Is It a Good VPN for You?

Whereas Avast is understood for its antivirus software program, it additionally provides 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 on the market for Home windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Android TV.

Avast SecureLine VPN pricing

Once I first reviewed Avast SecureLine in 2023, its paid subscriptions had 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 yr, coming at $4.59 monthly and $4.29 monthly, respectively. This falls between the midrange amongst competing VPNs, with Non-public Web Entry VPN’s one-year subscription at $3.33 monthly and NordVPN’s Fundamental annual plan at $4.99 monthly.

SEE: Avast SecureLine VPN vs NordVPN (TechRepublic)

Whereas it sits at a reasonably affordable value, I argue that Avast SecureLine’s characteristic set and server community pales compared to the opposite VPNs at comparable value ranges. On this case, I’d have most well-liked if Avast provided extra reasonably priced pricing to make its worth proposition extra interesting — even with the lesser characteristic package deal.

Oddly sufficient, each the two-year plan and the brand new three-year subscription don’t present a lot in the way in which 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 value for longer contract choices to entice clients to lock in for longer.

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

This 60-day trial might be the explanation why the one-month subscription was eliminated altogether, as anybody pondering of going for a one-month plan shall be higher off with a free trial that has much less strings hooked up. I strongly suggest anybody enthusiastic about making an attempt Avast SecureLine VPN to undoubtedly begin with the 60-day free trial.

Is Avast SecureLine VPN secure?

Personally, I’d not think about 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 person information.

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 vital 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 change, and protects towards area title 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 person information. 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 person info via its antivirus software program and browser extensions with out folks’s consent.” Moreover, it discovered that the corporate had really “offered the knowledge via its subsidiary Jumpshot,” once more with out consent.

Whereas the above incident doesn’t contain Avast SecureLine VPN immediately, it’s an alarming improvement given how a VPN is meant to safe your shopping information. 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 Studies that give precious info 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 information sharing or intelligence alliance.

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

Key options of Avast SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN comes with totally different usability and safety features that shield person information. I’ve listed a number of the key options I feel you must learn about.

Sensible VPN mode

SecureLine’s Sensible VPN mode permits the person to set totally different good guidelines and cases that robotically flip the VPN on or off (Determine A). This provides customers the pliability 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 can too set Trusted Websites that don’t need to be accessed through the VPN if you happen to 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 area right now. VPNs often supply 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 typical durations totally free trials and solely requires PayPal or Mastercard particulars with out an preliminary cost. This can be a customer-friendly strategy 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 means that you can join as much as 10 gadgets concurrently with one VPN subscription. Whereas limitless system entry is the perfect state of affairs, having 10 allowable connections is already on the highest finish quantity in comparison with different VPNs out there right now.

To contextualize, the same old variety of allowed gadgets on different VPN companies ranges from round 5–8.

Pace and efficiency: How briskly is Avast SecureLine VPN?

For velocity, Avast SecureLine VPN’s efficiency fared a bit higher in comparison with once I first tried it final yr. 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 essentially the most half, the connection was quick and I didn’t expertise any noticeable issues in each velocity and stability. Nevertheless, I do fear that SecureLine’s smaller server community could result in inconsistent efficiency relying in your location.

This leads into SecureLine’s velocity check outcomes, which had been extra blended. For obtain speeds, it recorded solely a 7.3% drop in velocity in comparison with my web service supplier — a wonderful outcome. Nevertheless, add speeds had been a stark distinction, recording a 92.8% drop towards my ISP. By way of VPN velocity, my testing confirmed that SecureLine can present good however inconsistent speeds. If having a quick connection all all through is vital to you, VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN will almost certainly present higher outcomes.

SecureLine carried out properly by way of DNS leak safety. Once I ran it via a public DNS leak software, utilizing a number of server places and operating 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 had been simple to seek out. I want that it had extra options generally, 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 international locations 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 provides SecureLine one of many smallest server networks out there, which is a downside in order for you extra decisions for velocity or flexibility by way of places. The smaller server rely additionally isn’t supreme given Avast’s middle-tier pricing.

SEE: How one can Create an Efficient Cybersecurity Consciousness Program (TechRepublic Premium)

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

I recognize that Avast segments the perfect servers for streaming and torrenting — a plus if you happen to’re VPN purchasing for these particular use instances (Determine D).

Determine D

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

Avast SecureLine VPN professionals

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

Avast SecureLine VPN cons

• Lack of an unbiased audit.
• Avast controversies with person information.
• Small server suite.
• Inconsistent velocity check outcomes.
• Missing security-centered options.

Who’s Avast SecureLine VPN finest for?

Avast SecureLine VPN is usually a respectable VPN choose if you happen to’re on the lookout for a service that has a beneficiant free trial. Its 60-day free trial is among the longest I’ve seen to this point, and the enroll is comparatively simple. SecureLine additionally has a quite simple utility that may attraction to first-time VPN customers.

Nevertheless, 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 unbiased 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 help. It even gives limitless simultaneous connections, permitting customers to safe and shield a number of gadgets.

If you wish to be taught extra, test our full Surfshark VPN overview.

NordVPN

When you’re on the lookout for an all-around safety platform, NordVPN is a best choice. It has a wholesome server community, built-in risk safety towards malware, and persistently quick speeds. NordVPN has additionally proven robust dedication to unbiased third-party testing for extra transparency.

If you wish to be taught extra, test our full NordVPN overview.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one other strong 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 enables 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, test our full ExpressVPN overview.

How we evaluated Avast SecureLine VPN

My overview of Avast SecureLine VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its safety features, pricing and real-world efficiency. I used SecureLine via 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 test for DNS leak safety, I ran SecureLine a number of occasions via DNSLeakTest.

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