Avast VPN vs NordVPN: which VPN is better?

NordVPN is one of the most well-known VPN providers, praised for its strong security features, fast speeds, and extensive server network of over 7700 servers in 118 countries. It has been independently audited multiple times and is widely recommended by cybersecurity experts and tech reviewers.

In contrast, Avast SecureLine VPN, developed by the well-established cybersecurity company Avast, is less frequently discussed despite offering solid encryption, a no-logs policy, and servers in over 34 countries.

But how do these two VPNs compare in real-world performance? In this Avast VPN vs NordVPN comparison, I will examine their speed, security features, pricing, streaming capabilities, and overall usability to determine which one provides better value.

Avast VPN vs NordVPN

	NordVPN	Avast SecureLine VPN
⭐ Rating:	4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
🥇 Overall rank:	#1 out of #41	#19 out of #41
🖥️ Servers:	7,700 + servers in 118 countries	700 + servers in 34 countries
📖 No logs policy:	No logs	No logs
💵 Price:	From $3.39/month	From $4.39/month
🔥 Coupons:	NordVPN coupon 76% OFF	Cybernews VPN Coupons
🔒 VPN protocols:	OpenVPN, WireGuard (NordLynx), NordWhisper	OpenVPN, Avast Mimic, IPSec
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more	BBC iPlayer, YouTube
🖥️ Platforms:	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
📥 Simultaneous connections:	10	10
💁🏻 Support:	Knowledge base, FAQs, email, 24/7 live chat	Knowledge base, forum, FAQs, email, 24/7 phone support, 24/7 live chat

Speed comparison: Avast VPN or NordVPN

The internet speed with an active VPN is one of those things that varies based on many factors. It’s possible to test the general tendencies, but keep in mind that your results might be different from what I presented below. With that in mind, let’s look at the speeds of Avast VPN vs NordVPN.

For this test, I used the fastest tunneling protocol of each application. In NordVPN’s case, it was NordLynx, its in-house variant of the speedy WireGuard. As for Avast, I used OpenVPN UDP, which is the best choice available on this VPN.

• Baseline: 500Mbps download/500Mbps upload

NordLynx/OpenVPN UDP	NordVPN	Avast VPN
Download average	468.2Mbps	235.17Mbps
Upload average	354.1Mbps	135.5Mbps

Netflix and streaming performance

The possibility to unblock streaming platforms is quite an important feature of any good VPN. It’s no secret that lots of people get a VPN merely for watching geo-blocked movies, shows, and sports events. Which means that testing a VPN’s performance in this field is a must when determining a winner.

So, how did it go? Well, some of the results could have been better. Here’s why.

When trying to unblock Netflix, I had little luck with Avast SecureLine VPN. Even though it has specialized servers for streaming (Germany, the UK, and four different US cities), none of them worked for me – and I tried all of them.

Even though there were no error messages, Netflix simply displayed its international content, not allowing me to watch geo-specific shows and movies.

On a brighter note, Avast VPN successfully unblocked BBC iPlayer. It also lets me watch geo-restricted Youtube videos (which is kind of expected from any VPN, though).

Now, about NordVPN. It’s a real lifesaver when it comes to Netflix content, as it flawlessly unblocked the US, the UK, and Canadian Netflix libraries. It also lets you access BBC iPlayer and Hulu. Of course, Youtube videos go without saying.

Movie enthusiasts will also appreciate NordVPN’s SmartDNS technology. You’ll find it useful if you like watching movies and shows on devices that don’t support VPN connections, like gaming consoles. It works by unblocking streaming services without encrypting your connection.

Torrenting

When it comes to torrenting, both VPNs are a good choice.

Avast VPN offers specialized servers for torrenting, which allow for anonymous P2P file transfers. However, that’s kind of it – there are no other features that would make torrenting easier.

In addition to specialized P2P servers, NordVPN also offers servers that use Onion over VPN for an extra layer of security. In addition to this, some of NordVPN’s servers let you use their free SOCKS5 proxy, which you can set up on your torrenting app.

Features overview

Between the two VPN services, NordVPN stands out with a more extensive feature set, including key functionalities like Obfuscated Servers and SmartPlay, making it the stronger choice in this category. Avast falls short in comparison and will need further improvements to compete more effectively.

Split tunneling

NordVPN offers split tunneling on its Windows and Android applications, while Avast offers it only on its Android app. The feature itself can prove itself useful in various situations. It lets you select the applications that should (or shouldn’t) use VPN connections.

For example, you can set up the VPN only with your Netflix app, allowing other applications to use regular traffic so that the speed wouldn’t suffer.

SmartPlay

We briefly touched upon SmartPlay in the feature overview section, but it’s worth mentioning this NordVPN feature once again.

It gets automatically activated when you connect to a server via the NordVPN app. Thanks to SmartPlay, you have a much higher chance of unblocking the site that you need.

SmartPlay works directly via the NordVPN app to assist in safely accessing content, whereas SmartDNS would be the solution in order to watch movies on a variety of devices that don’t have a proprietary NordVPN app, but it would not provide any encryption.

Specialty servers

This is a feature offered by both NordVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN. However, while both services have specialized servers for torrenting, only Avast offers servers dedicated to streaming (which, unfortunately, didn’t manage to unblock Netflix for me).

In the meantime, NordVPN offers Onion over VPN servers, which combine the Onion Router (Tor) and a VPN tunnel. Lastly, it also offers Obfuscated servers that might be helpful in countries where VPN use is restricted.

Threat Protection

Threat Protection is a NordVPN feature available on all of its platforms. Once enabled, it automatically blocks ads and blacklisted websites that may contain malware, spyware, and trackers. When you try opening a blacklisted page, you’ll get a notification and will only be able to access the website if you disable the feature.

Additionally, NordVPN offers Threat Protection Pro, an enhanced version available exclusively on macOS and Windows. Unlike the standard Threat Protection, Threat Protection Pro works even when you're not connected to the VPN, providing continuous protection against malicious threats, intrusive ads, and trackers.

Smart rules

Avast VPN lets you set up a bunch of rules, which help you to stay protected by automatically connecting to the VPN. For example, you can choose to turn the VPN on when torrenting, streaming, accessing banking sites, or connecting to unknown networks.

Avast SecureLine VPN also allows you to quickly manually add any specific website of your choice to the Smart rules section, and it also allows you to specify which location will be used for your VPN connection when you visit the said website.

Even though NordVPN offers some similar configurations, they are not as flexible as Avast’s.

Data breach checker

Avast SecureLine VPN includes a Data Breach Checker, a free web-based tool where you manually enter your email to check if it has been involved in any known leaks. In contrast, NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor is an in-app feature that continuously scans the dark web for leaked credentials tied to your registered email and alerts you if your data is found in breaches. While Avast’s tool offers a one-time check, NordVPN’s solution provides ongoing monitoring and notifications.

Avast VPN vs NordVPN: which is more secure?

Strong security is the cornerstone of any VPN. Military-grade encryption, a good selection of tunneling protocols, and an audited no-logs policy make any VPN suitable for those who want to protect their identity online.

And, in this case, NordVPN is the better choice of the two. While Avast SecureLine VPN offers more tunneling protocols (four compared to NordVPN’s three), NordVPN's no-logs policy is much more rigorous and has already been independently audited.

In addition, the mobile apps of NordVPN are ioXt certified, which proves that they meet all the necessary security criteria.

Encryption and tunneling protocols

When it comes to encryption, Avast VPN and NordVPN won’t disappoint you. That’s because they both use the AES-256 encryption, which is the current standard in such industries like banking, military, and security.

However, the VPNs differ in their selection of tunneling protocols. Avast offers four protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPSec, and Mimic. Avast Mimic is useful in regions where the OpenVPN protocol is blocked, such as Russia, China, and Iran. However, this protocol is only available on Windows 10 and higher.

Meanwhile, NordVPN offers three tunneling protocols: NordLynx, IKEv2, and OpenVPN (UDP/TCP). I especially like NordLynx, NordVPN’s custom implementation of the fast and secure WireGuard protocol.

Logging

When the topic of logging emerges, NordVPN has a squeaky clean reputation. For one, it’s based in the privacy-friendly Panama. Secondly, its no-logs policy is pretty straightforward, stating that none of your information is logged or stored. What’s more, the policy’s truthfulness has been proven by four independent security audits.

Things get a bit more complicated when it comes to Avast SecureLine VPN. While it’s based in the Czech Republic – a country outside any intelligence-sharing alliance – its privacy policy may still raise some concerns.

You see, it collects certain information that a VPN shouldn’t collect. This includes your original IP minus the last four digits, the full IP address of the VPN server you’re using, and connection timestamps. Additionally, in 2024 Avast was fined for tracking and collecting user data, which definitely raises significant privacy concerns.

This shouldn’t cause you any concern if you’re simply using Avast VPN to watch Youtube or protect your laptop while using public Wi-Fi. However, if you want to torrent or do something else that requires full anonymity, Avast might not be the best choice for you.

Kill switch

Kill switch is an essential security feature of any VPN. It automatically cuts off your internet connection when the connection with a VPN server is compromised. In this way, your real IP address can’t get accidentally exposed.

Luckily, both Avast VPN and NordVPN have this feature integrated into their apps. In fact, NordVPN has two kill switches: one for the whole internet and the other – for selected applications. Meanwhile, Avast’s kill switch is only system-wide.

Plans and pricing

I like that both Avast VPN and NordVPN have simple pricing systems. You get the exact same software with every subscription, the only difference being the monthly price. Which decreases the longer you want to subscribe to the service.

Category	Avast SecureLine VPN	NordVPN
1-month plan	$7.99	$12.99
1-year plan	$4.59/month	$4.99/month
2-year plan	$4.39/month	$3.39/month
3-year plan	$4.39/month	–

In this case, NordVPN is no longer the leader in pricing – its cheapest plan now costs more than Avast's. While Avast is still cheaper on short-term plans ($7.99 vs $12.99 for the monthly subscription, and $6.39/month vs $4.99/month for the yearly plan), NordVPN offers better value on long-term plans, with its two-year plan's monthly price being lower than both Avast's two- and three-year plans.

Moreover, Avast VPN offers a 7-day free trial version with all features unlocked, which doesn’t require any credit card details. Additionally, Avast offers a 60-day free trial of Avast SecureLine VPN, but it does require providing complete payment details (though you will not be charged before the trial ends).

It’s good to know that both services offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. It will give you enough time to get acquainted with the service and decide whether you want to keep it or not.

As for the payment methods, I like NordVPN’s selection a bit more than the one of Avast. That’s because Avast only allows you to pay with a credit card, debit card, and PayPal.

At the same time, NordVPN also includes such payment methods like Google Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, ACH Transfer, and a bunch of crypto currencies.

Note: The displayed payment methods on https://order.nordvpn.com/ vary based on your location/IP address.

It’s also important to know that any Avast SecureLine VPN or NordVPN subscription plan will give you 10 simultaneous connections.

Server locations

	Avast VPN	NordVPN
Servers	700	7700
Countries	34	118
Americas	4	27
Europe	23	47
Asia Pacific	7	26
Middle East and Africa	3	18

It’s quite apparent that NordVPN offers a much bigger server selection than Avast VPN. In fact, it offers three times as many countries as Avast and more than ten times as many servers.

Additionally, NordVPN lets you select a country directly on a map, while you only have a list when using Avast.

Platforms, interface, and ease of use

	Avast VPN	NordVPN
Supported OS	Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Other software and devices	Android TV	Kodi, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromebook, Amazon Fire devices, routers
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox	Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Simultaneous connections	10	10

When it comes to compatibility, Avast falls behind NordVPN. That’s because it lacks a Linux application and doesn’t support as many different types of devices, like Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or browser extension for Edge.

Desktop apps

The desktop apps (Windows and macOS) of Avast SecureLine VPN are reminiscent of Avast Antivirus, having the same color palette and a similar layout.

And they are pretty easy to use. These are actually quite good applications for beginners, as they don’t have any advanced features or complicated customization options. However, those who want more might be a bit disappointed by the lack of features, so it’s a matter of taste.

Now, the Windows and macOS applications of NordVPN will please a broader crowd. Even though they are quite intuitive, they also offer a bit more than mere protection. However, keep in mind that the Linux version of NordVPN doesn’t have a graphic interface.

Mobile apps

Both Avast and NordVPN offer applications for Android and iOS.

The mobile apps of Avast are pretty decent. They are really easy to use and run smoothly. Keep in mind that the Android version is the superior one, as it offers more features like split tunneling.

When it comes to NordVPN, its mobile applications are top-notch. Easy on the eyes and intuitive, they are almost identical to their desktop counterparts – minus the screen size. Keep in mind that only the Android app offers split tunneling, while both the Android and iOS apps include Dark Web Monitoring. Additionally, the iOS app also supports auto-connect and pausing.

Customer support

While customer support may not seem like a priority at first, having reliable assistance is essential – especially if you commit to a long-term subscription.

So, what does Avast offer in this regard? Unlike before, Avast now provides a live chat option, available through its support website. Initially, you’ll interact with their virtual assistant, Anna, who attempts to answer questions and provide guides or tutorials. However, if your issue isn’t resolved or you prefer speaking to a real person, 24/7 live chat support is available. Additionally, Avast offers a help forum, an FAQ database, ticket submission, and phone support.

NordVPN, on the other hand, continues to offer a more comprehensive support system. In addition to a detailed knowledge base, it provides 24/7 live chat with human agents, a chatbot, and email support. Overall, reaching NordVPN’s customer support tends to be more straightforward and efficient compared to Avast.

NordVPN vs Avast SecureLine VPN: which is better?

Category	Avast VPN	NordVPN
Speed	❌	✅
Features	❌	✅
Protection	❌	✅
Streaming	❌	✅
Torrenting	❌	✅
Price	✅	✅
Ease of use	❌	✅
Customer support	❌	✅

In this Avast VPN vs NordVPN fight, the latter wins without breaking a sweat. NordVPN offers a more trustworthy no-logs policy, better speeds, and a broader selection of features. Avast doesn't have a good response to the sheer amount of NordVPN's servers and their variety.

However, I’m not saying that Avast SecureLine VPN is a bad service in itself – it just puts it at a great disadvantage when compared to such an industry giant as NordVPN.

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