Avast SecureLine VPN Review (2025 Update): The Pros & Cons

Avast SecureLine VPN Review

Avast SecureLine VPN is an excellent choice, especially as part of Avast Ultimate or Avast One. It offers outstanding privacy, speed, and streaming capabilities. When bundled with Avast’s security suites, you get world-class antivirus protection, too.

• Privacy: 100%. Avast’s clear no-logs policy and robust privacy features ensure complete online anonymity.
• Streaming: 100%. Avast provided reliable access to Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime, Max, and BBC iPlayer during our tests.
• Speed: 100%. Avast’s ultra-fast download speeds make it perfect for streaming, gaming, and downloading.
• Security: 100%. By purchasing Avast as part of Avast Ultimate or One, you gain access to all of its advanced security tools.

Thanks to the 30-day return policy, you can try it risk-free.

Privacy

Avast SecureLine VPN has a clear no-logs policy. It does not log sensitive user information such as IP addresses, browsing activity, or DNS queries. Instead, the service collects minimal data to enhance performance, none of which can directly identify you or your online behavior. The information retained includes:

• Connection timestamps
• Bandwidth usage
• Device information
• Account details

Connection logs are kept for up to 35 days, while account-related data is stored for up to two years. 

Jurisdiction

Avast operates under Czech jurisdiction, which adheres to EU privacy regulations. However, the Czech Republic participates in international intelligence-sharing agreements, which could impact data privacy. While Avast reports fewer legal data requests in recent years, it has a history of cooperating with law enforcement when required.

Privacy Concerns

Avast’s past actions have raised concerns about its broader commitment to privacy. The company previously collected browsing data through its antivirus browser extensions and sold it to third parties, including tech companies.

Although this practice was unrelated to its VPN service and has since been discontinued, it casts doubt on the company’s overall dedication to safeguarding user privacy.

Alternatives

Although Avast has clearly turned the page on its data collecting activities, users prioritizing maximum anonymity might consider other VPN providers, such as NordVPN or Surfshark, which offer stricter no-logs policies and more robust privacy safeguards.

Streaming

Avast offers servers optimized for streaming in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA. We tested these servers with various streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Netflix, and all performed flawlessly.

Speed

Avast SecureLine VPN delivers impressive local download speeds, averaging 95 Mbps. However, performance can drop by approximately 20% when connecting to distant servers.

To optimize your VPN speed, use the OpenVPN protocol for its speed, stability, and reliability. The proprietary Mimic protocol is designed to disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic, prioritizing obfuscation over speed.

Security

For those looking for the most complete security features, we recommend getting Avast’s VPN as part of Avast’s full security suites, which include antivirus, anti-tracking, identity theft protection, and more.

Encryption & Protocols

Avast SecureLine VPN ensures strong security with AES-256 encryption and supports multiple protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and its proprietary Avast Mimic protocol, which is tailored to mask VPN traffic as standard HTTPS.

Note that WireGuard is limited to Windows and Android, while OpenVPN is available across all platforms except macOS.

Leak Protection

In our testing, Avast passed IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests, confirming that it effectively hides IP addresses and prevents data leaks. Its kill switch, although not enabled by default, adds a layer of security when activated.

Limitations

Despite its robust foundation, Avast lacks advanced features like RAM-only servers, multi-hop (double VPN), and Onion over VPN, which are offered by competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark.

Integration with Security Suites

Avast SecureLine stands out when paired with Avast’s broader security offerings, such as Avast Ultimate or Avast One. These bundles enhance protection by combining the VPN with tools for antivirus, anti-tracking, ransomware protection, and more.

Servers

Avast SecureLine VPN offers a network of 700 servers spanning 37 countries, ensuring coverage across all continents. While this might seem modest compared to competitors like NordVPN, it’s important to consider quality over sheer numbers.

Avast prioritizes real servers in these locations rather than relying heavily on virtual servers, which are commonly used by other providers to artificially expand their footprint.

Real vs. Virtual Servers

Real servers are physically located in the country they represent, providing authentic IP addresses and a more consistent user experience. Virtual servers, on the other hand, simulate being in a specific country but are often physically located elsewhere—like a server in Singapore representing Indonesia.

While virtual servers can offer more location options, they can sometimes lead to slower speeds or less accurate geolocation results. With Avast SecureLine, you’re mostly connecting to real, tangible servers in the locations they advertise.

Coverage Highlights

Avast SecureLine’s global network includes servers in regions like Europe and North America—key markets for most VPN users. Users can select servers on a city-level in Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, the UK, and the USA.

Outside of Europe and the US, there are severs in Brazil, Malaysia, Singapore,  South Africa, and Taiwan, ensuring reasonable access across Asia, South America, and Africa.

Owned vs. Rented Servers

Like most VPNs, Avast uses a combination of owned and rented servers. While wholly owned servers provide greater control and security, renting servers is a practical way to expand coverage cost-effectively. While we’d prefer to see more providers move toward fully owned infrastructures, Avast’s approach is in line with industry norms.

Prices

Avast SecureLine VPN, when purchased as a standalone product, is hard to justify due to its high cost. On an annual basis, it’s priced similarly to ExpressVPN, a more feature-rich service that we also consider overpriced for what it offers. If you’re in the market for a standalone VPN, NordVPN or Surfshark deliver significantly better value with more features and competitive pricing.

However, the story changes if you opt for Avast SecureLine as part of a security bundle like Avast Ultimate or Avast One. These comprehensive packages include the VPN alongside additional tools like antivirus, password managers, and system optimization features, making the pricing much more palatable. At that point, you’re getting better value for your money.

For those open to alternatives, Norton, Bitdefender, and TotalVPN also offer security suites that include VPNs, often at comparable prices to Avast’s bundles. These are worth considering if you want an all-in-one solution.

User reviews

To gauge user satisfaction, we analyzed Trustpilot scores and review counts for the top VPN brands. Trustpilot, a leading platform for user reviews, provides insights into real-world experiences with these services.

Avast performs well in this regard, earning a score that places it right at the average of the VPN brands we tested. While it doesn’t lead the pack, its strong reviews indicate that users generally have a positive experience.

Ownership

Avast is part of the Gen Digital family (NASDAQ: GEN), a global leader in Cyber Safety with a mission to make the digital world safer and more private for everyone.

Gen isn’t just about individual products—it’s a collection of renowned cybersecurity brands that serve over 500 million users in 150 countries. Its portfolio includes Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, and AVG.

Operating from dual headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, and Prague, Czech Republic, Gen brings together cutting-edge AI technology and data analytics to tackle today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. 

By consolidating these brands, Gen combines expertise and innovation to address both current and future cybersecurity threats.