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AVG VPN - Full Review
AVG VPN was acquired by Avast Avast Software back in 2016 who also have another VPN product called Avast Secureline, so you probably recognize the name. The two products share many similarities and both have some way to go to be able to compete at VPN’s top table. Avast, though, is happy to play on its brand – a giant in the world of antivirus software they use that awareness to now step into the world of internet security with a VPN product (or two).
And because the name is so recognizable, it would be tempting to purchase their VPN services without much research, but like any technical product it’s worth looking under the hood before you click the buy button. Being strong in antivirus software doesn’t necessarily make you strong in internet security. Though initial glances look positive – for example being based in the Czech Republic, which is not in the 14 eyes alliance; is favorable.
Let’s look at what the rest of AVG VPN has to offer.
Speed
The speed of the VPN is one of the most important aspects, other than the actual safety the service provides.
Paying for a slow VPN is frustrating at best and infuriating at worst. The speed with AVG is not the best you can have with a VPN service.
We ran some basic tests in different locations around the world, here’s the results:
- Taiwan
- Ping: 61ms
- Download: 21.60 Mbps (58.1% slower)
- Upload: 25.60 Mbps (47.8% slower)
- EU
- Ping: 295ms
- Download: 5.19 Mbps (89.9% slower)
- Upload: 1.60 Mbps (96.7% slower)
- US
- Ping: 307ms
- Download: 6.21 Mbps (87.9% slower)
- Upload: 2.94 Mbps (94.1% slower)
How AVG VPN Works
Knowing how a VPN service works with different things you might be doing on the internet is an essential piece of information to have when choosing which company to go with.
Some companies will not work with Netflix, mostly because the streaming mogul has blocked them, and others that will not let you torrent.
Streaming
Let’s get to the key question, does AVG work with Netflix?
While AVG VPN does have three US servers that have been known to work with Netflix, this can change almost instantly.
In truth, AVG’s server response speed is not typically fast enough to comfortably stream Netflix. So if you do circumnavigate their IP blocks using AVGs servers then you’ll likely run into a speed issue.
Torrenting
While AVG allows torrenting, it’s limited to only eight locations worldwide.
And dig a little deeper than the unlimited bandwidth on offer from AVG as, much like with streaming on the AVG servers, the speed is very slow.
The 8 server locations AVG offers for torrenting:
- Prague
- Paris
- Frankfurt
- Amsterdam
- London
- Miami
- New York
- Seattle
Gaming
It’s worth noting here that it’s not possible to connect AVG via ethernet to your console which will enable gaming. This is the preferred way to set up a VPN and then start gaming online.
It is, however, possible to connect to AVG from a computer where sharing is enabled with your console. This is the only way you’ll be able to get AVG VPN working while gaming. Which you need to set up via the apps.
In my testing there were some occasions where the screen froze but when next to my router I generally had a positive gaming experience and can’t fault the connection too much though I can’t speak for those that have their router in a different room.
There are better (and faster) VPNs for gaming fans which we’ve documented. An article worth taking a look at if you’re a serious gamer.
Subscription Plans
While the pricing is reasonable, the actual purchasing of the product can be confusing. They do not offer monthly subscriptions but only yearly subscriptions.
- 1 Year $3.99 per month but billed as $47.88 for the whole year
- 2 Year (which is the recommended value) $3.49 per month. Billed as $83.76 for the whole two years upfront.
- 3 years, $2.99 per month. Billed as $107.64.
Because you have to pay upfront for at least one whole year, we recommend you do the free trial first before you make a purchase.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free trial available
- No log policy
- Money-back guarantee
- Located in the Czech Republic (known to be a safe haven for digital information)
Cons
- Slow speed on most servers
- No kill switch
FAQ
Is AVG VPN Secure?
AVG doesn’t log where you go on the internet, but it does have weaker encryption relative to other products on the market.
Neither does AVG have a kill switch (like NordVPN for example).
Why is this important? A VPN will occasionally lose connection no matter which company you go with, and if there isn’t a kill switch, you will be left unprotected.
Is AVG VPN Worth the Money?
Well that depends on what you are using it for. If you are going to be streaming Netflix or gaming, then AVG won’t be worth your hard earned money, especially since you can’t choose a monthly subscription. That, combined with slow speeds, doesn’t spell value.
That said, it’s a VPN service from a trusted brand name and does allow limited torrenting, so for some users, it may be just what they are looking for.
It is also on par, if not at the cheaper end of the spectrum, price-wise with other VPN services.
Verdict
A free trial and money-back guarantee gives you the opportunity to really try AVG out for yourself.
For general internet browsing and offering a layer of safety online, AVG does exactly that at a very reasonable annual price.
But for heavy users – read; streaming, torrenting, gaming – then you’re probably better spending a little more money and looking at a higher end VPN on market to ensure uptime, consistency of service and speed.
