Avast vs Avira
We give Avast a 3.0 GPA and Avira a 2.4, out of 4.0. Avast grades higher on the free plan, features and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Avast
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate
Free plan
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAAvastVery good | 2.4GPAAviraFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo prices on record: avast.com turned our reader away, so there's no two-year figure for a household, and C is the grade for no stated price. Note that Premium Security leaves out the VPN and Cleanup Premium, which cost extra unless you buy Ultimate. | CNo prices on record: avira.com turned our reader away, so there's no two-year figure for a household, and C is the grade for no stated price. What paying mostly buys is an unlimited VPN and automatic updating, through the Pro versions and Avira Prime. |
| Free plan and trial | AAvast Free Antivirus gives real-time file, behavior and web shields, ransomware protection, a firewall and network scans, and there are free apps for Mac, Android and iPhone too. Most people won't hit a wall. | BAvira Free Security gives a Windows PC real-time antivirus, web and ad blocking, a password manager, a software updater and a cleaner. One person could live on that. The VPN stops at 500 MB a month, and Android gets 100 MB a day. |
| Features | BReal-time shields, ransomware protection and a firewall even when free, then Bank Mode, Email Guard, Deepfake Guard, a sandbox and webcam blocking on Premium. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core protection. | CAntivirus, ad and tracker blocking, a driver and software updater, more than 30 cleanup tools and a password manager on Windows. The phones have gaps the listing names: the iPhone app mentions no virus scans, and Android web protection is Pro. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. You install it and the shields start working, and everything sits in the one Avast One app. | C4.26 from about 4,700 App Store ratings, middling for this category. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone and a browser extension, with Multi-Device covering up to 10. No web app or API on record, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Android and iPhone, and the password manager syncs between them. There's no Mac app on our record and no API, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | real-time antivirus without paying | a free Windows suite with a VPN taster |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Avast and Avira. How we grade
Where they differ
- Only Avast lists a macOS app.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
- Avira also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
In commonFree planWindowsAndroidiOSVPNMalware protection
At a glance
| Avast | Avira | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | Avast Free Antivirus: real-time file, behavior and web shields, ransomware protection, network scans, a firewall and Smart Scan. Free apps exist for Mac, Android and iOS. | Avira Free Security for Windows: real-time antivirus, web and ad blocking, a VPN with 500 MB a month, a software updater, PC cleaner and password manager. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Gen Digital Inc. | Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Avast
- Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Households protecting up to 10 devices on mixed platforms
- People who want antivirus, VPN and PC cleanup from one vendor
Avira
- Windows users who want free antivirus plus cleanup and update tools
- People who need a small amount of VPN data without paying
- Android users wanting a free scanner with app locking
Worth knowing
Avast
- Avast's website refused automated reads on 2026-10-17, so its plan prices are not listed here; check avast.com before buying.
- Premium Security does not include the VPN or Cleanup Premium; each needs its own subscription unless you buy Avast Ultimate.
- Premium Security is sold for one device or as Multi-Device for up to 10 across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
- Paid subscriptions renew automatically, and some trials ask for a payment method before they start.
Avira
- Avira's website and help center refused automated reads on 2026-10-17, so its plan prices are not listed here; check avira.com before buying.
- The free VPN stops at 500 MB a month on Windows and 100 MB a day on Android; unlimited VPN needs a paid plan.
- The iPhone app offers a VPN, web protection, email breach checks and call blocking; its listing does not mention virus scans.
- On Android, web protection and microphone and camera blocking are Pro features; the scanner, VPN allowance and app lock are free.
Key features
Avast
- Core Shields
- File, Behavior and Web shields scan files, watch running programs and block harmful sites in real time, on the free version as well as the paid one.
- Ransomware Shield and firewall
- The free antivirus includes a Ransomware Shield, a firewall, Network Inspector for home network checks, and Hack Alerts when your logins leak online.
- Bank Mode and Real Site
- Premium Security opens banking and payment sites in an isolated virtual desktop and guards against DNS hijacking that swaps a real site for a fake one.
- Email Guard and Deepfake Guard
- Premium Security scans web-based email for phishing and uses AI to flag synthetic voices and videos used in scams.
- Sandbox and webcam protection
- Premium Security can run suspicious programs in a sandbox, blocks apps from using the webcam, and shreds files beyond recovery.
- Avast Ultimate bundle
- Ultimate unlocks Premium Security together with Avast VPN, Cleanup Premium and AntiTrack. Bought alone, the VPN and Cleanup need their own subscriptions.
Avira
- Real-time virus protection
- A cloud-backed scan engine detects and blocks malware and potentially unwanted apps bundled with other software, and repair tools help fix damaged files.
- Ad and tracker blocking
- The browser protection blocks dangerous and phishing sites as well as infected ads and trackers.
- VPN with a free allowance
- The free Windows app includes a no-logs VPN with 500 MB a month and servers in 33 countries; the Android app gives 100 MB a day. Avira Prime removes the limit.
- Software and driver updater
- Finds outdated apps and drivers, including third-party ones, and fetches updates from their official sources. Automatic updating is a paid feature.
- PC cleaner and tune-up tools
- Over 30 tools for clearing junk and registry leftovers, finding duplicate files, speeding up startup, boosting games and wiping disks.
- Password manager
- Generates and stores passwords, fills logins, syncs across devices, keeps card details and notes, and produces two-factor codes.
Plans
Avast
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avast.com.
Avira
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avira.com.
