Avira Phantom VPN Review

VPNs have aided businesses and individuals alike with their outstanding ability for privacy and security. However, VPNs are a traditional tech that has remained unchanged over time. Although we know and love them, occasionally, users also want something new. That’s precisely where Avira enters the fray. Owned and operated by Norton, famous for computer security software, Avira ventured into the VPN market in 2016 with Phantom, a software we decided to review.

That’s because we didn’t know if his VPN was up to the task. Could it stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the market leaders? We wanted to figure that out in our Avira Phantom VPN review. Another thing worth noticing is that Avira offers two distinct versions of its VPN service, namely Free and Pro. However, for the sake of our review, we will stick with the Pro version, only mentioning the Free one for features.

What is Avira Phantom VPN?

Avira Phantom is a VPN service from a world-renowned eponymous antivirus brand, Avira. We already mentioned the time, 2016, the company released its VPN, but not why. Unsurprisingly, this was due to the increasing demand for internet security and privacy. We also pointed out that Norton, another antivirus giant, owns Avira at this time. This makes privacy a gray area, as Norton operates from the United States. Despite that, we concluded Avira Phantom is more of a basic VPN rather than a feature-packed service intended for heavy use.

Avira comes in two distinct versions to cater to different audiences. Furthermore, it is available as a standalone and part of a security suite. However, the service lacks the advanced features of a VPN, making it decent for generic use only. Like all other VPNs that originate from an antivirus company, there is a mixed reaction. Sure, if you got it as a package deal, you can use it, but only for some light stuff. The glaring shortcomings of the VPN don’t allow us to fully back it.

The free version is a downgraded copy of the Pro one and comes with a data cap of 500 MB per month. The company behind Avira originates from Germany and ensures minimal logging of user data. However, in 2020, Norton acquired the antivirus company alongside the VPN. Thus, we don’t have a true insight into the logging policies or operation jurisdiction for now.

Key data for Avira Phantom VPN

Here is the specification datasheet regarding Avira Phantom:

Features	Avira Phantom VPN Pro
Bandwidth limit	Unlimited
Connection speed	Up to 73 Mbps
No logs VPN	Yes
Data leaks	No
Jurisdiction	USA and Germany (14-Eyes members)
Number of servers	52+
Available IP addresses	52+
Locations	38
Geo-unblocking	No
Torrenting	Permitted
Simultaneous connections	Unlimited
Obfuscated servers	No
Customer Service	Emails only
Cheapest price	$6.50/monthly on a 12-month plan
Money-back guarantee	60-day money refund guarantee
Official website	Avira.com

Avira Phantom VPN features

These are the crucial attributes Avira Phantom VPN brings to the table:

Servers and performance

This VPN lacks the strength of a wide array of servers. The provider has a bare minimum presence, with a meager 52 servers in 38 locations. Further, these locations are not diverse and are concentrated within Europe instead. Considering the spread, we can assume frequent VPN failures and questionable speed. On the streaming front, Avira’s VPN can sometimes bypass Netflix restrictions, and that too on a mobile platform. It is unreliable for streaming.

Security and privacy

Avira Phantom has average security. It employs OpenVPN as protocol and practices the AES-256 encryption. Other than that, it offers a kill switch. Here are 4 pivotal security specs for Avira Phantom:

• VPN protocols — OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
• Encryption — AES-256
• Security — Kill switch
• Advanced features — None

The provider claims to offer a no-logs VPN, which is unusual. The company hails from Germany—not a suitable location for a VPN. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Fourteen Eyes alliance. However, the red flag we need to address is the acquisition under Norton. The acquirer is notorious for logging data and has headquarters in the USA, leading to suspicions.

Customer Care and user experience

Although it can be a decent VPN for beginners and those who favor free VPNs, the high cost renders the Pro version undesirable. Furthermore, the option for personalized Customer Support is only available to paying customers. There is no live chat support, and the only source of contacting personnel is via emails.

Avira Phantom platform support

Avira offers limited connectivity and a simple app. It works solely on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. There is no support for routers or Linux. Furthermore, the no-frills app lacks any advanced features. There is no information regarding the connection, and users have to rely on a basic one-button user interface.

Pricing of Avira Phantom VPN

Phantom Pro VPN from Avira isn’t a value-for-money product. Don’t get us wrong; the provider does offer a Free version. But despite that, we feel that this VPN is costly for what it offers. The vendor has three subscription plans:

• Monthly: $10 monthly
• Annually: $6.5 monthly or $78 upfront
• Mobile-only: $5.99 per month

The Free version is available, yes, but more restricted. While the VPN may rank high on a list of free VPNs, the monthly data limit of 500 MB makes it an unattractive option. Avira also offers a money-back guarantee valid for 60 days.

Our opinion of Avira Phantom VPN

We can’t, in good faith, recommend Phantom VPN from Avira. Yes, it is an acceptable product with average delivery. But there are so many decent VPNs out there that can outperform Avira Phantom in a heartbeat. Although Avira Phantom beats almost every other “antivirus VPN” straight away, it doesn’t have anything else going for it. It fails on the streaming front and doesn’t perform in countries with powerful censorship. Thus, we conclude it to be a lightweight product. It is sufficient when used alongside their security suite, and for general users only.

The standalone product is expensive, despite there being a Free version. It fails to garner enough value for money due to the obvious lack of features. In the era of light-speed internet and cutting-edge features that are becoming as common, you can’t compete using a back-to-the-basics product.