Avast VPN vs NordVPN

Avast VPN and NordVPN are two famous VPNs. On any given day, they are used by countless people to stay protected online. Many like to compare the two because they’ve got lots of things in common. When that’s done, NordVPN always emerges as the better service. Why? Continue reading this comparative article to find out.

Comparison

Below is a side by side comparison showing all the quirks and features of each VPN:

	Avast VPN	NordVPN
Logging Policy	No Logging	No Logging
Jurisdiction	Czech Republic	Panama
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256 SHA-256 Hash Authentication 4096-bit RSA Key Exchange
Protocols	OpenVPN UDP OpenVPN TCP	OpenVPN UDP OpenVPN TCP IPSec/IKEv2 IPSec/L2TP WireGuard
Ad and malware blockers	No	Yes
Kill switch	Yes	Yes
Leak Tests	No Leaks Found	No Leaks Found
Speed Tests	Fast	Fast
Torrenting & P2P	Yes (Optimized P2P Servers)	Yes (Optimized P2P Servers)
Streaming	Netflix Amazon Prime BBC iPlayer Firestick Roku (Via Router) Kodi Apple TV (Via Router) Android TV	Netflix Amazon Prime Hulu BBC iPlayer Firestick Roku (Via Router) Kodi Apple TV (Via Router) Android TV
Gaming	Windows Android iOS Xbox One (Via Router) PS4 (Via Router) Nintendo Switch (Via Router)	Windows Android iOS Xbox One (Via DNS or Router) PS4 (Via DNS or Router) Nintendo Switch (Via DNS or Router)
Compatibility	Windows macOS Android iOS Chrome Firefox Tor	Windows macOS Android iOS Linux Chromebook Chrome Firefox Tor Selected Routers
Simultaneous Connections	5	6
Servers	55	5161
China	No	Yes
Split Tunneling	No	Yes (For Android, iOS, and Browser Extensions)
Additional Features	No Additional Features	Double VPN Onion over VPN
Prices	$8.99/Month $4.99/Month (1 Year) $3.99/Month (2 Years)	$11.95/Month $4.92/Month (1-Year) $3.71/Month (2-Years) Special Offer: 68% off for a 2-year plan; 58% off for a 1-year plan
Our Rating	4.0	4.7
Website	www.avast.com/secureline-vpn	www.nordvpn.com

While they share many things, lots of stuff also sets NordVPN apart from Avast VPN. For that reason, we must dwell on the details. Only when that’s done shall it be right to settle on which service is better suited for your needs as a daily internet user.

Privacy & Security

NordVPN operates from Panama while Avast VPN operates from the Czech Republic. Both of these places are great locations for a VPN company to base itself. That’s because they do not fall under the jurisdiction of any major global surveillance alliance.

Encryption Comparison

As you might’ve expected, Avast Secureline VPN and NordVPN utilize standard AES 256-bit encryption. What sets the two apart is the latter VPN’s employment of SHA-256 hash authentication and an RSA 4096-bit handshake for increased security.

VPN Protocols

Currently, the only protocol that Avast VPN supports is OpenVPN. While this may seem like a bummer, you should know that OpenVPN is a very secure and speedy protocol. In fact, many online security experts regard it to be the best that’s available.

In addition to OpenVPN, IPSec (LT2P & IKEv2), and WireGuard are supported by NordVPN. If anything, this is great since the service gives you more options. That means you can make the most out of it and select exactly what you need when carrying out specialized tasks.

Leak Protection

Avast Secureline VPN and NordVPN state they provide complete DNS leak protection. To know if they’re true to their claims, it was essential for me to run tests using IPLeak.net. Below shows the results following my pairing to Avast VPN and its server in Singapore:

IP Leak Test – Avast VPN Singapore

Next up, here’s how NordVPN’s server in the same location performed:

IP Leak Test – NordVPN Singapore

Thankfully, neither VPN failed my tests. Consequently, it’s now possible for me to recommend them to whose aim is to stay under the radar. Using either, it is guaranteed that you’ll get to remain hidden from the prying eyes of hacks, government monitors, and other parties.

Server Security

The servers of NordVPN and Avast VPN are very safe as both services maintain strict no-logs policies. Nonetheless, one unfortunate thing is that none of the two have RAM-based server networks that aren’t capable of tracking, gathering, and storing private user information.

A few years ago, a hacker infiltrated a rented NordVPN server. 

During the incident, data needed to establish a fake server was stolen. As a result, NordVPN’s reputation took a hit. Fortunately, the VPN has been making an effort to clean its name. One example of what it has done is implement a bug bounty program and establish a protocol.

In Conclusion

NordVPN has better security than Avast Secureline VPN. Despite being hacked once, we think the VPN is more capable of keeping you protected. The main reason why is because it has better protocol support, more servers, and a greater number of security features.

Speed Test

It’s an unfortunate fact that all VPNs adversely impact base internet connection speeds. But, the degree to which they do this varies greatly from service to service. While some VPNs can make your internet completely unusable, some entirely make you forget that you’re using them.

Avast Secureline doesn’t have unlimited bandwidth while ExpressVPN does. Hence, I thought it would be interesting to see how the two would measure up against each other. Below is a screenshot showing my internet speed after pairing with Avast VPN’s SG server:

Speed Test – Avast VPN Singapore

Now, this is how it changed after I moved to NordVPN’s server in the same location:

Speed Test – NordVPN Singapore

The results of my speed tests surprised me. 

Despite having a bandwidth limit, Avast VPN managed to outmatch NordVPN. Needless to say, the difference in how much the two changed my connection speeds was quite small. Even so, due to how it performed, Avast Secureline VPN is still the winner of this round.

Torrenting & P2P

Anyone that downloads torrents frequently needs a VPN provider that can keep them safe. The service they use must have servers that are optimized for P2P file sharing. Furthermore, it also has to be compatible with leading torrenting clients like qBitTorrent, uTorrent, and BitTorrent.

Not all of NordVPN and Avast VPN’s networks are 100% P2P enabled. Be that as it may, both services are still suitable for torrenting. Each has optimized servers that you may use. Besides that, they’re also compatible with all widely-used torrent clients.

Having the means to facilitate torrenting isn’t enough. A VPN service must also not leak when its users partake in torrenting sessions. To see if Avast Secureline VPN and NordVPN are truly safe for the job, I went ahead and tested them using IPLeak.net once again.

This is how Avast Secureline VPN and its New York server did:

Torrenting Leak Test – Avast VPN New York

And here’s how NordVPN along with its server in Singapore fared:

Torrenting Leak Test – NordVPN Singapore

Between the two, only NordVPN was able to keep my IP address hidden. Avast VPN was not able to keep my location hidden from the testing software. As such, it’s by default the loser of this round of our Avast VPN vs NordVPN match.

Streaming

Many people use VPNs not to stay protected but to gain a means to access the foreign libraries of streaming sites. Hence, it’s safe to say that this category is a very important one in our NordVPN vs Avast VPN match.

Reports are consistent in stating that NordVPN and Avast Secureline VPN are both good at working around streaming website geoblocks. They can grant you access to the otherwise unavailable libraries of platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.

Netflix

I tested both services by watching Spotlight on their US servers to determine if they’re any good for Netflix. Below is a screenshot showing how Avast Secureline VPN performed:

Netflix US – Avast VPN

This is how NordVPN did:

Netflix US – NordVPN

Avast VPN and NordVPN had no problems with granting me access to my title of choice. Both didn’t introduce any buffering and quality issues. It is because of these reasons that I conclude that they’re both suitable for people that watch Netflix every day.

Even if they performed equally as well as each other, my winner for this round of our Avast VPN vs NordVPN battle is NordVPN. I chose it solely because it has more servers. That means that it can grant access to more geo-restricted foreign streaming service libraries.

Gaming

NordVPN and Avast Secureline VPN can be used for gaming purposes. Both are capable of granting you access to distant game servers. Moreover, the two can also maintain your anonymity whenever you play with strangers from anywhere in the world.

Since it has more servers, NordVPN is already the better VPN for gaming. That said, it should also be stated that NordVPN also is the only VPN between the two that can be used alongside consoles. To do so, simply install it on a compatible router then pair your console to that router.

Compatibility

Without wide compatibility, a VPN provider would not get to keep you safeguarded on all of your devices. Fortunately, the people behind NordVPN and Avast Secureline VPN are fully aware of this. They’ve developed apps and extensions for many web browsers and operating systems.

The table below shows what each provider is compatible with:

Avast Secureline VPN doesn’t have router support. On top of that, it lacks native applications for both Linux and Chromebook OS. Therefore, users of those platforms will find themselves rather shorthanded. As such, the victor of this round of our NordVPN vs Avast SecureLine VPN battle is NordVPN.

Simultaneous Connections

VPN services have to allow for many simultaneous device connections under one account. If not, they won’t provide much value for money. Besides that, they’ll not let their subscribers protect everyone in their circle of friends, household, or small business.

In this regard, NordVPN is once again superior. It allows for a maximum of 6 same-time device connections with a single account. Meanwhile, Avast VPN only allows for up to 5.

Servers

For those who don’t know, VPN providers with larger networks are superior because they give users greater connectivity options. Aside from that, they are also less prone to getting overloaded, and therefore, are more reliable.

In this round of our NordVPN vs Avast VPN comparison, the winner is NordVPN. The reason why is because it operates 5161 servers whereas its competitor only operates a mere 55.

China

China is a very difficult country for VPN providers to tap into because of its Great Firewall that only a tiny handful of services can bypass. Between the two, only NordVPN has the ability to function in the country. Sadly, no reports have stated that Avast VPN can do the same.

Interface & Usability

The native applications of NordVPN are great. All of them are good-looking, highly-configurable and a breeze to navigate. Everything from choosing a server to enabling features is easy. Due to that, all kinds of people may use them without encountering any sort of difficulty.

NordVPN Interface

Avast Secureline VPN’s apps are also great. In addition to being aesthetically-pleasing, they are also responsive and smooth. While learning to get around them takes time, I’d still say each of the service’s applications are suitable for even those who aren’t tech-savvy.

Avast SecureLine VPN Interface

Since the apps of NordVPN have interfaces that are easier to navigate, my winner for this round of our Avast Secureline VPN vs NordVPN is NordVPN. Of course, that goes without saying that both providers have great native applications that shall deliver you an excellent user experience.

Additional Features

NordVPN has a feature known as Onion Over VPN. To put it simply, it makes the service much more optimized for the Tor browser. Because of it, you’ll have a smoother browsing experience that’s almost always completely free of lengthy loading times and unexpected errors.

Another thing that NordVPN offers is called Double VPN. It’s basically a security measure that increases your anonymity. How does it work? By routing your web traffic through two servers.

Sadly, the developers of Avast Secureline VPN haven’t given it any exclusive features. Due to that, the automatic winner of this round of our match is NordVPN.

Customer Support

Good customer support is the backbone of any VPN service. Without it, subscribers will have no means to communicate with their provider. In addition to not being able to solve any problems they might encounter, they also won’t get to have their questions answered.

Please refer to the table below to know what customer support options the two provide:

Avast VPN does not have video tutorials of ticket support. Furthermore, it has a slower average response time than its competitor, which responds to customers in 3 hours or less. Because of that, it’s the loser of this round of our NordVPN vs Avast Secureline VPN comparison.

Prices

VPN service providers need to price themselves competitively. If not, they’ll get outmatched by their competition regardless of how good their offerings are. Thankfully, the developers of both Avast Secureline VPN and NordVPN fully understand this fact.

The table below shows the pricing schemes of the two VPNs:

As you can see, the prices of NordVPN and Avast Secureline VPN are quite similar. Moreover, both also have a 30-day money-back guarantee policy. 

With all that being said, my winner for this last round of our Avast Secureline VPN vs NordVPN is NordVPN. Why? It offers greater value for money, especially when you choose to purchase a 1-year or 2-year subscription.

Verdict

Is Avast VPN better than NordVPN?

No. Avast Secureline VPN is not better than NordVPN. While it’s faster, the service has worse security, a smaller network, and inferior apps. On top of that, it boasts customer support and pricing schemes that need some improvement. Last but not least, it’s compatible with fewer devices and allows for fewer simultaneous gadget connections.