Avast vs Kaspersky
We give Avast a 3.0 GPA and Kaspersky a 2.2, out of 4.0. Avast grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use 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
Kaspersky
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAAvastVery good | 2.2GPAKasperskyFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | DOutside the US, Standard for 5 devices is $58.99 the first year, then $85.99, so two years cost $144.98, about $6.04 a month. A US reader can't count on that: the US site says renewal isn't available to US customers, so there's no second year to buy there. |
| 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. | DNo free plan on record. The 30-day trial of Standard or Premium rolls into a paid year unless you cancel, so you're signing up to pay from day one. |
| 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. | BAntivirus, a firewall, and scam and payment protection on every plan, then an unlimited VPN and a password manager from Plus, and identity protection, 24/7 remote IT help and Safe Kids on Premium. Standard has no VPN, but the core protection has no gap. |
| 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. | BNo store rating on record. It's a program you install and it starts protecting, with nothing to build first. |
| 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, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone, so it's one of the few here with Linux. The VPN can't be activated in some countries, including China and India, and there's no API on record. |
| Best for | real-time antivirus without paying | antivirus with a VPN, outside the US |
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 Kaspersky. How we grade
Where they differ
- Avast has a free plan. Kaspersky does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
- Only Kaspersky lists a Linux app.
- Kaspersky also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| Avast | Kaspersky | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99 |
| 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. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial of Standard or Premium; a paid yearly plan starts unless you cancel |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Gen Digital Inc. | Kaspersky |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | kaspersky.com |
| 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
Kaspersky
- Buyers outside the US who want antivirus, VPN and passwords in one plan
- Households that also run Linux computers
- People who want remote help from support staff with PC problems
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.
Kaspersky
- Kaspersky's US site says renewal is unavailable for US customers and points non-US buyers to kaspersky.com; it shows no US prices.
- Prices here are the US-dollar prices on the global site; each plan renews automatically at the higher standard price after the first term.
- Standard has no VPN or password manager; those start at Plus.
- The free trial turns into a paid yearly plan at the introductory price unless cancelled within 30 days.
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.
Kaspersky
- Real-time antivirus and firewall
- Every plan blocks viruses, malware and ransomware, removes existing infections and includes a two-way firewall.
- Scam and payment protection
- AI-based scam protection, anti-phishing and a protected mode for online banking and shopping, plus crypto threat and stalkerware detection.
- Unlimited VPN
- Plus and Premium include Kaspersky's VPN with no data cap. It cannot be downloaded or activated in some countries, including China and India.
- Password manager
- Plus and Premium add a password manager and vault that autofills addresses and card details, with a password safety check.
- Identity and remote support
- Premium adds an identity protection wallet, smart home Wi-Fi monitoring, 24/7 remote IT support and expert virus removal.
- Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Premium includes a year of Safe Kids parental controls with GPS location, website filters and screen time limits.
Plans
Avast
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avast.com.
Kaspersky
Standard$64.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year for $49.99
Antivirus, firewall, scam and payment protection. First year $49.99; 3 devices $52.99 then $74.99, 5 devices $58.99 then $85.99.
Plus$79.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year for $61.99
Adds unlimited VPN, a password manager, data leak checks and a disk health monitor. 5 devices: $73.99 the first year, then $106.99.
Premium$98.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year for $64.99
Adds identity protection, remote access detection and 24/7 remote IT support. $64.99 also buys 15 months. 10 devices: $101.99, then $157.99.
Ways to pay less
Avast
No public discounts listed.
Kaspersky
- Other savings
First-year prices on every plan
For 1 device: Standard $49.99, Plus $61.99 and Premium $64.99 for the first year, against renewal prices of $64.99, $79.99 and $98.99.
- Other savings
Premium for 15 months at the 1-year price
Premium for 1 device is also sold as a 15-month term for $64.99, the same as the first year, before renewing at $98.99 a year.
