Avast SecureLine VPN fast factsOur rating: 3.4 stars out of 5
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While Avast is known for its antivirus software, it also offers a virtual private network called Avast SecureLine VPN. It features one of the longest free trials for a VPN service I’ve tried and a simple-to-use Windows application.
Despite this, it lacks top security features found in other VPNs and is held back by Avast’s past privacy controversies. Currently, Avast SecureLine VPN is available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Android TV.
Avast SecureLine VPN pricing
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $4.59 per month |
| 2 years | $4.39 per month |
| 3 years | $4.39 per month |
| 60-day Free Trial | Accessible on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Android TV after providing payment information. |
When I first reviewed Avast SecureLine in 2023, its paid subscriptions were divided into a monthly, a one-year, and a two-year subscription. In 2024, Avast removed the one-month plan and replaced it with a longer, three-year subscription option.
Pricing for the one- and two-year subscriptions remained the same as last year, coming at $4.59 per month and $4.29 per month, respectively. This falls between the midrange amongst competing VPNs, with Private Internet Access VPN’s one-year subscription at $3.33 per month and NordVPN’s Basic annual plan at $4.99 per month.
SEE: Avast SecureLine VPN vs NordVPN (TechRepublic)
While it sits at a fairly reasonable price, I argue that Avast SecureLine’s feature set and server network pales in comparison to the other VPNs at similar price ranges. In this case, I would have preferred if Avast offered more affordable pricing to make its value proposition more appealing — even with the lesser feature package.
Oddly enough, both the two-year plan and the new three-year subscription don’t provide much in the way of savings. Right now, they only provide a $0.20 discount compared to the one-year subscription. To me, this seems like a missed opportunity since other VPNs usually lower the monthly price for longer contract options to entice customers to lock in for longer.
Avast SecureLine VPN has one saving grace — its free trial. While other companies offer seven-day free trials or 30-day money-back guarantees, SecureLine has a generous 60-day trial on all its supported platforms. Keep in mind, you will have to provide payment information at the start of the trial, but you won’t be charged until after 60 days.
This 60-day trial is probably the reason why the one-month subscription was removed altogether, as anyone thinking of going for a one-month plan will be better off with a free trial that has less strings attached. I strongly recommend anyone interested in trying Avast SecureLine VPN to definitely start with the 60-day free trial.
Is Avast SecureLine VPN safe?
Personally, I would not consider Avast SecureLine a safe VPN in 2024. While the VPN itself hits the requisite security features we expect out of a modern VPN, it’s let down by the company’s concerning incidents with user data.
On paper, Avast SecureLine VPN has the VPN protocols and features to be deemed safe. It carries the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols — the two most important security protocols for modern VPNs. It also has Mimic, Avast’s proprietary security protocol. SecureLine also uses AES-256 encryption, has a kill switch, and protects against domain name system leaks.
SEE: The 6 Best Antivirus Software Options for Windows in 2024 (TechRepublic)
Unfortunately, Avast as a company has been involved in a ton of controversy regarding user data. In February 2024, the US Federal Trade Commission announced that Avast would have to pay $16.5 million for compromising consumers’ privacy. In the statement, the FTC said that Avast had “collected a treasure trove of user information through its antivirus software and browser extensions without people’s consent.” Furthermore, it found that the company had actually “sold the information through its subsidiary Jumpshot,” again without consent.
While the above incident doesn’t involve Avast SecureLine VPN directly, it’s an alarming development given how a VPN is supposed to secure your browsing data. While Avast SecureLine has a no logs policy that states they don’t log apps used, websites visited, or content consumed; it, unfortunately, doesn’t have a third-party audit to confirm these claims.
On the flipside, Avast publishes Transparency Reports that give valuable information on government requests and warrants issued to the company. It’s also based in the Czech Republic — a country that isn’t a member of any data sharing or intelligence alliance.
Despite these efforts, I don’t think Avast SecureLine VPN is a good pick if security and data protection are top priorities.
Key features of Avast SecureLine VPN
Avast SecureLine VPN comes with different usability and security features that protect user data. I’ve listed some of the key features I think you should know about.
Smart VPN mode
SecureLine’s Smart VPN mode allows the user to set different smart rules and instances that automatically turn the VPN on or off (Figure A). This gives users the flexibility to personalize their VPN experience, depending on their needs and workflow.
Figure A
I like how users can set the VPN to turn on while on a public network, banking sites, torrenting apps, or streaming sites. You can also set Trusted Sites that don’t have to be accessed via the VPN if you feel they are already safe.
60-day free trial
SecureLine’s 60-day free trial (Figure B) is one of the most generous free trial offerings in the VPN space today. VPNs usually offer a 7-day free trial or a 30-day money-back guarantee (with an initial payment required).
Figure B
Avast’s 60-day trial more than doubles usual durations for free trials and only requires PayPal or Mastercard details without an initial payment. This is a customer-friendly approach that I definitely give Avast credit for.
SEE: Crowdstrike Falcon vs Avast: Endpoint Security Software (TechRepublic)
Up to 10 device connections
Avast allows you to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously with one VPN subscription. While unlimited device access is the best scenario, having 10 allowable connections is already on the top end number compared to other VPNs available today.
To contextualize, the usual number of allowed devices on other VPN services ranges from around 5–8.
Speed and performance: How fast is Avast SecureLine VPN?
For speed, Avast SecureLine VPN’s performance fared a bit better compared to when I first tried it last year. I used SecureLine VPN to do work in Google Workspace (Docs, Drive), have multiple tabs open for research, and attend video meetings.
For the most part, the connection was fast and I didn’t experience any noticeable problems in both speed and stability. However, I do worry that SecureLine’s smaller server network may lead to inconsistent performance depending on your location.
This leads into SecureLine’s speed test results, which were more mixed. For download speeds, it recorded only a 7.3% drop in speed compared to my internet service provider — an excellent result. However, upload speeds were a stark contrast, recording a 92.8% drop against my ISP. In terms of VPN speed, my testing showed that SecureLine can provide good but inconsistent speeds. If having a fast connection all throughout is important to you, VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN will most likely provide better results.
SecureLine performed well in terms of DNS leak protection. When I ran it through a public DNS leak tool, using multiple server locations and running it a number of times, SecureLine recorded zero DNS leaks throughout.
Lastly, Avast SecureLine’s VPN Windows app was simple and intuitive. I had no trouble using the app, and all the features were easy to find. I wish that it had more features in general, as the whole app experience seemed a bit too bare-bones for my taste.
Avast SecureLine VPN servers and locations
Avast SecureLine VPN grants you access to servers (Figure C) in around 37 countries and up to 60 locations. Avast doesn’t disclose the exact number of servers in SecureLine’s fleet, but reports have the number at around 700 servers.
Figure C
This gives SecureLine one of the smallest server networks available, which is a drawback if you want more choices for speed or flexibility in terms of locations. The smaller server count also isn’t ideal given Avast’s middle-tier pricing.
SEE: How to Create an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program (TechRepublic Premium)
SecureLine’s country spread is decent though. You have access to servers in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa.
I appreciate that Avast segments the best servers for streaming and torrenting — a plus if you’re VPN shopping for these specific use cases (Figure D).
Figure D
Unfortunately, SecureLine VPN lacks more security and privacy-focused server features such as split tunneling (only available on their Android app) or multihop servers that privacy enthusiasts may be on the lookout for.
Avast SecureLine VPN pros
- 60-day free trial.
- Smart VPN mode allows for user-generated rules.
- Up to 10 simultaneous device connections.
- Decent country and location spread.
- Simple to use Windows app.
Avast SecureLine VPN cons
- Lack of an independent audit.
- Avast controversies with user data.
- Small server suite.
- Inconsistent speed test results.
- Lacking security-centered features.
Who is Avast SecureLine VPN best for?
Avast SecureLine VPN can be a decent VPN pick if you’re looking for a service that has a generous free trial. Its 60-day free trial is one of the longest I’ve seen so far, and the sign up is relatively easy. SecureLine also has a very simple application that can appeal to first-time VPN users.
However, it lacks standout security features and carries smaller server networks compared to other VPNs. SecureLine also suffers from the significant privacy controversies associated with Avast, while also lacking an independent audit for its no logs policy.
Avast SecureLine VPN alternatives
Surfshark
Surfshark is one of the most well-known VPNs. It has an easy-to-use interface, strong encryption, and 24/7 customer support. It even provides unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing users to secure and protect multiple devices.
If you want to learn more, check our full Surfshark VPN review.
NordVPN
If you’re looking for an all-around security platform, NordVPN is a top choice. It has a healthy server network, built-in threat protection against malware, and consistently fast speeds. NordVPN has also shown strong commitment to independent third-party testing for more transparency.
If you want to learn more, check our full NordVPN review.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another solid VPN solution. It supports multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even routers) and carries a strong threat manager feature that blocks suspicious sites. It also has a split tunneling feature that allows users to select which traffic they want routed to the VPN and which to their internet service provider.
If you want to learn more, check our full ExpressVPN review.
How we evaluated Avast SecureLine VPN
My review of Avast SecureLine VPN involved a detailed assessment of its security features, pricing and real-world performance. I used SecureLine through Avast’s 60-day free trial of the VPN service on my Windows computer.
For upload and download speeds, I tested SecureLine’s servers using Ookla’s public Speedtest. To check for DNS leak protection, I ran SecureLine multiple times through DNSLeakTest.
Finally, I scored Avast SecureLine VPN based on properties such as its protocols and value using an internal algorithm to get a rating of 3.4 stars out of 5. I looked at SecureLine both on its own and in relation to other VPN services.