The best alternative to AVG antivirus for most Windows users is the Microsoft Defender protection already built into Windows 10 and 11, paired with a free on demand scanner such as Malwarebytes for second opinions. If you want a paid suite from a company that is not part of the same corporate family as AVG, Bitdefender and ESET are the two we would point you to first. AVG itself is not bad at catching malware; the reasons people leave are ownership, upsells and a privacy record that took a serious hit in 2024.
This guide explains why so many people are searching for an AVG replacement, then compares the realistic options for a US household: Microsoft Defender, Bitdefender, ESET and Malwarebytes, with a note on why Kaspersky is off the table and why Norton and Avast are not really alternatives at all. It closes with a comparison table, a clean removal procedure, troubleshooting and an FAQ.
Why people leave AVG
It is the same company as Avast and Norton
AVG has not been an independent company for years. Avast bought AVG in 2016, and in 2022 NortonLifeLock merged with Avast to form Gen Digital. Gen’s own investor announcements describe Norton, Avast, AVG and Avira as Gen brands, alongside LifeLock. That matters for two reasons. First, AVG and Avast share the same detection engine, so switching from one to the other buys you nothing. Second, if your complaint is with the company’s practices rather than the software, moving to Norton or Avira keeps you inside the same business.
The Jumpshot browsing data sale
In February 2024 the Federal Trade Commission announced an order requiring Avast to pay $16.5 million and banning it from selling browsing data for advertising. The FTC alleged that from at least 2014 until 2020, Avast collected browsing data through its antivirus software and browser extensions and sold it through its Jumpshot subsidiary to more than 100 third parties, while telling users the products would protect their privacy, and that the data included identifiers, full URLs and timestamps that could identify people. The details are in the FTC press release. Avast shut Jumpshot down in 2020, but the order and the refund program that followed kept the story in front of consumers through 2025.
Upsells and notifications
AVG Free works, but it is a funnel. Users report pop ups pushing AVG Internet Security, TuneUp, the Secure VPN and driver updater tools, along with scan results that flag “advanced issues” only a paid tier can fix. Paid customers complain about auto renewal at a higher price than the introductory offer.
The alternatives, in order of who they suit
Microsoft Defender: the default for most people
Microsoft Defender Antivirus ships with Windows 10 and 11, updates through Windows Update, costs nothing extra and has no upsell. It includes real time scanning, cloud delivered protection, ransomware folder protection (Controlled folder access), SmartScreen for downloads and web pages, and a firewall. Microsoft documents its consumer features at Windows Security support. Independent labs such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test it in every round, and it has been a solid performer for years; check their current reports rather than relying on any single year’s score.
What it lacks is the extras suites bundle: a password manager, a VPN, parental controls, identity monitoring. If you do not need those from your antivirus vendor, Defender is the AVG alternative that removes the problem instead of replacing it.
Bitdefender: the paid pick with the most features
Bitdefender is a Romanian company with no ties to Gen Digital. Its consumer line runs from a basic antivirus up to Total Security and Premium Security tiers that add a VPN, password manager, parental controls, webcam and microphone protection, and a scam detection tool. It consistently sits near the top of independent lab tests for detection with low system impact. The two things to check before buying are the renewal price, which is higher than the first year promotion, and whether the tier you pick includes the VPN with unlimited data or only a daily cap.
ESET: light, quiet and configurable
ESET, based in Slovakia, has a loyal following among technical users because its products are small, fast and do not nag. ESET HOME Security Essential covers antivirus, anti phishing and a network inspector; higher tiers add a password manager, encryption, cloud sandboxing and a VPN. ESET exposes more settings than most consumer products, which is a plus if you like control and a minus if you want to install and forget.
Malwarebytes: the second opinion scanner
Malwarebytes Free is not a replacement for real time antivirus; it is a manual scanner that catches adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers that traditional engines sometimes leave alone. It runs alongside Defender without conflict. The paid Malwarebytes Premium adds real time protection and can register as the primary antivirus, but the free version plus Defender is the combination most people actually need. Our guide to scanning files for malware before you download them covers how to use it with online scanners for suspicious files.
Why Kaspersky is not an option in the US
Kaspersky’s products tested well for years, but they are no longer a legal or practical choice for Americans. In June 2024 the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued a final determination prohibiting Kaspersky from selling its software to US customers. New agreements were banned from July 20, 2024, and antivirus signature updates and code updates were cut off on September 29, 2024. The BIS Kaspersky prohibition page lays out the timeline and points users to CISA removal guidance. Kaspersky transferred its US customers to a product called UltraAV in September 2024, a switch that surprised many users when it happened automatically. If you still have Kaspersky or UltraAV installed, replace it with one of the options above.
Why Norton and Avast are not alternatives
Norton is a capable suite, and the free Avast engine is the same one inside AVG, but both belong to Gen Digital. If your reason for leaving AVG is the corporate parent or the Jumpshot history, neither solves it. Norton also has its own reputation for aggressive renewal pricing and phishing scams that impersonate its invoices, which we covered in our piece on fake Norton discount scams.
Comparison table
| Product | Owner and HQ | Free tier | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender | Microsoft, US | Included with Windows | Anyone who wants protection without a subscription | No VPN, password manager or identity tools |
| Bitdefender | Bitdefender, Romania | Limited free antivirus | Families that want a full suite | Renewal price, VPN data caps on lower tiers |
| ESET HOME Security | ESET, Slovakia | Trial only | Technical users who want a light, quiet suite | More settings than a casual user wants |
| Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes, US | Free on demand scanner | Second opinion scans, adware cleanup | Free tier has no real time protection |
| AVG, Avast, Norton, Avira | Gen Digital, US | AVG, Avast and Avira have free tiers | People who are fine with Gen’s practices | Same parent, same engine (AVG and Avast), upsells |
| Kaspersky / UltraAV | Kaspersky, Russia / Pango, US | Not applicable | Not recommended in the US | Kaspersky sales and updates banned since 2024 |
Free vs paid: what you actually get for the money
Malware detection is no longer the thing that separates free from paid. Defender, Bitdefender Free, Avast Free and AVG Free all catch the overwhelming majority of common threats, and the independent labs rarely show a gap large enough to justify a subscription on detection alone. What you pay for is everything around the engine: a VPN, a password manager, parental controls, identity theft monitoring, webcam protection, a firewall with more control than Windows offers, and support you can call.
List the extras you would use. If the answer is none, Defender plus Malwarebytes Free is the right AVG alternative and it costs nothing. Families that need parental controls across several devices are the group most likely to come out ahead with a Bitdefender or ESET multi device plan.
How to remove AVG cleanly and switch
- Cancel auto renewal first. Sign in to your AVG account in a browser, open Subscriptions, and turn off automatic renewal so a refund or chargeback fight is not needed later.
- Uninstall from Windows Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps. Remove AVG AntiVirus, AVG Secure Browser, AVG TuneUp and any AVG VPN entries.
- Run the AVG Clear tool from AVG’s support site if the uninstaller leaves services or drivers behind. Reboot when it finishes.
- Open Windows Security and confirm Microsoft Defender reports it is active with no action needed. If it says another provider is registered, reboot once more.
- Install your chosen replacement, if any, and run its first full scan. Then install Malwarebytes Free and run a Threat Scan as a second opinion.
- Check your browsers for leftover AVG extensions and remove them.
If the machine was already infected and the new scanner cannot clean it because the malware fights back, boot from clean media instead. Our walkthrough on removing malware from your PC with a USB drive covers that.
Troubleshooting
Defender says it is turned off after removing AVG
Windows sometimes keeps the old provider registered for one restart. Reboot, open Windows Security, and click Turn on under Virus & threat protection. If it still refuses, run the AVG Clear tool to purge leftover registrations and reboot again.
AVG keeps reinstalling or pop ups continue
A scheduled task or the AVG Secure Browser is still present. Check Task Scheduler for AVG entries, uninstall AVG Secure Browser separately, and remove AVG extensions from Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
The new antivirus flags a file AVG never complained about
Different engines have different heuristics. Upload the file to VirusTotal to see how many engines agree. A single detection on a file from a reputable publisher is usually a false positive; several detections mean quarantine it.
Charged for AVG renewal after uninstalling
Uninstalling does not cancel the subscription. Sign in to your AVG account, cancel under Subscriptions, and request a refund within the window stated in the terms. If that fails, contact your card issuer with the cancellation confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Defender really good enough to replace AVG?
For most home users, yes. Defender is tested by the same independent labs as AVG and has scored well for years, it updates through Windows Update and it has no upsell. It lacks bundled extras such as a VPN or password manager, so if you want those, add standalone tools or pick a paid suite.
Are AVG and Avast the same thing?
Effectively, yes. Avast acquired AVG in 2016 and the two products share a detection engine, and both belong to Gen Digital along with Norton and Avira since the 2022 merger. Switching from AVG to Avast changes the interface and little else, so it does not count as leaving the company.
Did AVG sell my data?
The FTC’s 2024 order was against Avast and its Jumpshot subsidiary, which the agency said sold browsing data collected from Avast products between at least 2014 and 2020. AVG was owned by Avast during that period. The order banned the practice and required deletion of the data; the FTC also ran a consumer refund program afterward.
Can I still use Kaspersky if I already have it installed?
You can, but you should not. Kaspersky stopped providing signature and software updates to US customers on September 29, 2024, so any remaining installation is unprotected against newer threats. Uninstall it, or the UltraAV replacement it may have installed, and switch to Defender or one of the paid alternatives above.
The bottom line
AVG’s malware protection is fine; the reasons to leave are its Gen Digital ownership shared with Norton and Avast, the Jumpshot data sale that ended in a $16.5 million FTC order, and the steady upsell pressure. The cleanest fix is to uninstall it and let Microsoft Defender, which you already own, do the job, with Malwarebytes Free as a backup scanner.
If you want a paid suite from an independent company, Bitdefender gives you the most features and ESET gives you the lightest, quietest experience. Skip Kaspersky and its UltraAV successor entirely in the United States, and remember that moving to Norton or Avira is not a move at all.
