AVG often tops the best antivirus software lists, though more frequently the list of best free antivirus. It does offer a paid plan, but then it enters the realm of heavy hitters such as Norton and Bitdefender.
However, AVG users prefer a more lightweight AV that won't break the bank; therefore, finding a suitable upgrade is not always easy.
Enter Avira, another top-tier AV that has a powerful free version as well as a paid one that extends its capabilities further. Below, we describe why it's the best alternative to AVG AV.
Best alternative to AVG
Avira has a similar philosophy to AVG, offering a free version that gives you access to the most basic protection and a limited number of functionalities. On the other hand, if you opt for the paid plan, you get additional, advanced protection that covers everything from an unlimited VPN to identity theft protection and performance enhancement utilities.
Avira has one of the most user-friendly UIs we’ve seen in the AV niche. The moment you boot it up for the first time, you will be greeted by an easy-to-navigate dashboard, which will complete the “Smart Scan” function in under a minute. It covers security, privacy, and performance. Fixing all of those issues is just a click away, though we do encourage you to browse through the findings. AVG also has an easy-to-use dashboard, though our preference (subjective) lies with Avira’s UI.
Where Avira shines, even in the free version, is through its tried and tested real-time protection system. The latest AV-Comparatives test indicates that Avira manages to block 99.3% of threats with a minimal number of false positives. On the other hand, AVG blocks the same amount but with a much higher rate of false positives. The speed of the AV scanner for Avira derives its advantage by offloading most of the work to the cloud, meaning that it reduces the impact on your machine compared to a scan performed by AVG. To further bolster your safety online, Avira offers a web browser extension that protects against phishing sites, ads, and trackers, though interestingly enough, not against exploits. In terms of ad and tracker blocking, it performs much better than some popular ad blocker extensions and even browsers.
On the surface, Avira’s firewall may look simple compared to what AVG offers, but it offers great customization capabilities. If you’re a more advanced user, you can easily tailor it to your liking and ensure full protection online. AVG also has a powerful firewall that has ARP spoofing alerts, but it is overall more difficult to use compared to Avira. Nevertheless, both suites offer great firewalls if you’re not fond of the default one that comes on Windows machines.
Moreover, in the paid plan, Avira includes a password manager that offers unlimited password storage and syncing across devices, protected by AES-256 encryption. Standalone solutions are somewhat better, but since you get a password manager included, there is no reason to reach for another solution. AVG, on the other hand, stopped offering its password protection as a standalone product, and using it through the dashboard is a bit more complicated compared to the solution Avira has. Another benefit of the package is the unlimited VPN that you get with Avira, whereas with AVG, you need to purchase a VPN separately.
In terms of pricing plans, both Avira and AVG have the free version as their first tier. These plans include the basic protection for your device, but still do a good enough job for most regular PC users. Next is the Avira Internet Security plan that costs €21.95 for one device for a full year. It includes the password manager, browser safety, and software updates. If you move on to the final plan called Avira Prime, you will pay €59.95 for 5 devices for the full year. The most expensive plan includes all of the bells and whistles, including a secure price comparison tool, which is ideal for those who like to search for coupons and get a good price for their online shopping needs.
Avira and AVG both offer numerous ways in which you can reach their customer support. The forums on AVG’s website seem better structured, but Avira’s knowledge base is second to none. For both providers, there is enough technical documentation that you can troubleshoot yourself; however, if you reach out to them directly, you will get an answer in a reasonable time frame.
As a conclusion, if you’re looking for an advanced AV that will easily replace what AVG has to offer, and even up the offer with additional tools and utilities, then look no further. Avira ticks all of the boxes, and then some, while keeping the price tag reasonable.
Take a look at our full Avira review.
Check out our guide to the best antivirus software for even more alternatives