.
Server selection: A simple list of countries and cities. You can search and favourite servers, but there's no load information, no latency indicators, and no specialised server categories (streaming, torrenting, etc.). The list is manageable given the ~950 server network, but power users will miss the detail that competitors provide.
Settings: Minimal. Protocol selection (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2), kill switch toggle, auto-connect on startup, and StrongDNS configuration. That's essentially it. No split tunnelling, no custom DNS, no advanced configuration. For users who want simplicity, this is perfect. For anyone wanting control, it's limiting.
Mobile vs desktop: The mobile apps mirror the desktop's simplicity. Clean, fast, one-tap to connect. WireGuard is supported on both iOS and Android. The Android app is slightly more feature-rich than iOS (kill switch support). Both mobile apps are well-optimised for battery life. If you want a VPN app that stays out of your way, StrongVPN's mobile experience is excellent.
Pricing Breakdown
All prices in AUD, current as of March 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|
| Monthly | $10.99/mo | $10.99 | — |
| 1-Year | $3.97/mo | $47.64 | 64% off |
Money-back guarantee: 30 days. Standard industry window. We tested the refund process — it was handled via email support and processed within 5 business days. No hassle, no upselling.
Payment methods: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, and Alipay. No cryptocurrency option — a notable absence for a VPN provider.
Value assessment: At $3.97/month on the annual plan, StrongVPN is mid-range pricing. The 12 device connections and included StrongDNS add value, but the lack of features compared to similarly priced competitors (split tunnelling, advanced settings, audit verification) means you're paying for simplicity and reliability rather than a feature checklist.
Who Should Use This VPN
Best for:
- Users who want simplicity: If you're overwhelmed by feature-packed VPNs and just want something that works, StrongVPN's no-nonsense approach is refreshing
- Large device households: 12 simultaneous connections is among the most generous limits available — covers phones, laptops, tablets, and streaming devices comfortably
- Smart TV and console users: The included StrongDNS makes it easy to unblock content on devices that don't support VPN apps
- Set-and-forget users: Configure once, auto-connect on startup, and forget about it
Not ideal for:
- Privacy-focused users: US jurisdiction and no independent audit is a significant drawback — ProtonVPN or NordVPN are better choices for privacy
- Streaming enthusiasts: The smaller server network means more frequent blocks from platforms like Disney+ — premium VPNs handle this better
- Power users: No split tunnelling, no custom DNS, no advanced configuration — TorGuard or AirVPN offer far more control
- Budget shoppers: CyberGhost and PureVPN offer more features at lower prices
How It Compares
StrongVPN's most direct competitor is PureVPN — both are mid-range VPNs with decent Australian server coverage. PureVPN wins on price, features (port forwarding, split tunnelling), and audit verification, while StrongVPN offers more device connections and a simpler interface. Against CyberGhost, StrongVPN loses on price, server count, and streaming server organisation, but ties on ease of use. Compared to NordVPN, StrongVPN is cheaper but falls short in virtually every other category — speed, features, security, and streaming.
StrongVPN is the VPN for people who don't want to think about their VPN. It's reliable, simple, and gets the basics right. But in a market where competitors offer more features at similar or lower prices, StrongVPN needs to either innovate or lower its price to remain competitive. For a complete comparison, see our best VPN for Australia guide.
