With all the serious incidents with hacking the growing concern we all have about securing our digital data, the importance of picking the best antivirus software is becoming essential both for our personal and for our business needs.
Avast vs AVG
Avast and AVG are among the most commonly used antivirus programs on a global basis, and there is a good reason for this tendency – they are highly efficient and reliable for keeping our computers and mobile devices safe from malicious software, phishing attempts, viruses, and hacking attempts.
But if you are wondering which one of these antivirus programs is better, here is a head-to-head comparison of the two to make your choice easier.
We will be looking at the features of both, as well as how they compare when it comes to malware protection, user interface, system impact, cost, and other essential factors for home users.
Avast Security Suits features
The Avast Free Antivirus is one of the best free antivirus software products on the market when it comes to the features it offers.
Avast provides overall essential malware protection as well as a number of other handy tools, including a Wi-Fi Inspector, which checks your Wi-Fi network for any possible vulnerabilities, as well as a Software Updater, which checks for any outdated software installed on your device.
It also has a convenient and safe password vault, which you can install via the Avast browser extension. The Game Mode feature of Avast is especially useful for those of you who want an interrupted gaming experience.
Avast offers real-time protection against web-based and e-mail based threats.
The Rescue Disk option allows you to remove any deep-rooted malware, which is stopping your computer from starting up.
Some of the premium features of Avast, though, are available only if you decide to pay for the antivirus software.
Here is what kind of features to expect if you decide to go with the paid versions of Avast available for PC users:
Avast Pro Antivirus
Apart from all the free features, with this paid version of the software, you get a very useful Sandbox technology which allows you to test any suspicious files in a safe and isolated environment without risk of infecting your computer or harming any of your files.
The other special feature is the Real Site. It prevents any hackers or other malicious users from redirecting you to fake websites that can steal your data or sensitive personal details.
This paid version also offers a premium in product support.
Avast Internet Security
This paid version of Avast offers all the wonderful features from the Pro plan, as well as added internet security via the built-in firewall. The firewall will keep an eye on your internet traffic and prevent any web-based attack attempts. Avast Internet Security also offers a special ransomware protection feature to keep your files safe from theft attempts by hackers. This version also has a useful anti-spam filter to keep your inbox clean of any spammy junk mails and phishing scams.
Avast Premier
You get all of the features from the Pro and Internet Security versions of Avast with this premier version, but you also get a useful file shredder as well as an automatic software updater of any outdated programs and ongoing protection against being spied on via your web camera.
Avast Ultimate
This is the full-blown Avast antivirus suite. Apart from all the previously mentioned features of the free and all other paid versions, this one offers a very useful clean-up tool, unlimited VPN, as well as the premium version of Avast’s safe and reliable password manager and vault.
Avast also offers two very convenient browser extensions: SafePrice and Online Security. The former is a coupon finding and price comparison tool which automatically checks for coupons or finds better prices for a product you are searching for or planning on buying online.
The latter automatically blocks suspicious and dangerous websites and stops phishing attacks while you are browsing the web.
If you are a Mac user, you get an option between two versions of Avast.
Avast Security is the free version for Mac and includes Wi-Fi scanning, malware security, and protection as well as real-time protection against web-based and e-mail based threats.
The paid version for Mac users is Avast Security Pro, which includes the ransomware protection feature as well as other handy tools.
AVG features
AVG AntiVirus Free is the free version that is available only for Windows. While it does provide reliable malware protection, this version of the AVG software doesn’t have too many other useful features or tools, except the File Shredder, which completely removes files and folders.
The free version of AVG for Windows is an excellent program for blocking dangerous links, websites, and attachments, as well as for protection against phishing attempts.
The freeware for MAC by AVG is called AVG AntiVirus for Mac and provides reliable security against malware and protection from dangerous downloads and websites.
If you want to take advantage of more useful tools and features, you may want to move on to the paid version of AVG. Here is what to expect:
AVG Internet Security
You get the features from the free version plus a number of different tools and added protection, including ransomware protection, an enhanced two-way firewall, webcam protection, a tool for encryption, a Wi-Fi guard, a handy silent mode feature as well as an anti-spam module to keep your e-mail free from spam and any phishing scam e-mails.
If you choose to subscribe to the paid AVG Internet Security version of the antivirus program, you can install it on all devices in your household, which is a definite plus.
AVG Ultimate
This is the top-of-the-line suite offered by AVG. It has all the features and tools from the free version and from the Internet Security version, as well as an additional AVG clean-up tool which will keep your computer free from junk files, helps improve battery life, updates outdated software, and fixes a number of performance issues on your computer.
The two AVG paid versions (Internet Security and Ultimate) are compatible with Mac.
Avast vs AVG – which one is better for protection?
Both Avast and AVG use the popular signature matching technology for detecting spyware, viruses, Trojans, and rootkits. This means that they both proceed to compare your files with the multitude of virus definition files in the huge database, which contains known and unknown viruses, potential malware threats, dangerous files, and other malicious files.
If the antivirus program detects a file that is suspicious, it is either removed from your computer or marked as suspicious, and then it is sent to the cloud servers for further examination.
The German IT security institute AV-Test announced the latest findings of its tests in February 2018 for the best security suites for Windows 10, and both Avast and AVG were found to be 100% successful in detecting malware and other problematic files and risks in the computer during the test. When evaluating the impact of antiviral suites on system speed, the results were nearly identical (5.5 out of 6 points for each).
The results of similar tests performed last year show the same even results by both Avast and regard to viruses, malware, and other protection.
The two antivirus programs showed similar results during a performance test performed in April 2018 by the independent security lab from Australia AV-Comparatives, where they both scored almost perfect scores, with 1 false alert and 0.45 compromised results each.
So, according to these tests, the effectiveness of the two antivirus programs for protecting computers is the same.
They both provide an excellent, reliable level of protection.
How much impact do Avast and AVG have on the computer system?
The fact that both Avast and AVG provide real-time protection against malware threats means that they both run continuously in the background as we use our computers. This means that they use a certain percentage of the computer’s system resources. Some programs can cause a slowing down of the system and degrade the overall performance of the computer. The question is how Avast and AVG affect how your computer works and which one has a more significant effect on its speed and on its general performance.
The configuration requirements for both antivirus programs are the same.
Both antivirus programs are lightweight and have minimal impact on the resources of the computer system they are installed on.
In the abovementioned performance tests performed by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, both security suites showed similar results when tested on a standard and on a high-end PC.
The tests included the speed for opening popular websites, commonly used applications, downloading and installing, copying files, and similar actions. The results were very similar percentage-wise, and both programs scored a 5 out of 6 ratings, which is considered an acceptable performance score on AV-Test, and an advanced 8.9 score on AV-Comparatives’ tests.
So, the results of these performance tests show that both Avast and AVG will have no or very little negative effect on the speed or on the performance of your computer.
Avast vs AVG – what about the user interface?
Everybody prefers to use software that is easy to understand and navigate, right? Well, in this regard, both Avast and AVG are quite great.
The dark interface of Avast looks great on the screen. It doesn’t fill the entire screen. The vertical menu has four main options: Status, Protection, Privacy, and Performance. Each one, when clicked, opens into a sub-menu with other features.
The button on the bottom left part of the screen returns you to the settings screen. If there is a red color, this means that there is some sort of problem or danger. Green light means that everything is safe and OK.
AVG’s interface can look a tad overwhelming when you first open the program. But don’t worry, once you get used to it, it will become very easy to understand and navigate. The home screen has a horizontal menu with the following options: Computer, Hacker Attacks, Web and Email, Privacy, and Payments. A large part of the options on the menu is not available for free version users.
You can quickly scan your computer with a click on the Scan Computer button or choose another type of scanning via the button right next to it.
If there is a problem, there will be a red indicator signaling your attention. If the color is green – nothing suspicious has been found on your computer.
Both Avast and AVG have easy-to-use UIs, so whichever you choose, it is very unlikely that you will have a problem navigating through the options and picking the settings you want.
How about the price – Avast vs AVG?
Obviously, both Avast Free Antivirus (for Windows) and Avast Security (for Mac) are free. So are both of the free versions offered by AVG (AVG AntiVirus FREE for Windows and AVG Antivirus for Mac.
As for the paid versions, there are slight differences in the pricing of all the suits offered by both antivirus programs.
For Avast:
- Avast Pro Antivirus is $49.99/per year
- Avast Internet Security is $59.99/year
- Avast Premier is $79.99/per year
- Avast Ultimate is $119.99/per year
For AVG:
- AVG Internet Security is $69.99/year (can be installed on unlimited devices)
- AVG Ultimate is $120/year (can be installed on unlimited Devices)
As you can see, the price range is almost the same, so it is a matter of presence which paid version you opt for. One advantage of AVG’s paid packages is that you can install and use them on an unlimited number of computers and devices.
Which is the more popular antivirus software – Avast or AVG?
Since October 2016, after Avast Software acquired the majority stake of AVG Technologies, the two famous antivirus programs belong to one company. It comes as no surprise that the two leading antivirus products capture a gigantic market share when it comes to antivirus software.
Since the acquisition, Avast has claimed to have 400 million users, but this includes users who have installed AVG as well, so it is very difficult to find actual statistics to see which one of the two programs has more users.
There are some other sources, such as OPSWAT, which in its latest reports regarding the market shares of the antivirus companies and programs claims that Avast is the definite leader in the market with a share of 18.34%. AVG is not in the top 10 list in this report.
According to CNET’s Download.com, AVG has more downloads than Avast. But the editor rating on the site for Avast is “excellent” while that for AVG is “very good.” The user ratings of Avast are also higher than those for AVG (4.5 as compared to 4 out of 5 stars).
As for Facebook, the official Facebook page of Avast has 4.1 million likes, while AVG has over 3 million fans on Facebook. As for Twitter, AVG has 215,000 followers as compared to 182,000 followers for Avast.
So, once again, there is no clear winner in the popularity contest between these two antivirus programs either.
Final Verdict
Both Avast and AVG are excellent antivirus programs, each of which has reliable real-time protection features. Most of the tools and options are almost the same, but there are some specific ones that you should keep in mind when picking the best antivirus program to fit your specific needs.
AVG’s paid packages are slightly more expensive than those offered by Avast, but AVG offers an option to install the paid antivirus suits on multiple devices, which means that it is a more budget-friendly version if you want to equip all the computers and devices in your home with adequate protection.
Both of the full-blown suits offered – Avast Premier and AVG Ultimate are superb, reliable antivirus products with a number of other useful tools to keep your computer running smoothly and safely.
Both Avast and AVG are equally reliable when it comes to detecting malicious files or hacking attempts, according to the tests. And both are quite light, so they are not likely to affect the performance or lag the speed of your computer once installed and when running.
Even though they are now owned by one company, these antivirus products do have some different and unique features, such as the sandbox option for testing suspicious files. Both have a silent or gaming option for avid gamers. The free AVG version has a useful file shredding tool that is available in the top-tier paid package.
Avast has some cool handy tools, including Browser cleanup to get rid of unnecessary browser extensions, as well as a software updater to keep you informed about any outdated software on your computer.
If you’re concerned about the security of the information you share with the many online programs you use, AVG’s real-time spying and data theft protection tool is an excellent choice.
If you don’t speak English, you might want to make sure your preferred antivirus is localized into your language. Keep in mind that although AVG supports only 22 languages, Avast supports 46.
There is no need to sign up for AVG or reveal any personal information. To get started with the no-cost edition, simply download, install, and launch. Some customers may be put off by Avast because after a 30-day trial period they must register in order to keep using the software.
If online safety is your first priority, you’ll be happy to know that both Avast and AVG offer virus protection when you surf the web, chat, send and receive emails, use Facebook, and view videos on YouTube.
Obviously, there is no one clear winner in this head-to-head competition between Avast and AVG. Both are very reliable and user-friendly. Both have multiple features and useful tools to make your computer and data safer.
So, it is a matter of personal preference when it comes to choosing between the two. Either way – you will not be disappointed whichever you choose for antivirus protection – Avast or AVG!
If you are not sure, you can always download the free versions to test each product first before deciding on upgrading to a paid antivirus suit!
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