Avira vs IObit Malware Fighter (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Avira and IObit Malware Fighter share a 2.4 GPA, both have a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on whether you care more about platforms, where Avira grades higher, or value for money and ease of use, where IObit Malware Fighter does.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
IObit Malware Fighter
Windows anti-malware with a free edition and a paid Pro edition
Which one is for you
Pick Avira if
- Fits if you want antivirus, a cleaner and a password manager on a Windows PC for free
- Works for Android users who want a free scanner with app locking
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, as there's no Mac app on our record
- Tight if you stream over the free VPN, which stops at 500 MB a month on Windows and 100 MB a day on Android
- Not for you if you want web protection or camera and mic blocking free on Android, as they're Pro features
- Watch out: the iPhone app's listing mentions no virus scans, only a VPN, web protection, breach checks and call blocking
- Watch out: we have no prices on record, as Avira's site refused our reader, so check avira.com before buying
Pick IObit Malware Fighter if
- Fits if you want a free Windows scanner you can upgrade later
- Works for one to three PCs on a low yearly price
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or a phone, as only Windows is covered
- Not for you if you want ransomware defence without paying, because it is a Pro feature
- Watch out: Pro prices are shown as 50% to 56% off with no end date, and no renewal price is stated
- Tight if you have more than 3 PCs: Pro is sold for 1, 2 or 3 only
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAAviraFair | 2.4GPAIObit Malware FighterFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | BPro is $19.95 a year for 1 PC, about $1.66 a month, inside the cheapest quarter, and the free edition costs nothing. The sale price has no end date shown and no renewal price is given. |
| Free plan and trial | 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. | BA free edition with basic antivirus and basic real-time protection, with a smaller malware database than Pro. |
| Features | 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. | CScanning and real-time protection, with ransomware defence and scam blocking in Pro only. The free edition is a basic one. |
| Ease of use | C4.26 from about 4,700 App Store ratings, middling for this category. | BNo store rating on record, but it is a Windows program you install and run with little setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | DWindows only: the page lists Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 and no Mac or phone app. |
| Best for | a free Windows suite with a VPN taster | Windows PCs that want a free scanner with a paid upgrade |
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: Avira and IObit Malware Fighter. How we grade
Where they differ
- Avira also covers password manager and vPN.
At a glance
| Avira | IObit Malware Fighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated) |
| Free plan | 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. | IObit Malware Fighter 14 Free: basic antivirus protection, quick threat detection, basic privacy protection and basic real-time protection. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG | IObit |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | iobit.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
IObit Malware Fighter
- Windows only: the product page lists Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 and no Mac version.
- The Pro prices on the page are shown as discounts of 50% to 56% with no end date, and no renewal price is stated.
- Pro licenses are sold for 1, 2 or 3 PCs only; no larger tier is shown.
- The vendor offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on Pro.
Key features
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.
IObit Malware Fighter
- Malware scanning
- Smart Scan checks critical areas, Full Scan covers all disks, and Custom Scan checks a file or folder you pick.
- Ransomware defense
- On Pro, Ransomware Shield watches for unauthorized file encryption and SafeBox password-protects chosen documents.
- Web and download protection
- Surfing Protection blocks phishing and fake sites, and Download Protection scans downloaded files and email attachments.
- Privacy tools
- Anti-Tracking clears tracking cookies, Homepage Advisor flags changes to your homepage and search engine, and Browser Password Guard protects stored browser passwords.
- Bitdefender engine on Pro
- Pro adds the Bitdefender antivirus engine to IObit's own, and the page lists a larger malware database than the free edition.
- AI Script Guard
- New in version 14: the vendor says it predicts and stops suspicious script activity, including from AI agents.
Plans
Avira
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avira.com.
IObit Malware Fighter
Free$0
Basic antivirus and basic real-time protection, with a smaller malware database than Pro.
Pro, 1 PC$19.95
per year for 1 PC, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Pro with Bitdefender real-time protection, ransomware defense and scam blocking. Shown as 50% off a crossed-out $39.95 with no end date on the page.
Pro, 2 PCs$22.95
per year for 2 PCs, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Same Pro features for 2 PCs, shown as 51% off a crossed-out $46.95; adds sharing with family members.
Pro, 3 PCs$23.99
per year for 3 PCs, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Same Pro features for 3 PCs, shown as 56% off a crossed-out $54.95.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Avira or IObit Malware Fighter?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Avira has no price we could confirm, and IObit Malware Fighter starts at $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated).
Which has a free plan, Avira or IObit Malware Fighter?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Avira and IObit Malware Fighter have a free plan.
Which platforms do Avira and IObit Malware Fighter run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Avira lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.