We found the torrent of upsell techniques to be annoying and occasionally downright manipulative, so be warned. The installer even includes an offer to install Google Chrome, which results in a bounty from Google to Avast/AVG. When you install the free product, you sign up for a barrage of offers trying to convince you to upgrade to a paid plan. Today, both Avast and AVG have free antivirus offerings that use the same engine and are nearly identical in appearance, and everything we say about AVG's free package applies to Avast Free Antivirus.īoth products do well in independent testing, but they're equally aggressive about monetizing their customers. Indeed, the AVG brand remained even after AVG's parent company was acquired by Avast Software in 2016. Closeįeatures: On-demand malware scan | Website rating | Phishing protectionĪfter nearly a quarter-century with its free product in the US market, AVG has developed a solid identity as the go-to name in free AV software. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

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Windows antivirus software