Avast Antivirus review 2025

Avast Antivirus is an effective solution for eliminating malware. It offers an impressive array of features to safeguard your devices from various cyberthreats. It even provides a free version if you want to secure yourself on a budget.

Unfortunately, the provider has a poor reputation due to its data collection scandal from 2020. Avast Antivirus apparently stores and sells user data to third parties without their consent. Moreover, the service was fined in 2024 for these deceptive practices. So, it’s clear that Avast Antivirus is a subpar choice if you value your privacy.

But what if the service has some redeeming qualities? In this Avast Antivirus review, I’ll discuss the provider in great detail so you can see its strengths, weaknesses, and other vital information for yourself.

Avast Antivirus review – key takeaways

Avast is one of the most popular antivirus software programs with over 435 million users worldwide. Up until 2021, Avast was a product of Czech Avast Software company, which was then merged with the US cybersecurity giant NortonLifeLock, currently rebranded as Gen Digital Inc. Here's a short rundown of what Avast software is:

• Security. Avast Premium offers advanced protection with multiple scan types, a firewall, and additional features. You can choose a quick scan (smart scan on the app), boot-time scan, full virus scan (sometimes called a deep scan), targeted scan, or even customize your own.
• Free version. Avast was launched in 2015 as freeware and still maintains a functional free version. I'm impressed that this software provides free firewall protection, but its advanced features, like leak protection and port scans, are reserved for paid users only.
• Features. The Premium security suite offers a plethora of benefits, like ransomware, email, remote access, and webcam protection. Additional features include device performance optimization, an anti-tracking tool, and a VPN.
• Price. Avast free version offers basic but sufficient protection for 1 device. Avast Premium Security price for 1 device costs $31.20 for the first year. The price goes up to $39.99 for the first year to protect 10 devices.

Is Avast Antivirus safe?

No, Avast antivirus is not safe to use. Although this contradicts excellent Avast Premium security independent test results, gathering and selling its user data without consent to a third party has tarnished its reputation. Now, it doesn't mean Avast antivirus protection stops catching viruses. Take a look at the results below that prove this is not the case.

The image above outlines excellent AV-Comparatives Avast ratings. In its September 2024 malware protection test, Avast antivirus software had an outstanding 94.3% offline detection rate, an even better 95.8% online detection rate, and a nearly perfect 99.93% online protection rate. In-house, we have also launched 10 malware samples at it, and all were detected in 23 minutes of the full scan.

Avast also provides a real-time protection feature called Web Shield, which we also verified. We selected 10 malicious URLs, 5 based on IPv4 addresses and 5 on domain names, and tried accessing them. Avast stopped us each time, so our test results correlated with AV-Comparatives, SE Labs, and AV-Test, which all praised its anti-malware protection.

Now to the not-so-good. Secretly selling user data is a dishonest practice that also poses security risks. Although it is usually sold to marketing agencies to target users with ads, it wouldn't be the first time that personal data is misused, is not kept safe, or even ends up in the wrong hands. The service was later fined nearly $15M for GDPR violations because of this.

So, is Avast a good antivirus and is Avast free antivirus safe? With both versions, anti-malware protection is excellent, which means it is good. But I have seen too many free software examples that are nothing but data mining tools to recommend Avast as safe after it has been caught red-handed violating user privacy.

What can Avast Antivirus offer?

Avast aims to be an all-encompassing cybersecurity solution for everybody. It provides elaborate customization options in a simplistic application, which suits casual and tech-savvy antivirus users alike. Simultaneously, Avast identifies a variety of online threats going beyond standard malware protection.

I was pleasantly surprised by its free version. It offers 5 virus scans, inspects the network for dubious connections, and provides limited ransomware and firewall protection.

Additionally, it offers a Do Not Disturb mode and a Software Updater, which reveals all outdated apps and updates them without leaving the Avast dashboard. The Core Shields is an essential Avast virus protection feature, which consists of 4 shields:

• File Shield scans opened or added files to your device
• Behavior Shield alerts of suspicious app behavior
• Web Shield is Avast's real-time online protection feature
• Mail Shield inspects email attachments for malware

It's worth noting that each time you open an Avast feature for the first time, it will display its short description, which is beneficial for antivirus newcomers. To summarize, Avast's free version offers sufficient antivirus protection, but Premium Security advanced features require a paid subscription.

Are you wondering if Avast Premium is worth it? In the end, that depends on your needs. For example, a Premium subscription unlocks webcam protection, a file shredder, browser password safety, advanced email scanning, and phishing protection. Avast also offers the following services as a stand-alone app:

• SecureLine VPN
• Cleanup Premium
• AntiTrack
• Driver Updater
• BreachGuard

I recommend checking out the Avast Ultimate bundle which includes all of the above, except breach monitoring, which requires a separate subscription.

Avast installation process

I found Avast antivirus software particularly easy to install, with one minor shortcoming. I installed it on a Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen2 with an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U processor, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a Windows 11 Pro operating system. Let's start with the positives.

Firstly, you don't need to create an account to start using this antivirus software. Simply go to Avast's website and click on the Free download button on the very first page.

It will open a pop-up to download a file, which launches the installer when executed. The installer is straightforward, and I recommend using the Customize option on the very first window to deselect elements you do not require.

But before you proceed, take a look at the very bottom left, where Avast suggests installing its Secure Browser. Turn off both settings if you don't want it or don't want it to be your default browser. I can't say I like this layout and would instead include the option in the customization tab because now it is too easy to miss.

Otherwise, the installation was speedy and took me only a few minutes. It is also available in 44 languages and does not require any payment details upfront unless you subscribe to a paid version or want to use the 60-day free trial.

Testing Avast key features

Avast automatically launches once installed and prompts you to do a smart scan before anything else. Don't be alarmed, as it took only over 1 minute for me to get access to other features. Avast greets you with a neatly organized front screen, with 5 feature tabs organized to the left, and the menu and notifications are on the upper right, as seen in the picture below.

The Protection, Privacy, and Performance tabs store its numerous features, with paid ones displaying a lock sign on the free Avast version. The last More apps tab opens a pop-up where you can purchase Avast additional services: SecureLine VPN, Cleanup Premium, AntiTrack, Driver Updater, and BreachGuard. I have summarized Avast's features in the table below.

Feature	What does it do?
Virus Scans	Checks the entire device for malware, identifies threats that activate on startup, scans the most popular malware locations
Core Shields	Scans added and opened files for malware, warns of suspicious apps, provides real-time protection, blocks malicious email attachments
Quarantine	Isolates harmful files in a safe environment
Network Inspector	Scans the network for vulnerabilities, reveals all connected devices
Ransomware Shield	Protects selected files and folders from ransomware encryption
Firewall	Inspects incoming and outgoing traffic for malicious elements, alerts of port scanning and ARP spoofing, provides data leak protection
Bank Mode	Safeguards your banking credentials from theft
Email Guardian	Alerts of phishing and scam emails
Remote Access Shield	Protects from remote access attacks
Real Site	Blocks infectious websites, like phishing or malware distribution platforms
Sandbox	Allows running suspicious apps in an isolated environment
Hack Alerts	Alerts if your credentials have been exposed on the dark web
Browser Shield	Protects data stored in browsers (passwords, cookies, etc.)
Webcam Shield	Protects webcam from hacking
Sensitive Data Shield	Safeguards documents that include personal information
Data Shredder	Deletes files without recovery possibility
Do Not Disturb Mode	Disables notifications when selected apps are opened in full screen
Software Updater	Locates outdated software, updates software in a single dashboard

As you can see, Avast Premium security goes beyond standard malware protection. But how good is Avast antivirus when it encounters real threats? Let's take a look at our in-house test results. We used 10 malware threats and fraudulent URLs on a Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen2 with an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U processor, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a Windows 11 Pro operating system with Windows security features turned off.

Smart scan

Avast Smart Scan is a speedy tool that took only over 1 minute during our tests. Because these scans go only through directories that are most likely to contain malware, they are much faster than full system scans. Unfortunately, during our tests, Avast detected 0 out of 10 malware threats and used quite a bit of CPU resources.

Although the results demand improvement, I wasn't surprised as smart scans do not inspect all nooks and crannies, so they easily miss smartly placed malware. On the other hand, the best antivirus programs have a better smart scan virus detection rating, so Avast has some room for improvement.

Additionally, Avast detected 8 advanced issues unrelated to the placed malware.

I recommend considering these issues with a grain of salt. For example, the first 2 are only meant to promote the Avast browser, as my browser secures passwords and banking credentials. However, webcam or remote attack vulnerabilities require attention, as I turned off several protection features while Avast was looking for malware.

Full scan

The results couldn't be more different regarding Avast's Full Virus Scan. Because it is a deep scan that leaves no stone unturned, it detected all 10 malware samples. The full scan was also more resource-friendly.

The antivirus then suggested to repair, quarantine, or delete the identified threats. Although this requires user input, you can adjust Avast settings to repair, quarantine, or delete infected files automatically.

During this test, Avast antivirus protection achieved nearly perfect results. The only shortcoming was 1 false positive, as Avast identified a legitimate VPN I had installed as malware.

Web Shield

Web Shield is a core Avast component that blocks malicious websites and unsafe downloads. To evaluate the effectiveness of this feature, we accessed 10 malicious URLs, with 5 being based on IPv4 addresses and the remaining 5 using domain names. The antivirus program was able to detect and refuse access to all 10 (100%) malicious websites. Upon threat detection, Avast provided some details about the malware the website contained.

Network Inspector

Once we verified that the malware detection and real-time protection features work as they should, we turned our eyes to additional features. The Network Inspector comes in handy in identifying network vulnerabilities and detecting unauthorized connections. During our test, the scan ran for barely 2 minutes and revealed that our network was safe and sound.

Avast Antivirus pricing

Avast is moderately priced compared to other antivirus services. For example, our top antivirus Norton 360 is available for $29.99/year, while Avast prices start from $99.99/year. Take a look at the table below for a clear Avast pricing breakdown.

Plan	Features	Price
Avast Free Antivirus	5 virus scans, 4 core shields, network inspector, limited ransomware and firewall protection, hack alerts, software updater	Free
Avast Premium Security	Includes all of the above, adds bank mode, email guardian, remote access shield, phishing protection, sandbox mode, improved browser safety, webcam and sensitive data shields, and data shredder	From $31.20/year
Avast One Gold	Includes all of the above, adds SecureLine VPN, Cleanup Premium, AntiTrack, and Driver Updater	From $89.99/year

Avast offers a lot, considering its moderate pricing and the free version is sufficient for basic malware protection. However, I recommend choosing the 10-device option, as people often use several gadgets that require cyber protection. Simultaneously, the Premium Security upgrade unlocks valuable advanced protection features, and the One Gold bundle adds 4 tools for comprehensive protection.

Avast free vs premium

Because the Avast free version does not require an account, you can use it on as many devices as required. During the time of testing and writing, I also used the Avast free version on my personal laptop. It scanned my device without interfering with casual browsing and alerted me of suspicious browser redirects.

Avast also outperformed another free antivirus I have tested – Malwarebytes. It detected fewer false positives, while some threats that Malwarebytes detected required upgrading to the paid version to resolve. On the downside, I was frustrated by numerous Avast in-app pop-ups for paid version upgrades, but I expected it from freeware.

The essential Avast's free and paid version difference stems from additional feature availability. Although the free version is sufficient for malware detection and removal, I recommend a paid version for active internet users. Advanced phishing, banking credentials, and browser safety protect against numerous cybercrime methods that could result in significant financial loss.

I am more skeptical regarding its One Gold bundle. Compared to the best VPNs, Avast's SecureLine VPN is more limited, with servers in only 37 countries. The device optimization features are beneficial, but most software automatically updates drivers, so this add-on is somewhat redundant.

Avast Antivirus customer support

Avast customer support requires significant improvement. Firstly, thorough support options are available only to paid users, and I wasn't impressed by their quality. Here are currently available Avast customer support options.

Live chat	✅ Yes (24/7 with paid plan only)
Phone	✅ Yes (24/7, US number)
Email	✅ Yes (24/7, with paid plan only)
Knowledge database	✅ Yes

As you can see, the free version users cannot contact Avast regarding issues and must rely on its online self-help database. While it makes sense regarding live chat to avoid overcrowding and long queues, I would reserve the email support option for everyone.

To provide you with first-hand live chat support service quality, I have contacted Avast specialists. I was the 17th person in line and had to wait over 18 minutes for the agent to connect, which is not ideal.

My question was regarding Avast data collection and the possibility of opting out. Unfortunately, I did not receive an informative response, and the agent promoted a different Avast paid service instead.

After receiving the Breach Guard recommendation, I explained that I was looking for a way to opt out of Avast's user data gathering. However, the agent was slow to respond, and after 50 minutes of passive chatting, I called it a day. To summarize, Avast customer support has plenty of room for improvement.

Avast video review 2025

What information does Avast Antivirus collect?

After it was disclosed that Avast was selling user data to third parties, the antivirus provider assured it would change the dubious policy and closed the subsidiary responsible for this operation. Furthermore, in 2021, it merged with Norton LifeLock (currently Gen Digital Inc.), which has a transparent user data policy. Here's the information that the current Avast version collects:

• Billing data like name, email, phone number, payment information, etc.
• Account data like name, email, username, subscription details, etc.
• Device information, service data, and usage statistics
• Communication information like name, contact information, and message contents

Avast also discloses what information it shares with third parties. Here's a breakdown:

• Device and service information, product usage statistics, error reports
• Anonymized threat detection information
• Consensual and anonymized user data sharing for targeted advertising
• Non-personally identifiable data for statistical and research purposes

This is a standard data collection policy for most software providers. Although the data-gathering scandal has significantly damaged Avast's reputation, the current policies outline a much more transparent situation.

Bottom line: is avast a good antivirus solution?

On the whole, yes. Avast is a good antivirus and provides a decent level of security protection. The free version comes with lots of features, although it doesn’t protect against ransomware. If you want premium protection, you’ll have to upgrade to one of the paid-for options. Avast Premium Security is an affordable way of getting advanced cybersecurity features, while the One Gold bundle offers more tools but is quite expensive.

Right now, I recommend the Avast free version for basic malware detection and removal and Premium Security for active internet users looking for all-encompassing safety. However, due to previous data-gathering issues and inefficient customer support, I also suggest taking a look at Avast alternatives, like TotalAV. In the end, this Avast review is here to help you make an informative choice.

How I tested Avast Antivirus

I used the standard Cybernews antivirus testing method and cooperated with the research team and cybersecurity professionals for in-house analysis. During this time, I used Avast on my personal device to provide a genuine first-hand experience. I also overviewed online reviews, user opinions, and professional independent antivirus testing reports.

We carried out our tests on a Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen2 with an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U processor, 16GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a Windows 11 Pro operating system. We placed 10 malware examples to test Avast smart and full system scans. Afterward, we put another 10 malware samples in an isolated environment and downloaded them one by one to test Avast's real-time protection.

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