AVG Secure VPN Review 2022: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: November 7, 2023
William Sams
William Sams
AVG VPN offers its users a secure connection, but nothing more than that. It keeps session/connection logs, has a virus in their Windows client, fails to work in China, and delivers inconsistent performance on Netflix. Not a good choice for $59.88!

AVG Secure VPN shields your internet activity from prying eyes looking to profit (or steal) from your information. It boasts impressive speed test results and a great variety of server locations, serving regions normally overlooked by rivals. This is offset by a high initial cost, a shortage of other privacy options compared to the best VPNs, and privacy standards that require improvement.

AVG Technologies and Avast are both owned by the same country. Basically, Avast has been a parent company of AVG Technologies since 2016. Both of these services make Antivirus Software.

A quick background history: Both were established in the Czech Republic in the late 1980s and early 1990s and were well-known worldwide. But in July year 2016, Avast acquires AVG Technologies for $1.3 billion.

Aside from the obvious lack of security, privacy, and obfuscation features, its price plans are also somewhat unfair. Only yearly plans are available, which seems to me a bit too committed, especially for a VPN that is far behind competitors in this field.

Additionally, I had a lot of back and forth with the support for something that ought to be included by default. I would much rather avoid all the bother and purchase an instant VPN.

In this AVG Secure VPN review. I tested this VPN in every possible way, including privacysecurity, streaming, speed, setup, and customer support.

AVG Secure VPN: What We Liked

Here are some qualities which we liked in AVG VPN:

  1. Kill Switch – AVG destroyed every web browser on our computer when our Wi-Fi suddenly stopped working, preventing our Internet service provider from knowing what tabs were open.
  2. Torrenting – Because of the geo-restrictions and unavailability of movies and TV shows on our preferred streaming platforms, streamers look for ways to download them via torrenting. AVG VPN offers servers to torrent files smoothly.
  3. Unblocks Netflix – Most of us choose a VPN that works well with streaming Platforms, especially Netflix. AVG VPN lets you access different Netflix libraries from anywhere.
  4. IP address Changes – Every time we connect to AVG, our IP address changes, making us virtually impossible to trace our online activity.

AVG Secure VPN: What We Don’t Like

  1. Logs User Activities – This is the main factor making AVG’s VPN a terrible choice for people looking to protect their privacy online.
  2. Headquartered in the Netherlands – Although we don’t have anything against Holland in general, the fact that they are a part of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance means that AVG may be forced by their law to provide our personal information.
  3. No Split Tunneling – Look outside of AVG if you want to send some of your traffic directly to the public network because AVG VPN does not send it via a secret tunnel.
  4. No Multi-hop – AVG VPN can not add an extra layer of encryption and a server to your regular VPN connection by linking two VPN servers together.
Get ExpressVPN Instead!Best Alternative

AVG Secure VPN: Rating Parameters & Key Findings

Jurisdiction Czech Republic
Price $53.88 billed once (1-Year Plan)
Servers 50 Servers in 36 Countries
Logs Stores Usage Logs
Encryption AES-256-CBC
Unblocks Netflix Inconsistent
Torrenting Yes
Works in China No
Recommended  No
Website https://www.avg.com/en-ww/secure-vpn
Compatibility Windows, Android, Apple
  1. Jurisdiction: Where is AVG Secure VPN Based?
  2. Security: Can AVG Be Trusted to Keep You Safe?
  3. Leaks: Does AVG VPN Leak Your DNS, IP, & WebRTC?
  4. Servers: How Many Servers Does AVG VPN Have?
  5. Streaming: Can I Unblock Netflix US and Other VoDs?
  6. Speed: How Fast are AVG VPN Servers?
  7. Compatibility: Can I Use AVG VPN on All My Devices?
  8. Pricing: What is the price of AVG VPN?
  9. Torrenting: Is It Safe to Torrent with AVG VPN?
  10. Trustworthiness: Trustpilot Ratings, Reddit & Customer Support

AVG Secure VPN: Rating Parameters Explained

Jurisdiction: Where is AVG Secure VPN Based?

Avast is based in the Czech Republic. As a result, the corporation is subject to strict EU data retention rules as well as intelligence-sharing treaties with other countries.

AVG would be required under Czech law to share the data it holds with law enforcement if asked. Your identity might be discovered since the VPN stores some information, like connection timestamps.

As a result, we think that a security and privacy company would do well in the Czech Republic. It is undoubtedly superior to nations like the US or the UK, but it falls short of certain other locations we explore on this website.

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Security: Can AVG Be Trusted to Keep You Safe?

The security and encryption protocols offered by AVG Secure VPN are not much exceptional. Although, it uses OpenVPN, AES-256 bit encryption, and a kill switch.

The encryption and security features offered by AVG Secure VPN are standard, but nothing more. It utilizes OpenVPN, AES-256 traffic encryption, and a kill switch. Plus, on Mac, it offers a less secure protocol and does not have any advanced features like double hop.

Other Security issues could be:

1. Poor VPN Protocol Selection

Avast created the exclusive VPN protocol known as Mimic, and only AVG Secure VPN and Avast Secureline can use it. It is a closed-source protocol that has not been verified by a third party. It is, therefore, impossible to determine how secure and safe it is to use.

We don’t suggest using Mimic for personal and sensitive activities like torrenting or online banking until further reliable information is provided. Instead, we advise you to use an OpenVPN protocol if it’s available.

There’s also no WireGuard protocol to use. WireGuard is comparatively new in the VPN industry and excels in both speed and security. It’s also open-source, unlike Mimic, so that outside parties can review it.

AVG VPN should support WireGuard and provide OpenVPN in all of its versions.

2. Lack of Advanced Security Features

When we talk about Advanced level security options, AVG’s VPN software performance is very poor.

Advanced security features like multi-hop, dedicated IP, or a virus blocker are also unavailable. Moreover,  AVG’s security capabilities are basic and lack configurable settings. Split tunneling is also not supported. It is a feature that enables you to run some programs outside of the VPN tunnel.

The AVG VPN basic protocol includes AES-256 encryption used by all its version apps and is regarded as impenetrable. The one benefit is that the Windows and macOS clients of AVG VPN have a VPN kill switch.

If the VPN connection fails unexpectedly, the kill switch safeguards your real IP address. The feature hides your actual IP address and prevents all internet traffic.

3. AVG VPN hides your IP address.

To make sure AVG Secure VPN doesn’t leak any personal information, we put it through a number of security tests. We found no IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks during our test. to check the results, click here.

Note: AVG VPN now logs more user information than is required. Anyone seeking a high level of internet privacy should avoid it.

AVG VPN Protocols and Encryption Information

AVG VPN supports only two protocols: OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec. To secure the incoming/outgoing traffic, it uses military-grade AES-256 encryption with HMAC SHA-256 hash authentication.

For the control channel, AVG VPN uses the same AES-256 ciphers with an RSA-2048 handshake. Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) is provided by a DHE-4096 key exchange, which guarantees strong protection online.

App Files Check: 1 GrayWare Virus Detected

I have to say that I was really disappointed to discover that AVG, despite being a renowned antivirus and antimalware software, has a virus in their Secure VPN.exe file for Windows.

App File Check

The test was performed on the virustotal.com website, where you can upload a file and have it analyzed across multiple antivirus services to check for any red signs.

Where the .exe application passed 69 checks, it failed in one. The app comes with the GrayWare/Win32.Presenoker virus. The mac .dmg file passed all 55 checks, which was clear from viruses.

App File Check

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Leaks: Does AVG VPN Leak Your DNS, IP, & WebRTC?

In order to get a complete picture of the security offered by AVG Secure VPN, I conducted WebRTC/DNS/IP Address leak tests on three different websites. The process involved connecting to varied servers and seeing if the provider suffers from any leakage issues.

avg-secure-vpn-spain-server1

DnsLeaktest.com – DNS Leak Test

The results reveal that the address resides in Israel through the HQserv Communication Solutions ISP. This means the provider successfully managed to cloak my DNS address, making my official location unknown and invisible. The IP I got access to; was 185.183.106.28

avg-vpn-dns-leak-test (1)

BrowserLeaks – WebRTC Leak Test

Nobody wants to sign up with a provider that fails to offer the most basic facet of a VPN: PRIVACY. If there is even the slightest chance of your WebRTC leaking, you will reek so bad. Lucky for you, AVG Secure passed the test upon connecting to a Spain Server.

avg-vpn-webrtc-leak-test-s

 

IPLeak.net – Complete Privacy Analysis

To ensure that the results we received for both WebRTC and DNS leak tests were accurate, I decided to conduct a complete privacy analysis on the provider using IPLeak.net. If you look at the results below, you can see no signs of any leakages.

The IP address is that of an Israeli location, including the local IP. Not to mention, the DNS server is also the same as the cloaked IP, verifying that your identity remains secure when using AVG’s VPN application.

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Servers: How Many Servers Does AVG VPN Have?

AVG Secure VPN’s server network is quite small, covering only 36 countries.

Unfortunately, AVG’s website doesn’t include a list of its server network, making it difficult for users to confirm before buying its subscription whether or not the country you want to connect to has servers available.

Fortunately, AVG Secure VPN’s servers are located in numerous Western European nations as well as the most well-known places, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. 8  countries in the Asia-Pacific region, 3 in South and Central America, 2 in the Middle East, and 1 in Africa are available (South Africa).

I also conducted speed/server testing on numerous locations to identify bare-metal servers from virtual (fake) ones. The process took me about an hour, and I tested around 20 locations. Gladly, all the servers were located at the exact destination advertised.

AVG Secure VPN Servers Offered

Virtual Locations Testing

Below you can see results from CA Technologies’ App Synthetic Monitor. I pinged the Israeli server to over 90 monitoring stations worldwide from ASM.CA so that I could learn where the server is located in reality.

Virtual Locations Testing

The Round-Trip-Time (RTT) in all locations was extremely high, except in Israel – Kiryat-Matalon, which has an avg. RTT of 1.620 ms, indicating the server is close by and not located in a separate jurisdiction.

Virtual Locations Testing for AVG VPN

The tracert tool from CA Technologies’ App Synthetic Monitor further verifies these findings, displaying an RTT of 1.603 ms. This means the server is indeed located in Israel, and AVG VPN uses bare-metal servers.

Virtual Locations Testings

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Does AVG VPN Work in China?

Sadly, the provider does not offer a StealthVPN, a.k.a. obfuscation feature. I still had a representative of mine test the service in China (as part of our 80+ provider’s analysis), but it did not work.

Albeit, the VPN did function in other locations like Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt, where VPN bans are imminent and quite difficult to bypass. So, I cannot really figure out why AVG VPN fails to work in China.

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Streaming: Can I Unblock Netflix US and Other VoDs?

AVG VPN offers some dedicated streaming servers; however, they are not powerful enough to overcome geo-restrictions. Our most recent tests revealed that AVG VPN is less efficient in accessing US Netflix.

Streaming US

The AVG VPN is a good option for streaming BBC iPlayer from outside the UK. You can Connect to the ‘Gotham City’ server to access US Netflix. Join the “Wonderland” server to stream BBC iPlayer.

Unfortunately, AVG VPN is incompatible with every other streaming service. While connected to the VPN, we were unable to stream from HBO Max, Peacock, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or Amazon.

It is also important to mention that the performance of Netflix was inconsistent, and only specific AVG Secure VPN servers can be used to access the geo-restricted streaming platforms.

Your option to stream content from various sources is severely constrained by the small number of streaming servers available. You might be in luck if you have a streaming service subscription with a library in the US, the UK, or Germany. If not, and you value streaming content, AVG Secure VPN is not a wise choice. You may wish to check our most recent list of the best VPN for streaming.

AVG-Secure-VPN-Review-Unblocks-Netflix

Speed: How Fast are AVG VPN Servers?

AVG VPN’s download and upload speeds have increased by 42% and 65%, respectively, since our last test. We are pleased with AVG’s progress and anticipate that future product revisions will see significant speed performance improvements.

The VPN’s ping time is the one significant drawback to its local speeds. Compared to the baseline, our ping rate was 50 times greater at 50 ms.

The download speeds of AVG Secure VPN remain quick on servers all over the world. The findings from the US and Australia, where our speeds continued to be above 85Mbps, really impressed us.

However, the upload rates of the VPN are sluggish. Choosing AVG VPN is not the best option if you frequently upload files.

Server US UK Australia Germany France Average
Download 80.23 Mbps 79.34 Mbps 58.81 Mbps 69.98 Mbps 75.81 Mbps 72.83 Mbps
Upload 77.12 Mbps 68.97 Mbps 62.77 Mbps 72.60 Mbps 61.72 Mbps 68.63 Mbps
Ping 127 ms 180 ms 99 ms 150 ms 109 ms 133 ms
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Compatibility: Can I Use AVG VPN on All My Devices?

I have found that in terms of device compatibility, it is not the most flexible VPN available. Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac are all supported by AVG. Linux is not supported, though.

Additionally, if you want to connect it with Firestick devices. AVG Secure VPN cannot be installed on an Amazon Fire Stick because Fire OS is incompatible with it.

You cannot configure smart DNS on your home network because there is no smart DNS utility either. With the help of Smart DNS, you can employ VPN content unblocking features on devices like home routers that do not have native VPN capability.

avg-vpn-home-page

Pricing: What is the price of AVG VPN?

AVG Secure VPN pricing is unreasonable compared to the services it offers. You can select a subscription plan with a commitment ranging from a relatively short timeframe of 12 months to a three-year term. The business does not provide a straightforward monthly subscription like the top VPN services.

Payment options for your AVG VPN subscription include PayPal, the App Store, Google Play, and credit cards. However, there isn’t a choice between an anonymous payment mechanism like a cryptocurrency or a global payment system like WorldPay or AliPay. Let’s hope that the business will use this in the future.

I will be listing the AVG VPN pricing details of 10 simultaneous connections:

  1. Yearly Subscription for 10 devices: $4.49/month (billed as $53.88)
  2. 2 Year Subscription for 10 devices: $4.39/month (billed as $106.36)
  3. 3 Year Subscription for 10 devices: $4.39/month (billed as $158.04)

avg-vpn-price-plans

Fortunately, AVG Secure VPN provides a 7-day free trial that lets you try the service out for a short period of time. However, in order to use AVG Secure VPN free trial on Android or iOS, you must input your credit card details.

AVG Secure VPN pricing plans offer a full money-back guarantee if you are unhappy with the service after buying it, you can ask for a return within 30 days of the purchase date. The only time this doesn’t apply is if you’ve consumed more than 100GB of data or logged on more than 100 times.

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Torrenting: Is It Safe to Torrent with AVG VPN?

Luckily, AVG VPN offers unique 8 P2P servers spread across 6 different nations that are geared to give you quick and safe torrenting, but because of its intrusive logging policies, I would suggest using other best VPNs for torrenting.

Although it (allegedly) doesn’t record the information you transfer, it does keep track of your connection, the time it took, and the bandwidth you used.

Regardless of your volume and frequency, your anonymity may occasionally be jeopardized if you get AVG VPN primarily for torrenting. Just be careful not to torrent when you wish to switch servers because it will cause a momentary interruption in your connection. You can have few free VPNs for torrenting that may work for you!

AVG-vpn-torrent-ip-detection

Trustworthiness: Trustpilot Score, Reddit & Customer Support

To give you a better idea about AVG Secure VPN, I decided to assess the provider from the perspective of “users” on Trustpilot and Reddit. Below you can find mixed opinions from customers of AVG VPN.

AVG Secure VPN TrustPilot Review

Unfortunately, AVG Secure VPN does not have a separate listing on TrustPilot. Most users add reviews on their main “AVG Technologies” product listing, which includes experiences with their antivirus software as well.
Avg-vpn-trust-pilot-rating1

AVG Secure VPN Reddit Review

AVG Secure VPN does not have a prominent presence on Reddit. Most of the posts discussing it usually ask for advice on whether to use the VPN or not. The majority of comments on those posts are “not recommended” and “not trustworthy.”

AVG VPN Reddit Review

AVG Secure VPN Customer Support

The customer service provided by AVG falls short of our expectations for a reputable cybersecurity company. Our emails were occasionally disregarded, and the live chat staff wasn’t always able to timely respond to our inquiries.

The AVG antivirus program and the VPN are both supported by the support staff. When we were finally put through, our question wasn’t always answered after we frequently waited more than 20 minutes.

We occasionally got no responses at all when sending help requests to AVG via the website’s support request form.

Moreover, we spent a lot of time searching through AVG’s website’s support section before finding anything useful. The reason for this is that AVG Secure VPN has no designated section.

avg-vpn-support1

Our Verdict: Is AVG Secure VPN Worth It?

Here we will tell you whether AVG Secure VPN is worth it.

AVG VPN is worth using if you want to use it for torrenting and unblocking Netflix using a cheap VPN. It is simple to use and offers fantastic value for a home with many gadgets because one account can cover up to 10 devices.

If you merely require a VPN that provides the most basic VPN functions, you can easily get the AVG Secure VPN download along with Antivirus. It offers military-grade encryption, unblocks a few streaming services, and offers respectable connection speed.

Although I appreciate its transparency, it still collects too much personal information, which worries me. So users who care about privacy and streaming other services should not use AVG Secure VPN. Even though it is really simple to set up and use, I wouldn’t recommend subscribing to this VPN for even a month, much less a minimum of a year.

AVG Secure VPN pricing is a little higher and unfair, given the few servers that are offered. The fact that its live chat support line isn’t functioning properly was very frustrating. All in all, AVG Secure VPN doesn’t really stick out or offer anything remarkable.

AVG Secure VPN Alternatives

Considering that AVG VPN’s performance is not that impressive, users may be looking for a reliable alternative or even finding a comparison. I suggest signing up for the budget-friendly yet highly valuable, Surfshark, which starts at a measly $1.99/mo. 

However, if you do not mind spending a little more money, there is no better option than the infamous British Virgin Islands-based, PureVPN. It starts at US$ 3.29 /mo on a 5-year plan and has a large network of 2000+ servers!

VPN Providers Surfshark AVG Secure VPN
Unblocks Netflix US Yes Yes
Offers Fast Speeds Above average Slow
Encryption Surfshark offers AES-256 encryption on all protocols it supports AVG VPN offers AES-256 encryption on all protocols it supports
Protocols OpenVPN & IKEv2 OpenVPN
Multi-Logins Allowed Unlimited Connections on a single subscription 10 Multi-logins on a single subscription
Pricing $1.99/month (2-Year Plan) with all features included $4.39/month (3-Year Plan) With all features included
Read Reviews Surfshark Review AVG VPN Review
Website

FAQs – AVG Secure VPN

Is AVG Secure VPN worth it?

AVG VPN does have some good features, but it fails to unblock Netflix, their apps also have a virus, and it indulges in logging user data. You can get a better and more secure service for the price.

Does AVG have a free VPN?

No, AVG does not offer a free VPN product. However, they do give users the ability to leverage a 7-day free trial without having to provide their credit card details. You even have a 30-day refund available.

Can I use my AVG Secure VPN on multiple devices?

Yes, AVG Secure VPN offers users the ability to connect to 5 devices simultaneously on a single subscription. You can use it on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices concurrently.

Does AVG slow down your computer?

The VPN itself has a user-friendly and extremely “light” interface. Therefore, it is safe to say that AVG will not slow your computer down.

How do I cancel my subscription?

  1. Go to the AVG website and log in using your credentials.
  2. Select the “My Products” tab at the top of the page.
  3. Select the AVG VPN product to continue cancellation.
  4. Click on “Cancel Subscription” to confirm!

Is VPN included in AVG internet security?

Yes, AVG internet security, along with AVG VPN and AVG tune-up, are included in the AVG ultimate package.

Do I Recommend AVG Secure VPN?

At first sight, AVG VPN seems like a great service. It uses 256-bit-AES encryption and hosts 50 servers in 36 countries worldwide. At the same time, you can utilize a 7-day free trial (no credit card required) and a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, the VPN itself fails our testing!

Firstly, their logging policies are quite shady, and I do believe they do keep usage logs, which contain timestamps and websites visited. Secondly, their apps were identified to contain viruses. Thirdly, they do not have any advanced security features to boost your anonymity.

I’d say the VPN would only be a good choice for users who want simplicity for downloading torrents. Apart from that, the VPN needs a lot of work. If you are looking for an inexpensive all-rounder for all your browsing, torrenting, streaming, and gaming needs, I would advise going for Surfshark, which starts at $1.99/mo.

Compatible with device: Windows, Android, Apple, , ,

One Response to AVG Secure VPN Review 2022: Is It Worth It?

  1. Mason says:

    Not impressed by this service. I only tested it for the free trial but after testing I don’t recommend using it to anyone.It is only good for basic use and not good streaming at all.

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