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In our Avast vs AVG guide, we’ll compare the two antivirus products in detail. Avast and AVG are two of the most popular antivirus solutions on the market today, and they have a fairly evenly matched level of performance and functionality in a number of areas.
We’ll analyze the two based on elements like pricing, features, customer support, and more and help you to choose the best one for your needs.
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Avast vs AVG Overview
Before we dive into the details, here’s a short and crisp overview comparing some of the key details about Avast and AVG. It’s worth noting that Avast and AVG have the same owner, though they have their own distinct sets of features.
| Overview | Avast | AVG |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | $2.49/month (annual) | $3.89/month (annual) |
| Free version | Free-forever plan | Free-forever plan |
| Antivirus testing results | 6/6 in Protection, Performance, and Usability | 6/6 in Protection and Usability, 5.5/6 in Performance |
| Firewall | ✅ | ✅ |
| VPN | ✅ | With upgrade |
| Max Devices | 30 | 10 |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, browsers | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, browsers |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| Site | Visit Avast | Visit AVG |
Avast vs AVG Price Comparison
Winner: Avast is slightly cheaper and delivers more value
Avast and AVG both offer comprehensive protection at a competitive price – but which is best? We’ll now look into the plans offered by the two malware protection services:
| Provider | Avast | AVG |
|---|---|---|
| Free Version | Avast One Basic (free) Includes scans, firewall, VPN, and dark web monitoring |
AVG AntiVirus Free Includes malware and performance scans and ransomware protection |
| Starter | Avast One Silver Device Protection Individual $2.49/month (annual) – 3 devices and web security |
AVG Internet Security $3.89/month (annual) – adds network scanning, anti-phishing tools, and malicious site blocking |
| Advanced | Avast Premium Security $2.92/month (annual) – comprehensive security features; $3.75/month for 10 devices |
AVG Internet Security + 10 $4.99/month (annual) – covers 10 devices |
| Premium | Avast Ultimate $3.67/month (annual) – adds system optimization, VPN, and anti-tracking; $4.67/month for 10 devices Avast One Gold Family ($7.99/month) covers 30 devices |
AVG Ultimate $4.99/month (annual) – adds VPN, performance optimization, and anti-tracking for 10 devices |
Avast has excellent plans for personal and business use. The fact that the free plan includes a VPN, a firewall, and dark web monitoring, as well as antivirus scans, qualifies it as one of the best free antivirus solutions, and it’s often cited as the best free antivirus software available today.
AVG has a more basic free plan, and the first paid plan only covers one device, while the Avast One Silver Individual package covers three. Both providers offer upgrades for broader coverage.
Avast’s top pricing tier offers a wide range of identity theft protection features, which AVG doesn’t offer at all. AVG’s only addition for its top tier is an unlimited VPN.
While Avast has somewhat confusing plans, AVG has slightly less functionality at each level and is effectively more expensive than Avast at each stage.
Both packages are available across devices, and both providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test the product. AVG also has a 30-day trial. For business alternatives, see our guide to the best business antivirus software.
Are Avast and AVG the Same Thing?
Avast and AVG are two separate antivirus products, but Avast acquired AVG in 2016. Avast was, in turn, purchased by Norton’s parent company in 2022. The same company also bought the similarly named Avira antivirus solution in 2020.
When it comes to an AVG vs Avast vs Avira comparison, all three generally get top marks for performance, protection, and usability in lab assessments by independent testing firms like AV-Test.
Avast and AVG – Which is Safer?
Winner: Draw – the two are very evenly matched
Being able to detect and block threats is a core requirement for any antivirus service. Here’s how Avast and AVG deliver antivirus scans and real-time device protection.
Exploring Avast and AVG’s Key Features
Winner: Avast has a much wider range of security features
Of course, cybersecurity goes far beyond antivirus scanning today. Here’s a quick glimpse into the additional key security features offered by the two products.
AVG Antivirus vs Avast – Which Offers Better Compatibility?
Winner: Draw – both offer wide support
Both Avast and AVG work with most major device types today.
| Device/Operating System | Avast | AVG |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7 (32 and 64-bit) | Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 |
| macOS | macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or higher | macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or above |
| Android | Android 8.0 or higher | Android 8.0 or above |
| iOS | iOS 14.0 or later | iOS 14.0 or above |
The two providers have apps and security solutions for a wide range of devices with a broadly consistent service and offering.
When it comes to securing multiple devices, AVG’s plans will protect ten devices at most, but the Avast One Gold Family plan provides coverage for 30 devices.
Which is Better on Mobile, AVG or Avast?
Both Avast and AVG have robust mobile apps for Android and iPhone, so there’s little to differentiate them. However, given that they’re under shared ownership, that’s not necessarily surprising.
The size of the apps is almost the same for both providers. Once you download the app on your phone, everything from the set-up process and the guided tour to the first scan is similar – and even the scan duration is similar for both.
What Do Customers Say About Avast Antivirus vs AVG?
Winner: Draw – the two are very evenly matched
We’ll now look at what customers have to say about both antivirus solutions to see how they perform in real-world scenarios.
On GetApp, Avast Ultimate Business Security has very positive feedback, with a total rating of 4.4/5 based on 930 reviews. Users often praise its customer support team, which they say goes above and beyond to help, handling technical issues in a matter of minutes.
One common complaint is about pop-ups in the free version, however, which persistently encourage the user to upgrade. It’s arguably a minor annoyance, given the quality of the product – though upgrading will also unlock plenty of value.
AVG gets the same rating on GetApp, with an overall score of 4.3/5 based on 2,100+ reviews for AVG Antivirus Business Edition.
Reviewers appreciated the affordability of the product and the range of features available. Some customers also shared their long-term experience with the app and mentioned how effective it had been for them in dealing with threats.
Where there were complaints, AVG’s team responded to them directly. There’s a lot of value in upgrading with AVG, and it seems the Ultimate plan is easier to handle than managing multiple add-ons.
For more information, you can read our in-depth Avast antivirus review and for comparisons, see our Malwarebytes vs Avast guide.
What’s Better, Avast or AVG in 2024?
| Provider | Avast | AVG |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Winner | ❌ |
| Free Plan | Winner | ❌ |
| Security | Draw | Draw |
| Features | Winner | ❌ |
| Compatibility | Draw | Draw |
| Customer reviews | Draw | Draw |
| Overall | Winner | ❌ |
Avast is affordable, comes with a great free plan, and has a lot more features than AVG. AVG is competitively priced, comes with a simple pricing model, and is compatible with a wide range of devices. The user interface is simple to use, and we didn’t run into any technical issues during our evaluation.
So, which is better: Avast or AVG? We recommend Avast for two simple reasons – firstly, it offers better value for money, and secondly, it provides far more features, including on its lower-level plans.
How to Choose the Best Antivirus Service and Pick Between Avast vs AVG
Understanding the differences between the best antivirus software products can be difficult at times, considering the huge range of cybersecurity solutions on the market today. These are the key criteria we recommend considering when looking at anti-malware products:
Key Security Features
Alongside scans and a firewall, you may want additional security features such as browser extensions, a password manager, and a VPN to provide multi-layered protection. See our best malware removal guide for additional analysis and discussion.
Independent Antivirus Testing Results
You can’t argue with the numbers that antiviruses get when they undergo testing.
We source results from independent antivirus testing labs like AV-Comparatives and AV-Test, which regularly assess the top antivirus programs and provide objective qualifications of the best and most effective AV solutions on the market.
Usability and Compatibility
Having a product that’s easy to use makes all the difference, and it’s essential for beginners. We install the apps on offer on various devices – across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android – to track usability and performance impact.
The best solutions will provide support for numerous devices across operating systems. See our guide to the best antivirus for gaming PCs for further product recommendations.
Customer Support
Having customer support on hand in the event you come across an issue you can’t fix or a problem you don’t understand is invaluable, and high-quality customer support is a key differentiator.
Customer Feedback
We make a point of researching user reviews to get a sense of how customers experience the product in the long run. Seeing how businesses address feedback tells you a lot about them.
We conduct research on review sites like Trustpilot and GetApp to get a glimpse of what long-term use is like.
Price and Value For Money
Determining your budget and what it’ll buy in the market may make your decision for you – whether you want to buy the cheapest product available or get the most comprehensive coverage possible.
How We Review And Test Antivirus Software
15 Antiviruses Tested
20 Datapoints Measured
300+ Hours Testing
500+ User Reviews Read
We base our recommendations on first-hand experience and in-depth testing. All the Antivirus products we suggest, have been tested based on the following criteria:
- Core Security Features: We make sure that the antivirus software is fully equipped with features like real-time protection, scanning, a firewall, web protection, and more.
- Malware Detection Rates: We test malware detection rates ourselves by running both in-depth and quick scans on our devices. Additionally, we check independent lab tests.
- Compatibility: We check which devices and operating systems the antivirus software is compatible with. Often, different-looking dashboards and slightly different packages of features may be available.
- Performance Impact: A reliable and functional antivirus should not slow down your device significantly. So, we examine our device performance with and without the antivirus running.
- Customer Experience: Alongside our own experience, we are curious to know what real users have to say regarding the services. So, we’ve scoured the web for feedback on each of our tested antiviruses.
- Value for Money: We always consider value for money and how much each product is offering for the set price point.
FAQs
What is better than Avast Antivirus?
Which is better in Avast vs AVG?
What’s better, AVG vs Avast for Android?
How does Avast free vs free AVG compare?
What are AVG’s disadvantages and Avast’s disadvantages?
References
- Patch Management (NIST Computer Security Resource Center)
- Computer Maintenance Tips (Arkansas State University)
- Securing End-to-End Communications (CISA)
