AVG Secure VPN Review: Quick Expert Summary
AVG Secure VPN is pretty secure and good for general browsing. In my speed tests, I had really fast VPN speeds on servers near my location, as all the sites I visited loaded instantly. Plus, I like how all of its apps are really user-friendly.
The provider comes with all essential VPN security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. It also has:
- DNS leak protection.
- Obfuscation.
- Full-disk encryption.
- Split-tunneling.
- And more …
Unfortunately, AVG Secure VPN has a few drawbacks that I can’t overlook. It doesn’t work with top sites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, it has noticeable slowdowns on distant servers, and its server network is pretty small. Also, it doesn’t work in restrictive regions, and its live chat and email support reps are not always 100% helpful and knowledgeable.
AVG Secure VPN allows 10 connections, and it has yearly plans. While there’s no monthly plan, you get a free 60-day trial, which gives you enough time to test the VPN. Plus, the provider also backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Overall Rank | #23 out of 82 VPNs |
| 🌍 Number of Servers | 700+ |
| 📱 Number of Devices | 10 |
| 💸 Starting Price | $4.39 / month |
| 🎁 Free Plan | No |
| 💰 Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
AVG Secure VPN Full Review — Good VPN for Web Browsing (But Bad for Streaming)
I spent a few weeks testing AVG Secure VPN to see how it compares to the other top VPNs out there. Overall, it’s a great VPN for general web browsing that also provides good ease of use and security.
I especially like how intuitive its mobile and desktop apps are — even people who have never used a VPN before will have no issues getting used to them. Plus, you get good security features and obfuscation.
Unfortunately, AVG Secure VPN is not good for streaming — despite having dedicated streaming servers. It also has poor speeds on distant servers, and its server network is pretty lacking.
AVG Secure VPN Plans & Pricing — Average Prices + 60-Day Free Trial
AVG Secure VPN comes with several paid yearly plans — I find it inconvenient that there’s no monthly plan, as most top VPNs have short-term plans in addition to long-term plans. The VPN allows up to 10 device connections, which is on the upper end of the industry average of 5–10 connections. That said, if you own more devices or have a large family, consider getting Private Internet Access instead, as it allows unlimited connections.
The provider lacks a free plan, but it has a free 60-day trial, which is extremely good. You get access to all features, so you have plenty of time to check if the VPN is right for you. Just keep in mind you will need to provide payment information to be eligible for the free trial.
All of AVG Secure VPN’s plans are priced at $4.39 / month, so the provider uses a flat fee structure. I’m not a big fan of this since all of its plans are long-term — you normally save money with long-term plans with other top VPNs. Plus, competitors like CyberGhost VPN and Surfshark have much cheaper long-term plans and also provide better value.
The VPN accepts credit/debit cards and PayPal, and also backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is the industry average when it comes to VPN providers’ refund policies.
AVG Secure VPN Features — Includes Core VPN Features + Some Advanced Tools
AVG Secure VPN provides access to the following industry-standard security features:
- 256-bit AES encryption — Makes your internet traffic completely unreadable. This is the same level of encryption that the military uses.
- No-logs policy — AVG Secure VPN doesn’t collect your IP address or web traffic (which sites you access, and what files you download).
- Kill switch — Disables web access if your VPN connection drops to protect you from accidental data leaks.
AVG Secure VPN comes with secure and fast VPN protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard, and Mimic. OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and WireGuard are all secure and fast, though WireGuard is the fastest. And Mimic is the provider’s proprietary protocol that provides obfuscation to hide your VPN traffic.
The VPN is missing perfect forward secrecy (PFS) and RAM-only servers, which are both advanced security features. PFS changes the encryption key for each VPN session, making it near impossible for hackers to compromise past or future keys to spy on your traffic. And RAM-only servers don’t write data to the hard drive, so each reboot wipes everything.
That said, AVG Secure VPN uses full-disk encryption (FDE). This is another type of advanced security feature, which ensures that all data on a VPN server stays safe even if said server is compromised.
The VPN has built-in DNS leak protection, but it’s missing protection against IPv6 and WebRTC leaks — top competitors like ExpressVPN and NordVPN come with full leak protection. Still, I ran leak tests on servers in 10+ countries, and I never experienced any leaks.
The VPN also comes with the following extra features:
- Split-tunneling. This feature (only available on Android) lets you choose which apps use and don’t use the encrypted VPN tunnel. For example, I used it to only route a mobile gaming app through the VPN to improve my speeds. The tool works well, but I think Private Internet Access’s split-tunneling is much better — it’s available on Android, Windows, and macOS, and it allows you to split-tunnel websites in addition to apps.
- Obfuscation. AVG Secure VPN obfuscates your VPN connection via its Mimic protocol, which means it makes your VPN traffic look like regular internet traffic. The provider’s site claims this protocol allows the VPN to work in restrictive countries like China — however, multiple AVG Secure VPN support reps confirmed that the VPN doesn’t work in China. If you need a VPN that provides obfuscation and actually works in restrictive countries, try ExpressVPN.
AVG Secure VPN Privacy & Security — Provides Good Privacy & Doesn’t Collect Data
AVG Secure VPN comes with a strict no-logs policy that doesn’t compromise your privacy — it doesn’t collect your IP address or your browsing traffic. The provider only collects your email address (to set up your account and communicate with you), connection timestamps to optimize network capacity, and bandwidth usage to make server improvements.
That said, I think it’s a shame the VPN hasn’t had its no-logs policy audited, as that would make it easier to trust this provider. Most top competitors (like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access) have no-logs policies that have undergone independent security audits.
AVG Secure VPN is headquartered in the Czech Republic. This is good, as that country is not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances, which is a group of countries that share surveillance data with each other.
Overall, AVG Secure VPN provides great privacy, as it has a strict no-logs policy and is also located in a country that’s not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances.
AVG Secure VPN Speed & Performance — Better on Nearby Servers (Distant Servers Are Slow)
I ran speed tests on servers in all 37 countries where AVG Secure VPN has a server. I had the fastest speeds while connected to servers in countries near my location (Romania). Unfortunately, on distant servers in the US, Canada, Brazil, and South Korea, I experienced pretty noticeable slowdowns.
I ran my first test without being connected to the VPN to get a baseline for my speeds. The provider doesn’t have a server in my country, so I then tested a nearby server in Hungary next. These were my speeds:
Finally, I ran speed tests on a distant server in the US — here are my speeds:
Overall, AVG Secure VPN had very fast speeds on nearby servers, but noticeable slowdowns on distant servers. When I tested a nearby server in Hungary, my speeds barely changed — sites loaded instantly, HD and 4K videos loaded instantly, and I didn’t experience any lag while playing online games. But when I tested a distant server in the US, websites started taking around 3 seconds to load, HD videos loaded in 3 seconds, and 4K videos took 5 seconds to load (and there was noticeable buffering at the start). If speed matters to you a lot, just go with ExpressVPN instead, as it’s the fastest VPN out there.
AVG Secure VPN Servers & IP Addresses — Small Server Network (But Spread Out Well)
AVG Secure VPN has 700+ servers in 37 countries. While its server locations are spread out through most parts of the world, the provider’s server network is still very small compared to other top competitors. For example, ExpressVPN and Surfshark have servers in 100+ countries.
The provider claims torrenting is only supported on servers in 5+ countries. But I tested servers in 15+ countries, and was able to torrent on all of them without any issues — though I can’t guarantee your P2P traffic won’t get blocked. To be honest, a provider like ExpressVPN, which allows torrenting on all servers, is much more convenient.
AVG Secure VPN also has dedicated streaming servers in 3 countries (the US, the UK, and Germany). However, customer support confirmed that they don’t work with most streaming platforms. If you’re looking for a VPN with dedicated streaming servers that actually work, check out CyberGhost VPN, which has 100+ streaming servers that work with 50+ sites.
Overall, AVG Secure VPN’s server network is not that impressive — it only has servers in 37 countries, it only “officially” supports torrenting on servers in 5+ countries, and it has a few dedicated streaming servers that can’t access top streaming platforms.
AVG Secure VPN Streaming & Torrenting — Only Works With Amazon Prime + P2P Support in 5+ Countries
I can’t really recommend AVG Secure VPN for streaming — it works with Amazon Prime, but it isn’t compatible with other top sites like Netflix, Disney+, Max, and BBC iPlayer.
If you’re looking to use a VPN for streaming, I recommend trying ExpressVPN, as it works with 100+ streaming platforms without any issues (including the ones AVG Secure VPN does and doesn’t work with).
And the provider has decent P2P support. It says it only supports torrenting on servers in 5+ countries, but I was able to download torrents on other servers too without issues. That said, I can’t guarantee that your P2P downloads won’t get blocked on other servers.
That’s why I think Private Internet Access is much better for torrenting — it allows P2P downloads on servers in 91 countries, has port forwarding (lets you connect to more peers for faster downloads), and has SOCKS5 proxy support, which changes your IP address but doesn’t encrypt your data to provide very fast downloads.
Overall, AVG Secure VPN isn’t great for streaming and is just average for torrenting. It works with Amazon Prime but isn’t compatible with other top sites like Netflix, Disney+, Max, and BBC iPlayer. And while you can torrent on all servers, the provider recommends only using dedicated P2P servers in 5+ countries.
AVG Secure VPN Ease of Use: Mobile & Desktop Apps — Easy-to-Navigate Mobile & Desktop Apps
AVG Secure VPN has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. If you’re looking for a VPN with an app for Linux and smart TVs as well, try ExpressVPN.
The provider’s mobile apps are pretty good, as the interface is very easy to navigate. Plus, I also like how all settings come with quick, helpful explanations. I like the Android app the most because it has the split-tunneling feature.
And the VPN’s desktop apps are also really user-friendly. It’s easy to find the server you want, as they are split into different categories (like Europe, North America, or Torrenting). There’s also a quick-connect tool called Optimal Location, which automatically connects you to the fastest server. My only complaint is that there’s no search field to quickly look up the server you want to use.
Overall, AVG Secure VPN has great mobile and desktop apps — they’re very simple to navigate thanks to their intuitive interface.
AVG Secure VPN Customer Support — Responsive Email Support, 24/7 Live Chat & More
AVG Secure VPN provides decent customer support — it has a helpful support library, 24/7 live chat support, email support, and 24/7 phone support.
While the support library is basic, its guides are useful. There are only a few support links on the VPN’s support page, but they link to setup guides that include screenshots, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and troubleshooting articles.
I tested the provider’s live chat support, and it’s pretty good. I was generally connected to a live chat rep in less than 10 seconds, and most of them were able to provide me with helpful answers. That said, I did come across a few reps who were not very knowledgeable — if this is a deal-breaker for you, try ExpressVPN instead since it also has 24/7 live chat support, but its reps are more informed.
I also tested AVG Secure VPN’s email support over a week, and it’s pretty responsive. In general, I received a reply in less than 24 hours. Also, the email reps were usually able to answer most of my questions, though there were a few times when they couldn’t provide me with an accurate answer.
The provider also has 24/7 phone support in the US, the UK, and Australia. My colleague in the US tested its phone support and told me he had a pretty good experience.
Overall, AVG Secure VPN provides good customer support, as it has a helpful library, 24/7 live chat that’s decent, responsive email support, and pretty good 24/7 phone support.
Is AVG Secure VPN Secure & User-Friendly in 2024?
AVG Secure VPN is a decent VPN that comes with strong security features and is also good for general web browsing. In my speed tests, it maintained very fast connections on nearby servers. Plus, I also like how beginner-friendly its apps are.
The provider has all industry-standard security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. It also comes with obfuscation, DNS leak protection, FDE, and split-tunneling.
While I like AVG Secure VPN, it has a few issues — it doesn’t work with most popular streaming sites, it has really slow speeds on distant servers, its server network is pretty small, it doesn’t work in restrictive countries like China, and its live chat and email support could use some improvement.
AVG Secure VPN allows 10 connections with 1 account, and it has paid yearly plans. It’s a shame there’s no monthly plan, but on the plus side, there’s a free 60-day trial. Also, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AVG Secure VPN safe to use?
Yes, AVG Secure VPN provides good security. It has all essential VPN security features — military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. In addition, it also comes with secure protocols, provides obfuscation (hides your VPN traffic), and uses full-disk encryption, which keeps all data on a server safe even if the server is compromised.
That said, ExpressVPN provides even better security — it has essential VPN security features (plus, its no-logs policy has been independently audited). Also, it provides access to obfuscation, a tool that blocks malicious sites, and a password manager. And it has RAM-only servers that wipe all data on each reboot, and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN session.
Does AVG Secure VPN work in China?
No, the VPN can’t access the web in China — despite it having its own protocol that provides obfuscation. I talked with 5+ support reps, and they all confirmed that AVG Secure VPN doesn’t work in China.
If you’re looking for a VPN that 100% works in China, try ExpressVPN. In addition to working in that country without issues, it also provides high-end security and privacy features, super fast speeds, and the best streaming and P2P support out there.
Is AVG Secure VPN good for torrenting?
Not really — it only “officially” supports torrenting on servers in 5+ countries. I tested servers in other countries and was able to torrent without issues, but there’s no guarantee the provider won’t start blocking P2P downloads when you try doing that.
To be honest, Private Internet Access is a much better P2P VPN. It allows torrent downloads on servers in 91 countries, it supports port forwarding (connect to more peers for faster downloads), and it has SOCKS5 proxy support, which changes your IP address but doesn’t provide encryption, so that you can get much faster P2P speeds.
Does AVG Secure VPN work with Netflix?
No, the provider isn’t compatible with Netflix. What’s more, it doesn’t work with other top streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, Max, and Disney+. It only works with Amazon Prime. If you want a VPN that works with Netflix, I instead recommend checking out ExpressVPN, which is the fastest VPN on the market.
Is AVG Secure VPN free?
No, AVG Secure VPN doesn’t have a free plan but has a free 60-day trial, which gives you access to all features and provides plenty of time to fully test the VPN. You need to provide payment details to be eligible for the free trial, however. The VPN only has long-term plans with a flat rate, but it does back them with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is nice.
I don’t really recommend getting a free VPN anyway. Most free VPNs come with noticeable limitations, such as data caps, slow speeds, no streaming support, and poor security features.
