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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Avira Phantom VPN Review 2024 — Is It Really Free & Safe?

Our Score: 5.9/10
Ranked 208th out of 306 VPNs
Doris Muthuri Updated on 1st February 2024 Fact-checked by Matthew Amos Senior Writer

Avira has an extremely popular free antivirus software and offers both free and premium VPNs. However, just because the company has one renowned security option doesn't mean it makes one of the best VPNs. Can the free Avira VPN really keep you safe, and is it worth trying the premium version?

To find out, I ran extensive tests on everything both versions of Avira Phantom VPN provide. That meant testing its speeds, streaming performance, and security. I also thoroughly explored its privacy policy, along with all its other features.

Overall, I recommend trying the free version, but you can find much better premium options. Its reliable connections and solid security make it one of the better free VPNs available. However, its slow speeds, small server network, and poor customer support mean it’s not really worth paying for. Instead, you can try one of our top-rated VPNs from this list.

Try Avira Phantom VPN Risk-Free >>

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Pros

Cons

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Avira Phantom VPN Features — 2024 Update

6.2
💸 Price 5 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 60 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 1400+
🛡 Kill switch Yes
🗺 Based in country Germany
🛠 Support Email support
📥 Supports torrenting Yes

Streaming — Above Average but Has Some Playback Issues

6.2

Avira Phantom VPN’s premium app lets my team and I watch a decent variety of streaming content without problems. We used an international team of testers to make sure Avira Phantom works with the platforms and libraries listed below. On the negative side, we encountered some long load times and a few testers had their VPN use detected while trying to watch services available in their home country.

The free version also lets us stream in decent quality, but it comes with data limits. You only get 500MB of data per month, so it’s best to only use it for watching short videos on platforms like YouTube.

While you could theoretically use Avira Phantom to access streaming platforms that aren’t available where you live, please be aware this probably goes against their terms of service.

Important. My team and I do not condone copyright infringement. Avira states in its policies that it doesn’t monitor your online activities. So, you’re responsible for how you decide to use it. We encourage you to please follow the rules and regulations of any site, app, or service you access.

Works With: Netflix Libraries

My international testers and I were able to watch Netflix from our respective countries like the US, Canada, France, Japan, and more.

Screenshot of Netflix player streaming The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On while connected to Avira Phantom VPN's US streaming serverMost of my testers did report long wait times before videos would begin playing

Unfortunately, there was a lot of buffering. It even took one tester 2 minutes to load a video, which is one of the longest load times we’ve encountered while using VPNs.

Works With: Max, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, Peacock TV, and DAZN

Testers residing in the US could watch many of the country's most popular platforms. But, the long load times remained, with it taking 30 seconds for some Max videos to get going. Fortunately, there were no issues with playback on the platform afterwards.

Screenshot of Max player streaming Eastbound & Down while connected to Avira Phantom's US streaming serverThe Miami server I tested from the US gave me the best speeds for streaming

We were also able to watch Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN+, and DAZN. However, like with Max, the loading times were always long and frustrating.

Doesn’t Work With: Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+

Neither I nor my testers could watch Hulu while connected to Avira Phantom VPN. Although I was in the US when I tested the VPN and could watch it with no problems without a VPN, Avira Phantom’s US servers were always detected by Hulu.

Screenshot of Hulu detecting Avira Phantom VPN and presenting an error messageHulu’s full library is only available in the US, with limited content in Japan

Disney+ and BBC iPlayer can’t be watched while connected to Avira Phantom’s servers. On Disney+, I couldn’t even get past the loading wheel. My colleague in the UK also wasn’t able to watch the free BBC streaming platform with Avira’s servers in the UK.

Overall, Avira Phantom’s streaming performance was slightly better than average. I’m not surprised since it’s not the biggest VPN, but its top competitors are much more impressive. To stay safe while you’re enjoying content, check out our list of the best VPNs for streaming.

Speed — Slow Speeds, Even on Local Servers

4.4

Avira Phantom dropped our speeds on most servers. The speeds were especially slow for servers more than 10,000 km away. I also tested the free version, and my speeds dropped by over 80% on average. However, that’s typical for a free VPN, and there are very few I’ve found that are faster.

We speed test every VPN we can using a single UK location and connection. Our speed expert checked each Avira Phantom server below at least 10 times to create accurate average speeds. She used the default protocol (OpenVPN) since most of its apps don’t allow you to switch protocols.

Screenshot of a chart showing speeds recorded while connected to various Avira Phantom VPN serversOur download speeds dropped by 45% on short-distance servers and 67% on distant ones

I also personally tested 10+ servers, both near and far, and saw similar results. On some, my speed went down by over 90%. The best premium VPNs usually reduce speeds by 10-20% on close servers and rarely more than 50% on distant ones.

Screenshot of Ookla speed tests done while connected to Avira Phantom's London server and with no VPN connectedThe closest server to her location still dropped her speeds by nearly 50%

These slow speeds didn’t seem to affect us during most high-bandwidth activities (like gaming or streaming). However, if your base speeds are below 25Mbps, you’ll be better off using a VPN that maintains better rates. To find a provider that will barely drop your speeds at all, check out this list of the fastest VPNs around.

Gaming — Decent Ping for Gaming Without Lag

8.0

Surprisingly, Avira Phantom’s premium option is a good VPN for gaming. Due to the poor speed results, I didn’t have much hope, so I was really impressed by its performance. I first tested it with Minecraft on the London server (it had a ping of 10ms), and I could enjoy my game without any glitches.

A snapshot showing the Minecraft game with Avira Phantom connectedOn the distant Miami server, my game played flawlessly without any stuttering

I then tried the Belgium server (it had a ping of 17ms) and was impressed that my gun fired instantly after I pressed the button. For gaming, a fast connection that quickly recognizes your actions is crucial. This is measured by ping. A ping above 100ms is too slow for smooth gameplay; so you want it to be much lower.

Just be aware you may have worse results if your base ping rates are high. I also recommend playing with the closest server you can find.

Server Network — Limited Locations but Effective

6.4

Avira Phantom VPN has 1,400 servers spanning 37 countries. This is a small network compared to most top VPNs. This is never good news since it limits your choices, and it can even lead to slow speeds due to overcrowding. I was most disappointed that there are no servers in Africa. However, Avira states that more locations will be added in the future.

Check out the table below to see what it offers:

Europe Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK
South America Brazil, Chile, and Mexico
North America Canada and the United States
Asia Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore
Oceania Australia

All the countries have one server location except for the US, the UK, and Australia. These are the only countries that have city-level servers, which help you pinpoint your location more precisely.

It also rents some of its servers. This isn’t always an issue as many VPNs do this since it’s expensive to purchase high tech infrastructure. But, when I contacted customer support, the agent couldn’t offer more information on how Avira ensures privacy on these rented servers. That’s somewhat worrisome.

A snapshot of Avira Phantom's servers listAvira Phantom also offers servers in smaller countries like the Isle of Man

The free version only connects you to the server closest to you and doesn’t allow you to switch locations.

I was also disappointed to find out that Avira Phantom doesn’t offer dedicated IP addresses. Furthermore, it’s missing features like RAM-only or private DNS servers for additional protection.

Overall, the network provides reliable connections that get the job done, but the top VPNs offer much more. If you want a massive server selection with more privacy options, look into this list of VPNs with more impressive server networks.

Security — Good Protection but Missing Customization Options

6.6

Avira Phantom offers essential security features but doesn’t give you as many options as the top VPNs. The biggest problem is that you can’t switch protocols on most devices or configure them in any way.

Thankfully, the protocols it offers are solid, even if they’re not always the fastest. It also keeps you safe with military-level encryption and a kill switch. Another plus is it has several features you normally only get with antivirus software, like its Optimizer and Battery Saver. However, it’s disappointing that it doesn’t offer some common VPN features like split tunneling.

If you want more customizable features, take a look at these VPNs designed for maximum security.

Encryption and Protocols

Avira Phantom VPN uses the industry standard AES 256-bit encryption level. This makes your data nearly impossible for hackers to access.

Windows, Mac, and Android apps use OpenVPN with TCP. Its iOS and macOS versions use IPSEC with UDP. The Android app also has Wireguard, which is one of the leading protocols in the industry due to its fast speeds and security. It would be great to see Avira Phantom VPN apply Wireguard to its other apps as well.

IP, DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 Leaks

I tested the Avira Phantom VPN servers and found no IP or DNS leaks.

A snapshot showing IP leak test results while connected to Avira Phantom VPNI tested over 15 servers, and it always hid my real location

It’s also nice that it provides protection against IPv6 leaks, which not all VPNs do.

Kill Switch

You get access to a kill switch with the paid subscription. Avira Phantom VPN’s kill switch is not automatic. You can find it in the settings area. When I tested it by disconnecting the VPN, my internet stopped, proving it works.

It’s unfortunate the kill switch isn’t offered with the free version, although it’s still much safer than most of the unsafe free VPNs out there.

Malware Protection

I appreciate Avira Phantom’s Malware Protection feature, but it can’t compare to many VPNs’ ad blockers. This feature can be turned on and off in the advanced settings.

I wanted to test whether this had any impact when I went onto ad-heavy sites such as The Daily Mail and Buzzfeed, but it didn’t remove banner ads, pop-up ads, or seemingly anything else. So, it will only stop sites that are known to carry invasive cyber threats, such as malware.

Privacy — Policy Could Be Clearer

5.8

Avira Phantom VPN has a brief privacy policy, and I had a few concerns about the data it accesses. In addition, it’s based within the 14-Eyes Alliance, and an independent body hasn’t audited its privacy policy.

Does Avira Phantom Keep Logs? No

I was a little worried about how Avira Phantom handles information about your location. While it claims to follow a strict no-logs policy, it states that it “automatically processes” identifiable information, including your IP address.

Screenshot of Avira Phantom VPN's privacy policy highlighting the data it monitors to assure compliance with terms of useAvira Phantom VPN doesn’t allow you to pay anonymously through cryptocurrency

All VPNs can see your IP when you connect, but the best ones assure you this data isn’t stored. What bothers me is Avira’s policy doesn’t say anything about if it stores IP addresses. The only data it specifically claims it won’t store is information “about the web pages you visit or the services you use on the internet.”

It also collects less concerning data like bandwidth usage and your installation date. In the past, its policy claimed it might also send your data to the US. Thankfully, it no longer claims to do this. I wouldn’t outright say it’s not privacy-friendly, but being more clear with its policies could go a long way.

The same privacy policy applies to the free version too. If you are using a VPN hoping for absolute privacy, you may wish to avoid Avira Phantom VPN. Instead, try one of these leading VPNs with airtight privacy policies.

Was Avira Phantom Audited? No

Avira Phantom's privacy policy has yet to be independently audited or verified in court. Most top VPNs have audited policies, which gives you proof they follow their claims. I tried to get more information about audits from support, but they weren’t helpful (which I’ll explain in detail further down).

Based in Germany

It’s based in Germany, which is in the 14 Eyes Alliance. This alliance consists of countries that have decided to exchange data about their citizens. This is pretty troubling since Avira Phantom might log your identifiable data. So, if it’s requested to share the data, it might compromise your privacy.

Does Avira Phantom Work in China? No

It’s unlikely that Avira Phantom VPN works in China. At first, I was told there’s no guarantee it works in the country. However, when I tried to cancel the service, I received a different email stating that Avira Phantom does work in China.

Screenshot of an email from Avira Phantom VPN customer support stating it can't guarantee it works in ChinaThe staff member couldn’t offer any specific tips on how to make it work

While the Chinese government has banned many VPNs, it doesn't normally go after individuals for using them. However, be aware that my team and I don't condone any illegal activities. Before you decide to use a VPN, we recommend you read up on the laws of the country you’re in.

If you choose to use a VPN in this region, try one of these VPNs that reliably work in china.

Torrenting — Allowed but Not Recommended

4.0

Avira Phantom VPN allows torrenting, but it’s too slow. During tests with its London server, my speeds dropped by nearly 90%. It took me about 50 minutes to download a 750MB file. I could download that file in less than 10 minutes with no VPN. I also tried about a dozen more servers in Europe and the US and had a similar experience.

I don’t recommend torrenting with the free version due to its data limits and lack of a kill switch. With only 500MB to play with per month, you won’t be able to torrent for long. And I wouldn’t feel safe connecting to strangers on P2P sites without a reliable kill switch. However, I must say there really aren’t any free VPNs that are great for torrenting, so this is normal.

Torrenting is legal in most countries, but downloading copyrighted files isn’t. You should familiarize yourself with the laws of your country before downloading anything. If you need a VPN for torrenting copyright-free files efficiently, check out this list of my favorite VPNs for P2P file sharing.

Installation & Apps

6.6

Installation & Apps — Easy to Use but Lacks Compatibility Options

Avira Phantom maintains a simple interface across all devices. It also offers apps for the most popular operating systems. But, I was disappointed that I couldn’t connect some other major devices.

Setup & Installation

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.

Screenshot of the download page for Avira Phantom's Free Windows appIt’s also nice that the free app doesn’t come with any annoying ads

The user interface for both the free and paid versions is similar. The main difference between the versions is that the paid app allows you to switch servers and utilize its kill switch.

Device Compatibility

Avira Phantom VPN is only compatible with Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. It was a little disappointing that it doesn’t offer apps for streaming or gaming devices. It also doesn't have apps for routers, so you won’t have the option to use it on most smart TVs or other streaming devices. However, you can find a VPN that protects all your devices at once with router support here.

Desktop — Apps for Windows and Mac

Avira Phantom VPN’s desktop app is the same on Mac as it is for Windows. You have identical settings and features, including the dark-to-light theme.

Once the app is up and running, it’s easy to change the settings. I like to activate the kill switch right away and disable auto-connect.

A screenshot showing how to connect to a server on Avira Phantom's dashboardOn the free version, this is the only way you can connect

Finding the correct server is easy as well. The servers are well-organized, and I appreciate the inclusion of a search function.

Android and iPhone (iOS)

Avira Phantom VPN is definitely one of the best free VPNs for Android. This is mainly due to the fact that it lets you access WireGuard, and it’s much safer and more privacy-friendly than most free VPNs. That’s really the only significant difference between it and the iOS app.

Browser Extensions for Chrome

There is a free extension for Chrome that lets you connect to 4 locations. You can also upgrade this with a paid account. However, I don’t find it particularly useful since it only protects what’s within your browser, rather than encrypting all the traffic on your device.

Simultaneous Device Connections

You can connect unlimited devices to Avira Phantom VPN under all of its subscription plans — even its free version. When testing, I connected my 2 PCs, an iPad, and 2 Android phones and didn’t notice any changes in performance.

Pricing

6.6
Avira Prime
$ 5 / month per month
Avira Phantom VPN Pro
$ 6.5 / month per month
Monthly Plan
$ 10 / month per month

Pricing — Not the Cheapest, but Good Free Option

Avira Phantom offers 3 subscription options for its premium version — monthly, annual, and 2-year. You can get the best deal with its yearly premium subscription for $5/month with the current running offer. But you must pay the full price upon renewal, which can be quite expensive.

It also offers a free plan that gives you most of the security and features of the paid plans. However, it has a data allowance of just 500MB per month. You also don’t have the option to enable a kill switch or switch servers. Still, simply offering a free VPN that successfully hides your IP and doesn’t share your data already makes it one of the best.

The long-term plans come with a whopping 60-day money-back guarantee, which is quite generous. The monthly plan only comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel your subscription straight from your account, but to ask for a refund, you have to contact support.

When I contacted support for a refund, the representative inquired about my reasons for canceling the plan and even proposed two months of service at no cost. However, once I confirmed that I still wished to cancel the subscription, the agent approved it, and I received my refund 6 days later.

A screenshot of an email response with Avira agent offering me a 2 months of free serviceIt was nice that I only had to answer one question to get approved

The payment methods are limited: I could only pay by PayPal or credit card (Visa, Discover, MasterCard, or AmEx). I would have preferred it if there were other payment options, such as crypto, to stay completely anonymous.

Reliability & Support

4.0

Reliability and Support — Unimpressive

Avira Phantom offers chat support, but every time I tested it, I only chatted with a bot. I tried multiple times and at different times of the day, but not once did I get connected to a human agent. Most times, the answers I received from the bot were not very helpful.

You can also contact support through ticketing, email, and phone. When I raised a ticket with some questions, it took me a week to receive a response through email. A week is an unreasonably long time to wait for a response, especially if you have urgent concerns when traveling and need to use the service for security purposes.

I also wasn’t very satisfied with the answers I received. For instance, the support agent just linked me to its privacy policy when I asked if these claims had ever been audited.

Screenshot of an email received from Avira Phantom VPN providing poor answers to questions about its privacy policyThe best VPNs have a legit 24/7 live chat that answers your questions in minutes

You can only get phone support from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). There is no support for the free version. Avira Phantom also has a knowledge base, but it’s not as detailed as I expected. During my testing, I struggled to find many of the answers I needed.

Overall, the customer support is very poor. It has slow, unhelpful, and often inaccessible customer support, which might be an issue, especially during emergencies. For this reason, I’d recommend you get a VPN with good customer service as part of its standard package.

Compare Avira Phantom VPN With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
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Our Score: 9.4

The Bottom Line

Final Verdict — Solid Free Version; Decent Premium Option

Compared to the VPNs most popular antivirus companies offer, Avira Phantom is pretty good (especially its free version). It’s solid for gaming, offers intuitive apps, and it comes with top-notch encryption. Plus, it’s hard to find a free VPN that’s more safe and trustworthy.

With that said, the premium version can’t compare to the top VPNs. This is because it has pretty slow speeds and a small server network. More importantly, its privacy policy could use some improvements. If you’re looking to get the most value for your money, you can try one of our top-ranked VPNs.

9T-p8-7MTFw
  • Above average for streaming
  • Easy-to-use apps
  • Good for gaming
  • Decent security features

FAQs on Avira Phantom VPN

Is Avira Phantom VPN safe?

Yes, Avira Phantom VPN is safe. It comes with military-grade encryption, and it passed all of our leak tests. You also get a kill switch with the premium version that makes sure you never go online without protection.

Is Avira Phantom VPN any good?

Yes, but it can’t compete with the top VPNs. It offers robust security features, works well for gaming, and its apps are all super easy to use. However, it's not the fastest option available, and its server network is a little small.

Is Avira Phantom free?

Yes, Avira Phantom VPN has a free version, but it has limitations. It comes with monthly data caps (500MB), and it doesn’t allow you to switch servers. You also don’t have access to the kill switch without getting a premium account.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 60
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: Unlimited
VPN Plans: avira.com
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Avira Phantom VPN User Reviews (User reviews are not verified)
4.3
Based on 44 reviews in 10 languages

Write a Review on Avira Phantom VPN

Please rate VPN.

All Speed Streaming Security Сustomer service
Joe
Joe
6/10
The only problem i have had is disconnects

Easy to install, speed is good and many servers to choose from. However if I understood the author correctly, there is not an unlimited number of devices you can connect. The first level is only five devices and then the next level is 25 devices. I now have 7 devices with Avira mounted. The problem I have had is that it randomly disconnects. It doesn't seem to happen often, perhaps once a day, but it is disconcerting. Checking with the help desk via email, I was advised to completely uninstall and reinstall, Unfortunately, that has not helped. The other issue is that a site called subscribe star seems to block it sometimes after you have logged in. That is, suddenly you get the "FORBIDDEN" window popping up and you cannot click on anything on the site's screen. I am guessing that the site has some sort of VPN restrictions but I am not sure. I am trying to contact them about the issue. It only seems to happen when I am running VPN.

Zebedee
Zebedee
2/10
Disgraceful Service

I clearly told them I am English, but they sent me an email in Dutch. No customer service is available, my account does not show anything at all except for the area I live in. Always appears to show as being closed, I have to change status to open. Have sent 2 emails requesting for them to delete my information from their database. Customer service is extremely poor. Stay away!!

Suz
Suz
6/10
Just OK

The auto-connect doesn’t work but other than that it’s not bad. I don’t know too much about VPN so I’m not going to say anything cause I’m ignorant on the topic. From what I gathered online I probably should have gone with a different VPN, but I’ll try it out and go from there. Hopefully, it’ll prove worthwhile.

About the Author

Doris is a tech writer and a cybersecurity researcher for vpnMentor. She is enthusiastic about educating people about their rights to online freedom and provides actionable ways to protect their data.

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