Short Review: Avast Scureline comes from a very reputable cybersecurity family. But their logging policy, jurisdiction, and lack of security features make them less worthy. The product’s price is comparatively higher than other best VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Avast SecureLine VPN’s jurisdiction and shady logging policy make it controversial among its competitors. Many people on Redditt were not recommending the Avast VPN to others. Thus, I decided to look for the truth myself. To see if Avast VPN was as reliable and secure as they claimed, I first subscribed to the service and decided to review the service provider in detail. I reviewed the VPN on 11 different factors before drawing my final verdict. If you want to know whether the VPN performs well and whether it is worth investing in it, continue reading the Avast Secureline VPN review.
Avast VPN is a new name in the VPN industry. The service provider was launched in 2013 by the famous cybersecurity company Avast which offers several other cybersecurity products, such as anti-virus software.
Several VPNs exist, meaning you should offer exceptional service and features to stand out in the competitive market. Avast VPN is relatively new in the market but is an excellent introductory VPN for many casual internet users. When I first glanced at the VPN feature, I was disappointed that it lacks many advanced features that prevent it from being the best choice for small businesses.
To know more about Avast VPN, let’s dive into this article.
Quick Overview
Before we begin with the detailed review, have a quick overview of Avast Secureline VPN’s features:
| Factors | Avast VPN |
| Jurisdiction | Czech Republic (not safe) |
| Number of servers | 700 servers in 34 countries |
| Encryption | AES-256 bit |
| Speed | Average |
| Protocols used | OpenVPN, IPSec |
| Operates in China | No |
| Logging Policy | Do keep data logs |
| Supports Torrenting | Yes |
| Streaming Abilities | Unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus |
| No, the simultaneous connection | Up to 10 devices |
Now, let’s start with the detailed Avast VPN.
Encryption & Security
Avast VPN protects your data with military-grade encryption and secure encryption protocols.
Like many other top-tier VPNs, it uses AES-256-bit encryption to safeguard users’ data from all snooping eyes. It also uses the OpenVPN protocol, which secures your data with OpenSSL libraries via the UDP ports when you connect to the VPN. The OpenVPN protocol balances security and fast speed, so there’s no issue with the VPN’s encryption standard.
The VPN also comes with a built-in kill switch. This feature is handy and protects your IP address and other sensitive information from getting leaked when the VPN connection drops accidentally.
One of the most crucial functions of a VPN is to mask your IP address. Your VPN should hide your actual IP address from the websites you visit. I conducted various leak tests to determine if Avast was leaking my DNS or IP address.
The test results were impressive, as I found no DNS or IP leaks while browsing the internet with Avast VPN.
Avast VPN has no security-oriented features except a kill switch and protection against DNS and IP leaks. The absence of a double VPN split tunneling or an ad-blocker makes Avast much less than its rivals.
Jurisdiction and Logging Policy
Avast VPN has its headquarters in the Czech Republic. The country is not a member state of the five eyes, nine eyes, and 14 eyes alliance. But, the real problem is that the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union. As per the law, the data retention laws of the European Union are applicable in the Czech Republic, which can put users’ privacy at significant risk.
To enjoy most online privacy, you have a second option, too: the VPN’s logging policy. A VPN that follows a no-log policy can never record or share your data with anyone under any circumstances.
According to the company’s website, Avast VPN has a zero-logging policy. The service provider promises not to record sensitive information like their IP address, apps used, the websites visited, and data related to any other online activity.
But, I was disappointed that the VPN collects connection data. They collect and record connection logs, such as the amount of data transmitted and connection timestamp for 35 days.
Thus, Avast VPN doesn’t have a zero-logging policy, affecting its credibility. Avast is not the right choice if someone wants to use a VPN for maximum privacy protection.
Does Avast VPN Work in China?
China has strict internet privacy laws that prevent users from accessing the internet. The Chinese government takes this matter seriously and has banned all anonymity and privacy tools that help users to access the internet. For this reason, China has blocked access to several VPN providers. Those VPNs that offer unique features to bypass the strict censorship filters can work in China.
Unfortunately, Avast VPN is not among those VPNs that work in China. It uses OpenVPN protocol that the Great Firewall of China can easily detect.
Apart from this, Avast VPN doesn’t offer servers within China or in its neighboring countries. It lacks advanced features like the obfuscation server or the Stealth mode that disguises the VPN traffic as regular traffic and helps bypass the strict censorship filters.
Server Network
Avast VPN has recently updated its servers. Now, it has 700 servers spread over 34 countries and 55 cities. If you are a beginner, this may sound like a lot to you, but many other VPNs have a much more extensive server network, so it’s a significant drawback rather than a benefit. NordVPN has over 5,000 servers in 59 countries, while ExpessVPN has over 3000 servers in 94 countries.
No Simultaneous connections
Avast VPN allows users to connect up to ten devices at a time. You might think that it is a great feature, but in reality, it isn’t. More device connections can make your overall connection slow.
Speed test
Speed is an essential factor when selecting a VPN. A VPN offering slow internet speed isn’t recommended for use. Sound speed is crucial for streaming, torrenting, and playing games, so to test Avast VPN for its speed, I conducted a speed test on multiple servers.
First, I connected the VPN to a local server in the US, and the results were somehow satisfactory. The speeds were above average but not fast. But, when I tested the VPN on an international server, such as the UK, the results were not impressive. The speeds were below average, and there were connection lags too. As a whole, Avast VPN lags behind its competitors in this area. It provides an average connection speed that is unreliable at times.
Compatibility with other devices
Compatibility was another factor on which I tested Avast Secureline VPN. It was pretty satisfying to know that the VPN was compatible with Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android. The VPN also offers dedicated and easy-to-use apps for these platforms.
But when I tested the VPN on Linux, it didn’t work. Even if it doesn’t offer manual configuration, you can’t install it on routers or other streaming devices like Firestick TV.
Streaming Abilities
Avast VPN has a hard time with streaming services. I tested the VPN on five streaming platforms: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Hulu, and obtained mixed results.
The VPN worked well on Netflix. It successfully unblocks US Netflix as well as other regions’ Netflix libraries. The video quality was in HD, and there were no buffering and connection lags throughout the streaming experience. It won’t be wrong to say that Avast VPN is a good choice for streaming Netflix.
The service provider also unblocked Amazon Prime and Disney Plus without issue but failed to unblock BBC iPlayer and Hulu. I tried multiple times but got the same results every time. This is another drawback of Avast VPN and can distract users from using it.
Torrenting
Avast VPN supports P2P file sharing and allows users to download torrents. It comes with some dedicated P2P servers that make downloading torrents easy.
When downloading torrents, security also matters a lot. Avast VPN offers essential features like a built-in kill switch and DNS/IP leak protection to protect your anonymity and safety while torrenting.
But on the other hand, it offers a minimal server network and doesn’t have other torrent-focused features like split tunneling and SOCKS5, making it not an ideal VPN for torrenting. Also, it collects and retains connection logs for 30 days. By keeping the connection logs, the company is not entirely keeping you private, and you might not like that, too, so it isn’t recommended to use either for torrenting.
Customer Support
Avast VPN offers different customer support services for individuals and businesses. It is a good initiative that many other service providers lack. If you experience any issues while using the Avast VPN, there are a few places to resolve the issue.
The VPN offers telephonic support. You can call on the given toll-free number to get fixed any technical issues you face. The company also provides a help section on its website. Here you can find answers to FAQs, guides, and blogs. Also, there’s email support too.
But I was disappointed that it doesn’t offer 24/7 live chat support. It is an effective strategy to deal with customers’ queries at any time with no extra charges.
To sum up, Avast VPN customer support can improve by introducing the live chat support feature.
Value for money
Avast VPN is cheap in terms of price. Its pricing is much more affordable than many other service providers. Moreover, it offers three different subscription plans, each of which lasts for a longer time.
Here’s a look at Avast subscription packages.
- 1-year plan for $4.99/month
- 2-year plan for $3.99/ month
- 3-year plan for $3.99/ month
You can easily buy subscription plans via their website and pay through credit/debit cards or PayPal. Avast doesn’t accept any other payment method not anonymous cryptography.
Free Trial and Refund Policy
According to their website claim, it also offers a free version for a limited time. You can try Avast VPN for free for seven days, and you don’t even need to pay. Apart from this, the VPN also offers a refund policy.
If, after subscribing to the VPN, you aren’t satisfied with the service, you can claim a refund. For a full refund, visit Avast VPN’s website and tap the support tab. You will see an option for a request form. You need to fill it out to forward your refund policy. Please note that it might take a week to get your money back.
Avast SecureLine VPN pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unblocks Netflix | Few P2P and streaming servers |
| Military-grade encryption | No monthly subscriptions |
| Easy to use | No many features |
| Sleek user interface | Page loading issues |
| Fast download speed |
Avast SecureLine VPN interface and ease of use
Avast SecureLine is compatible with many devices, including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. All its applications are easy to use, saving you a lot of time, even if you are a beginner.
- iOS: Due to the restrictive nature of iOS, the additional features in Avast SecureLine applications for iOS devices are limited compared to other devices. For instance, IPSec is the only tunneling protocol with no change option. However, the interface design is impressive and looks similar to Android apps.
- Android: The Avast SecureLine application for Android devices is super cool, with many additional features. For instance, it is the only application version with a split tunneling feature that allows you to exempt certain apps from using the VPN connection. The interface looks sleek and looks similar to the Windows application.
- Windows: The VPN has a magnificent Windows interface that looks sleek and responsive. However, its aesthetics may be covering for missing functionality. For instance, its menu is cluttered with buttons, making it challenging to find the settings menu. If you accidentally click the wrong button, it may install additional programs without asking for permission.
- MacOS: The Avast SecureLine application for MacOS looks similar to the Windows application, with a few missing or additional features. The main difference is in the tunneling protocol, where MacOS uses IPSec while Windows has OpenVPN protocol.
Should I recommend Avast VPN to others?
Avast VPN provides essential services at an affordable price. It provides top-notch level encryption standards and VPN leak protection. But there are many areas where it didn’t work well.
After this detailed Avast SecureLine VPN, I won’t recommend it to all users; there are valid reasons. The VPN has serious drawbacks that don’t guarantee complete privacy and anonymity and raise questions about its credibility. No one likes to use a VPN that keeps user logs and lacks security-focused features. Moreover, it has a small server network that doesn’t provide fast speed connection. I would rate it 3/5, hoping it will improve its services.
Avast SecureLine VPN features
Avast SecureLine VPN is rather basic compared to other premium VPNs. For example, it doesn’t have advanced features like port forwarding. However, it has a pretty solid list of features for basic use. Here are some of the outstanding features.
- Split Tunneling: The VPN only has the split tunneling feature in Android applications. This allows you to exempt specific applications from connecting via a VPN. For instance, you could set your browser and Netflix to connect through a VPN and allow the rest of the applications to connect directly to the internet. This comes in handy when accessing some applications, like online banking.
- Smart rules: You can customize your Avast SecureLine VPN by setting custom rules of how it should behave under different circumstances. For example, you can set rules to automatically switch it on when visiting sensitive websites or using banking applications.
- Password leak checker: The VPN has a leak checker that scans the internet to determine if your credentials have been compromised. The feature only prompts you to enter your email address, then checks if there is a record of breached passwords associated with the email address.
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About the Author
Rebecca James is an IT consultant with forward thinking approach toward developing IT infrastructures of SMEs. She writes to engage with individuals and raise awareness of digital security, privacy, and better IT infrastructure.
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