AVG vs Avast

Are you looking for a suitable cybersecurity program? You’re spoiled for choice, which can sometimes make it difficult to hone in on a handful of contenders. AVG and Avast are two names you’ve most likely come across in your search. There’s a reason for that—both software products have been around for years and have built solid reputations. But which one is the right online security product for you?

Before we start:

 

Some people believe that Mac users don’t need antivirus software because Mac’s built-in security resources are sufficient to fend off viruses. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. As a Mac owner, you can’t rely on Mac’s features alone to protect your device. Using an antivirus tool is one of the best ways to keep your device secure and protect your privacy.

 

That’s where MacKeeper’s Antivirus tool comes in. It safeguards your Mac from viruses and malware. Furthermore, it allows you to automate your antivirus protection by monitoring your device in real time, resulting in 24/7 malware management. This is perfect for Mac owners who are busy or forget to scan their computers as often as possible.

 

Follow the steps below to shield your MacBook Pro or Air against viruses with MacKeeper’s Antivirus tool:

1. Download MacKeeper and select Antivirus in the sidebar.
2. Get real-time antivirus protection by clicking Enable, then hit Start Scan or Start Full Scan.

3. MacKeeper will look for threats. If it finds viruses, click Delete and Delete again in the pop-up window to confirm.

Can Macs get viruses? Yes, that’s why antivirus programs for Mac devices abound in the market. AVG and Avast are some of the most popular antivirus solutions available. This AVG AntiVirus vs Avast guide will help you decide which option is best for you.

Avast vs AVG

AVG review

AVG’s antivirus protection allows you to browse the internet safely and confidently, whether for work or leisure. It protects your Mac from viruses, malware, ransomware, adware, spyware, and more. AVG keeps your Mac safe from threats around the clock, leaving no chance for breaches.

Here’s what you can expect from AVG:

• 24/7 protection
• Easy installation
• AV-Test certified
• Automatic updates
• Safe browsing and emailing
• Phishing protection
• Wi-Fi security
• Free antivirus protection to check Mac for malware

1. Main features of AVG

AVG main features:

• Real-time protection
• Full system, comprehensive antivirus scans
• Block suspicious downloads, attachments, and links
• Quick scans to check high-risk files
• Custom scans for specific files and folders
• Boot-time scans to check your Mac during startup
• AVG Enhanced Firewall to manage your trusted networks and apps

Exclusive features of AVG

Below is a list of AVG’s exclusive features:

• Device optimization
• Email protection
• VPN
• Identity theft protection
• Virus, malware, and ransomware protection
• Improve performance and storage space
• Secure browsing to avoid unsafe websites
• Anti-tracking protection to stop advertisers from tracking you

2. How much does AVG cost?

AVG has three subscription tiers: AVG AntiVirus, AVG Internet Security, and AVG Ultimate. Here’s how much each subscription costs:

• AVG AntiVirus: Free.
• AVG Internet Security: $8.33 per month or $99.99 billed at once for the first year. This subscription covers 10 devices.
• AVG Ultimate: $11.67 per month or $139.99 billed at once for the first year. This plan covers 10 devices.

Below are the features and perks that each plan offers:

As you can see, the free Antivirus plan offers the most basic protection. For instance, it doesn’t include the AVG Secure VPN, which you can only get on the AVG Ultimate plan. The more money you’re willing to pay, the more features you can unlock.

3. How reliable is AVG protection against viruses and spyware?

AVG is a reliable solution for protection against viruses and malware. AVG Internet Security is so reliable that it scored highly on independent malware protection tests. The product scored an impressive six for protection and another six for performance with AV-TEST in December 2023. This evaluation is based on a points system, whereby the product is scored out of six in each category, which means that AVG achieved excellent performance (six out of six) in the protection and performance categories.

What is AV-Test?

AV-Test is a reputable organization that provides independent comparative tests and reviews of internet solutions, software, and tools for Mac, Windows, and Android. The internet solutions include anti-malware, antivirus, and security programs. Software that scores 10 points or higher receives the AV-TEST seal of approval. Each category is rated out of six, and there are three categories, meaning that products can receive 18 points.

Additionally, AVG AntiVirus Free for Mac scored a Mac malware protection rate of 100% and 99% for Mac PUA (potentially unwanted applications) in AV-Comparatives tests released in June 2023. AV-Comparatives tested 309 samples in the former category and 712 in the latter. It’s important to note that a 100% protection rate doesn’t mean that the products tested will always protect your Mac against all Mac threats. However, it means that they successfully detected 100% of the samples used in the test, with no misses.

About AV-Comparatives

AV-Comparatives is an independent organization that checks whether security software and mobile solutions for Mac and PC devices live up to their promises. AV-Comparatives achieve this by putting software through systematic tests in real-world environments. Its certification is globally recognized, and its seal of approval makes the software reputable in the industry and to curious customers.

Our verdict: These figures and test results indicate that AVG is excellent at protecting Mac devices against viruses and malware.

4. AVG customer support

One of the deciding factors when choosing security software is how efficient its customer support is. The last thing you’d want is to get stuck using the software and not get the help you need on time.

AVG offers technical and sales support if you use any of their paid or trial options. However, you must fill out a contact form. This typically means you won’t get instant help when facing a problem in the app. AVG doesn’t have a turnaround time listed on the Support page to help you manage your expectations. You can also submit a privacy request on the same page.

5. AVG interface

AVG has put its own spin on its user interface. It uses pictures and visuals to help you navigate its features, which makes it more inviting. AVG immediately shows your Mac’s level of protection and the areas in which you’re protected, such as computer, privacy, payments, web and email, and hacker attacks. You can run a smart scan if you haven’t recently checked your Mac for threats.

6. How AVG affects PC performance

When choosing security software, it’s important to consider a program’s impact on your device’s performance. AVG will affect each MacBook device differently depending on various factors, like how many apps you have installed. The more apps you install on your Mac, the slower it can perform. However, we found that a full AVG scan took about 35 minutes, scanning over 40,000 items and utilizing 35% of the CPU.

AVG TuneUp is a feature that helps you improve your Mac’s performance and storage. However, the feature is only available on AVG Ultimate, the company’s most expensive plan.

7. AVG pros and cons

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AVG? Sometimes, considering the pros and cons of security software can help you decide if it’s suitable for you. Below, we explore the upsides and downsides.

Important: 

 

Viruses can cause damage to your MacBook, but you can prevent it with an antivirus program. MacKeeper’s Antivirus protects your device from a host of viruses and malware, including spyware, phishing, miners, and malvertising. By performing an Antivirus scan, you can identify threats and remove malware from MacBook by clicking a button.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Antivirus tool:

1. Open MacKeeper on your MacBook Pro or Air device.
2. Click Enable to stay protected around the clock and select Start Scan or Start Full Scan.

3. Wait for the scan to finish, then hit Delete and Delete again to remove the threats it finds.

Avast review

If you’ve ever looked for security software online, you're probably familiar with Avast. However, you may have wondered what it is and whether it’s any good. Avast is a cybersecurity and technology company based in the Czech Republic that builds computer security software.

Here’s what you can expect from Avast:

• Free antivirus protection
• Unlimited VPN
• Cleaning tools

1. Avast's main features and tools

Main features and tools of Avast:

• Virus and malware protection
• An added layer of ransomware protection
• Safely run suspicious apps
• Advanced firewall
• Automatic app updates
• Avast Cleanup Premium
• Avast AntiTrack to avoid personalized ads
• Scan for Wi-Fi weaknesses to find intruders in your network
• Avoid fake sites for safer shopping and protect your passwords and baking information

Unique Avast features

Avast offers a free private browser that protects you from phishing by blocking malicious websites and downloads, hiding sensitive information, and stopping hackers from stealing your data. The Avast SecureLine VPN encrypts your internet connection so you can browse the web safely. Avast’s file shredder permanently deletes sensitive files to keep others out of your business. Finally, Avast includes webcam spying prevention to stop strangers and hackers from watching you through your webcam.

2. Avast pricing

Avast has three plans: Antivirus, Premium Security, and Ultimate. Here’s how much each one costs:

• Antivirus: Free forever
• Premium Security: $99.99 per year for the first year. This plan covers 10 devices.
• Ultimate: $139.99 per year for the first year. This subscription also covers 10 devices.

By now, you’re probably wondering how the plans differ. The Ultimate plan includes all the features we listed above, while the Premium Security plan doesn’t include Avast Cleanup Premium, Avast SecureLine VPN, and Avast AntiTrack. The Antivirus offering only includes virus, malware, ransomware protection, and Wi-Fi security.

3. How good is Avast's virus protection?

Avast’s Antivirus tool scored the maximum points (six out of six) across all of AV-Test’s categories in December 2023. The categories include protection, performance, and usability. The protection category assessed the product’s protection against 1,298 samples of malware infections—including viruses, worms, and Trojan horses—over four months.

AVG Antivirus versus Avast

Avast and AVG performed similarly when comparing the average impact of the software on computer speed in daily usage. However, AV-Test data indicates that Avast impacted the installation of frequently used applications a little less (4%) than AVG did (6%). When assessing AVG versus Avast or, specifically, whether Avast or AVG is better, it’s clear that Avast’s virus protection is slightly better than AVG’s. Both programs were tested on macOS Ventura 13.6.1.

Hint from our experts: 

 

Trojan identification isn’t limited to industry tests like AV-Test. You can find and remove Trojans at home. Learn how to detect Trojan virus on Mac to secure your device.

4. Convenience of the Avast interface

Avast features a clean, minimalistic interface that’s easy to navigate. When you open the app, you can view your current protection status. If you’re unhappy with the state of your Mac’s protection or haven’t performed a scan in a while, you can quickly run a smart scan at the click of a button. The scan looks for performance, privacy, and security issues.

You can also easily access the performance, privacy, and security sections, as well as a few more subsections in the sidebar. The only drawback is that you must know which section the feature you’re looking for belongs to. Otherwise, you can click on each section to see which features it hosts.

5. How Avast affects computer performance

A full scan takes about 60 minutes on Avast and uses about 72% of the CPU. However, treat this as a ballpark figure, as these figures may vary depending on your device and the various factors that affect them, like how many items the scan checks.

6. Avast pros and cons

Avast may have reputable software, but it has its advantages and disadvantages.

Avast vs AVG: Final comparison

AVG AntiVirus vs Avast: the main difference between the two programs lies in their performance. Avast beats AVG by a hair, influencing device performance slightly less than AVG does. The former impacted the installation of frequently used applications a little less than the latter did. This is an essential consideration because you ideally want to use software that won’t negatively impact your Mac’s speed.

More importantly, Avast offers better value for money and gives you access to more features, including the free Antivirus plan. Finally, while AVG has a slightly better review score on Trustpilot (4.3) compared to Avast (4.0), Avast still scores high and has an overall positive consumer sentiment.

Apart from that, ultimately, the two software programs are quite similar. They cost the same amount of money (unless they’re on promotion), are compatible with mobile devices (iOS/iPhone and Android) and desktops (Mac and Windows), and offer free antivirus tools. Avast’s free antivirus tool offers more value, as it scans your Wi-Fi network for security weaknesses, a feature that AVG’s free antivirus tool lacks. Remember: all antivirus tools aren’t created equal. MacKeeper’s Antivirus is a trusted solution to shield your Mac against viruses and malware threats around the clock.

Have you decided whether Avast or AVG is better? Compare the pros and cons of AVG and Avast below.

AVG versus Avast: The verdict