Antivirus review · Ranked #4 of 8
Avast review 2026
The best free engine, with a privacy history to know about. We reviewed Avast Premium Security (10 devices) using published lab results and prices we read on Avast's site.
Reviewed by the AVSO Editorial Desk
Prices and lab results verified How we scoreEditorial policy
Our verdict on Avast
8.5/10
Editorial score
#4 of 8 suites
Avast's free engine is the strongest free option we can point to: the free edition is what AV-TEST (18/18) and AV-Comparatives (99.3% Real-World, ADVANCED+) actually tested. Premium Security adds ransomware and webcam shields for 10 devices. In 2024 the FTC fined Avast $16.5 million for selling users' browsing data, which is part of the picture.
Best for:Best free antivirus
- Protection 40%
- 9.3
- Performance 15%
- 9.4
- Value 20%
- 8.2
- Features 15%
- 7.2
- Trust & transparency 10%
- 6.6
What it does well
- Free edition scored 18/18 at AV-TEST and 99.3% Real-World at AV-Comparatives
- Light on the PC: 5.2 impact score; Gold for Performance in 2025
- 10 devices for $69.48 in the first year
- Top-Rated in AV-Comparatives' 2025 summary
Where it falls short
- 2024 FTC order and $16.5M payment over browsing-data sales (Jumpshot)
- No VPN or password manager in Premium Security
- Renews at $99.99 for 10 devices
Avast Premium Security · 10 devices
$69.48first year
Renews at $99.99/yr
30-day money-back guarantee
We may earn a commission through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
On this page
Avast in brief
Avast is unusual in that the version the labs test is the free one. AV-TEST scored Avast Free Antivirus 18 of 18 in August 2026, and AV-Comparatives measured 99.3% Real-World protection for Avast One Free (ADVANCED+), level with Norton, which shares the same parent company, Gen Digital.
Performance is excellent: an impact score of 5.2 in AV-Comparatives' September test, and Gold for performance in its 2025 summary. Premium Security mostly adds hardening: advanced ransomware protection, a firewall, webcam protection and fake-website protection. The 10-device plan is $69.48 for the first year and renews at $99.99.
The trust score reflects history, not current lab data. In June 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission finalised an order that bans Avast from selling or licensing browsing data for advertising and required it to pay $16.5 million, over data sold through its former Jumpshot subsidiary. Read the privacy settings when you install it.
12 independent lab results for Avast, 2025–2026
Read on each lab's report page. Product versions are the ones the lab tested.
| Test | Result | Award | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AV-Comparatives2Real-World · Share of 400 live web threats blockedTested: Avast One Free 26.1–26.4 | 99.3%5 false positives | ADVANCED+ | 15 Jun 2026 |
| AV-Comparatives3Malware · Online protection rate against malware samplesTested: Avast One Free 26.8 | 99.96%95.4% offline detection, 15 false positives | ADVANCED | 15 Oct 2026 |
| AV-Comparatives4Malware · Online protection rate against malware samples | 99.97%9 false positives | ADVANCED+ | 15 Apr 2026 |
| AV-Comparatives5Performance · Impact score; lower means less slowdown | 5.2Impact score, lower is better | ADVANCED+ | 20 Oct 2026 |
| AV-Comparatives6Advanced Threat · Targeted attacks blocked, out of 15 | 9 of 15No false positives | ADVANCED | 10 Nov 2026 |
| AV-Comparatives7Summary 2025 · Year-end rating across the 2025 test series | Top-RatedGold: Performance. Silver: Advanced Threat Protection | Top-Rated | 14 Jan 2026 |
| AV-TEST8Windows · Protection / Performance / Usability, each out of 6Tested: Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 | 6 / 6 / 6 | TOP PRODUCT | Jul–Aug 2026 |
| AV-TEST9Awards 2025 · Annual awards across all 2025 test rounds | Best UsabilityAlso Best macOS Security | Best Usability 2025 | 12 Mar 2026 |
| AV-TEST10macOS · Protection / Performance / Usability, each out of 6Tested: Avast One 26.5.1 | 6 / 6 / 6 | Certified | Jun 2026 |
| AV-Comparatives11macOS · Mac malware protection rateTested: Avast One Free for Mac 26.4 | 99.9%95% PUA protection, 0 false positives | Approved | 17 Jun 2026 |
| AV-TEST12Android · Protection / Performance / Usability, each out of 6Tested: Antivirus & Security 26.13 | 6 / 6 / 6 | – | Sep 2026 |
| AV-Comparatives13Android · Android malware protection rateTested: Avast One Free 26.6 | 99.6%2 false positives | Approved | 17 Jun 2026 |
What Avast costs, plan by plan
Checked on vendor site| Plan | Devices | First term | Renewal / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free AntivirusReal-time antivirus, Web Guard, Wi-Fi check | 1 device | Free | Free |
| Premium Security, single deviceAdvanced ransomware protection, firewall, webcam shield | 1 PC or Mac + 1 mobile | $49.08 | $77.99 |
| Premium Security, multi-deviceRanked planSame, across 10 devices | 10 devices | $69.48 | $99.99 |
USD, before tax, read on 12 Nov 20261. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Before you pay
Avast's first-year discount is 31–37%. The multi-device plan renews at $99.99/year, the single-device plan at $77.99.
Premium Security, multi-device10 devices · opens avast.com
Who should get Avast, and who shouldn’t
Get it if you want…
- Best free antivirus
- Best free antivirus
- 10 devices
- 99.3% Real-World
Look elsewhere if…
- 2024 FTC order and $16.5M payment over browsing-data sales (Jumpshot)
- No VPN or password manager in Premium Security
- Renews at $99.99 for 10 devices
Avast spec sheet
As published by Avast, checked 12 Nov 2026 against its official pricing page (opens in a new tab). Features are for the ranked plan.
| Editorial score | 8.5 / 10 |
|---|---|
| Our ranking | #4 of 8 |
| Ranked plan | Avast Premium Security (10 devices) |
| Developer | Avast · Gen Digital (also owns Norton) |
| Headquarters | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Devices (ranked plan) | 10 devices |
| Money-back | 30 days |
| VPN | Not included |
| Password manager | Not included |
| Cloud backup | Not included |
| Breach / dark-web monitoring | Not included |
| Parental controls | Not included |
| Free version | Included |
What we couldn't verify
One item we could not confirm on the vendor's site
- Stand-alone price of Avast One / Ultimate bundles (not listed separately)
Avast alternatives
The highest-ranked alternatives, side by side. Product names open their reviews.
| Compare4 picks | AvastThis review | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | Editorial score 8.5 out of 10 | Editorial score 9.0 out of 10 | Editorial score 8.8 out of 10 | Editorial score 8.6 out of 10 |
| First year | $69.48first year | $59.99first year | $49.99first yearLowest | $59.99first year |
| Renewal / year | $99.99 | Not stated | $124.99 | Not stated |
| Real-World protection | 99.3%ADVANCED+ | 99.5%ADVANCED+Highest | 99.3%ADVANCED+ | 98.5%ADVANCED |
| False positives | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Performance impact | 5.2 | 8.7 | 4.9 | 9.5 |
| VPN | 200 MB/day | |||
| iOS app | ||||
| Get it |
Bitdefender reviewThe most consistent lab record of 2026Editorial score 9.0 out of 10
Norton reviewThe fullest feature set, with the steepest renewalEditorial score 8.8 out of 10
ESET reviewLight, precise and honestly pricedEditorial score 8.6 out of 10- Avast vs BitdefenderHead-to-head comparison
- Norton vs AvastHead-to-head comparison
- Best antivirus for WindowsBuying guide
- Best antivirus for MacBuying guide
- Best antivirus for AndroidBuying guide
- Best security app for iPhoneBuying guide
- Best free antivirusBuying guide
- Best antivirus for familiesBuying guide
- Best antivirus for gamersBuying guide
- Best antivirus for small businessBuying guide
Avast: common questions
Is Avast Free Antivirus really free?
Yes. It includes real-time antivirus, Web Guard and a Wi-Fi check at no cost. It is also the edition AV-TEST tested in August 2026 (18/18). Avast will offer Premium upgrades inside the app.
Is Avast safe after the FTC case?
The FTC's 2024 order bans Avast from selling or licensing browsing data for advertising and required a $16.5 million payment. The order addresses the past practice; the lab results show the protection itself is strong. Review the privacy settings during setup.
Our #1 pick for 2026
Still deciding? Bitdefender is our top pick
The most consistent lab record of 2026. Total Security: $59.99 first year · 30-day money-back guarantee.
We may earn a commission through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources
All accessed
- 1.Gen Digital pricing page. avast.com/en-us/premium-security (opens in a new tab)
- 2.AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February–May 2026. av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-may-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 3.AV-Comparatives Malware Protection Test, September 2026. av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-september-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 4.AV-Comparatives Malware Protection Test, March 2026. av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-march-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 5.AV-Comparatives Performance Test, September 2026. av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-september-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 6.AV-Comparatives Advanced Threat Protection Test 2026 (Consumer). av-comparatives.org/tests/advanced-threat-protection-test-2026-consumer/ (opens in a new tab)
- 7.AV-Comparatives Consumer Summary Report 2025. av-comparatives.org/tests/summary-report-2025/ (opens in a new tab)
- 8.AV-TEST Windows 11 home-user test, August 2026. av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-11/august-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 9.AV-TEST Awards 2025 (consumer). av-test.org/en/news/av-test-awards-2025-celebrating-the-very-best-of-it-security-products/ (opens in a new tab)
- 10.AV-TEST macOS Tahoe test, June 2026. av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-tahoe/june-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 11.AV-Comparatives Mac Security Test & Review 2026. av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 12.AV-TEST Android test, September 2026. av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 13.AV-Comparatives Mobile Security Review 2026 (Android). av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2026/ (opens in a new tab)