An Avast Ultimate subscription can only be used on one PC, even if you do not install and activate all of the available products. If you wish to use your subscription on more than one device, we recommend purchasing an Avast Ultimate (Multi-Device) subscription, which can be activated on up to 10 devices simultaneously and is additionally valid. You can purchase a license for up to 10 PCs with license validity of 1 year, 2 years or 3 years. The same license will work on multiple Mac computers and Windows computers if you purchased for multiple PCs. After purchasing you will receive Avast SecureLine License file and activation code on your registered email. Avast Passwords is our advanced password manager for PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone/iPad. Use it to securely sync passwords and secure notes across all your devices for safer, 1-click website logins.
- Is Avast A Separate License For Mac And Pc Computers
- Is Avast A Separate License For Mac And Pc
- Is Avast A Separate License For Mac And Pc Download
With so many types of antivirus software available in the market, it can be difficult for consumers to choose one. How do you know which antivirus software is the best at keeping you protected from viruses, but also meets additional needs you may have? For example, which antivirus software offers excellent VPN service, email phishing protection, and password encryption, aside from just virus protection?
Comparing every antivirus software out there side by side is a tremendous effort, as is trying them all individually. That’s why we’re going to compare two of the most well-known antivirus products available on the market.
In this article, we’ll be looking at all the features and offerings to consider when you compare McAfee versus Avast, so you can make a better informed decision on which antivirus product is right for you.
Basic protection: Avast. Avast Free Antivirus is an excellent choice for the most basic protection, and it is entirely free. McAfee does not offer any free products.Advanced protection: Tied. At the higher tiers and subscription plans, both products are pretty much equal in threat protection and features.
System performance: Tied. Both products earned perfect scores from AV-Test.
Overall:A light-user who really only surfs social media and watches YouTube, would be perfectly fine using Avast’s most basic, free antivirus product. Users who need more advanced features can begin to compare the higher tiers from both companies, and at that point, the deciding factor could simply be McAfee’s lighter impact on your system resources.
Contents
Avast
Avast has been around for a long time in the computer security industry. Founded in 1988, one of the co-founders wrote the first antivirus programs to remove the Vienna virus from DOS systems in the 80s, and Avast Antivirus was also the first antivirus software for Windows 95 OS. This does not mean Avast was the first antivirus for computers, rather only that its creators have a strong reputation in computer security history.
That’s all fine and well, but what does Avast bring to the table in 2019? The tech security industry has certainly changed immensely in the past 30 years, and thousands of new threats are released every day. Let’s take a look at Avast’s various offerings and features to start.
Avast Products List
Avast currently offers a different lineup of products for Windows, Mac, and Android operating systems.
- Avast Free Antivirus (Windows)
- Avast Pro Antivirus (Windows)
- Avast Internet Security (Windows)
- Avast Premier (Windows)
- Avast Ultimate (Windows)
- Avast Security (Mac)
- Avast Security Pro (Mac)
- Avast Antivirus – Mobile Security & Virus Cleaner (Android)
- Avast Passwords (Android)
- VPN SecureLine by Avast – Security & Privacy Proxy (Android)
Avast Windows Products
Avast Basic Protection
To start, Avast offers a free security solution in Avast Free Antivirus – McAfee only offers free trials of their products, but not an entirely free security solution. Avast Free Antivirus operates fast, has low impact on system resources, and offers powerful protection from common malware types. It not only protects the user from threats like spyware, ransomware, viruses, and Trojan horses, but offers a lot of security tools that consumers will find useful.
In Avast’s free antivirus, you’ll find a WiFi Inspector which can scan your network for vulnerable settings and intrusion points. It also has a software updater, and a password manager. For even less system impact, you can set it to Gaming mode, and it features a rescue disk utility for worst case scenarios.
For a very basic but still powerful form of protection, without spending a single dollar, you could hardly go wrong with Avast’s free offering. It can also be set to ran alongside other AV software by setting it to passive mode.
Avast Antivirus Pro
For users who need even more features and protection, the next tier is Avast Antivirus Pro. This comes with Sandbox technology for running programs which may be dangerous in an isolated and controlled environment.
The Real Site feature can prevent hackers from attacking your DNS and sending you redirects to fake websites which can steal your data, and you’ll also get premium customer support from Avast. A single-machine license costs $40 per year, $55 for 3 computers, and five computers for $85. This discount continues up to $14 per license when you purchase in packs of 10 licenses at a time.
Avast Internet Security
Next up is Avast Internet Security, which is slightly more expensive than Avast Antivirus Pro. At $59.99 per year for a single license, Avast Internet Security offers all of the features of Avast Antivirus Pro, but additional features such as an advanced firewall, anti-spam filter, and an extra layer of protection from ransomware attacks.
Avast Premier + Avast Ultimate
Going up in tiers brings us to Avast Premier, at $69.99 per year for a single machine. This adds a data shredder, automatic updates to the software, and anti-webcam spying protection.
The penultimate offering is Avast Ultimate, their highest tier available. This has every feature in all of the other tiers, but also a system cleanup utility for removing junk and optimizing your system performance. It also includes a VPN and a premium password storage vault.
Avast Mac Products
Avast only offers two plans for macOS users: Avast Security and Security Pro.
Avast Security is a freeware which provides a basic level of malware protection, a WiFi scanner for finding vulnerabilities in your network, and web / email shields. Upgrading to Avast Security Pro gives you ransomware protection, and a WiFi intruder alert.
There are of course various tools and utilities available for Mac that come as separate downloads for Mac users. These are Avast Passwords, Cleanup Pro, and SecureLine VPN. All of these tools have their own prices, but users can avail of free trials to get a feel for them.
Avast Android Products
It’s been said that Android antivirus products are largely a waste of space, as Android isn’t really susceptible to the traditional virus types that plague computers. However, there’s still some useful security features found in the Avast products for Android.
Most antivirus companies are aware of this, and so for Android-based antivirus products, the focus isn’t necessarily on actual virus protection, but on the additional security tools found in the apps. With Avast’s mobile security app, you get an app locker, call blocker, a private photo vault, a VPN, a firewall for rooted devices, a junk cleaner, web shield, Wi-Fi security, and others.
You’ll also get a handful of anti-theft features, such as audio and photo capture of the phone thief, a GPS-based last known location of your device, automatically registering your device as lost after the SIM is changed, and others.
The free version of the app includes video advertisements, but users can upgrade to Pro to remove ads. Aside from that, all of the features are unlocked and included in the free version, so if you don’t mind ads, the free version is perfectly fine to use on your Android device.
For Avast’s other Android products, they are basically just individual app versions of the features found in the mobile security app.
McAfee
McAfee was founded in 1987, named for its founder John McAfee. However, for a long time, McAfee was pretty much known as “that antivirus software that comes pre-installed on computers and laptops and should be uninstalled asap”. John McAfee also made a lot of headlines for some pretty wild antics and legal issues in his personal life, though that’s not exactly relevant here.
McAfee was actually purchased by Intel in 2010, and after Intel said they would be changing the product’s name to Intel Security, John McAfee said he was grateful to no longer be associated with “the worst software on the planet”. However, the name change never actually happened, as McAfee products still go under the McAfee name. But Intel’s ownership has seemed to make a big difference in McAfee’s product reputation.
McAfee Products List
- McAfee Antivirus (Windows)
- McAfee Antivirus Plus (Windows + Mac)
- McAfee Internet Security (Windows + Mac)
- McAfee Total Protection (Windows + Mac)
- McAfee LiveSafe (Windows + Mac)
- McAfee Mobile Security: Antivirus, Wi-Fi VPN & Anti-Theft (Android)
- McAfee Safe Connect VPN (Android)
- McAfee True Key (Android)
- McAfee Safe Family – Screen Time & Parental Control (Android)
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McAfee Windows & Mac Products
Because McAfee offers the same software products for both Windows and Mac, except for the most basic product. Thus, we won’t separate them into different headers like for Avast.
Unlike Avast, McAfee does not offer any completely free software. They do offer free trials, but even their most basic product, McAfee Antivirus, starts at $39.99 per year. This is only for Windows computers.
McAfee Basic Protection
McAfee Antivirus offers basic virus protection, along with some additional features related to security and tools. You’ll get a two-way firewall which monitors network traffic and can prevent web-based attacks. A file shredding tool which can “permanently” delete files, but be aware there’s debate around this. There are tools available that can recover “shredded” file, there’s really no such thing as a file being “permanently” deleted. Using a file shredder alone is no guarantee. That’s for a different article, however. Moving on.
With the basic Mcafee Antivirus, you’ll also get a QuickClean tool for removing junk files and improving PC performance, a vulnerability scanner which checks outdated applications that can cause security issues (like Java, etc), and a Gaming mode to disable notifications while you’re doing full-screen activities. Finally, McAfee Antivirus offers social media monitoring technology, which basically blocks malicious links and inappropriate content on social media websites.
McAfee Antivirus Plus
The next tier is McAfee Antivirus Plus. If you need to protect a lot of devices on a budget, this is actually a good choice. Unlike Avast which offers its products in a per-license subscription format, McAfee Antivirus Plus can protect up to 10 devices, no matter their platform. So with a single subscription of $59.99 per year, you can protect all the computers (Windows + Mac) and mobile devices in your home.
With McAfee Antivirus Plus, you get a Security Management Console, and a Network Manager. These allow you to manage all of the devices under your subscription in one place, as well as locate or lock missing devices. The Network Manager also provides intrusion protection on your local network.
McAfee Internet Security
Going up in tier, we have McAfee Internet Security. This provides you with an anti-spam filter to block junk and phishing emails. It also offers parental control features for internet surfing, so your children don’t “accidentally” stumble on anything they shouldn’t. Did you know 30% of all internet data is porn?
In any case, McAfee Internet Security also offers a single license of the True Key manager. This is a credential storage vault for keeping all of your usernames and passwords in an encrypted locker, and gives you a safer method of automatically signing into websites. You’ll also get facial recognition and two-factor authentication included.
McAfee Total Protection + McAfee LiveSafe
As the highest tier, we have McAfee Total Protection and McAfee LiveSafe. The Total Protection gives you a file locker on top of all the features found in previous plans, and LiveSafe gives you 1GB of secure cloud storage. You also get 5 True Key licenses with both of these plans. One thing to note is that Total Protection and LiveSafe have different prices depending on Windows or Mac.
With any plan, even the basic, you’ll get 24/7 premium customer support from McAfee, as well as a virus protection guarantee. What this means is that if your computer somehow becomes infected, a McAfee expert will either remove the malware for you, or give you a refund on the software, if you signed up for automatic subscription renewal.
Individual McAfee Tools
Some final products from McAfee worth mentioning are the WebAdvisor add-on for browsers, which blocks malicious websites, scans downloads for malicious activity, and has a typo protection feature which really just prevents you from mistyping web addresses. There’s also a rescue disk utility, VPN, and anti-webcam spying, which don’t belong to any of the McAfee suites, but can be downloaded individually from McAfee.
McAfee Android Products
As we said for Avast’s Android-based products, antivirus apps aren’t so much intended as actually preventing phone viruses, but are useful for the additional features offered. McAfee offers the McAfee Mobile Security, which has a built-in virus scanner, Wi-Fi vulnerability scanner, a VPN, and anti-theft measures such as device locking and tracking.
You can also download the features as individual apps, with McAfee Safe Connect VPN, McAfee True Key (a password and user credential storage vault), and McAfee Safe Family, which is for controlling and monitoring phone usage in younger hands.
Malware Protection
AV-Test had McAfee scoring a perfect 100% in detecting 185 zero-day malware samples, and 10684 widespread malware samples. It raised only one false positive flag.
McAfee
Avast
Avast scored a slightly lower in the same tests, with a 99.9% detection rate for widespread malware samples. 99.9% sounds like nearly exactly the same as 100%, but in a large sample pool of 10684 malwares, that .1% means 10 malware samples made it past Avast. Avast also gave up 4 false flags.
Another independent lab, AV-Comparatives, uses two major tests to gauge protection levels. A real-world protection test, and a malware protection test. The former will test an antivirus software’s protection abilities based on the product’s default settings, whereas the malware protection test will determine the protection offered against infections before or after app execution.
The results were very slightly favorable to Avast over McAfee, although both products received the highest award from the lab. Avast’s real-world protection test gave a score of 100% protection, while McAfee came in at 98.9%. However, Avast returned 3 false positives, and McAfee only gave one.
Thus, both products are pretty much equal in threat prevention capabilities, and you’ll have to decide which to use based on other factors, such as the additional features offered in each product, and subscription fees.
System Performance Impact
One important factor is how demanding the antivirus software is on your system resources. Some antivirus products are notorious for high CPU usage, especially during system scannings.
McAfee
Avast
McAfee and Avast both scored perfect 6/6 scores from AV-Test. The performance impact from either of these antivirus products is pretty negligible, with Avast having slightly less impact in the area of installing new programs.
Final Verdict
It’s clear here that no matter which software you use, McAfee and Avast both offer great protection, and tons of features. Choosing one should ultimately boil down to the level of protection you really need, and what you’re willing to pay for it.
A light-user who really only surfs social media, watches YouTube, and downloads software from (trusted) websites would be perfectly fine using Avast’s most basic, free antivirus product.
Users who need more advanced features can begin to compare the higher tiers from both companies, and at that point, the deciding factor could simply be McAfee’s lighter impact on your system resources. Ignoring that small factor, both companies are really equal in nearly everything offered. Flipping a coin might be your best option.
If you’ve enjoyed this Avast vs McAfee comparison, please do leave your comments and feedback. You might want to read our McAfee versus Norton antivirus comparison next here: antivirus.best/mcafee-vs-norton.
Summary :
Both Avast and AVG are popular antivirus programs. If you want to choose one from them and don’t know which one is better, you should read this post. This post provides information on Avast vs AVG. Besides, you can use MiniTool Software to better protect your data.
Is Avast A Separate License For Mac And Pc Computers
Quick Navigation :
Avast and AVG are the two biggest choices in the antivirus market. Many people have installed one of them on their PC. If you also want to choose one but don’t know which to choose, you can find the answer in the following part.
About Avast and AVG
To start with, I will introduce some basic information about Avast and AVG respectively. Then you can have an in-depth look at the comparisons and differences of them, which are compared from five aspects. The following is information about them.
Avast
Avast is one of the most commonly used and leading antivirus programs on the market. You can use Avast on Android, Windows, iOS, and Mac. Avast is easy to download and run on any computer. With just a few clicks, the antivirus software will be loaded on the computer and ready to start processing all viruses and antispyware on the computer.
Also see: Is Avast Safe? Find the Answer and Alternatives to It Now
AVG
AVG is a series of antivirus software developed by AVG Technologies, a subsidiary of Avast. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Android. AVG software is used to provide antivirus, antispyware, and firewall protection.
Avast VS AVG
In this part, we will contrast Avast and AVG in some aspects, including features, user interface, price, system performance, support, pros & cons. Now, let’s see the detailed comparison below.
Avast VS AVG: Feature
First, let’s see AVG vs Avast for features.
Avast
Avast has both free functions and advanced customer functions. Avast’s focus is on antivirus protection. However, Avast provides a network scanning tool to search for vulnerabilities and recommend solutions to increase overall network security.
You can also take advantage of Avast Secure Browser. It is a custom Avast browser with additional privacy and security features. Besides, you can use the Avast Sandbox tool to test whether unknown files are infected.
Avast Premium customers get DNS web protection to stop phishing. Premium subscribers will get extra privacy protection, and their security tools can restrict access to your webcam to prevent potential hackers from viewing or recording sources.
Avast also provides encryption for your files to prevent ransomware encryption and provides a tool to safely delete certain files. The most expensive Avast Ultimate plan includes VPN protection, which is Avast SecureLine VPN. Avast Ultimate subscribers can also use Avast password.
Avast VPN (or SecureLine VPN) is a subscription-based virtual private network system. However, sometimes you will encounter the Avast VPN not working issue.
AVG
AVG comes standard with basic anti-virus protection. You can also install the AVG brand browser during the installation process. AVG Secure Browser is the same as Avast Secure Browser. It uses the same basics as Google Chrome, but it has privacy protection, ad-blocking features, and a built-in password manager.
If you subscribe to the premium AVG plan, you will get webcam protection, additional ransomware protection. What’s more, with the top AVG Ultimate subscription, you will have access to some other products, such as AVG TuneUp. This is similar to Avast's subscription model, in which various products are combined to form a security suite.
The functions of Avast and AVG are very similar. Some features are shared, but Avast does provide some additional features for advanced customers. Thus, Avast vs AVG for feature, Avast is the winner.
Avast VS AVG: User Interface
An easy-to-use software interface is another factor you should consider. Thus, I will introduce Avast vs AVG: user interface.
Avast
Avast navigation is very simple, using a dark color scheme to draw your attention to the most important tips and icons. Less important functions are hidden in the left menu. Customizing Avast is easy. You just need to access Avast's settings through the menu in the upper right corner of the client.
AVG
AVG has a small installer file of 1MB, which is one of the fastest antivirus software to install. Like Avast, AVG provides two installation options, one is a quick installation using the default AVG settings, and the other is a custom installation method. You can select the features to enable before the installation starts.
The various parts in AVG are located in the horizontal button menu on the main client screen. You can customize these settings from the settings menu, which can be accessed from the AVG menu at the top right of the client.
Both programs have a simple and intuitive user interface but compared to AVG, Avast’s secondary screen is easier to access.
Avast VS AVG: Price
When choosing an antivirus program, you should take its pricing into account. Which is cost-effective, Avast, or AVG?
Avast
| Premium Security Single-Device | $69.99/year | 1 PC |
| Premium Security Multi-Device | $89.99/year | 10 Devices |
| Avast Ultimate | $99.99/year | 1 PC |
| Avast Premium Security for Mac | $69.99/year | 1 Mac |
AVG
| AVG Internet Security | $39.99 for the first year and $69.99 for each subsequent year | 1PC |
| AVG Ultimate | $79.99/$119.99/year | 10 Devices |
You can use AVG to protect more devices with less money. Besides, if you want to get antivirus protection for all your home devices, AVG is a better choice.
Avast VS AVG: System Performance
The degree of impact of anti-virus products on the system also fully illustrates its practicality. Generally, a good antivirus program does not consume system resources. Now, let’s see AVG free vs Avast free for system performance.
Avast received 5.5 points (out of 6 points) in the performance evaluation of the AV Testing Institute in April 2020. AVG received 5 points (out of 6 points), indicating that it does affect common computing tasks, such as launching popular websites and standard software applications, copying files, installing commonly used applications, etc.
Thus, in this aspect, Avast is the winner.
Avast VS AVG: Support
This final round will cover the customer support methods Avast and AVG provide for you, and the quality of support you might get.
Avast
Direct support methods include a ticketing system and advanced support hotline, which customers can use 24/7. There is a knowledge base on this site, which contains sections about each Avast product.
There is also a customer forum. This forum is separated by language and product, where you can ask questions and get support from Avast employees and other Avast customers.
If you have problems that cannot be solved, you can purchase Avast Total Care technical support. This advanced support includes direct, remote desktop support provided by the Avast agent to resolve issues and infections.
AVG
AVG supports a wide range of methods, including live chat for customers, an email ticketing system for more detailed inquiries, and three 24/7 telephone support hotlines in the UK, Australia, and the US.
You can get limited FAQs online. The questions are separated by individual products, and support guides are provided to help you install (or remove) AVG products or change plans. There is also a support forum, which is sorted by the latest posts, but you can browse different sections on various topics and products.
Is AVG better than Avast? No, AVG and Avast have the same level of support.
Avast VS AVG: Pros and Cons
This past is about Avast vs AVG: pros and cons.
Avast
Pros
- The paid package includes a large number of additional features for applications and functions
- All products support Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Cons
- Limited identity theft protection.
- No multi-year subscription.
AVG
Pros
- AVG AntiVirus Free supports multiple operating systems.
- Provide a separate VPN, system optimization, and identity theft protection product.
- The protection level is slightly higher than Avast.
- Many unique protections and features.
Cons
- No parental control.
- Built-in limited identity theft and privacy protection.
Use MiniTool ShadowMaker to Back up Files
Just relying on antivirus software to protect computer data is not enough. Thus, you need other software to protect your data and you should back up your important data regularly to prevent file loss. Luckily, the free backup software - MiniTool ShadowMaker can satisfy your needs.
It can be used to back up OS, individual files and folders, disks, and partitions to storage devices. With a copy of the backup, you can restore data once a disaster occurs, like a system crash, hard drive failure, and more.
MiniTool ShadowMaker also lets you create a bootable media to restore the system to a normal state when a computer fails to boot. All in all, this software can meet any of your demands.
Now you can download and try MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up your files.
Here is how to back up your files with MiniTool ShadowMaker.
Step 1: Decide a Backup Mode
Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker and choose Keep Trial to use the trial edition.
Step 2: Choose Backup Source
Go to the Backup page. Then choose Folders and Files to continue and choose the files you want to back up. At last, click OK.
Step 3: Choose a Destination Path to Store Your Files
Then, choose one destination to store your files and click OK.
Step 4: Start to Back up
You will back to the following interface and you should click Back up Now or Back up Later to start the process immediately or delay the process.
When the process is finished, you have successfully backed up files. At the same time, you have protected your important data.
Bottom Line
Want to choose an antivirus program but don’t know which one to choose, Avast or AVG? After reading this guide on Avast vs AVG, you know the answer. Just choose one based on your actual needs. Also, another suggestion is introduced to you for PC protection.
If you have any issues or suggestions, you can leave a comment below or contact [email protected]. We will reply to you as soon as possible.
Avast VS AVG FAQ
Is Avast A Separate License For Mac And Pc
Is Avast A Separate License For Mac And Pc Download
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