AVG Secure VPN Review: A Solid Choice for Basic Online Privacy

AVG is a name that resonates with many in the digital security world, often linked to its popular antivirus software. Alongside major players like Avast, Norton, and McAfee, AVG has established itself as a household name. Over recent years, the company has expanded its offerings beyond antivirus programs, introducing a variety of personal security services, one of the most notable being AVG Secure VPN. This raises an interesting question: can an antivirus brand successfully branch out and compete with established VPN giants? Let’s explore whether AVG Secure VPN can meet expectations in this crowded market.

A Familiar Interface

Upon launching the AVG Secure VPN app on Windows, users will immediately notice its resemblance to other AVG products. The design mirrors that of AVG’s popular antivirus applications. For example, the title bar is a carbon copy of what you’d find in AVG Internet Security, complete with the AVG logo on the left and the product name next to it. A menu icon on the right allows users to access additional settings, giving the app a familiar feel if you’ve used other AVG software.

This interface suggests that AVG is more focused on antivirus software than on crafting a dedicated VPN service. While most VPN apps tend to favor smaller vertical windows, AVG Secure VPN opts for a larger window more akin to modern antivirus apps. Nevertheless, navigating the app is intuitive, and the essential VPN functions are easy to find.

Features and Performance

AVG Secure VPN’s user interface is designed with simplicity in mind. At the center of the app window is a large on/off slider, which lets you quickly connect or disconnect the VPN. Beneath the slider are two tiles: one displaying the country location of your chosen server, and the other showing your current IP address. Once connected, this tile also shows your new VPN IP and how long the connection has been active.

To select a different server, click on the “Change Location” button at the bottom of the screen. AVG’s server network spans over 700 servers across more than 50 countries. Additionally, the service offers dedicated servers for streaming and torrenting. The streaming servers, although limited to locations in the U.S., UK, and Germany, are a useful feature for those who need access to content in these regions.

However, the settings menu under “Menu > Settings” is quite basic. You can set the app to launch when your computer starts (without automatically connecting), enable local device access (to use devices on your network while connected to the VPN), and toggle notifications. The app also includes a kill switch to protect your data in case of a dropped connection, which is enabled by default. Notably, the app lacks some common features that competitors offer, such as split-tunneling, multi-hop, and ad-blocking.

Platform Availability and Pricing

AVG Secure VPN is available across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, making it a versatile option for users with different devices. The pricing structure for AVG Secure VPN is unique, as it only offers long-term subscriptions. You can choose from one-year, two-year, or three-year plans, with the one-year plan costing around $54 annually. While this pricing is competitive, the lack of monthly plans may deter some users who prefer the flexibility of month-to-month payments. To sweeten the deal, AVG Secure VPN offers a free two-month trial for new users, allowing you to test the service without committing to a subscription.

Speed and Unblocking Capabilities

Speed is an essential factor when choosing a VPN, and AVG Secure VPN performs adequately in this area. During testing, connection speeds averaged around 31% of baseline download speeds and 19% of baseline upload speeds. While these speeds aren’t exceptional, they are sufficient for most users’ browsing and streaming needs.

When it comes to unblocking streaming services, AVG Secure VPN does reasonably well with its dedicated streaming servers. These servers allowed seamless access to major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and HBO Max. However, other servers in AVG’s network had mixed results. Netflix, in particular, blocked all connections from servers outside the streaming server list, and other services had hit-or-miss success. Therefore, if you primarily need to access content from the U.S., UK, or Germany, AVG Secure VPN should suffice. However, users looking to unblock content from other regions may want to consider a different provider.

Privacy and Security Features

AVG Secure VPN offers several protocol options, including the widely-used WireGuard and OpenVPN, along with a proprietary protocol called Mimic. Mimic is designed to mimic HTTPS traffic, helping users bypass VPN-blocking technologies. However, whether this protocol provides a significant advantage over the others is debatable, as no noticeable difference was observed during testing.

Regarding privacy, AVG Secure VPN operates under the jurisdiction of the Czech Republic, which is not a part of any major international surveillance alliances, meaning the company is not obligated to share user data with foreign governments. However, AVG does log some connection data, such as timestamps and the amount of data transmitted, for the purpose of optimizing network capacity. This data is retained for 35 days before being deleted. Additionally, AVG logs data from the VPN client, including connection events, application events, and crash reports, which are kept for up to two years. This level of data retention may be a concern for privacy-conscious users, as it suggests that AVG is not entirely committed to maintaining complete anonymity.

Conclusion

AVG Secure VPN is a straightforward and user-friendly service, ideal for individuals looking for basic VPN protection from a well-known antivirus provider. It excels at unblocking streaming services in certain countries, offers a solid selection of server locations, and supports simultaneous connections across up to 10 devices. However, it lacks several advanced features that many other VPN services offer, and its data logging practices may raise privacy concerns.

For users who prioritize simplicity and don’t require advanced features or a high level of privacy, AVG Secure VPN is a solid choice. However, those who need more robust privacy protection or faster speeds might want to explore other VPN providers.