AVG Antivirus Free review (2024)

Antivirus software detects and blocks viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware, and other damaging programs that can infect your hard drive and leave you open to identity theft. Online, it can warn you of potentially harmful links and deep scan websites for malware.

AVG Antivirus Free uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to recognise the operating patterns and warning signs of malware on your computer and online.

AVG Antivirus Free works in the background anytime your computer is turned on, and when the program discovers a cyber threat, it alerts you and places the infected files into quarantine so you can't accidentally access them.

You can then remove the files with just a few clicks. AVG Free doesn't work with mobile iOS devices, but it does work with Apple computers, PC, and Android devices.

AVG Antivirus Free is the company’s basic plan. You can get the free download that includes a limited amount of security features:

1. Stops viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other malware
2. Blocks unsafe links, downloads, and email attachments
3. Scans for PC performance problems
4. Gives real time-security updates

To get more than the free version offers, you'll need to upgrade to the paid AVG Internet Security package, which starts from around $45 per year.

AVG's Antivirus Free has plenty of useful features that are usually reserved for paid subscriptions, and its customisation options allow you to choose how and when your virus scans happen.

Unlike other antivirus software offerings, AVG's Free program doesn't include options for parents to block certain websites or content on kids' devices. Here are our top picks for parental control apps.

If you already have a built-in antivirus app on your computer, you can still download AVG as a backup. Its passive mode allows it to run as backup virus protection while not interfering with your primary antivirus program. If AVG catches something the primary malware detection program misses, it will alert you.

AVG Antivirus Free comes with a file shredder that lets you permanently wipe files.

AVG lets you customise how it conducts scans. You can schedule scans for specific times, adjust the intensity of the scans to minimise impact on your computer speeds, and even exclude specific files from being scanned.

You'll see a black background with green text when you run AVG. Not everyone likes the dark colour scheme.

Unlike other free antivirus software, AVG Antivirus doesn't have a quick scan option, but it does take less time to scan your drive each time you use it.

You can run scans on USB drives when you plug them in, but you'll have to do it manually, as there's no auto-scan option.

AVG's Antivirus Free has many useful features that are usually reserved for paid subscriptions, and its customisation options allow you to choose how and when your virus scans happen.

Our download of the free AVG program took just three minutes from start to finish.

AVG provides easy instructions for downloading and installing the system, making it simple enough for anyone to do it.

When we had some issues with the program on our Mac, we went to the AVG website first to find solutions on the message boards. We found the site counterintuitive and difficult to navigate. We recommend registering on the website so you can contact the help desk directly with any questions you may have.

AVG Antivirus Free holds its own against pricier antivirus software in independent testing, but Mac users beware—AVG Antivirus is clearly designed for the PC crowd.

AVG recognizes that new malware pops up on the internet daily, so it not only blocks new threats when they attack; it also sends them to the AVG online lab for analysis. AVG then updates all its users with the new virus definitions.

PC users report minimal impact on computer speeds when running the AVG free antivirus scans, so your computer’s regular operations still run smoothly while you’re scanning it for malware and viruses.

Independent testing group AV-Comparatives awarded AVG's antivirus rating three out of three stars in 2021 tests. AVG Antivirus Free got top marks in both performance and basic protection.

AVG Free security products haven’t always played well with Apple products. Thankfully, the company figured things out. Its antivirus software is now compatible with computers running MacOS.

AVG has security software for your iPhone or iPad, but it isn’t antivirus software. Instead, you can get AVG's VPN program for a small monthly fee on your mobile device. VPN connections make it harder for threats to find you so you can safely browse the web in public. Check out our best VPN services review to learn more.

AVG AntiVirus Free performs well in independent testing, and PC users are very happy with it. If you're looking for a simple way to beef up the security on your PC using an antivirus program, AVG Antivirus Free is a great choice. If you want to protect all of your devices from online threats, no matter who is using them, then AVG Internet Security can give you added peace of mind.

We created our AVG Antivirus review by studying its software, reading others' reviews of the program, and downloading and trying the program for ourselves. Please read our methodology to learn more about how we review products.

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