Avast VPN Review: A Secure VPN Or Not?

Avast SecureLine VPN has gained attention in the VPN market, but how does it truly perform? Is Avast VPN good enough to secure your online activities and meet your streaming or gaming needs? This review dives into its strengths, weaknesses, and overall reliability to help you decide.

What You Need to Know about Avast

Avast SecureLine VPN is a product of Avast Software, based in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is not part of major intelligence alliances like the Five Eyes (FVEY), though it reportedly cooperates with them. This location gives Avast a moderate privacy rating. It fares better than companies based in highly surveilled nations like the US but doesn’t match privacy havens like Panama or Switzerland.

Avast also owns AVG Secure VPN, another VPN service. While Avast is a well-known name in cybersecurity, its recent history of selling user data through its antivirus apps raises concerns about trustworthiness. This factor complicates answering the question, “Can Avast VPN be trusted?”

Speed and Performance: Is It Fast Enough?

Speed is a key factor in any VPN review, and Avast VPN reviews reveal mixed results. Testing speeds on servers across the US, Canada, and Europe showed varying outcomes. But they’re mostly average. It’s not fast enough for users seeking the best performance but also not slow enough to frustrate casual users. 

Streaming and Netflix Access: Mixed Results

Streaming enthusiasts often wonder, “How good is Avast VPN for Netflix?” The answer is mixed. During testing, some servers successfully bypassed Netflix’s restrictions, while others failed.

This inconsistency makes SecureLine VPN unreliable for streaming. Competitors like Surfshark and NordVPN excel in this area, offering access to multiple Netflix libraries with minimal effort. Avast VPN also struggles with other streaming platforms, indicating that it doesn’t cater to this audience.

For users prioritizing streaming, Avast VPN falls short. Services like NordVPN or Surfshark remain better choices for uninterrupted access to global content.

Gaming: Not a Great Choice

Gamers considering Avast SecureLine VPN should note its limitations. A good VPN for gaming requires fast speeds, low ping, and a large server network.

Avast VPN reviews show mediocre speeds and a smaller server network, which can lead to higher latency and suboptimal gaming experiences. While variables like proximity to a server and ISP quality also affect ping, Avast SecureLine VPN is unlikely to outperform competitors like VyprVPN or ExpressVPN in this department.

Privacy and Security: Can Avast VPN Be Trusted?

Avast SecureLine VPN uses AES-256 encryption and offers strong security features to protect online activities. Leak tests showed no vulnerabilities, confirming its reliability in preventing data exposure.

However, privacy is another story. Avast VPN logs more user data than many competitors, including connection timestamps and bandwidth usage. While this may not bother some users, privacy-conscious individuals might find it concerning.

The company’s history with data collection from its antivirus products further complicates the question of can Avast VPN be trusted. While the VPN itself is secure, Avast’s broader practices raise red flags for those who value their anonymity.

Technical Support: Room for Improvement

Avast provides support through a centralized help page, offering FAQs and troubleshooting guides. If further assistance is needed, users can submit a help ticket.

The process of opening a ticket is unnecessarily complicated, requiring users to locate their order confirmation email and order number. Response times vary, with Avast stating a two-business-day average. However, delays can occur based on language and workload.

While the support system is functional, it lacks the efficiency and ease of use found in top-tier VPNs.

Pricing and Refund Policy: Expensive for What You Get

Avast SecureLine VPN’s pricing starts with an initial discount, but the regular price is on the higher side compared to competitors. For users seeking a premium VPN experience, paying slightly more for services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN could deliver significantly better value.

Additionally, the 30-day refund policy is complicated. Users may face hurdles during the refund process, making it less appealing for those who prioritize hassle-free service.

Regional Limitations: Not Ideal for China or UAE

Avast SecureLine VPN does not offer advanced obfuscation features to bypass strict VPN restrictions in countries like China or the UAE. Competitors like VyprVPN excel in these regions, offering technology to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS encryption.

For users in heavily restricted regions, Avast VPN is not the ideal solution.

Alternatives to Avast SecureLine VPN

For users seeking better options, these VPNs offer superior performance:

• NordVPN: Known for its speed, vast server network, and ability to access over 15 Netflix libraries.
• Surfshark: Affordable and effective for streaming, with unlimited device connections.
• ExpressVPN: Delivers high-speed connections and excellent security features.
• VyprVPN: Offers advanced obfuscation features for use in restrictive regions like China.

These alternatives address many of the shortcomings found in Avast SecureLine VPN, making them more appealing for various use cases.

Final Verdict: Does Avast VPN Measure Up?

Avast SecureLine VPN provides solid security and ease of use but fails to stand out in key areas. Its performance is average, with speeds sufficient for basic browsing but not for high-performance tasks like streaming or gaming. Avast SecureLine VPN may work for casual users who prioritize simplicity over advanced features. However, for those seeking speed, privacy, or robust streaming support, better options exist. Services like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN deliver more value at comparable prices.

If security and ease of use are all you need, Avast SecureLine VPN could fit your needs. For anything beyond the basics, other VPNs are better suited. The search for a reliable VPN often comes down to finding one that balances speed, security, and trust—and Avast VPN doesn’t quite hit the mark.