Avast SecureLine VPN vs Private Internet Access in 2024

Figuring out whether Avast SecureLine VPN or Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best can be tough, as both are arguably the best in the segment. However, there’s usually one that’s a bit better. So, which VPN comes out on top? Starting with Avast SecureLine VPN, based in the Czech Republic, uses the OpenVPN tunneling protocol with over 700 servers in 34 countries.

On the other hand, Private Internet Access (PIA), based in the United States, uses the WireGuard tunneling protocol along with Split Tunneling. It has a huge network of more than 29300 servers in 90 countries.

But to decide which VPN is worth your money, we must look at more than just these basics. We will check their connection speeds, security features, privacy policies, how well they work on different devices, and more. So, continue reading to find out the winner of the Avast SecureLine VPN vs Private Internet Access competition.

Avast SecureLine VPN vs PIA: specifications

There are several strong reasons why Private Internet Access (PIA) is clearly superior to Avast SecureLine as a VPN service. For customers on a tight budget, PIA’s lower starting price  it a desirable alternative.

Additionally, PIA’s privacy policy distinguishes it since it has a no-logs policy that has been upheld by a court and is supported by independent audits, ensuring that users’ online actions are kept truly private and safe.

With unlimited connections, PIA is perfect for households with several gadgets. Avast SecureLine, on the other hand, has a restriction of 10 simultaneous connections, which may be too few for some users. 

Avast SecureLine VPN vs PIA: pricing

When comparing Private Internet Access (PIA)’s plans and costs to those of Avast SecureLine VPN, it becomes evident clear that PIA is more affordable in the long run.

PIA’s pricing plan is pretty standard – there are three tiers, ranging from the shortest and most expensive to the lengthiest best deal. On the other hand, Avast SecureLine VPN has a different approach, offering three similarly priced plans. Furthermore, it has a trial period, which outweighs the lack of a monthly subscription.

Despite that, PIA is still cheaper and offers anonymous payment options, which are essential if you want to maximize your privacy.

Avast SecureLine VPN pricing

Avast SecureLine VPN has three subscription options, which are as follows:

• $4.60/month for one year
• $4.20/month for two years
• $3.75/month for three years

Avast SecureLine VPN charges a similar price for the three-year and two-year plans. While there’s no option for a monthly subscription, you can take advantage of its generous 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access pricing

Private Internet Access offers three different subscription options:

• $11.95/month for a monthly plan
• $3.33/month for an annual plan
• $2.03/month for a three-year plan

If you are not satisfied with the default choices, there’s always the option to look through PIA coupon codes.

PIA does not have any kind of free version or free trial. Instead, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you back out if you change your mind.

Finally, you have a wide array of payment options to choose from, including credit cards, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Bitpay, cryptocurrencies, and even gift cards.

Speed comparison

When you’re picking a VPN, the connection speed is super important. We have performed a speed test to analyze the performance test potential of both providers while connected to Avast SecureLine VPN and PIA in different locations.

We have considered US, UK, and Canada servers for the test. We’ll use the standard OpenVPN connection for Avast SecureLine VPN and WireGuard for PIA, and the results are quite predictable. Avast SecureLine VPN has failed to perform as well as PIA. Even though both providers come with WireGuard tunneling protocols, PIA likely has a much better internal infrastructure, allowing faster speeds.

Avast SecureLine VPN vs PIA: which is more secure?

PIA meets all of the criteria for a safe and reliable VPN. It has RAM-only servers, an audited and court-proven no logs policy, comes from a privacy-friendly country, and offers advanced encryption. Avast SecureLine, on the other hand, has plenty of room for improvement. The biggest issue with this provider is its no-logging policy, which allows one to log some data. Clearly, Private Internet Access is the winner in the security category.

Privacy

PIA is based in the United States, a member of the Five Eyes alliance. This may be seen as less than ideal for privacy, as these countries are known to exchange intelligence data. However, PIA does not log user data and primarily uses RAM-only servers for added security.

Avast SecureLine VPN, on the other hand, is based in the Czech Republic, which is not a part of any international intelligence-sharing alliance. This can be seen as a more privacy-friendly jurisdiction.

Logging

No-log policies are common among VPNs, but not all can provide proof of these claims. PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN adhere to no-log policies

PIA has a strict no-logs policy, independently audited to confirm its compliance. However, Avast SecureLine VPN hasn’t been independently audited, but it sticks to its no-logs policy.

PIA’s independent verification provides an added layer of trust, which makes it a winner in logging. Even though Avast SecureLine VPN tries its best with a no-logs policy, it makes it hard to rely on.

Server locations

A VPN’s server network size can greatly impact its overall performance. More servers can help avoid overcrowding issues and provide users with many options. The number of countries these servers cover also affects the variety of foreign content users can access.

PIA has a huge network with 29300+ servers spanning 90+ countries. However, PIA doesn’t own all of its servers. Also, many of them are virtual.

Avast SecureLine VPN, on the other hand, offers 700+ servers in 34+ countries. All of Avast’s servers are physical. This setup can provide stable and fast connections.

Given the number of servers and the wide country coverage, PIA takes the lead in this category. Its vast network helps prevent potential performance issues due to overcrowding and gives users a broader selection of locations.

Feature comparison

In conclusion, Private Internet Access (PIA) emerges as the winner in this comparison. It offers Smart DNS, P2P support, an ad and malware blocker (PIA Mace), and split tunneling, giving you a more comprehensive set of features to enhance your VPN experience.

Even though Avast SecureLine VPN comes with specialized servers, PIA’s great features outstand it significantly. However, some prefer Avast over PIA, so we leave it to your choice. 

Smart DNS

Devices and streaming peripherals don’t always support VPNs, which can be problematic when you want to secure or bypass geo-blocks. The Smart DNS feature addresses this issue by connecting devices to the VPN without needing an app. 

PIA’s version of Smart DNS automatically switches DNS servers to bypass blocks and stream 4K content without issues. For this to work, you need to manually connect to one of your devices. 

Currently, PIA offers Smart DNS for countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan.

As Avast SecureLine VPN doesn’t offer Smart DNS, it puts itself at a disadvantage, giving PIA the win. 

Ad & Malware Blocker

PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN provide their own ad & malware blockers to enhance browsing safety.

PIA features MACE, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware. It works even when you’re not connected to the VPN and alerts you about potentially risky websites. MACE is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and browser extensions.

Avast SecureLine VPN, on the other hand, can be bought together with Avast Antivirus, which can block ads, detect malware, and protect against phishing attempts. However, the biggest issue is it doesn’t come in as a built-in feature, and one has to install it separately, which isn’t favorable.

Split tunneling

Split Tunneling is a feature that lets you decide which apps will use the VPN connection.

PIA’s version allows specific apps to use the VPN, while Avast SecureLine VPN lets you exclude certain apps, which is a downside due to the lack of flexibility. PIA’s split tunneling is available on Windows, Android, and Android TV to add the cherry on top.

Specialized servers

PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN also provide specialized servers designed for specific tasks. Some enhance your security, while others offer better performance.

PIA includes:

• Dedicated IP servers for users who have purchased a dedicated IP address
• P2P servers optimized for torrenting to ensure the best file-sharing speeds
• Uses RAM-only servers for added security

Avast SecureLine VPN includes:

• P2P servers optimized for file-sharing and torrenting
• Streaming servers that are designed to provide the best performance for streaming content

Even though Avast SecureLine VPN has its fair share of limitations, its servers are quite promising and are on par with PIA regarding file sharing and torrenting. Hence it can be considered a tie in this scenario.

Netflix and other streaming platforms

Due to their reliable speeds, PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN can be good choices for Netflix and other streaming services. As a result, neither VPN should experience any issues with the streaming of high-resolution content.

Both PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN can unblock US Netflix and a few prominent libraries. They can also give users access to streaming services like Amazon Prime, HBO Max, or Disney Plus that employ more restrictive geo-blocking. It’s important to note, nevertheless, that Avast SecureLine VPN has occasionally experienced trouble accessing particular libraries and streaming platforms.

Regarding SmartDNS, PIA offers this feature, which broadens the number of supported devices to include various smart TVs and game consoles. Unfortunately, Avast SecureLine VPN doesn’t provide the SmartDNS feature, which could be a limitation for some users.

Device compatibility

Unfortunately, device compatibility is an area where both VPN providers seem to struggle. But we’re not scraping the bottom of the barrel here. There are still quite a few distinguishing features that make one better than the other. But the main takeaway is that Avast SecureLine VPN would win a point here if it officially supported router configuration – an essential feature for any VPN. But because it lacks that, PIA grabs another easy win.

Desktop applications

When using desktop programs, the user experience differs a little. For desktop users, PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN offer various features. Both providers offer applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

However, PIA distinguishes itself by paying special attention to Linux users, offering them a sleek Graphical User Interface (GUI) that looks almost identical across all three platforms. This consistency makes it easy for users to switch between devices without confusion.

All the security precautions necessary to ensure secure browsing are explained to users of both VPNs, along with a few extras to improve the overall experience. For instance, PIA provides split tunneling, which allows users to select which traffic is routed through the VPN, and MACE, an ad-blocking function.

PIA is the best when it comes to simplicity and user-friendly design. Anyone who values usability and a simple user experience should choose it because of its intuitive and user-friendly interface.

Mobile applications

When it comes to comparing apps for Android and iOS, it’s a completely different game. PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN tend to offer fewer features for iPhone users. While you still get the necessary security features to keep you safe, there’s less customization available.

In terms of interface, PIA’s application can be used by any without issues as it is intuitive. However, Avast SecureLine’s interface is a little complex and needs improvement. If you’re new to the app, we suggest navigating around at least once to get an understanding.

The real winners in the mobile category are Android users for both PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN. The apps come with the same features as their desktop versions, with some additional perks.

PIA, for example, includes MACE ad-blocking, SmartDNS, and Split Tunneling for Android, while Avast SecureLine VPN offers almost every PIA feature except for SmartDNS and a few others.

Torrenting

Avast SecureLine VPN seems to have fallen behind in the torrenting game. It lacks some crucial features you’d want for safe torrenting and only permits peer-to-peer traffic on selected servers. So, if you’re on the hunt for the best VPN for torrenting, this might not be the one.

Now, let’s hand over the spotlight to PIA to see how it does the job. This service equips you with everything you need for secure torrenting – a SOCKS5 proxy, split tunneling, port forwarding, and a wide array of speedy servers.

China

A good VPN not only lets you explore the world from your couch, but it also keeps you safe when you’re traveling to other countries. But how do PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN stand against China’s Great Firewall?

Unfortunately, both VPNs lack robust features to penetrate the heavy censorship efforts of the regime. Luckily, PIA did not come empty-handed to the siege. It has Shadowsocks proxies, which could work in some circumstances, although it’s not the most reliable tool for the job. But that’s better than what Avast SecureLine VPN brings to the table, which is nothing.

If you’re looking for the best VPN for China, check out our list to choose the most well-equipped VPN for the job.

Customer support

Finally, we have reached the point where Avast SecureLine VPN excels. This company has many products under its belt, so it’s not surprising that its customer service is reliable. In fact, premium users gain access to all possible means of communication – 24/7 live chat, phone calls, emails, and helpful articles.

PIA is not far behind, but it lacks the option to ring up customer support agents by phone. But other than that, its customer service is excellent.

Avast SecureLine VPN vs PIA: Which is Better?

Private Internet Access (PIA) dominates Avast SecureLine VPN in nearly all categories of our comparison between the two services. It triumphs in terms of servers and speed, cost, security, privacy, streaming, torrenting, and even its usability in tightly banned areas like China. 

PIA has some drawbacks while winning 9 out of 10 categories. Nevertheless, it’s still a fantastic, cost-effective option that’s quick, safe, and ideal for both streaming and torrenting.

However, despite its accomplishment in customer service, Avast SecureLine VPN might not offer the best value for your money. PIA is the better option out of these two VPNs.

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Avast SecureLine VPN vs ExpressVPN

FAQ

Is PIA better than Avast SecureLine VPN?

Both PIA and Avast SecureLine VPN offer excellent services. However, PIA has a significant advantage over Avast in a few crucial areas. Speaking of privacy and independent audits, PIA is known for its reputation of having exceptional security credentials. Additionally, PIA provides more features and faster speeds due to its use of the WireGuard tunneling technology.

Which is faster – PIA or Avast SecureLine VPN?

PIA tends to be faster than Avast SecureLine VPN, despite utilizing next-gen tunneling protocols – WireGuard for PIA and OpenVPN for Avast. PIA's implementation of WireGuard offers a more secure and significantly faster connection, attributed to its advanced protocol design.