Best Antivirus 2025 for Beginners – Avast vs AVG vs Malwarebytes
The best antivirus 2025 for beginners should be easy to install, simple to use, and strong enough to stop real threats without slowing your PC to a crawl. This guide cuts through the noise and compares three names most home users and small businesses already know: Avast, AVG, and Malwarebytes.
We focus on what real people actually care about: simple setup, reliable protection, low system impact, and clear pricing. If you want the deep theory behind malware, defence-in-depth and network security, you can also use our free CompTIA Security+ training alongside this beginner-friendly antivirus comparison.
If you want a neutral explanation of what antivirus software is, see the Antivirus software overview on Wikipedia .
Best antivirus 2025: what beginners should look for
For this best antivirus 2025 comparison, we apply practical criteria that matter for normal users, not just labs and experts:
- Easy installation and clear interface, even if you are not technical.
- Strong real-time protection against common threats like ransomware, trojans, and PUPs.
- Low system impact so your computer does not feel slow all the time.
- Reasonable pricing and discounts you can actually afford.
- Reputation and transparency from a serious security company.
All three products on this page – Avast, AVG, and Malwarebytes – are well-known, regularly updated, and suitable for home users and small offices that want the best antivirus 2025 style of protection without needing to be experts.
Best antivirus 2025 for beginners: top 3 choices
Avast – top-rated protection with many extras
Avast is a strong option if you want a full security suite, not just basic antivirus. It includes web protection, ransomware shields, Wi-Fi security checks, and extra tools that help beginners stay safe without changing many settings.
- Very good protection scores in independent tests.
- Clear interface with simple on/off switches.
- Extra features such as ransomware shield and Wi-Fi inspector.
- Suitable for both home users and small offices.
AVG – simple antivirus with a light footprint
AVG is owned by the same company as Avast, but focuses more on being lightweight and straightforward. It is ideal for users who want basic antivirus protection without too many pop-ups or extra tools.
- Light on system resources – good for older or weaker PCs.
- Clear alerts and simple scan options.
- Good protection against known malware and common threats.
- Works well as a basic antivirus for everyday use.
Malwarebytes – strong cleanup & second-opinion scanner
Malwarebytes started as a specialist anti-malware cleaner, and it is still excellent at removing unwanted software, toolbars, and other junk that traditional antivirus sometimes misses. You can use it alone, or together with another solution.
- Very good at detecting and removing adware and PUPs.
- Useful as a “second opinion” scanner next to your main antivirus.
- Real-time protection available in paid versions.
- Clear reports and simple actions for beginners.
Which antivirus should you choose from the best antivirus 2025 list?
- Choose Avast if you want a complete security suite with many built-in protections and are fine with a bit more complexity.
- Choose AVG if you prefer a lighter, simpler antivirus that focuses on core protection and runs well on older hardware.
- Choose Malwarebytes if your main concern is cleaning infections, adware or unwanted software – or if you want a strong second-opinion scanner.
In practice, many users run one main antivirus (Avast or AVG) and keep Malwarebytes as an extra cleanup tool when things go wrong.
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If you are also comparing privacy tools, read our best VPN for beginners comparison and try the free CompTIA Security+ training to understand how antivirus and VPNs work together in real-life security.
Is free antivirus enough in 2025?
A good free antivirus is better than nothing, but many free versions limit ransomware protection, web protection, or support. For most beginners, a discounted paid plan from Avast, AVG or Malwarebytes is worth the small yearly cost.
Can I use two antivirus products at the same time?
You should not run two real-time antivirus engines at the same time because they can conflict. However, it is common to use one main antivirus plus Malwarebytes as an on-demand scanner for manual checks and cleanup.
Do I still need antivirus if I am careful online?
Even careful users can be hit by malicious downloads, compromised websites, or new phishing techniques. Antivirus is a basic safety layer — you still need good passwords, updates, and backup habits, which we cover in our Security+ style training.
Which operating systems do these tools support?
Avast and AVG primarily focus on Windows and macOS, with some extra tools for Android. Malwarebytes supports Windows, macOS, Android and more. Always check the official product page for up-to-date platform support before buying.
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