Editor's Review
Security apps on Android occupy an odd position, because the platform already screens installations through Play Protect, so anything sitting on top has to justify the space it takes. AVG's answer is to wrap the scanner in a set of adjacent tools, which is why the listing lands in Tools rather than a security-only corner.
The scanner examines installed apps and files, watches new installations, and flags settings that leave the phone weaker than it should be. Around that sit a junk cleaner for cached files, a photo vault behind a PIN, a lock for individual apps, Wi-Fi network checks, and breach alerts for email addresses. A VPN and the deeper protections belong to the paid tier.
A 4.63 rating across 100M+ installs is a genuine vote of confidence, and the engine behind it has a long track record. The honest counter is that a phone installing only from Play and keeping current with updates is already reasonably defended, and much of what makes this feel valuable day to day is the cleaning and locking rather than the antivirus itself. The free version also earns its keep loudly, through ads, notifications about problems it would like to fix, and steady nudges toward the subscription. A permanently running scanner costs battery as well.
Features
On-demand and automatic scanning of apps and files
Junk cleaner for cached and leftover files
App lock and PIN-protected photo vault
Wi-Fi network security checks
Breach alerts for saved email addresses
Permission and settings advisor
Pros
Established scanning engine with a long history behind it
Useful extras beyond the scanner alone
Free tier covers the core protection
Very high rating across an enormous install base
Clear reporting on which apps hold which permissions
Cons
Advertising and upgrade prompts are persistent without a subscription
Overlaps with protection Android already provides through Play Protect
Background scanning has a battery cost
