Avast Antivirus vs Kaspersky

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Avast Antivirus

Widely used free antivirus for Windows and Mac, with paid tiers adding firewall, VPN and cleanup tools.

Free plan + paid

Visit Avast Antivirus Avast Antivirus profile

Kaspersky

Consumer antivirus and security suite, the successor to Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Internet Security.

Paid

Visit Kaspersky Kaspersky profile

The short answer

Avast suits home users who want free real-time antivirus on Windows or Mac and don't mind upgrade prompts. Kaspersky suits people outside the US who will pay for a full suite with VPN, password manager and parental controls. The biggest difference: Avast has a free edition, while Kaspersky is subscription only and no longer sold or updated in the United States.

Avast Antivirus or Kaspersky: our take

Avast and Kaspersky are both long-running consumer antivirus brands, but they reach users in different ways. Avast leads with a free product. Kaspersky sells paid subscriptions only.

Avast Free Antivirus for Windows supports Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11 and scans files, downloads, email and websites in real time. Its Smart Scan checks for malware, risky browser add-ons and weak settings in one pass. Avast Security for Mac and free mobile apps cover other devices. The firewall, ransomware shields, webcam protection, VPN and cleanup tools need a paid tier (Premium Security, Ultimate or Avast One). Avast is owned by Gen Digital, the company behind Norton and AVG, so the products share technology. The free version shows frequent upgrade offers, and setup can suggest extra Avast apps.

Kaspersky's Standard, Plus and Premium plans all include real-time protection against viruses, ransomware and spyware, plus payment protection and cleanup tools. Higher plans add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and Safe Kids parental controls. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with Linux support for some distributions. There's no free tier, only a 30-day money-back guarantee. Kaspersky does well in independent lab tests, but it hasn't been sold or updated in the United States since a 2024 government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for policy reasons.

If you want free protection, or you live in the US, Avast is the option that applies. Expect upsell prompts, and decline the extra apps at install. If you're outside the US, prefer to pay once for a suite that bundles VPN, passwords and parental controls, and are comfortable with Kaspersky's background, its paid plans give you more in one subscription than Avast's free edition does.

Choose Avast Antivirus if…

Home users who want a free real-time antivirus for Windows or Mac
You want a free option (Kaspersky is paid only)
Free edition includes real-time protection, not just scans
Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone

Choose Kaspersky if…

Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled
You need Linux, which Avast Antivirus doesn't list
Strong results in independent antivirus lab tests
Higher plans bundle VPN, password manager and parental controls

What is Avast Antivirus?

Avast Antivirus is one of the best-known consumer security suites. The free edition for Windows scans files, downloads, email and websites in real time and runs a Smart Scan that looks for malware, risky browser add-ons and weak settings in one pass. Avast Security for Mac and free mobile apps for Android and iPhone cover other devices. Paid tiers (Premium Security, Ultimate and the Avast One bundle) add a firewall, ransomware shields, webcam protection, a VPN and PC cleanup tools. Avast is owned by Gen Digital, the company behind Norton and AVG, so the products share much of their technology. It suits home users who want solid free protection and don't mind upgrade prompts; people who dislike in-app offers for other Avast products may prefer a quieter option.

What is Kaspersky?

Kaspersky is a long-running antivirus brand from the Russian-founded company Kaspersky Lab. Its older standalone products, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Internet Security and Total Security, were folded into three subscription plans: Standard, Plus and Premium. All of them include real-time scanning against viruses, ransomware and spyware, plus payment protection and cleanup tools such as a duplicate and large-file finder. Higher tiers add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and the Safe Kids parental controls. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with Linux support listed for some distributions. Plans are paid yearly subscriptions with a money-back period rather than a free tier. Kaspersky products score well in independent lab tests, but sales and updates in the United States ended in 2024 after a US government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for similar policy reasons.

Side by side

Attribute	Avast Antivirus	Kaspersky
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
Best for	Home users who want a free real-time antivirus for Windows or Mac	Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled
Status	Active	Active