Avast
Avast is an antivirus suite that scans for malware and bundles privacy and performance tools for home computers and phones. Its free tier covers core protection, with paid plans adding VPN, identity monitoring and cleanup.
#4 in Security & Privacy ToolsAntivirus SoftwareFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Households that want free, automatic antivirus coverage on shared PCs
Home PC owners wanting antivirus, email scam checks and cleanup in one app
Not for
Careful buyers who refuse upgrade ads and early auto-renewal charges
Small teams needing documented support replies and predictable refunds
Features
Free antivirus protection
Avast Free Antivirus blocks viruses, spyware and other threats, and the same protection is built into the Avast One app.
AI-assisted scam checking
An AI-assisted assistant checks messages and offers in seconds and marks suspicious emails inside Gmail, Outlook and other services.
Secure VPN
A VPN with bank-grade encryption, a hidden IP address and more than 50 server locations for private browsing and streaming.
BreachGuard identity monitoring
BreachGuard watches for leaked personal data and exposed credentials on the dark web and guides the steps to secure affected accounts.
Cleanup and storage tools
Cleanup removes junk files, caches and leftover data, frees storage in one click and can run maintenance on a schedule.
What users say
Pros
- The free edition blocks viruses and keeps a computer clean without any payment at all.
- Machines stay clean over years of use and threats are handled quickly.
- Runs unattended, flags what needs attention and leaves the machine responsive.
Cons
- Upgrade ads keep appearing while browsing, and the tick to close them often fails.
- Renewals are charged ahead of schedule, and refund requests are left unanswered.
- The driver update tool triggered a kernel panic that wiped Windows and files.
- Updates interrupt work with forced 60-second restarts and loud late-night notifications.
- Data collected across paid and free products appeared in a breach notification.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 50k
Alternatives
Rank#4 in category#2 in category#3 in category#5 in category
Free planYesNoNoYes
ProGenuine free protection, years of clean machines, hands-off useRemoves malware, cleans USBs, real human help, scam blockingMalware removal, multi-device cover, simple scans, VPN bundleCatches missed threats, quiet scans, browser blocking
Better forHands-on phone and remote technical support for resolving stubborn computer issues.Running second-opinion scans to remove stubborn trojans and hijacked browser extensions.
Weaker atFree automatic antivirus protection, since the free version only runs on-demand scans.