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Dave Miller – Tech Enthusiast & Security Expert – March 23rd, 2022
Depending on your requirements, you may need to utilize a VPN, which raises the question of Avast VPN vs PIA. When most people hear the phrase VPN, they automatically assume it’s something too high-tech that they shouldn’t use. However, our lives have become more complicated regarding our privacy jeopardized in the digital age.
That’s where a VPN comes in, with the primary goal of concealing your online activities and safeguarding your data by hiding anything that may be abused by someone online. It’s critical to pick the appropriate VPN because you’ll be investing money and want your privacy, but how do you know which one to go with?
There is no need for you to be concerned because I have carefully compiled this article with the necessary facts. All you must do is continue reading.
Privacy is more important as we spend more of our day online. Furthermore, with the remarkable advancement of the Internet, setting up virtual private within enterprises has become increasingly common. Because your employees will require high-level access to the network from outside the workplace, you should use a secure connection.
VPN stands for “virtual private network,” It encrypts your connection and hides your location to let you surf privately and securely. VPNs also protect you from being tracked or discriminated against because of your site. On top of that, it adds a degree of protection that a company must have, particularly when it comes to network and data.
Fact: By 2022, the consumer and service provider VPN market will reach $2.4 billion.
People may be hesitant to utilize a VPN for a variety of reasons. The most evident is that many people have no idea what a virtual private network (VPN) is or why they would need one. Also, VPN is sometimes associated with criminality, but this is not the case; it may accomplish much more. Combining the protection of a VPN with other technologies will allow you to access the web anonymously, but further security precautions get required for complete security.
But, with so many VPN companies to pick from, how can you know which one is right for you, especially between Avast VPN vs PIA?
Note: The first thing to remember is that free VPN services are of poor quality and should get avoided.
Avast is a well-known brand that produces a variety of online security solutions. On the other hand, PIA is primarily a VPN and popular choice. Let us start the comparison
Avast Software SRO, based in Prague, is a Czech cybersecurity software company that analyzes and produces computer security software to protect everyone’s digital freedom. Avast’s motto is “live freely and safely online,” The company gets dedicated to ensuring that everyone has control over what they share online and with whom they share it. Avast SecureLine VPN got backed by the reputation of a prominent antivirus brand. It provides a safe, encrypted connection that secures your data with a private tunnel and bank-grade encryption. It also hides your IP address by routing your traffic across high-speed servers worldwide.
It protects you against third-party monitoring of your internet activities. It allows you to access unprotected public Wi-Fi without fear of being tracked. Avast has received several international honors since its inception in 1988. Today, they have 435 million active users from their all-product range.
Private Internet Access got founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Andrew Lee and his parent firm London Trust Media. Lee founded the firm to bring privacy to the masses. Private Internet Access now has its back by a geographically distributed staff of privacy specialists. Who work around the clock and worldwide to ensure that the best VPN service is always available.
PIA’s dedication to privacy is visible in everything through their trusted open-source VPN protocols and verified no-logs policy. Open-source software can be inspected and customized by anybody. With over ten years of expertise in the VPN industry, PIA currently has 15 million pleased clients worldwide.
Winner: Both companies have a decades-long history in the VPN sector and have made their names among the consumers. Avast is more famous than PIA because of its primary offering as an antivirus company. The PIA’s headquarters are in Denver, Colorado, and the United States is a member of the Five Eyes alliance. At the same time, the Czech government is not formally a member of the international surveillance coalition Five Eyes. Due to this cannot force them to share consumer data with the federal government.
Avast’s pricing is reasonable, and it provides three options from which to pick. There’s also a 7-day free trial available, and you don’t need a credit card to take advantage of it. It requested credit card details if you needed a 30-day trial with a money-back guarantee. The basic plan costs $4.60 a month for a year and allows you to encrypt up to 10 devices. The greatest pricing is $4.20 per month if you sign up for a two-year plan. Furthermore, its three-year plan, which starts at $3.75 a month, is the most inexpensive. All the packages get offered on an annual basis.
A month-to-month membership to Private Internet Access costs just $9.95. The average cost of a one-year plan is $39.95, which is much cheaper. But if you’re willing to commit for the long run. In that case, the company’s new 3-year plan replaces the previous 24-month option, and it’s even more affordable at $2.03 per month. You can switch between 10 devices with any Private Internet Access subscription options. Like Avast, private Internet Access offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day trial without a credit card.
Winner: Compared to Avast, PIA costs are less and provide monthly subscriptions, making it the apparent winner in price.
Let’s compare Avast VPN vs PIA; both options feature by feature
Avast Secure Line has three significant features: protection, anonymization, and unrestricted internet access. Attackers can acquire sensitive data when several individuals access the same public network. The encrypted VPN connection protects them from these sorts of assaults effectively. Additionally, the surfing session is effectively anonymized. You receive access to content that may be blocked in your region when connecting to a VPN server in another place.
Encryption & VPN Protocols: The AES 256-bit encryption key Avast SecureLine VPN uses is bank-grade encryption. Open SSL and certificate authentication get also used. So, Avast’s Windows and Android applications employ OpenVPN, while its macOS and iOS apps use IKEv2.
Servers Locations and Data Limit: Avast has many fast servers situated worldwide. SecureLine offers 700 servers scattered over 35 countries that provide unlimited data, yet many nations only have servers in a single city. SecureLine will provide you with the preferred location for the quickest service, making the entire procedure a breeze.
Speed and Bandwidth Limitation: Your internet connection will slow down if you use a VPN. Since your traffic must pass through additional fiber and equipment to finish its route, this is the case. However, Avast appears to be on the higher end of the spectrum. Since it provides no bandwidth constraints, you may achieve maximum theoretical throughput of 2 Gbits/s and typical rates of 450-600 Mbits/s even during periods of high demand.
VPN Log User Information: Avast SecureLine VPN keeps connection records, including details like when you login and quit, how long the connection lasts, and how much bandwidth you use. This data gets utilized for troubleshooting purposes and to prevent VPN connection misuse. Avast does not keep track of your online activities. Refer to the Avast Privacy Policy for further information, which claims that the firm does not support your actual IP address or other information regarding what you do online. That’s fantastic for people concerned about using a VPN service.
VPN service provided by Private Internet Access Split tunneling enables users to use the VPN’s encrypted tunnel while sending specific traffic via an unencrypted public network. It also comes with a kill switch, which means that if you lose your VPN connection, any application will close down instantly. Furthermore, the PIA anonymous token-based methodology can validate ownership of your allocated IP without allowing them to link it to your user account.
It helps you avoid security alerts and account restrictions when your IP address changes, so you’ll spend less time filling out CAPTCHAs. You can select a private IP address from the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, or Germany. On top of your VPN subscription, you can receive a dedicated IP address for just $5/month.
Encryption & VPN Protocols: PIA comes out on top regarding privacy. OpenVPN and WireGuard, two of the most recent and secure protocols, are used in its apps. By default, OpenVPN uses AES-128 encryption, but you may change it to AES-256 in the settings. Because all PIA’s apps are open source, developers may examine the source code for vulnerabilities or leaks. It might offer you more trust in the software’s security and privacy.
Servers Locations and Data Limit: The availability of several server locations expands your possibilities for creating your site and increases your chances of finding a server near your present location. Private Internet Access, on the other hand, provides an appropriate mix of locations, with locations in 78 countries and over 10,000 servers with unlimited data consumption in the paid version.
Speed and Bandwidth Limitation: Private Internet Access is a global network of the following VPN servers geared for 10 Gbps network speeds and employs some of the fastest VPN protocols globally, with unlimited bandwidth and no speed limiting.
VPN Log User Information: The PIA receives court rulings, warrants, and subpoenas regularly asking for data on its users, as well as the fact that it has never given anything in response to one of these demands conclusively confirms that it does not log its customers. That’s fantastic news.
Winner: Both solutions are tempting. However, PIA appears to be a VPN-only firm focused on internet privacy and has an excellent track record of no-log VPN data up to this point. On the other hand, Avast is a well-known brand in the antivirus sector. It’s not the ideal option for streaming or privacy, but it does have a lot to offer in terms of security. As a result, PIA is the apparent victor in terms of features.
One thing about Avast that will wow you is the straightforward setup and intuitive app design and the server location choices. It’s great for those who like a primary interface that can get set to open with their computer or when they get connected to a public network.
With its simple UI and robust network choices, Private Internet Access VPN is a solid alternative. PIA’s desktop is jam-packed with extra features that don’t make the interface difficult to use and are pretty excellent.
Winner: Both offer a straightforward interface and additional helping guides.
SecureLine is more of a gimmick for Avast consumers already familiar with the brand, and it provides phone help. You will have access to live chat and email 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for paying customers.
PIA provides a support area with articles to help you troubleshoot technical issues and account concerns. You can submit a support request or start a live chat session if you require assistance from a human.
Winner: Both provide the timely help. However, PIA does not offer the option of calling the customer service personnel. But, other than that, the company’s customer service is fantastic. As a result, Avast takes the lead as a corporation with a large userbase.
In practically every way, Private Internet Access is superior. In the field of customer service, Avast SecureLine VPN received a point. However, PIA’s speed was faster, and the price was less. PIA offers more servers. While both VPNs provide strong encryption and fast connections, their privacy policies differ somewhat. In my opinion, The battle between these VPNs is one-sided, with PIA emerging victorious against Avast SecureLine VPN. If you don’t care about the Five Eyes alliance, PIA is the way to go.
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Dave Miller is an IT Consultant for Online Cloud Security and has over 7 years of experience in the Information Technology space. He also specializes in repairing laptops & computers. In his spare time, he loves to talk about new technologies and hosts monthly IT and Cyber Security meetings in the Houston area.
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Online Cloud Security is here to recommend you the most secure devices, from laptops to smartphones, we only want to provide you with products that we have tested and used ourselves for online security. Every product that we recommend is heavily inspected and tested for security against hackers, viruses, malware, and any other intruders that may want to steal your information.
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