Avast SecureLine VPN Overview (2023): Pricing, Professionals & Cons

Whereas Avast is thought for its antivirus software program, it additionally affords a digital personal community referred to as Avast SecureLine VPN, which options one of many longest free trials for a VPN service I’ve tried and a simple-to-use Home windows utility.

Nonetheless, it lacks standout safety features to warrant its middle-of-the-road pricing and is held again by Avast’s previous privateness controversies. At present, Avast SecureLine VPN is out there for Home windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Android TV.

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Avast SecureLine VPN pricing

At first look, Avast SecureLine’s pricing falls within the midrange amongst the competitors. Whereas the annual plan is $4.59 per 30 days, the general characteristic set and server community affords do pale compared to different providers. On this regard, I’d have most popular if Avast had a extra inexpensive worth to assist it higher stand out from different VPNs.

The two-year plan isn’t the perfect worth both. Different VPNs have decrease prices for his or her plans on the 2-year or 3-year mark. SecureLine, nonetheless, solely provides you a $0.20 financial savings when you go for the two-year subscription as an alternative of the annual plan. The 1-month subscription additionally falls throughout the center floor by way of pricing for a month-to-month VPN plan.

Avast SecureLine has one saving grace, and that’s 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, and no bank card is required.

Anybody interested by making an attempt Avast SecureLine VPN ought to undoubtedly begin with the 60-day free trial.

Is Avast SecureLine VPN secure?

On paper, Avast SecureLine VPN has the requisite 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 change and protects in opposition to area identify system leaks.

There are, nonetheless, areas of concern that weaken SecureLine’s case for safety. Like most VPNs, Avast SecureLine has a no logs coverage that states they don’t log apps used, web sites visited or content material consumed. Nonetheless, Avast doesn’t at the moment have a third-party impartial audit that confirms this coverage.

As well as, Avast fell sufferer to a cyberattack again in 2019, the place an inside Avast account was reportedly compromised. In 2020, Avast’s free antivirus was additionally reportedly discovered to have been promoting person net looking knowledge by way of a subsidiary referred to as Jumpshot — a crimson flag particularly for a safety software program firm. Whereas these two controversies don’t contain SecureLine VPN itself, they’re essential issues to know when you’re contemplating SecureLine as a doable VPN possibility.

To Avast SecureLine’s credit score, they publish Transparency Stories and Warrant Canaries that give invaluable 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 knowledge sharing or intelligence alliance.

Key options of Avast SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN comes with totally different useability and safety features that shield person knowledge. I’ve listed among the key options I believe you must learn about.

Good VPN mode

SecureLine’s Good VPN mode permits the person to set totally different sensible guidelines and cases that routinely flip the VPN on or off (Determine A). This offers customers the pliability to personalize their VPN expertise, relying on their wants and workflow.

Determine A

Customers can set the VPN to activate whereas on a public community, banking websites, torrenting apps or streaming websites. You too can set Trusted Websites that don’t should be accessed by way of the VPN when 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 as we speak. VPNs normally 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 ordinary durations without 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.

As much as 10 system connections

Avast lets you join as much as 10 units 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 as we speak.

To contextualize, the standard variety of allowed units on different VPN providers ranges from round 5–8.

Pace and efficiency: How briskly is Avast SecureLine VPN?

For pace, Avast was common to below-average. I used SecureLine VPN to do work in Google Workspace (Docs, Drive), stream Spotify, attend video calls and watch YouTube movies. Whereas connections had been typically steady, I felt that the pace was slower than ordinary. Specifically, webpages and picture thumbnails appeared to load slower.

The story is identical with SecureLine’s add speeds. Whereas drops in pace are anticipated with VPNs, I recorded an 85% drop in add speeds with SecureLine in comparison with once I was linked to my web service supplier. It is a vital lower, particularly since I used to be linked to what SecureLine thought of an optimum server based mostly on my location. In the meantime, obtain speeds had been extra cheap with round a 38% drop in pace.

SecureLine carried out properly by way of DNS leak safety. I recorded zero DNS leaks with the VPN, even once I ran it by a public DNS leak software a number of occasions utilizing totally different servers and areas.

Lastly, Avast SecureLine’s VPN Home windows app was easy and intuitive. I had no hassle utilizing the app and all of the options had been straightforward to search 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 areas

Avast SecureLine VPN grants you entry to servers (Determine C) in round 36 nations 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 offers SecureLine one of many smallest server networks out there, which is a disadvantage if you’d like extra selections for pace or flexibility by way of areas. The smaller server rely additionally isn’t best given Avast’s middle-tier pricing.

SecureLine’s nation unfold is first rate although. You have got 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 for when you’re VPN looking for these particular use instances (Determine D).

Determine D

Sadly, SecureLine VPN lacks extra safety and privacy-focused server options comparable to break up tunneling (solely out there on their Android app) or multihop servers that privateness fans 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 system connections
• First rate nation and placement unfold
• Easy to make use of Home windows app

Avast SecureLine VPN cons

• Lack of an impartial audit
• Avast has a controversial privateness historical past
• Small server suite
• Slower speeds
• Missing security-centered options

Who’s Avast SecureLine VPN finest for?

Avast SecureLine VPN generally is a first rate VPN decide when you’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 date 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 safety features and carries smaller server networks in comparison with different VPNs. SecureLine additionally suffers from the privateness controversies related to Avast and lacks an impartial audit for its no logs coverage.

Avast SecureLine VPN 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 offers limitless simultaneous connections, permitting customers to safe and shield a number of units.

NordVPN

For those who’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 constantly quick speeds. NordVPN has additionally proven sturdy dedication to impartial third-party testing for extra transparency.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one other strong VPN answer. 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 break up tunneling characteristic that permits customers to pick out which visitors they need routed to the VPN and which to their web service supplier.

How we evaluated Avast SecureLine VPN

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

Lastly, I scored Avast SecureLine VPN based mostly on properties comparable to its protocols and worth utilizing an inside 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.