Avira Phantom VPN Review

Avira offers a VPN service known as Avira Phantom VPN. You can both use this VPN for free and buy the Pro subscription.

VPNs have become a household name over the past few years. Online privacy concerns have grown, and more people now realize they're being tracked by their internet provider, advertisers, and even government agencies.

Most of this tracking feeds into advertising and data collection for businesses. But in some cases, bad actors use the same tracking methods for scams and other criminal activity.

As a result, more people started looking for VPN services. Antivirus companies noticed this shift a decade ago and began adding VPNs to their own lineups. Avira, known for its antivirus software, launched its own VPN, called Avira Phantom VPN, in 2016.

Avira VPN pricing: Is there any chance to download Avira for free?

Unlike many other VPNs, Avira Phantom VPN offers both a free and a paid version. The free version comes with a data limit, though – you get 500 MB a month, or 1 GB if you register a free Avira account. If you're a heavy internet user, this plan won't be enough for you.

It is obvious that the free version of Avira Phantom VPN has disadvantages and is best for those who only browse the internet infrequently. Streaming and torrenting are not for you with the free Avira VPN plan. Here are the differences between Avira Phantom VPN Free and Pro:

Avira Phantom VPN Pro comes with three plan options. There’s a monthly plan at $10.00/month, an annual plan at $78.00/year, which works out to $6.50/month and is Avira's best deal, and a mobile plan at $5.99/month through in-app purchase.

Every Pro plan removes the data cap you'd hit on the free version, so you get unlimited data for streaming and everyday browsing. Pro also adds bank-grade encryption and extra privacy for P2P activity.

All plans renew automatically unless you cancel, and you get a 60-day money-back guarantee to try it risk-free.

Avira Phantom VPN servers

Avira Phantom VPN has 1400 servers in 36 countries, which helps Avira VPN subscribers to bypass censorship and geo-restrictions of the regions they live in.

Choose the country through which the traffic for your anonymity will be transferred and access your favorite websites without geographical limits.

Functions of Avira VPN

Avira Phantom VPN stands out for more than just its server locations. It also handles a wide range of tasks, including:

• Access to blocked sites and services

Your IP address is not simply masked, but changed into the one you need. It means that if you want to access a service available only in the US, you can connect to a server located in the US and get an American IP address. (Check out our rating of the best VPN services for the USA.)

• Anonymity

It is achieved through IP address masking.

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

One of the strongest Avira VPN's sides is the option to use it on several devices at the same time.

• Protected public Wi-Fi use

Avira VPN protects users’ data with an AES 256-bit key and end-to-end encryption. It makes all your information protected against tracking.

Platforms

Avira Phantom VPN works on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, plus there's a free browser extension for Chrome.

Using Avira Phantom VPN

There are two ways to install Avira VPN on a device.

Years ago, you’d need Avira Launcher before installing the VPN. Today, all you have to do is simply download the app straight away.

Do you want to use Avira VPN on Android?

It's a solid fit. Avira Phantom VPN installs on Android in seconds, and you can even get it cheaper through a mobile-only plan if you don't need it on your other devices.

When you open the app, you get a choice: log in, sign up, or skip registration entirely. If you already have an Avira account, just enter your email and password. If you don't, you can create one in the app, or skip this step and use the VPN right away without an account.

In the settings, you can pick the fastest server, the nearest one, or choose manually from Avira's full server list.

One thing to keep in mind: your connection speed may drop a bit. This happens because your traffic has to travel to a server, which might be far from your actual location.

The speed without Avira Phantom VPN ►

The speed with Avira Phantom VPN ►

Security and privacy of Avira Phantom VPN

Avira Phantom VPN collects only the data needed to set up your connection, plus some diagnostic data for troubleshooting. You can turn off the diagnostic data collection in your settings.

Support service

Avira offers a searchable knowledge base where you can find answers to common VPN questions. Free users can also ask the community forum for help. If you're a paying customer, you get access to direct support by phone or email, along with a request form for more specific issues.

Summary

Avira is a German cybersecurity company known mainly for its antivirus software. It also builds a broader product lineup, including a password manager, system cleanup tools, and Avira Phantom VPN. Phantom VPN comes bundled free with Avira's antivirus plans, and it's also sold as a standalone product. It's a convenient option if you already use Avira, but it's a basic VPN compared to dedicated services, with a smaller server network and few advanced features. Still, it’s a good product for everyday privacy.

This VPN is compatible with Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. The service guarantees a private connection to the internet.

Avira Phantom VPN is a fast and easy-to-use service. The free version is great for moderate surfing, while the Pro plan lifts restrictions, though it is quite expensive compared to other VPNs.

Despite its downsides, Avira Phantom VPN still does the job of protecting you from hackers, data leaks, and other online threats.