AVG AntiVirus Free vs Malwarebytes 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

Malwarebytes Free: what it's good at

Malwarebytes Free is an on-demand scanner that specialises in removing adware, browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs and infections that traditional antivirus products routinely miss. It is the tool most technicians reach for when a machine is already misbehaving.

• Excellent adware and PUP removal
• Runs alongside your existing antivirus
• On-demand scanning in the free tier
• Real-time protection in the paid version

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, macOS, Android. Only Malwarebytes Free supports iOS.

We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either.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 Malwarebytes Free?

Neither is universally better. AVG AntiVirus Free lightweight free antivirus with web and email protection, while Malwarebytes Free the standard second-opinion malware remover. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.

Are both really free?

AVG AntiVirus Free is free tier and Malwarebytes 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.