The ClamAV Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ClamAV 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.
ClamAV
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source antivirus engine and command-line scanner
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from ClamAV’s own pages.
Made by Cisco · checked Nov 12, 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 ClamAV’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ClamAV’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade
ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine, licensed under GPLv2 and maintained by Cisco. It ships a multi-threaded scanner daemon, command-line scanning tools and a signature updater, and is aimed at mail gateways, servers and other automated scanning. Its own documentation says it is not a traditional desktop antivirus suite.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about ClamAV, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Its own docs say it isn't a traditional antivirus or endpoint suite.
- 1
Best for free command-line malware scanning
ClamAV is a free, open-source scanner for files and mail servers.
- 2
It is free
ClamAV has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the GNU General Public License v2, with signature updates published by Cisco.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Command-line and daemon scanning
Includes a command-line scanner for on-demand file scans and a multi-threaded scanner daemon, with an automatic signature updater.
- 5
Mail gateway focus
The docs describe it as designed especially for e-mail scanning on mail gateways, and the About page lists a milter interface for sendmail.
- 6
Archive and file format support
Scans inside archives such as Zip, RAR, 7Zip, Tar and ISO, and reads PE, ELF and Mach-O executables, Office files, PDF and HTML.
- 7
A 2.4 GPA, above 32 of 56
That is against the other antivirus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
ClamAV is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
ClamAV at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Cisco
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for free command-line malware scanning
ClamAV is a free, open-source scanner for files and mail servers. Its own docs say it isn't a traditional antivirus or endpoint suite. It has no desktop app, runs from the command line and watches files in real time only on Linux.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the GPL v2, with signature updates from Cisco. Anyone can download and run it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no plan limits on record. The docs suggest 3 GiB of RAM and 5 GiB of disk for the standard database. |
| Features | D | Command-line and daemon scanning, archive support, signed databases and mail gateway focus. The docs point to Cisco Secure Endpoint for a full antivirus. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record, and you work through a command line and config files. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and Linux, but computers only: no phone app and no graphical interface. |
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 ClamAV is for
- Fits if you run Linux or a mail server and want a free scanner
- Works for a sysadmin who's comfortable on the command line
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a desktop antivirus with a window, because there's no graphical app
- Skip it if you want real-time protection on Windows or Mac, as on-access scanning is documented for Linux only
- Too light for your only protection, since the docs say it isn't a traditional antivirus or endpoint suite
- Watch out: it wants about 3 GiB of RAM and 5 GiB of free disk with the standard database
Good to know
Good for
- Mail servers and gateways that need a malware scanning step
- Linux and server admins who are comfortable with a command line
- Anyone who wants an auditable, free scanning engine
Worth knowing
- ClamAV's own docs say it is not a traditional antivirus or endpoint security suite and point to Cisco Secure Endpoint for that.
- Real-time on-access scanning is documented for Linux only.
- The downloads page offers installers and source packages; it does not offer a desktop app with a graphical interface or a mobile app.
- The docs recommend at least 3 GiB of RAM and 5 GiB of free disk space for the scanner with the standard signature database.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
ClamAV is free to use.
Free outright, with no plan limits on record.
ClamAV
$0
Open-source engine, scanner daemon and updater. You install and run it yourself, with no paid edition.
The free plan
Free and open source under the GNU General Public License v2, with signature updates published by Cisco.
Read from docs.clamav.net on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free open-source antivirus engine and command-line scanner. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, malware protection.
Command-line and daemon scanning, archive support, signed databases and mail gateway focus.
- Command-line and daemon scanning
- Includes a command-line scanner for on-demand file scans and a multi-threaded scanner daemon, with an automatic signature updater.
- Mail gateway focus
- The docs describe it as designed especially for e-mail scanning on mail gateways, and the About page lists a milter interface for sendmail.
- Archive and file format support
- Scans inside archives such as Zip, RAR, 7Zip, Tar and ISO, and reads PE, ELF and Mach-O executables, Office files, PDF and HTML.
- On-access scanning on Linux
- The ClamOnAcc client for the ClamD daemon scans files as they are accessed on modern Linux, and can block access until a file has been scanned.
- Signed signature databases
- Signature databases are signed, so the scanner only executes trusted definitions, and the databases are updated several times a day.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
ClamAV is made by Cisco.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
32/56
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
ClamAV's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 55 of 56) and worst on features (D, above 0).
ClamAV has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 57 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. ClamAV’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 54 of 56
- AFree plan and trialAbove 55 of 56
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 56
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 56
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 of 56
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 36 antivirus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ClamAV is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
ClamAV is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. ClamAV’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
Malwarebytes, ESET, Sophos Home, Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Avira
The 5 tools ClamAV is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans.
- Only ClamAV lists a Linux app.
- Only Malwarebytes lists Android and iOS apps.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
ESET
Free trial · from $12.99/yr
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count.
- ClamAV has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ClamAV lists a Linux app.
- Only ESET lists an Android app.
- 2.4GPA
Sophos Home
Free trial · from $59.99/yr
Business-grade antivirus for up to 10 Windows PCs and Macs.
- ClamAV has a free plan. Sophos Home does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ClamAV lists a Linux app.
- Only Sophos Home lists Android and iOS apps.
- 2.4GPA
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Free trial · from $39.95/yr
Dual-engine malware scanner for home PCs, with a web console.
- ClamAV has a free plan. Emsisoft Anti-Malware does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ClamAV lists a Linux app.
- ClamAV is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Avira
Free plan
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager.
- Only ClamAV lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Avira lists Android and iOS apps.
- ClamAV is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 ClamAV free?
Yes. ClamAV is free to use.
How much does ClamAV cost?
ClamAV lists one plan. ClamAV: $0.
What platforms does ClamAV work on?
ClamAV is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does ClamAV have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. ClamAV is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does ClamAV have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. ClamAV is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is ClamAV open source?
Yes. ClamAV is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes ClamAV?
ClamAV is made by Cisco.
What are the alternatives to ClamAV?
The closest alternatives to ClamAV in our directory are Malwarebytes, ESET, Sophos Home, Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Avira.
How does ClamAV compare with other antivirus apps?
ClamAV's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is ClamAV good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ClamAV A for value for money. ClamAV has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of ClamAV?
ClamAV is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ClamAV’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Cisco's own pages on 12 November 2026. 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 Cisco. Prices change, so check clamav.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ClamAV, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/clamav
- 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, "ClamAV: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/clamav
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/clamav/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after ClamAV, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 57 antivirus apps we grade, compared
- Avast Insider's GuideFree antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate3.0 GPA
- 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
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ClamAV’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. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ClamAV is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Cisco. Prices and plans change: check clamav.net before you buy.