AVG Antivirus Review: Reliable Protection with a Light Touch
Published On: April 17, 2025
AVG has been in the cybersecurity space for decades, evolving from a simple virus scanner to a multi-layered protection suite. With options ranging from a free antivirus app to a full internet security plan with VPN, anti-tracking, and performance tools, AVG offers solutions for both casual users and those who want more control over their digital safety.
This review looks at AVG’s core products, pricing, features, and how they stack up in real-world use. From platform support and ransomware protection to its more advanced offerings like Network Inspector and Secure VPN, we break down what each plan includes, what sets AVG apart, and where they may fall short.
Pros
Cons
Content
Content
Quick Stats
At a Glance
AVG Technologies, founded in 1991 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, by Tomáš Hofer and Jan Gritzbach, is a cybersecurity company known for their antivirus and internet security software. Originally named Grisoft, the company rebranded to AVG Technologies in 2008 to align with their flagship product, AVG AntiVirus. Over the years, AVG expanded their offerings to include tools for performance optimization and online privacy, catering to both individual users and businesses. In 2016, AVG was acquired by Avast Software for $1.3 billion and subsequently became part of Gen Digital following a merger between Avast and Norton LifeLock in 2022.
AVG’s mission centers on providing accessible online security, privacy, and performance solutions. Their product suite includes AVG AntiVirus Free, AVG Internet Security, AVG Secure VPN, and AVG TuneUp, among others. These tools are designed to protect users against various online threats, enhance device performance, and safeguard personal information.
Features & Services
Real-time threat detection: AVG’s antivirus software scans for viruses, malware, spyware, and other threats the moment they appear. This free antivirus feature is designed to offer a high level of protection during your online activities, helping prevent data breaches and identity theft.
File Shield: This component constantly monitors any file that is opened, modified, or saved on your system.
Ransomware protection: Part of AVG Ultimate and their paid internet security plans, this feature blocks unauthorized programs from encrypting or deleting your personal files. It safeguards sensitive data such as financial documents or photo vault contents by adding layers of protection against ransomware attacks and other advanced issues that might target your personal data.
Web Shield: AVG’s Web Shield works in real-time to block malicious downloads while browsing. Combined with AVG’s Secure Browser and fake website shield, it helps avoid fake websites and phishing attempts that target your email address, login credentials, or sensitive data.
Email Shield: This feature scans incoming and outgoing messages in mail software like Thunderbird or Apple Mail, filtering out potential threats such as phishing links, malicious attachments, or fake invoices trying to steal your personal data.
Mobile protection: AVG includes antivirus apps for Android devices and iOS devices under their multi-device plans. With AVG Mobile Security and AVG AntiVirus PRO, users get access to features like app locking, photo vaults, and even identity theft protection.
30-day free trial option: New users can explore AVG’s premium features, including sensitive data shield, password manager, webcam protection, and AVG’s secure VPN through a free trial. A payment method is required, and an activation code is sent via email address, unlocking the full list of features temporarily.
Cross-platform support: AVG offers a consistent level of protection across all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. This cross-platform compatibility ensures your internet security plan includes antivirus software, web protection, and tools like remote access shield, no matter the device you use.
Plans & Prices
AVG AntiVirus FREE
AVG’s free antivirus software offers basic protection with real-time scanning for viruses, malware, and spyware. It also includes essential ransomware protection to help secure your personal files. This free version is a good starting point for users who want lightweight security without a subscription. However, it lacks more advanced features like phishing protection, fake website blocking, or system performance tools.
AVG Internet Security
Priced at $59.88 for the first year (regularly $99.99/year), AVG Internet Security adds several important layers of protection on top of the free antivirus version. It includes tools to detect and block phishing sites, fake or unsafe websites, and suspicious Wi-Fi networks. This tier also enhances ransomware defenses and adds protection for email attachments. It covers up to 10 devices, making it suitable for households or users managing multiple PCs, laptops, or mobile devices.
AVG Ultimate
AVG Ultimate offers the full range of AVG’s products for $59.88 in the first year (regular price $139.99/year), covering up to 10 devices. It includes everything in the Internet Security plan plus three major additions: AVG TuneUp for system optimization, AVG Secure VPN for private browsing, and AVG AntiTrack to block online tracking and protect your digital footprint.
Advantages
Covers up to 10 devices on a single subscription
AVG’s multi-device internet security plan allows you to protect up to 10 devices at once, including Windows PCs, mac computers, Android devices, and iOS devices. This makes it a practical choice for families or users who want centralized antivirus software, email protection, and performance scan tools across all their systems without paying for separate licenses.
Cloud-based phishing protection
Phishing Net uses AVG’s cloud technology to detect and block the latest phishing threats in real-time. It scans for fake websites and suspicious links that aim to steal your sensitive data, such as login credentials or financial information, adding another critical layer to your identity theft protection.
Automatic Wi-Fi vulnerability detection
AVG’s Network Inspector helps secure your online activities by automatically scanning any new Wi-Fi network you connect to. It checks for router misconfigurations, weak passwords, and unknown devices, helping prevent attackers from accessing your IP address or launching a data breach attempt.
Folder access restrictions
AVG’s ransomware defense doesn’t just block threats—it also lets you control which apps can modify, delete, or access specific folders. This is especially helpful for protecting sensitive data like documents and personal photos from unauthorized changes or encryption.
VPN and AntiTrack
The AVG Ultimate plan includes access to AVG’s Secure VPN and AVG AntiTrack. These tools encrypt your internet connection and mask your digital fingerprint, protecting your IP address and shielding your online behavior from advertisers and trackers.
AVG TuneUp for performance optimization
AVG TuneUp is part of the Ultimate plan and helps fix performance issues by cleaning up junk files, managing startup apps, and improving system speed. It’s a useful addition to traditional antivirus features, especially if you’re noticing slowdowns or other system inefficiencies.
Disadvantages
Scareware-style prompts
AVG has been frequently called out for using fear-based messages to promote their paid features. These include exaggerated warnings about performance problems, fake alerts about unprotected areas, or vague “issues found” popups after scans—issues that can only be fixed by upgrading to AVG’s premium plans. These messages appear even when the system is functioning well or when other antivirus programs show no threats.
Invasive behavior
AVG has been criticized for acting without user input—automatically scanning downloaded files and executables, then placing them in quarantine without asking. In some cases, users must restart their PC just to create an exception. This level of control can feel intrusive, especially when AVG interferes with legitimate software or personal files.
Customer Experience
AVG’s antivirus receives mostly positive feedback across review platforms. It holds a 4.3-star rating on Trustpilot and a 4.2-star rating on G2, suggesting general satisfaction among users. Many customers praise their reliability, user-friendly design, and effective protection, though some concerns remain about pricing and frequent upsells.
Positive reviews
The most common praise highlights AVG’s strong security performance. Long-time users appreciate their consistent updates and simple interface. One user said they’ve been using AVG since 2001 without issues across multiple Windows versions. Another praised the customer support team for fixing all their problems during a call. Several customers also mentioned that AVG didn’t slow down their devices, even during scans, and that it blocked threats before they became a problem.
Critical reviews
On the other hand, critical reviews point to aggressive upselling and confusing subscription management. A few users reported that despite paying for full protection, they still received prompts to buy more services. Others found the VPN unreliable or said the software pushed updates that felt more like ads. One customer expressed frustration over being charged through auto-renewal without clear notice, while another complained about difficulties uninstalling the product on multiple devices. Some also noted that while the protection is solid, the interface could be made easier to navigate.
How Can I Reach Out to AVG?
If you need to get in touch with AVG, you can reach their support teams through different channels depending on your issue. For help with technical issues or account-related questions, you can contact AVG’s Support or Sales teams through their Support Center. In both cases, you can access support through live chat or by submitting a request through their official contact page. If you’re using a free product, there are also limited support options available, mainly through their knowledge base.
If you believe AVG has mistakenly flagged a website or file as a threat, you can report it directly using their False Positive form. You can stay updated or reach out to them through their social media pages, including Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Conclusion
Founded in 1991 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, AVG is a long-standing name in the antivirus space, now operating under Gen Digital. They offer a range of security products from a free antivirus app to a full-featured Ultimate plan. AVG’s main strengths include multi-device support for up to 10 devices, cloud-based phishing detection, automatic Wi-Fi vulnerability scans, built-in VPN and AntiTrack, and system optimization through AVG TuneUp.
Their features cover real-time threat detection, ransomware protection, email and web shielding, and mobile security tools. Pricing tiers include a free version, AVG Internet Security, and AVG Ultimate, each adding more privacy and performance benefits. While the software is praised for reliability and ease of use, some users raise concerns about intrusive prompts and aggressive upselling. Customer reviews are mostly positive, and support is available through various channels, including a dedicated false positive reporting tool and active social media pages.
If you’re still deciding which antivirus is right for you, take a look at our updated list of top antivirus providers. You can also use our comparison tool to see how features and prices stack up side by side. For more tips and insights, visit our blog.
