Avast VPN vs NordVPN: which VPN is better?
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NordVPN is one of the best VPN providers, praised for its strong security features, fast speeds, and extensive server network of over 9,500 servers in 149 countries. It has been independently audited 6 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 overview
| NordVPN | Avast SecureLine VPN | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #41 | #19 out of #41 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | Thousands of servers in 224 locations | 700+ servers in 34 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | No logs |
| 💵 Price: | From $3.49/month | From $3.99/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 75% OFF | Cybernews VPN Coupons |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | OpenVPN, 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, email, 24/7 live chat | Knowledge base, forum, FAQs, email, 24/7 phone support, 24/7 live chat |
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Key differences between NordVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN
NordVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN both protect your online activity, but they differ in several important ways. Here’s a closer look at who each VPN is best for.
Choose NordVPN if:
- You want top speeds. NordLynx and its extensive server network ensure fast, stable connections for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
- Privacy and security are priorities. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, AES-256 encryption, Onion over VPN, and obfuscated servers.
- You need global access. With 9,000+ servers in 130 countries, it’s easier to bypass geo-restrictions for content worldwide.
For a deeper dive into all features and test results, check out our full NordVPN review.
Choose Avast SecureLine VPN if:
- You prefer simplicity. The VPN is easy to set up and use, making it ideal for beginners or users who want a straightforward solution.
- You want basic protection included. Often bundled with Avast antivirus subscriptions, it’s a convenient all-in-one security package.
- Your needs are casual. It’s suitable for browsing, public Wi-Fi protection, and occasional streaming without advanced features or a large server network.
For a complete overview, read our Avast SecureLine VPN review.
Speed, performance, and streaming
The internet speed with an active VPN can vary depending on multiple factors, so results won’t always be identical. With that in mind, here’s how Avast VPN vs NordVPN performed in my speed tests.
For this comparison, I used the fastest available protocols on each VPN. In NordVPN’s case, that was NordLynx, while Avast SecureLine VPN was tested with OpenVPN UDP.
| Protocol | NordVPN | Avast VPN |
| Download average | 802.56Mbps | 235.17Mbps |
| Upload average | 341.23Mbps | 133.50Mbps |
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.
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 | $14.99 |
| 1-year plan | $4.99/month | $5.49/month |
| 2-year plan | $3.99/month | $3.49/month |
| 3-year plan | $3.99/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 $14.99 for the monthly subscription, and $6.39/month vs $5.49/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 | 9,500 |
| Countries | 34 | 149 |
NordVPN offers a much larger server network than Avast VPN, giving you more locations to choose from and greater flexibility overall.
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, credit card numbers, national IDs, Social Security numbers, and other personal data. If your data is found in breaches, NordVPN immediately sends you alerts. While Avast’s tool offers a one-time check, NordVPN’s solution provides ongoing monitoring and notifications to protect a wide range of personal data.
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 6 times.
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.
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 and Call Protection to detect spam phone calls, while both the Android and iOS apps include a Dark Web Monitor. 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?
Before diving into the detailed comparison, here’s a quick look at how NordVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN stack up in key categories. I’ve rated each VPN on a 5-star scale to make it easy to see which one performs better:
| NordVPN | Avast SecureLine VPN | Verdict | |
| Speed | NordVPN is almost twice as fast in download speed and more than twice as fast in upload speed | ||
| Features | NordVPN offers advanced tools like Obfuscated Servers, SmartPlay, and split tunneling on multiple platforms | ||
| Protection | NordVPN has stronger encryption, a verified no-logs policy, and additional threat protection features | ||
| Streaming | NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more; Avast is limited to YouTube and BBC iPlayer | ||
| Torrenting | Tie – both have specialized P2P servers, but NordVPN offers extra options like Onion over VPN and SOCKS5 proxy | ||
| Price | Avast is cheaper for short-term plans, while NordVPN offers better long-term value | ||
| Ease of use | NordVPN supports more platforms and devices, plus polished desktop and mobile apps | ||
| Customer support | NordVPN provides faster, more comprehensive support via live chat, email, and knowledge base |
Overall, NordVPN is faster, more secure, and packed with features. Avast SecureLine VPN is solid for basic protection or short-term use but can’t match NordVPN’s performance and versatility.
FAQ
Does NordVPN work with Avast?
Yes. If you want to use NordVPN and Avast Antivirus simultaneously, you shouldn’t experience any problems. However, if you suspect that Avast might be blocking NordVPN, try disabling its Web Shield feature.
Is Avast VPN worth the money?
It depends. If you’re looking for a really simple VPN to protect your PC while using public Wi-Fi, it might be worth getting Avast, as it’s not an expensive service. However, if you need more, you might want to invest your money into another software, like NordVPN.
Is NordVPN worth it in 2026?
Yes. NordVPN is a quality VPN service with military-grade encryption, fast tunneling protocols, and a trustworthy no-logging policy. It’s still one of the best VPN applications even today.
Does NordVPN support payments via UnionPay?
No, NordVPN does not currently support payments via UnionPay. However, you can pay using a credit card, PayPal, Sofort, Google/Apple Pay, and cryptocurrency directly on the provider’s website.
