Avast Launches Free Unlimited VPN With No Ads in France
Avast has released a fully free VPN in France with unlimited data, unlimited devices and no ads, built on WireGuard and backed by an annual independent audit.
Avast has launched a completely free VPN in France, offering unlimited data, no advertising and no credit card requirement at sign-up. The security brand, owned by US group Gen alongside Norton and AVG, says the service comes with no traps, hidden fees or fine-print conditions.
A single account works on an unlimited number of devices across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Avast VPN runs on WireGuard, the modern protocol also used by NordVPN, Proton VPN, Mullvad and Surfshark. It includes a Kill Switch that cuts the connection if the VPN drops, preventing IP address leaks, as well as DNS leak protection.
Avast also promises a no-logs policy: nothing is collected, stored, tracked or resold. That claim will be checked by an annual independent audit carried out by the firm VerSprite.
Limits and the freemium model
The free tier is not without restrictions. Users can pick only three server locations, spread across 40 countries. More locations require the paid plan, Premium VPN (formerly SecureLine), which starts at 51.48 euros for the first year for ten devices, about 4.29 euros per month, then rises to 93.99 euros per year at renewal. The free offer is a freemium funnel meant to attract future subscribers.
The launch stands out in a market long dominated by ad-saturated or heavily limited free services. Even a leading option such as Proton VPN's free plan allows only one device at a time. Richard Watts of Avast said free VPNs have taught users to expect a trade-off, and that the company is offering for free features many rivals keep for premium plans.
Trust to rebuild
Avast's past weighs on the launch. Two years before releasing this VPN, the company was fined 16.5 million dollars in the United States for selling users' browsing data to advertisers. It is no longer allowed to sell such data for advertising purposes, but the episode damaged its reputation. The VerSprite audit, due in the coming weeks, is meant to reassure prospective users.
Avast VPN is available in France starting today on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
Apps worth a look
SUMO: the number puzzleTap the right tiles, add them up, hit the target. Easy to learn, hard to master. Free, for all ages.
Dialo: learn languages by speakingTalk to an AI conversation partner; every sentence comes back corrected and explained in your language. 9 languages, A1 to C2.
ediviewer: read EDI files like documentsOpen EDIFACT and X12 messages, see every segment explained, convert to JSON/XML, export PDF and Excel. Runs locally, no upload.
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