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For this Avira Phantom VPN Review, we tested out a VPN created by one of the most known antivirus providers on the market: Avira. To test the VPN, we ran a number of trials over a two-week period, covering everything from speed tests to unblocking streaming sites across a range of platforms.
We have to say that, overall, we were impressed. With its intuitive applications, range of security features, and solid performance, Avira Phantom VPN certainly packs a punch, and it sits alongside the best VPN products. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, ‘set and forget’ VPN, this one might just be for you. Let’s dive in!
- Show Full Guide
What is Avira Phantom VPN?
Avira Phantom VPN is the brainchild of German digital security company: Avira, which is best known for its antivirus software. In 2016, they entered the VPN game, launching Avira Phantom VPN to complement their existing range of consumer security services.
As you’ll discover below, you can use Avira Phantom VPN for free. There is also a paid version that enables access to more features.
On top of that, if you’re looking for a whole suite of online security products, you can purchase Avira Phantom VPN as part of the Avira Prime package, which comes with a whole host of capabilities to enhance the privacy and security of your online browsing experience.
How Much Does Avira Phantom VPN Cost? Is Avira Phantom VPN Worth It?
As part of our Avira Phantom VPN review, we had to, of course, look at the cost of the solution–and we were really impressed. With a free plan and a competitive monthly premium plan, Avira Phantom VPN is one of the most cost-effective VPNs on the market.
| Plan | Price |
| Free plan | $0/month |
| Desktop plan | $6.50/month (annual plan) |
| Mobile plan | $5.99/month (annual plan) |
We love that you can get Avira Phantom VPN free. If you want to test out the VPN before purchasing or only need basic functionality, then the free version would be perfect for you.
In fact, we’d go as far as to say it’s one of the best free VPNs out there, thanks to its unlimited device support and the fact that it doesn’t require you to sign up, which is great if you’re hesitant to receive marketing emails.
Even though Avira’s free VPN plan is great, we found that the Premium plan is where this VPN really excelled. When we chose the paid plan desktop plan, we unlocked a range of features that we didn’t get with the free VPN, including a kill switch and access to customer support.
Plus, with the desktop plan costing just $6.50 per month when you opt for the annual plan, this VPN is certainly affordable–especially as you can share your subscription with friends, family, and so on.
We also liked that Avira Phantom VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, if you’re not satisfied for any reason, you’re not tied in.
Reviewing the Avira Phantom VPN Features
Avira Phantom VPN isn’t as feature-rich as some VPN providers out there–but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For non-technical users, some VPNs can appear overwhelming and difficult to navigate. Avira Phantom VPN stands out in this regard.
Here are the features you need to know about.
Avira Prime
When we first downloaded Avira VPN, we noticed the option to purchase the VPN as part of a wider plan: Avira’s Prime package: a suite of products that includes the VPN, antivirus software, password manager, and PC cleaner.
The Premium package costs $75 for the first year of purchase and then $100 annually after that. While not everyone will be looking for a complete online security suite, the fact that Avira offers a one-stop shop for all our online security needs is a great bonus and makes it stand out against VPN competitors.
Auto-connect
With its intuitive interface and free plan, we quickly got the sense that Avira VPN is a provider all about usability and ease. The company’s autonomous connections feature–known as auto-connect–again highlighted this to it.
With this feature, you can set up Avira Phantom VPN to connect automatically to specific networks, such as your home WiFi network or office space. We also liked that you can configure the VPN to automatically launch on system startup, giving you always-on protection when you browse the internet without having to click a button.
Speed Performance
Reviewing VPN speeds can be a little tricky–as they tend to vary widely depending on the device, location, and even the date and time. We tried to gather a reliable speed test result by testing Avira’s VPN over two weeks to gain a solid average of 94.6 Mbps.
Avira Phantom VPN enables the use of OpenVPN TCP or IPsec tunneling protocols. For computers and laptops running Windows, MacOS, and Android devices, it uses OpenVPN. For iOS devices, it uses the IPsec protocol.
With the OpenVPN TCP option, our download speed was impacted by a median of 55%, which is pretty good compared to most providers.
For IPSec, the download speed was even better, with the average drop at only 18%. These results are really encouraging, indicating that Avira Phantom VPN is a reliable, speedy provider that won’t slow down your internet too much.
Saying that providers like Express VPN and NordVPN are slightly faster, reaching well over 100 Mbps depending on the server you connect to. Still, Avira’s speed is still respectable.
Avira Phantom VPN Chrome Browser Extension
Avira Phantom VPN is one of those VPN providers that keep giving. As well as the mobile, desktop, free, and Prime plans, you can also install a Chrome browser extension for free.
The Chrome browser extension doesn’t have the range of functionalities that desktop and mobile apps have, but it is good to know if you’re looking for a light-touch VPN to boost your online privacy.
One thing to note is that the free version of the Chrome extension only gives you the option to connect to four server locations. So, while it’s a good, basic add-on, it might be a little limiting.
Simultaneous Device Connections
One thing we love about Avira Phantom VPN is that, for the free and paid versions, you get unlimited device connections.
When we tested the VPN, we used it across three laptops, an Android phone, and an iPad, and the performance remained impeccable no matter how many devices we added.
Intuitive User Interface
While some VPN interfaces are chock full of various numbers, protocol choices, and rows of settings, Avira Phantom VPN is refreshingly simple. When you use the app, you simply click a button that says ‘turn on VPN’ and then select the country you’d like to connect to from a list of countries on the right-hand screen of the app.
The simplicity of Avira Phantom VPN’s app is somewhat of a double-edged sword. While we think Avira Phantom VPN is great for non-technical users, for individuals looking for a VPN with a wealth of customization options and granular details about server locations and the like, Avira Phantom VPN doesn’t really measure up.
GDPR Compliant
German-based Avira Phantom VPN is vocal about the fact that its services are wholly GDPR compliant, meaning customers have a solid level of control over how their personal data is collected, used, and stored.
While this isn’t a completely unique selling point, it’s worth noting that only a few other providers out there are also GDPR compliant, including CyberGhost, IPVanish, and ExpressVPN.
If you want to avoid marketing emails or are simply wary about your personal data being shared with corporate organizations, knowing this about Avira will come in handy. In fact, on their website, they even have a button that shows you how to request an email report of the data they collect.
Is Avira Phantom VPN Safe?
We expected Avira Phantom VPN to have top-notch security features–it’s created by an antivirus provider, after all! When it comes to security and privacy, this VPN didn’t disappoint.
While it doesn’t have the advanced features that some VPNs have–such as multi-hop or the capability to choose a protocol–its security functionality is solid, reputable, and foolproof.
Here’s what we looked at for this Avira Phantom VPN Pro review.
Malicious Site Blocking
While Avira Phantom VPN doesn’t offer an extensive array of customization options, it does include a convenient feature: a toggle for blocking malicious sites. By activating this function, you can ensure that any web content identified as potentially harmful will be automatically filtered out.
This added layer of security means that you can browse the internet with confidence that you won’t accidentally visit any websites with malware-laced in.
DNS Leak Protection
A DNS leak is a vulnerability that happens when your device sends DNS requests to the wrong server. If this happens when you’re using a VPN, it indicates that the service isn’t working as it should.
Luckily, in this area, Avira Phantom VPN stands up against top-performing providers like ExpressVPN and Surfshark. As we found in our Avira Phantom VPN review, whether you opt for the free or paid plans, Avira Phantom VPN offers robust DNS leak protection.
During our evaluation, when we conducted several DNS leak tests using dnsleaktest.com, we were delighted to find that we encountered no DNS leaks while connected to different servers–even with the free plan.
Encryption
If you’re looking for a VPN provider that uses the best encryption available, then look no further than Avira. This provider uses the highly secure AES 256-bit encryption, the most robust level of encryption available. In essence, this means your VPN connection is impenetrable to hackers.
No Log Policy
In our view, a no-logs VPN policy is a must for any VPN provider. Essentially, this policy is a promise from your VPN provider not to collect or store information about how you use their services–things like your browsing activity, what you upload and download, and so on.
After looking through Avira’s privacy policy, we were pleased to see that Avira has
A solid no-logs policy means that your online browsing experience is truly private and secure.
System Speedup
Alongside its VPN, Avira offers free apps to enhance your system’s battery life and performance through a feature called Avira System Speedup. As well as helping you clear up space on your device and persevering battery, this feature is great for boosting online privacy.
Through the power of automation, the System Speedup feature quickly scans caches on your devices for traces of personal data like call logs, your browser history, and so on. It can then erase these traces, boosting your security and speeding up your system in tandem.
Kill Switch
The Premium version of Avira Phantom VPN comes with a kill switch–a function that blocks internet access in the event that your VPN connection drops. If you’re concerned about online privacy, enabling the kill switch is a good idea.
The only thing to note about Avira Phantom VPN’s kill switch is that it’s not toggled on automatically. To enable it, you’ll need to head to settings and toggle on the option to: ‘block all internet traffic if VPN connection drops.’
Tunneling Protocols
Avira Phantom VPN has three tunneling protocols, which are activated depending on the device you use. The protocols Avira Phantom VPN uses are OpenVPN TCP, WireGuard, and IPSec.
WireGuard is only available on the Android version of Avira Phantom at present, and we would be keen to see it available on more platforms in the future. Saying that all three of these protocols are reputable, reliable, and fast.
The only drawback here is the lack of functionality to choose the protocol you’d like to use. With VPNs like CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN, you can select your protocol freely depending on your specific needs.
Avira Phantom VPN Compatibility
For our Avira Phantom VPN review, We tested both the free and paid versions of Avira Phantom VPN across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. While some VPNs’ interfaces vary widely depending on the platform, we were pleased to find that the user interface is consistent throughout–and very intuitive to navigate too.
Desktop — Apps for Windows and Mac
We loved that the Avira Phantom VPN has an identical app for Windows and Mac. They look exactly the same and have the same features. For both platforms, you can find the VPN in the taskbar.
Once you open it, it’s super simple to switch the VPN and then choose the server you want to connect to. All of the settings can be found in the gear icon at the top of the app. It’s as simple and easy as that!
Mobile — Apps for iOS and Android
Given that over 30% of VPN users use a VPN for mobile, in our Avira Phantom VPN review, we had to test Avira’s mobile apps on an iPad and Android. They’re basically mini versions of the Windows apps with all the same features and the same intuitive interfaces.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a consistent, effortless user experience, Avira Phantom VPN is certainly a contender to consider.
Avira Phantom VPN vs. Top VPN Competitors
So far, we’ve looked at Avira Phantom VPN’s features in isolation. Now, it’s time to see how it fares to its competitors–of which there are many, with the VPN market poised to reach $137.7 Billion by 2030.
So, here’s how Avira Phantom VPN compares against the other top VPNs out there.
| Top VPNs | Best Suited For | Starting Price | No log Policy | Free Version? | Number of Connections | Split Tunneling? | Kill Switch? |
| Avira Phantom VPN | Every day users | $6.50/month | Y | Y | Unlimited | N | Y |
| ExpressVPN | Superfast streaming | $6.67/month — 1-year plan | Y | N | 5 | Y | Y |
| CyberGhost | Torrenting | $2.19/month — 2-year plan | Y | N | 7 | Y | Y |
| PureVPN | Worldwide server network | $1.33 /month — 3-year plan | Y | N | 10 | Y | Y |
| ProtonVPN | Bargain hunters | $4.99/month — 2-year plan | Y | Y | 10 | Only on Android and Windows | Y |
As you can see, while Avira isn’t as feature-rich as some providers out there, our take is that it’s not trying to be. Avira isn’t marketing itself to advanced, technical users. It wants to appeal to everyday people who want to boost their online privacy and perhaps access streaming sites in other countries.
Although ProtonVPN also offers a free service and is slightly cheaper than Avira VPN, we still think Avira takes the lead slightly, thanks to its unlimited number of connections, compared to ProtonVPN 10.
So, even though Avira VPN doesn’t have split tunneling, we think it ticks all the boxes of the demographic it’s trying to reach.
What is Avira Phantom VPN Good For?
Avira Phantom VPN is for you if you’re looking to enhance the online privacy of your everyday experience and possibly access streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu in other countries. Saying this, when we test VPNs, we test them with the minds of all users, so we also wanted to see how Avira Phantom VPN fared with regard to torrenting and gaming.
Here’s what we found.
Streaming
One of the perks of investing in a VPN is being able to access streaming content in other countries. For example, if you’re in the UK, you might want to access Netflix Australia or America. According to research, nearly half of people use VPNs for this.
When it comes to streaming, Avira Phantom VPN performed pretty well. We were able to access Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime in a range of jurisdictions. However, when it came to iPlayer and Hulu, we didn’t have any luck with accessing the services–you’d be better off using ExpressVPN or Surfshark instead!
One other thing to note is that Avira Phantom VPN isn’t as fast as providers like ExpressVPN and NordVPN. There was a little buffering when we watched Netflix US from the UK, for example. We also noticed that some content took a while to load while other videos loaded instantly.
All in all, we think Avira Phantom VPN’s streaming capabilities are solid, but they’re not the best. If streaming is your top priority, we’d recommend ExpressVPN, NordVPN or SurfShark instead.
Torrenting
For the uninitiated, torrenting is a term that refers to the process of uploading and downloading files via the BitTorrent protocol. While Avira Phantom VPN doesn’t boast about its torrenting capabilities, the platform actually worked wonders.
We found that Avira Phantom VPN supports peer-to-peer transfers, and it worked great with torrent clients. It had a pretty quick download speed, and there were no interruptions.
So, while you might not think of Avira Phantom VPN as a go-to for torrenting, it’s one well worth considering.
Gaming
If you’re one of the one billion people out there who love online gaming, you’ll be pleased to know that Avira Phantom VPN also impressed us. We tried several games, including Roblox and Minecraft, and consistently found the VPN to have low lag and low ping.
The only potential downside is that Avira Phantom VPN doesn’t have as many servers as other providers. Because of this, we think ExpressVPN, which has a superb number of services and lightning-fast speeds, is an all-around better choice for gaming.
Avira Phantom Server Locations
Avira Phantom VPN has a solid number of servers: 1400 spread across 37 countries. While some VPN providers boast a lot more, Avira Phantom VPN still has plenty to choose from–and has servers placed in most of the top countries for streaming content.
Is Avira Phantom VPN Good? A Look at Avira Phantom Reviews
We have to say that we’ve been impressed by Avira Phantom VPN so far. But we don’t just want you to take our word for it. We looked at other Avira Phantom VPN reviews to build a more comprehensive feature of this VPN’s usability.
Thankfully, we found that reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Reddit echoed our experience, with mostly positive reviews all around.
Because Avira is recognized more for its antivirus software than VPNs, we couldn’t find that many reviews for Avira’s VPN on Reddit. However, what we did find was mostly positive. Users were complementary of the free version of Avira Phantom VPN, noting it to be a reliable VPN with a strong security background.
Again, on TrustPilot, most of the user reviews for Avira are related to its antivirus software suite rather than the VPN itself. These reviews were mostly positive, with Avira receiving a solid overall score of 3.8.
While many users praised Avira’s free suite of products, others noticed that its customer service support was poor, with representatives being difficult to get ahold of while using the free version of the VPN.
How to Use Avira Phantom VPN- A Quick Guide
I was impressed with Avira Phantom’s setup and installation process. On all of the devices I tried, the installation was fast, and the interface offered helpful pointers and graphics to make using the VPN easy.
To sign up for an Avira Phantom VPN account, all you need is an email address and your payment information. Avira Phantom VPN accepts credit cards or PayPal, so it’s not a VPN that accepts cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Step 1: Go to Avira’s Website
Head to Avira’s website and click the “Download for free” icon to download the Avira Phantom VPN app for free. If you want to purchase the premium version, click “Discover Pro”. Then, enter your payment information to install the app.
Step 2: Download Avira Phantom VPN
After you’ve made the payment, you’ll be asked to set a password for your Avira account. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be logged online and will see a button asking you to download the app for the device of your choice. Click on this to commence download.
Step 3: Login To Avira Phantom VPN
Following the download, it’s time to log in to the Avira Phantom VPN app! Open the application and enter your email and login details.
Step 4: Secure your connection
Now, it’s time to get connected. Click the green button to connect to the VPN, and then choose the location of your choice. And that’s it!
How We Tested Avira Phantom VPN
At Techopedia, it’s important to us that we provide detailed, reliable information about the services we review. That’s why we put Avira Phantom VPN through thorough testing, based on our comprehensive assessment process, as we do with all the products we cover.
As with all our VPN reviews, we’ve put Avira Phantom VPN through its paces, running basic internet speed tests, testing for VPN leaks, and using the VPN first-hand–across platforms–to get to grips with its features.
Because reviewing VPNs is our bread and butter, and we’ve reviewed all the leading ones on the market, we know what our readers want from a VPN, enabling us to focus on the pros and cons that matter to you.
We also consider it essential to gather authentic user feedback. Prioritizing user research is a key element of our review process, and we’ve dedicated considerable time to analyzing platforms such as Reddit and TrustPilot to compile insights into the global user experience with Mullvad VPN.
Our ultimate goal is to arm you with all the information you need to choose a VPN that best suits your unique needs.
Our Other VPN Guides
If this article has whet your appetite for more VPN reviews, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at Techopedia’s most recent VPN guides below:
- The Best VPNs Overall
- The Best VPN, According to Reddit
- The Best VPN App
- The Best VPN for iPhone
- The Best VPN for Android
- The Best Linux VPN
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