Being able to use a VPN for free is a big perk, and there is now a huge choice of free providers to choose from, including Avira's Phantom VPN. But how does this VPN service work, and can you trust it with your data?
What Is Avira?
Avira (officially known as Avira Operations GmbH) is an antivirus software provider and was founded in 2006 by Tjark Auerbach in Germany. However, the antivirus service itself has actually been around since 1986. Back then, the company was named H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH, and was acquired by an American firm in 2001. It wasn't until 2006 that the company name was changed to Avira.
Avira offers two paid and one free antivirus services to users: Internet Security, Prime, and Free Security. Of course, Avira's Free Security package doesn't offer as much as the two paid plans, but you can still receive an adequate amount of protection, including device scans, regular updates, malware quarantining, a firewall, and, conveniently, the free Phantom VPN.
It wasn't until a decade after its initial launch, in 2016, that Avira released its Phantom VPN. This is available on the service's free and paid antivirus plans, but can also be downloaded separately for free. So, what does this VPN offer?
The Pros of Avira's Phantom VPN
So you're interested in Avira's Phantom VPN, but can it protected you properly? Let's start with encryption, obviously a key feature of a VPN.
Avira's Phantom VPN uses AES-256 encryption. This is an incredibly secure encryption standard that is used by security agencies and governments, and has never been cracked. In fact, none of the AES encryption ciphers have ever been cracked, so you can rest easy knowing your data is being kept safe.
Avira Phantom VPN uses the OpenVPN protocol, a popular option among VPN providers. OpenVPN is a highly secure protocol that uses both TCP and UCP for data security.
Avira also has a strict no-log policy, meaning the provider does not record your internet traffic, browsing activity, or other data. VPN logs pose dangers to users because the data they hold can be exploited or sold onto third parties. So a no-log policy is definitely something you want in your VPN service.
Another perk of the Phantom VPN is that it has a wide selection of server locations, despite being totally free. Many free VPN plans limit you to a handful of server locations, but Phantom VPN offers 41 locations around the world, including Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and multiple servers within the US and UK. However, you won't be able to access all 137 servers offered by Phantom VPN via the free version, as this is a luxury for premium users.
Avira's Phantom VPN is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can download this VPN via Avira's website, or head to the Apple or Google Play store to install the smartphone versions.
Download: Avira Phantom Fast VPN Proxy on Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)
But how does the Phantom VPN app measure up? Is it worth the install?
The Avira Phantom VPN App
Avira's Phantom VPN App is very straightforward, and can essentially be used by anyone, regardless of how technically savvy you are.
The app's home screen consists of a simple VPN activation button, as well as your monthly data cap (which we'll come back to) and the amount of data you've used so far. By clicking the three horizontal lines at the top-left of the screen, you can access more options, including server locations, settings, and the auto-connect feature.
You can also easily switch from OpenVPN to WireGuard in the Avira Phantom VPN app settings. If you prefer WireGuard over OpenVPN, this is a big plus.
The Cons of Avira's Phantom VPN
A zero-cost VPN app that's easy to use with plenty of servers is great, but Avira's Phantom VPN does come with some notable drawbacks, starting with the data limit. Phantom VPN has a very restrictive monthly data limit of 500 MB. This won't get you far online, unless you only use the VPN for simple, occasional activities (e.g. when using your banking app or a crypto exchange).
If you provide Avira with your email address, this limit is bumped up to 1 GB, but compared to other services, such as Windscribe's free VPN plan, this is still miniscule. So, if you want to use a VPN to cover all your internet traffic and you're a regular internet users, Avira's free Phantom VPN simply won't be sufficient.
As you may have guessed, you can only access unlimited data usage by signing up to the premium version of Avira's Phantom VPN.
Another potential downside of the Avira Phantom VPN is its lack of independent audits. Independent audits are carried out by third parties who will not introduce any bias in their outcomes. Without such a perspective, it's a little difficult to confirm Avira's no-log policy, however genuine the company may be in its claims.
Connection Speeds
VPNs can significantly slow down your connection speeds, so how did Avira's Phantom VPN fare? When using Avira, we found that the download speed fell from 78.32 Mbps to 35.55 Mbps, a huge decrease. This is definitely something to note if you use the internet to stream, game, download files and apps, or video call, as a lower speed may cause crashes and buffering. At the very least it'll be annoying!
We also found that the upload speed fell from 17.51 Mbps to 14.08 Mbps. This isn't as drastic a dip, but is also worth noting.
Avira Is a Solid VPN but Comes with a Number of Drawbacks
With its low data limit and severe effect on connection speeds, there are certainly things about Avira's Phantom VPN that could put you off. But if you want a basic VPN for casual internet usage, this may still prove to be a solid option for you.