# McAfee vs AVG for antivirus software

McAfee and AVG are closely matched for core workflows. Both offer a trial; both support windows protection, macos protection, android protection, and ios protection. McAfee has confirmed real-time malware protection. AVG has confirmed free version. First-year price is $39.99 for McAfee and £41.49 for AVG and Renewal price is 109.99 for McAfee and 89.99 for AVG.

## Key decision points

- AVG has confirmed free version; free version is not yet confirmed for McAfee.
- First-year price is $39.99 for McAfee and £41.49 for AVG.
- Renewal price is 109.99 for McAfee and 89.99 for AVG.
- McAfee has confirmed real-time malware protection; real-time malware protection is not yet confirmed for AVG.

## Choose McAfee if…

- Choose McAfee if the lower first-year price is the deciding factor.
- Choose McAfee if confirmed real-time malware protection matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for AVG.

## Choose AVG if…

- Choose AVG if confirmed free version matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for McAfee.
- Choose AVG if the lower renewal price is the deciding factor.

## Platforms

| Feature | McAfee | AVG |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Windows protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |
| macOS protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |
| Android protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |
| iOS protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad)) |

## Features

| Feature | McAfee | AVG |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Real-time malware protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) | Not confirmed |
| Ransomware protection | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |
| Phishing protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) | Not confirmed |
| Web protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| Firewall | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| VPN included | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad)) |
| Password manager | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| Identity monitoring | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/identity-theft/protection.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad)) |
| Dark web monitoring | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad)) |
| Parental controls | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/learn/family-plans/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |
| Webcam protection | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |
| Microphone protection | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |

## Capacity

| Feature | McAfee | AVG |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of devices | 5 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) | 10 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store)) |

## Security and compliance

| Feature | McAfee | AVG |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Independent lab testing | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |

## Pricing

| Feature | McAfee | AVG |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free version | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage)) |
| Free trial | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store)) |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | Not confirmed |
| First-year price | $39.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | £41.49 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store)) |
| Renewal price | 109.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | 89.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store)) |

## Evidence

- **McAfee — Windows protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “X64 processors: Microsoft Windows 11 and Windows 10 (RS5) and newer”
- **AVG — Windows protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Get free antivirus that's trusted by experts”
- **McAfee — macOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Build 4.23 or higher: macOS 13.x and above”
- **AVG — macOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Also available for Mac, Android, and iOS”
- **McAfee — Android protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Google Android smartphones and tablets 10 or higher”
- **AVG — Android protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Get free antivirus protection for your Android phone or tablet that’s fast, light, and secure.”
- **McAfee — iOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Apple iOS 16 or later”
- **AVG — iOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad. Evidence: “Download our iOS security app to protect your device from online threats.”
- **McAfee — Real-time malware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Automatic, real-time protection with McAfee+”
- **AVG — Ransomware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Defend yourself against anybody trying to access your built-in camera or change your files without permission. Do it with our new Webcam Protection and Ransomware Protection features.”
- **McAfee — Phishing protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Scam protection and antivirus for automatic protection against fake messages, deepfake scams, viruses, malware, and more”
- **McAfee — Web protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Web Protection”
- **McAfee — Firewall:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Firewall”
- **McAfee — VPN included:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Virtual Private Network (VPN)”
- **AVG — VPN included:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad. Evidence: “PRO includes VPN for iPhone & iPad”
- **McAfee — Password manager:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Password Manager”
- **McAfee — Identity monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/identity-theft/protection.html. Evidence: “24/7 identity monitoring and alerts”
- **AVG — Identity monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad. Evidence: “AVG’s Identity Protection can monitor online databases and warn you if your password has been leaked.”
- **AVG — Dark web monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/mobile-security-for-iphone-ipad. Evidence: “AVG’s Identity Protection can monitor online databases and warn you if your password has been leaked.”
- **McAfee — Parental controls:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/learn/family-plans/. Evidence: “Parental controls to help parents provide the supervision kids need to stay safe online.”
- **AVG — Parental controls:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Get powerful, effective protection against viruses and scam websites with free antivirus.”
- **AVG — Webcam protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Defend yourself against anybody trying to access your built-in camera or change your files without permission. Do it with our new Webcam Protection and Ransomware Protection features.”
- **AVG — Microphone protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Defend yourself against anybody trying to access your built-in camera or change your files without permission.”
- **McAfee — Number of devices:** 5. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Essential 5 Devices”
- **AVG — Number of devices:** 10. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store. Evidence: “Covers 10 devices”
- **AVG — Independent lab testing:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “2024 Top-Rated Product 2024 Best protection 2024 Malware protection”
- **AVG — Free version:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/homepage. Evidence: “Get free antivirus that's trusted by experts”
- **McAfee — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “Free Trial Terms: At the end of your trial period you will be charged $39.99 for the first term.”
- **AVG — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store. Evidence: “Try it free for 30 days”
- **McAfee — Money-back guarantee:** 30. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “You will be provided a full refund upon request, by contacting Customer Support within 30 days of your initial purchase or 60 days of auto-renewal.”
- **McAfee — First-year price:** $39.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “At the end of your trial period you will be charged $39.99 for the first term.”
- **AVG — First-year price:** £41.49. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store. Evidence: “realPrice":"41.49"”
- **McAfee — Renewal price:** 109.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “After the first term, you will be automatically renewed at the renewal price (currently $109.99/yr).”
- **AVG — Renewal price:** 89.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.avg.com/en-gb/store. Evidence: “After the first year, it automatically renews every year at £89.99 unless cancelled.”