Avast and AVG are two reliable antivirus programs with perfect malware detection rates, useful features, and easy-to-use interfaces. Both are well-suited for users looking for straightforward protection and added tools for online safety.
The two apps are very similar since they are owned by the same company (Avast acquired AVG in 2016), but there are some notable differences. For example, Avast provides two interfaces: Premium Security and Avast One. Premium Security offers more advanced customization, and Avast One has a built-in VPN with more integrated tools.
AVG, meanwhile, offers a single antivirus app with better optimization tools, but accessing its full suite of features requires downloading multiple additional apps.
Below, I’ve broken down the key distinctions between Avast and AVG to help you decide which antivirus best fits your needs.
Short on Time? Avast vs. AVG 2025 — Final Verdict:
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Avast provides privacy-focused features and an all-in-one app (Avast One). It’s ideal for users who prioritize privacy and want a more user-friendly antivirus.
AVG offers good malware protection and system optimization tools. If you’re looking for an antivirus that boosts your PC’s performance while providing excellent online security, AVG is the better option.
Avast vs. AVG: Quick Summary
Malware Protection — Both Use the Same (Excellent) Malware Engine
Avast — Top-Notch Malware Detection & Versatile Scanning Options
Avast offers excellent malware protection, with perfect detection rates against various threats, from viruses to ransomware. I tested its scanner with over 1,000 malware samples, and Avast caught every single one. Its full system scan was completed in under an hour with minimal impact on performance — I could even use my computer during the scan.
I particularly like Avast’s 6 versatile scanning options, which include Full Virus Scan, Smart Scan, Boot-Time Scan, Targeted Scan, and more. Its real-time protection also impressed me, blocking malware downloads even when zipped or encrypted.
AVG — Strong Malware Protection & Fast Scans
AVG uses the same antivirus engine as Avast, so it’s no surprise that it, too, achieved a perfect 100% detection rate in my tests. Like Avast, AVG offers 6 types of scans. Its Deep Scan is similar to Avast’s Full Virus Scan and is just as thorough. Plus, it only took 45 minutes to complete — which is slightly faster than Avast despite being the same engine. It’s on par with the best antiviruses on the market. The real-time protection blocked malware downloads and even disconnected me from malicious web servers.
However, AVG’s ransomware protection could be improved — it only protects specific files and folders. Despite this, AVG’s effective and fast Deep Scan and real-time protection (with a perfect detection score) make it an excellent choice for protecting your devices.
Web Security — Avast Has Better Phishing Protection
Avast — Strong Web Protection With Minimal False Positives
Avast provides good web security, blocking dangerous websites and phishing attempts. In my tests, it consistently flagged phishing sites that were not detected by major browsers’ built-in protections. There’s a browser extension, too, that blocks trackers, automatically accepts necessary cookies, and opts you out of ads. It genuinely improved my browsing experience by reducing the number of annoying pop-ups.
It also includes a real-time web shield that blocks harmful downloads and potentially unsafe files. While Avast is generally very accurate, it occasionally flagged legitimate sites I was trying to visit as suspicious. Even worse, whitelisting them with the Premium Security interface wasn’t that intuitive (whitelisting is a bit easier with Avast One’s interface).
I really like Avast’s Secure Browser — it comes with most of Avast’s web protections built-in, so you don’t have to do much to stay protected after you install it: it’ll automatically block ads, stop trackers, secure your banking sessions, and prevent you from visiting unencrypted websites, and it comes with Avast’s VPN (but you can only use it if you have it on your plan).
AVG — Decent Web Security, but Not Perfect
AVG also provides reasonably good web security. Its real-time protection blocked most phishing sites I tried to visit and flagged a few potential threats on the pages I browsed.
There’s also a browser extension called AVG Online Security that’s supposed to flag unsafe sites in your search results, but in practice, there were a lot of shady sites it couldn’t identify as such, marking them grey.
The Web Shield feature prevented me from downloading malicious files and stopped me from clicking on risky links in search results or emails. Overall, AVG’s web protection didn’t perform quite as well as Avast, but it’s still a strong option for secure browsing. I like the inclusion of the email scanner, which scans email attachments for malware and warns you of viruses by putting a warning in the email subject line.
Features — Avast Offers More Versatile Security Tools for Everyday Users
Avast — Comprehensive Toolset
In addition to its malware scanner, web, and real-time protection, Avast offers a wide range of additional cybersecurity tools:
- Ransomware protection.
- Firewall.
- Wi-Fi protection.
- VPN (unlimited on some plans).
- Software updater.
- Sandbox.
- Bankmode.
- And more…
The firewall is particularly good, but the one included in Premium Security is much more customizable than the one with Avast One. It has 4 modes and can create rules for handling various apps and networks. The Avast One firewall, in comparison, always operates in one mode and only allows you to whitelist or block specific apps. Despite these differences, both provide roughly the same level of protection.
AVG — Good Features With a Focus on System Performance
AVG offers a solid set of internet security tools, though it only includes the VPN on its most expensive plan. Unlike Avast, it doesn’t come with a sandbox.
AVG covers up to 10 devices and includes:
- Ransomware protection.
- Firewall.
- Wi-Fi protection.
- Tune-up tools (with AVG Ultimate).
- VPN (most expensive plan only).
- Secure browser.
- And more…
The system optimization tools are great. They include a junk cleaner, problem detector, startup manager, program uninstaller, and more. All these tools worked so well in my tests — I noticed an instant improvement in my computer’s speeds after running them. The only thing I don’t like is that you have to download a separate app to use them.
Ease of Use — Both Antiviruses Are Split Into Several Apps
Avast — Simple Setup, but Multiple Apps Can Be Confusing
Avast is quick and easy to set up. The entire process took under 5 minutes, and the website automatically detected my operating system, ensuring I downloaded the correct version. However, I found it confusing that Avast offers 2 separate apps — Avast One and Premium Security. Both have similar features, and it wasn’t immediately clear which one I should use.
Avast One app features a streamlined, user-friendly interface, ideal for less tech-savvy users. However, it lacks some advanced customization options found in the Premium Security app. While Premium Security offers more features (password manager, data shredder, sandbox, and more), its interface is more complex, and you have to download multiple apps to access all the features (like the VPN). That said, the tooltips and search function make navigating settings easier.
On mobile, Avast’s apps for Android and iOS are secure, well-designed, and easy to navigate, with clean layouts and intuitive menus. The apps offer useful features like malware scanning, privacy protection, and a VPN, all presented in a straightforward, user-friendly way.
However, I found it frustrating that different functionalities are spread across multiple apps. For example, Avast Mobile Security handles antivirus protection, while Avast SecureLine VPN requires a separate download for private browsing. While the individual apps work well, switching between them can get pretty annoying.
AVG — Quick Setup, but It Requires Multiple Apps
Like Avast, AVG is quick and easy to set up, taking just a few minutes. However, it was a bit frustrating that AVG requires downloading 6 separate apps to access all features, such as AVG Internet Security, AVG Secure VPN, AVG Driver Updater, and more.
While apps like a VPN or Driver Updater being separate isn’t unusual, AVG doesn’t make it immediately clear which features are included in its core antivirus package and which require additional purchases. For example, Driver Updater appears integrated into a higher-tier plan from the AVG UI but is, in fact, a standalone product requiring a separate license.
Once I got used to the interface, it was easy to navigate, though I found the lack of a dedicated sub-menu for virus scans confusing at first. The Smart scan option is located in the middle of the page, and the rest of the scans under ‘Run Other Scans’ are in the bottom right corner of the home page, which took a little extra time to get used to.
As with Avast, accessing all of AVG’s mobile features requires downloading multiple apps, such as AVG Antivirus for malware protection and AVG Secure VPN for private browsing. That said, AVG’s mobile apps for both Android and iOS are well-designed, with clean interfaces and straightforward navigation, making them easy to use even for less tech-savvy users.
The core antivirus app worked well, providing real-time protection, a Wi-Fi scanner, and anti-theft features. However, like with Avast, you have to switch between separate apps for different functionalities, which can be annoying.
Plans & Pricing — AVG Offers Better Value for Money With Its Ultimate Plan
Avast — Two Apps, Two Plans
Picking an Avast plan requires you to choose between Premium Security and Avast One. The Premium Security plan is cheaper, but it comes with fewer features. You can protect just 1 device or 10 devices across all major platforms. This is a generous number of devices given the lower price tag. With this plan, you get malware, real-time, web, webcam protection, and a firewall. The app itself is more customizable than Avast One.
The Avast One Gold plan is better suited for users who want something that works out of the box without changing various settings. It costs almost double the Premium Security plan, but it includes everything in that plan, plus an unlimited-data VPN, dark web monitoring, driver updater, system tuneup tools, and a tracker blocker for 5 or 30 devices. Regardless of your plan, both come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
AVG — More Budget-Friendly Options
AVG offers 2 plans: Internet Security and Ultimate.
Internet Security can protect 1 Windows PC or Mac, or 10 devices (Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android). It provides malware and real-time protection, web protection, ransomware protection, webcam protection, and a firewall.
Ultimate covers 10 devices and, in addition to everything on Internet Security, it also comes with system tuneup tools, AVG Secure VPN, and a tracker blocker. Given that Ultimate is only slightly more expensive than Internet Security, this plan is better value, primarily thanks to the inclusion of the VPN.
Customer Support — AVG Offers Faster & More Accessible Help
Avast — Decent Support, Very Limited for Free Users
Avast offers live chat, phone, and email support, a comprehensive knowledge base, and a community forum. However, free users can only access the knowledge base and community forum. While the knowledge base is well-organized and answers most common questions, it doesn’t provide direct one-on-one support.
I found Avast’s live chat helpful, with agents providing clear responses, though response times slowed when my questions became more complex. Email support was good, too, but I had to wait a full day to get the answer to my question.
AVG — Excellent Support With Quick Responses Across All Channels
AVG, too, offers live chat, email, phone support, a community forum, and a knowledge base. I was connected to a live agent within a minute, and my issue was resolved quickly. AVG’s email support was also prompt and provided helpful answers. Phone support requires filling out a form first, but once done, you’ll get access to phone numbers for different regions. I found the agents friendly and helpful in responding to all my queries.
AVG’s support is fast and easy to access. Whether through live chat, email, or phone, I always received quick responses. The option to choose phone support from various regions made it easier to get in touch, and I found the support experience more efficient than Avast’s overall.
