The Best Alternatives to AVG 2024

AVG is a good antivirus program with several customizable features, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for everyone. If you’re looking for an AVG alternative, we recommend TotalAV, McAfee, Norton360, or Aura Antivirus.

Our top recommendation is TotalAV, as it’s the most affordable option. We’ll examine each of the best antivirus software to determine which is best for you, taking into consideration price, test scores, and features.

The best AVG alternatives

There are many antivirus software programs out there, ranging from free versions to pricey premium subscriptions. All claim to protect you and your device from malicious or harmful code attacking your computer, phone, or other device. But which one is right for you?

That depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re seeking good antivirus protection on a budget, you may want to check out TotalAV. Users who want parental controls with their antivirus software may find McAfee the best option. Norton360, however, offers not only antivirus protection, but password management, a VPN, and identity theft protection. Lastly, if you’re looking for antivirus paired with top-of-the-line identity protection, Aura may be your best fit.

• TotalAV: Best for affordable antivirus protection
• McAfee: Best for parental control options
• Norton360: Best for bundled cybersecurity protection
• Aura Antivirus: Best for identity theft protection

Top 4 AVG alternatives

Star rating	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.3 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.3 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.2 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Free	$29.00/yr (first year only)	$39.99/yr (first yr only)	$29.99/yr (first year only)	$35.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	10	8	Unlimited	10	10
EICAR test results	3/3	2/3	3/3	3/3	2/3
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled	Manual
Real-time protection					Yes, for Windows only
Firewall
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Extras	Sensitive data shield, webcam protection, AntiTrack, WiFi scanner	VPN, password manager, ad blocker	VPN, password manager, identity theft protection, data removal	VPN, password manager, parental controls, dark web monitoring	VPN, password manager, ad and tracker blocker, safe browsing, sensitive files vault, identity protection financial fraud protection
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Chrome, Edge, Opera, Amazon Fire, Safari	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, ChromeOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android
Learn more	Get AVG Read AVG Review	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review	Get Norton 360 Antivirus Read Norton 360 Antivirus Review	Get Aura Antivirus Read Aura Antivirus Review

How we tested the best AVG alternatives

When determining alternatives to AVG, we considered several factors. First and foremost, we are primarily concerned with efficacy and usability. Does the antivirus program do what it claims to do: protect your device from viruses and other threats?

We also looked at the price (both for the first year and subsequent years) and additional features. Does it come with additional parental controls, identity theft features, password management features, or other amenities?

Lastly, we looked at compatibility across devices. From laptops to tablets to phones, we are looking for antivirus programs that work across all devices for maximum protection. Read more about the best AVG alternatives below.

TotalAV: Best for affordable antivirus protection

Who it’s best for

TotalAV is a good fit if you’re looking for a paid antivirus that won’t break the bank. Not only does TotalAV offer real-time protection from online threats, malware infections, and viruses, but it also offers ad blocking and cookie tracking, monitors for data breaches, and allows the ability to schedule smart scans. It’s compatible with Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS operating systems, so if you’re protecting multiple devices, it’s compatible across all types.

What we liked

In addition to being a good antivirus program at an affordable price, TotalAV is packed with additional features like an ad blocker, password manager, and VPN, so you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. We were also pleased with its overall usability, so even less-savvy digital users can easily install and use TotalAV.

What we didn’t like

Our primary complaint with TotalAV is the lack of a firewall. A firewall is your first line of defense for your device, and while it seems like firewalls and antivirus software do the same thing, they don’t. Firewalls and antivirus software programs complement each other in protecting your device against online threats and malware, so the lack of a firewall with TotalAV was disappointing for us.

Test results

We test all our antivirus software using AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, SE Labs and EICAR. We tested TotalAV’s Smart and system-wide scan (called Malware scan). Both scans were fast and gave us good results with no false positives.

TotalAV passed all hands-on testing with flying colors, including scanning our device quickly without slowing it down.

	TotalAV
AV-TEST Windows score	17/18
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18
AV-TEST Android score	17/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.94%
SE Labs results	97%
EICAR score	2/3
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review

McAfee: Best for parental control features

Who it’s best for

McAfee’s high AV-Test scores and bundled parental control features make it a top alternative to AVG. You can set screen time limits, track location, monitor web usage, and even control which apps are downloaded, all while protecting devices from malware. McAfee also comes with firewall protection for more protection from security issues.

What we liked

McAfee is easy to download, and there isn’t much to set up. The firewall and real-time scan features are turned on by default, and as soon as it was installed, we were prompted to run a scan to detect any viruses or harmful files. The McAfee app also explained all features and gave us tips on certain tabs. It wasn't necessary, but it was nice to have.

What we didn’t like

Unfortunately, McAfee’s scanning was incredibly slow. It took over an hour to scan 300,000+ files, and our device was almost unusable during the last few minutes.

Test results

McAfee passed the EICAR and AV-Tests easily for Windows and Android. The Mac program wasn’t tested, which doesn’t necessarily mean McAfee is a bad antivirus program for MacOS; it may just mean they didn’t pay for testing for Mac.

	McAfee
AV-TEST Windows score	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	N/A
AV-TEST Android score	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.91%
SE Labs results	100%
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

Norton 360: Best for bundled cybersecurity protection

Who it’s best for

Norton 360 is one of the most notable names in antivirus protection and with good reason. Norton protects against malware attacks, ransomware, and hacking threats but also offers additional cybersecurity features, like a VPN, dark web monitoring, a password manager, and identity theft protection.

What we liked

Norton offers standard antivirus features, like malware, phishing, hacking, and firewall protection, along with two real-time protection layers to keep your device in tip-top shape: the Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) and Proactive Exploit Protection (PEP).

IPS scans all network traffic for security vulnerabilities, detecting malware and preventing it from accessing your network. PEP works by recognizing malicious behaviors and blocking software that mimics those behaviors.

What we didn’t like

There wasn’t much we didn’t like about Norton, but if you’re only looking for antivirus protection, you’re paying for many unnecessary extras with Norton.

Test results

Norton had near perfect scores in just about every category except AV-Test’s Windows scores. The performance dip was due to a detected 50% slowdown when launching popular websites. It’s worth noting that we used a Windows 11 laptop for our testing, and we didn’t experience any lag.

	Norton 360 Antivirus
AV-TEST Windows score	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18
AV-TEST Android score	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.97%
SE Labs results	99%
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton 360 Antivirus Review

Aura Antivirus: Best for identity theft protection

Who it’s best for

If you’re looking for all-in-one software, Aura Antivirus may be a good fit. Aura Antivirus offers manual and scheduled scans, real-time, phishing, and ransomware protection, as well as a VPN. It also offers identity theft and financial fraud protection, adding an additional layer of digital security. Note that Aura Antivirus doesn’t include parental controls or firewall protection.

What we liked

Aura Antivirus offers extensive fraud protection. Hackers use ransomware to try to steal your data, holding it hostage until you pay a fee. Cybercriminals may sometimes sell your information on the dark web, resulting in identity theft. Aura’s anti-fraud protection comes with one-bureau credit monitoring, a credit lock, bank fraud monitoring, and $1 million in insurance that covers fees and losses from identity theft.

What we didn’t like

We were disappointed that Aura didn’t pay for third-party testing. Aura offers parental control features in some plans, but those aren’t included in the antivirus protection plan. It would be nice to have a comprehensive antivirus plan with identity theft and fraud protection and parental control features built in.

Aura is also missing a firewall, which we consider important for the best online security.

Test results

We rely on third-party testing to help determine the efficacy of antivirus software programs. Aura has not yet submitted its antivirus product for third-party testing, so we could not see and compare test results.

We ran three EICAR tests for malware detection, drive-by malware downloads, and phishing page detection. Aura caught and quarantined the two EICAR malware samples we tested. However, Aura didn’t block the fake phishing link.

	Aura Antivirus
AV-TEST Windows score	N/A
AV-TEST macOS score	N/A
AV-TEST Android score	N/A
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	N/A
SE Labs results	N/A
EICAR score	2/3
Learn more	Get Aura Antivirus Read Aura Antivirus Review

Why you need an alternative to AVG

AVG is top-of-the-line antivirus software, but if you’re looking for a simple, easy-to-use antivirus, AVG might not be the best fit. Antivirus software is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself online, so we recommend you have one. These are some of the benefits of antivirus software:

• Protects your device from malware.
• Quarantines and removes malware and other infected files.
• Detects suspicious apps before they can cause your device harm.
• Permanently deletes old and sensitive files.

FAQs

Bottom line: The best alternatives to AVG

Determining the best alternative to AVG largely depends on what you’re looking for. Looking for standalone antivirus protection on a budget? Go with TotalAV. If you’re looking to help keep kids safe with parental controls and antivirus software, then McAfee might be a good fit. Norton 360 offers antivirus protection and other cybersecurity features to keep you safe online, while Aura Antivirus provides antivirus and identity theft protection.

Whatever you are looking for, there are many alternatives to AVG, ranging in cost and features. With the rise of ransomware and malicious sites, antivirus software has become essential to anyone using the internet.

If these AVG alternatives aren’t what you’re looking for, our Bitdefender review offers more alternatives that may be more up your alley.

4 best alternatives to AVG 2024

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	$29.00/yr (first year only)	Best for affordable standalone antivirus protection	Get TotalAV
	$39.99/yr (first yr only)	Best for antivirus and parental control features	Get McAfee
	$29.99/yr (first year only)	Best for antivirus and bundled cybersecurity protection	Get Norton 360
	$35.99/first yr	Best for antivirus and identity theft protection	Get Aura Antivirus