How to Cancel AVG Antivirus in 2026 (Uninstall + Stop Hidden Charges)

Updated 2026-02-21 · 6 min read

What AVG Actually Costs

• AVG Internet Security: $46.68 first year → $89.99/year at renewal
• AVG Ultimate: $71.88 first year → $119.99/year at renewal (bundles VPN + TuneUp)
• AVG AntiVirus Free: $0 — but bombards you with upgrade popups and collected browsing data
• AVG TuneUp: $33.99/year — "PC optimizer" that mostly just clears temp files (Windows does this natively)
• AVG Secure VPN: $55.99/year — basic VPN with no independent audit

Step 1: Cancel Your AVG Subscription

1. Go to myaccount.avg.com and sign in
2. Click Subscriptions in the left menu
3. Find your active subscription → click Unsubscribe
4. AVG will show you a retention offer — click Continue to cancel
5. Select a cancellation reason → Confirm cancellation

Step 2: Request a Refund

• 30-day guarantee: AVG offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on new purchases
• Auto-renewals: Contact support within 30 days of the charge
• How: Go to support.avg.com → click "Billing" → "Request a Refund" → fill out the form
• Credit card dispute: If AVG won't refund and you didn't authorize the renewal, file a chargeback with your bank

Step 3: Fully Uninstall AVG

AVG is one of the hardest programs to fully remove from your computer. The standard uninstall often leaves behind services, browser extensions, and registry entries.

Windows:

1. First try: Settings → Apps → find all "AVG" entries → Uninstall each one
2. If that fails (common): download the AVG Clear/Removal Tool
3. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced → Startup Settings → Safe Mode)
4. Run the AVG removal tool in Safe Mode
5. Restart and verify Windows Defender is active

Mac:

1. Open AVG AntiVirus → menu bar → AVG AntiVirus → Uninstall AVG AntiVirus
2. Delete remaining files: ~/Library/Application Support/AVG
3. Check for browser extensions: Safari/Chrome/Firefox → Extensions → remove any AVG extensions

Don't forget browser extensions:

• AVG SafePrice: Shopping comparison extension — remove from all browsers
• AVG Online Security: "Security" extension that tracks browsing — remove it
• AVG Secure Search: Changes your default search engine — remove and reset browser defaults

The AVG → Avast → NortonLifeLock Pipeline

Understanding who owns your data helps explain why you should leave:

• 2016: Avast acquired AVG for $1.3 billion
• 2020: Exposed selling user browsing data via Jumpshot subsidiary
• 2022: NortonLifeLock (now Gen Digital) acquired Avast for $8.6 billion
• 2024: FTC fined Avast $16.5 million for selling user data
• Now: AVG, Avast, Norton, and LifeLock are all the same company (Gen Digital, NASDAQ: GEN)

So when you "cancel AVG," you're leaving a company that was literally fined by the federal government for selling its users' browsing data. Windows Defender doesn't do that.

Free Alternatives That Are Actually Better

• Windows Defender (free): Scores 99.5%+ detection rate on AV-TEST. Built in. No data selling. No popups.
• Malwarebytes Free: On-demand malware scanner — run it monthly alongside Defender
• uBlock Origin: Free browser extension that blocks malicious ads and sites
• Bitwarden (free): Replace AVG's password features with an actual password manager
• ProtonVPN (free): Replace AVG VPN with a privacy-focused, independently audited VPN

The irony of AVG: a company that sold itself as a privacy protector was literally selling its users' private data. You don't just save money by canceling — you gain privacy.