Avast VPN Review 2022 | Is Avast VPN safe?

Last updated: September 28, 2023
William Sams
William Sams
Avast's infamous security product for online privacy, the SecureLine VPN offers good encryption and supports p2p/torrenting, but stores session logs and fails to unblock Netflix. It is priced at $6.66/mo, and enjoys a 3.5 rating from users. Learn more in this Avast SecureLine VPN review.

Avast VPN aims to offer people the privacy they require when browsing the internet. In this guide of Avast VPN review, we’ll also discuss the providers’ security, transparency, pricing, servers, performance, compatibility, customer support, as well as how it stacks up against the competition.

Avast is a well-known company that doesn’t really require an introduction, given the enormous popularity of their antivirus software that also offers a VPN service called Avast SecureLine VPN. Its services of Avast SecureLine VPN have been available as a standalone product or as a part of the Avast subscription package since 2014.

SecureLine VPN has excellent speeds on both local and distant servers, and it is good for general internet activity and small businesses that have just started using VPN. But its unblocking features are below par, and it lacks some complex capabilities that other Best VPN service providers give.

However, to review Avast Secureline VPN from a streaming point of view, I tried to unblock several streaming services, including Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. I had a hard time unblocking any of the Netflix content libraries and BBC iPlayer, but I was able to stream only Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu smoothly and without any interruptions.

Avast VPN Review 2022: Quick Summary

Jurisdiction Czech Republic
Price $55.08 on a 1-Year Plan
Servers 55 Servers in 34 Countries
Logs Stores Connection Logs
Encryption AES-256-GCM/AES-256-CBC
Unblocks Netflix No
Torrenting Yes
Works in China No
Recommended  No
Website https://www.avast.com/en-us/secureline-vpn/
Compatibility Windows, Android, Apple
Pros
  1. Unblocks Hulu
  2. Quick downloading
  3. Easy-to-use interface
  4. Army-grade encryption
  5. Unblocks Netflix
  6. Supports P2P
  7. Compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, Android

Cons
  1. Trouble loading the page
  2. Few features
  3. There is no monthly subscription.
  4. Few P2P and streaming servers
  5. A limited server network
  6. No Linux support
  7. There are no anonymous payment options.
  8. High prices and a complex refund policy
  9. Unsupported router app

Learn how to download Avast VPN in 5 quick steps.

Rating Criteria: Is Avast SecureLine VPN Worth It?

Here is the list of the Avast VPN rating factors:

  1. Security: How Secure is Avast SecureLine VPN?
  2. Leaks: Does Avast VPN Leak WebRTC, IP, and DNS?
  3. Servers: Is It P2P Compatible? Does it Work in China?
  4. Streaming: Does it Work with Netflix & Other VoDs?
  5. Speed: Check the speed of Avast SecureLine VPN?
  6. Compatibility: Apps and Supported Devices
  7. Pricing: What is the price of Avast VPN?
  8. Trustworthiness: Trustpilot Ratings, Reddit & Customer Support
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Security: How Secure is Avast VPN?

After going in-depth into Avast VPN’s location, logging policy, encryption, and apps,  you can feel assured that the VPN is a safe choice. It is a good option if you want to leverage strong security and privacy. Furthermore, continue reading to know what are Avast VPN problems and how to get a clear idea of how is Avast VPN protection review is done under this heading.

Does Avast VPN Keep Logs?

Avast SecureLine VPN claims to be a Zero logs provider. This claim is actually plausible, as the provider doesn’t store personally identifiable information like your real IP address, the IP you connect to, your browsing activity, or any other similar logs.

However, one of Avast’s VPN problems is that it stores connection and bandwidth logs, so it does know when you connect, how long you use the VPN, and how much data you use during that duration. Does this make the VPN unsafe? No, not at all.

While a true VPN shouldn’t keep any kind of logs, not even connection or bandwidth logs, these types of logs are usually harmless, and even if a VPN collects them, it won’t compromise your privacy in any major way.

Encryption and Protocols

Avast SecureLine VPN uses the AES 256 cipher to encrypt user data that goes through its protected connections. No one can decipher this Avast VPN encryption standard because that’s not a plausible possibility.

Even if you have a thousand supercomputers working simultaneously, they will not correctly decipher the data encrypted under this cipher for hundreds of years, probably even more.

In terms of protocols, Avast VPN only offers OpenVPN but only with UDP and another protocol in the form of IPSec. This is alright since OpenVPN with UDP is faster than OpenVPN with TCP.

However, if we talk about it from a perspective of security, this is not much of an issue. OpenVPN itself is a secure, open-source software that’s best for protocol support to VPNs.

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Avast SecureLine VPN Apps Virus Check

For a complete security review on Avast SecureLine VPN, I decided to check their apps for viruses. Fortunately, none of their VPN clients contain any viruses after running them through VirusTotal. The results are shown below:

Avast-VPN-Virus-Total-Test-Results

Does Avast VPN have a Kill Switch Feature

In this fast-paced digital world, where even the simplest of activities can get you into legal hassles, thanks to mandatory data retention and mass surveillance laws, VPNs serve as crucial tools for receiving protection.

Oftentimes though, a VPN connection may get hampered, resulting in a disconnection. This poses a great risk of revealing your identity, but thanks to Avast’s Kill Switch feature that disables the entire internet, you remain secure.

Avast-VPN-Kill-Switch -Activation

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Leaks: Does Avast VPN leak IP, DNS & WebRTC?

The answer is absolutely not! Avast VPN is safe and doesn’t leak your IP at all. Here are the tools I used to test Avast’s grittiness in protecting your real identity, along with the results.

WebRTC and HTTP Request Leaks:

DNS Leaks:

Avast-VPN-DNS-Leak

IPv4/IPv6 and Torrent IP Leaks:

Avast-VPN-IP-Leak-Test

 

Servers: Is It P2P Compatible, or Does It Work in China?

The server infrastructure of Avast VPN is far weaker in numbers than what you can get for a much lower price from other top industry VPNs. The reach is really poor, extending to only 55 servers in 34 countries worldwide.

These lesser numbers result in overcrowding, thus keeping speeds slow on congested servers. Plus, the low number of countries in which the servers are hosted makes the distance to servers longer, thereby increasing lag.

Does Avast VPN Allow Torrenting?

Avast VPN offers good torrenting capabilities and definitely tends to be one of the fastest VPNs I have tested. However, I am yet to see torrent-specific features like SOCKS5 proxies from the provider.

At the same time, Torrenting and P2P support is offered by Avast SecureLine VPN but only on these limited number of server locations (listed below). So, I would like to see an improvement in the servers too.

  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Frankfurt, Germany
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • New York City, New York
  • Miami, Florida
  • Seattle, Washington
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Paris, France

Avast-VPN-Servers-for-P2P

With regards to P2P/Torrenting, I also conducted a test on IPLeak.net, which requested downloading a magnet link and then assessing the background behind the network.

As you can see, the results show that my identity is protected, revealing a different IP from my actual location and address: 185.191.205.6. This means there are no leaks whatsoever.

Torrent-Address-Detection-Test-with-Avast-VPN

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Is Avast VPN Good for China?

In case you are wondering, Does Avast VPN work in China?

Sadly, the provider does not offer a StealthVPN, a.k.a. obfuscation feature. I still had a representative of mine test the service in China (as part of our 80+ providers analysis), but it did not work.

Albeit, it is important to note that the VPN did function in other locations like Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt, where VPN bans are imminent and quite difficult to bypass.

Streaming: Does It Work with Netflix and Other VoDs?

Avast SecureLine VPN’s biggest weakness is its inability to unblock Netflix US or any other streaming site. Netflix has a VPN ban on its site, disallowing VPNs to initiate a connection to its site.

The streaming giant has done this to protect the copyright pacts it has with other media houses. It blacklists VPN-based IPs, so if you try and connect to Netflix with such a provider with blacklisted IPs, you will see an error.

Avast-VPN-Fails-to-Unblock-Netflix

Avast SecureLine VPN didn’t make this screen go away. Avast SecureLine VPN doesn’t support Netflix unblocking from any country or through any of its servers, period!

I tested Netflix on at least 10 different servers offered by Avast VPN, but each time, I would get the error message. Avast VPN also doesn’t work to unblock any other major streaming site like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ Amazon Prime or even Sports channels.

Netflix-Proxy-Error

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Speed: How Fast is Avast SecureLine VPN?

Surprisingly, Avast VPN turned out to have one of the lowest speed drops in the industry, easily making it one fastest VPNs in the industry. On my 100MB connection, I was getting these speeds without a VPN connection.

  • Download Speeds: 87.92 Mbps
  • Upload Speeds: 78.10 Mbps
  • Ping Rate: 66 Ms

Here’s my speed from Avast VPN’s San Francisco Server from the same internet connection

  • Download Speeds: 83.04 Mbps
  • Upload Speeds: 79.88 Mbps
  • Ping Rate: 79 Ms

Just a bit over 10% drop in download speeds is what I can term blazing fast. Too bad that Avast VPN doesn’t unblock VoDs. Otherwise, it would have been a no-brainer to go for this VPN as your first choice for streaming.

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Compatibility: Apps and Supported Devices

Avast SecureLine VPN offers a basic app repository with support available for popular platforms, i.e.,

  • Avast for Windows
  • Avast for Mac
  • Avast for Android
  • Avast for iOS

Coming to the UI/UX of the apps, simplicity is what Avast VPN has focused majorly on. No complications, no edgy features that are difficult to interact with. Just a simple click, and you get connected to your selected server.

The apps are designed for beginners, so even if you are a new VPN user with little knowledge about the VPN domain, you can simply hide your identity online with Avast VPN’s single-click interface.

Avast-VPN-Interface

You get a Preference menu on each app, which is their best user-friendly feature. I probably believe that Avast’s wide experience in the Antivirus domain has allowed it to replicate the same on its VPN product.

If that’s the case, I would like to see more such helpful user-based innovations. Coming back to the preferences menu, you can use it to set your own preferences on how you want the VPN to behave.

Want Avast VPN to connect automatically every time you open your PC? No issues; just click on the option for this in the preferences menu, and the VPN will function exactly like that.

The mobile apps are equally clean and responsive, with almost the same interface as their desktop counterparts. The server list is easily accessible, and a single tap on any server name will automatically initiate a connection to it.

Avast-VPN-Interface-2

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1. Avast for macOS

Avast SecureLine VPN’s macOS program is very similar to its Windows version in terms of both the user interface and the features it offers. There is only one difference: IPSec tunneling protocol is provided in place of OpenVPN.

2. Avast for Android

The Avast VPN Android app has a fantastic interface and performance experience.  Additionally, it is the only version with the split tunneling feature, which is quite helpful if you only want a few apps to use the VPN connection. Avast SecureLine VPN for Windows is quite identical to it in all other respects.

3. Avast for iOS

The Avast VPN edition of iOS has the below standard features; you can only change your auto-connect settings. Because IPSec is the only option, there isn’t even a way to alter the VPN protocol. The application and the Android app are extremely similar in terms of design.

Pricing: How Much Does Avast VPN Cost?

Avast SecureLine’s most confusing aspect used to be its pricing. It followed a device-based pricing strategy, which was quite strange. However, now they follow a similar pricing model, adopted by almost all providers in the industry.

You have streamlined subscription plans that are priced on the duration of a subscription, i.e., yearly, 2 years, and 3 years. The cost of these plans varies on the number of simultaneous connections you choose. I will be listing the Avast VPN price details of 10 multi-logins:

  1. Yearly Subscription for 10 devices: $4.59/month (billed as $55.08)
  2. 2 Year Subscription for 10 devices: $4.39/month (billed as $105.36)
  3. 3 Year Subscription for 10 devices: $4.39/month (billed as $140.48)

avast-vpn-pricing-plans

For the pricing, you do not get access to a ton of features like you would with Surfshark, Ivacy, or ExpressVPN. Avast also fails in unblocking VoDs, but you do receive good support for downloading torrents.

Although the pricing is confusing, Avast does offer an incredible 7-day free trial offer where you just need to download their client and start running it on your device.

The only thing that is required to initiate this trial period is your credit card details. No payment will be deducted if you cancel your subscription before the end of the trial period.

For payment methods, Avast SecureLine supports only two options: credit/debit cards or PayPal. There is no Bitcoin support, though, which is a bummer, as it doesn’t give the user any leverage on being anonymous.

Avast-VPN-Payment-Options

Can I Get Avast for Free?

Yes, you can avail of a 7-day free trial available from Avast to test the service on your Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. However, you will still have to add your payment details when signing up.

Avast-VPN-Free-Download

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Trustworthiness: Trustpilot Ratings, Reddit & Customer support

Avast VPN has received an average rating of 2/5 on Trustpilot from a total of 2,656 user reviews. Needless to say, this is quite a poor score and indicates that few users are satisfied with the provider.

Over 11% of users have given Avast a “bad” rating, meaning more than 290+ users believe the service “sucks” for lack of a better term, justifying why we, too, do not recommend the product.

Avast-Trustpilot-Ratings

Avast SecureLine VPN Reviews on Google Play Store

On Google Play Store, Avast VPN enjoys a 4.6-star rating from a total of 130,825 reviews. While most seem to be satisfied with the Android version, I saw many complaints of disconnections and server downtime.

Avast-VPN-Ratings-on-Google-Play-Store

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Avast VPN Review Reddit

After searching for Avast VPN on Reddit, most of the reviews I came across were “negative.” And I noticed that a lot of users were complaining about irritating popup ads at the bottom of their apps.

This was consistent on other products as well. For instance, the below Redditor downloaded the Avast Premier and was frequently getting frustrating ads to install their SecureLine VPN application.

Avast-VPN-Reddit-Feedback

Customer Support

Avast SecureLine VPN opts for a unique approach to offering customer support. While others offer live chat, you can actually call an Avast customer support exec for a talk whenever you want!

When I called on the support helpline, I found the execs to be really polite and incredibly experienced in solving major issues. Avast SecureLine VPN also offers a dedicated FAQs section, but it has only basic level queries.

Unfortunately, they are also missing a “live chat” support system, which is incredibly alarming. Nowadays, offering live chat is like an industry standard, but Avast seems to be living in the 1990s.

Thankfully, they make up for it by offering 24/7 phone support, but still, that may not be a viable solution for many. If all else fails, you can reach Avast via their Facebook and Twitter profiles. 

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Comparison between Surfshark & Avast VPN

Provider Surfshark Avast VPN
Price US$ 2.49 /mo - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee $4.59/mo.
Servers 1,040+ in 61 Countries 53 in 34 Countries
Compatibility All Devices Windows, iOS, Mac, Android
Jurisdiction The British Virgin Islands Czech Republic
Logging Policy No Logs (Audited) Stores Connection Logs
Customer Support Live Chat & Email Live Chat & Ticket
Trustpilot Score 4.4 4.0
Website Visit Surfshark Visit Avast VPN

How to Download Avast VPN?

  1. Go to the official site of Avast VPN.com.
  2. Select a suitable subscription plan or download its free trial.
  3. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
  4. Once installed, fill up the Avast VPN login requirement.
  5. Connect to any server of your choice.
  6. Enjoy safe browsing!

Is Avast SecureLine VPN any good?

If you are wondering if Avast VPN is good? Here is the answer, Avast Secureline VPN offers a decent speed and common online security. It can also unblock some streaming platforms. Although, there is still a ton of work to be done to make its services better.

The developers of Avast VPN ought to think about enhancing the software with more features, making it compatible with more streaming providers, and resolving unexpected loading problems.

If you’re new to the world of IT, you’ll find the tool to be rather helpful. But Avast SecureLine VPN isn’t the right software for you if you want it for higher security and unblocking all Netflix libraries.

Avast VPN Review: FAQs 

Is Avast VPN trustworthy?

Yes, Avast VPN is trustworthy since being affiliated with a reputable brand in the cybersecurity sector. This VPN service uses military-grade AES-256 encryption and an OpenVPN tunneling technology to give users the highest level of protection.

Can Avast VPN be tracked?

No, Avast VPN does not track your data. Instead, Avast VPN encrypts your data and changes your real IP address with a new IP address by sending it through secure server connections.

Is Avast VPN better than NordVPN?

No, In a comparison of Avast VPN vs NordVPN. NordVPN is a better choice than AvastVPN because of its advanced features, strong unblocking ability, a greater number of servers, locations of servers, and more.

Is Avast VPN worth it?

Yes, Avast SecureLine VPN offers fast speeds and an easy-to-use interface. It is worth using in terms of security, but I don’t think it’s the best option for streaming and privacy.

❓ How can I get Avast SecureLine VPN off my computer?

Simply right-click the Windows button, search for Add or uninstall/remove applications, choose the first result, scroll down, choose Avast SecureLine VPN, and then press the uninstall button. If you want to delete Avast SecureLine VPN from your computer. This will permanently delete the VPN from your computer.

❓ Why Do I need Avast SecureLine VPN?

The VPN itself is not a bad choice. It offers fast speeds and supports torrenting but keeps connection logs. And there were no WebRTC/DNS/IP leak issues for the most part. However, you can get these features and more without paying as much and easily find a VPN that supports Netflix unblocking as well.

❌ Is Avast VPN capable of removing spyware?

The Avast SecureLine VPN product does not remove any spyware. The product is only for anonymizing your online activities and shifting your location to unblock websites. To remove spyware, you will have to download their antivirus product.

💭 Does Avast VPN sell your data?

There is some speculation that Avast and its free antivirus software used by millions do sell “highly sensitive” browsing data via a subsidiary company known as “Jumpshot”. Avast even asks users to opt into data collection via a pop-up message in their antivirus software, so anything is possible.

👎 Is Avast SecureLine VPN free?

No, the Avast SecureLine VPN is not free, and a premium subscription will cost you $47.88 minimum. However, Avast VPN does offer potential customers to use their service via a 7-day free trial, which only requires you to enter your email address instead of providing credit card details.

👎 Does Avast VPN Work in China?

Avast SecureLine VPN did not pass our China tests and neither does the provider itself make any claims of working in China. The OpenVPN protocol used by Avast is now easily detected and blocked by the Great Firewall of China. Avast needs to invest in obfuscation technology to bypass VPN bans.

👎 Does SecureLine VPN Have a Free Version?

No, Avast VPN does not offer a free version, unlike their antivirus product. However, they do provide a remarkable 7-day free trial, which does not require you to create an account or enter credit card information. The signing-up process is quite simple and only requires a working email address!

✔️ Refund Policy of Avast SecureLine VPN

All Avast SecureLine VPN subscriptions come with a 30-day refund guarantee. You can receive the full amount as long as you place your request within the time frame. Requesting a refund is also easy, and there is a convenient form available on the website, which takes only a few minutes to fill out!

✔️ Is Avast SecureLine VPN Compatible with My Device?

Avast VPN offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and browser extensions like Firefox and Chrome. They do not offer manual configuration files but support up to five simultaneous devices with each account.

Do I Recommend Avast VPN?

I do not recommend Avast SecureLine VPN to anyone reading this Avast VPN review, as I believe the service has a long way to go to justify its high price range. The missing features, poor server reach, and lack of Netflix unblocking make it pretty much useless.

The provider offers great speeds and sturdy apps, but the flaws can not be ignored. So, for now, this service is not on our recommendation list. If you are looking for a good, secure, fast, and feature-rich VPN service, go for Surfshark.

Compatible with device: Windows, Android, Apple, , ,

4 Responses to Avast VPN Review 2022 | Is Avast VPN safe?

  1. Anonymous says:

    I’ve had a good experience using avast vpn. I mainyl use it for downloading torrent files in the US and never have i once had a DMCA notice. Its not bad for $79 a year.

    • Muhammad Hamza Shahid says:

      Thanks for sharing your experience with the provider and giving a rating! Agreed, the VPN is quite remarkable for torrenting.

  2. Nova says:

    It was disappointing using this service it was so slow and I could not even stream on netflix properly. Don’t recommend it to anyone!

    • Muhammad Hamza Shahid says:

      Hey Nova, thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, sadly Avast VPN fails at unblocking Netflix and other streaming services. You can get better value with other options in the marketplace.

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