Avast VPN vs NordVPN in 2025: Which Is Better?

• Privacy-conscious users who want advanced tools: NordVPN has plenty of advanced features and specialty servers, like double VPN, Threat Protection and Meshnet.
• Users who want a global reach: NordVPN excels at accessing and unblocking content across different countries with its broad server network.
• People who want full control and customization: NordVPN has tools like split tunneling, proprietary protocols and dedicated IPs for those who want flexibility and more control over their VPN setup.

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• Casual users who want a simple VPN: Avast SecureLine VPN works well for those who just want to click “connect” and browse with basic privacy.
• Existing Avast customers: If you already use Avast products, the VPN integrates well into the ecosystem so you can manage your security software in one place.
• Users who want local protection: Avast’s global server coverage is more limited, so it’s better for users who want to use nearby connections for browsing and streaming.

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• Standard VPN features: NordVPN includes high-level encryption, DNS leak protection and a strict no-logs policy.
• Specialized servers: Choose from servers optimized for P2P, obfuscation, Double VPN and Onion over VPN.
• Threat Protection Pro: When connected, NordVPN blocks malware, intrusive ads and web trackers before they reach your device.
• Double VPN: With Double VPN enabled, your connection passes through two servers, adding an extra layer of encryption to further improve your privacy for sensitive browsing.
• SmartPlay: This blend of VPN encryption and smart DNS helps you access geographically restricted streaming content with ease.
• Dark web monitor: NordVPN scans the dark web and alerts you if it finds any of your personal information in leaked databases.
• Meshnet: Connect multiple devices via a secure private network for file sharing, remote device access and virtual LAN gaming.

• Standard VPN features: Avast VPN secures your data with AES 256-bit encryption and offers protection against DNS leaks, plus a kill switch that works flawlessly.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) support: Use designated servers optimized for torrenting to download and share files safely.
• WiFi Threat Shield: Automatically activates the VPN when connecting to unsecured WiFi networks, protecting your activity from hackers and snoops.
• Mimic protocol: A proprietary protocol designed to bypass VPN blocks and keep your connection stable and secure.

Both NordVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN include a kill switch, automatically blocking internet traffic if the VPN connection is interrupted. This is an essential feature for preventing accidental data leaks, especially if you use public WiFi or if you’re handling sensitive data online.

Other basic features both VPNs include are as follows:

• DNS leak protection: Both VPNs keep your browsing activity and IP address from leaking.
• No-logs privacy policy: Neither provider tracks your online activity or your connection history in an identifiable way.
• Auto-connect: Optionally launches the VPN when your device boots or you connect to an unsecured network.

Both VPN apps are designed to be easy to use, with simple interfaces that let you connect quickly to a server. The straightforward app layouts that both services offer mean you won’t need much time to familiarize yourself with the VPN software.

Avast SecureLine VPN opts for a minimalist interface, focusing on quick access to servers and settings with fewer visuals and a more streamlined feel. NordVPN uses a map-based interface, allowing you to click on countries to connect. It’s an interactive design for server selection which works well on desktop but can be a little tricky on mobile devices.

Avast SecureLine VPN and NordVPN have dedicated apps for the most popular platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Android TV, and both have a Firefox browser extension. It’s easy to install the VPNs and protect your devices, with no complicated setup steps involved.

NordVPN offers a little more coverage with its device support. It works with Linux systems and Amazon Fire TV, and it also includes browser extensions for Chrome and Edge. While these aren’t must-haves for all users, they give NordVPN an edge if you have more diverse device setups.

Both VPNs support torrenting with dedicated P2P servers, which are optimized for file sharing. These servers maintain stable speeds and reduce congestion for secure, smooth downloads.

With either service, you can connect to a designated P2P location in the app and start torrenting without any extra configuration. NordVPN offers a significantly broader range of P2P-optimized servers worldwide, but Avast SecureLine VPN still provides reliable performance, even though the server spread isn’t as vast or varied.

Avast SecureLine VPN and NordVPN both use strong encryption and a range of secure VPN protocols to protect your data. While the protocols themselves are different (like NordLynx or Mimic), they both provide strong encryption and meet the same high bar for encryption strength.

Avast VPN offers the OpenVPN protocol, as well as WireGuard on Windows and Android, IPsec on iOS and macOS, and Mimic on all platforms. Mimic is a proprietary protocol designed to bypass VPN and network restrictions. During our tests, Avast’s protocols kept our data safe and protected.

NordVPN includes OpenVPN and manual setup for IKEv2, but it stands out for its unique protocols — NordLynx and NordWhisper. NordLynx is a custom implementation of WireGuard that balances speed and security, while NordWhisper is optimized for stealth connections in restrictive environments. All of its protocols stop IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks.

Each VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption, the current industry standard for securing online connections. This level of encryption ensures your browsing activity, personal data and downloads remain private, no matter where you’re connecting from. Both VPNs also feature ChaCha20 encryption when using WireGuard-based protocols.

Both NordVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN allow up to 10 simultaneous connections per account. This is more than most VPNs offer and makes both VPNs suitable for individuals with multiple devices or families sharing a subscription.

Between 2014 and 2020, Avast (and AVG) secretly collected detailed browsing data through antivirus software and browser-extension products. This data was then sold to more than 100 advertising and data-analytics firms via a subsidiary named Jumpshot. Worse, this data was sold in ways that made it re-identifiable to specific users.

The FTC found that Avast misled users about their privacy guarantees, which stated its products blocked data tracking. Avast was fined $16.5 million and is prohibited from selling or licensing browsing data for advertising without explicit consent. Previous data was deleted and privacy disclosures were also improved.

Compared to Avast SecureLine VPN, NordVPN includes a wider range of privacy and security tools, as well as features that make your VPN experience much smoother.

• Threat Protection Pro: Blocks ads, web trackers and malware downloads automatically, even if you’re not connected to the VPN.
• Meshnet: Creates a private, encrypted network between linked devices for secure file sharing and virtual LAN connections.
• Dedicated IP addresses: A static IP address reserved just for you for a small monthly fee — useful for avoiding CAPTCHAs or accessing services that block VPN IP addresses.
• Dark web monitor: Alerts you if your login credentials are found in known data breaches.
• Cloud storage: Includes 3GB of encrypted cloud storage for free — ideal for protecting important data and documents.

While Avast SecureLine VPN offers some comparable online security tools — like antivirus software, anti-tracking software and data leak monitoring — these are sold separately.

NordVPN is one of the most reliable VPNs for streaming, successfully accessing every major platform we tested it with. It can access Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and HBO Max. Its SmartPlay feature ensures you have a smooth streaming experience, with no extra setup required.

Avast SecureLine VPN’s performance is more inconsistent. While it can access some streaming sites, like Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, it failed to unblock Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer in our tests. This could be a dealbreaker if you want to watch these platforms.

Speed is essential for a good VPN experience, especially if you’re streaming, torrenting or gaming. We tested both providers across multiple global servers to see how our connection was impacted.

NordVPN Speed Test Results

NordVPN delivered consistently fast speeds, averaging just a 24% drop from our baseline across all locations. While latency increased on distant servers, download speeds were consistently fast enough for smooth streaming and torrenting. This makes NordVPN suitable for fast, stable connections across its vast server network.

Avast VPN Speed Test Results

Avast SecureLine VPN showed more noticeable slowdowns, with a 37% drop in download speeds, on average. Performance was significantly better on nearby connections like the U.K., but distant locations had dramatic drops of up to 85%. This suggests that Avast is better suited to local connections, as you may experience lag and buffering when using distant servers.

The server network is a key feature for VPNs, as it determines global reach, content access and speed performance. Below, we dive into how NordVPN and Avast SecureLine VPN compare in this category.

Server Distribution

NordVPN offers more than 7,000 servers in 126 countries, giving you plenty of options for fast, local connections and access to region-specific, global content. In contrast, Avast VPN has a much smaller network, with around 700 servers in more than 30 countries, mainly in North America and Europe.

Obfuscated Servers

NordVPN offers dedicated obfuscated servers that disguise your VPN activity, making it harder for networks and firewalls to detect that you’re using a VPN. This is especially useful in restrictive countries like China or on networks that block VPN connections.

Avast SecureLine VPN takes a different approach with its Mimic protocol, which also disguises VPN traffic to avoid detection. However, this isn’t tied to specific servers — you can manually select Mimic for added stealth when needed. This makes it a flexible option for bypassing censorship and network restrictions.

Double VPN Servers

NordVPN has double VPN servers — known as “multi-hop” with other VPN providers. These servers route your connection through two VPN servers instead of just one, encrypting your traffic twice. This works well if you need maximum anonymity and are willing to sacrifice a bit of speed for stronger security.

Onion Over VPN Servers

Onion over VPN servers combine NordVPN’s encryption with the anonymity of the Tor network. Your data is first sent through a VPN server, then routed through the Tor network. Best of all, you don’t need to use a separate Tor browser with these NordVPN servers — you can access the Tor network through your regular browser.