In today's fast-evolving digital environment, a VPN is crucial to mask your digital footprint from hackers and prevent your internet provider from tracking your actions. Browsing without a VPN leaves your computer susceptible to online threats.
Avast, famed for its not-so-bad free antivirus software, took a leap and purchased HideMyAss!, a major player in the VPN industry. This acquisition naturally led to the release of their own VPN offering, built on the tried-and-tested tech of 'HideMyAss!'.
Avast Secureline As a reliable VPN from a well-known company, Avast SecureLine offers a budget-friendly option for those seeking decent protection while surfing the web.
It’s common for VPN services to promise stellar performance but fail most notably on download speeds. Avast’s SecureLine is no exception. We delved into this software to see how it stacks up.
Avast VPN at a Glance
| Company | Avast |
| Jurisdiction | Czech Republic |
| Locations |
34 Countries |
| Free Trial |
Yes |
| Log Files |
No |
| Torrenting | Yes |
| Streaming | Yes |
Exploring Avast SecureLine’s Pricing Options and Subscription Plans
Let’s address the pricing aspect straight away—you’ll need to decide by the end of this review whether Avast SecureLine is worth your investment.
Most VPN providers charge a straightforward fee for their service, offering options like monthly, quarterly, or yearly plans, usually with discounts for long-term commitments.
Avast has taken a unique pricing strategy with SecureLine, pricing according to the type and number of devices used. Here’s their pricing model:
- SecureLine’s best deal offers a yearly package at $79.99 for up to 5 devices, breaking down to roughly $6.67 per month, or $16 per year for each device.
- Access to Avast SecureLine on a Mac or P.C. comes at $59.99 per year or $5 monthly for a single computer.
- For iPhones or Android devices, SecureLine’s access costs $19.99 annually, which is roughly $1.67 monthly per device.
Skeptical about spending money on an untried product? The 7-day trial is absolutely free of charge, and unlike others, Avast doesn’t demand your credit card info.
Should you choose to purchase Avast SecureLine, payments can be made using Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal; however, alternatives like cryptocurrency or Perfect Money aren’t accepted.
With its modest feature set and typical performance, it surprised us to see Avast pricing their product akin to premium services like those offered by NordVPN. When comparing cost to functionality, Avast doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Refund Policy
Avast does feature a 30-day money-back promise; however, scrutinizing the details reveals certain conditions you should be aware of before purchasing.
Avast's refund terms note the amount reimbursed depends on program utilization. Connect more than 100 times or transfer over 10GB of data, and you’ll forfeit the guarantee.
For those who are heavy users, knowing this before starting a trial is key.
Privacy & Logging
Privacy ranks high for most people when selecting a VPN. On examining SecureLine, we noticed it lacks a kill switch, adjustable protocol settings, and bespoke leak protection.
That said, Avast does adopt the robust OpenVPN protocol, operating on AES-256-CBC, ensuring reliability in safeguarding privacy. Despite limited features, Avast does secure essentials like WebRTC and DNS leak prevention.
While Avast states they don’t track your browsing history or activity, they do maintain session logs, capturing details such as timestamps, I.P., and data scale used during VPN sessions.
This isn’t a big deal if your activities involve light web surfing but could be problematic for those downloading torrents, linking back to your Avast SecureLine account.
Interestingly, Avast doesn’t require credit card info for downloading the trial, nor an email address. Installing was simple with a user-friendly interface.
Navigating SecureLine
Avast crafted their software with beginners in mind. The first-time setup features guides and tips for connecting and toggling servers.
SecureLine also provides connection notifications; however, these pop-ups can be distracting and require attention. While helpful, they disrupt ongoing tasks—fortunately, you can deactivate these alerts.
SecureLine lets users switch server locations by geographical filter, but ping times or server loads aren’t indicated, complicating optimal server selection.
In settings, automatic connections on unsecured Wi-Fi are a nice touch, but the lack of protocol change, kill switch, or DNS settings customization is disappointing.
The access tray feels incomplete, lacking an easy server switch feature without opening the full client. Accessing non-default servers involves multiple steps.
Some VPNs limit use to P.C. or Macs, but SecureLine extends to iPads and phones, encompassing Android and iOS devices as well.
Testing the Android app revealed a familiar interface without added features. It’s missing server location filtering options and lacks a recent server list.
A positive aspect is automatic VPN connection upon detecting non-secure networks, even across mobile devices.
Although SecureLine functions and provides protection while browsing, it falls short of offering the extensive features typically bundled with equivalently-priced solutions.
Unfortunately, Avast SecureLine does not provide OpenVPN configuration files, requiring manual speed tests using tools like SpeedTest.net and Fast.com.
In the UK, SecureLine displayed its best performance, clocking between 50-60Mbps on a 75Mbps connection. European locations like Germany and France also showed commendable speeds.
Avast Secureline Performance
The U.S. achieved expected results, with the West coast averaging 35Mbps and the East coast faster at 50-55Mbps. Other European servers lagged, and Poland was particularly slow.
International speeds varied, with Malaysia at a mere 1.3Mbps, while Australia ranged between 25-40 Mbps.
In-Depth Look: Avast Secureline VPN 2023 - Assessing Its Security and Features: Our Comprehensive Analysis of the Pros and Cons
Dive into our Full Review of Avast Secureline VPN - Is It a Secure Choice? Get Extensive Insights with a Detailed Breakdown of Its Advantages and Disadvantages
Avast Secureline VPN: A Thorough Guide for Beginners
Some Drawbacks We Found
In the hustle and bustle of the digital age, safeguarding your online identity from cybercriminals and your ISP's prying eyes is crucial. A VPN is your digital armor, ensuring safe and secure surfing, protecting your computer from potential online threats.
No Support Chat
Famed for its capable free antivirus software, Avast is making waves in the VPN world after acquiring 'HideMyAss!', a top player in the space. Leveraging this expertise, Avast has rolled out its VPN, using the robust foundations of HideMyAss! technology.
As a trusted brand, Avast introduces a reliable VPN solution. If you're looking for an affordable VPN, offering solid performance, Avast SecureLine could be a worthy contender for secure web browsing.
Lacking in Features
Many VPN providers overpromise and underdeliver, especially regarding speeds. So, how does Avast stack up? We delved into Avast SecureLine VPN to shed light on what it truly offers.
Examining Avast SecureLine: Plans and Pricing Structure
Streaming with SecureLine: Netflix & More
No Router Support
No Adware or Malware Detected During Trial Phase
Let's discuss pricing right up front so you can decide at the review's conclusion if Avast SecureLine is worthy of your investment.
Number of Server Locations
You usually find VPN services offering fixed-rate subscriptions, irrespective of the device. Commonly, they present plans ranging from a month to a year, with discounts for longer commitments.
However, Avast charts its own course with SecureLine, pricing it based on device type and quantity. Here's a glimpse at their unique pricing approach:
Encrypted & Secure
SecureLine’s most valuable package lets you access 5 devices for $79.99 annually, translating to $6.67 monthly or $16 yearly per device.
To use Avast SecureLine on Mac or PC will cost you $59.99 a year, breaking down to $5 each month per computer.
Torrenting Is Allowed
Mobilize your security with SecureLine for iPhone or Android for just $19.99 annually, roughly $1.67 per month per device.
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- New York City, New York
- Seattle, Washington
- Miami, Florida
- Paris, France
- London, United Kingdom
SecureLine’s Support for Netflix & Streaming Services
Unsure about investing in something unproven? Avast offers a no-frills 7-day trial, risk-free, without the need for credit card details.
If you opt for Avast Secureline, available payment methods include Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. Unfortunately, cryptocurrencies and systems like Perfect Money aren't supported.
Despite its barebones features and average performance, Avast's pricing aligns with more established competitors like Private Internet Access and NordVPN. This makes one question the balance of cost against offered functionality.
Customer Support
Avast offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but read the small print. Certain conditions might limit this refund, so it’s important to be informed before committing.
One notable clause states a refund hinges on your usage. Connect over 100 times or transfer more than 10GB, and you might jeopardize that money-back guarantee.
Heavy data users should take note of this policy before beginning their trial with Avast.
Many seek VPNs for privacy, their defining feature. In examining Avast’s security aspects, there is a noticeable absence of a kill switch and protocol customization, along with no special leak prevention mechanisms.
Adware and Malware Free: Avast SecureLine’s Trial Version Tested Clean
Even so, Avast supports the secure and illustrious OpenVPN protocol, powered by AES-256-CBC encryption, ensuring privacy protection. While the lack of features may seem like a drawback, Avast provides key protections like DNS and WebRTC leak prevention.
Concerning data logging, Avast assures users that it doesn’t track browsing history or monitor activities. Yet, further inspection reveals some session logging policies worth noting.
‘We will store a timestamp and I.P. address when you connect and disconnect from our VPN service, along with data transfer sizes and the specific VPN server used.’ – quoted clearly from the policy.
Wrapping Up – The Verdict
While this may not concern casual surfers, torrenters might worry about IP tracking that can link activities back to an Avast SecureLine account.
Pros
- The ease of accessing a free trial without needing to input credit card information or even an email impressed us. Installation is straightforward with an intuitive interface.
- Easy set-up, navigation, and use.
- Designed with beginners in mind, Avast's software guides users with arrows and explanations, easing them into the VPN environment, helping comprehend the software's functions.
- Notices appear when SecureLine connects or disconnects, a crucial feature for knowing your security status, though we found pop-up notifications disruptive to workflow. Thankfully, these can be muted, though this reduces security awareness.
- Navigating SecureLine’s server locations by continent is handy, but absent are indicators for ping rates or server load, and its reconnection process lacks acceleration tools.
Cons
- Minimal features.
- It works with official apps only.
- Limited access to support.
SecureLine settings are uninspiring. Automatic secure network connections are helpful, yet choices for protocol modification, a kill switch, or DNS settings are absent.
The access tray also could be better, lacking shortcuts to switch servers without opening the client. Switching needs multiple steps, detracting from user experience.
Unlike some VPNs limited to computers, Avast SecureLine extends protection to iPads and phones, compatible with both Android and iOS.
Avast Secureline
Pros
- Trustworthy provider
- Easy Setup
- Low Fees
- Excellent performance
- Fast Speeds
Cons
- Minimal Features
- Official Apps Only
3Comments
Americas' results were satisfying too, with average speeds of 35Mbps on the West Coast and 50-55Mbps on the East. However, other European servers underwhelmed, with Poland peaking at a mere 13Mbps.
Same, good for me.
Internationally, outcomes varied greatly, with Malaysia at an abysmal 1.3Mbps, whereas Australian servers achieved more respectable speeds between 25-40Mbps.