NordVPN vs AVG Secure VPN in 2024

It’s common practice for successful companies to diversify their offerings once a product becomes successful. In this case, AVG started as an antivirus solution and has expanded to cover many aspects of cybersecurity. Meanwhile, NordVPN began as a VPN but has since released additional security and privacy products.

Now the trajectories of these two companies overlap, and we can see which will emerge victorious when comparing NordVPN vs AVG VPN. We’ll look at various VPN use cases and then tally the results to see which VPN is superior overall.

NordVPN vs AVG Secure VPN: specifications

NordVPN is a top-notch VPN that has an expansive server network, lightning-fast speeds, robust security features, and superb streaming and torrenting capabilities. As this VPN has been around for a long while, people love it.

On the contrary, AVG Secure launched the VPN service not so long ago, so it still needs to attract customers. However, it comes with 700+ servers in 36+ countries, impressive streaming capabilities, and decent device compatibility.

Unfortunately, that isn’t enough for it to beat NordVPN. The excellent VPN provider, NordVPN, wins the AVG Secure vs. NordVPN comparison! Now, let’s get into more detail.

NordVPN vs AVG Secure: pricing

Oddly enough, NordVPN is slightly cheaper than AVG Secure VPN. Both providers include long-term annual and two-year subscriptions, plus a free trial to get a feel of the software. And once you’re subscribed, there’s still a risk-free month because of the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Everything seems pretty standard on the surface. So let’s dig deeper into each to see where they diverge.

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN gives you the choice between three Standard subscription options:

• $12.99/month for a monthly plan
• $4.59/month for an annual plan
• $2.99/month for a two-year plan

The lengthiest two-year plan is gift-wrapped with a generous 74% discount and three bonus months for free. If that’s not good enough, you can browse online for various NordVPN coupon codes in the hopes of finding a better deal.

Furthermore, the other subscription tiers are Plus and Complete. Plus plans include a password manager and a data breach monitor, while the Complete subscriptions throw in 1TB of secure cloud storage as extra.

Once you’re confident that NordVPN is the best VPN service for you, you have a multitude of payment options to consider. There are typical options like a credit card, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay. However, you can even preserve your anonymity by paying for the VPN with cryptocurrencies. Just keep in mind that this method does not support refunds.

AVG Secure VPN pricing

AVG Secure VPN offers three not-so-different subscription plans:

• $4.99/month for an annual plan
• $3.99/month for a two-year plan
• $3.99/month for the three-year plan

As you can see, there’s no option for a short-term monthly plan, something that we grew to expect from most VPN providers. Furthermore, the two-year and three-year subscriptions end up with the exact monthly cost and 47% discount.

Thankfully, you can give AVG VPN a try by getting a 60-day free trial. Best of all, there’s no need to include credit card information or even create a new account to take advantage of this offer. Lastly, payment options are sparse and only include credit cards and PayPal.

Speed comparison

There’s not much to say when it comes to speed. According to our research, NordVPN is the fastest VPN service thanks to its WireGuard-based NordLynx tunneling protocol.

Meanwhile, AVG VPN is nowhere near with its OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocol options and a shared server fleet. Speeds are average at best, but they can fluctuate significantly since there aren’t many server locations. Until AVG VPN implements WireGuard, it will remain in the slow lane on the VPN highway.

If you’d like to see who the winners are on the VPN racetrack, consider checking out our VPN speed test to get up-to-date information about the performance of some of the well-known services.

NordVPN vs AVG Secure VPN: which is more secure?

Security is one of the most crucial aspects when it comes to choosing a VPN provider. Therefore, we carefully tested both providers and decided that NordVPN would win again. This VPN stands out because of its strong approach toward user privacy.

Unsurprisingly, NordVPN and AVG VPN are equipped with a kill switch, utilize AES-256 encryption to keep your data private, and aren’t prone to IP or DNS leaks. And both are based in safe jurisdictions. However, NordVPN takes the right step forward by having its no-logs policy audited multiple times and employing RAM-only hardware.

Privacy

NordVPN prioritizes your online security, and it proves that by being part of a security-friendly country. More precisely, it operates in Panama, outside the 5, 9, or 14-Eyes Alliance. Due to this, the provider won’t log, gather, or share your data with the government.

On the other hand, AVG Secure VPN is located in the Czech Republic. While it’s not a member of the Five Eyes alliance, other issues bring the privacy practices of this VPN into question. First off, it’s owned by Avast, the company behind Avast SecureLine VPN. What’s troubling is that these two VPN services share servers.

Logging

The no-logs policy is crucial for enhancing the providers’ reliability. Luckily, NordVPN offers an independently-audited no-logs policy, ensuring it doesn’t collect your data. Unfortunately, AVG Security doesn’t have proof of being audited. It just claims it has a no-logs policy.

Servers location

As you may guess, when it comes to servers, NordVPN is the clear winner.

Both VPN services have server networks that deliver in quality and quantity, although NordVPN is visibly in the lead. It has 7000+ servers across 118+ countries, all of which are bare-metal. Additionally, all of those servers use RAM-only server technology to avoid storing data on hard drives. This guarantees that no information is available in case someone seizes the servers.

On the other hand, AVG Secure VPN owns 700+ servers in 36+ countries. While the fleet is smaller, all servers are physically located in their respective countries. Plus, there’s practically no risk of third-party interference since AVG retains complete ownership of the network. Or rather, AVG’s parent company Avast owns the network and uses it for Avast SecureLine VPN as well.

Features comparison

Regarding extra features, NordVPN wins once again. It offers necessary features, as well as more advanced ones. As a result, you get a neat and unique VPN experience. And AVG Security just offers nothing.

Smart DNS

If you want to access the VPN on any device, you need to find a provider with a Smart DNS feature. It allows you to establish a VPN connection on your preferred device and enjoy any online activity. Luckily, NordVPN offers a SmartDNS feature and provides you with unrestricted VPN access.

Ad & malware blocker

While browsing online, you click on many links and different ads. Well, this can be an entry point for cybercriminals to exploit your device. That’s why you should always look for an ad & malware blocker feature that disables adware, blocks user trackers, and prevents you from visiting suspicious websites.

As you may guess, NordVPN has you covered, meaning you can opt for it without any worries. Threat Protection is available on PC, mobile, and browser extensions. You can enable it, customize what you want to block, and leave it quietly running in the background.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling helps reduce pressure on the VPN provider. More precisely, you can decide which apps can use the VPN at the moment. Therefore, there is no unnecessary VPN usage that overwhelms its servers. While AVG Secure doesn’t come with split tunneling, NordVPN includes it in its plans.

Obfuscated servers

In order to bypass online censorship and remain hidden, you need a VPN with obfuscated servers. Thanks to this feature, your VPN traffic is displayed as a regular browsing one, so Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) can’t detect it or block it. Once again, only NordVPN has obfuscated servers.

Specialized servers

NordVPN also comes with numerous specialty servers:

• Onion over VPN. The Tor Network uses a worldwide fleet of volunteer-operated computers to maintain privacy. You can use Onion over VPN to combine this network with a VPN connection for maximum anonymity.
• Double VPN servers. It lets you connect to two VPN servers instead of one, encrypting your traffic twice for double the protection. It comes at the cost of performance, so keep that in mind before enabling it.
• P2P-optimized servers. Optimized for torrenting, boosting your download and upload rates.

AVG Secure, meanwhile, offers optimized-streaming servers for better quality videos. There’s also P2P servers for torrenting.

Other features

Additionally, NordVPN offers a SOCKS5 proxy, Invisibility on LAN, Dark Web Monitoring, and Meshnet.

If there was a gold standard for being unexceptional – AVG Secure VPN is a great contender. It has the basic security features of a VPN but brings nothing else to the table. You can choose if the VPN should turn on when you connect to the internet or start up your device. There’s also an experimental “Mimic” tunneling protocol, but the lack of information about it does not inspire confidence.

Netflix and streaming comparison

Streaming performance is a good litmus test of overall VPN quality. It involves getting around geo-blocks and maintaining high connectivity for long periods – crucial aspects when using a VPN.

Unsurprisingly, NordVPN knocks it out of the park in this category. It’s considered one of the best VPNs for streaming since it’s insanely fast, can unlock numerous Netflix libraries, and has no trouble dealing with other streaming services, such as HBO Max or BBC iPlayer.

However, AVG Secure VPN isn’t that great. It has specialized streaming servers in the US, the UK, and Germany. While not an extensive selection, it did not disappoint and managed to unlock more content at least on Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. Ultimately what sets AVG VPN back is the absence of Smart DNS. In the case of NordVPN, this feature is called SmartPlay.

Device compatibility

A glance at the table above shows that device compatibility between these two providers is like night and day. As a shining example of a good VPN service, NordVPN is compatible with numerous devices. Unsurprisingly, the most popular platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android) have dedicated apps. Some specialized streaming peripherals, such as Android TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick, also have apps.

Disappointingly, AVG Secure VPN has apps only for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. What’s more, there’s no possibility to set up a VPN connection on a router to secure an entire network. The only upside is that this VPN enables ten simultaneous connections, while NordVPN allows six. However, that’s hardly a brag-worthy benefit when AVG VPN supports so few devices.

Desktop applications

Both NordVPN and AVG Secure VPN have Windows and macOS applications. We appreciate the sleek designs and intuitive interfaces. However, NordVPN additionally has an interactive server map, making picking a server easier.

NordVPN’s desktop clients are equally robust in terms of security. Plus, they are packed with lots of features you can toggle to enhance your VPN experience. The only difference between them is that split tunneling is missing from macOS.

As for AVG Secure VPN, the apps are simplistic and offer the same level of security, too. A big drawback in our book is the lack of any features on them.

Mobile applications

Regarding mobile usage of your chosen VPN, both providers come with dedicated Android and iOS apps. Again, NordVPN offers more functionality, while AVG VPN is simply bare bones.

Since NordVPN’s mobile apps are copies of their desktop counterparts, you’re not missing out on the security front. Unsurprisingly, split tunneling isn’t on iOS.

AVG VPN also takes the same approach to their mobile apps as NordVPN. While certainly pleasing to the eye, they’re nothing to write home about.

Torrenting

P2P is a VPN use case that can be pretty controversial because of the legality of torrenting around the world. But not every torrent file is a copyright infringement. Therefore, we expect partial P2P support at the very least.

In the case of NordVPN vs AVG VPN, the latter permits torrenting on specific P2P servers. NordVPN, on the other hand, allows it across the whole network and offers P2P-optimized servers for boosting torrenting traffic.

However, features like split tunneling and port forwarding are conducive to a smoother experience. The former feature is made available to NordVPN customers on Windows, Android, and Android TV devices. Sadly, neither provider has port forwarding available. It’s worth noting that NordVPN also has a SOCKS5 proxy feature, which tips the scales in its favor even more.

China

Certain parts of the world don’t take too kindly to the power that a VPN provides. One such place is China – the birthplace of the Great Firewall and an overall surveillance state. Although using a VPN isn’t strictly illegal, you are limited to state-approved providers. Other services are in a constant tug of war with the state that is hell-bent on blocking them.

Thankfully, NordVPN hasn’t caved in to the pressure and still works relatively reliably in China. The VPN guarantees privacy and DPI avoidance with its Obfuscated Servers and Onion Over VPN features.

Meanwhile, AVG Secure VPN has made it clear that it isn’t tackling such grand obstacles as the Great Firewall of China. There are no features against it, and even customer support has notified us that the service doesn’t work there. As such, we recommend picking NordVPN or another VPN for China.

Customer support

With so many VPN uses, customers are bound to come across issues at some point. This is why it’s crucial to have access to knowledgeable customer support agents 24/7.

Thankfully, both VPNs deliver in this regard. But AVG Secure VPN has managed to one-up NordVPN in this category. Notably, it gives users the ability to call customer support by phone, an option that NordVPN lacks. Although I doubt that many customers take advantage of this feature, it’s still a neat bonus that puts AVG VPN ahead in this category.

NordVPN vs AVG Secure VPN – which is better?

And so we have reached the conclusion of this NordVPN vs AVG VPN comparison. The results aren’t surprising, which is quite a shame considering how well-known AVG is for its antivirus software. I suppose the company spread itself too thin and couldn’t cover every cybersecurity aspect.

Meanwhile, NordVPN is better than AVG VPN and has continued to improve over the years. It excels in many aspects and is a great all-in-one privacy tool.

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FAQ

Is NordVPN better than AVG VPN?

Yes, NordVPN is significantly better than AVG VPN. It has more servers and security features, better privacy practices, and greater device compatibility. All of that at a more affordable price.

Which is faster – NordVPN or AVG Secure?

NordVPN is faster than AVG Secure because it employs 7000+ servers in 118+ countries, and it utilizes many VPN protocols, such as NordLynx, and OpenVPN.

Is AVG VPN trustworthy?

Although the AVG VPN privacy policy seems solid now, it’s owned by a company that was using a different product to collect user information and sell it. As such, this VPN is not 100% trustworthy.