The AVG Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about AVG in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
AVG
The Insider’s Guide
Free antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from AVG’s own pages.
Made by Gen Digital Inc. · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from AVG’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on AVG’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade
AVG is a Gen Digital brand that offers AVG AntiVirus Free, a real-time antivirus for Windows PCs, and paid AVG Internet Security, which adds webcam, remote access and fake website protection. AVG Ultimate bundles Internet Security with AVG Secure VPN, TuneUp and AntiTrack on up to 10 devices across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about AVG, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It installs and starts protecting, with nothing to configure first.
- 1
Best for free real-time antivirus on a Windows PC
Our listing has no prices, though, and the VPN and TuneUp only come bundled in Ultimate.
- 2
There is a free plan
AVG AntiVirus Free: real-time file, behavior, web and email shields, ransomware protection, network scans, a firewall and Hack Alerts on a Windows PC.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with a browser extension too.
- 4
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.
- 5
Ransomware protection and firewall
The free antivirus guards chosen folders against ransomware and includes Enhanced Firewall, Network Inspector and Hack Alerts for leaked logins.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 10 of 14
That is against the other antivirus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace AVG you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
AVG at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Gen Digital Inc.
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free real-time antivirus on a Windows PC
AVG AntiVirus Free puts real-time shields, ransomware protection and a firewall on a Windows PC for nothing, and one person could live on it. Paid Internet Security adds Mac and phone apps for up to 10 devices. Our listing has no prices, though, and the VPN and TuneUp only come bundled in Ultimate.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No 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 | B | AVG 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 | B | Real-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 | B | No store rating on record. It installs and starts protecting, with nothing to configure first. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who AVG is for
- Great if you want real-time antivirus on a Windows PC without paying
- Handy when one plan has to cover Windows, Mac and phones, up to 10 devices
- Good for anyone who wants antivirus, a VPN and PC tune-up in one bundle, on Ultimate
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac and want it free, as the free antivirus is Windows only
- Not for you if upsells bug you, as the VPN and TuneUp sit inside the app but cost extra
- Tight if you want the VPN on lots of Android phones, as Mobile Ultimate covers 5 at once
Good to know
Good for
- 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
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
AVG's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
No 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.
We could not confirm AVG’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. avg.com has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Free antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, malware protection.
Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core protection.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
AVG is made by Gen Digital Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
10/14
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
AVG's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 11 of 14) and worst on value for money (C, above 3).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 15 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. AVG’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 14
- BFree plan and trialAbove 11 of 14
- BFeaturesAbove 4 of 14
- BEase of useAbove 2 of 14
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 14
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace AVG you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. AVG’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Avast, Avira, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes and TotalAV
The 5 tools AVG is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Avast
Free plan
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate.
- 2.4GPA
Avira
Free plan
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager.
- Only AVG lists a macOS app.
- Only AVG lists a browser extension.
- Avira also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
Bitdefender
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier.
- Only AVG lists a browser extension.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
- 2.2GPA
Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.0GPA
TotalAV
From $99/yr
Antivirus with tune-up tools, plus VPN and ad blocking on higher plans.
- AVG has a free plan. TotalAV does not.
- TotalAV also covers password manager, disk cleanup and ad and tracker blocking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
8
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is AVG free?
AVG has a free plan. AVG AntiVirus Free: real-time file, behavior, web and email shields, ransomware protection, network scans, a firewall and Hack Alerts on a Windows PC.
What platforms does AVG work on?
AVG is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It also has a browser extension.
Does AVG have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. AVG is listed for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Is AVG open source?
AVG is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Who makes AVG?
AVG is made by Gen Digital Inc.
What are the alternatives to AVG?
The closest alternatives to AVG in our directory are Avast, Avira, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes and TotalAV.
How does AVG compare with other antivirus apps?
AVG's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 3.
Could I make my own version of AVG?
To replace AVG you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from AVG’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from AVG's own support pages on 17 October 2026. avg.com turned our reader away again when we went back to check it, so no price could be checked. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Gen Digital Inc. Prices change, so check avg.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- AVG, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/avg
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "AVG: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/avg
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/avg/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after AVG, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 15 antivirus apps we grade, compared
- Avast Insider's GuideFree antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate3.0 GPA
- Bitdefender Insider's GuideAntivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier2.8 GPA
- McAfee Insider's GuideAntivirus, VPN and identity monitoring for PCs, Macs and phones2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what AVG’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. AVG is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Gen Digital Inc. Prices and plans change: check avg.com before you buy.