Create a strong password when prompted to do so.

Click on the downloaded file to start the installation.

Follow the on-screen instructions and finish the installation.

After installation, you can sign into your Avast VPN app through your browser. When you click the sign-in button, a window with a pop-up will open, prompting you to provide the login credentials.

Avast SecureLine VPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections, which is quite generous by modern VPN standards. If you need more than that, however, VPN services like Surfshark can secure unlimited devices with a single premium account.

Avast SecureLine VPN’s appearance and ease-of-use

Avast VPN’s apps are pretty simple and easy to use. However, power users won’t find many features that cater to their advanced knowledge. Complete VPN beginners, on the other hand, should have zero problems finding their way around.

During our Avast SecureLine VPN review, we noticed that the home screen features an on/off toggle with server location underneath. The bottom of the app is reserved for a server list shortcut. There’s also a hamburger menu in the top-right corner. We prefer this minimalistic approach without too many flashy buttons and numbers cluttering the main window.

When you connect, you’ll also see info about your original/assigned IP, the VPN server you’re currently using, and session duration.

The hamburger menu lets you:

• Enter your premium activation code (our premium was active even without this step)
• Access the Settings menu
• Check your Avast subscriptions
• Download browser extensions
• Get a free mobile app
• Access customer support
• Get other Avast products

The Settings menu features four tabs:

• General: Notifications, startup, language, beta testing
• Network security: VPN automatic activation options, kill switch, local device access (printers, for example)
• VPN protocols: Choices for the VPN tunnel
• Pair devices: Activate Avast VPN on a new device by pairing it with an existing one

Avast SecureLine VPN apps feature intrusive pop-up tips that you can activate by mousing over the “i” prompt. We triggered them a lot accidentally, and the software was blocked until they were gone, which took a few seconds. This got really annoying really fast.

The client also showed some visual glitches during our testing. For example, there’s a glitch where the rating stars mix with other on-screen information.

Currently, Avast VPN’s software supports more than 40 languages, which makes it accessible to pretty much anyone in the world.

Pricing and payment methods

Avast VPN’s prices are a bit steep for what the provider offers. Here’s a full list of Avast VPN’s subscription options:

Pricing plans

• Avast SecureLine VPN 1 month $10.99mthView offer
• Avast SecureLine VPN 1 year $4.59mthView offer
• Avast SecureLine VPN 2 years $4.39mth Deal View offer

Even though they do have some good offers at the moment, the subscription plans are pricey. You’ll get much better value with CyberGhost, which charges only $2.19/month for its longest subscription.

During our research for this Avast VPN review, we noticed offers for seven and 60-day free trials, which is something to consider as not many VPN providers offer 2-month trials.

You can pay for your subscription in different ways:

• Credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and more)
• PayPal
• Country-specific payment options (iDeal in the Netherlands, for example)

Since Avast VPN doesn’t support crypto payments, you can’t purchase it anonymously. If you want a privacy boost during purchase, we recommend picking one of the best VPNs to buy with crypto.

How does Avast SecureLine VPN’s money-back guarantee work?

Avast SecureLine VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can request your refund through the official support center. Simply access the page and pick the corresponding option.

After providing a ton of info we weren’t comfortable sharing, we finally got in touch with an actual live chat operator.

The agent tried to prolong the chat as much as possible, asking us all sorts of annoying questions and trying to convince us to reconsider. They also offered us a partial refund that would allow us to use our subscription until expiration. This may test your patience a bit, but you must go through it to get your money back.

If you expect a true ordeal while trying to get your refund, Avast will not disappoint. Our chat with the operator took over an hour, primarily due to their slow responses. We eventually got our refund in about a day.

Customer service

The official website has a rich knowledge base that answers the most common questions. There’s also a community forum where you can chat with other users and ask for help.

The live chat-like interface on the official site is actually a chatbot called Anna. This bot is beyond useless and won’t be able to answer any of your questions.

After a lengthy back-and-forth, Anna gives you the coveted “Contact Us” option, which only redirects you to the company’s support center.

After filling out a form, we accessed the live chat feature. The support agent was friendly and forthcoming but not overly tech-savvy. We couldn’t get answers to any technical questions that require deeper VPN expertise.

We had a similar experience while testing AVG Secure VPN and would say that both companies need to work on their customer support.

Server Network – Can Avast SecureLine VPN Unblock the Internet?

Avast SecureLine’s server network is small, and all the servers we used during this Avast SecureLine VPN review were rented. We were also not able to unblock Netflix. The main things we wanted to see during our testing were a stable, lag-free performance and reliable geo-unblocking. Based on the final results, Avast VPN got a 6/10 for its current setup.

The main points to note are:

• Avast VPN operates around 700 servers in 30+ countries.
• It can’t unblock Netflix US or other streaming platforms (except Crunchyroll).
• Torrenting is allowed, and Avast also has P2P-optimized servers.
• Avast VPN doesn’t sell dedicated IPs.

Number of servers and locations

Avast SecureLine’s server network is rather small, with around 700 servers in 30+ countries. As mentioned, they dished out good speeds, but their geo-unblocking potential is nonexistent.

You can access the list of available Avast VPN server locations from the software’s home screen. Just click the “Change” button under the on/off toggle and choose a location.

Here’s a complete list of Avast SecureLine VPN’s server countries:

• Americas: Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States
• Asia Pacific: Australia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey
• Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine
• Middle East: Israel
• Africa: South Africa

Gotham City and Wonderland are just humorous monickers for the US and the UK Avast servers locations, respectively.

Avast claims your location will appear as “Gotham City, USA.” Of course, this place doesn’t exist. Instead, you’ll get an IP address in New York (and one in London if you choose Wonderland).

Avast SecureLine has special servers for P2P traffic and streaming.

Avast SecureLine VPN and streaming (Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, BBC iPlayer)

Given its optimized streaming servers, we had great hopes for Avast SecureLine VPN. Unfortunately, our testing didn’t exactly reveal the geo-unblocking powerhouse we expected to see.

Namely, we couldn’t access Netflix US, even when connected to the Gotham server. The Wonderland (UK) server couldn’t grant us access to BBC iPlayer.

We also couldn’t access HBO Max. The website blocked our assigned IP address, so we didn’t even get to try and play something.

Out of all the tests we conducted, we only managed to unblock Crunchyroll, one of the best free anime streaming services. This is quite a disappointing performance from a VPN that talks strong game when it comes to accessing geo-restricted streaming websites.

Here are the final results of our Avast VPN streaming test.

If you’re looking for a reliable geo-unblocker, we recommend subscribing to Surfshark instead. It’s the fastest VPN out there that will work with other streaming platforms as well.

Avast SecureLine VPN and torrents

P2P-optimized servers are always a welcome sight during our VPN testing. In our experience, Avast VPN’s torrenting servers actually performed better than the “regular” servers. While some locations might not unblock The Pirate Bay (for example, the Dutch server), they work very well otherwise.

The only caveat here is Avast’s aggressive logging policy. You want to download anonymously; if your VPN provider, ISP, hackers, or the government can monitor your traffic, your VPN is doing nothing. After our research, we don’t trust Avast enough to use it for torrenting.

Dedicated IP address

At this moment, you can’t buy a dedicated IP address with Avast SecureLine. If you need the benefits of an IP that’s tied to your account, go with PIA (Private Internet Access) instead.

Conclusion – Our experience With Avast SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN has a lot of things going for it: its owners are well-known, it’s located in a VPN-friendly country, it’s fast, and it has a good security setup. Unfortunately, our research and hands-on testing during this Avast SecureLine VPN review also showed some deal-breaking flaws.

Namely, the company’s logging policy is not safe, in our opinion. Across their many products, they record info that could pinpoint you as an individual. The primary purpose of a VPN is to avoid precisely that. Avast VPN supports good connection protocols, but their proprietary tunnel didn’t work for us. The kill switch functioned as intended, though, and we saw no data leaks during our testing.

Avast VPN has a small server network (about 700 servers), which explains why it can’t unblock Netflix US and similar platforms. The company allows torrenting and offers servers optimized for P2P filesharing and streaming. However, we didn’t feel comfortable torrenting with Avast VPN, given its logging policy.

Avast SecureLine also feels too expensive for what it offers. Its lowest subscription period is one year, and the pricing scheme doesn’t reward longer commitment. The company doesn’t support crypto payments, and its customer support team needs to be tech-savvier.

All in all, we wouldn’t recommend Avast SecureLine VPN. Instead, you should go with one of the best VPNs on the market that excel in all essential VPN aspects and even go beyond that.

Avast SecureLine VPN Review: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about Avast SecureLine VPN? We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about this VPN below. Simply click on a question to view the answer.

Is Avast VPN good?

Avast VPN has its pros and cons. It’s fast, easy to use, and features a good security setup. On the other hand, it logs too much user data, its server network is small, it can’t unblock Netflix, and the pricing is too high for the value.

The cons outweigh the pros, in our opinion, but you can read our full Avast SecureLine VPN review and draw your own conclusions.

Is Avast SecureLine safe?

After extensive research and hands-on testing, we believe that Avast SecureLine is not a safe VPN. It keeps connection logs that could be used to trace your online traffic back to you. This can be done either by hackers, your ISP, or the government.

As such, Avast fails to provide the essential benefit of a VPN – keeping you anonymous online. We recommend going with one of the best VPNs for this year instead and ensuring reliable protection.

Does Avast VPN work with Netflix?

No, Avast VPN cannot unblock Netflix US or any other popular streaming site. During our testing, we were only able to access Crunchyroll. If you’re looking for a reliable streaming VPN, we recommend reading our Surfshark review and subscribing to this geo-unblocking powerhouse instead.

How much does Avast VPN cost?

Avast VPN offers three subscription options:

As you can see, Avast doesn’t reward users for committing to longer subscriptions. In spite of its seven-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee, it just doesn’t provide enough value for the money.

Avast Secureline VPN Pricing & Plan Cost

VPNs, or virtual private networks, provide online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public Internet connection. On this page, we’re going to break down the pricing options when it comes to Avast SecureLine VPN, which, no, is not just for pirates and sailors. If anything, it protects users from pirating and offers a wide variety of subscription plans. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

Subscription costs

Our Favorite Features

Avast SecureLine has many features, but let’s cut to the chase. What do we like best about the services?

• A free trial that really is free: We love a free trial that doesn’t involve a credit card. This is an especially valuable feature considering that all of the subscription plans are annual payments. It’s a big commitment, and we really appreciate that Avast lets users try the VPN on for a week to see how it fits, much like the other services we’ve tested out in our page of the best free VPNs.
• No logging: You know all that Internet activity you’re trying to keep private with a VPN? Some VPN services actually monitor it and then sell your information anyway. Avast SecureLine explicitly states that they do not ever monitor users’ Internet activity.

What Did You Say About a Free Trial?

You know how much we love free trials, and Avast SecureLine does not disappoint with their seriously hassle-free, money-free trial. They offer a seven-day free trial, with no required credit card to start. That way, there’s no chance of forgetting the trial and accidentally paying for a plan when it ends. And on top of that—this was the really surprising one—they don’t even require an email for the free trial. We just installed the client straight onto our operating system.

FYI: If you’re still not sure whether Avast SecureLine VPN is right for you after the weeklong trial, keep in mind that they also have a 30-day money back guarantee. So, maybe the free trial is actually 37 days long, if you think about it.

More Security.org Recommendations

Check out more of our favorite VPNs.

Editor’s Rating:

9.7 /10

Editor’s Rating:

9.5 /10

Editor’s Rating:

9.4 /10

Subscription Options Offered

If you decide you do want to pay for the VPN from Avast SecureLine, there are a few different subscription combinations you can choose from. First, choose whether you want a plan for one device, or for multiple devices from two to five. And let’s be real, we don’t know anybody who only has one device, so if it’s affordable, we tend to lean toward an option for multiple devices. When we’re sitting at the coffee shop with Twitter open on both our computer and our phone, we want both of those devices protected.

Fun Fact: Apparently, 28 percent of American adults report that they are online “almost constantly.” 1 That means we’re constantly at risk for hacking, and constantly being surveilled by providers, sites, apps, and more.

The next decision is how long you want to commit to using their VPN for. Avast SecureLine doesn’t offer any monthly plans. Our only options were to sign up for one year, two years, or three years at once. Of course, it’s more expensive to pay for three years in advance instead of just one year, but it’s a slightly better deal if you calculate the cost per month (don’t worry, we dusted off our calculators and did that work for you below).

Observant and cranky users like us might notice that there’s no difference in the monthly cost between the two-year plan and the three-year plan. And the $1 per month difference that does exist between the one-year plan and the others might seem negligible. Ultimately, you’ve got to do what works best for your budget; whether you’re able to pay for two or three years up front and want to save a few dollars overall, or if you’re just looking to pay the lowest total sum right at this moment.

We also noticed (we take notes, you know!) that Avast doesn’t offer any tiers. Rather, each plan offers the same benefits. So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty for a minute. What does Avast SecureLine VPN actually do for you?

• Hide your online activities: Avast SecureLine uses what they call “bank-grade”, AES-256 encryption to protect all your Internet activities, whatever they might be (hey, no judgment from us, as long as they’re legal.) This means nobody, not even potential hackers, Internet service providers, employers, or the government, can see your activity.
• Hide your IP address: Whenever we connect to one of their servers, we get the same IP address as everyone else connected to it. So, who’s to say which one of us is watching TikTok dance tutorials every day to try to fit in better with the kids? Spoiler alert: it’s Gabe.
• Protection over public Wi-Fi and unsecured networks: It doesn’t matter how much we flirt with the barista at our local coffee shop, or how many matcha lattes she gives us with cool foam art. The WiFi networks there are often unprotected and users who connect to them can be at risk.
• DNS leak protection: This should be a given, because what’s the point of going through the motions of reinforcing the kitchen pipes if they’re just going to leak?

• Utilize open-source technology for Windows and Android: This VPN uses OpenVPN to encrypt our computer’s data. Many users trust and rely on OpenVPN because it is open-source. If something strange or suspicious was snuck in there, you know those open-source obsessives would notice it immediately. However, it’s not a do-it-yourself type of thing—don’t try this encryption at home, folks, as it’s a complicated set-up that requires third-party software. You still need a company like Avast SecureLine to do the work for you.
• Apple-approved for best compatibility and performance: As more and more of us use Apple products, it’s important to find security software that’s compatible. We both have iPhones and were grateful to hear that Avast SecureLine used Apple’s proprietary stacks to build their iOS implementations.
• Streaming and Torrenting: Avast SecureLine guarantees that streaming hi-definition content, including Netflix, is no problem on any of their servers. You can read our Avast SecureLine VPN review to see how we felt about that. You can also torrent on the VPN, which we do shamelessly ever since the weird computer kid in high school showed us how.
• Security for all Android TV devices: Avast SecureLine now works with all types of smart televisions, including Android smart TV, Nvidia Shield TV, Mi Box, and more.
• Access international content: Remember when Friends left Netflix in America, but it was still on the platform in a few other countries? We felt like fools without a good VPN to give us access to all corners of the Internet, no matter what part of the globe we’re on, but Avast solved that problem for us in no time.

And of course, there are things it just won’t do, too.

• No logging websites visited or app usage: This is a good thing! While some VPNs keep track of all of the digital movements you’re trying to protect, and might even sell your information to advertisers, Avast SecureLine will not keep track of where you’re going online. They will log connection timestamps and the IP address of the server used, but don’t worry; they delete the information after only one month.
• No limiting your bandwidth: Also a good thing! With unlimited bandwidth comes unlimited speed in data transfer. Avast SecureLine will not cap how much high-speed data you can use per month.

Did You Know: Researchers have found that, after the collapse of net neutrality rules, which kept Internet providers from blocking or slowing down websites and prioritizing their content over others, all four major wireless carriers throttle YouTube streaming. 2 This means that your phone company— AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon— slows down Internet speed for video streaming. Luckily, VPNs can stop most throttling.

Payment Options with Avast SecureLine VPN

Once you choose the subscription plan that’s best for you, Avast SecureLine VPN accepts the usual variety of payment methods:

• Major Credit Cards: Master, Visa, and Discover
• PayPal
• AliPay (Only available to customers with a Bank Account in China)
• PaySafeCard
• PayU
• Wire Transfer

Can I Cancel?

After we first signed up, Avast SecureLine does have a 30-day money-back guarantee. If we cancelled within that time, there would be no penalty. But if we cancelled our 3-year plan after a year and a half, we’d probably not get our money back on that.

In terms of the actual process of canceling, Avast makes it surprisingly easy. Their customer service line is operated by real, live humans, who will talk you through any questions you have. We called them once with a question about the app, and they were so helpful and patient. And of course, if you don’t want to talk to any humans ever, you can simply fill out a form on their site.

Recap

Avast SecureLine VPN provides industry standards and quality protection at one of the lowest prices out there, especially if you’re considering protection for only one device. While it’s frustrating that they don’t offer any monthly plans, it’s still a good option for protecting your data when surfing the web. It’s not one of our favorites, but it certainly gets the job done. And if you want to up your digital security even more, check out the best identity theft protection as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Avast SecureLine VPN is a safe and reputable product. It doesn’t log website or app usage and protects users from DNS and WebRTC leaks.

If you’re unable to establish an Internet connection and need to fix the problem, there are a few simple things you can do. First, make sure the Internet works without the VPN. If not, it’s an Internet issue. If it’s not an Internet issue, then you can try connecting to a different server, disconnecting other VPN services that may be running on your computer, or simply restarting your device. If all else fails, Avast customer service has a human on the other line who can help you.

No, your Internet activity cannot be tracked with a VPN. Some websites might know that you’re using a VPN, but they still can’t see your actual activity. It’s the same way that someone can know you’re wearing a mask, but they still can’t see what face you’re making underneath the mask.

To turn on the VPN, you can use the activation code that you received after installing the product. As always, if you have any questions, Avast has a helpful customer service team available during business hours.

The Avast SecureLine VPN protects your individual IP address by providing all users on a specific server the same IP address.

Avast SecureLine VPN Review 2023: See This Before Buying

Avast offers one of the biggest antivirus programs, and Avast SecureLine is the company’s VPN. Strangely, many people have complained about this VPN showing up on their computers out of nowhere. Is this VPN any good, or should you delete it immediately?

Avast SecureLine VPN might be worth trying, but better options exist. While it’s strong in some areas, it’s not worth what you get for the price. In this article, I’ll tell you how to delete, cancel, or get its 60-day free trial (if it interests you). However, if you’re looking for the best value, check out this list of our highest-ranked VPNs.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pros

• Excellent speeds. I got fast connections on nearly every server I tried. See how well my speeds held up here.
• Decent security features. It always hid my real location. Read about how to turn on its kill switch here.
• Great for torrenting. I could download files at good speeds. Check out which servers I recommend for torrenting here.
• Extensive free trial. I’ve never seen a VPN that lets you test it for 2 months. Read about how to access the trial here.

Cons

• Can’t unblock many platforms. I had a tough time accessing the top streaming services. Check out which ones blocked me here.
• Small server network. There are very few city-level connections. Find out how many countries have city-level servers here.
• Privacy issues. While its logging policy is solid, it’s never been audited. Read more reasons why it might not be privacy-friendly here.
• Not compatible with many devices. It only has apps for the 4 most popular Operating Systems. You can find detailed instructions for how to uninstall here.
• Support isn’t always helpful. It’s difficult to find its live chat feature. See detailed instructions for how to cancel a subscription through support here.

Avast SecureLine VPN Features — 2023 Update

7.0

Streaming — Bad At Unblocking Streaming Platforms

Avast SecureLine VPN only unblock a few platforms. That surprised me since it has streaming-optimized servers, but for the most part, they weren’t much help. That’s too bad because the streaming quality was great when I could get it working.

Unblocked: Netflix and Disney+

I was blocked by Netflix a few times, but I could access originals with a few servers. Netflix originals is a version of the site that only lets you watch the movies and shows Netflix offers anywhere. I started my tests with the streaming-optimized server in Miami.

The videos I watched all loaded quickly and played back in the highest quality

Several servers seemed to unblock Netflix but couldn’t play videos. This happened with the non-optimized Dallas server. I was so disappointed; it was like getting socks for Christmas as a kid.

I had the same issue with the streaming servers from the UK and Germany. The only other server that could truly unblock Netflix (originals) was the Japanese location.

Disney+ was the only other platform I could access.

There was zero buffering even when I skipped around to different parts of the movie

I was only able to unblock it with the US streaming servers.

Blocked By: HBO Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video

Avast SecureLine couldn’t unblock HBO Max. I thought HBO Max might have some sympathy for Avast’s “Gotham City” streaming server since it is the home for Batman content. Sadly, it was blocked along with every other server I tested.

Hulu blocked Avast SecureLine VPN just as easily. I had to test US servers since it’s only available there. Sadly, Hulu immediately detected I was using a VPN. Amazon Prime Video is available just about everywhere, but I was blocked no matter what server I tried.

I couldn’t access any Prime video content with streaming or non-optimized servers

Overall, I’ve seen free VPNs that work just as well as Avast for streaming (which isn’t a compliment). So, if unblocking streaming platforms is important to you, Avast SecureLine is the wrong VPN. Check out this list of the best VPNs for streaming to unblock all major platforms easily.

Speed — Fast on Nearby and Distant Servers

I was impressed by how fast Avast SecureLine VPN is on just about every server. But before I get into the results, let me explain our speed testing methods.

We have a dedicated speed expert that tests every VPN we review from the same connection. Everyone’s internet speed is different, so this makes sure our tests are fair. Our awesome tester also records at least 10 results for each server.

We lost 5% of our download rates on nearby servers and 26% on distant ones

These are excellent results for nearby servers. Norway and France are under 2,000 km from our tester’s location in the UK, so it makes sense they’re fast. However, South Africa is about 13,000 km away, and that server only slowed her connection by 22%. That’s a good result because many VPNs will drop your speeds by 40% or more at half that distance.

The Paris server actually increased my upload speed which is something that rarely happens

The tests in my chart were done with the Mimic protocol because it was the fastest overall. In short, these are fantastic results. There are only a few VPNs that perform better.

Gaming — Too Much Lag for Online Games

Avast SecureLine VPN slowed down my gaming. You usually need a ping rate below 85 ms to play online games without issues. However, I had 17 ms with the closest server when I used WireGuard, so I expected everything to run smoothly. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Even though I used the closest server to my actual location, there was lots of lag

I tested it out with the game Counter Strike: Global Offensive. It’s a fast-paced shooter, so any amount of lag is easy to spot. The game loaded up fine, and I could move around well, but only for brief moments. Every few seconds the character would get stuck like they stepped in gum, before jolting forward again. Plus, there was a noticeable delay each time I tried to jump or shoot.

If you want to stay safe while playing competitive games without lag, try out one of the best VPNs for gaming.

Server Network — Missing Some Server Options Competitors Offer

With only 700 servers in 34 countries, Avast SecureLine’s network is pretty small. But, there are a few things I like about it. You can connect quickly (in around 5 seconds). I also appreciate that it clearly labels optimized servers, so they’re easy to find.

Certain locations are optimized for online activities, but servers are not separate like other VPNs

What I don’t like is how hard it is to learn more about Avast SecureLine’s servers. I couldn’t find much about them on its website, and I had to go back and forth with support staff to get answers. Eventually, I learned it has some virtual locations (but they’re not labeled). It also owns all its servers, but they’re not RAM-only.

The lack of city-level servers is also disappointing. Most Avast SecureLine servers only tell you what country your IP will be in, which makes it harder to optimize speeds. There are 6 countries that offer cities. The US has the most with 16, while the other 5 (including Canada, Russia, and Spain) only have 3 cities or less. Luckily, Avast SecureLine is fast at long-distances, so this isn’t a huge issue.

Lastly, it would be nice if Avast SecureLine offered dedicated IPs. These are addresses only you use, and many VPNs offer them for a fee. They’re great for preventing blocking because of what other users did with a shared IP address. You can find a VPN with a much larger server network and more specialized servers in this list.

Security — Safe but Missing Additional Features

Avast SecureLine VPN successfully hides your real location, but it doesn’t have the extra security features many of its competitors offer. It comes with the industry standard AES 256-bit encryption level. This is the same level used by militaries, and it’s nearly impossible to crack.

The company also has private DNS servers, so your DNS requests aren’t left exposed

I would like to see it add some additional features like Double VPN. On the positive side, it lets you switch between 3 protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, and Mimic.

Mimic is its obfuscation technology, which makes it look like you’re not using a VPN. It’s helpful on restricted networks, like schools and work. WireGuard will give you the fastest upload speeds, and OpenVPN is the most secure.

Kill Switch

It offers a kill switch, but you have to remember to turn it on. Many VPNs automatically engage this feature because it’s essential. I recommend you turn it on before connecting to Avast SecureLine VPN.

You can activate the kill switch in the VPN MODE tab within the settings

A kill switch blocks your internet connection if the VPN ever disconnects. That makes sure you’re never online without an encrypted connection. Avast SecureLine’s kill switch worked as advertised; it always blocked my network any time I was switching servers.

Smart VPN Mode

This lets you program Avast SecureLine to turn on automatically under certain conditions. For example, if you connect to a public network, or open a torrenting app. You can also trigger it to connect when you access certain websites.

It’s a decent feature, but you can also set the VPN to turn on automatically as soon as your computer starts. What would be even more useful is if it offered split tunneling on all its apps (right now it’s only available for Android). This lets you place some of your traffic in the VPN tunnel. So, you could watch a geo blocked streaming site, but still access local news.

Privacy — Decent Policy With a Bad History

Even though the VPN’s privacy policy is solid, I understand if Avast’s history puts you off. Avast used to run a company called Jumpshot which sold user data collected through its antivirus browser extensions. On the one hand, you could choose not to share data with the company. But it was an option many users missed.

Most people probably believed Avast only needed anonymized data to keep its services running and didn’t realize their browsing history would be sold. While Avast shut down Jumpshot in 2020 after this was revealed, it still left a bad impression.

Many people have also complained about Avast SecureLine VPN showing up on their computer out of nowhere. Often, this happened because people had gotten Avast Antivirus in the past and allowed the program to make automatic updates (which they didn’t expect to include a VPN). When an entirely new app mysteriously appears on your computer, I can understand why it’s upsetting.

Others claim that the VPN arrived on their computer because they had another free anti malware program like CCleaner installed on their device. Avast has purchased many smaller free companies, so it’s possible the VPN was added to their computer, even though they didn’t know they had Avast products.

I can’t say exactly why Avast SecureLine VPN has been added to anyone’s device because it hasn’t happened to me. Unfortunately, I was never given satisfactory answers over live chat when I asked about these controversies. Once, I was even told a representative from the company would get back to me over email, but it never happened.

The support staff linked me to awards Avast has won instead of answering my questions

If any of these issues bother you, I completely understand why you wouldn’t want to use Avast products anymore. To get a VPN that doesn’t collect data with a proven privacy policy, check out our list of the best no-log VPNs.

Does Avast SecureLine VPN Keep Logs? No

On the bright side, you’re protected by a good no-logs policy if you only use the VPN. That means I’m not concerned about my privacy while I use Avast SecureLine VPN. However, I’d still be a little worried about using Avast Antivirus. When you sign up for that software, or its other security bundles, you’re asked for more information (including your name and billing address).

The data it does store is anonymized and is only used to maintain its VPN service

What it does record is timestamps, the amount of data transferred, if you uninstall or use auto-connections, and how many times you’ve connected. It also records the data you send them, but you can stay more private by signing up with a throwaway email address.

There are VPNs that record less data, but it doesn’t store any information that can be traced back to you. Avast SecureLine stores everything for 2 years.

Was Avast SecureLine VPN Audited? No

Unfortunately, there have been no independent audits of Avast’s apps or privacy policy. That’s too bad because it could clean up its reputation by undergoing a few audits. I hope it decides to work with some of the top auditing companies in the future to prove it sticks to its claims.

It does issue tri-monthly Warrant Canaries, which let you know if anyone has requested its information. But, it has missed a few, which doesn’t help its case.

Based in the Czech Republic

Thankfully, Avast isn’t located in a country within the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. This is an agreement between governments to share their citizens’ information. That means a VPN company in one of those countries could be asked to change its policies in the future. With Avast SecureLine VPN, that’s not something you need to worry about.

Does Avast SecureLine VPN Work in China? No

You can’t use Avast SecureLine VPN in China. That’s too bad because its Mimic protocol is designed to get around restrictive networks, but it won’t help.

Support staff told me there aren’t any tricks to get it working within the country

The Chinese government has banned many VPNs, but it usually only goes after the technology. It’s rare for it to get individuals in trouble for using them. However, I recommend you read up on the local laws before you decide to use a VPN in China.

Torrenting — Good for P2P File-Sharing

I got decent speeds torrenting with Avast SecureLine. It only has 7 servers that are optimized for torrenting. However, I was able to seed and download P2P files without issues using its other servers too.

I tested it out by downloading Night of the Living Dead. It’s a 1.62 GB file I can complete in about 20 minutes with no VPN connected. Connected to the P2P server in Miami, it would have taken me about 39 minutes to finish. However, I got the exact same speeds using a non-optimized server.

Avast SecureLine provides robust security and refrains from logging any data that could identify you. If you’re willing to put faith in the company despite its past controversies, it serves as a reliable option for torrenting. Although torrenting is permitted in the majority of countries, acquiring copyrighted files remains unlawful. I advise you to restrict your downloads to public domain content when utilizing P2P services.

Installation & Apps

8.0

Avast SecureLine is easy to install and navigate.

Use the settings menu to adjust Avast’s security features, like protocols and the kill switch

Everything is basically the same on mobile apps. The main difference is there’s just a settings button rather than a menu. It also doesn’t have tabs for its streaming and torrenting servers, but they’re clearly labeled.

Setup & Installation

It only took a few minutes to install Avast SecureLine on each device I tested. On Windows or Mac, you’ll download it from the website. On iOS or Android devices, you’ll do it through your phone’s app store.

I scanned the app to make sure it’s safe — there were no malware or Trojan viruses

As I mentioned above, some people have had issues with Avast SecureLine showing up on their device when they didn’t expect it. Thankfully, it’s just as easy to uninstall. It’s no different than removing other programs from your device.

Quick Guide: How to Uninstall Avast SecureLine VPN in 3 Easy Steps

1. Find “Avast SecureLine VPN” in your program list. This is different depending on your device. It’s easiest to search for the term “uninstall.”
2. Uninstall the VPN. Now, you’ll be able to remove it. You can also uninstall any other Avast products on your device if you’re worried an automatic update will install it again.
3. Cancel if you’re subscribed. This is easy to forget when you no longer have the app.

Device Compatibility

Avast SecureLine VPN is only available for the most popular Operating Systems. There are apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, but nothing else. There’s no way to set it up on a router. There’s also no smart DNS feature, so you can’t use it on a gaming console or smart TV. Plus, there’s no Linux app.

Desktop — Apps for Windows and Mac

The desktop apps are practically identical. They both offer the same protocols, servers, and the kill switch feature. It’s available for Mac versions 10.12+ and Windows devices running version 7 or up.

Android and iPhone (iOS)

The only difference with mobile apps is that they come with split tunneling. Both also offer WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Mimic protocols like the desktop app. You have a few less automatic connection options since there’s no Smart VPN feature, but split tunneling lets you use all those features with more flexibility. You need Android 6.0+ or iOS 14.0+ to install.

Browser Extensions for Chrome and Firefox

These are actually remote controls for the VPN. What’s good about that is they truly protect your entire device. Many browser extensions only connect you to proxies, and these only change the IP address on your browser. Avast’s extensions offer another way to turn the VPN on and off and switch servers within your browser.

Simultaneous Device Connections

You can connect Avast SecureLine VPN to 10 devices, which is plenty for me. Some VPNs let you connect unlimited devices, but this should be more than enough for most.

I managed to connect Avast SecureLine to my Android phone, Windows desktop, Windows laptop, and a friend’s iPhone without any hitches. It was pleasing to find that all the devices could stream at the same time, providing a smooth experience with no performance issues, even with multiple devices connected.