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Avast

Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate

Free planAntivirusChecked Oct 17, 2026
Visit avast.comFree guide

Our verdict

First of our top three antivirus apps

For: Most people, and anyone who wants to pay nothing

Avast Free Antivirus gives a Windows PC real-time file, behavior and web shields, ransomware protection, a firewall and network scans, and there are free Avast apps for Mac, Android and iPhone. Premium Security adds Bank Mode, Email Guard, a sandbox and webcam protection, for one device or up to 10. Know the limits: Avast's website refused automated reads when this listing was checked, so its paid prices are not listed here; check avast.com before buying. The VPN and Cleanup Premium cost extra unless you buy Ultimate, and some trials ask for a payment method.

See all three and how we rank

Avast report card

3.0GPA

Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 17, 2026

Best for real-time antivirus without paying

Avast Free Antivirus is the most generous free plan in this category: real-time shields, ransomware protection and a firewall on Windows, with free apps for Mac, Android and iPhone. The paid side is murkier. Our listing has no prices because Avast's site turned our reader away, and the VPN and cleanup tools cost extra unless you buy Ultimate.

Who Avast is for

  • Great if you want real-time antivirus on a Windows PC and don't want to pay
  • Handy when your family mixes Windows, Mac and phones, up to 10 devices
  • A treat if you bank online and like the idea of a sealed-off Bank Mode

Who Avast is not for

  • Skip it if you want one price for everything, as the VPN and Cleanup are separate subscriptions
  • Not for you if auto-renewal bothers you, as paid plans renew by themselves and some trials want a card

Why Avast gets a 3.0

Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.

  • CValue for moneyNo 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.
  • AFree plan and trialAvast 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.
  • BFeaturesReal-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.
  • BEase of useNo store rating on record. You install it and the shields start working, and everything sits in the one Avast One app.
  • BPlatforms and integrationsWindows, 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.

What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Avast's own support pages on 17 October 2026. avast.com turned our reader away again when we went back to check it, so no price could be checked. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.

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Avast: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA

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Where Avast stands among antivirus apps

Avast's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 14 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade.

It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 14 of 14) and worst on value for money (C, above 3).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 15 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Avast’s own letter is outlined.

  • CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 14, level with 11
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 14 of 14
  • BFeaturesAbove 4 of 14, level with 10
  • BEase of useAbove 2 of 14, level with 10
  • BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 14, level with 14

Keep Avast, or make your own?

Keep it

To replace Avast you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 14 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade.

What you could not

  • An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
  • Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
  • Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
  • The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. Avast’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

What is Avast?

Avast is a Gen Digital brand best known for Avast Free Antivirus, which gives real-time malware, ransomware and web protection at no cost. Avast Premium Security adds email scanning, a sandbox, Bank Mode and webcam protection, and Avast Ultimate bundles it with Avast's VPN, cleanup and anti-tracking apps. Everything is managed through the Avast One app.

Avast's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site. See every plan

Good for

  • 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

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

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.

Avast pricing

We could not confirm Avast’s current pricing from its own site, so we are not listing plans here. See avast.com for current prices.

Avast alternatives

All Avast alternatives comparedAll antivirus apps

Common questions

Is Avast free?

Avast has a 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.

What platforms does Avast work on?

Avast is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It also has a browser extension.

Does Avast have a Linux app?

No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Avast is listed for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Is Avast open source?

Avast is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.

Who makes Avast?

Avast is made by Gen Digital Inc.

What are the alternatives to Avast?

The closest alternatives to Avast in our directory are AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, Norton 360 and Malwarebytes. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Avast.

How does Avast compare with other antivirus apps?

Avast's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 14 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade. It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 14 of 14) and worst on value for money (C, above 3).

Could I make my own version of Avast?

To replace Avast you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 14 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade. What you could not make: An engine that recognises new malware as it appears. Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other. The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 17, 2026.