Avast SecureLine VPN is a leading antivirus company, but it is not as popular in the VPN market in Canada. The company is based in the Czech Republic, which does not fall under 5-eyes countries. Check out the best VPN providers for better experiences.
Avast VPN offers a 7-days free trial and connects up to 1-5 VPN devices simultaneously. Avast VPN has around 100 servers in 34 countries including servers in Canada and offers Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS apps.
Its VPN server speed is average, and it isn’t the cheapest VPN around like ExpressVPN or Surfshark. However, when tested, I was able to unblock Netflix and other streaming services in Canada. Part of the reason why I gave it a 3.5-star rating in this Avast SecureLine VPN review in Canada.
It is slightly expensive at CA$4.97/mo, but that depends a lot on their features. Is Avast VPN good in Canada? Is it the most expensive VPN available? Let’s find out in this Avast SecureLine VPN review in Canada.
Avast SecureLine VPN Review in Canada – Rating Criteria
To review Avast SecureLine VPN in Canada, I had to test and give my verdict based on these nine factors. So let’s have a look at them:
- Jurisdiction – Is Avast VPN located in a 5-eyes country?
- Security – Is Avast VPN Safe in Canada?
- Leaks – Does Avast VPN leak IP, DNS & WebRTC?
- Server – Is it good for P2P torrenting?
- Speed – How fast is Avast SecureLine VPN in Canada?
- Streaming – Does it work with Netflix in Canada?
- Compatibility – App Interface and Supported Devices
- Pricing – How much does Avast VPN cost in Canada?
- Trustworthiness – Trustpilot, Play Store, Reddit & Customer Support
Avast Secureline Pros & Cons
Avast VPN is not perfect. Just like most VPN providers, it has its fair share of pros and cons:
Pros:
- 256-bit encryption
- Decent speeds
- Torrenting supported
- Kill switch
- Works with Netflix
Cons:
- Expensive pricing
- Keeps connection logs
- Small server network
Jurisdiction – Is Avast VPN located in a 5-eyes country?
Avast SecureLine VPN’s headquarter is located in the Czech Republic that does NOT fall under 5-eyes country. Therefore, the Czech Republic may not be considered a member of a five eyes VPN alliance, but it does collaborate with them.
This fact would raise a few eyebrows. But it is not something that would make me turn away from this VPN. So many people ask me, ”is Avast VPN good to use in Canada?” I always say to them, if it doesn’t fall under these countries then it’s’ perfectly safe to use. Still, I like my VPNs outside the dirty claws of the American and British intelligence agencies.
Security – Is Avast Secureline VPN safe in Canada?
Yes, Avast VPN is completely safe to use in Canada. In my review for 2023, I learned that Avast VPN uses military-grade encryption and DNS/IPv6 leak protection. Avast VPN also comes with an automatic kill switch which is something found in multiple VPN services.
It is used by everyone from giant corporations to small banks to secure confidential information. This VPN has multiple protocol options. However, you won’t need to look further than Avast’s’ OpenVPN TCP and UDP ports and IKEv2 with AES 256-bit encryption for guaranteed privacy.
OpenVPN protocol is the best tunneling protocol in the market. Its Open Source nature allows for constant upgrades, making it more advanced than any of its alternatives. Meanwhile, macOS users can also use the IPSec protocol. A less powerful but still capable cousin of OpenVPN. The cool thing about the IPSec protocol is that it is Apple’s proprietary protocol. Now, if a tech giant like Apple trusts this protocol, it has got to be safe in Canada.
Does Avast VPN Keep Logs?
After a thorough review of Avast VPN in Canada, I learned that it does NOT keep logs of user data, but it does keep VPN connection logs. Avast VPN also collects personal information claiming to make its security product better. Here is a list of the personal data Avast collects:
- Actual IP address
- Timestamp
- Name
- City/Country
- Billing Data
They know your original IP address for the first 60 days. After that, they replace it with your City or Country, or they hash it. Here is their statement:
“We collect your IP Address to provision your product or service. We also use the IP Address with mobile products to serve ads.”
Avast VPN mentions that whenever you visit its website, it collects some server logs. These server logs information include:
- Your region
- Length of visit
- Webpages you request
- Websites you visited before visiting their website
- IP address
- Cookies
Avast uses this information to:
“We use this information to fulfil our legitimate interests, which are to analyse overall trends, administer our webpages, track users’ use of the webpages, help us improve our website(s)”
Have a look at the VPN logging policies of the entire VPN brand.
Does Avast VPN Come with an Ad-Blocker?
No, despite charging a premium for their subscriptions, Avast VPN doesn’t come with an Ad-blocker. Comparatively, Surfshark, which costs way less, offers a Clean Web feature that can block trackers, malware, and ads.
Avast VPN Kill Switch Feature
It is quite often the most ignored feature of a VPN. Some even consider it overkill. However, an efficient kill switch can do your online privacy a world of good. When I checked for the Kill Switch feature in our review of Avast VPN in Canada, I found that it does have this feature. It also works quite well too. You can easily turn it off or on from the Security settings menu.
Leaks – Does Avast VPN leak IP, DNS & WebRTC?
Avast SecureLine VPN did NOT leak IP and DNS. It offers IP, WebRTC, and DNS leak protection. It passed the WebRTC test as well. I connected to an Israel server of Avast VPN and visited the IPLeak website to check for any leaks.
Here is the screenshot:
If you see the IP address in the leak test, it is the same Virtual IP given to me by Avast VPN, as you can see in the picture below:
The Virtual IP and the IP mentioned in the leak test website must be the same. Otherwise, it may be leaking. You can have a look at our IP Leak Test guide to see which VPNs pass the leak test. We also performed the DNS leak test and it did not leak any information.
Virus & Marware Test
In this Avast Secureline VPN review, I checked for any viruses in its download file. It did NOT contain any viruses. This test was performed using VirusTotal which alerts users if there’s a virus in a file.
Here are the results:
There was no malware detected in this file, so it is completely safe for many VPN users in Canada. However, I still recommend using antivirus software with Avast to secure your devices.
Server Network
Avast Secureline VPN’s network has server offerings of around 100 server locations in 34 countries including servers in Canada. This includes server locations in China and Russia but does not include any Middle East countries except for Israel. This is a fairly robust collection if we compare it with other VPN providers such as Private Internet Access or ExpressVPN as they offer thousands of geographically diverse servers.
Avast VPN also offers obfuscation server locations. Accessing websites and apps in China is not a problem for this VPN service. Look at other VPNs that have obfuscated servers that tend to work in countries with strict internet regulations.
Avast’s VPN doesn’t offer many advanced features, but it does offer physical servers. Most VPNs offer virtual servers that are not secure enough in Canada, but with Avast you don’t have to worry about that as the company owns all of its servers.
Is Avast Secureline VPN good for P2P or Torrenting?
Avast VPN offers multiple servers optimized for torrenting. Simply connect the P2P server to access torrents safely. This VPN encrypts online traffic with 256-bit AES encryption for security. There is also unlimited bandwidth so you don’t have to worry about your VPN usage in Canada. In short, casual internet users as well as users who like torrenting, will both be completely safe and secure with military-grade encryption.
Here are some of Avast VPN P2P servers:
- Netherlands P2P
- UK / London P2P
- Miami P2P
- New York P2P
- Seattle P2P
- Czech Republic P2P
- France P2P
- Germany / Frankfurt P2P
Overall, the server count isn’t’ something close to impressive. However, ExpressVPN has a huge server count (i.e. 3000) that is better than Avast.
Speed – How fast is Avast SecureLine VPN?
Avast VPN performs poorly when it comes to downloading speeds. In our latest speed tests, Avast SecureLine was measured on ten different servers using a base connection speed of 100 Mbps.
Here’s how Avast VPN performed for these servers:
| Server location | Download speed | Upload speed | Pings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 26.42 Mbps | 77.09 Mbps | 500 ms |
| Canada | 25.34 Mbps | 90.67 Mbps | 213 ms |
| Germany | 26.59 Mbps | 94.67 Mbps | 232 ms |
| Luxembourg | 25.34 Mbps | 91.5 Mbps | 206 ms |
| Netherlands | 26 Mbps | 76.84 Mbps | 192 ms |
| South Africa | 25.34 Mbps | 36.17 Mbps | 647 ms |
| Spain | 26.42 Mbps | 14.42 Mbps | 445 ms |
| United Kingdom | 26.25 Mbps | 66.09 Mbps | 181 ms |
| United States | 26.34 Mbps | 91.09 Mbps | 258 ms |
| Austria | 27.14 Mbps | 76.22 Mbps | 212 ms |
As you can see, Avast VPN is not all that fast. However, running a fast enough Internet connection such as the 100 Mbps service we used.
As such, even a speed of around 25 Mbps will be good enough for streaming content on Netflix at HD and even Ultra HD quality. But users that already have a slow connection might suffer greatly in speeds while using Avast SecureLine in Canada.
Streaming – Does Avast VPN work with Netflix in Canada?
Avast SecureLine VPN works well with Netflix and other streaming services in Canada. I easily managed to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and even Amazon Prime with it. As for performance, I didn’t notice any issues. Avast SecureLine worked quite fast without any lags or stutters.
To access Netflix with Avast VPN, users should connect to the servers listed in the streaming tab as these are the most effective for bypassing firewalls used by Netflix and other streaming platforms. Not many VPNs work with BBC iPlayer, but Avast VPN did unblock BBC iPlayer on its UK server with ease.
Compatibility – App Interface and Supported Devices
SecureLine is only accessible on four operating systems: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Users can also use Avast VPN with Kodi. It also offers a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox as well.
Avast VPN cannot be downloaded on FireStick because it is not available on the Amazon app store. However, you can use routers to connect to Avast VPN on Roku.
Avast VPN Windows User Experience
To check for the friendliness of the app, I managed to review the Avast VPN with first-hand experience. Using SecureLine’s Windows client is a pleasant experience in Canada. At first glance, the app has an attractive design and an intuitive interface. Moreover, it is familiar to the famous Anti-virus software, sporting the typical Avast purple design.
You can change the location with a single click and get an IP from a comprehensive list of servers.
Here, the P2P and streaming servers are segregated quite clearly. This eases the process of selecting servers for a particular task. Moreover, the burger menu on the top right of the clients navigates you toward ”Settings”. This is where you can toggle options such as Auto-start.
Avast VPN for Android User Experience
The Android app for Avast is sleek and simple. You can either connect to an optimal location or just select a country server that you wish to connect to. Then, just press the green button at the center and remain secure.
Avast VPN for iOS User Experience
The iOS app is similar to the Android and contains similar features. It brings you all 55 servers available in 34 countries including servers in Canada. The app is easy to use, so even a newbie will have no problems using it. The iOS app also gives you the option to turn off Auto-connect to the VPN.
If you’re having problems with any of Avast’s apps, see the troubleshooting guidelines on Avast VPN not working.
Pricing – How much does Avast costs in Canada?
When you compare Avast Secureline VPN to other VPN services in Canada, it is an expensive VPN service. Although the Avast VPN offers a seven-day free trial. So, you can try it free for 7 days. Here are all the pricing plans of Avast VPN in Canada:
- 1-year: CA$6.10/mo
- 2 years: CA$5.58/mo
- 3 years: CA$4.97/mo
With a single subscription, you can connect up to five devices at the same time in Canada. So, you can secure multiple devices at once. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I say it’s expensive because comparing these prices with Surfshark, which is the best cheap VPN, Avast VPN is comparatively expensive.
Now you get why I consider Avast SecureLine VPN to be expensive in Canada. So if you’re interested in Avast VPN alternatives at comparatively lower prices, check out our handpicked VPN deals for 2023 and save money!
Payment Methods
Here is a list of payments options accepted by Avast SecureLine VPN:
- PayPal
- Credit cards
NO Bitcoins are accepted. That’s quite disappointing. Hopefully, the provider will add this option soon.
While writing this review, I learned that the VPN offers 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you are not satisfied with the level of service, you can claim an Avast VPN refund within 30 days in Canada.
A good refund policy refund window, in addition to the 7-day free trial, make this VPN more accessible to new users.
Trustworthiness – Trustpilot, Play Store, Reddit & Customer Support
Avast Secureline VPN has a decent Trustpilot rating of 3.8/5. When you compare it with the industry’s best VPN service ExpressVPN, you will find that it has a 4.7/5 rating, which is exceptional. It should also be noted that 64% of the total reviews of Avast VPN have an Excellent rating.
Avast SecureLine VPN Reviews on Play Store
On Play Store, Avast Secureline VPN has a good rating of 4.4 stars (153,144 reviews). Here are some recent reviews of Avast Secureline VPN on the Google Play Store:
As per the recent user reviews in Canada, Avast Secureline VPN still needs to fix up some software bugs. But that’s something that can be easily fixed in the next update.
Avast VPN Review Reddit
Even though most of the reviews on the Google Play Store are positive, you should have a look at some of the recent reviews of Avast VPN on Reddit:
A user complained that he uninstalled the Avast app due to endless pop-ups with DLC missing. However, in the same thread, the same user re-installed the app, and it started working.
There’s another Avast SecureLine VPN Reddit review in which a user is complaining about a bottom pop-up that annoys him a lot:
Customer Support
Avast VPN’s customer support is not all that great. The main reason is that it lacks live chat support. However, you can content them through email ticketing, and its website maintains a comprehensive knowledge base filled with step-by-step guides, FAQs, and forums. You can also reach Avast via Facebook and Twitter. But one thing that is impressive, is that Avast Secureline VPN offers toll-free support for Avast products. It’s available 24/7, and you reach them at 1-844-340-9251.
Comparison between ExpressVPN & Avast VPN in Canada
Have a look at the comparison between ExpressVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN and check out their key difference in Canada.
| Features | ExpressVPN | Avast VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | CA$9.05/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) (Black Friday Deal: Grab 3 Free Months + 49% OFF 12-Month Plan) | CA$4.97/mo |
| Servers | 3000+ in 140 Countries | 100 servers in 34 countries |
| Compatibility | All Devices | Windows, macOS, Android, & iOS |
| Jurisdiction | Hong Kong | Czech Republic |
| Logging Policy | Zero Log | Only Connection Logs |
| Customer Support | Live Chat & Email Support | Live Call, Live Chat & Email Support |
| Trust Pilot Score | 4.6 | 1.8 |
| Website | ExpressVPN | AVAST VPN |
Avast VPN Alternatives
Looking for an alternative to Avast VPN in Canada? I have a list combined just for you. Here is a list that you need to consider:
- Review PureVPN
- Review Ivacy
- Private WiFi Review in Canada
- Perfect Privacy Review in Canada
- Review Surfshark VPN
- Review ExpressVPN
- Review AVG VPN
Is Avast SecureLine VPN worth it in Canada?
Yes, Avast VPN is worth it in Canada, and I do recommend buying this VPN. It’s particularly a good VPN when it comes to encryption and protocols. But its price is too costly when compared to Surfshark.
The speed performance is average too, but it does not leak IP or DNS. It has a simple-to-use app interface compatible with major operating systems. However, it keeps connection logs. Avast VPN also doesn’t offer a large server network. Overall, The outcome of the Avast SecureLine VPN review in Canada is that it’s not perfect.
So, if you ask me if Avast VPN is any good in Canada? Yes, Avast is a good service and is worth getting in 2023. But do keep in mind that there are also other options out there that offer even better features.
