Our Verdict
How is this calculated? We calculate the VPN service’s Overall Rating by combining the ratings of several testing categories. Each category is weighted as follows: Learn more by reading our VPN testing and review methodology.
Overall, we don’t recommend AVG Secure VPN and rate it only 5.8/10. It logs and shares connection data, has a small server network, and fails to unblock most streaming services. It’s also expensive and lacks advanced features like split tunneling. Despite its reasonably fast speeds, we don’t think AVG Secure VPN is worth using unless you already use AVG's antivirus software.
Ranked #33 out of 65 VPNs
AVG Secure VPN Category Ratings
5 5.0/105.7 5.7/103 3.0/109.3 9.3/107.2 7.2/102.5 2.5/106.5 6.5/106.8 6.8/108.6 8.6/105.3 5.3/10
AVG Secure VPN Pros & Cons
- Fast VPN connection speeds
- Unblocks US Netflix & BBC iPlayer
- Successfully encrypts your connection
- Simple apps that are easy to use
- 16 US server locations
- Logs sensitive data & shares it
- Small server network
- Unaudited security protocol
- No anti-censorship capabilities
- No short-term subscriptions
- Poor customer support
Why Trust Us?
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
AVG Technologies has been a big name in online security since the 1990s. It released its VPN service, AVG Secure VPN, in 2019.
We’ve been regularly testing AVG Secure VPN since its release. Unfortunately, despite some positives, it’s consistently proven to be a disappointing VPN.
As you’ll see in this review, AVG Secure VPN does very little to protect your privacy thanks to its invasive logging policy.
While it does have reasonably fast speeds and a generous simultaneous connection limit, it struggles to unblock streaming services and lacks many of the features we’ve come to expect from top VPNs, especially on macOS and iOS.
Ultimately, unless you’re an existing AVG antivirus customer, you shouldn’t use AVG Secure VPN. There are far better VPNs available with better streaming capabilities, safe logging policies, responsive customer support, and larger server networks.
AVG Secure VPN Key Data
| Data Cap | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Download Speed | 93Mbps |
| Logging Policy | Some User Logs |
| Data Leaks | No |
| Jurisdiction | Czech Republic (EU Member) |
| Servers | Not disclosed |
| IP Addresses | Not disclosed |
| Countries with Servers | 36 |
| US Netflix | Yes |
| Torrenting | Partially |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 |
| Works In China | No |
| Support | Email & Online Resources Only |
| Cheapest Price | $4.39/mo over 36 Months |
| Free Trial | 60 Days (No Payment Info Required) |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30-day Money-Back Guarantee |
| Official Website | Avg.com |
Privacy & Logging Policy
AVG Secure VPN Logs & Shares Your Connection Data
How is this calculated? We analyze and dissect the VPN service’s logging and privacy policy. A VPN should never log and store: Headquarters outside of 14 Eyes or EU jurisdictions are also preferable.
AVG VPN’s logging policy has improved in recent years, but it still has a long way to go. It achieved a privacy rating of 3.0/10 in our tests. Though it no longer logs your IP address, it does collect information about when you connect to a VPN server and how much data you use. Furthermore, there has been no independent audit and its transparency reports reveal frequent sharing of user data.
Ranked #44 out of 65 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy
AVG logs sensitive data. Here is a full breakdown of what is and what is not logged:
| Data Type | Logged by AVG Secure VPN |
|---|---|
| Account Information | Yes |
| Browsing Activity | No |
| Date of Last Connection | No |
| Device Information | No |
| DNS Queries | No |
| Individual Bandwidth Usage | Yes |
| Individual Connection Timestamps | Yes |
| ISP | No |
| Number of Simultaneous Connections | No |
| Originating IP Address | No |
| VPN Server IP | No |
| VPN Server Location | No |
Although this data is only stored for 35 days, we cannot recommend a VPN that logs individual bandwidth use or connection timestamps for any amount of time.
To improve its privacy rating, AVG would need to stop storing this data and invest in a diskless server network. It should also commission an independent audit that assesses its privacy protection claims.
Subject to EU Data Retention Laws
AVG is based in Czechia, a country subject to EU data retention laws and intelligence-sharing agreements.
In other words, Czech authorities can demand user data that AVG would be legally obligated to hand over. We’ve already established that AVG logs identifiable data, so this is a serious problem.
AVG openly admits to sharing user data via the transparency reports released by its parent company, Avast.
In 2023, Avast received 51 requests from the government for information. It handed over the data of five users. In 2017, it shared information for over 30% of requests.
Can AVG VPN Be Trusted?
We examined AVG’s corporate structure and history to assess its trustworthiness. Simply put: we advise caution when using AVG Secure VPN.
In July 2016, Avast — an even bigger cybersecurity company — bought AVG. We have also reviewed Avast SecureLine, its flagship VPN, which we only rated 6.2/10 due to its intrusive logging practices.
In December 2020, NortonLifeLock Inc. bought Avast, taking control of AVG in the process. In our review of Norton Secure VPN, we gave it an even worse rating of 5.0/10, partly because it logs your IP address.
NortonLifeLock (and therefore Avast and AVG) is part of the US multinational conglomerate Gen Digital, which also bought the VPN HMA (HideMyAss). This VPN also logs your data.
We’re concerned that all of Gen Digital’s VPN products, including AVG Secure VPN, have a history of logging user data.
Streaming
Unblocks US Netflix & BBC iPlayer
How is this calculated? This rating is calculated by how many different streaming services and regional content libraries the VPN can unblock, and how consistently it can access them. We test access to Netflix, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and many more platforms on a weekly basis.
We found that AVG Secure VPN unblocks US Netflix and BBC iPlayer via its listed streaming servers, but no other streaming sites. While this enables you to access some international content, the best VPNs also work with Hulu, Max, Prime Video, and other international streaming services.
Ranked #30 out of 65 VPNs for Streaming
Here is a list showing which popular streaming sites AVG Secure VPN unblocks:
| Streaming Platform | Works with AVG Secure VPN |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | No |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes |
| Channel 4 | No |
| Disney+ | No |
| Hotstar India | No |
| Hulu | No |
| ITVX | No |
| Max | No |
| Netflix US | Yes |
We found that the US server ‘Gotham City’ unblocks US Netflix and the UK server ‘Wonderland’ unblocks BBC iPlayer.
AVG Secure VPN unblocks US Netflix.
However, AVG Secure VPN did not work with other major US services like Hulu, Max, or US Prime Video. Similarly, it’s not a good choice for accessing local streaming services in these countries:
- Australia (SBS On Demand)
- Canada (CBC Gem)
- France (France.tv)
- Italy (RaiPlay)
- Korea (Kakao TV)
- Singapore (MeWatch)
We know this because we’ve tested 65 VPNs with up to 97 international streaming services, and AVG performed worse than the majority of VPNs.
Below, you can see a snippet of the streaming data we maintain:
An insight into the streaming data that we maintain on every major VPN.
Speed
Fast Speeds on Every Server
How is this calculated? We calculate the VPN’s speed rating using our download speeds, upload speeds, and ping (latency) measurements. We regularly test the VPN’s local and international speeds using a dedicated 100Mbps internet connection in New York, USA.
AVG Secure VPN’s chief strength is its connection speed. Testing its default protocol called ‘Mimic’, our local download speeds averaged 93Mbps, which is only 7% less than our internet speed without a VPN. This gives it a speed rating of 9.3/10.
Ranked #17 out of 65 VPNs for Speed
Here are the full results of our AVG Secure VPN speed tests:
AVG Secure VPN delivers fast speeds wherever you connect to. We calculated its global average speed to be 91Mbps, which is more than fast enough for any online activity.
Ping times are also consistently low across the board. Connecting to Los Angeles from the East Coast, we recorded a latency of only 86ms.
Despite its impressive speed performance, AVG cannot compete with the fastest VPNs. Hotspot Shield is the number one, reaching 98Mbps on local connections.
Server Locations
Small Server Network of 36 Countries
How is this calculated? The key factor for calculating this rating is the global spread and coverage of the VPN’s server network. We also consider the total number of servers, the number of city-level servers, and the number of IP addresses available.
AVG Secure VPN’s server list is small and undiverse compared to leading VPNs, with only 36 countries available on its network. City-level choices are restricted to Europe and North America only, and all other continents are poorly represented.
Ranked #33 out of 65 VPNs for Server Locations
36 Countries
59 Cities
Undisclosed number of IP Addresses
Using AVG Secure VPN, you can connect to servers the following regions:
| Continent | Countries with Servers |
|---|---|
| Europe | 23 |
| Asia | 7 |
| North America | 3 |
| South America | 1 |
| Africa | 1 |
| Oceania | 2 |
As you can see, AVG Secure VPN’s server network is heavily focused on Europe, with servers available in 23 countries on the continent — 62% of AVG’s server locations.
Asia is relatively well served through seven server locations. However, in general, AVG Secure VPN’s server network is small compared to top providers that offer up to 100 countries, such as Surfshark and Private Internet Access.
AVG’s server list is Euro-centric and small compared to leading VPNs.
Less-developed regions are also poorly served by AVG, including South America and Africa, which only have one server location each for the whole continent.
City-level servers are only available in Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, the UK and the US. The US has the most city locations, with servers in 16 cities. This is great if you’re based in the US.
Unfortunately, AVG does not disclose the exact quantity of individual servers it maintains, or whether they are owned or rented from third-party providers.
Security & Technical Features
Secure, but No Advanced Features
How is this calculated? A secure VPN must offer OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a working kill switch. To calculate this rating, we also factor in additional security settings and features.
AVG Secure VPN has all the basic technical features we’d expect from a modern VPN. It encrypts your data via AES-256 and does not leak any identifying data. However, its protocols are different across apps, the kill switch isn't available in macOS or iOS, and WireGuard is only available on Windows and Android, and there are no advanced features, like double VPN.
Ranked #38 out of 65 VPNs for Security & Technical Features
Here’s an overview of the connection protocols, encryption strength, and security features on offer in AVG’s apps:
| Protocols | Available in AVG Secure VPN |
|---|---|
| IKEv2/IPSec | Yes |
| L2TP/IPSec | Yes |
| OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) | Yes |
| Proprietary | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes |
| Encryption | Available in AVG Secure VPN |
|---|---|
| AES-128 | No |
| AES-192 | No |
| AES-256 | Yes |
| Blowfish | No |
| ChaCha20 | No |
| Security | Available in AVG Secure VPN |
|---|---|
| Diskless Servers | No |
| DNS Leak Blocking | No |
| First-party DNS | No |
| IPv6 Leak Blocking | No |
| Supports TCP Port 443 | No |
| VPN Kill Switch | Yes |
| WebRTC Leak Blocking | No |
| Advanced Features | Available in AVG Secure VPN |
|---|---|
| Ad Blocker | No |
| Dedicated IP | No |
| Double VPN | No |
| SOCKS | No |
| Split Tunneling | No |
| Static IP | No |
| Tor over VPN Server | No |
| Tracker Blocker | No |
Does AVG’s Mimic Protocol Encrypt Your Data?
AVG Secure VPN’s default encryption protocol is called Mimic, a proprietary technology developed by AVG’s parent company, Avast.
We’ve certified Mimic’s fast speeds, but we are uncertain about its security credentials. Avast is not transparent about how Mimic works and there has been no independent audit. In contrast, ExpressVPN also uses a proprietary protocol but it is open-source, so anyone can examine it.
We ran AVG Secure VPN through a packet-inspection tool to see if it actually encrypts your data. We are pleased to report that it concealed our internet activity successfully.
Mimic is on all of AVG Secure VPN’s apps, but there are a number of alternative protocols depending on the device and operating system you’re using. These are:
We recommend that you stick to WireGuard or OpenVPN, and avoid LT2P if possible, which is an older and less secure protocol.
Unfortunately, the WireGuard protocol is only available on Windows and Android. This means the AVG apps for macOS and iOS are significantly less secure and we advise against using them.
We’d like to see AVG follow the rest of the industry and add WireGuard across the board. Furthermore, protocol options should be made consistent across all apps.
No Advanced Technical Features
While AVG Secure VPN achieves the basics of VPN security, its security offering is nowhere near the level of industry-leading VPNs and it offers no customization options.
VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are offering packages that include working VPN ad blockers, multi-hop servers, open-source apps, and even GPS spoofers.
In contrast, AVG doesn’t have split tunneling and there are hardly any options to manually configure your VPN experience.
AVG VPN’s sparse security settings as they appear on the Windows app.
Torrenting
Fast Bitrate, but Unsafe for Torrenting
How is this calculated? This rating is determined by the VPN’s torrenting speeds, the percentage of servers that allow P2P file sharing, the service’s privacy and trustworthiness, and useful settings like port forwarding. For speed specifically, we calculate the VPN’s average download bitrate using our bespoke torrenting setup.
AVG Secure VPN allows you to torrent on its P2P-optimized servers. Its average bitrate speed also allows for fast downloads. However, it’s only rated 5.7 in our torrenting assessment because its logging policy doesn’t protect your anonymity, it has a history of sharing user information with authorities, and it doesn’t include a port forwarding feature.
Ranked #35 out of 65 VPNs for Torrenting
AVG is a bad choice for torrenters due to its invasive privacy policy, which doesn’t guarantee your anonymity. It’s also got a history of handing over user data following legal requests.
Due to these privacy issues, we simply cannot recommend using AVG VPN for torrenting, even despite its fast average bitrate of 8.8MiB/s and its P2P-optimized servers, which are available in these five countries:
- France
- Germany
- Netherlands
- UK
- US
While AVG VPN does have a kill switch to protect against the accidental exposure of your real IP address, other data that can actively identify you is already logged regardless.
Device & OS Compatibility
Desktop & Mobile Apps Only
How is this rated? A high-quality VPN should maintain functional, fully-featured applications and browser extensions for as many platforms and devices as possible. Our ‘Device & OS Compatibility’ assessment contributes to the Ease of Use rating.
AVG Secure VPN is only available on the most mainstream devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. There are no manual workarounds, so you cannot use AVG VPN on Fire TV, Android TV, games consoles, or routers. On the plus side, it has a generous 10-device simultaneous connection limit.
Apps
AVG Secure VPN is available on these devices only:
Windows- Mac
- iOS
- Android
AVG VPN has no manual installation workarounds, so you won’t be able to use it on a device that’s not listed above. This is highly restrictive compared to most top VPNs.
We’d like to see AVG develop more apps for its VPN, making it compatible with Fire TV Stick, Android TV, and Apple TV.
Furthermore, it should make a VPN app for routers so that gamers can use it on Xbox and PlayStation.
Although AVG VPN is similar on each app, there are some important differences. You can use the table below to compare the features on each app:
No Browser Extensions
Adding to its limited compatibility, AVG Secure VPN does not offer any browser extensions.
This is disappointing, as you can’t quickly change VPN location within your browser, instead having to switch between windows each time.
Ease of Use
Simple Enough Apps
How is this calculated? This rating mainly consists of the user-friendliness and intuitiveness of setting up and regularly using the VPN. We also factor in customization settings, as well as device and OS compatibility (see section above).
AVG Secure VPN’s apps are simple to understand and use. However, what it gains in simplicity it loses in additional features and customization options, with a very basic settings menu. We also found the website difficult to navigate and have had experienced technical issues and bugs installing and using the service.
Ranked #41 out of 65 VPNs for Ease of Use
AVG’s VPN apps are simple to download and install. They’re laid out in a user-friendly and colorful way, and they’re not unpleasant to look at.
However, there simply aren’t enough customization options, and the Windows and Android versions are a lot more advanced than the macOS and iOS apps. Furthermore, we encountered bugs when installing and using the apps.
Here’s a more detailed look at AVG on different apps:
Desktop & Laptop (macOS & Windows)
AVG’s VPN app for Windows is far advanced and customizable than macOS. It has WireGuard included in its protocol selection, which is the best protocol. There’s a Startup option, so that the VPN turns on in tandem with your computer, alongside the ability to enable prompts to turn on the VPN when connected to the internet.
On both apps, AVG lists servers that are specifically designated for streaming and torrenting. We’d prefer it if all servers worked for these purposes, but, theoretically, optimized servers are a useful way to avoid trying lots of servers.
However, as our tests have shown, these servers do not work for most streaming sites except US Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Most of AVG’s streaming servers don’t actually work.
Furthermore, we encountered random app crashes and bugs throughout our testing. We couldn’t install the AVG VPN free trial on macOS, and after using the app for a while encountered problems such as in the image below:
We encountered an occassional ‘Connection Error’ when using AVG VPN.
On the positive side, AVG has also helpfully included 20 language options on Windows that translate the app instantly, making it more accessible.
Mobile (iOS & Android)
AVG’s iOS and Android apps look identical, but there are some important differences.
Android consists of three windows: a home screen with the main connect button, a server list, and a settings menu. Helpfully, each settings feature includes an explainer of its function.
AVG Secure VPN on Android consists of three windows.
Android is the most customizable AVG VPN app. It is the only app with split tunneling, it has WireGuard protocol, and there’s a manual kill switch. It’s also the only app with a feature called Wi-Fi Threat Shield, which turns on your VPN when connecting to ‘suspicious’ public Wi-Fi networks.
AVG Secure VPN on iOS has fewer settings options than Android.
In contrast, on iOS the only thing you can customize is your security protocol and an Auto Connect toggle. There is no WireGuard option and we also noticed that the listed torrenting servers are not present on iOS. It’s a lot more stripped back, and it hasn’t got a lot to offer.
Bypassing Web Censorship
Does Not Bypass Internet Censorship
How is this calculated? We routinely test if the VPN can bypass strict internet restrictions in China using our remote-access server in Shanghai. Other important factors we consider include obfuscation technologies and the availability of servers in neighboring countries (for faster connections).
AVG Secure VPN does not work to get around web censorship in China, Russia, or other censoring countries. It simply doesn’t have the necessary obfuscation tools, making it easy to identify and block.
Ranked #48 out of 65 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship
If you live inside a restrictive country, AVG Secure VPN is not a good solution for getting around web blocks.
We tested it on our Shanghai server in China to see if it worked to bypass tough internet restrictions. Unfortunately, it was repeatedly detected and blocked.
AVG is open about this limitation. We advise you to choose Astrill VPN instead, which, according to our VPN testing in China, has a 100% success rate getting around the Great Firewall of China.
Customer Support
Poor Live Chat and Slow Email Responses
How is this calculated? This rating is based on our assessment of the VPN’s: Not every VPN offers all these support options, and they often vary in quality and response times.
AVG has an FAQ page, an online form for technical support, and a support community on its website. There’s also a well-hidden live chat option, but the agents are slow and often lack in-depth knowledge. Considering AVG’s resources, we expect more attentive support.
Ranked #11 out of 65 VPNs for Customer Support
| Customer Support | Available in AVG Secure VPN |
|---|---|
| 24/7 Email Support | No |
| 24/7 Live Chat Support | Yes |
| Chatbot | No |
| No | |
| Email Support via Online Form | Yes |
| Online Resources | Yes |
| Tutorial Videos | No |
AVG Secure VPN offers basic customer support, including an FAQ page and an online form to send technical support requests.
When we used the form, we were presented with a selection of pages to read, none of which were applicable to our enquiry.
It then encouraged us to visit the AVG Support Community if we couldn’t find an answer. Responses to user questions occur the same day, but often read as impersonal and vague.
We often find that when VPNs get absorbed into larger corporate structures they risk losing the human touch when it comes to customer support. It’s harder to reach a human being, especially as VPN support can be hard to find amid all of AVG’s other products.
Unfortunately, that’s the case with AVG Secure VPN, which hides its live chat option on a hard-to-find URL and it can take a while before an agent comes to respond to your query.
When we asked AVG’s live chat about its flagship Mimic protocol, we were given the response: “What do you mean by Mimic?” It became clear that customer support agents were not familiar with their products. They also only wanted to help if we were active subscribers.
AVG customer support wasn’t very helpful explaining its Mimic protocol.
Price & Value
One-Year Minimum Plan & No Long-Term Savings
How is this calculated? While we do assign a ‘Price & Value’ rating, it doesn’t contribute to the Overall Rating. We believe the reader should decide what is or isn’t a reasonable price. A good rating isn’t just based on how cheap the VPN is, but for the overall value it offers.
AVG Secure VPN is far too expensive for what it offers, and it has only increased its price since we started testing it. There is no monthly plan, so you have to commit to AVG for at least a year, and there aren't savings to be made on longer-term subscriptions. Considering the lackluster service on offer, AVG VPN is poor value for money.
Ranked #32 out of 65 VPNs for Price & Value
Here are all of AVG Secure VPN’s subscription plans:
12 Month(s)
$4.49/mo
Billed $59.88 every 12 months
2 Year(s)
Save 2%$4.39/mo
Billed $105.36 every 2 years
3 Year(s)
Save 2%$4.39/mo
Billed $158.04 every 3 years
Unlike most VPNs, AVG Secure does not offer a single month plan. This is unfortunate if you want a short-term VPN solution. AVG VPN’s shortest plan is for a year, which costs $59.88 up front.
You can also subscribe to a two-year and three-year plan, which both cost $4.39 per month. However, these longer term plans only offer savings of $0.10 per month (just over 2%) compared to the single year price, so there’s no incentive to get a multi-year deal.
We don’t consider any of AVG VPN’s plans to be cost effective. To put it in perspective, a top-tier VPN like Private Internet Access costs $2.03 on its three-year deal – a massive long-term saving and 50% cheaper than AVG VPN.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a short-term VPN, Mullvad is available at the base rate of $5.50 per month.
Payment & Refund Options
You can only purchase an AVG VPN subscription via these payment vendors:
- American Express
- Mastercard
- PayPal
- Visa
Allowing only credit card and PayPal for transactions is poor considering the lack of privacy tied to these payment methods.
While many customers will be satisfied with these popular methods, AVG should offer privacy-friendly ways to pay, such as cryptocurrency or cash.
Conditional One-Month Refund
AVG allows you to sign up for the VPN and request a full refund within a month. This is useful if you want to trial the VPN without restrictions, but it is the length of an industry-standard refund guarantee.
The most generous VPNs allow you to claim a refund for more than 30 days. CyberGhost, for example, has a 45-day refund guarantee. Surfshark allows you to reclaim your money twice, equalling two months of free use.
However, AVG is slightly worse than most other VPNs, as you can only claim a refund on certain conditions: using less than 10GB of data during the 30 days (which is quite low), and if you’ve connected to the VPN fewer than 100 times.
These are not standard conditions and strike us as a blatant attempt to make refunds harder to get.
Impressive 60-Day Free Trial, Except on macOS
AVG Secure VPN offers a 60-day free trial app that you can download and install without inserting any payment details or creating an AVG account. It’s very easy to get and is one of the most generous genuine free trials we’ve seen.
However, we had problems installing this free trial on multiple macOS devices. When we tried to install it we were presented with this error notification:
We couldn’t install AVG Secure VPN’s free trial on macOS.
We can only conclude that the 60-day free trial is not legitimately available on macOS, which is a shame.
The Bottom Line
Conclusion: Don’t Use AVG Secure VPN
AVG Secure VPN is fast and it unblocks US Netflix and BBC iPlayer. This is where the positives end. In all other testing areas, including torrenting, bypassing censorship, and server locations, we found AVG VPN to be lacking.
The VPN is simply not transparent enough to trust. There has been no logging policy audit or independent examination of its Mimic protocol. Furthermore, it has a small server network and does not disclose whether its servers are rented or owned.
In areas where AVG Secure VPN has been transparent, we see that it regularly hands over user data to requesting authorities. We know AVG logs data that can be used to identify you because it says so in its privacy policy. This is not a privacy protection product worthy of your time.
It also fails to unblock the majority of streaming sites or get around political website blocks. Furthermore, it’s macOS and iOS apps are sorely lacking security or features compared to Windows and Android.
We are critical of its approach to customers, too: the service costs too much, a refund is only possible under certain conditions, and its customer support is hard to reach and impersonal.
You can compare AVG Secure VPN’s performance to leading VPNs in the table below:
