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FastestVPN vs StrongVPN pits two speed-themed names against each other, and only one delivers in tests. StrongVPN, launched in 2005 and now owned by Ziff Davis, had the lowest local ping of 59 VPNs in Top10VPN’s 2026 tests and offers Smart DNS for consoles. FastestVPN, despite its name, was slow in RTINGS’ 2026 tests, but sells a lifetime PRO plan for 15 devices with port forwarding.
This guide compares speed, consoles, torrenting, evidence, price and fit.
FastestVPN vs StrongVPN on Speed
Ping is the delay before data moves; it matters most for games and calls.
Top10VPN found StrongVPN extremely fast on long-distance connections and the lowest for local ping among the 59 VPNs it reviewed. RTINGS found FastestVPN slow, and TechRadar says it falls short of top VPNs on speed.
For gaming, video calls or large downloads, StrongVPN is the faster choice.
Consoles and TVs
Smart DNS adds no encryption, so it suits streaming rather than privacy.
StrongVPN’s Smart DNS lets a games console or smart TV reach streaming services without an app, and it has a Fire TV app. FastestVPN’s listing says its apps cover smart TVs and routers.
For a console with no VPN app, StrongVPN’s Smart DNS is simpler.
Torrenting
Pick a P2P server for torrents.
Check your client’s IP before downloading anything.
Secure any service you expose through an open port.
FastestVPN PRO includes port forwarding and dedicated P2P servers, TechRadar notes. We found no port forwarding for StrongVPN in our sources.
Torrent users who need open ports should pick FastestVPN.
Evidence
Without an audit, you rely on each company’s word.
StrongVPN has no audit in our table, and Top10VPN notes its apps are unaudited. FastestVPN commissioned a single audit from Altius IT in 2023, which RTINGS found vague, and its policy allows some analytics.
Neither offers strong proof. Our VPN audit tracker lists providers that do.
Price and Devices
StrongVPN’s monthly plan carries no refund, so test on a yearly plan.
StrongVPN costs $47.69 for the first year, then $89.99, and refunds only yearly plans within 30 days. FastestVPN’s PRO lifetime licence costs around $39.99 once on deal sites.
FastestVPN is far cheaper over time, if it keeps operating. Our renewal price guide compares.
Count every phone, laptop, TV and console first.
FastestVPN PRO covers 15 devices; StrongVPN covers 12. Both cover a typical household.
A router running either VPN counts as one device.
Apps and Kill Switch
Drop Wi-Fi briefly while connected to check that traffic stops.
StrongVPN’s kill switch is off by default, Top10VPN notes, and its split tunnelling works only on Android. FastestVPN includes a kill switch on all platforms, one 2026 review says, and split tunnelling on PRO.
Turn on and test the kill switch on whichever you choose.
Who Each Is For
Test speed from home first.
Count your consoles and torrent needs first.
StrongVPN suits gamers, console owners and anyone who values speed, accepting no audit and a higher renewal. FastestVPN suits budget torrent users and big households who want to pay once, accepting slower speeds.
Owners differ: Ziff Davis for StrongVPN; FastestVPN names the Cayman Islands as its base.
Streaming, Protocols and Routers
StrongVPN does best with US services, Top10VPN found, opening HBO Max at the first attempt. FastestVPN keeps dedicated streaming servers, and TechRadar reports that everything it tried worked.
Try your own services during a refund window before relying on either.
StrongVPN defaults to WireGuard, also offers OpenVPN and IKEv2, and has a generator that writes WireGuard files for routers. FastestVPN offers WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, and its listing mentions router support.
For a manual router setup, StrongVPN’s generator saves time.
Support, Longevity and Networks
StrongVPN’s yearly plan carries a 30-day refund.
FastestVPN answers through live chat at any hour, TechRadar notes. StrongVPN has run since 2005; a lifetime licence, by contrast, is only as good as the company behind it.
Pay for a lifetime plan only with money you could afford to lose.
StrongVPN offers around 67 locations in 42 countries in one 2026 count. FastestVPN’s PRO listing claims more than 900 servers in over 100 countries, including streaming and P2P servers.
FastestVPN reaches more countries on paper; StrongVPN is faster in tests.
Refunds and Extras
Ask any refund question before buying.
StrongVPN refunds yearly plans within 30 days and monthly plans not at all. FastestVPN’s PRO licence adds an ad blocker, anti-malware and a NAT firewall; check refund terms on whichever deal site you buy from.
Save the confirmation email from any store you use.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If you need audited proof of a no-logs policy, neither fits: StrongVPN has no audit in our table, and FastestVPN’s single report is thin. Our audit tracker lists providers with repeated outside checks. For a head-to-head, see our StrongVPN vs PrivateVPN comparison.
For speed or savings alone, both still have a place.
How We Research
This page draws on Top10VPN’s StrongVPN review, RTINGS’ and TechRadar’s FastestVPN reviews and a 2026 FastestVPN PRO deal listing. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 8 October 2026. The main source we relied on is Top10VPN’s StrongVPN review. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
FastestVPN vs StrongVPN FAQ
StrongVPN, in Top10VPN’s and RTINGS’ 2026 tests.
FastestVPN, on PRO.
Not in our sources; StrongVPN does.
FastestVPN’s lifetime plan.
StrongVPN no; FastestVPN once, in 2023.
The Verdict
FastestVPN vs StrongVPN: StrongVPN for real speed and consoles; FastestVPN for a single payment, 15 devices and open ports.