AVG Secure VPN Ratings

Overall Score 7.3
6.8

Security

9.0

Speed

7.2

Servers

6.9

Support

7.0

Price

General overview

AVG Technologies is the subsidiary product of the Czech-based digital security brand Avast. The company holds a strong brand image in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. 

AVG VPN unblocks a few streaming sites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer and has dedicated servers for these activities. However, its privacy-focused features aren’t the most advanced. Its logging policy is not secure enough for privacy-focused users. The VPN logs your timestamp and the amount of data transmitted, which would easily detract individuals who want top-notch security. 

AVG Secure VPN provides fast and consistent speeds. AVG has well-laid user-friendly apps and works with up to 10 devices simultaneously. Moreover, the VPN has apps for popular platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Score 6.8

Security

AVG Secure VPN has below-average security features and protocols. However, it uses military-grade AES-256 encryption but lacks other advanced features. It uses IKEv2/IPSec, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) protocol. 

The VPN uses different protocols for different platforms. OpenVPN (UDP) and Mimic for Android, L2TP/IPSec, and Mimic for MacOS, whereas IKEv2/IPSec and Mimic for iOS. However, the service doesn’t provide the WireGuard protocol, which is considered a state-of-art protocol. 

Mimic is the proprietary protocol exclusively owned by Avast. Since it is only made and used by the company, it isn’t audited or a trusted source. Furthermore, the VPN uses a kill-switch feature that protects your IP address if your connection suddenly drops. The VPN ensures you won’t experience DNS, IP, or WebRTC leaks when using the service.

Score 9

Speed

AVG Secure VPN is truly considerable if speeds are your main priority. It outperforms many top-tier VPNs in the market. The service provides fast speeds on both local and international servers. You might expect 90Mbps to 95Mbps speeds on a nearby server and 80Mbps to 85Mbps speeds on far-away servers. On average, the VPN drops about 6% speeds on local servers, which is highly efficient. Despite not using the WireGuard, AVG remains fast all around the country wherever it operates through servers.

The one major downside to the VPN’s speeds is its ping time. It reaches up to 50ms from the baseline to answer from your computer to a specified destination, which is quite average for gaming activities.

Score 7.2

Servers

AVG VPN’s server network isn’t well-expanded. Reportedly, it covers only 36 countries and 55 cities. The company hasn’t disclosed its number of servers. 

However, the VPN covers famous countries like the US, the UK, Australia, and many European countries. There are also a few servers in Asia, South America (three countries), the Middle East (two countries), and South America.

AVG has dedicated servers for streaming content. It unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer on every server. You can try connecting to other top streaming sites, but it can take hours, which can be a headache. 

The VPN is not an excellent option for torrenting. It allows P2P activity on servers of only six countries. Moreover, the limited servers for torrenting and the low number of security features make it a horrible choice for downloading torrents.

Score 6.9

Support

AVG VPN’s customer support isn’t a fruitful experience. You have to go through several steps to reach technical support. Their 24/7 live chat support isn’t knowledgeable and takes lots of time to address your problem. The AVG Secure VPN also provides FAQs and email support. FAQs option is relatively good as it covers installation and troubleshooting queries, while email support takes time to reply.

Score 7

Prices

AVG Secure VPN is a bit costly compared to the level of features it offers. Unlike the other VPNs in the market, AVG doesn’t come with any monthly pricing plan. Instead, it only deals with yearly plans. The VPN provides a 7-day free trial, a good option for bewildered customers. Here are the subscription plans of AVG Secure VPN:

  • 1-Year plan costs $4.49/per month; billed $53.88
  • 2-Years plan costs $4.39/per month; billed $105.36
  • 3-Years plan costs $4.39/per month; billed $158.04

Refund Policy

The VPN offers a standard 30-day money-back guarantee. You could ask for a refund by communicating with their support team through their website.

Payment Methods

AVG only accepts payments through credit cards and PayPal. There is no option to pay in cryptocurrency or any international e-payment options. This limitation often jams up the users to buy AVG Secure VPN. Thus, the competitors take an edge concerning payment options.

  • Credit Cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover).
  • PayPal

Company Information

  • Company name: AVG Technologies
  • Company incorporation country: Czech Republic
  • Years in market: 31
  • No-logs: Yes

Overview - Conclusion

AVG Secure VPN is a below-par VPN service. It has a vague logs policy, a small number of servers, and security features. However, its speeds are super-fast, which is the only positive feature it provides.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you use AVG Secure VPN without installing AVG Antivirus?

Yes, AVG VPN is a separate product from AVG Technologies. You can purchase and use the service alone without considering any other software

2. How can you cancel your AVG subscription?

If you want to cancel the AVG subscription plan, log in to your account, click the subscription title, and then click Unsubscribe under the program you wish to cancel.

3. How would you know If the VPN is active and working?

You are given a type of slider turned red by default, showing the VPN is OFF. The color changes to green by clicking that slider, signifying the VPN is turned ON. Also, it displays the text “Your online privacy is protected.”

4. Can I ensure AVG Secure VPN enables automatically when I connect to an unsecured Wi-Fi network?

AVG VPN automatically turns on when you connect to any unsecured Wi-Fi network. Go to the settings menu, select network security, and tick the “Automatically when connected to the Internet” box to enable this option.