AVG Antivirus Review | 2023 Antivirus Software Guide

AVG is a security software company that is now part of Avast. As a result of the merger, the product lines of both companies are also merging. While they will retain their legacy names, they are powered by the same cloud-based antivirus engine. AVG Antivirus software currently places number 10 in our rating. However, the differences between the antivirus products will cease to exist. According to Avast, the company plans to leverage AVG’s strength in the mobile and small business markets where that company is stronger. Read our AVG Antivirus review below.

Like its cousin from Avast, AVG Antivirus provides very good antivirus, anti-phishing, and anti-ransomware protections. The free antivirus provides essential protections against such attacks. The upgraded version, Internet Security, adds protections against unauthorized remote access, ransomware, an enhanced firewall, a hardened browser, fake website protections, and scam protections. AVG Ultimate adds AVG TuneUp and AVG Secure VPN.

Both the free antivirus package and the upgraded version use the same antivirus engine, which is also shared with Avast. AVG comes in three packages. AVG Antivirus Free is free for one Windows, MacOS, Android, or IOS device. Internet Security costs $75.99 for one device for one year, but it’s currently on sale for $46.68 for the first year. 10 devices, it will cost $98.99 per year but is currently on sale for $59.88 for the first year. AVG Ultimate costs $127.99 per year for 10 devices and is on sale for $59.88 for the first year. AVG Internet Security is also available for the Macintosh.

Professional reviewers say AVG’s antivirus software scores well on virus detection tests and is good at removing persistent malware. It also includes some useful extra features that many competitors lack, including a virtual private network (VPN) in its top tier antivirus software and a tool that stops companies from tracking you online. On the downside, reviewers find AVG’s scans to be relatively slow.

AVG offers three levels of antivirus protection for Windows. Packages start with AVG Antivirus Free, which offers a good amount of protection for a free product. There’s also antivirus software for MacOS computers and Android mobile devices. In addition, AVG offers security software in the form of a VPN and anti-tracking software for Windows and Macintosh computers as well as Android and iOS devices.

AVG Antivirus for Android

AVG Mobile Security for iPhone & iPad

The following are the renewal prices for AVG’s antivirus software.

Whether AVG or Avira is best depends on who you ask. Some professional reviewers liked AVG better than Avira while some didn’t. There’s not even agreement on which did a better job of finding viruses and malware. Digging deeper into the reviews showed that most differences stemmed from custom developed test software, not actual malware. When looking at more standard testing, both products were essentially equal. The biggest difference between them was in price once you got away from the free levels. AVG costs slightly less on a per-machine basis, mainly because it sells its multiple license packs in units of 10, while Avira does so in units of 5 at a slightly higher unit cost.

Once again, determining which antivirus is better depends on who you ask. In addition, some non-performance scores affected the outcome of professional reviews, including a now-discontinued practice by AVG’s owner, Avast, to sell user data. When looked at strictly on its capability as an antivirus product, AVG consistently scored higher in professional reviews. AVG’s free version was praised by reviewers for being a complete, fully functioning product. Reviewers called the free version a decent antivirus package with a number of useful capabilities. Trend Micro doesn’t have a free version, and on a price per user basis, was slightly more expensive than AVG. Both products worked well in handling their primary jobs of finding and eliminating viruses and malware and in preventing attacks.

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At U.S. News & World Report, we rank the Best Hospitals, Best Colleges, and Best Cars to guide readers through some of life’s most complicated decisions. Our 360 Reviews team draws on this same unbiased approach to rate the products that you use every day. To build our ratings, we researched more than 37 antivirus companies and analyzed 16 antivirus reviews. Our 360 Reviews team does not take samples, gifts, or loans of products or services we review. All sample products provided for review are donated after review. In addition, we maintain a separate business team that has no influence over our methodology or recommendations.