While Avast is understood for its antivirus tool, it additionally gives a digital personal community known as Avast SecureLine VPN. It options one of the most longest unfastened trials for a VPN carrier I’ve attempted and a simple-to-use Windows utility.

Despite this, it lacks most sensible security measures present in different VPNs and is held again via Avast’s previous privateness controversies. Currently, Avast SecureLine VPN is to be had for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Android TV.

Avast SecureLine VPN pricing

When I first reviewed Avast SecureLine in 2023, its paid subscriptions had been divided right into a per month, a one-year, and a two-year subscription. In 2024, Avast got rid of the one-month plan and changed it with an extended, three-year subscription possibility.

Pricing for the one- and two-year subscriptions remained the similar as ultimate 12 months, coming at $4.59 per thirty days and $4.29 per thirty days, respectively. This falls between the midrange among competing VPNs, with Private Internet Access VPN’s one-year subscription at $3.33 per thirty days and NordVPN’s Basic annual plan at $4.99 per thirty days.

SEE: Avast SecureLine VPN vs NordVPN (roosho)

While it sits at a relatively cheap worth, I argue that Avast SecureLine’s function set and server community pales compared to the opposite VPNs at equivalent worth levels. In this situation, I might have most popular if Avast presented 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 supply a lot in the way in which of financial savings. Right now, they just supply a $0.20 cut price in comparison to the one-year subscription. To me, this turns out like a ignored alternative since different VPNs normally decrease the per month worth for longer contract choices to lure consumers to fasten in for longer.

Avast SecureLine VPN has one saving grace — its unfastened trial. While different firms be offering seven-day unfastened trials or 30-day money-back promises, SecureLine has a beneficiant 60-day trial on all its supported platforms. Keep in thoughts, you’ll have to supply fee knowledge in the beginning of the trial, however you received’t be charged till after 60 days.

This 60-day trial is most likely the explanation why the one-month subscription used to be got rid of altogether, as any individual considering of going for a one-month plan will probably be with a unfastened trial that has much less strings hooked up. I strongly suggest any individual all for making an attempt Avast SecureLine VPN to indubitably get started with the 60-day unfastened trial.

Is Avast SecureLine VPN secure?

Personally, I might now not imagine Avast SecureLine a secure VPN in 2024. While the VPN itself hits the needful security measures we predict out of a contemporary VPN, it’s let down via the corporate’s regarding incidents with consumer knowledge.

On paper, Avast SecureLine VPN has the VPN protocols and lines to be deemed secure. It carries the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols — the 2 maximum 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 transfer, and protects in opposition to area title machine leaks.

SEE: The 6 Best Antivirus Software Options for Windows in 2024 (roosho)

Unfortunately, Avast as an organization has been all for a ton of controversy referring to consumer knowledge. In February 2024, the USA Federal Trade Commission introduced that Avast must pay $16.5 million for compromising shoppers’ privateness. In the remark, the FTC mentioned that Avast had “collected a treasure trove of user information through its antivirus software and browser extensions without people’s consent.” Furthermore, it discovered that the corporate had in truth “sold the information through its subsidiary Jumpshot,” once more with out consent.

While the above incident doesn’t contain Avast SecureLine VPN without delay, it’s an alarming building given how a VPN is meant to protected your surfing knowledge. While Avast SecureLine has a no logs coverage that states they don’t log apps used, web sites visited, or content material ate up; it, sadly, doesn’t have a third-party audit to verify those claims.

On the flipside, Avast publishes Transparency Reports that give precious knowledge on govt requests and warrants issued to the corporate. It’s additionally based totally within the Czech Republic — a rustic that isn’t a member of any knowledge sharing or intelligence alliance.

Despite those efforts, I don’t suppose Avast SecureLine VPN is a great select if safety and knowledge coverage are most sensible priorities.

Key options of Avast SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN comes with other usability and security measures that offer protection to consumer knowledge. I’ve indexed probably the most key options I believe you will have to learn about.

Smart VPN mode

SecureLine’s Smart VPN mode lets in the consumer to set other good laws and circumstances that mechanically flip the VPN on or off (Figure A). This provides customers the versatility to personalize their VPN revel in, relying on their wishes and workflow.

Figure A

I love how customers can set the VPN to activate whilst on a public community, banking websites, torrenting apps, or streaming websites. You too can set Trusted Sites that don’t should be accessed by means of the VPN if you’re feeling they’re already secure.

60-day unfastened trial

SecureLine’s 60-day unfastened trial (Figure B) is without doubt one of the maximum beneficiant unfastened trial choices within the VPN area nowadays. VPNs normally be offering a 7-day unfastened trial or a 30-day money-back ensure (with an preliminary fee required).

Figure B

Avast’s 60-day trial greater than doubles standard periods without cost trials and best calls for PayPal or Mastercard main points with out an preliminary fee. This is a customer-friendly manner that I indubitably give Avast credit score for.

SEE: Crowdstrike Falcon vs Avast: Endpoint Security Software (roosho)

Up to ten tool connections

Avast lets you attach as much as 10 units concurrently with one VPN subscription. While limitless tool get admission to is the most productive state of affairs, having 10 allowable connections is already at the most sensible finish quantity in comparison to different VPNs to be had nowadays.

To contextualize, the standard collection of allowed units on different VPN products and services levels from round 5–8.

Speed and function: How rapid is Avast SecureLine VPN?

For pace, Avast SecureLine VPN’s efficiency fared just a little higher in comparison to once I first attempted it ultimate 12 months. I used SecureLine VPN to do paintings in Google Workspace (Docs, Drive), have a couple of tabs open for analysis, and attend video conferences.

For essentially the most section, the relationship used to be rapid and I didn’t revel in any noticeable issues in each pace and balance. However, I do fear that SecureLine’s smaller server community might result in inconsistent efficiency relying for your location.

This leads into SecureLine’s pace take a look at effects, which have been extra combined. For obtain speeds, it recorded just a 7.3% drop in pace in comparison to my web carrier supplier — a very good end result. However, add speeds had been a stark distinction, recording a 92.8% drop in opposition to my ISP. In phrases of VPN pace, my checking out confirmed that SecureLine may give excellent however inconsistent speeds. If having a quick connection all all over is necessary to you, VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN will possibly supply higher effects.

SecureLine carried out neatly when it comes to DNS leak coverage. When I ran it thru a public DNS leak instrument, the usage of a couple of server places and working it quite a few instances, SecureLine recorded 0 DNS leaks all over.

Lastly, Avast SecureLine’s VPN Windows app used to be straight forward and intuitive. I had no hassle the usage of the app, and all of the options had been clean to search out. I want that it had extra options on the whole, as the entire app revel in appeared just a little too bare-bones for my style.

Avast SecureLine VPN servers and places

Avast SecureLine VPN grants you get admission to to servers (Figure C) in round 37 nations and as much as 60 places. Avast doesn’t expose the precise collection of servers in SecureLine’s fleet, however experiences have the quantity at round 700 servers.

Figure C

This provides SecureLine one of the most smallest server networks to be had, which is a disadvantage if you wish to have extra alternatives for pace or flexibility when it comes to places. The smaller server rely additionally isn’t excellent given Avast’s middle-tier pricing.

SEE: How to Create an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program (roosho Premium)

SecureLine’s nation unfold is first rate despite the fact that. You have get admission to to servers in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa.

I admire that Avast segments the most productive servers for streaming and torrenting — a plus in the event you’re VPN purchasing for those explicit use instances (Figure D).

Figure D

Unfortunately, SecureLine VPN lacks extra safety and privacy-focused server options corresponding to cut up tunneling (best to be had on their Android app) or multihop servers that privateness fanatics could also be looking for.

Avast SecureLine VPN execs

• 60-day unfastened trial.
• Smart VPN mode lets in for user-generated laws.
• Up to ten simultaneous tool connections.
• Decent nation and site unfold.
• Simple to make use of Windows app.

Avast SecureLine VPN cons

• Lack of an unbiased audit.
• Avast controversies with consumer knowledge.
• Small server suite.
• Inconsistent pace take a look at effects.
• Lacking security-centered options.

Who is Avast SecureLine VPN easiest for?

Avast SecureLine VPN generally is a first rate VPN select in the event you’re searching for a carrier that has a beneficiant unfastened trial. Its 60-day unfastened trial is without doubt one of the longest I’ve noticed to this point, and the enroll is reasonably clean. SecureLine additionally has an easy utility that may attraction to first-time VPN customers.

However, it lacks standout security measures and carries smaller server networks in comparison to different VPNs. SecureLine additionally suffers from the numerous privateness controversies related to Avast, whilst additionally missing an unbiased audit for its no logs coverage.

Avast SecureLine VPN choices

Surfshark

Surfshark is without doubt one of the maximum well known VPNs. It has an easy-to-use interface, robust encryption, and 24/7 visitor beef up. It even supplies limitless simultaneous connections, permitting customers to protected and offer protection to a couple of units.

If you wish to have to be informed extra, test our complete Surfshark VPN evaluate.

NordVPN

If you’re searching for an all-around safety platform, NordVPN is a best choice. It has a wholesome server community, integrated danger coverage in opposition to malware, and constantly rapid speeds. NordVPN has additionally proven robust dedication to unbiased third-party checking out for extra transparency.

If you wish to have to be informed extra, test our complete NordVPN evaluate.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is every other forged VPN answer. It helps a couple of platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, or even routers) and carries a powerful danger supervisor function that blocks suspicious websites. It additionally has a cut up tunneling function that permits customers to make a choice which visitors they would like routed to the VPN and which to their web carrier supplier.

If you wish to have to be informed extra, test our complete ExpressVPN evaluate.

How we evaluated Avast SecureLine VPN

My evaluate of Avast SecureLine VPN concerned an in depth overview of its security measures, pricing and real-world efficiency. I used SecureLine thru Avast’s 60-day unfastened trial of the VPN carrier on my Windows laptop.

For add and obtain speeds, I examined SecureLine’s servers the usage of Ookla’s public Speedtest. To test for DNS leak coverage, I ran SecureLine a couple of instances thru DNSLeakTest.

Finally, I scored Avast SecureLine VPN in accordance with houses corresponding to its protocols and worth the usage of an inner set of rules to get a score of three.4 stars out of five. I checked out SecureLine each by itself and when it comes to different VPN products and services.