In this article, we are going to review the Avast VPN line of Avast Products. Avast has a great anti-virus software, but how is the Avast VPN? Is it secure? Does it keep connection logs? How does it stack up against Private Internet Access or NordVPN? We are going to answer all of these questions and more below, stay tuned!
Our Verdict
Avast VPN SecureLine is straightforward to set up, however its options are limited and it’s too pricy to actually contend with different VPN services. It really makes the most sense for people who already have the Anti-virus software that is already integrated.
PROS:
- Quick and simple to set up
- One-week free trial
- Decent performance
CONS:
- Expensive per-device subscriptions for PCs, Macs
- Separate mobile plans
- Limited feature set
Like some other antivirus manufacturers, Avast has added a VPN service to its list of computer-security products, hoping to urge existing customers to shop for an additional service. however whereas Avast SecureLine performs fairly well as a VPN, its options are limited and its pricing scheme, whereas recently simplified, continues to be confusing in comparison to full-featured VPN suppliers like Private Internet Access.
Costs And What’s Covered
SecureLine Avast VPN does the fundamentals well, with compatibility for Windows PCs, Macs, iOS and android devices. It integrates well with Avast’s antivirus package, however there is no way to make SecureLine VPN work with Linux, Chromebook computers or open-source routers.
Avast VPN Subscription Options
12 month set up – US$5.33 per month (US$63.96 total cost)
SecureLine’s long free trial may well be enough to cover your next trip, and it is a good way to try out a VPN. there is no limit on what quantity information you’ll be able to use, either throughout the trial period or normally. However, the rival Avira Phantom VPN allows you to use up to 1GB of data for free monthly, and also the Opera VPN mobile apps are each unlimited and free.
After your trial week with SecureLine is up, you will need to navigate Avast’s somewhat confusing pricing structure. you’ll be able to pay $59.99 annually for one laptop license. 3 PCs price $69.99 annually; 5 are $79.99, and ten price $99.99. (These costs are temporarily discounted to $47.99, $37.99, $63.99 and $79.99, respectively.)
Avast VPN used to charge for every mac, however has simplified things so mac software merely costs $59.99 annually. To use SecureLine with iOS or android devices, you will need to get a separate license that costs $19.99 annually, per platform.
Any of those is half off with the purchase of a yearly Windows license, however the mac license gets you a discount solely on the Windows one. as a result of the mobile licenses are not tied to one device, they’re handy for people (or families) who own both smartphones and tablets.
As you’ll be able to imagine, these licenses may add up quickly. A family with 2 Windows PCs, a Mac, and varied iOS and android devices would pay a minimum of $120 annually for SecureLine VPN. this is how antivirus subscriptions are sold, however it makes no sense to try to to this with Avast VPN services.
Fortunately, Avast in the summer of 2017 saw the error of its ways and introduced a multi-device license that allows you to use the software on up to 5 devices, of any platform, for $79.99 per year.
You can pay with a credit card, PayPal or wire transfer. Sorry, however there’s NO Bitcoin choice.
Features and Interface
With a few of dozen servers in nineteen countries, SecureLine has so much fewer connection points than full-featured VPN services, that have a whole lot or perhaps thousands of servers scattered across the world. Still, this limited variety of access points should be fine for many travelers.
The Avast VPN SecureLine interface is just about identical between mobile and desktop devices, and it’s clean, bright and simple to navigate. One draw back of basing everything on the mobile interface is that the SecureLine desktop interface stuffs everything into a small window that cannot be enlarged.
SecureLine additionally has fewer configuration choices than alternative VPN suppliers. you cannot switch among VPN protocols, which are fastened to OpenVPN for Windows and android, and IPSec for mac and iOS. Nor are you able to set the VPN service to connect automatically upon system startup or once a tool connects to an unsafe Wi-Fi network.
There’s a useful Avast VPN configuration page within the app for iPads and iPhones. in contrast to some VPN suppliers, SecureLine lacks ad blocking on any platform.
Privacy Protections
Like most VPN suppliers, SecureLine VPN uses the AES-256 protocol to encrypt data transmissions. because Avast does not accept payment in Bitcoin, gift cards or other virtual currencies, you’ll need to use your real name once registering for the service. Avast says it does log your connection information when you use SecureLine VPN. there is no “kill switch” choice to interrupt all internet activity if the connection to the VPN server is lost.
Avast SecureLine VPN is owned and operated by Avast software, a Czech company. which will appear obvious, however some other VPN operators are hidden behind shell firms registered in offshore tax havens. The Czech Republic usually operates using EU privacy laws.
Performance
Among the VPN services we tested, Avast VPN SecureLine’s performance was typically within the middle of the pack. It had a slow connection time of twelve.3 seconds and a network latency — however long data takes to get to its destination — of three7 milliseconds, over double the latency without the VPN running.
While connected to SecureLine VPN, our Lenovo X1 Yoga test system downloaded data at a median rate of thirty seven megabits per second (Mbps), representing a decent thirty % drop from the non-VPN rate of fifty three.1 Mbps.
SecureLine uploaded information at a median rate of sixteen.5 Mbps, representing a fourteen % drop from the non-VPN rate of nineteen.3 Mbps. It needed no reconnections throughout testing.
However, after we downloaded a 428MB video file while connected to SecureLine VPN, it took a slow fourteen minutes and twenty one seconds — a 376 % delay from the non-VPN time of 3:01. solely Avira Phantom VPN and PureVPN took longer. Private Internet Access downloaded identical file in four and a 0.5 minutes.
Setup And Client Support
It takes about four minutes to download and set up the SecureLine software on a laptop or mac. installing the iOS or android app takes about a minute, an equivalent as most other apps.
Because Avast VPN SecureLine is a paid service, its customers get email support during European business hours, that is best than the forums and FAQs accessible to users of Avast’s free antivirus software system. however to get Avast’s premium, 24/7 telephone tech support, you will have to pay a fee starting from $79 to $299.
Bottom Line
If you already use Avast security merchandise, adding SecureLine may well be a no brainer. however till Avast revamps its confusing pricing structure, you will get more for your money if you choose for a full-featured VPN supplier like Private Internet Access or NordVPN.
AVAST VPN STATS
Client software platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Native support platforms: None
Supported protocols: IPSec (Mac/iOS), OpenVPN (Windows/Android)
No. of servers: twenty seven
No. of countries: nineteen
Country of registration: Czech Republic
Payment options: Credit Card, PayPal
Real name necessary? Affirmative
Encryption Protocol: AES-256
Data Usage: Unlimited
Bandwidth Usage: Unlimited
Max. number of concurrently connected devices: n/a
Customer Support: 24/7 telephone
Privacy Policy: Logs connection data
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