Avast VPN Review
Avast is a leading provider of high-quality, secure, fast VPN services for both homes and businesses. With inexpensive payment options and reliable, secure connections, Avast is a top choice for anyone looking to stay safe online. Avast uses AES 256 bit-key security standards that keep your information private.
When it comes to speed, Avast still provides top speeds for users around the world and is in fact regularly reviewed as a top ten provider when it comes to speed. Speed and security are two of the biggest concerns for VPN users, and the great news is that Avast is a leader in both speed and security.
With so many VPN providers out there, it can be difficult to decide what’s right for you. In our thorough Avast review, we’ll show you how Avast stands out and why you should consider using Avast as your next VPN service provider.
Pricing and Value
One of the best features of Avast is the various pricing options for your devices. Whether you want to use VPN services on one device or five, there’s a plan available for you. The best value is Avast SecureLine VPN for up to five devices, which is just $79.99 per year, or just $6.67 per month. Considering you can connect up to five devices to one of the most secure and reliable VPN services in the world, it’s a great value for the price.
If you don’t have many devices that you need to connect, you do have the option to purchase a single-device plan. Plans for PCs or Macs run at $60 per year, or $5 per month, and you can even purchase single-line plans for your iOS or Android Device at just $20 per year or $1.67 per month. The flexible choice means Avast has just what you need when it comes to VPN services.
Even better, Avast gives you a seven-day trial on all of your devices, allowing you to test the service before you commit to buying. After the seven-day trial you’ll be prompted to purchase your plan to continue using the service. Not many VPN service providers offer a trial period, which is one feature that sets Avast apart from the competition.
One drawback to Avast is the lack of a month to month option. There are providers that do offer month to month plans, which can be useful for those that need temporary VPN service. However, month to month services can often be very expensive, with some month to month plans on other providers running as much as $15 per month or more. Considering you can get VPN service for as little as $1.67 per month, what Avast lacks in month to month options it more than makes up for in low prices and free trials.
Features
Avast offers a robust lineup of features as part of its SecureLine VPN service. Avast focuses on reliable, fast connections, security, open access to all of your favorite content, and world-class privacy. Here are some of Avast’s top features:
Open-source privacy protection for increased security and privacy
- A strict no logging policy for added information security
- 256 bit-key AES encryption that hides your information from snoopers
- Utilize a single shared IP address with other Avast users to mask your data
- Security on any connection
- DNS leak protection
- Lag-free connection for streaming and gaming
- Unlock content from around the world and get around geo-blocking on your favorite services
- Dedicated P2P sharing servers for fast, easy torrenting
- More than 50 servers located in over 30 countries
- Dedicated support team ready to answer your questions and concerns
When it comes to VPN services, it’s easy to see why Avast is such a popular provider. Avast privacy protocols are built on OpenSSL and OpenVPN, which are the most reliable and widely used security protocols available today. Paired with a no logging policy and military-grade encryption services, you know that your information is completely safe and secure.
In addition to industry-leading privacy and security standards, dedicated support, and world-class speed benchmarks, Avast offers an added layer of protection through its kill switch service. As soon as Avast detects a failure in your VPN connection, your session is terminated, keeping your information safe from unwanted onlookers.
Speed
Avast is constantly working on increasing speeds and decreasing lag, and those efforts are paying off. When it comes to speed, Avast offers some of the fastest VPN speeds available today. Avast makes it simple to stream movies, games, and download large files while still maintaining high speeds.
You can connect up to five devices to your VPN service at one time and still have plenty of bandwidth to do the things you love. Avast VPN support speeds up to 2 Gbit/s with no bandwidth limits.
By continually adding servers and expanding existing server capacity, Avast is pushing the boundaries of VPN speeds, providing reliable, consistent connections across the world. Even at peak loads, Avast servers can handle speeds of up to 600 Mbits/s, giving you more than enough speed to browse, stream, and download all day long.
Netflix
As it currently stands, Netflix is not available when connecting to Avast’s VPN servers. Streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have strict protocols that block users from accessing the services from VPN services in order to restrict the content that is available.
Netflix and VPN providers are in a consistent struggle against one another, and with Netflix releasing an update to their servers that make it much more difficult to access Netflix via VPN, Avast is looking for ways to circumvent the update to allow you to access Netflix securely and privately.
Torrenting
Torrenting is completely allowed and supported on Avast VPN, and there are even dedicated servers that you can access to make torrenting safe, secure, and fast. These dedicated P2P servers are located all around the world, making it easy to connect and share files with peers.
When you access the Avast interface to connect to a server, all of their P2P servers are clearly marked, allowing you to quickly access a P2P server to share and download files from anyone in the world.
Avast has dedicated P2P servers in Germany, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, the United States, and more. With so many P2P servers to choose from, sharing and downloading is a breeze.
Windows PC
You’re not limited on what device you use to access Avast’s VPN. Connect your Windows PC in just minutes by downloading a dedicated desktop app. Once downloaded, you simply set up your account and you’ll be taken to your Avast dashboard, where you can connect to servers, change your server connection at any time, and terminate your connection with just one click.
The application is extremely simple and straightforward, making it easy for even new users to understand and navigate. Compatible with Windows 10, it’s never been easier to get your PC connected than with Avast. You won’t see decreased speeds or impacted security when using VPN services on a Windows PC, meaning you get the full range of incredible services that Avast has to offer.
Mac
Just like Windows PC, Avast makes it easy to get your Mac connected to its VPN with a dedicated desktop application that you can download straight to your Mac. By using the desktop application, you won’t need to rely on a web-based platform to get your Mac connected. The application is very easy to use, allowing you complete control over your connection in one simple dashboard.
Macs themselves are already incredibly secure, and when paired with Avast’s VPN service, you can be confident that no unauthorized parties will gain access to your sensitive information. Currently, Avast is compatible with the latest version of Mac OS. Upgrade your Mac’s security while still maintaining blazing fast internet speeds by downloading Avast’s desktop app today.
Servers
While there are currently only 55 servers in 34 countries, Avast is constantly adding new servers around the world. In addition to new servers, they are also upgrading current servers for greater capacity, speeds, and privacy. In fact, according to their site, they have stayed ahead of traffic growth and have never seen a server failure due to max capacity issues.
Avast also offers dedicated P2P servers as we previously mentioned, and you can connect to servers across the world in just a few clicks. Most countries only have one dedicated Avast server, but there are some countries with more than one, including Russia, Canada, and the United States, making it easy to connect from anywhere in the world.
Contrary to popular belief, lack of servers doesn’t always mean an inferior service. By focusing on both the quality and the quantity of the servers, Avast provides a top-quality VPN experience for its users. You can check out the complete list of servers right on Avast’s site, and when you download your dedicated desktop app, you’ll see a list of servers and their current capacity.
Security
Offering world-class security protocols, Avast is an industry leader when it comes to online privacy and security. Powerful tools and resources keep your information safe and secure online. First, Avast masks your IP address, and actually allows others to identify your traffic as one shared VPN IP address. With millions of users sharing the same IP address, it’s impossible to be traced online.
One of the most important security protocols is the no logging policy. When you browse the internet without connecting to a VPN, your traffic, history, and data are tracked and stored. Avast servers have a strict no logging policy, meaning your information is never saved and stored. There’s no way to retrieve that information, even if Avast themselves are asked for it.
Using state of the art encryption, Avast works hard to keep your information out of unwanted hands. Avast uses Advanced Encryption Standard with 256 bit-keys to safeguard your information through military-grade encryption. Don’t risk your information online by browsing without a VPN service.
Customer Support
Avast has a dedicated support team that’s ready to help you with all of your questions and concerns. In fact, there is a direct support phone number that you can call to receive expert-level support for your VPN service. The team is available 24/7, and are more than willing to help you quickly resolve your issues.
In addition to a live support team, you’ll get access to an impressive knowledge base of articles, tutorials, and videos to guide you. Simply search the database or browse the articles to find just what you need. The information is laid out in clear, easy to understand formats, allowing even beginners to successfully set up and use Avast’s VPN services.
Most VPN services have either email or live chat options for support, which can be slow and unreliable. While there is no email or live chat option for Avast, the live support phone number is very fast and responsive, making it easy to get your issues resolved quickly.
Summary
When considering your next VPN service provider, Avast should be at the top of your list. Offering top-tier speeds, world-class security, and industry-leading support, there’s a lot that Avast has to offer. If you’re looking for a VPN service to get around Netflix’s geo-blocking, Avast isn’t right for you. Even though it doesn’t currently work with Netflix, there are plenty of other reasons why Avast is a solid choice.
With dedicated P2P servers and consistent server updates, Avast services are only going to improve over time. While the pricing structure can be awkward, requiring you to commit to a yearly subscription, the free trial is a nice touch. There may be better pricing options out there, but very few offer the robust features that are provided by Avast. If you’re only looking to connect a mobile device to a VPN, paying just $1.67 a month is one of the lowest pricing options on the market.
