Avast SecureLine VPN quick detailsOur score: 3.4 stars out of 5
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Whereas Avast is thought for its antivirus software program, it additionally provides a digital non-public 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 security measures present in different VPNs and is held again by Avast’s previous privateness controversies. At the moment, Avast SecureLine VPN is out there for Home windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Android TV.
Avast SecureLine VPN pricing
| Length | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 12 months | $4.59 per 30 days |
| 2 years | $4.39 per 30 days |
| 3 years | $4.39 per 30 days |
| 60-day Free Trial | Accessible on Home windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Android TV after offering cost data. |
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 30 days and $4.29 per 30 days, respectively. This falls between the midrange amongst competing VPNs, with Personal Web Entry VPN’s one-year subscription at $3.33 per 30 days and NordVPN’s Primary annual plan at $4.99 per 30 days.
SEE: Avast SecureLine VPN vs NordVPN (TechRepublic)
Whereas it sits at a reasonably affordable worth, I argue that Avast SecureLine’s function 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 reasonably priced pricing to make its worth proposition extra interesting — even with the lesser function package deal.
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 like a missed alternative since different VPNs often decrease the month-to-month worth for longer contract choices to entice prospects to lock in for longer.
Avast SecureLine VPN has one saving grace — its free trial. Whereas different corporations provide seven-day free trials or 30-day money-back ensures, SecureLine has a beneficiant 60-day trial on all its supported platforms. Be mindful, 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 pondering of going for a one-month plan might be higher off with a free trial that has much less strings connected. I strongly suggest anybody inquisitive about making an attempt Avast SecureLine VPN to positively begin with the 60-day free trial.
Is Avast SecureLine VPN secure?
Personally, I’d not contemplate Avast SecureLine a secure VPN in 2024. Whereas the VPN itself hits the requisite security measures we count on 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 customers’ privateness. Within the assertion, the FTC mentioned that Avast had “collected a treasure trove of consumer data by means of its antivirus software program and browser extensions with out individuals’s consent.” Moreover, it discovered that the corporate had truly “offered the knowledge by means of its subsidiary Jumpshot,” once more with out consent.
Whereas the above incident doesn’t contain Avast SecureLine VPN straight, it’s an alarming improvement 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 substantiate these claims.
On the flipside, Avast publishes Transparency Stories that give helpful 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 assume Avast SecureLine VPN is an efficient choose if safety and knowledge safety are prime priorities.
Key options of Avast SecureLine VPN
Avast SecureLine VPN comes with totally different usability and security measures that shield consumer knowledge. I’ve listed a number of the key options I feel it’s best to find out about.
Good VPN mode
SecureLine’s Good VPN mode permits the consumer to set totally different sensible guidelines and cases that robotically flip the VPN on or off (Determine A). This provides 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 may also set Trusted Websites that don’t should be accessed through the VPN in the event 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 at the moment. 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 common 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 positively give Avast credit score for.
SEE: Crowdstrike Falcon vs Avast: Endpoint Safety Software program (TechRepublic)
As much as 10 machine connections
Avast means that you can join as much as 10 gadgets concurrently with one VPN subscription. Whereas limitless machine entry is one of the best state of affairs, having 10 allowable connections is already on the highest finish quantity in comparison with different VPNs obtainable at the moment.
To contextualize, the standard variety of allowed gadgets on different VPN providers 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 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 essentially the most half, the connection was quick and I didn’t expertise any noticeable issues in each velocity 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 velocity check outcomes, which have been extra combined. For obtain speeds, it recorded solely a 7.3% drop in velocity in comparison with my web service supplier — a wonderful end result. Nonetheless, add speeds have been a stark distinction, recording a 92.8% drop in opposition to my ISP. When it comes to VPN velocity, 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 properly when it comes to DNS leak safety. After I ran it by means of a public DNS leak software, utilizing a number of server places and working it quite a lot of instances, SecureLine recorded zero DNS leaks all through.
Lastly, Avast SecureLine’s VPN Home windows app was easy and intuitive. I had no hassle utilizing the app, and all of the options have been straightforward to search out. I want that it had extra options usually, 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 studies have the quantity at round 700 servers.
Determine C
This provides SecureLine one of many smallest server networks obtainable, which is a downside if you’d like extra decisions for velocity or flexibility when it comes to places. The smaller server depend additionally isn’t splendid given Avast’s middle-tier pricing.
SEE: 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 respect that Avast segments one of the best servers for streaming and torrenting — a plus in the event you’re VPN searching for these particular use circumstances (Determine D).
Determine D
Sadly, SecureLine VPN lacks extra safety and privacy-focused server options comparable to break up tunneling (solely obtainable on their Android app) or multihop servers that privateness fanatics could also be looking out for.
Avast SecureLine VPN execs
- 60-day free trial.
- Good VPN mode permits for user-generated guidelines.
- As much as 10 simultaneous machine connections.
- Respectable 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 velocity check outcomes.
- Missing security-centered options.
Who’s Avast SecureLine VPN greatest for?
Avast SecureLine VPN is usually a respectable VPN choose in the event you’re searching for 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 join is comparatively straightforward. SecureLine additionally has a quite simple utility that may enchantment to first-time VPN customers.
Nonetheless, it lacks standout security measures 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, sturdy 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 study extra, test our full Surfshark VPN assessment.
NordVPN
In case you’re searching for an all-around safety platform, NordVPN is a best choice. It has a wholesome server community, built-in menace safety in opposition to malware, and constantly quick speeds. NordVPN has additionally proven sturdy dedication to impartial third-party testing for extra transparency.
If you wish to study extra, test our full NordVPN assessment.
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 powerful menace supervisor function that blocks suspicious websites. It additionally has a break up tunneling function that enables customers to pick out which visitors they need routed to the VPN and which to their web service supplier.
If you wish to study extra, test our full ExpressVPN assessment.
How we evaluated Avast SecureLine VPN
My assessment of Avast SecureLine VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its security measures, pricing and real-world efficiency. I used SecureLine by means of Avast’s 60-day free trial of the VPN service on my Home windows pc.
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 instances by means of DNSLeakTest.
Lastly, I scored Avast SecureLine VPN based mostly on properties comparable to its protocols and worth utilizing an inner 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 providers.
