Compare McAfee vs AVG

McAfee vs. AVG: Which is Best in 2020?

There are so many antivirus products on the market right now that it can be pretty hard to find the one that will suit you best. McAfee and AVG have been in the market for decades and are one of the obvious leaders. But which solution will be a better pick for you? To answer that question, we’ll have to compare the two programs in terms of features, pricing, mobile platform support, ease of use, and more.

Our team tested both AVG and McAfee in real-world situations and created a detailed report. Let’s take a close look at the key factors that can make it or break it for an antivirus solution and find the winner of this competition. You can, of course, skip right to the bottom and read the McAfee vs. AVG verdict. But, we recommend that you read each section carefully, as that will help you make a more educated decision.

Features Comparison of AVG and McAfee

In many ways, the feature-set is the criterium that defines how good or bad an antivirus product is. These days, traditional anti-malware protection isn’t enough to keep your device (desktop or mobile) safe from outside attacks. Hackers are becoming a bigger threat to each new attack. Therefore, you’ll need anti-ransomware, phishing, spam, and webcam protection modules to stay secure.

So, what’s the difference between McAfee and AVG? Which antivirus has a more impressive set of extras? First, check out what McAfee has to offer, and then we’ll move on to AVG. A quick note: we included every single feature, but some of them are only available with the most expensive packages. Refer to the Price Comparison section to learn the exact set of features that come with each kit.

McAfee Antivirus

So what are the features that McAfee have in store for us? Here’s a complete list:

• Comprehensive anti-malware protection. Works in real-time.
• Anti-ransomware protection. Safeguards the files/apps on the OS from being encrypted by the hackers.
• Anti-phishing protection. It warns the user about potentially harmful URLs and blocks them before they can cause any harm.
• Anti-spam protection. This module keeps the email free from spam and other types of threats.
• PC tune-up/optimization tools. Boost overall performance and free up the hard drive and the browser.
• Two-Way Firewall. Keeps tabs on all the networks and connections and stops any suspicious activity.
• Vulnerability Scanner. An extra layer of defense for the active networks: detects and fixes vulnerabilities.
• Network Manager. Keeps the Wi-Fi network(s) from harm’s way.
• Data Shredder. An excellent tool for getting rid of unwanted files/folders/apps for good.
• File Encryptor. It allows you to encrypt the most important data on your drive to keep it safe from the criminals.
• Password Manager. Safe storage for your logins and passwords; syncs all your credentials together.
• ID Theft Protection. Prevents the hackers that specialize in identity theft from getting their hands on your ID.
• Safe Family. McAfee’s set of parental control tools – useful for restricting access to certain sites and setting time limits.
• Safe Connect. The company’s VPN hides your online activity from third parties.

AVG Antivirus

And here is what you can expect to get with the AVG antivirus:

• Powerful protection against malware and viruses.
• Anti-ransomware protection.
• Fake Website Shield. Blocks fake sites and redirects the user to safe ones.
• AVG Tune-Up. A set of tools/services for improving OS performance and speeding up the browser.
• AVG Secure VPN. One of the best Virtual Private Networks that come as part of an antivirus suite.
• Driver Updater. Self-explanatory: downloads and installs the latest drivers for all the connected devices.
• Enhanced Firewall. Works as a brick wall that keeps hackers away.
• Wi-Fi Network security. Safeguards the network from outside attacks.
• Email Shield. Blocks email attachments that can include phishing links or malicious code.
• Toolbar Remover. Does exactly that: gets rid of potentially dangerous extensions/toolbars.
• Password protection. Creates a safe environment for your logins/passwords that the criminals can’t reach.
• Webcam protection. Forces unknown and suspicious apps to request permission to use the webcam.
• Data Shredder.
• Behavioral Shield. Notifies the user of any suspicious apps running on the OS.
• Link Scanner. Self-explanatory: avoids fake/dangerous sites by checking the links first.

McAfee Free vs. AVG Free

Now we are familiarized with the feature sets of the rivaling programs, so let’s see what their free editions have to offer. As a 100% free-of-charge antivirus, McAfee free isn’t any good. The reason – the company doesn’t even have a free product to begin with. All that the users can rely on is a 30-day trial – that’s it. Once those 30 days are over, you’ll be automatically charged for the new month.

Make sure to uncheck auto-renewal if you’re not planning on using this antivirus further. AVG, in turn, does provide a free edition, and it can be downloaded from the official website. It’s a rather limited program, of course, and will only protect you from viruses and malware, nothing else. The good news is – it is available for all leading platforms, including desktop and mobile.

On top of that, the Driver Updater is available for free. The Anti-Track (hides your real ID and removes trackers) and the Secure Browser can also be obtained for free. All in all, AVG is a far better choice if you’re looking for a free antivirus to start with. It might not be particularly feature-packed but will still protect you from major threats. In contrast, McAfee doesn’t have anything to offer for free.

McAfee vs. AVG for Android

McAfee and AVG for Android are the mobile security utilities that protect your Android devices. Let us continue our AVG versus McAfee comparison with the Android versions. McAfee has always had a strong presence on the mobile market, and here’s what you’ll get with McAfee Android:

• Security Scan. Runs through the OS – apps, files, folders, and active networks – to find suspicious activity.
• Safe Wi-Fi. Detects vulnerable networks and warns the user.
• Safe Web. Keeps criminals from stealing your credentials when shopping or banking.
• ID Theft Protection.
• Safe Connect.
• App Lock. Prevents third parties from accessing certain apps on your phone.
• Privacy Check. Picks in which apps should have access to user data.
• Memory Booster. Improves overall performance.
• Battery Booster. It makes the battery run longer.
• Backup. Safeguards vital files/apps on the phone.

The AVG software for Android is not as feature-packed, but still decent:

• Basic antivirus protection
• Anti-Theft Phone Tracker
• App Lock. Protects private photos/videos/messages with a special PIN code.
• Camera Trap. It takes a picture of the person that stole your phone.

McAfee LiveSafe and AVG Internet Security Antivirus

LiveSafe is one of the most popular security suites on the market, and for a good reason. It’s capable of protecting desktop and mobile devices and safeguarding your ID. It comes packed with a long list of useful features, including file encryption, parental controls, a powerful firewall, encrypted storage, and more. Its biggest advantage over everything that AVG has to offer is the ability to protect an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

That makes it an excellent pick for owners of smaller businesses or large families. And, as you’ll learn from the next section, LiveSafe is also quite an affordable purchase. Compared to this, Internet Security by AVG isn’t nearly as impressive. It can protect one single PC or up to ten devices at the same time, but that fades in comparison to LiveSafe’s capabilities.

Furthermore, AVG Internet Security is more expensive, making it even less attractive for regular users.

McAfee vs. AVG Price Comparison

McAfee Total Protection. A full-fledged antivirus suite with a long list of features. With it, you’ll get protection against malware, ransomware, phishing, and network attacks. It also includes a powerful firewall, parental controls, file encryption, and tune-up tools.

McAfee LiveSafe. This tier is packed with every single Total Protection feature and can cover an unlimited number of devices (TP can protect up to ten devices at once).

AVG’s Internet Security. Very similar to McAfee’s entry-level package. It also offers protection for ten simultaneous connections. With it, you’ll get advanced antivirus protection and an anti-ransomware module, along with phishing, spam, and webcam protection. An enhanced firewall and a data shredder are a part of the deal a well.

Ultimate. The most expensive AVG plan adds two useful extras. We’re talking about TuneUp (AVG’s set of optimization and performance boost tools) and SecureVPN (a decent Virtual Private Network).

Which One Is Better AVG and McAfee

That’s it for our comparison slash review, dear readers! After carefully testing and comparing AVG to McAfee, we have to say that McAfee is the apparent winner of this competition. In terms of features, it is a better choice, as it has more extra features, tools, and modules that enhance security. It’s also more user-friendly and has a more comprehensive Android edition.
Regarding pricing, McAfee is a more favorable pick as well, thanks to the company’s clever policy and below-average prices. However, as we learned from our short AVG antivirus free review, it can be a good entry-level security tool, while McAfee doesn’t have anything to offer. AV-Comparatives and AV-Test evaluated both products, and they perform similarly well in third-party tests. Still, at the end of the day, McAfee is a preferable pick.