Dr.Web vs Kaspersky (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dr.Web grades higher than Kaspersky: 2.6 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Dr.Web grades higher on value for money and the free plan. Kaspersky grades higher on features. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Dr.Web
Antivirus for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android from Doctor Web
Kaspersky
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers
Which one is for you
Pick Dr.Web if
- Fits if you want a cheap antivirus and run Windows or Linux
- Works for families that want parental controls and webcam or microphone blocking
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want an iPhone app, as none is listed
- Not for you if you want support during the trial: the demo comes with none
- Too light on Mac and Linux, whose feature lists are shorter than Windows
- Watch out: prices exclude VAT, and the page loads the figure by script so only the entry price was read
Pick Kaspersky if
- Fits if you live outside the US and want antivirus, a VPN and passwords on one plan
- Works for households that include a Linux computer
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you live in the US, as the US site says renewal isn't available there and shows no prices
- Skip it if you want a trial without signing up to pay, as it rolls into a paid year unless you cancel within 30 days
- Pricey if you renew, as Premium goes from $64.99 to $98.99 a year for one device, and Standard from $49.99 to $64.99
- Tight if you want a VPN or password manager on Standard, as both start at Plus
- Watch out: the VPN can't be switched on in some countries, including China and India
How we grade them
| 2.6GPADr.WebGood | 2.2GPAKasperskyFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BFrom $31 a year excluding VAT, about $2.58 a month, which is the edge of the cheapest quarter. The price changes with term and number of PCs. | 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 | CA free 1-month demo of Security Space for one computer, with no technical support. There is no free plan. | 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 | CMalware cleaning, web and spam filtering, firewall, exploit and ransomware blocking, but the Mac and Linux editions list a shorter set than Windows. | 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, but it is an antivirus you install and run with little setup. | 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, Linux and Android, but no iPhone and no integrations are listed. | 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 | a cheap antivirus on Windows, Mac or Linux | 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: Dr.Web and Kaspersky. How we grade
Price against what you get
Dr.Web starts at $2.58 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Kaspersky starts at $5.42 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
Kaspersky scores higher, and starts $2.84 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, 3 score higher than Dr.Web for less, and none scores higher than Kaspersky for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Dr.Web also covers site & app blocker.
- Kaspersky also covers password manager, vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| Dr.Web | Kaspersky | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $31 per year and up, excluding VAT | $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99 |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free 1-month demo of Security Space, with no technical support | 30-day free trial of Standard or Premium; a paid yearly plan starts unless you cancel |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Doctor Web | Kaspersky |
| Price read from | products.drweb.com | kaspersky.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Dr.Web
- The price changes with the term and the number of computers; the page loads the figure with script, so only the entry price could be read.
- The one-month demo covers one computer and comes with no technical support.
- The Mac and Linux editions list a shorter feature set than the Windows edition.
- Prices exclude VAT, which is added at checkout once a country is chosen.
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
Dr.Web
- Malware detection and cure
- Scans for malware and cleans infected systems, with protection against new threats, targeted attacks and zero-day vulnerabilities according to the vendor.
- Web and spam filtering
- Checks visited pages against Doctor Web's cloud to warn about phishing and dangerous sites, and filters spam in mail traffic.
- Firewall and exploit blocking
- A firewall blocks unauthorized access, and a separate module stops malware from using software flaws to get in.
- Ransomware and file protection
- Protects against file-encrypting ransomware and can keep files in chosen folders safe from changes or deletion once configured.
- Parental controls and device blocking
- Restricts sites by URL keywords, and can block webcam, microphone and USB device access.
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
Dr.Web
Dr.Web Security Space$31
per year and up, excl. VAT; price depends on term and number of PCs
Computer protection with a firewall, ransomware and exploit blocking, spam filter, parental controls and camera and microphone blocking.
Dr.Web Security Space for mobileCustom
Edition for phones, tablets, Smart TVs and game consoles; its price is chosen by term and number of devices and could not be read as text.
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
Dr.Web
- Other savings
25% off license renewals
Customers with an existing Dr.Web license can renew it at 25% off, as shown on the Security Space page.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Dr.Web or Kaspersky?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dr.Web is cheaper to start with: $2.58 a month when paid by the year, against $5.42 a month when paid by the year for Kaspersky. Dr.Web starts at $31 per year and up, excluding VAT, and Kaspersky starts at $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99.
Which has a free plan, Dr.Web or Kaspersky?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Dr.Web nor Kaspersky has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Dr.Web and Kaspersky run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Kaspersky lists an iOS app. Both list macOS, Windows, Linux and Android apps. 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.