Avast vs AVG
We give Avast a 3.0 GPA and AVG a 2.8, out of 4.0. Avast grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Avast
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate
Free plan
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAAvastVery good | 2.8GPAAVGGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo prices on record: avast.com turned our reader away, so there's no two-year figure for a household, and C is the grade for no stated price. Note that Premium Security leaves out the VPN and Cleanup Premium, which cost extra unless you buy Ultimate. | CNo prices on record: avg.com turned our reader away, so there's no two-year figure for a household, and C is the grade for no stated price. Watch the add-ons: Secure VPN and TuneUp show up inside Internet Security but need their own subscriptions. |
| Free plan and trial | AAvast Free Antivirus gives real-time file, behavior and web shields, ransomware protection, a firewall and network scans, and there are free apps for Mac, Android and iPhone too. Most people won't hit a wall. | BAVG AntiVirus Free gives a Windows PC real-time file, behavior, web and email shields, ransomware protection, a firewall and Hack Alerts. One Windows user could live on it, but the free version is Windows only. |
| Features | BReal-time shields, ransomware protection and a firewall even when free, then Bank Mode, Email Guard, Deepfake Guard, a sandbox and webcam blocking on Premium. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core protection. | BReal-time shields and a firewall even when free, then webcam and remote access protection, Fake Website Shield and Browser Defense on Internet Security. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core protection. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. You install it and the shields start working, and everything sits in the one Avast One app. | BNo store rating on record. It installs and starts protecting, with nothing to configure first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone and a browser extension, with Multi-Device covering up to 10. No web app or API on record, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone and a browser extension, up to 10 devices on Multi-Device. A single-device licence moves only within the same platform, and there's no API on record. |
| Best for | real-time antivirus without paying | free real-time antivirus on a Windows PC |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Avast and AVG. How we grade
Where they differ
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSBrowser extensionVPNMalware protection
At a glance
| Avast | AVG | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | Avast Free Antivirus: real-time file, behavior and web shields, ransomware protection, network scans, a firewall and Smart Scan. Free apps exist for Mac, Android and iOS. | AVG AntiVirus Free: real-time file, behavior, web and email shields, ransomware protection, network scans, a firewall and Hack Alerts on a Windows PC. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Gen Digital Inc. | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Avast
- Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Households protecting up to 10 devices on mixed platforms
- People who want antivirus, VPN and PC cleanup from one vendor
AVG
- Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Households mixing Windows, Mac and phones under one 10-device plan
- Buyers who want antivirus, VPN and PC tune-up in one bundle
Worth knowing
Avast
- Avast's website refused automated reads on 2026-10-17, so its plan prices are not listed here; check avast.com before buying.
- Premium Security does not include the VPN or Cleanup Premium; each needs its own subscription unless you buy Avast Ultimate.
- Premium Security is sold for one device or as Multi-Device for up to 10 across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
- Paid subscriptions renew automatically, and some trials ask for a payment method before they start.
AVG
- AVG's website refused automated reads on 2026-10-17, so its plan prices are not listed here; check avg.com before buying.
- AVG Secure VPN and TuneUp show inside Internet Security but need their own subscriptions unless you buy AVG Ultimate.
- The free antivirus is for Windows, and single-device Internet Security can move only to a device on the same platform.
- AVG Mobile Ultimate covers Android only and limits the VPN to 5 Android devices at once.
Key features
Avast
- Core Shields
- File, Behavior and Web shields scan files, watch running programs and block harmful sites in real time, on the free version as well as the paid one.
- Ransomware Shield and firewall
- The free antivirus includes a Ransomware Shield, a firewall, Network Inspector for home network checks, and Hack Alerts when your logins leak online.
- Bank Mode and Real Site
- Premium Security opens banking and payment sites in an isolated virtual desktop and guards against DNS hijacking that swaps a real site for a fake one.
- Email Guard and Deepfake Guard
- Premium Security scans web-based email for phishing and uses AI to flag synthetic voices and videos used in scams.
- Sandbox and webcam protection
- Premium Security can run suspicious programs in a sandbox, blocks apps from using the webcam, and shreds files beyond recovery.
- Avast Ultimate bundle
- Ultimate unlocks Premium Security together with Avast VPN, Cleanup Premium and AntiTrack. Bought alone, the VPN and Cleanup need their own subscriptions.
AVG
- Real-time Core Shields
- File, Behavior, Web and Email shields check files, running programs, downloads and email attachments as they arrive, in the free version too.
- Ransomware protection and firewall
- The free antivirus guards chosen folders against ransomware and includes Enhanced Firewall, Network Inspector and Hack Alerts for leaked logins.
- Webcam and remote access protection
- Internet Security blocks untrusted apps from the webcam and lets you choose which IP addresses may connect to your PC remotely.
- Fake Website Shield and Browser Defense
- Internet Security guards against DNS hijacking and protects passwords and cookies stored in your browsers from theft by other apps.
- Multi-device coverage
- Internet Security (Multi-Device) adds AVG's Mac, Android and iOS apps and covers up to 10 devices at once.
- AVG Ultimate bundle
- Ultimate combines Internet Security, AVG Secure VPN, TuneUp and AntiTrack on up to 10 devices on the platforms you choose.
Plans
Avast
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avast.com.
AVG
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avg.com.
