Virtual private networks are great tools when it comes to protecting your confidential information while you are browsing online. That being assumed, it is essential that you select the right virtual private network to do so!. Since there are many virtual private network services out there, you can utilize comparisons such as this “Avast VPN Vs. NordVPN” one and find out what each virtual private network is good for.
The way that TechNinjaPro will go about this Avast VPN Vs. NordVPN comparison is by establishing some specific features that all leading virtual private network services should have. By figuring these features out, TechNinjaPro will see how both of the VPN services compare against one another.
You have probably heard a lot of praise for NordVPN. Everyone seems to be talking about it non-stop, from researchers to security experts. On the other hand, Avast VPN does not get as much online fame. But maybe it should?
NordVPN offers above-average international server coverage, reliable streaming services, and excellent BitTorrent access, making it an attractive virtual private network choice for gamers and movie lovers. There is no need to worry about your internet privacy and security with NordVPN, as it offers excellent online privacy and security protections.
Avast virtual private network also delivers the fastest connection speeds in the VPN market and also provides excellent customer support and internet security. However, it does log some basic information related to your virtual private network connection. In this comparison blog, TechNinjaPro will try to find out which virtual private network is actually the better one.
Avast VPN vs. NordVPN
How to Choose a VPN?
In this blog, we will share the nine most essential VPN features to keep in mind when you are shopping for virtual private network services. TechNinjaPro will explain why each feature is crucial, reveal how well both VPN providers performed in each category, and declare a victory for that feature.
1. Speed comparison: Avast VPN Vs. NordVPN
The network speed with an active virtual private network is one of those things that varies based on many factors. It is possible to test the general tendencies, but keep in mind that your results might differ from what TechNinjaPro presented below. With that in mind, let’s look at the speeds of NordVPN Vs. Avast VPN.
As you can see in the table, NordVPN is the winner due to improvements in speed. It is almost twice as fast when it comes to downloading speed and more than five times faster in terms of uploading speed.
2. Netflix and streaming performance: Avast VPN Vs. NordVPN
The possibility to unblock most streaming platforms is quite an essential feature of any good virtual private network. It is no secret that most users get a VPN service merely for watching geo-blocked movies, sports events, and shows. This means that testing a virtual private network’s performance in this field is necessary when determining a winner. So, how did it go? Well, Various results could have been better. Here is why.
If you subscribe to any of the streaming services, you will find that most VPN services provide varying content in each country they are available. That is due to the content contracts they sign with television and movie studios, limiting the availability of their content to some regions of the world.
Avast VPN has servers located in the US, the UK, and Germany that are designated for streaming. They worked fine unblocking Netflix in those three countries. TechNinjaPro randomly tried servers in other regions but was turned away at the Netflix gate each time. Avast VPN does not provide reliable access to other streaming platforms.
NordVPN efficiently unblocks a number of streaming sites, both in the US and abroad. It is the real lifesaver when it comes to Netflix content, as it flawlessly unblocked the UK, the US, and Canadian Netflix libraries. NordVPN also lets you access BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and even Hulu. NordVPN is the winner of the Netflix and streaming performance comparison of Avast VPN and NordVPN.
3. Torrenting: Avast VPN Vs. NordVPN
When it comes to torrenting, both virtual private network services are good options.
Avast virtual private network provides specialized servers for torrenting, which allows for anonymous P2P file transfers. However, there are no extra features that would make torrenting easier. Additionally to specialized P2P servers, NordVPN also provides servers that use Onion over VPN for an added layer of security. Additionally, some of NordVPN’s servers let you use their free SOCKS5 proxy, which you can set up on your torrenting application.
4. Features overview
Out of the two virtual private networks, NordVPN is the one that provides more features, including such basics as Obfuscated Servers and SmartPlay, making it a winner in this category. Maybe Avast VPN will be lucky next time.
Split tunneling
NordVPN provides split tunneling on its Windows and Android apps, while Avast VPN only provides its Android application. The feature itself can prove helpful in various cases. It lets you choose the applications that should use VPN connections.
For example, you can set up the virtual private network only with your Netflix app, allowing other applications to use regular internet traffic so that the speed would not suffer.
SmartPlay
TechNinjaPro touched upon SmartPlay in the section about online streaming, but it is worth mentioning this NordVPN feature again. It gets automatically turned on when you try accessing geo-locked streaming platforms. In addition to this, the SmartPlay technology widens your possibilities to watch shows and movies on various devices that do not have a proprietary NordVPN application.
Specialty servers
NordVPN and Avast VPN both offers the specialty server feature. However, while both VPN services have specialized servers for torrenting, only Avast VPN provides servers dedicated to streaming. In the meantime, NordVPN provides Onion over VPN servers, which combine the Onion Router and a virtual private network tunnel. Also, it provides Obfuscated servers that might be useful in countries where VPN use is restricted.
CyberSec
CyberSec is only provided by NordVPN and available on all of its platforms. Once enabled, it automatically blocks blocked sites and ads that may contain spyware, trackers, and malware. When you try to access a restricted page, you will get a notification.
Smart Rules
Avast virtual private network lets you set up lots of rules that would be executed each time the virtual private network is activated. For example, you can select to turn the VPN service on when torrenting, streaming, connecting to unknown networks or accessing a particular site. Even though NordVPN provides similar configurations, they are not as flexible as Avast’s.
5. NordVPN vs. Avast VPN: which is more secure?
Robust security is the cornerstone of any virtual private network. Military-grade encryption, an excellent selection of tunneling protocols, and an audited no-logs policy make any VPN service suitable for those who need to protect their identity online.
In this situation, NordVPN is the best option of the two. It has extra tunneling protocols, its no-logs policy is much more accurate, and it has already been audited by an independent third party. Additionally, the mobile applications of NordVPN are ioXt certified, which proves that they meet all the critical security criteria.
Encryption and tunneling protocols
When it comes to data encryption, NordVPN and Avast VPN will not disappoint you. That is because both services use the AES-256-bit encryption, which is the current standard in such industries as military, banking, and security. However, the virtual private network services differ in their selection of tunneling protocols.
The only protocols Avast provides are OpenVPN UDP and Avast Mimic. Meanwhile, NordVPN has many protocols to select from, such as NordLynx, OpenVPN UDP, IKEv2, and OpenVPN TCP.
Kill switch
A kill switch is a significant security feature of any virtual private network. It automatically cuts off your network connection when the connection with a virtual private network server is compromised. In this way, your actual IP address cannot get exposed.
Fortunately, both VPN services have this feature incorporated into their apps. Indeed, NordVPN has two kill switches: one for the entire internet and the other for selected applications. Meanwhile, Avast VPN’s kill switch is only system-based.
6. Plans & pricing
TechNinjaPro recommends both VP services. You will get the same application with every subscription, the only difference being the monthly price. In this case, NordVPN is not the leader anymore. Its cheapest plan is more expensive than the cheapest plan of Avast VPN. Also, Avast VPN provides a free 7-days trial version with all the features unlocked, which does not even need any credit card details.
It is good to know that both VPNs provide a 30-day money-back guarantee. It will offer you enough time to get acquainted with the service and decide whether you need to keep it or not.
7. Server locations
It is quite apparent that NordVPN provides a much more extensive server network than Avast VPN. In fact, it provides twice as many countries as Avast VPN and almost eight times as many servers. In addition, NordVPN lets you choose a country directly on a map, while you only have a list when using Avast VPN.
8. Desktop apps
The desktop apps of Avast VPN are suggestive of Avast Antivirus, having the same color and a similar layout. And they are pretty easy to use. These are perfect applications for beginners, as they do not have any advanced features or complicated customization choices. However, those who need more might be a bit disappointed by the lack of features, so it is a matter of taste.
Now, the macOS and Windows apps of NordVPN will attract a broader crowd. Although they are quite intuitive, they also provide substantial protection. However, always keep in mind that the Linux version of NordVPN does not have a graphic interface.
9. Customer support
Although this might not seem crucial at first, having a few good customer support choices is essential. Especially when you purchase a long-term subscription. Avast VPN is a bit missing, as there is no live chat option. However, you can get help by reading through the FAQs and the help forum. They also offer an alternative to making a phone call.
This case is a bit better with NordVPN. Additionally to the knowledge base, NordVPN provides a 24/7 live chat, a chatbot, and email support. Overall, it is much easier and simpler to contact the customer support of NordVPN than Avast VPN.
Frequently Asked Qustions
NordVPN is superior to Avast VPN in terms of speed, performance, and unblocking ability. It is almost twice as fast as Avast VPN. In addition, NordVPN works with all major streaming sites and is perfectly capable of bypassing geo-restrictions. On the other hand, Avast VPN lags as it does not work with popular websites.
Yes, you can use Avast VPN for free as it provides a free version. Avast VPN’s free version comes with a data allowance of 500MB per month with access to more than 30 countries. However, Avast VPN offers slow speed and below-average performance as you cannot unblock geo-restriction websites with its free version.
Yes, NordVPN is worth its price when you opt for one of their longer subscription plans. It provides everything you would look for in a perfect VPN.
Yes, If you need to use NordVPN and Avast antivirus simultaneously, you should not experience any problems. Yet, if you think that Avast might be blocking NordVPN, try disabling its web shield feature.
Conclusion: Avast VPN Vs. NordVPN
NordVPN is the winner, performing well in all categories.
To sum up, Avast VPN provides way fewer features than NordVPN. In contrast, NordVPN provides a vast collection of features at a much more competitive price. Anyways, NordVPN is significantly better than Avast VPN in terms of performance. Therefore, whether you consider the capability to unblock Netflix, download torrents, improve your online anonymity, or access geo-restricted sites, NordVPN is the better option when compared with Avast VPN.
NordVPN has some top-notch functionality aspects, much affordable pricing plans, supports both Netflix and torrenting, and is considered to be one of the leading market leaders, in general.
