Avast Antivirus Company Buy AVG?

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, Avast Software acquired AVG Technologies in 2016, completing the deal in September of that year. The purchase was a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion, making Avast one of the largest consumer antivirus vendors in the world at the time. Since then, both product lines have continued to exist, but they are developed and managed by the same parent company.

Background: Two Antivirus Pioneers

Avast was founded in 1988 in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), and grew into one of the most widely used free antivirus programs globally. AVG Technologies, founded in 1991 in the Czech Republic as well, also built a strong reputation for its free antivirus and internet security tools. Both companies targeted the consumer market with freemium models: a free basic scanner plus paid upgrades for advanced features like firewall, ransomware protection, and VPN.

By the mid-2010s, the antivirus market was consolidating. Larger players like Symantec (Norton) and McAfee were merging or being acquired, and smaller companies struggled to keep up with the cost of maintaining threat databases and developing new detection technologies. Avast and AVG both had large user bases—Avast reported over 400 million users and AVG over 200 million—but their revenue per user was modest. Combining forces allowed them to cut overlapping costs, share threat intelligence, and negotiate better deals with resellers and OEM partners.

Why Avast Bought AVG

The acquisition was driven by several strategic goals:

Economies of scale: Merging two large user bases meant lower per-user costs for cloud scanning, signature updates, and customer support.
Shared technology: Both companies had proprietary detection engines; combining them allowed for a larger, more diverse threat database and improved machine-learning models.
Market share: The combined entity controlled a significant share of the free antivirus market, which could be leveraged to upsell paid products.
Data and telemetry: More users meant more real-time data on emerging threats, which improves detection rates for both brands.
Eliminating a competitor: AVG was a direct rival in the freemium space; buying it removed a major competitor while keeping its loyal user base.

The deal was structured as a cash-and-stock transaction. Avast paid approximately $1.3 billion, with a combination of cash and new Avast shares. The acquisition was subject to regulatory approvals, which were granted, and the deal closed in September 2016.

What Happened to AVG After the Acquisition?

After the acquisition, AVG continued to operate as a separate brand for a while, but its operations were gradually integrated into Avast. The AVG product line remained available, and existing AVG users were encouraged to continue using their products. However, new development and updates were managed by Avast’s engineering teams.

In 2021, Avast itself was acquired by NortonLifeLock (now Gen Digital), the parent company of Norton antivirus. That deal, valued at over $8 billion, created one of the largest consumer cybersecurity companies. Following that acquisition, the AVG brand was phased out. NortonLifeLock announced that AVG would be discontinued, and users were migrated to Norton 360 or other Norton products. As of 2024, AVG’s website still offers some tools, but the main antivirus product is no longer actively marketed.

For users, the practical effect is that AVG and Avast are now effectively the same product under the hood. Both use the same detection engine, the same virus definitions, and similar user interfaces. The main difference is branding and some minor feature variations.

How to Choose Between Avast and AVG Today

Since both are now owned by the same company and share the same core technology, the choice between them is largely moot. If you are a current AVG user, you may have received prompts to switch to Avast or Norton. If you are deciding which to install fresh, consider the following:

Brand trust: Some users prefer Avast because it is more widely known; others stick with AVG out of habit.
Features: Both offer free versions with basic protection, plus paid tiers with additional features like VPN, firewall, and password manager. Compare the specific feature lists on the current websites.
System impact: Both have similar resource usage, but you can check independent performance tests (e.g., AV-Comparatives) for the latest versions.
Norton migration: If you are an AVG user, you may have been migrated to Norton 360. That is now the recommended path from the parent company.

In short, there is no meaningful technical advantage of one over the other today. The best choice is to use the one that is officially supported and updated, which currently means Norton 360 for former AVG users.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that Avast and AVG are separate competing products. In reality, they are the same product with different names. Another misconception is that the acquisition meant AVG would be shut down immediately; in fact, it continued for several years.

Users often report issues after the migration, such as license keys not working or settings being reset. These are typical during any major transition. If you encounter problems, the recommended steps are:

Uninstall the old product completely using the official uninstaller tool.
Restart your computer.
Install the new product (Norton 360 or Avast) from the official website.
Enter your license key if you had a paid subscription; if not, use the free version.
Contact support if the issue persists.

Another misconception is that having both Avast and AVG installed gives double protection. This is false and can cause system slowdowns and conflicts. Always uninstall one before installing the other.

Cost and Licensing

Both Avast and AVG offered free versions with basic protection, and paid versions with advanced features. After the acquisition, the pricing and licensing were unified under Avast’s system. If you had a paid AVG subscription, you could continue using it until it expired, but renewals were handled by Avast. After the Norton acquisition, paid AVG subscriptions were converted to Norton 360 subscriptions, often at a similar price point.

It is important to note that free antivirus programs are not truly free—they collect anonymous usage data and may show promotional pop-ups for paid upgrades. Both Avast and AVG have faced criticism for data collection practices, which is a common concern among users. If privacy is a priority, you may want to consider a paid product that does not rely on advertising, or adjust the privacy settings in the free version.

Alternatives to Avast and AVG

If you are looking for antivirus software and are not tied to the Avast/AVG/Norton family, there are several reputable alternatives:

Microsoft Defender: Built into Windows 10 and 11, this is a solid free option with no extra cost.
Bitdefender: Known for high detection rates and low system impact; offers a free version.
Kaspersky: Strong protection, but has faced geopolitical scrutiny; consider if that matters to you.
Malwarebytes: Good as a secondary scanner for malware removal, though not a full replacement for real-time protection.
ESET: Lightweight and effective, with a paid subscription model.

When choosing any antivirus, check independent lab results from AV-Comparatives or AV-Test for the latest detection rates and performance scores. Also, consider your own needs: do you want a simple scanner, or do you need VPN, password manager, and parental controls? Free versions often lack these extras.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AVG still a separate company?

No. AVG Technologies was acquired by Avast in 2016, and then Avast was acquired by NortonLifeLock in 2021. AVG is now a discontinued brand, and its users are being migrated to Norton 360.

Can I still use my AVG antivirus?

Yes, but support is limited. The AVG software may still work, but it may not receive updates or virus definitions after a certain date. It is recommended to switch to a supported product like Norton 360 or Avast.

Is Avast better than AVG?

Since they are the same product under the hood, there is no significant difference in protection. The choice is mostly about branding and user interface. After the Norton acquisition, Avast is still actively developed, while AVG is being phased out.

Did Avast buy AVG for $1.3 billion?

Yes, the acquisition was valued at approximately $1.3 billion, combining cash and stock. This was confirmed in official announcements from both companies in 2016.

Will my AVG license work with Avast?

Generally, no. Avast and AVG licenses are separate, even though the products are similar. If you had a paid AVG subscription, you may have been offered a migration to Avast or Norton, but you cannot simply use an AVG key on Avast.

Is it safe to use both Avast and AVG together?

No, it is not recommended. Running two antivirus programs simultaneously can cause conflicts, system slowdowns, and false positives. Uninstall one before installing the other.

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