AVG AntiVirus Free vs Bitdefender Antivirus Free

AVG AntiVirus Free: what it's good at

AVG AntiVirus Free blocks viruses, spyware and other malware in real time, and scans links, downloads and email attachments before they can execute. It shares a detection engine with Avast, and is a solid no-cost baseline for a home Windows machine.

• Real-time malware detection
• Email attachment and download scanning
• Performance scan for junk files
• Free for personal use

Bitdefender Antivirus Free: what it's good at

Bitdefender Antivirus Free pairs the detection engine that consistently scores at the top of independent AV comparison tests with a deliberately minimal interface. It is designed to install and then stay out of your way, making it a good fit for machines you maintain for other people.

• Highly rated detection engine
• Very low system impact
• Almost no configuration required
• Real-time threat defence

Which should you choose?

Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.

Both run on Windows. Only AVG AntiVirus Free supports macOS, Android.

We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is AVG AntiVirus Free better than Bitdefender Antivirus Free?

Neither is universally better. AVG AntiVirus Free lightweight free antivirus with web and email protection, while Bitdefender Antivirus Free minimal-configuration antivirus with a top-rated engine. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.

Are both really free?

AVG AntiVirus Free is free tier and Bitdefender Antivirus Free is free tier. Both can be downloaded without paying.

Can I install both?

Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.