Avast SecureLine VPN quick detailsOur ranking: 3.4 stars out of 5
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Whereas Avast is thought for its antivirus software program, it additionally gives a digital personal community known 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 software.
Regardless of this, it lacks prime security measures 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
| Period | 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. |
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 possibility.
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 Fundamental annual plan at $4.99 per 30 days.
SEE: Avast SecureLine VPN vs NordVPN (TechRepublic)
Whereas it sits at a reasonably cheap value, I argue that Avast SecureLine’s function set and server community pales compared to the opposite VPNs at related value ranges. On this case, I might have most popular if Avast provided extra inexpensive pricing to make its worth proposition extra interesting — even with the lesser function bundle.
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 firms provide seven-day free trials or 30-day money-back ensures, SecureLine has a beneficiant 60-day trial on all its supported platforms. Consider, you’ll have to present cost data in the beginning 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 might be higher off with a free trial that has much less strings hooked up. I strongly suggest anybody interested by attempting Avast SecureLine VPN to undoubtedly begin with the 60-day free trial.
Is Avast SecureLine VPN secure?
Personally, I might not take into account Avast SecureLine a secure VPN in 2024. Whereas the VPN itself hits the requisite security measures we anticipate out of a contemporary VPN, it’s let down by the corporate’s regarding incidents with consumer 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 essential 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 concerning consumer 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 user information through its antivirus software and browser extensions without people’s consent.” Moreover, it discovered that the corporate had truly “sold the information through 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 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 substantiate these claims.
On the flipside, Avast publishes Transparency Stories that give invaluable 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 information sharing or intelligence alliance.
Regardless of these efforts, I don’t assume Avast SecureLine VPN is an efficient decide if safety and information safety are prime priorities.
Key options of Avast SecureLine VPN
Avast SecureLine VPN comes with totally different usability and security measures that shield consumer information. I’ve listed a number of the key options I believe you must learn about.
Sensible VPN mode
SecureLine’s Sensible VPN mode permits the consumer to set totally different good guidelines and situations that routinely 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 can too set Trusted Websites that don’t must be accessed through the VPN in case you really feel they’re already secure.
60-day free trial
SecureLine’s 60-day free trial (Determine B) is without doubt one of the most beneficiant free trial choices within the VPN area right this 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 regular durations at no cost trials and solely requires PayPal or Mastercard particulars with out an preliminary cost. It is 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 lets you join as much as 10 gadgets concurrently with one VPN subscription. Whereas limitless system entry is the most effective situation, having 10 allowable connections is already on the highest finish quantity in comparison with different VPNs accessible right this 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 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 could result in inconsistent efficiency relying in your location.
This leads into SecureLine’s pace take a look at outcomes, which had been extra blended. For obtain speeds, it recorded solely a 7.3% drop in pace in comparison with my web service supplier — a wonderful consequence. Nonetheless, add speeds had been a stark distinction, recording a 92.8% drop in opposition to my ISP. When it comes to VPN pace, my testing confirmed that SecureLine can present good however inconsistent speeds. If having a quick connection all all through is essential to you, VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN will most definitely present higher outcomes.
SecureLine carried out nicely when it comes to DNS leak safety. Once I ran it by a public DNS leak software, utilizing a number of server areas and working it quite a few 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 straightforward to search out. I want that it had extra options typically, as the entire app expertise appeared a bit too bare-bones for my style.
Avast SecureLine VPN servers and areas
Avast SecureLine VPN grants you entry to servers (Determine C) in round 37 international locations and as much as 60 areas. Avast doesn’t disclose the precise variety of servers in SecureLine’s fleet, however reviews have the quantity at round 700 servers.
Determine C
This provides SecureLine one of many smallest server networks accessible, which is a downside in order for you extra decisions for pace or flexibility when it comes to areas. The smaller server rely additionally isn’t very best given Avast’s middle-tier pricing.
SEE: How one can Create an Efficient Cybersecurity Consciousness Program (TechRepublic Premium)
SecureLine’s nation unfold is first rate although. You’ve entry to servers in Europe, the Americas, the Center East, Asia Pacific, and Africa.
I admire that Avast segments the most effective servers for streaming and torrenting — a plus in case you’re VPN looking for these particular use circumstances (Determine D).
Determine D
Sadly, SecureLine VPN lacks extra safety and privacy-focused server options akin to cut up tunneling (solely accessible on their Android app) or multihop servers that privateness lovers 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 site unfold.
- Easy to make use of Home windows app.
Avast SecureLine VPN cons
- Lack of an unbiased audit.
- Avast controversies with consumer information.
- Small server suite.
- Inconsistent pace take a look at outcomes.
- Missing security-centered options.
Who’s Avast SecureLine VPN finest for?
Avast SecureLine VPN is usually a first rate VPN decide in case you’re on the lookout for a service that has a beneficiant free trial. Its 60-day free trial is without doubt one of the longest I’ve seen to this point, and the enroll is comparatively straightforward. SecureLine additionally has a quite simple software that may attraction 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 unbiased audit for its no logs coverage.
Avast SecureLine VPN alternate options
Surfshark
Surfshark is without doubt one of the most well-known VPNs. It has an easy-to-use interface, robust encryption, and 24/7 buyer assist. It even gives limitless simultaneous connections, permitting customers to safe and shield a number of gadgets.
If you wish to study extra, examine our full Surfshark VPN overview.
NordVPN
In the event 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 in opposition to malware, and persistently quick speeds. NordVPN has additionally proven robust dedication to unbiased third-party testing for extra transparency.
If you wish to study extra, examine 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 function that blocks suspicious websites. It additionally has a cut up tunneling function that permits customers to pick which visitors they need routed to the VPN and which to their web service supplier.
If you wish to study extra, examine our full ExpressVPN overview.
How we evaluated Avast SecureLine VPN
My overview of Avast SecureLine VPN concerned an in depth evaluation of its security measures, 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 akin to its protocols and worth utilizing an inner 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.
