Emsisoft Anti-Malware vs Kaspersky (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Emsisoft Anti-Malware grades higher than Kaspersky: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Emsisoft Anti-Malware grades higher on value for money and the free plan. Kaspersky grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Dual-engine malware scanner for home PCs, with a web console
Kaspersky
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers
Which one is for you
Pick Emsisoft Anti-Malware if
- Fits if you want a Windows antivirus with anti-ransomware and no extras
- Works for a Mac or Windows owner who wants a 30-day look before paying
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free edition, as there's only the 30-day trial
- Not for you if you need a VPN or password manager, as the Home plan lists neither
- Too light for phones, since there's no Android or iOS app listed
- Watch out: the pricing page shows regional prices, so the $39.95 US price may differ where you are
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
| 2.4GPAEmsisoft Anti-MalwareFair | 2.2GPAKasperskyFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$39.95 a year for 1 PC, about $3.33 a month, between the cheaper quarter ($2.92) and the middle ($4.50) of antivirus tools. The pricing page shows regional prices. | 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 | C30-day free trial, and the page doesn't say whether it needs a card. No free edition. | 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 | BDual-engine scanning, real-time file guard, web protection, behavior blocker and anti-ransomware, with a management console. No VPN or password manager. | 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 scan, with nothing to set up. | BNo store rating on record. It's a program you install and it starts protecting, with nothing to build first. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows and Mac, which are computers only. No phone apps 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 | Windows antivirus with two engines | 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: Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Kaspersky. How we grade
Price against what you get
Emsisoft Anti-Malware starts at $3.33 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 $2.09 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, 4 score higher than Emsisoft Anti-Malware 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
- Emsisoft Anti-Malware also covers dashboards.
- Kaspersky also covers password manager, vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| Emsisoft Anti-Malware | Kaspersky | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $39.95 per year for 1 PC | $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99 |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial | 30-day free trial of Standard or Premium; a paid yearly plan starts unless you cancel |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Emsisoft | Kaspersky |
| Price read from | emsisoft.com | kaspersky.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
- The pricing page shows regional prices to some visitors; the $39.95 figure is the US price in the product page's own data and should be re-checked.
- The product page lists Windows 10 (64 bit) and later and macOS 11 and later; the pricing page describes the Home plan as for Windows PCs.
- Business Security and Enterprise Security (with EDR) are separate per-endpoint products; no VPN or password manager is listed for the Home plan.
- Sold with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
- Dual-engine scanning
- Finds and cleans viruses, spyware and potentially unwanted programs with two scan engines.
- Real-time File Guard
- Checks downloaded and modified files as they appear, including with AI-supported detection.
- Web protection and browser security
- Blocks connections to malicious and phishing websites.
- Behavior Blocker and anti-ransomware
- Watches running processes for suspicious actions, including file encryption typical of ransomware, and steps in when it sees them.
- Management console
- A web console and Android and iOS apps show alerts and protection settings for the home devices on the account.
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
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Anti-Malware Home$39.95
per year for 1 PC
Dual-engine scanner, real-time protection, web protection, anti-ransomware and the management console. Priced for 1, 3 or 5 devices and for 1, 2 or 3 year terms.
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
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Emsisoft Anti-Malware or Kaspersky?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Emsisoft Anti-Malware is cheaper to start with: $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against $5.42 a month when paid by the year for Kaspersky. Emsisoft Anti-Malware starts at $39.95 per year for 1 PC, 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, Emsisoft Anti-Malware or Kaspersky?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Emsisoft Anti-Malware nor Kaspersky has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Kaspersky run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Kaspersky lists Linux, iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS and Windows 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.