Just because one company happens to be one of the world’s leaders in a particular market, this doesn’t mean they will follow the same success when they enter another.
Over the past few years, this is what Avast, one of the most well-known names for antivirus software, has tried to do.
With the company’s SecureLine VPN, they have tried to enter a market that is already saturated, with many rivals offering lots of features and low prices.
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By the end of this review, we will see if this addition can hold its own against the competition, or if its no-frills approach leaves it out in the cold.
- 10 devices per subscription, with apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Android TV.
- Over 100 server locations worldwide, including 25 cities in the United States (Avast’s own figure).
- From A$4.99 per month on the 2-year plan for the first term (Australian pricing).
- A 60-day free trial is promoted on desktop plans, and a 30-day money-back guarantee applies to every plan.
- Simple to use, but no router support, connection logs are kept, and streaming access is inconsistent.
30-day money-back guarantee
What is Avast SecureLine VPN?
Avast is headquartered in Prague, in the Czech Republic. SecureLine first appeared back in 2014 as an additional security product to accompany the antivirus software the company is well known for. Today it is sold as Avast’s Premium VPN, bundled into the Avast One subscriptions, and the whole family sits under Gen Digital, the same group that owns Norton and LifeLock.
When you look at the service on paper, it is still different from many other VPNs on the market.
The virtual private network from SecureLine now runs on more than 100 server locations around the world (Avast’s own figure), with around 700 servers counted by independent reviewers such as TheBestVPN. Covering those locations is a modest network: the United States alone accounts for 25 of them, and it is still dwarfed by rivals such as NordVPN, which lists 7,600+ servers across 118 countries.
Anyone who knows anything about VPNs will see instantly that a small network can mean inconsistent performance. In some instances they have speedy connections, but you need to be around the areas where they see the most activity.
Pros
Cons
Features
Devices
For advanced features, there are not many. It does come with above-average device support, comprising PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, Android and Android TV, plus browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. One subscription now covers 10 devices at the same time, a big step up from the single-device restrictions SecureLine imposed in its early years.
Security
On these apps you have AES-256 bit encryption, and the core protocols in use are OpenVPN and IPSec.
It should be noted that IPSec is used on Apple devices, while OpenVPN runs on Windows and Android. Independent 2026 reviews also report WireGuard and Avast’s Mimic obfuscation technology appearing on some platforms, which helps disguise VPN traffic on restrictive networks. All of these protocols are considered secure, so in that department SecureLine doesn’t let users down.
While talking about security, the company is based outside any Five Eyes jurisdiction, which is a point in its favour. Its history needs a mention, though: in 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission fined Avast US$16.5 million and banned it from selling browsing data for advertising, after its Jumpshot subsidiary sold re-identifiable browsing data collected through the antivirus products between 2014 and 2020. That controversy surrounds the antivirus side of the business, but it explains why many privacy-focused reviewers remain cautious.
While they claim a zero-logging policy for browsing activity, some connection logs are retained. They state this is for diagnostic purposes and to prevent abuse.
The information they keep is the connection times, disconnection times (how long you are connected) and the bandwidth you consume. The company does claim these are erased after 30 days, and there has been no independent audit of the policy.
In testing, we couldn’t find a single DNS leak or WebRTC leak of any kind, and the built-in kill switch worked as advertised, a welcome inclusion to enhance customer security further.
Streaming and File Sharing
Another area where users can find use is in the P2P department. Avast’s support pages list P2P-optimised regions in the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain and Australia, and file sharing and torrenting are supported on those servers.
Unfortunately, for advanced benefits this is as far as it goes, because SecureLine remains inconsistent when it comes to accessing US Netflix. Independent 2026 reviews describe mixed results: some titles stream fine, then access drops out, with buffering on others. Adding to this, long-term access to the BBC iPlayer has been a concern in our testing too. If streaming libraries are the main reason you want a VPN, this is not the service for you.
Customer Support
This can be another area that tells users a lot about the company. Avast SecureLine doesn’t have a live chat, which is considered a must-have for a VPN company these days.
They do have 24/7 phone support as well as a ticketing system in place, and reviewers such as TheBestVPN rate the support as decent. (Read Avast VPN Vs NordVPN)
While answers via ticket can arrive within 24 hours, that can still be too long compared with chatting to a real person on live chat.
One thing that does differ is that you can raise a ticket via the client software compared with the website. The website carries forward with good support, with lots of detailed information and a decent-sized user forum.
Avast SecureLine VPN Pricing and Plans
It is here where Avast greatly differs from the ways other companies offer their VPN services.
Most other companies offer several devices on a subscription. SecureLine, now sold as the Premium VPN, doesn’t even offer a monthly rate: three plan lengths, all covering 10 devices, and that is it.
The prices below are in Australian dollars, and were verified against Avast’s Australian store on 17 October 2026.
| Plan | First-term price | Effective per month | Renewal price | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | A$71.88 | A$5.99 | A$114.99 per year | 10 |
| 2 years | A$119.76 | A$4.99 | A$228.99 per 2 years | 10 |
| 3 years | A$179.64 | A$4.99 | A$339.99 per 3 years | 10 |
Pricing verified 17 October 2026 against https://www.avast.com/en-au/secureline-vpn. Renewal prices apply after the first term.
The cheapest entry point, A$4.99 per month on the 2-year plan for the first term, stacks up reasonably against premium rivals while the discount lasts. The catch is the renewal step-up: a renewal of A$114.99 per year buys a lot less network and far fewer features than rivals charge for similar money.
There is no separate mobile-only rate anymore, which simplifies the decision. Avast currently promotes a 60-day free trial on desktop plans (payment details are required, but you are not charged until the trial ends), and every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
One caution on that guarantee: Avast’s refund terms have in the past excluded users who exceeded usage allowances, and CyberInsider’s 2026 testing still describes the refund process as more of a headache than most rivals. Read the small print before you commit.
Performance
With such a small network, you could expect the download speeds to be awful. They were quite the opposite in our testing.
While not the best, around Europe and the USA, where most of their servers are based, they were above average and delivered better results than some other providers. Independent 2026 testing agrees: vpnMentor scores speed at 6.7 out of 10, and CyberInsider calls the results average, fine for everyday browsing but behind the leaders.
The problems creep in when you go away from these regions. The speeds do drop to average, and Australian users will notice this more than most, given the distance to Avast’s biggest hubs.
This being said, if all you want is top levels of security on one device, then this could suffice. It is only if you are a heavy user that you notice the speed reduction.
When you have the client installed, it runs in the background without causing too much intrusion.
On mobile devices this comes in handy if you are in the vicinity of public Wi-Fi. Because you can set the client to start along with your device, it can sit there out of the way. If you return home and your device connects to your home network, the VPN can automatically start. Likewise, it can start and protect you if it spots an unknown Wi-Fi network without you needing to do anything.
Once you are connected to SecureLine, your privacy is intact, and you don’t worry about needing to remember to activate the client software.
All the apps are easy to use and follow the same simple design principles. If you need to change the server, you can select countries from the drop-down list. For countries which have more than one city, you have the option of selecting any of the available servers.
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Conclusion
The service lacks features compared with many other services, which may lead you to ask: is Avast VPN any good?
You can answer yes and no to this very easily. No, it isn’t perfect, because it doesn’t offer many features for the money. While the first-term pricing is competitive, the renewal prices and the small network don’t stack up against the best. When you look at security, it is as good as any, and your IP address is hidden well away from prying eyes.
The VPN does a lot of things right, and it does quite well. It just doesn’t offer enough value for money. If it was a new company, you could understand it was still growing, but Avast has been around long enough to be much larger than it is. Add the Jumpshot data scandal, the connection logging and the patchy streaming, and there are too many caveats to ignore.
Are they recommended? Unfortunately, you are better off looking elsewhere to carry more feature-packed online activities in private. If you want a more reliable all-rounder for Australian use, NordVPN is the safer bet, with a far larger network, a stronger streaming record and an independently audited no-logs policy.
Alternatives to Avast SecureLine VPN
Compared with data verified 17 October 2026 against each provider’s official site and support pages.
| Provider | Server network | Devices | Starting price (first term) | Money-back guarantee | Why it beats Avast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avast SecureLine VPN | 100+ locations (Avast figure; around 700 servers reported independently) | 10 | A$4.99 per month on the 2-year plan | 30 days (60-day trial also promoted) | Simple and cheap to try, but connection logs and the small network hold it back |
| NordVPN | 7,600+ servers in 118 countries (official) | 10 | US$3.49 per month on the 2-year plan | 30 days | The more reliable alternative: bigger network, proven streaming, audited no-logs policy |
| Surfshark | 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries (official) | Unlimited | US$2.49 per month on the 24-month plan | 30 days | Unlimited devices and a lower entry price, with router support |
| ExpressVPN | 3,000+ servers in 105 countries (official) | 8 | US$4.99 per month on 12 months + 3 months free | 30 days | Polished apps, dependable streaming and faster support |
Our best VPN for Australia roundup compares these services head to head for local conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Avast SecureLine VPN safe to use?
Yes, for the basics. It uses AES-256 bit encryption with OpenVPN and IPSec protocols, includes a built-in kill switch, and independent testing found no DNS or WebRTC leaks. The caveats are that Avast retains some connection logs (claimed to be deleted after 30 days), its privacy policy has never been independently audited, and the parent company’s history includes the Jumpshot data-selling scandal that led to a US$16.5 million FTC fine in 2024. Privacy-focused users should read the policy carefully before buying.
Which is better, NordVPN or Avast SecureLine VPN?
For most Australians, NordVPN is the more reliable option: 7,600+ servers in 118 countries versus Avast’s 100+ locations, proven streaming access, more features, and an independently audited no-logs policy. Avast keeps the edge for simplicity and a cheap first term if you already live in the Avast ecosystem, but our Avast VPN vs NordVPN comparison shows how quickly it falls behind.
Does Avast SecureLine VPN keep logs?
Avast states it does not log your browsing, streaming or searching activity. It does retain connection metadata, including connection and disconnection times and the bandwidth you consume, which it says is used for diagnostics and abuse prevention and is erased after 30 days. Unlike providers such as NordVPN, Avast’s logging policy has not been independently audited.
Can you watch Netflix and BBC iPlayer with Avast SecureLine VPN?
Not reliably. In testing, access to US Netflix and BBC iPlayer has been inconsistent: some sessions connect and stream, while others are blocked or buffer heavily, and independent 2026 reviews report the same mixed picture. If streaming is your main reason for a VPN, the providers in our best VPN for Australia roundup have a far stronger track record.
More VPN reviews: NordVPN review | ExpressVPN review | Surfshark review
