Avast vs AVG: Which Free Antivirus Is Better?
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Avast acquired AVG Technologies in 2016, creating the world's largest antivirus company. Despite sharing the same parent company and underlying detection engine, Avast Free Antivirus and AVG AntiVirus Free remain distinct products with different interfaces, feature sets, and user experiences. This comparison examines where the products align and where they diverge.
📊 How We Compared
Every product here was compared on vendor documentation, published pricing, and documented specifications, with published independent lab results referenced where the category has them.
Editor’s take: The choice between Avast and AVG isn't really about features — it's about which trade-off matters more to your team, and that depends on your workflow, not the feature list.
Every score here traces back to vendor documentation or published user feedback — see the rating criteria.
Editor's Take
Since both products run on essentially the same detection engine after the 2016 acquisition, choosing between them is less about protection and more about what else you are being asked to accept: bundled extras, upsell pressure, and each company's track record on what it does with user data. Free antivirus is never really free — the question is whether you are paying in attention or in information.
Shared Detection Engine
Both products use the same underlying detection engine, maintained by the combined threat research teams at Avast's Prague headquarters. In independent lab tests, this means both products earn identical or near-identical scores. In the latest AV-Test evaluation, both Avast and AVG scored 6/6 for protection, 5.5/6 for performance, and 5.5/6 for usability.
If detection capability is your only metric, there is no meaningful difference between the two. Both products will catch the same threats at the same rate. The differences lie in the user interface, the features included in each tier, and the approach to monetization.
What the Shared Engine Means for Users
The shared engine also means that choosing between Avast and AVG is primarily a question of user experience rather than security effectiveness. You get the same core protection regardless of which product you install. This allows you to make your decision based on interface preference, feature availability, and comfort with each product's monetization approach.
Free Tier Comparison
Avast Free Antivirus includes more features in its free version than AVG. The free Avast tier provides core malware protection, a basic ransomware shield, email shield, network inspector (checking for vulnerable Wi-Fi settings), and a gaming mode that suppresses notifications during gameplay.
AVG AntiVirus Free provides core malware protection, email scanning, and deep scan capabilities. It does not include the ransomware shield or network inspector in the free tier. AVG's free version is more stripped down, focusing on essential virus detection without the extra utilities Avast bundles.
| Feature | Avast Free | AVG Free | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core malware protection | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Ransomware shield | Yes (basic) | No | Avast |
| Email scanning | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Network inspector | Yes | No | Avast |
| Web protection | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Gaming mode | Yes | No | Avast |
| VPN (limited) | 5GB/month | Not included | Avast |
| Firewall | No (paid only) | No (paid only) | Tie |
Paid Tier Comparison
Avast's premium tiers offer more choice. Avast One Essential (free) includes a 5GB/month VPN, basic ransomware protection, and device cleanup tools. Avast One Individual costs $50.28/year and adds a full VPN, data breach monitoring, and advanced ransomware protection. Avast One Family covers 30 devices for $69.48/year.
AVG AntiVirus Free covers basic protection. AVG Internet Security costs $46.68/year (1 device) and adds an enhanced firewall, phishing protection, and webcam protection. AVG Ultimate costs $79.99/year and includes a full VPN and system cleanup tools across 10 devices.
On pricing, the products are in the same ballpark, but Avast One Family's 30-device coverage at $69.48/year offers better value for large households than AVG Ultimate's 10-device coverage at $79.99/year.
Interface and User Experience
AVG has the cleaner, more straightforward interface. Its main screen shows your protection status prominently, with clearly labeled buttons for scans and settings. The design is functional and uncluttered, making it a good choice for users who want essential protection without complexity.
Avast's interface is feature-rich but can feel busy. The dashboard includes tiles for every feature, including promotional tiles for paid features you do not have. Some users find this distracting. However, the additional features are genuinely useful if you take the time to configure them, and the gaming mode effectively suppresses interruptions during gameplay.
Monetization and Privacy
Transparency note: In 2020, Avast (parent of both products) faced scrutiny for selling anonymized user browsing data through its Jumpshot subsidiary. Avast shut down Jumpshot in response and committed to stopping the practice. Both Avast and AVG still show occasional popup ads for their paid products, which some users find intrusive.
Free antivirus products need to generate revenue somehow, and both Avast and AVG do this through upselling paid tiers and showing promotional notifications. Avast tends to show more frequent promotional popups, while AVG is relatively restrained. If popups are a dealbreaker, consider that neither product is completely free of them.
The free versions of both products do collect some usage data for product improvement, which you can opt out of during installation. Neither product's free tier includes the data brokerage practices that led to the Jumpshot controversy.
Platform Support
Avast supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. The Android version includes anti-theft features and call filtering. The iOS version focuses on web protection and Wi-Fi scanning since iOS does not support traditional antivirus scanning.
AVG supports the same platforms. The Android version is comparable to Avast's offering. The macOS version includes web shield and email scanning. Both products offer similar mobile experiences since they share underlying technology.
Avast vs AVG: strengths and weaknesses
Avast Free Pros
- More free features (ransomware shield, network inspector)
- 5GB/month free VPN
- Gaming mode for uninterrupted gameplay
- 30-device family plan available
- Strong detection rates matching paid products
Avast Free Cons
- Interface feels cluttered with promotional tiles
- More frequent upsell popups than AVG
- Data collection practices (historical concerns)
- Heavier system footprint than AVG
AVG Free Pros
- Clean, uncluttered interface
- Less aggressive upselling
- Lighter system impact
- Easy to set up and use
- Same detection engine as Avast
AVG Free Cons
- Fewer features in free tier
- No free VPN
- No ransomware shield (free)
- No network inspector
- Still shows some promotional popups
Which Should You Choose?
If you want the most features possible without paying, Avast Free Antivirus is the better choice. The included ransomware shield, network inspector, gaming mode, and 5GB VPN make it one of the most feature-rich free antivirus products available. The tradeoff is a busier interface and more frequent upsell attempts.
If you prefer simplicity and a cleaner experience, AVG AntiVirus Free delivers the same core protection with fewer distractions. It is ideal for family members who just need solid virus protection without extra features they will never use. The lighter system footprint also makes it better for older computers.
For users considering paid tiers, Avast One Family offers better value with 30-device coverage. AVG Ultimate is worth considering if you prefer the AVG interface and only need to cover up to 10 devices.
Pricing: Avast vs AVG
Avast starts at Free / $50.28/yr (Premium) for the first year, covering 1 (Free) / 10 (Premium) devices. After the first year, it renews at $79.99/yr (Premium). AVG starts at Free / $46.68/yr for 1 (Free) / 10 devices, renewing at $77.99/yr.
Price alone does not tell the full story — consider what is included. Avast includes Not included (separate Avast SecureLine VPN). AVG includes Not included.
Lab test scores compared
| Test | Avast | AVG | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AV-Test Protection | 6/6 | 6/6 | Tie |
| AV-Comparatives Detection | 99.4% | 99.4% | Tie |
| System Impact | 7% | 6% | AVG |
| Ransomware Protection | 100% blocked (basic shield in free) | Not in free tier | Avast |
| G2 User Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.1/5 | Avast |
Who Should Choose Avast
Users wanting solid free protection with optional upgrade. Its standout features include Free tier with ransomware shield, Network inspector.
Who Should Choose AVG
Users who want simple, stripped-down antivirus. Its standout features include Cleaner interface than Avast, Same detection engine.
