Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AVG (Gen Digital) vs Surfshark
What sets them apart
| Compare |  AVG (Gen Digital) |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | from 100 | 100 |
| Jurisdiction | CZ | NL |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, RoutersCovers more |
| Owner | Gen Digital Inc. | Nord Security |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Devices | 10 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Deloitte 2025 |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos |
| Features | Not confirmed | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop |
| Streaming services | Streaming services | Not confirmed |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 27 months |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Linux, Android TV, Apple TV.
- Support channels: only Surfshark offers Email, Chat.
- Founded is lower at AVG (Gen Digital): 1991 vs 2018.
- Surfshark is available in 7 more countries.
- Pricing model: only AVG (Gen Digital) offers Free.
- Pricing model: only Surfshark offers Budget.
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.
Surfshark
Surfshark suits households and small teams that want a wide network at a modest rate, and it reaches further than most rivals at this price. Its long-term plan price is €2.49, under the site median for long-term plans, €3.97, and every purchase carries a 30 money-back window.
Score breakdown
| Area | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.6Surfshark's long-term plan price of €2.49 undercuts the site median €3.97, while the monthly plan at €2.49 keeps entry low. |
| 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. | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.5Higher | 8.7 |
Sources behind this comparison
AVG (Gen Digital)
- avg.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark
- surfshark.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 42 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 26 of 117 | 7 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 39 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 13 of 55 | 3 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Gen Digital Inc. | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
| Founded | 1991Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| 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 | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Logging policy | Not confirmed | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Privacy tool type | Browser | Private dns, Ad blocker, Search |
Antivirus
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,000,000 |
| Free trial length | 30 daysHigher | 7 days |
Data removal
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €121.23 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €3.99 |
| Devices | 10at the median | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | from 100highest quarter | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
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.
Surfshark
Pros
- Servers in 100 countries, ranking 7 on coverage among 62 brands compared.
- The no-logs policy is independently verified by Deloitte, with the current audit listed as Deloitte 2025.
- A single subscription covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so the 7-day free trial, 3 devices is the only way to try Surfshark before paying.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for urgent problems.
- Price-first readers have cheaper options: MEGA lists $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 for a long-term plan.
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.
Surfshark
Who it suits
- Households covering several device types, with apps across Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Small teams priced for business, with 100 server countries and privacy extras of private dns, ad blocker and search in one subscription.
- Readers who put audit evidence first, since the no-logs policy is verified by Deloitte and the current audit is Deloitte 2025.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers chasing the lowest long-term rate, where MEGA at $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 sit lower.
- Buyers looking for antivirus rather than a network, where ESET Brasil is the comparison to read, with 40 to 70 server countries in its coverage.
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
Surfshark
Current offer
Bonus
+3 EXTRA months, Save 85% on Surfshark Starter: Starter EUR 2.49/mo., sale price EUR 67.23 for the first 27 months (old price EUR 444.15)
24-month plans, VAT may apply, 30-day money-back guarantee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
7-day free trial: 7 days free on 3 devices
Available on all 12-month and 24-month plans; payment by credit card, Apple Pay or PayPal
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AVG (Gen Digital) | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Belarus | No | Yes |
| Cuba | No | Yes |
| Iran | No | Yes |
| Kosovo | No | Yes |
| North Korea | No | Yes |
| Russia | No | Yes |
| Syria | No | Yes |
| Afghanistan | Yes | Yes |
8 of 250 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.
Surfshark
What does Surfshark cost month to month and on a long commitment?+
Surfshark's monthly plan is listed at €2.49 and the yearly plan at €121.23. The longest plan runs 27 months, which brings the monthly rate to €2.49, below the site median for long-term plans, €3.97. A 30 money-back window sits behind the longer commitments.
Is there a free plan, or only a trial?+
The free plan is no, so nothing runs indefinitely at no cost. What is offered is a 7 trial, and the stated free plan limits read 7-day free trial, 3 devices. After that trial ends, the 30 money-back window is the route to a full refund if the service does not fit your setup.
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