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Avast SecureLine VPN - Full Review
Avast was and still is a prominent name in the cybersecurity industry, especially in the antivirus software sector. Recently, though, the company decided to venture into the realm of VPNs with Avast SecureLine VPN, which has made quite a name for itself in under six years.
With impressive encryption security, Avast SecureLine is a notable contender. The detailed support pages and option to chat with a real live person make it accessible to everyday users who lack in-depth knowledge of VPN technology.
But is Avast SecureLine VPN capable enough to rival leading VPN providers such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN? Our Avast VPN review attempts to address exactly that question.
Speed
With Avast’s reputability in the antivirus sphere, we’re going to focus more on its speed. Like with all VPN products, a big concern is whether the system will be able to load content quickly while also working hard to access information via distant server locations.
Across the product market, SecureLine has less servers than some of its competitors like NordVPN or ExpressVPN. This doesn’t necessarily hinder overall access, since the Avast offering covers a wide variety of locations, including parts of South America and Africa.
However, according to Avast VPN’s advertisements, the platform has no bandwidth limits and is able to support lightning-fast speeds of up to 2Gbps, so we decided to put this bold claim to the test.
We used a connection that has an average download speed of around 68Mbps for our tests. We connected first to a server in what Avast VPN indicated as the “Optimal Location” for our connection. We were able to pull off download speeds of around 66-67Mbps. Off to a good start!
Next we tested our connection on a UK server, and we got download speeds of around 66Mbps. We then connected to a server in Germany, which gave us a download speed of about 44Mbps. A significant drop there, but still quite impressive.
And lastly, we connected to a server based in Australia; the farthest it can be from our physical location, and we got a download speed of around 3Mbps, pretty slow yet given the distant we can accept a drop such as that. (Note that the farther you are from a server, the slower it’ll be).
All that said, Avast’s performance in speed tests isn’t as consistent or reliable as other options. In some cases, the VPN connection slows down internet speeds by more than 50%. Others have seen improvements in overall connectivity speeds when logged onto the VPN servers, as compared to accessing content from a standard connection.
So while they live up to their claim of delivering super fast speeds, it’s inconsistency leaves something to be desired.
Streaming
Avast SecureLine VPN displays an admirable streaming performance. We were able to stream different Netflix libraries without any problems. Further, we weren’t blocked by any VPN bans.
Moreover, we were able to access HBO GO, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Price without any geo-restrictions. We have zero complaints about Avast VPN’s streaming performance.
Torrenting
Avast SecureLine VPN offers P2P support on some of its servers. You’ll find it easy to tell servers that are optimized for torrenting from the ones that are in the server selection screen.
One thing you must keep in mind, however, is that the company gathers some connection logs and keeps them for 30 days. One of the pieces of information that they collect is the amount of data that is transmitted per session. This may be a deterrent factor for users looking for a VPN service with a strict no-logs policy.
Avast SecureLine VPN is equipped with a host of safety features that make it worth checking out, though, despite the fact that it keeps some logs. Some of these features include bank-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection.
Here are 8 locations where Avast has P2P servers located:
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Paris, France
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- London, UK
- Miami, New York and Seattle, USA
Gaming
Despite having a fairly limited network of 700 servers in 55 locations and 34 countries, we think Avast VPN is a fair choice for gamers. While it offers good speeds, they require a higher level of consistency to be of great value to gamers.
Compared with other competitors whose VPN services extend to specific services for gamers, SecureLine doesn’t come close to having these options available to its users. If you are someone looking for a VPN service that allows you to play simultaneously, SecureLine is not the best option available.
View our suggestions for the best VPN for gamers where we give more comprehensive options.
Free Trial
Avast SecureLine VPN offers a 7-day free trial period that doesn’t require you to enter your credit card credentials or even create an account.
It’s not the most generous free trial period, but it’s enough for users to form a decision as to whether Avast VPN is suitable for their needs or not.
Subscription Plans
Pricing-wise, Avast SecureLine makes for an excellent short-term VPN because of how cheap its monthly plan is. Longer subscription plans come with discounts, but the discounts aren’t all that significant.
If you’re in search of a long-term VPN service, we wouldn’t recommend Avast VPN, as there are other popular alternatives offering their services at a more cost-effective price.
Avast SecureLine VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, So, if you’re not satisfied with its services, you can request a full refund with no questions asked.
You don’t have to call customer service to request your refund. It can be done on the Avast website, and it won’t take any more than a couple of minutes.
Split Tunneling
Avast VPN enables you to choose which applications can use the VPN tunnel and which ones can’t. For instance, you can stream your favorite TV shows using the VPN whilst surfing the web without your surfing activities passing through the VPN tunnel.
The platform also features a “Connection Rules” panel, which enables you to decide the time when the service connects or disconnects automatically.
DNS Leak Test Results
Without reliable DNS leak protection, your IP or physical location information can be leaked with ease. Luckily, Avast SecureLine VPN features excellent DNS leak protection that covers your IPv4 and completely eliminates IPv6 requests, so you don’t have to worry about your location getting leaked.
Company Ownership
Avast SecureLine VPN is owned by the cybersecurity company Avast, which was founded back in 1988 in Prague, Czech Republic (Czechia). Avast VPN itself was launched in 2014.
Server Locations
Avast VPN’s server network spans 55 locations in 34 countries. To be more specific, the VPN flaunts a network of over 700 servers, which isn’t much compared to leading providers such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but it’s functional, overall.
FAQ
Is SecureLine VPN Worth It?
Although subscriptions aren’t overly expensive, they aren’t as cheap as many other VPN providers. Minor discounts exist for paid-in-advance, extended subscriptions, but it’s not quite significant enough to justify if you’re not sure whether you will use the service long-term. The pricing structures for SecureLine can be a little confusing since they depend on the type of device a user has and how many devices they would like to sign up.
There is a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on the plus side, just in case it isn’t quite what you were looking for. They’ve thankfully made refund requests simple, quick, and doable online.
Is SecureLine VPN Safe?
The SecureLine VPN does an effective job of masking your I.P. address. When tested for data leaks, it passed with flying colors. The automatic kill switch is noteworthy here because it prevents your VPN connection from dropping without your knowledge. Avast has gone far and above to demonstrate their interests in the safekeeping of your privacy by using 256-bit AES, bank-grade encryption, and DNS/Ipv6 leak protection. This encryption level is currently considered the best you can purchase. They also offer a choice in protocols (IPSec or OpenVPN), on UDP.
Despite having a zero-logging policy, the company is transparent about collecting certain logs involving connection timestamps and amounts of transmitted data. Logs are maintained for up to thirty days, and Avast SecureLine makes it clear in their privacy policy that they do not collect data about your activities that take place online.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Diverse server locations worldwide
- Automatic kill switch
- Money-Back Guarantee
- Encryption levels and data leakage protection
Cons
- Use of connectivity logging
- No router support
The Verdict
All things considered, Avast SecureLine VPN seems to be a pretty well-rounded VPN service. It boasts superb connection speeds, reliable streaming and torrenting performance, and steadfast security features.
There are, however, a few things that we don’t like about the service, including their logging of some sessions, consistency of holding high speeds, limited server network, and lack of advanced features.
Given the quality of its customer service offerings and simple app and website design, the average user shouldn’t have any problem accessing and using SecureLine’s protection services’ benefits. For more advanced users looking for consistent speeds, large server offerings, and ironclad connection log protections, however, Avast’s SecureLine may not be the best choice.
We’d opt for Avast SecureLine VPN as a short-term VPN service, but we can think of numerous services that’d make better long-term alternatives.
