⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: SafeShell VPN plans start at $5.99. Avast paid plans start at $49.99/first yr.
- Best for: SafeShell VPN for streaming services across multiple regions. Avast SecureLine VPN for public wi fi cover.
- Key difference: App Mode sends different apps through different vpn locations. Smart VPN mode only decides when to automatically connect.
- Our pick: SafeShell VPN for most users. Its server network reaches further than Avast secureline vpn servers.
The bigger brand name is not the safer bet here.
Avast VPN comes from a security company almost everyone recognises.
SafeShell VPN launched in 2023 and most people have never heard of it.
Yet the famous one carries a $16.5 million privacy fine.
The unknown one runs a feature no rival has copied yet.
Here is how they compare on servers, speed, and security.
Overview
This Avast VPN vs SafeShell VPN comparison covers pricing, security features, streaming, and ease of use.
We reviewed documentation, pricing pages, and user reviews for both apps.
Our writers also spent hands-on time with each virtual private network.
Those notes sit in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
By the end you will know which vpn service fits your internet connection.
What is Avast VPN?
Avast SecureLine VPN is a consumer vpn app from the maker of Avast antivirus.
It hides your IP address and encrypts your browsing data.
The service is built for simple, everyday online activities.
It runs on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Android TV.
One subscription covers up to 10 devices at the same time.
Most people install it because it arrives bundled with other Avast products.
Avast VPN
A beginner-friendly vpn tunnel with a kill switch and Smart VPN mode. The 60 day free trial is longer than most vpns offer. Works across multiple platforms.
Avast VPN Pricing
Avast sells the VPN inside its wider security range. Here is the plan structure on record.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free Antivirus | Free | Basic device protection with no VPN |
| Premium Security | $49.99/first yr | Multi-device security and more security layers |
| Ultimate | $49.99/first yr | Bundle buyers who want the VPN included |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: Yes. Avast SecureLine VPN has a 60 day free trial across all supported platforms. You must enter payment information first, but no charge lands until the 60 day trial ends.
Money-back guarantee: Avast runs a 30-day refund window on its paid plans. Cancel inside that window and you can claim your money back.
📌 Note: Standard yearly subscriptions for the VPN alone typically run around $3.99 to $4.59 per month. There is no monthly-only plan, so the shortest commitment is a one-year term.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: The table holds our CSV bundle prices. Avast also advertises standalone VPN terms of $4.59, $4.29, and $4.39 per month on one, two, and three year plans. Check the checkout page before you buy.
Key Benefits of Avast VPN
Here is what you actually get with this vpn service:
- Smart VPN Mode: Set rules for when the tunnel should automatically turn on or off. It can automatically connect on banking sites or an untrusted public network.
- Protocol Choice: Avast SecureLine VPN supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and its own Mimic protocol. The OpenVPN protocol remains the safe default on desktop.
- Kill Switch: The kill switch cuts your internet the moment the connection drops, so your real IP never leaks.
- Public Wi-Fi Cover: Using Avast VPN increases security on unsecured public wi fi. It blocks man-in-the-middle attacks on cafe and airport wi fi.
- ISP and Ad Privacy: It stops your internet provider and advertisers tracking you, and masks location to dodge price discrimination.
- Long Trial: The 60 day free trial beats most free trials here. Two months is enough for your own speed tests.
- Throttle Control: Servers are tuned to avoid bandwidth throttling on heavy downloads.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer installed the Windows app and the Android app, then used both for daily browsing. Here is what stood out:
The short clip below walks through the same session on desktop.
Avast VPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- 60 day free trial, longer than most competitors offer
- Connects up to 10 devices on one subscription
- Smart VPN mode sets automatic connection rules
- Simple windows app that beginners can navigate
- Czech Republic base sits outside data-sharing alliances
What is SafeShell VPN?
SafeShell VPN is a high speed VPN built around streaming and gaming.
GearUp Portal Pte Ltd, a Singapore gaming company, launched it in 2023.
It hides your IP address behind its own ShellGuard protocol.
QUIC technology disguises the traffic, so strict censorship is harder to enforce.
The app supports over 70 regional server locations and multiple locations at once.
That last part is what SafeShell revolutionizes VPN marketing is built on.
🏆 Winner: SafeShell VPN
Experience SafeShell and discover a new level of online freedom. App Mode runs different apps through different vpn locations at once. Works on iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.
SafeShell VPN Pricing
SafeShell keeps the plan list short. Three terms, one feature set.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Week | $5.99/month | Travellers who need short access |
| 3 Months | $24.99/month | Testing before a longer commitment |
| 1 Year | $59.99/month | Regular streaming and gaming use |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: Yes. SafeShell VPN offers a 3-day free trial for new users who have not previously subscribed. There is no permanent free tier after that free trial period.
Money-back guarantee: A 7 day money back guarantee applies to your initial subscription purchase.
📌 Note: Payment methods include Credit Card, PayPal, Google Play, Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, and Alipay. You can create an account and sign in on every device you own.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: The table holds our CSV figures. The safeshellvpn.com checkout advertises USD 49.99 per year, USD 9.99 per month, and USD 3.99 per week. Your subscription renews automatically unless you cancel 24 hours before expiry.
Key Benefits of SafeShell VPN
Here is what the subscription buys you:
- App Mode: Connect different apps to multiple regions simultaneously. Watch Netflix US while your banking app stays on your home country IP.
- Global Mode: Route the whole device through one location instead. You can customize which mode each session uses.
- No Speed Limits: Link speeds reach 2 Gbps, leaving headroom for the fastest download speed your line allows.
- Zero-Logs Policy: No connection records are kept, and personal data is not sold to third parties.
- Subtitle Translation: Over 30 languages are supported for a comfortable viewing experience on foreign videos.
- Game Mode: Routes to game servers cut latency. Gaming ping improvements come from the GearUp Booster team.
- Multi Device Support: One account covers iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, and Android TV. No per device fee, but it is not for sharing with friends.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer paid for a subscription and ran it across five devices, including Mac and Apple TV. Here is what stood out:
SafeShell VPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- App Mode connects different apps to different regions at once
- Over 70 regional server locations keep latency low
- Subtitle translation covers more than 30 languages
- Game Mode optimises routes to game servers
- Works on Apple TV, Android TV, and Apple Vision Pro
❌ Cons
- Only a 3 day trial, with no permanent free tier
- No published independent audits of the no-logs claim
- Some users report refund and subscription management problems
- Thin server coverage in Africa and South America
Feature Comparison
Both apps encrypt your connection. After that they stop looking alike. Here are the ten areas that decide it.
| Feature | Avast VPN | SafeShell VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $49.99/first yr | $5.99 |
| Free Trial | ✅ 60 day free trial | ✅ 3 days |
| Server Network | ~700 servers, 34 countries | 70+ regions, 100+ locations |
| Simultaneous Devices | 10 | Unlimited |
| Kill Switch | ✅ | ✅ |
| App Mode (per-app regions) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Game Mode | ❌ | ✅ |
| Independent Audit | ❌ | ❌ |
| Android TV & Apple TV | Android TV only | ✅ Both |
| Best For | Public wi fi and simple browsing | Streaming and gaming |
1. Server Network and Locations
Avast VPN: Avast secureline vpn servers number around 700 across 34 countries. That is small. Many vpns offer a far larger network, which limits your options for speed and flexibility.
SafeShell VPN: SafeShell supports over 70 regional server locations chosen to minimise latency. You can access over 100 locations worldwide without worrying about being blocked. Coverage in the Middle East and Asia is the stronger half of that network.
2. Streaming Services
Avast VPN: It can reach Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Results are mixed elsewhere. Some users report that Hulu and BBC iPlayer refuse to load.
SafeShell VPN: Streaming is the whole point here. Servers are tuned for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Facebook videos. You can watch multiple regions at once instead of one channel at a time.
3. Connection Control: Smart VPN vs App Mode
Avast VPN: Smart VPN mode lets you set rules for when the app should automatically connect or disconnect. For example, it can switch on for banking sites and stay off at home. Some users have reported that smart vpn mode does not always fire as expected.
SafeShell VPN: App Mode goes further. Different apps run through different vpn locations at once, so you get a personalized connection experience instead of one global setting. Global mode still exists when you want the whole device on a single server.
⚠️ Warning: App Mode is the reason to pick SafeShell. If you only want one country at a time, you are paying for a feature you will never open.
4. Speed and Gaming
Avast VPN: Performance is inconsistent. Nearby servers give a fast connection, but distant ones drop hard. The VPN optimises servers to avoid bandwidth throttling during a heavy download, though a small network limits routing choices.
SafeShell VPN: There are no speed limits on the plan, and link speeds reach 2 Gbps on the super servers. Game Mode trims routes to game servers for lower latency. Gamers discover the biggest ping improvements here.
5. Security Features and Protocols
Avast VPN: The app supports the OpenVPN protocol, WireGuard, and the proprietary Mimic protocol. A kill switch closes the internet if the tunnel fails. DNS leak protection is present, but there is no split tunneling and no browser extensions for extra security.
SafeShell VPN: The in-house ShellGuard protocol handles encryption, and QUIC technology disguises VPN traffic to get past strict censorship. Built-in DNS leak protection and WebRTC leak protection keep your IPs out of dns leaks during a session.
6. Privacy, Logs and Independent Audits
Avast VPN: This is the weak spot. The Czech Republic base sits outside any data-sharing alliance, and the app records timestamps, data transferred, and connection details without identifiable information. No independent audit has verified the no logs policy. In February 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission ordered Avast to pay $16.5 million after its Jumpshot subsidiary sold browsing data without consent.
SafeShell VPN: The zero-logs policy is cleaner on paper and the Singapore base sits outside the 14 Eyes alliance. SafeNet AdBlock strips ads and trackers across websites for more security while browsing. It also has no independent audits, so both tools ask you to trust the claim.
⚠️ Warning: Neither product has passed an independent audit. If a verified no-logs claim is your deal-breaker, audited names like NordVPN and ExpressVPN fit better than these two.
7. Device Support and Apps
Avast VPN: Avast SecureLine VPN is available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Android TV. One subscription connects up to 10 devices, so it is not locked to one device. There is no Apple TV app and no browser add-on.
SafeShell VPN: Multi device support covers iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, plus iPad, Apple TV, Android TV, and Apple Vision Pro. Create one account, sign in everywhere, and the apps stay compatible across multiple platforms.
8. Extras Beyond the Tunnel
Avast VPN: Extras are thin. There are no dedicated torrenting servers listed and no subtitle tools. What you get instead is tight integration with Avast antivirus and the rest of the Avast products you may already run.
SafeShell VPN: Subtitle translation supports over 30 languages for a comfortable viewing experience on foreign shows. Combined with IPv6 support, it is a streaming toolkit rather than a plain vpn tunnel.
9. Ease of Use and Support
Avast VPN: The app is genuinely easy to navigate and beginners rarely get lost. Support is the complaint. Some users describe it as unhelpful when they contact the team about billing.
SafeShell VPN: Reviewers consistently call the design user friendly, and it holds a 4.6/5 on Trustpilot with 3.9/5 on the App Store. The rough edge is subscription management, where some users have struggled to cancel or claim refunds.
10. Pricing & Cost
Here are both plan structures side by side, exactly as our data records them.
| Plan | Avast VPN | SafeShell VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free Antivirus: Free | ❌ Trial only |
| Short term | ❌ No monthly plan | 1 Week: $5.99/month |
| Mid term | Premium Security: $49.99/first yr | 3 Months: $24.99/month |
| Long term | Ultimate: $49.99/first yr | 1 Year: $59.99/month |
| Trial | 60 day free trial | 3 day free trial |
| Refund window | 30 days | 7 day money back guarantee |
Avast VPN: The money buys a bundle, not a standalone tunnel. If you want antivirus and the VPN together, the Ultimate tier earns its price point. If you only want a vpn app, you pay for software you never open.
SafeShell VPN: The entry price is lower and the shortest term is one week, which suits a business trip or a single season of a show. Longer terms cost more up front but drop the effective monthly rate.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The longest trial | Avast VPN | 60 days versus 3 days |
| Multi-region streaming | SafeShell VPN | App Mode runs regions in parallel |
| A cheap short term | SafeShell VPN | One week entry plan |
| Antivirus in the same bill | Avast VPN | Bundled with Avast products |
| Apple TV or Vision Pro | SafeShell VPN | Avast has no Apple TV app |
| Lower gaming ping | SafeShell VPN | Game Mode route optimisation |
💰 Your Budget
SafeShell starts at $5.99 and Avast paid tiers open at $49.99/first yr. If you want protection for one trip, the weekly plan wins on cost.
🔌 Your Devices
Avast covers 10 devices across Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Android TV. SafeShell adds iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro to that list.
📝 Your Streaming Habits
One library at a time is fine on either tool. Juggling Netflix, Prime Video, and a local banking app at once needs App Mode.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Beginners who just want to install and connect will find Avast simpler. SafeShell asks you to learn the difference between Global Mode and App Mode first.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Two months of free testing is hard to beat, so use Avast SecureLine VPN first if you are unsure. Three days barely covers your own speed tests on SafeShell.
🛟 Support Options
Neither team has a spotless record. Billing complaints follow both, so contact support early and keep your cancellation confirmation.
Switching Guide
Already paying for one of them? Here is what changes.
🔄 Switching from Avast VPN to SafeShell VPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- App Mode for multiple regions simultaneously
- Apple TV, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro apps
- Game Mode, subtitle translation, and SafeNet AdBlock
❌ What you’ll lose:
- The 60 day free trial safety net
- Protocol choice between OpenVPN, WireGuard, and Mimic
- Bundling with Avast antivirus on the same invoice
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel the Avast subscription in your account settings
- Create a SafeShell account and start the 3 day trial
- Set App Mode rules per app, then sign in on your other devices
🔄 Switching from SafeShell VPN to Avast VPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Two months of free use before any charge
- Smart VPN mode rules for untrusted networks
- One vendor for antivirus and the tunnel
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Per-app region routing and Global Mode switching
- Roughly 70 regions drops to 34 countries
- Gaming route optimisation and subtitle tools
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel SafeShell at least 24 hours before renewal
- Start the 60 day free trial with your payment information
- Install the windows app, then use Avast SecureLine VPN rules to automatically connect on public wi fi
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on everyday home use: streaming, browsing, and public wi fi. We did not run week-long stress tests, benchmark torrenting throughput, or measure server load in the Middle East and South America. Business licensing and router setups sit outside this piece. Treat the September 2026 figures as a snapshot.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | SafeShell VPN |
| 🚀 Server Network | SafeShell VPN |
| 📺 Streaming | SafeShell VPN |
| ⚡ Speed & Gaming | SafeShell VPN |
| 🔐 Security Features | Avast VPN |
| 🕵️ Privacy Record | SafeShell VPN |
| 🆓 Free Trial | Avast VPN |
| 👶 Ease of Use | Avast VPN |
| 🔌 Device Support | SafeShell VPN |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | SafeShell VPN |
🏆 WINNER: SAFESHELL VPN
SafeShell VPN wins 6 out of 9 categories.
Best for: Multi-region streaming, gaming, Apple TV households
These two are not chasing the same buyer. Avast sells a security bundle where the tunnel is one part of the package.
SafeShell sells a fast vpn for people whose entertainment lives in four countries at once. Its App Mode, Game Mode, and subtitle tools all point the same direction.
Avast earns its place on three things: two months of free use, a kill switch, and a simple app that protects online privacy on any public network.
But the 2024 FTC settlement and a 700-server network make it hard to call reliable for anything demanding. For a fast secure connection with real reach, SafeShell VPN is the better buy.
More of Avast VPN Compared
Here is how Avast SecureLine VPN lands against the names it is measured on most:
Avast VPN wins on: Trial length at 60 days, simpler first-run setup, cheaper bundle if you already pay for antivirus
NordVPN wins on: Audited no-logs policy, thousands of servers against roughly 700, Threat Protection and dedicated IP options
Avast VPN wins on: Two-month trial versus a 30-day refund, lower renewal cost inside a bundle, tighter tie-in with Avast antivirus
ExpressVPN wins on: Long-haul server speed, 94-country coverage, router firmware and browser extensions Avast does not ship
Avast VPN vs Surfshark VPN
Avast VPN wins on: Smart VPN mode automation, Mimic protocol for restrictive networks, longer risk-free window
Surfshark VPN wins on: Unlimited devices instead of 10, split tunneling, far cheaper multi-year entry price
More of SafeShell VPN Compared
And here is where SafeShell sits among the bigger vpn service brands:
SafeShell VPN wins on: Per-app region routing nobody else matches, subtitle translation in 30+ languages, one-week entry plan
NordVPN wins on: Published third-party audits, far bigger server count, ten-year track record on refunds
SafeShell VPN wins on: Apple Vision Pro support, Game Mode routing from the GearUp engineering side, cheaper short commitments
ExpressVPN wins on: Raw throughput on distant servers, mature 24/7 live chat, broader country list
SafeShell VPN vs CyberGhost
SafeShell VPN wins on: Simultaneous multi-region viewing, built-in SafeNet ad blocking, lighter app on TV hardware
CyberGhost wins on: 45-day refund policy, thousands of streaming-labelled servers, torrenting servers by name
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Avast VPN actually work?
Yes. It encrypts traffic and hides your IP address across roughly 700 servers. Speeds hold up nearby and sag on distant ones. For casual browsing and public wi fi, it does the job.
Does Avast have a free VPN?
There is no permanent free tier. You get a 60 day free trial on every platform, but payment information is required up front. Cancel before day 60 and nothing is charged.
Why is Avast VPN on my computer?
It usually arrives bundled with the antivirus or another product from the same company. Many people find it installed without noticing. You can disable or remove it from the app settings.
Is Avast SecureLine VPN safe to use?
It uses strong encryption, a kill switch, and a Czech Republic base. No independent audit backs the no logs claim, and the 2024 FTC settlement is worth weighing before you subscribe.
Is Avast’s VPN good?
It is a good vpn for beginners who mainly want cover on public networks. For streaming several regions at once, or for gaming, SafeShell VPN is the stronger choice.
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