Avast SecureLine VPN Review: Is it Trustworthy in 2025?

The answer isn’t as clear-cut as you might hope. That’s because, in January 2020, PCMag reported that both Avast Antivirus and AVG AntiVirus were collecting user data and transferring that data to the Avast subsidiary Jumpshot, which repackaged and sold the data. On January 30, 2020, Avast announced it had ended the practice.

This wasn’t related to their VPN offering – it was happening with their antivirus products. Still, privacy being a VPN’s raison d’être, it can understandably put off security-focused VPN users. I’ll leave it up to you to assign Avast your own trustworthiness score. 

Despite the above, we’re going to keep an open mind and try to assess Avast’s VPN offering as objectively as possible.

Netflix started banning VPNs almost ten years ago to enforce the geo-restrictions imposed upon it by content creators and distributors. Netflix has no option but to comply with this. It will nonetheless allow access to content that is not geo-restricted (such as Netflix-produced series) from anywhere in the world.

Still, because of this, unblocking Netflix and other streaming sites has become a sought-after feature for VPN users. And many VPN providers (if not most) at least claim to unblock some streaming sites.

While Avast SecureLine VPN doesn’t make a big splash about streaming in its marketing, it is mentioned. And Avast provides a limited number of streaming-optimized servers:

• Berlin, Germany
• Wonderland, UK
• Gotham, US
• Miami, US
• New York, US
• Seattle, US

It also means you can only access geo-restricted content from three countries using Avast, which is better than nothing, I guess. If you want to access other Netflix libraries, you’ll need to turn to a different provider.

I tried all of them and was able to access Netflix on all of them, except for the UK server (more on that later). I wasn’t able to access any content using the UK server. I have also previously reviewed AVG’s VPN offering  (owned by Avast), and the result was exactly the same.

So, streaming is somewhat hit-and-miss with Avast. It works well with Netflix, but only for three libraries (if they all work). If your primary reason for using a VPN is to bypass streaming geo-blocking, you may want to look at a different provider.

Also, note that none of the “regular” servers worked with streaming sites. For any chance at success, use the dedicated streaming servers.

Avast provides access to 58 servers in 27 countries. Many VPN users like massive lists of servers to choose from, and many providers offer a much larger number of locations. But I feel that 27 countries to choose from is more than enough for most.

Again, if you require a massive number of servers from your VPN provider, you should look elsewhere.

Avast provides dedicated servers for both streaming and torrenting. We’ve already covered streaming above, so we’ll focus on the dedicated torrenting servers here. 

You can choose between eight dedicated torrenting servers – some of which overlap with the dedicated streaming servers.

Avast SecureLine VPN allows P2P file-sharing on the same subset of servers as AVG. These are:

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

In my testing, torrenting was nice and smooth, without any lag or freeze-ups. Of course, the closer the VPN server you connect to is to your actual location, the better your download speeds will be.

Most of Avast Secureline VPN’s security features are found within the app’s Settings. From the VPN Mode settings menu, you can customize whether or not the VPN gets enabled automatically and in which circumstances. 

You can choose to automatically turn on the VPN whenever you’re connected to the internet or have the app ask you whether or not to connect. Below that, you can create a list of trusted networks for which the VPN will not automatically connect. 

For example, you may want to enable the VPN when you’re at a coffee shop but not when using your own WiFi network at home. To do that, you just need to add your home network to the Trusted Networks list, and the VPN will automatically disconnect when you’re on that network.

Then there’s the kill switch option. The kill switch, when enabled, automatically blocks all traffic from exiting your device if the VPN should ever disconnect for any reason. This is something I recommend enabling for the more privacy-focused users out there.

From here, you can also exclude trusted networks. A trusted network is a network over which you don’t want to connect to the VPN. 

All of the above applies to Manual Mode, which is the default. But right beside it, there’s also Smart Mode, which you can enable by clicking it. Smart Mode enables automatic connection of the VPN in five circumstances:

• When you connect to unknown networks
• When you torrent and browse the web  
• When you access banking sites
• When you stream media
• When you access a website you manually added to the list by clicking ADD SITES.

And you can enable or disable each of them individually. I feel this is of limited usefulness and would personally use Manual Mode.

However, underneath those options is a useful tool, even though Avast’s implementation isn’t ideal: split tunneling.

Split tunneling or selective routing enables you to select whether or not an app’s traffic goes through the VPN. Normally, with split tunneling, you can choose to send certain apps through the VPN while having other apps use your regular ISP connection. For example, you could send your Netflix traffic through your ISP connection while sending the rest through the VPN. Or only send your P2P traffic through the VPN and send the rest out through your ISP connection. 

But Avast’s implementation is much more basic than this. While it’s still split tunneling, it’s much less granular. With Avast, you can only choose to exclude certain websites from the VPN, not apps. So, if you wanted to exclude Netflix, you’d have to know which URLs it accesses to get it to work properly – which isn’t practical.

Let’s turn to Avast privacy policy now. What’s that like?

While Avast’s privacy policy does have the benefit of transparency, it’s pretty much just a list of what Avast collects, with a tiny little section that lists what it doesn’t collect…

The rest of the policy simply details what AVG collects.  And it collects quite a bit.

Protocols

Turning to encryption, Avast supports two protocols on macOS: IPsec and Mimic. On Windows, it supports OpenVPN and Mimic. I’m using a Mac, so I’m using IPsec rather than Mimic – I’ll explain why.

IPsec and OpenVPN are open-source, tried-and-tested protocols that are very secure. While Avast is light on technical details, it likely uses AES encryption (the industry standard) with both IPsec and OpenVPN, which, again, is very secure. I would recommend you always use IPsec with Avast Secureline VPN on macOS (and OpenVPN when using Windows).

As for the Mimic protocol, it’s somewhat problematic. Mimic is a homegrown VPN protocol developed by Avast itself. There’s no particular reason to deem it insecure as such, but the trouble is that because it was developed by Avast, it’s closed-source. That means nobody can review the algorithm to ensure it’s secure and has no vulnerabilities. While Avast may have done a great job with Mimic, there’s simply no way to know, and you’re left taking their word that they did everything right. It’s simply not ideal.

So stick with open-source encryption whenever you can. The protocols I recommend are:

• IPsec
• OpenVPN
• WireGuard

Steer clear from the rest.

Turning to IP and DNS leaks, our tests show that Avast SecureLine VPN isn’t leaking. Good stuff here.

Without Avast Secureline VPN:

With Avast Secureline VPN:

So, we have no IP leaks with Avast and no DNS leaks, either. I was happy to see that.

Like most VPN providers, Avast provides in-tunnel, no-logging DNS servers. Using your VPN provider’s internal DNS servers is the best way to avoid DNS leaks. Unless you have a very specific use case, you shouldn’t use custom DNS. Stick with your VPN provider’s DNS servers.

Speed is always going to be a big one when it comes to VPN performance. But while you want your VPN to be as fast as possible, you need to remember that the encryption and decryption occurring over your connection creates overhead, which has a cost in terms of speed. That means that every VPN out there will slow you down to some degree.

I performed multiple speed tests over Avast’s VPN servers, spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Most of the tests yielded excellent results – but with one exception: UK servers. In my testing, they were very slow.  

This could come down to many factors, and I would assume this is not the norm. Still, I was expecting much better speeds out of the UK, especially given that Avast’s Japan server was giving me dramatically better speeds than the UK servers. But, by and large, Avast Secureline VPN provides very good speeds.

Testing was done using IPsec rather than the Mimic protocol. But I would assume that Mimic would be even faster. Here are the values per region:

Baseline (no VPN):

North America (where I am located):

Asia:

Europe:

Usually, I’ll configure the VPN client on my router to test a VPN’s performance with online gaming. That allows my PS5 to be automatically routed through the VPN just by connecting to my router. But, alas, Avast doesn’t support routers. So this was not possible. And it’s too bad. Online gaming can really benefit from a wired connection.

So, I set up internet sharing from my Mac and was able to share my VPN with my PS5 that way.

Online gaming performance was quite good. However, I did experience some lag and freeze-ups. But these tests are really just a snapshot in time, and these results probably come down to network congestion, the number of users on the server, and the bandwidth they’re pulling.

The most important thing to check for a smooth online gaming experience is ping time. So, I would suggest connecting to a server that’s close to your actual physical location for best results.

Avast SecureLine provides native applications for the following platforms:

• Windows
• macOS
• iOS
• Android
• AndroidTV

While Avast provides an app for AndroidTV, it needs to be activated by pairing your AndroidTV device with another device already running Avast SecureLine VPN. More on that below.

Avast also provides a browser extension for Firefox and Chrome. You can install the browser extensions straight from the app if you like. However, the browser extensions will only tunnel your browser’s traffic rather than your entire system. So, I would recommend using the full-fledged app unless you have a specific use case. 

Avast doesn’t support Linux or routers. These are missed opportunities in my book.

The native desktop app is clean and relatively easy to navigate but also has very few options. 

When you first launch Avast’s app, you have to sign in if you purchased an account, or you can start your free trial (which does require you to hand over your credit card number). 

Once you’re set up, you can select a VPN server to connect to from the app’s main window.

With Avast, the supported VPN protocols vary by platform (OpenVPN for Windows & Android and IKEv2 (IPsec)for macOS & iOS – and they all also support Avast’s homebrew protocol, Mimic). But no, Avast is more consistent in that all of their apps only support OpenVPN. 

It would be nice if Avast supported more than a single VPN protocol (aside from Mimic), but it’s a secure protocol, and I recommend choosing OpenVPN or IKEv2 over Mimic.

Avast’s app includes four Preferences pages:

• VPN Mode
• General
• Pair New Device
• Browser Integration

We’ve already covered the VPN Mode page in the Privacy and Security section, so we’ll focus on the other settings here.

From the General settings page, you can enable or disable notifications, select whether to start AVG Secure VPN when you boot up your computer, choose whether to display Avast VPN in the menu bar and select whether you want Avast product ads in your app (I recommend disabling that).

Below that is an option to receive beta updates of the app.

The VPN Protocols page allows you to select the VPN protocol used.

As previously mentioned, your options are:

• Automatic (the app will decide for you)
• Mimic
• IPsec

Again, I recommend using IPsec on macOS and iOS and OpenVPN on Windows and Android.

The Pair Devices page is used to activate your Avast SecureLine VPN on your other devices. This feels very convoluted. Every other VPN provider simply allows you to log into other devices (up to their supported limit) using your credentials. 

To use your subscription on your nine other devices (Avast allows up to 10 simultaneous connections), you’ll need to pair them. Avast provides detailed instructions on how to achieve this here.

An obvious question that comes to mind is, why is this required? I don’t have an answer for you…

Avast’s pricing is decent, although it does charge more than many of its competitors (who benefit from a much better reputation). It offers three plans, with monthly prices between $4.59 and $4.39. That’s right, you can save a whopping 20 cents per month by choosing a two or three-year plan. Also note that going for a three-year plan provides no financial benefit compared to the two-year plan, which is kind of odd. And there is no monthly option.

On the plus side, each plan allows up to 10 simultaneous connections.

That works out to:

• 59.08 USD for one year of service
• 105.36 USD for two years of service
• 150.04 USD for three years of service

Avast SecureLine VPN and routers

As mentioned above, Avast simply does not support routers. It’s too bad and represents an opportunity for improvement. Setting up a VPN client on a router has many benefits:

• You don’t need a dedicated app. Simply connecting to the router will tunnel your traffic through the VPN.

You can bypass the limit your provider places on simultaneous connections. Regardless of the number of devices connected to the router (and tunneling their traffic), it only counts as a single connection.

I wasn’t able to simply email Avast’s customer service department. That’s because email support is reserved for paying customers, whereas I’m running the 60-day trial. 

Whether I’m running their trial or whether I paid for a plan, I should have access to support. After all, the whole point of the trial is to test the service before buying – that should apply to customer service, too. I should be able to try it.

So, trial users are relegated to Avast’s support forum and online knowledge base.

Reddit users discussed Avast SecureLine VPN’s connectivity issues, dedicated IP availability, service discontinuation in India, and whether Avast One is worth the investment. Below is a comprehensive summary of key themes.

Key Takeaways from Reddit Users

Reddit Complaints About Avast SecureLine VPN Connectivity

Users reported sudden connection failures with Avast SecureLine VPN despite stable internet and unchanged settings.

“I bought the VPN and started using it regularly for games and web searches. It worked well until it stopped connecting.”

Community feedback highlights that some users reinstalled the VPN software but still faced issues. Even those who bought it at discounted rates expressed frustration, with several starting to look for more reliable alternatives.

Read more on Reddit: SecureLine VPN connectivity issues

Reddit Inquiry About Dedicated IPs with Avast SecureLine VPN

Users questioned whether Avast SecureLine VPN supports purchasing dedicated IP addresses.

“It’s fast, secure, had deddicated IP, has many more locations than Avast SecureLine.”

Discussion highlights include the absence of clear information from Avast about dedicated IP availability. Users criticized Avast’s lack of response and limited server locations, while Surfshark was recommended as a better alternative for its dedicated IP support and broader server network.

Read more on Reddit: Dedicated IP inquiry

Reddit Discussion on Avast VPN Discontinuation in India

Avast confirmed it discontinued VPN services in India due to regulatory restrictions, leading to backlash from Indian users.

“We regret to inform you that Avast SecureLine VPN will no longer be available in India due to regulatory restrictions.”

Key points include users’ disappointment over the lack of refunds or alternative solutions, with many seeking VPN providers still operational in India.

Read more on Reddit: VPN discontinuation in India

Reddit Review: Is Avast One Worth It?

Users debated whether Avast One, which includes Avast SecureLine VPN, offers good value in 2025.

“There are better options for VPNs and security suites.”

Observations show mixed reviews regarding its security and VPN performance. While some trust Avast’s antivirus, they remain skeptical about its VPN reliability, with Redditors suggesting alternatives known for better VPN reputations.

Read more on Reddit: Is Avast One worth it?

Suggested Alternatives:

Reddit users frequently recommend NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN as more reliable alternatives to Avast SecureLine VPN.

• Surfshark was praised for offering dedicated IPs and broader server coverage.
• NordVPN was noted for stronger performance and security.
• ProtonVPN is highlighted for its transparency and privacy focus.

No. I don’t – for multiple reasons.

First, there’s the data collection debacle of 2020 (linked above).  Whatever the rationale the company comes up with to justify its actions, it’s simply not something you want to see coming from a company providing privacy products. And while Avast has discontinued that practice, its privacy policy makes it clear that the company is still on the data-collection train and collects much more information than many of its competitors. Personally, I don’t think a VPN provider should incorporate third-party trackers in its client app – which Avast does. 

Then, there’s the fact that Avast supports fewer features than most of its competitors and charges more than its competitors for that service. 

There’s also no monthly option with Avast. So, if you want to go beyond the admittedly generous 60-day trial (which does require a credit card), you have no choice but to buy a one-, two-, or three-year subscription. Not everyone wants to commit to a one-year term (or more).

On top of that, in order to gain direct access to Avast’s customer service department, you’ll need, at minimum, a one-year subscription. You can’t contact them without a subscription, and you can’t purchase less than one year. And you won’t be able to talk to its Support department without that yearly subscription, either.

As for the positives, Avast does unblock Netflix on most of its dedicated streaming servers. That’s not bad. But they only support Netflix libraries from three countries, Germany, the UK, and the US. When compared to what the bigger players in the VPN space can offer on the streaming front, it’s simply not that compelling.

Avast’s speeds are also quite good – except for its UK servers. But, again, that was probably down to network congestion at the time I ran my tests. I assume its UK servers work better than what I got most of the time.

So the bottom line is this: Avast isn’t terrible, but you can easily do better while spending less money. Avast Secureline VPN simply never gets the edge over the competition on anything. So why recommend it to anyone?Avast Secureline VPN is not recommended at this time.