Avast
Free antivirus with paid Premium Security and VPN tiers
- #5 of 11 in best antivirus software
- Free plan, paid upgrades
- Free to use
- WindowsmacOSAndroidiOS
Ranked 5 of 11 in best antivirus software
Its free tier covers PC, Mac and mobile, which Avira's free download does not, and the paid tiers add a VPN and identity tools. Norton and ESET offer no free antivirus after their trials.
Best for Free protection on PC and Mac with an upgrade path
About Avast
Avast sells antivirus and privacy software under its own name. Its site lists Free Antivirus for PC and free security apps for Mac, Android and iPhone or iPad, so a basic layer of protection costs nothing on those systems.
The paid tiers add more. Premium Security adds protection and extra tools, a Premium VPN is sold as a separate product, and the Avast One app bundles identity and privacy controls. The home page presents these as one family of products, so compare each plan's list before buying.
Key features
- Free Antivirus for PC
- Free security apps for Mac, Android and iOS
- Premium Security
- Premium VPN
- Avast One app
Strengths
- Free antivirus for PC and free security apps for Mac and mobile
- Paid tiers add a VPN and identity tools
Limits
- Extras and the full feature set need a paid plan
- Feature lists differ by product, so compare the plan pages
Where Avast ranks
How Avast compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Free version | Extra tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#3 Malwarebytes | 87.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WindowsmacOSAndroidiOS | Yes | VPN, browser guard, cleaners |
#4 ESET | 85.5 | Subscription | WindowsmacOSAndroidLinux | No | Anti-phishing, Wi-Fi protection, VPN |
| #5Avast | 82.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WindowsmacOSAndroidiOS | Yes | VPN and identity tools in paid tiers |
#6 Norton | 81.0 | Subscription | WindowsmacOSAndroidiOS | No | VPN, scam protection, LifeLock |
#7 Avira | 80.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WindowsmacOSAndroidiOS | Yes | Paid Prime plans |
The full comparison table for best antivirus software has all 11 products.
Alternatives to Avast
All 10 alternatives
BitdefenderAntivirus suites for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS with a free version
Microsoft Defender AntivirusBuilt-in antivirus in Windows Security, included with Windows- MalwarebytesMalware scanner with free cleaners and paid Premium Security
- ESETAlso runs on Linux.
- NortonSubscription antivirus bundled with VPN and identity protection
- AviraFree Windows antivirus with paid Prime plans
Questions about Avast
- Is Avast free?
- Avast can be used without paying: Free Antivirus for PC; Premium Security and bundles are paid. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Avast open source?
- No. Avast is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Avast support?
- Avast is available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
- What is Avast best for?
- Free protection on PC and Mac with an upgrade path. In our ranking of antivirus software it is number 5 of 11 with a score of 82.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Avast?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Bitdefender, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Malwarebytes, ESET.
Show this ranking on your site
If you make or maintain Avast, this badge links back to this page and shows its current rank. It updates when the ranking does.
<a href="https://listme.name/software/avast"><img src="https://listme.name/badge/avast.svg" height="28" alt="Ranked #5 of 11 antivirus software on listme.name"></a>