Is It a Good VPN for You?

Whereas Avast is understood for its antivirus software program, it additionally gives a digital personal community referred to as Avast SecureLine VPN. It options one of many longest free trials for a VPN service I’ve tried and a simple-to-use Home windows utility.

Regardless of this, it lacks prime safety features present in different VPNs and is held again by Avast’s previous privateness controversies. At present, Avast SecureLine VPN is obtainable for Home windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Android TV.

Avast SecureLine VPN pricing

After I first reviewed Avast SecureLine in 2023, its paid subscriptions have been divided right into a month-to-month, a one-year, and a two-year subscription. In 2024, Avast eliminated the one-month plan and changed it with an extended, three-year subscription choice.

Pricing for the one- and two-year subscriptions remained the identical as final 12 months, coming at $4.59 per thirty days and $4.29 per thirty days, respectively. This falls between the midrange amongst competing VPNs, with Personal Web Entry VPN’s one-year subscription at $3.33 per thirty days and NordVPN’s Fundamental annual plan at $4.99 per thirty days.

SEE: Avast SecureLine VPN vs NordVPN (TechRepublic)

Whereas it sits at a reasonably cheap worth, I argue that Avast SecureLine’s characteristic set and server community pales compared to the opposite VPNs at comparable worth ranges. On this case, I’d have most popular if Avast supplied extra inexpensive pricing to make its worth proposition extra interesting — even with the lesser characteristic bundle.

Oddly sufficient, each the two-year plan and the brand new three-year subscription don’t present a lot in the best way of financial savings. Proper now, they solely present a $0.20 low cost in comparison with the one-year subscription. To me, this looks as if a missed alternative since different VPNs often decrease the month-to-month worth for longer contract choices to entice clients to lock in for longer.

Avast SecureLine VPN has one saving grace — its free trial. Whereas different firms provide seven-day free trials or 30-day money-back ensures, SecureLine has a beneficiant 60-day trial on all its supported platforms. Bear in mind, you’ll have to present cost data initially of the trial, however you gained’t be charged till after 60 days.

This 60-day trial might be the rationale why the one-month subscription was eliminated altogether, as anybody considering of going for a one-month plan will probably be higher off with a free trial that has much less strings connected. I strongly advocate anybody excited by attempting Avast SecureLine VPN to undoubtedly begin with the 60-day free trial.

Is Avast SecureLine VPN secure?

Personally, I’d not take into account Avast SecureLine a secure VPN in 2024. Whereas the VPN itself hits the requisite safety features we anticipate out of a contemporary VPN, it’s let down by the corporate’s regarding incidents with consumer knowledge.

On paper, Avast SecureLine VPN has the VPN protocols and options to be deemed secure. It carries the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols — the 2 most necessary safety protocols for contemporary VPNs. It additionally has Mimic, Avast’s proprietary safety protocol. SecureLine additionally makes use of AES-256 encryption, has a kill swap, and protects in opposition to area identify system leaks.

SEE: The 6 Greatest Antivirus Software program Choices for Home windows in 2024 (TechRepublic)

Sadly, Avast as an organization has been concerned in a ton of controversy relating to consumer knowledge. In February 2024, the US Federal Commerce Fee introduced that Avast must pay $16.5 million for compromising shoppers’ privateness. Within the assertion, the FTC stated that Avast had “collected a treasure trove of consumer data by its antivirus software program and browser extensions with out folks’s consent.” Moreover, it discovered that the corporate had truly “bought the data by its subsidiary Jumpshot,” once more with out consent.

Whereas the above incident doesn’t contain Avast SecureLine VPN immediately, it’s an alarming growth given how a VPN is meant to safe your searching knowledge. Whereas Avast SecureLine has a no logs coverage that states they don’t log apps used, web sites visited, or content material consumed; it, sadly, doesn’t have a third-party audit to verify these claims.

On the flipside, Avast publishes Transparency Experiences that give precious data on authorities requests and warrants issued to the corporate. It’s additionally based mostly within the Czech Republic — a rustic that isn’t a member of any knowledge sharing or intelligence alliance.

Regardless of these efforts, I don’t suppose Avast SecureLine VPN is an effective decide if safety and knowledge safety are prime priorities.

Key options of Avast SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN comes with completely different usability and safety features that shield consumer knowledge. I’ve listed among the key options I believe it’s best to learn about.

Sensible VPN mode

SecureLine’s Sensible VPN mode permits the consumer to set completely different sensible guidelines and cases that routinely flip the VPN on or off (Determine A). This offers customers the flexibleness to personalize their VPN expertise, relying on their wants and workflow.

Determine A

I like how customers can set the VPN to activate whereas on a public community, banking websites, torrenting apps, or streaming websites. You too can set Trusted Websites that don’t should be accessed by way of the VPN in case you really feel they’re already secure.

60-day free trial

SecureLine’s 60-day free trial (Determine B) is among the most beneficiant free trial choices within the VPN house right now. VPNs often provide a 7-day free trial or a 30-day money-back assure (with an preliminary cost required).

Determine B

Avast’s 60-day trial greater than doubles normal durations totally free trials and solely requires PayPal or Mastercard particulars with out an preliminary cost. This can be a customer-friendly method that I undoubtedly give Avast credit score for.

SEE: Crowdstrike Falcon vs Avast: Endpoint Safety Software program (TechRepublic)

As much as 10 system connections

Avast lets you join as much as 10 gadgets concurrently with one VPN subscription. Whereas limitless system entry is the most effective state of affairs, having 10 allowable connections is already on the highest finish quantity in comparison with different VPNs obtainable right now.

To contextualize, the standard variety of allowed gadgets on different VPN providers ranges from round 5–8.

Velocity and efficiency: How briskly is Avast SecureLine VPN?

For pace, Avast SecureLine VPN’s efficiency fared a bit higher in comparison with once I first tried it final 12 months. I used SecureLine VPN to do work in Google Workspace (Docs, Drive), have a number of tabs open for analysis, and attend video conferences.

For probably the most half, the connection was quick and I didn’t expertise any noticeable issues in each pace and stability. Nonetheless, I do fear that SecureLine’s smaller server community might result in inconsistent efficiency relying in your location.

This leads into SecureLine’s pace check outcomes, which have been extra blended. For obtain speeds, it recorded solely a 7.3% drop in pace in comparison with my web service supplier — a superb consequence. Nonetheless, add speeds have been a stark distinction, recording a 92.8% drop in opposition to my ISP. By way of VPN pace, my testing confirmed that SecureLine can present good however inconsistent speeds. If having a quick connection all all through is necessary to you, VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN will more than likely present higher outcomes.

SecureLine carried out effectively when it comes to DNS leak safety. After I ran it by a public DNS leak instrument, utilizing a number of server places and working it a lot of occasions, SecureLine recorded zero DNS leaks all through.

Lastly, Avast SecureLine’s VPN Home windows app was easy and intuitive. I had no bother utilizing the app, and all of the options have been straightforward to seek out. I want that it had extra options normally, as the entire app expertise appeared a bit too bare-bones for my style.

Avast SecureLine VPN servers and places

Avast SecureLine VPN grants you entry to servers (Determine C) in round 37 nations and as much as 60 places. Avast doesn’t disclose the precise variety of servers in SecureLine’s fleet, however experiences have the quantity at round 700 servers.

Determine C

This offers SecureLine one of many smallest server networks obtainable, which is a downside in order for you extra decisions for pace or flexibility when it comes to places. The smaller server depend additionally isn’t splendid given Avast’s middle-tier pricing.

SEE: Methods to Create an Efficient Cybersecurity Consciousness Program (TechRepublic Premium)

SecureLine’s nation unfold is respectable although. You may have entry to servers in Europe, the Americas, the Center East, Asia Pacific, and Africa.

I respect that Avast segments the most effective servers for streaming and torrenting — a plus in case you’re VPN purchasing for these particular use instances (Determine D).

Determine D

Sadly, SecureLine VPN lacks extra safety and privacy-focused server options comparable to cut up tunneling (solely obtainable on their Android app) or multihop servers that privateness fans could also be looking out for.

Avast SecureLine VPN execs

• 60-day free trial.
• Sensible VPN mode permits for user-generated guidelines.
• As much as 10 simultaneous system connections.
• First rate nation and placement unfold.
• Easy to make use of Home windows app.

Avast SecureLine VPN cons

• Lack of an impartial audit.
• Avast controversies with consumer knowledge.
• Small server suite.
• Inconsistent pace check outcomes.
• Missing security-centered options.

Who’s Avast SecureLine VPN greatest for?

Avast SecureLine VPN is usually a respectable VPN decide in case you’re in search of a service that has a beneficiant free trial. Its 60-day free trial is among the longest I’ve seen up to now, and the enroll is comparatively straightforward. SecureLine additionally has a quite simple utility that may enchantment to first-time VPN customers.

Nonetheless, it lacks standout safety features and carries smaller server networks in comparison with different VPNs. SecureLine additionally suffers from the numerous privateness controversies related to Avast, whereas additionally missing an impartial audit for its no logs coverage.

Avast SecureLine VPN alternate options

Surfshark

Surfshark is among the most well-known VPNs. It has an easy-to-use interface, robust encryption, and 24/7 buyer assist. It even supplies limitless simultaneous connections, permitting customers to safe and shield a number of gadgets.

If you wish to be taught extra, examine our full Surfshark VPN evaluation.

NordVPN

In the event you’re in search of an all-around safety platform, NordVPN is a best choice. It has a wholesome server community, built-in risk safety in opposition to malware, and constantly quick speeds. NordVPN has additionally proven robust dedication to impartial third-party testing for extra transparency.

If you wish to be taught extra, examine our full NordVPN evaluation.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one other stable VPN resolution. It helps a number of platforms (Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even routers) and carries a robust risk supervisor characteristic that blocks suspicious websites. It additionally has a cut up tunneling characteristic that permits customers to pick which site visitors they need routed to the VPN and which to their web service supplier.

If you wish to be taught extra, examine our full ExpressVPN evaluation.

How we evaluated Avast SecureLine VPN

My evaluation of Avast SecureLine VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its safety features, pricing and real-world efficiency. I used SecureLine by Avast’s 60-day free trial of the VPN service on my Home windows laptop.

For add and obtain speeds, I examined SecureLine’s servers utilizing Ookla’s public Speedtest. To examine for DNS leak safety, I ran SecureLine a number of occasions by DNSLeakTest.

Lastly, I scored Avast SecureLine VPN based mostly on properties comparable to its protocols and worth utilizing an inside algorithm to get a ranking of three.4 stars out of 5. I checked out SecureLine each by itself and in relation to different VPN providers.