Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AVG (Gen Digital) vs Qwant
AVG (Gen Digital) vs Qwant: the differences
| Compare |  AVG (Gen Digital) |  Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Blocks viruses, malware, ransomware and unsafe links, downloads and emails; no Wi-Fi security check, firewall, fake-site or phishing-site protection, no VPN, TuneUp or AntiTrack | Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, Edge extension, Firefox extension, Safari extension |
| Jurisdiction | CZ | FR |
| Privacy tool type | Browser | Search |
| Logging policy | Not confirmed | By default does not store search history or personal data; no advertising trackers or pixels |
| Open source | Not confirmed | No |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Qwant scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Platforms: only AVG (Gen Digital) offers Windows, MacOS.
- Platforms: only Qwant offers Web, Chrome extension, Edge extension.
- Support channels: only Qwant offers Email, Phone, Community.
- Founded is lower at AVG (Gen Digital): 1991 vs 2011.
- Privacy tool type: only AVG (Gen Digital) offers Browser.
- Privacy tool type: only Qwant offers Search.
Our verdict on each
AVG (Gen Digital)
AVG Secure VPN suits households and small teams that want a familiar security name behind their VPN, with room for 10 devices on a single plan. The trial runs 30 days and servers sit in from 100, so there is space to test before committing to a longer term.
Qwant
Qwant suits readers who want a private search engine with no cost attached, since a free plan is included. It is the fit for people who put no stored search history above open source code, while the typical starting price in the site's private-search field is €6.93.
Score breakdown
| Area | AVG (Gen Digital) | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.1 |
| Offer | 8.8The VPN is bundled as an extra in vpn, and no-logs protection plus streaming are named, so the offer runs past a bare tunnel. | 9.6Higher |
| Privacy | 9.5Higher | 8.8 |
Which one suits you
Pick AVG (Gen Digital) if privacy matter most.
Pick Qwant if offer matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | AVG (Gen Digital) | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 39 of 280 | 77 of 280 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 13 of 55 | 15 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Gen Digital Inc. | QWANT, SAS (RCS Paris B 532 867 256) |
| Headquarters | United States | France |
| Founded | 1991Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Antivirus
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Pros and cons
AVG (Gen Digital)
Pros
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Android, so a single subscription covers desktop and mobile together.
- Supports streaming services on the same plan as the rest of the suite.
- Device coverage of 10 sits above the site median of 7.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, with no live agent in the mix.
- The free plan limits leave out the Wi-Fi security check, firewall, fake-site and phishing-site protection, plus the VPN, TuneUp and AntiTrack.
- Corporate details span more than a single country: Gen Digital Inc. is headquartered in the United States while the privacy terms sit under CZ jurisdiction.
Qwant
Pros
- A free plan is included, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
- Search history and personal data are not stored by default, and no advertising trackers or pixels are run.
- It runs on web, iOS and Android and support covers email, phone and help centre.
Cons
- Open source: no, so the code behind the engine is not published for outside review.
- The unlimited free tier depends on signing up: Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
Who each suits
AVG (Gen Digital)
Who it suits
- Households already paying for Gen Digital security products.
- People who want a VPN and antivirus under the same subscription.
- Viewers who need streaming services access through the VPN.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households needing more than 10 device slots: ESET Brasil plans run 3 to 25 and Norton covers 10 to 20.
- People who want phone or live chat support should weigh Surfshark or Norton first, since AVG runs on help centre.
Qwant
Who it suits
- Readers who want a search engine that keeps no search history or personal data by default.
- People in the Apple ecosystem, who can pair a Qwant account with Apple Hide My Email for aliasing.
- Anyone who wants one account across web, iOS and Android.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts, for readers whose main task is opting out of data brokers rather than searching; it has no free plan.
- Apple Hide My Email, for email aliases: its aliases are free with an Apple Account, which is a different job from private search.
Current offers
AVG (Gen Digital)
Current offer
Free trial
AVG Secure VPN free trial: 60 days free, pay $0 at checkout
30-day money-back guarantee applies; trial covers all AVG Secure VPN privacy and security features
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AVG (Gen Digital) | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Yes | No |
| Aland Islands | Yes | No |
| Albania | Yes | No |
| Algeria | Yes | No |
| American Samoa | Yes | No |
| Andorra | Yes | No |
| Angola | Yes | No |
| Anguilla | Yes | No |
8 of 243 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
AVG (Gen Digital)
How many devices can a single AVG VPN subscription cover?+
A single AVG Secure VPN subscription covers 10 devices at once, so several phones, laptops and a television can share the same plan. For comparison, ESET Brasil protection plans run 3 to 25 devices and Norton covers 10 to 20. Households above the limit would need a second subscription.
How many countries does AVG Secure VPN run servers in?+
AVG Secure VPN lists servers in from 100, and Surfshark reports 100 server countries, so both sit in a similar band. Check the server list for the exact country you need before paying, since headline coverage and actual locations can differ.
Qwant
Is Qwant really free?+
Yes. A free plan is included and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account, so the search stays free once an account exists. The only model listed is free, so there is no paid tier priced against it.
What does Qwant cost, and what happens at renewal?+
Qwant's free plan covers the search, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account. There is no introductory deal to time and no renewal step for a paid plan, since free is the only model listed. For scale, the typical yearly price across tools on the site is €65.76.