Avast vs AVG
A comparison with a twist: since 2016 these are two brands of the same company (Gen Digital) running the same detection engine. The lab scores are near-identical, on purpose.
Avast One
The most complete free plan, with an asterisk on privacy history.
AVG Internet Security
Avast’s twin: same engine, different jacket.
Our verdict
There is no protection winner here because the engine is shared: AV-Comparatives routinely scores Avast and AVG within rounding error of each other. Choose on the shell around the engine. Avast One has the more modern interface and the more generous free extras, including a limited VPN; AVG keeps things plainer and pushes upgrades a little harder. We lean Avast for most people. What you should not do is pay for both, or believe marketing that presents them as competing products.
“Still the most complete free antivirus, and the paid tier is a decent suite. We dock points for history: in 2024 the FTC fined Avast $16.5 million for selling browsing data through its Jumpshot subsidiary. The protection is excellent; just go in with open eyes.”Editorial team, on Avast One
“The same Gen Digital engine as Avast in a different shell, with the same strong lab results. Choose between AVG and Avast on interface taste alone; paying for both would be paying twice for one product.”Editorial team, on AVG Internet Security