Bitdefender VPN free trial: how it works and what comes after

Bitdefender VPN offers a 7-day trial, and it does not ask for a card. According to the user manual, the trial is available in all apps; you only need an account with an email. Bitdefender does not publish any other trial limits besides the duration.

What to check during the seven days

Spend the week on things a subscription will not fix. There is no Stealth mode for masking traffic. WireGuard and IKEv2 (not on Windows) are available, plus the proprietary Hydra protocol, but there are no protocols designed to get around censorship blocks. According to a 2023 Comparitech review, the service does not work in Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Turkey and the UAE, so test this first if you live there or plan to travel there. There are no apps for Linux or routers; a kill switch is available on Windows, Android, iOS and macOS 10.15.4 and later. The service makes no specific promises about Netflix: test the streaming you need during those days.

If seven days is not enough

There is a free version, but with noticeable limits: 500 MB per day, one device, up to three locations and ads for Premium. Checking your email at a cafe is fine, but do not count on video.

What comes after the trial

Premium VPN is sold only on a yearly plan: $34.99 for the first year (about $2.92 per month) plus tax, on up to 10 devices. Renewal costs $69.99 per year, twice as much, with auto-renewal enabled by default; an email arrives before it renews. The plans are covered in detail on the Bitdefender VPN pricing page.

If you change your mind after paying, email refunds@bitdefender.com within 30 days of the purchase or renewal date to get your money back. Combined with the trial, that gives you more than a month to decide.

Are there other VPNs with a trial that skips the card?

Yes, a list is available on the VPN trials without a credit card page.