Avast SecureLine VPN Review: Is it Worth the Price?

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

About Avast SecureLine VPN

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

Avast SecureLine VPN stores connection logs, including the time you connect and disconnect, the duration of the connection, and bandwidth usage.

They do not log activity such as the websites or IP addresses you visit, and the data that is transferred.

You can stream or download files on up to ten devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

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 perfect for users who are not tech-savvy or who are trying VPN software for the first time. It uses military grade AES-256 encryption, perfect for 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 compared to other VPN service providers. While 55 server locations may seem like a lot, it’s lower than what some other VPN service providers offer. On top of that, Avast SecureLine VPN’s subscription price is also relatively high compared to other VPN service providers, and there’s not a lot of additional features like you would find in some of the best VPNs like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost and NordVPN.  Avast SecureLine 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.

No DNS Leaks

Avast Secureline VPN offers a strong encryption protocol, and decades of experience in the tech industry. The antivirus giant from the Czech Republic has many employees, including A-level cybersecurity specialists from all over the globe. Unlike some providers, they don’t leak your DNS.

It sounds like this is exactly what anonymous VPNs should be made of, right?

Let’s dig a little deeper into this Avast SecureLine VPN review to find out more about their service.

Avast SecureLine VPN Overview

Server Locations 55
Server Numbers 500+
Customer Support E-mail / App / Forum
Log Policy No-Logs Policy
Encryption Protocols OpenVPN, IPSec, WireGuardIKEv2
Supported Platforms Windows, Mac, iOS Based, Android, Linux Based, 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

 

Jurisdiction: Czech Republic

Privacy companies usually prefer a legal location in data havens. Data haven is a country with refuge for uninterrupted or regulated data. These legal environments tend to fit into 3 categories:

  • a physical location with weak extradition laws and information system enforcement
  • a physical location with strong protection of data
  • a virtual location domain to secure data via encryption

Some of the notable countries with one of the mentioned above are the British Virgin Islands, Panama, and Hong Kong.

However, Is the Czech Republic a privacy haven?

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 is a shared effort of 5 Eyes nations in focused cooperation with the Czech Republic.

Streaming Movies and TV Shows With Avast SecureLine VPN

Does the VPN work with Netflix?

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 doesn’t have an app for Amazon Fire TV stick, or for Amazon Fire TV or any smart TVs. It also doesn’t offer support for gaming consoles such as Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch.

Features

Main Operating Systems Supported

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 in order to find and load the page. This is where DNS comes in. DNS stands for Domain Name System, and t translates the website address you typed in 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.

Split Tunneling

Avast SecureLine VPN allows Split Tunneling. This means you can choose which apps you want to be connected through the VPN and which you would like to use from your actual location.

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.

Account Data Retention:

The privacy policy on the Avast SecureLine website says the following.

“Account data helps us manage your account, facilitate your login to the service, and tells us how to reach you. It includes information needed to set up and customize an account, such as your email address and username, and information connected with our services, such as license keys. Some products, such as free antivirus, do not require setting up an Avast account.”

They Keep Product Data:

“Device data information about the operating system and hardware you use: device location, error logs, browser, network, and applications running on your device, including Avast products.”

“Service data about product performance on your device, which tells us how to keep you safe and how to optimize your device’s performance. This data includes malware samples and detections, information concerning website URLs, usage statistics (activation, crashes, scans, errors), and your IP address.”

Finally, They Also Retain Billing Data:

“Billing data includes your name, email address, masked credit card number, license information, and in certain circumstances, your billing address and your phone number. We use it to send you purchase receipts, process payment and billing records, and to check for renewal, validity, and customer support. Billing data is collected only for paid apps.”

 

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.

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 the Czech Republic.

Does this VPN Work in China?

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

The Great Firewall of China are legislative technologies that the People’s Republic of China uses to regulate the internet within its borders. This joint effort between government monitors and technology and telecommunications companies is compelled to enforce 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 offers automated instantaneous customer support through their website. Like other VPN providers they offer chat, phone and web based customer support for paying users.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Inexpensive on 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

 

Avast SecureLine VPN Overview

Server Locations 55
Server Numbers 700+
Customer Support E-mail / Live Chat / Contact Form
Log Policy No-Logs Policy
Encryption Protocols OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec, WireGuard, L2TP (Manual setup) IKEv2
Supported Platforms Windows, Mac, iOS Based, Android, Kindle, Linux Based, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Kodi, Android TV IKEv2
Routers Supported No/Others Manual
Simultaneous Connections Up to 10
Split Tunneling No
Kill Switch Yes
Torrenting Yes
Country of Registration Czech Republic
Dedicated IP No
Smart DNS No
Multi-hop No
Price $3.99 – $4.99
Free trial/money-back guarantee 30-day Money-back Guarantee, 60 Day Trial with Credit Card

 

 

 

Pricing

Prices range between $4.39 to $10.99 per month.

$4.39 per month if you subscribe for two or three years.

$4.59 per month if you subscribe for one year.

$10.99 if you choose a monthly subscription.

Is There a Free Trial?

Yes. There is a 60-day trial available with a credit card.

Privacy

According to Avast 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.

Money-Back Guarantee

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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 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 Summary

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.

Avast SecureLineVPN FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

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 downsides are 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.

 How much does it cost?

 Prices range from $4.39 for a one-year or two-year subscription to $10.99 if you choose a monthly subscription.

Are there extensions for Chrome and Firefox?

Yes!

Is Avast SecureLine safe?

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

 Does Avast SecureLine VPN have a free trial?

 Yes. There is a 60-day free trial with credit card.

 What is the difference between the Avast SecureLine VPN and the 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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