Avast SecureLine VPN Review: Is it Worth the Price?

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Avast SecureLine VPN Review: Is it Worth the Price?

The evolution of the "a" badge continues apace. The largest virus blocker on the planet, Avast, owns up to 15% of the antivirus market. Read Avast VPN review.

Price: 3.99

Price Currency: $

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Utility

Editor's Rating:
5.4

In this review, we’ll discuss the features of Avast SecureLine VPN — including its strengths and weaknesses — to help you decide if this VPN is the right one for you.

We’ll cover things like where the company’s jurisdiction is, whether this VPN works with popular streaming services, how fast it is, how many servers and locations you can connect with, and lots more.

Avast SecureLine VPN Overview

Avast SecureLine VPN has got you covered with its easy-to-find privacy policy, ensuring that users have a clear understanding of how their user data is captured and stored when using this VPN software.

Avast SecureLine VPN’s logging policy allows it to store connection logs, including the time you connect and disconnect, the duration of the connection, and bandwidth usage.

However, they do not keep any personal data such as your IP address, browsing history, DNS, or data downloaded or uploaded.

You can stream or download files on up to ten devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, but it won’t work with Linux or routers.

With 55 server locations to choose from all around the globe, Avast SecureLine VPN lets you access content from many places in the world. It has an intuitive interface that allows you to choose from several locations, including the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Canada, and with sixteen servers in the USA (including New York and Miami).

It is suitable for users who are not tech-savvy or who are trying VPN software for the first time. It uses military-grade AES-256 encryption, keeping your data safe.

But is it the best VPN for you? Although it has good functionality, some of the downsides of Avast SecureLine VPN include a relatively small number of servers. While 55 server locations may seem like a lot, it’s lower than what some other VPN service providers like ExpressVPN, SurfShark, and NordVPN offer.

Additionally, Avast SecureLine VPN lacks the option for a dedicated IP address or split tunneling, although it does have a kill switch to keep your information safe in case your VPN connection unexpectedly drops.

Server Locations 55
Server Numbers 500+
Customer Support E-mail / App / Forum
Log Policy No-Logs Policy
Encryption Protocols OpenVPN, IPSec, WireGuard, IKEv2
Supported Platforms Windows, Mac, iOS Based, Android, Kodi, Android TV IKEv2
Routers Supported Does not Officially Support Routers
Simultaneous Connections Up to 10
Split Tunneling No
Kill Switch Yes
Torrenting Yes
Country of Registration Czechia (Czech Republic)
Dedicated IP No
Smart DNS No
Multihop No
Price $4.39 – $10.99
Free Trial/Money-Back Guarantee 60-Day Free Trial (With Credit Card), 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

 

Pros

  • Inexpensive on the yearly or two-year plan
  • 10 simultaneous connections
  • Easy to use
  • 60-day free trial

Cons

  • Not as many features as some other VPN providers
  • Limited customer support options on the free plan

Streaming Movies and TV Shows With Avast SecureLine VPN

I tried out both Netflix.com with my location set to Miami, and Netflix.gb with the location set to London, and both worked. Although there are mixed reports about whether this VPN service works for Netflix, I had success with it.

I was not so lucky with other streaming services. Here is what worked and what didn’t.

Service Availability
Netflix (US version)
Netflix (UK version)
BBC iPlayer
Amazon Prime Video
Hulu + Live TV
FuboTV
Sling TV
Disney+
Apple TV
HBO Max

Using Streaming Devices with Avast SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN works on Android smart TVs. It doesn’t have an app for Amazon Fire TV Stick, Amazon Fire TV, or other smart TVs. It also doesn’t offer support for gaming consoles.

Amazon Fire TV
Android Smart TVs
Xbox
PlayStation
Nintendo Switch

Avast SecureLine VPN has fast speeds, but buffering might be an issue, depending on which server you connect to.

This VPN has you covered if you use Windows, MacOS, or Android, but it doesn’t offer a dedicated Linux app.

They offer an optional installable browser extension that allows you to adjust the VPN directly in Chrome or Firefox. It also comes with an ad blocker, which helps protect you from annoying pop-ups, ads, and trackers.

Avast SecureLine VPN is user-friendly and suitable for non-tech-savvy individuals. It offers simple installation, easy-to-use apps, an intuitive interface, and no complicated settings.

Avast SecureLine VPN Features

Let’s get into more detail about what Avast SecureLine VPN offers and how it compares to other VPNs.

Did You Know?

  • Avast owns two other VPNs: HideMyAss! and AVG Secure VPN
  • Avast was one of the biggest tech IPOs of 2018
  • The founders Eduard Kučera and Pavel Baudiš are two of the wealthiest men in Czechia.

Jurisdiction: Czechia

They are not part of the 14 Eyes alliance and the Czech government respects freedom of speech and press.

However, according to Privacy International, there are communications between 5 Eyes nations and Czechia.

Operating Systems

Avast SecureLine VPN has VPN apps for:

  • Windows
  • MacOS
  • iOS
  • Android OS

DNS Leak Protection

When you type a website address into your browser, your computer needs to know the numerical address (IP address) of the website to find and load the page. This is where DNS comes in. DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it translates the website address you typed into a numerical IP address that your computer can understand.

When you type in a website address, your computer sends a DNS request to a DNS server to ask for the IP address associated with that website. Once the DNS server finds the IP address, it sends it back to your computer so that your web browser can load the page, and there is room in this process for information leaks to happen if your VPN doesn’t have protection in place to prevent it.

Avast SecureLine VPN has DNS leak protection as well as WebRTC leak protection. It encrypts the user’s internet connection, disguises their location, and prevents others from seeing what they do on any WiFi network.

No Browsing Data Logs

Avast SecureLine VPN doesn’t retain your browsing data, but it does collect some data, including connection timestamps and the amount of data transmitted, as well as billing information.

Avast SecureLine VPN Plans and Pricing

Avast SecureLine VPN prices range between $4.39 to $10.99 per month. Here is a breakdown:

  • $4.39 per month if you subscribe for two years billed $105.36 at once.
  • $4.59 per month if you subscribe for one year billed $55.08 at once.
  • $10.99 if you choose a monthly subscription.

There is a 60-day free trial available, but you have to enter a credit card to access it.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can access within thirty days of purchase through the chat feature on their website.

They accept payment through PayPal or credit card. There are currently no apps or cryptocurrency payment options.

Avast SecureLine VPN’s Privacy and Security Features

According to Avast’s privacy policy, they do collect and store your billing data. So although PayPal and credit card payments are available, it’s not possible to use anonymous payment methods like Bitcoin.

Great Encryption

While surfing on their site you come across a section called Bank-Grade Encryption.

So what exactly does that mean?

Avast uses standard encryption methods instead of offering a wide range of choices, although they are customizable if you wish. By default for Mac users Avast SecureLine VPN uses the IKEv2 IPsec protocol, and you can switch to Mimic. Windows users can connect with OpenVPN and WireGuard Beta by default and can switch to Mimic.

The ability to change VPN protocols gives users the freedom to make it perfect for each situation. Due to protocol differences in terms of speed, security, and performance, a VPN protocol for Geo-unblocking wouldn’t necessarily be the best choice for streaming.

Avast SecureLine VPN Speed Test

We wanted to find out a bit more about the performance of Avast and its effects on bandwidth. So we decided to check out the Avast SecureLine VPN speed using speedtest.com and here are the results using our WiFi internet connection and the Avast SecureLine VPN servers:

Country DL (Mbps) UL (Mbps) Ping Idle (ms) Ping DL (ms) Ping UL (ms)
USA 4.33 9.31 322 321 352
UK 4.53 1.34 275 337 840
Germany 9.42 12.85 264 246 302

NB: Speed tests are done independently by using a WiFi connection. The results vary by your location, the server you connect to, and your internet speed.

Does this VPN Work in China?

No, Avast SecureLine VPN doesn’t work in China.

The People’s Republic of China’s legislative technologies regulate the internet within its borders. This joint effort between government monitors and technology and telecommunications companies  enforces the state’s rules, which can result in the blocking of entire websites or the filtering of content on sites that are not completely blocked.

Customer Support

Avast SecureLine VPN offers automated instantaneous customer support through its website. Like other VPN providers, they offer chat, phone, and web-based customer support for paying users.

Methodology

We personally try out each VPN for our reviews. We evaluate speed, security features, ability to unblock streaming services, support for torrenting, customer support, and many other factors. We also look at the VPN company’s jurisdiction, history, past security incidents, privacy policy, and audit reports to ensure that you get a complete picture of the service. Learn more about how we test VPNs on our methodology page.

Wrapping Up

Avast SecureLine VPN offers top-notch security features, including a kill switch, robust encryption with AES-256 and the OpenVPN protocol, as well as protection against hackers, scammers, and network threats.

With a vast network of servers across the globe, users can enjoy high connection speeds, good download speeds, and unblock restricted websites and streaming services. Avast SecureLine VPN is budget-friendly with flexible pricing plans, and users can try the service risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, the VPN allows torrenting and offers a free version with fast streaming capabilities.

FAQs

Is Avast SecureLine a good VPN?

With a network of over 500 servers in 34 countries and 55 cities, Avast SecureLine VPN delivers decent speeds. It’s also super simple to install, making it perfect for VPN newbies. With the ability to connect up to ten devices, it could be a good choice for small businesses looking to safeguard their data.

Finally, rest assured that Avast VPN’s transparency policy keeps you informed about how your data is collected, stored, and used. The downside is that it does not offer split tunneling, or dedicated IP address like some of the other best VPN brands such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Cyberghost do.

Is Avast SecureLine VPN safe?

Avast is a big name in the world of antivirus software. This titan from Czechia entered the VPN sphere with SecureLine VPN and has also acquired HideMyAss and AVG Secure VPN. They are a trusted name in the industry.

What is the difference between the Avast SecureLine VPN and Avast Internet Security?

Avast SecureLine VPN and Avast Internet Security are two entirely different products. Avast SecureLine VPN is a virtual private network (VPN) that encrypts the user’s internet connection, disguises their location, and prevents others from seeing what they do on any Wi-Fi network.

On the other hand, Avast Internet Security is an antivirus software that protects the user’s computer from viruses, malware, and other online threats. Avast Internet Security includes features such as a firewall, anti-spam, and anti-phishing protection.

 

 

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