The Avast Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Avast in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Avast
The Insider’s Guide
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from Avast’s own pages.
Made by Gen Digital Inc. · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Avast’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Avast’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 14 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Avast, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it and the shields start working, and everything sits in the one Avast One app.
- 1
Best for real-time antivirus without paying
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.
- 2
There is 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.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with a browser extension too.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 14 of 14
That is against the other antivirus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
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.
Avast at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Gen Digital Inc.
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Avast 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. |
| Features | B | Real-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. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. You install it and the shields start working, and everything sits in the one Avast One app. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Avast's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
Note that Premium Security leaves out the VPN and Cleanup Premium, which cost extra unless you buy Ultimate.
We could not confirm Avast’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. avast.com has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, malware protection.
Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core protection.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Avast is made by Gen Digital Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
14/14
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 14 of 14
- BFeaturesAbove 4 of 14
- BEase of useAbove 2 of 14
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 14
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, Norton 360 and Malwarebytes
The 5 tools Avast is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
AVG
Free plan
- 2.4GPA
Avira
Free plan
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager.
- Only Avast lists a macOS app.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
- Avira also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
Bitdefender
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
- 2.8GPA
Norton 360
Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup.
- Avast has a free plan. Norton 360 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
- Norton 360 also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.2GPA
Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
8
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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.
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.
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.
Could I make my own version of Avast?
To replace Avast you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Avast’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Gen Digital Inc. Prices change, so check avast.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Avast, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/avast
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Avast: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/avast
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/avast/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after Avast, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 15 antivirus apps we grade, compared
- AVG Insider's GuideFree antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate2.8 GPA
- Bitdefender Insider's GuideAntivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier2.8 GPA
- McAfee Insider's GuideAntivirus, VPN and identity monitoring for PCs, Macs and phones2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Avast’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Avast is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Gen Digital Inc. Prices and plans change: check avast.com before you buy.