Kaspersky alternatives – our top choices

In case you’re looking for a good Kaspersky alternative, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we offer a bunch of amazing antivirus solutions that can serve as a perfect replacement for this Russian antivirus tool.

We made sure that you’ll get the same (or a very similar) set of security features, excellent protection against viruses, the possibility to use the antivirus with multiple devices, and the chance to try out the service for free (like in the case of TotalAV). So, read on and pick the best Kaspersky competitor that will serve you as your new favorite antivirus software.

Top 5 best Kaspersky alternatives

1. TotalAV – overall best Kaspersky alternative in 2023
2. Bitdefender – budget-friendly substitute to Kaspersky
3. Norton Antivirus – secure replacement to Kaspersky antivirus
4. Avira – easy-to-use Kaspersky alternative
5. Trend Micro – beginner-friendly antivirus to replace Kaspersky

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Why look for an alternative to Kaspersky?

Even though Kaspersky has boasted a spot among our top antivirus tools for quite some time, the recent events (more accurately, the war in Ukraine) made us reconsider offering it to our users.

As Russia’s threats against the EU and NATO are getting more intense every single day, countries like Germany and Italy are already dumping Kaspersky in fear of spying and leaking important information.

These claims are not empty – it has been reported that the company communicated with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), leaking some private information obtained from its customers.

What’s even worse is that the company’s owner, Eugene Kaspersky, is holding a neutral stance in regard to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

With all that in mind, we can simply no longer recommend Kaspersky as a reputable antivirus service provider and thus encourage our readers to boycott it and get an alternative antivirus tool in order to stay safe online.

Best Kaspersky alternatives in 2023

Below, you will find a list of the top Kaspersky competitors. Any of them will serve as a good Kaspersky replacement if you’re ready to get rid of this Russian antivirus software.

1. TotalAV – the best Kaspersky alternative overall

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TotalAV is the best Kaspersky alternative on the market. That’s because it even has a free version with an anti-malware scanner that will give you a basic level of protection. However, the paid subscriptions are much more feature-rich, ensuring high-standard protection.

With TotalAV, you’ll get top-notch protection from viruses – don’t just take our word for it, independent labs show that it blocks 100% of threats. Plus, there’s not only real-time protection but also a few different types of scans that you can choose from. TotalAV will also make sure that ransomware doesn’t get into your system either.

You’ll also receive quite a few extra features like a VPN, which is a pretty good one as far as antivirus VPNs go (it also comes with unlimited data). There’s also a password manager that will not only store your credentials but will also create extra-strong passwords for you.

And in case your device has been getting a little slow lately, you can always make use of TotalAV’s system optimizer that will take care of junk files and unused programs.

I also like how easy it is to use TotalAV’s applications, no matter if you need an app for your desktop device or a smartphone. They are very intuitive and are actually easier to navigate than Kaspersky’s apps.

To find out more, read our in-depth TotalAV review.

2. Bitdefender – wallet-friendly Kaspersky alternative

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If you’re looking for a cheaper replacement for Kaspersky Internet Security or any other version of it, look no further than Bitdefender.

For starters, Bitdefender has shown higher virus detection rates than Kaspersky. While both products are considered Advanced by AV-Comparatives, Bitdefender actually did a better job of protecting devices from malware. Meanwhile, Kaspersky let four viruses in, which is something you wouldn’t want to risk.

Next, if you’re not sure if you want to get rid of Kaspersky thanks to its varied scanning options, don’t worry – Bitdefender will provide you with the same kind of choices. You’ll get to choose from a quick scan, a full system scan, or a custom scan that you can configure yourself however you want.

Of course, you’ll also get a whole bunch of extra security features. Bitdefender offers wifi protection, ransomware protection, safe browsing, a strong firewall, webcam/microphone protection, and Rescue Environment – everything boasted by Kaspersky, and more.

Oh, and you’ll also enjoy lots of extra tools like a Bitdefender VPN, a file shredder, a password manager, an anti-spam feature, and tons of other additions to the family.

And the best thing? Bitdefender is cheaper than Kaspersky. In other words, you’ll get everything you need and save a few extra bucks (which you can donate to Ukraine if you want).

3. Norton Antivirus – one of the top Kaspersky competitors

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Another Kaspersky competitor that’s really worth your attention is Norton Antivirus. Even if you’re not tech-savvy at all, you’ve probably already heard this name once or twice, and not without a reason.

To begin with, Norton offers excellent virus detection rates. It has proven its malware-detecting capabilities time and time again thanks to various independent tests by AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, and SE Labs.

Norton also provides good real-time protection. In other words, the antivirus software is good not only at detecting and eliminating existing threats, but it will also prevent new viruses from entering your system.

Just like Kaspersky, Norton has lots of extra features that won’t let you miss your old antivirus tool. You’ll be getting a Norton Secure VPN, a password manager, cloud backup, Dark Web monitoring (which isn’t offered by Kaspersky), webcam protection, and even Parental Controls.

Keep in mind that Norton offers a lot of different plans depending on what you need from an antivirus. Click the green button above to check out all the pricing options.

4. Avira – extremely user-friendly Kaspersky competitor

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Avira Antivirus is yet another safe alternative to Kaspersky. It has won multiple awards for its exceptionally good virus detection rates (including the "AV Product of the Year" award from AV-Comparatives) and has scored really high during independent virus tests throughout the years.

Having all that in mind, it comes without saying that Avira offers everything a great antivirus tool should have. This includes real-time protection, multiple virus scanning options, ransomware protection, web protection (from phishing and scams), and a software updater.

As for extra features, there are plenty. There’s the Phantom VPN, a password manager, a Safe Shopping browser extension, a driver updater, and many more.

What many users really like about Avira is the low impact on PC performance (lower than the one of Kaspersky). You see, Avira is extremely lightweight, and you shouldn’t notice a difference in your system speed when a scan is taking place.

You can check out Avira’s pricing and pick the best subscription plan by clicking the green button above.

To find out more, read our in-depth Avira antivirus review.

5. Trend Micro – beginner-friendly Kaspersky alternative

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Moving to Trend Micro from Kaspersky will greet you with an intuitive interface and a list of comprehensive features. Its sophisticated AI technologies quickly catches any type of suspicious activity. And the software itself has nearly no impact on the device’s system.

As seemingly simple antivirus software, Trend Micro includes nearly everything you could expect from a robust cyber security program. There, you can find malware scanning, assorted ransomware protection, real-time protection, suspicious URL detection, and protection against phishing, one of the most popular ways to attack online today.

In addition to essentialities, Trend Micro has implemented features that will look after you during your daily browsing. For protected online shopping, a Pay Guard feature creates a secure environment for transactions. There’s also a Privacy Scanner for staying private on social media. And you can add a VPN proxy and a password manager to your plan for an additional charge.

This antivirus has both – a free version and a paid one. As a rule, a free version offers you a more limited app. However, if you have doubts about committing to a long-term subscription, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for a risk-free trial of this service.

Get to know more from our detailed Trend Micro review.

6. ESET – lightweight antivirus alternative to Kaspersky

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One of the most popular antivirus globally – ESET – offers top-quality performance. With it, you get an extensive list of features, like One way messaging, Anti-theft optimization, and more. And the performance during independent lab tests is relatively flawless.

ESET is titled to be one of the best antiviruses for a reason. It has multi-platform protection that you can use for Windows, Linux, Mac, Android devices by using a single license. There's real-time ransomware protection to avoid one of the most frustrating malware. And maintain your online transactions protected, you can use the Secured banking and privacy feature.

What we also liked was ESET home network security. It informs you of anyone who’s trying to access your connection, inspects incoming packets for an attempt to infect your device, and blocks them.

If you decide to go all in, ESET offers a plan for ultimate protection. This way, the antivirus becomes the all-in-one solution. With it, you get a password manager and the possibility to encrypt your personal files.

Trying out any of the plans is risk-free as you can benefit from a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Learn more details about it in our ESET review.

7. McAfee – great Kaspersky alternative for multiple devices

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In case you still haven’t chosen a replacement for Kaspersky Internet Security, then take a look at what McAfee can do for you.

Of course, it has all the essentials. Real-time protection, different types of scans, protection against ransomware, a device cleaning feature, and a file shredder will make sure your computer or mobile phone runs safely and smoothly. Oh, and there’s also a Vulnerability Scanner that will make sure all your programs are up to date.

Aside from all this, McAfee also offers a couple of extras like the Safe Connect VPN and the True Key password manager.

However, what I like most about McAfee is its 30-day free trial that doesn’t even require credit card details. In other words, you’ll get your device protected absolutely for free for a whole month!

To find out more, read our in-depth McAfee review.

Which Kaspersky alternative should I pick?

The Kaspersky alternative you should pick depends on your needs and wants. The good thing is that all the antivirus programs mentioned on this page are equally good in terms of quality, with only minor differences in features and virus detection rates.

However, if you’re still confused about which Kaspersky competitor to pick, here are some tips that might help you make up your mind:

• Free version. If you’re currently unable to spend any money on an antivirus suite, you can look into the free versions. For example, TotalAV, Bitdefender, and Avira offer good free applications for desktop devices.
• Simultaneous connections. If you’re only going to use the antivirus on a single device, then it’s not worth paying for many simultaneous connections. However, if you need to protect lots of devices, then you can look into McAfee, as it has multiple options for simultaneous connections.
• Features. Usually, the pricier the plan, the more features you’ll get. However, think if you really need them all. If, for example, you already have a VPN or a password manager, then it’s no use in overpaying for an expensive antivirus subscription.
• Money-back guarantee. Just like with all goods and services, a money-back guarantee is a must when it comes to antivirus suites. Most of the products on this page offer either a 14 or a 30-day guarantee. However, Norton is the most generous of them all – it gives you 60 days to make up your mind.

How we selected and tested these Kaspersky alternatives

Choosing good antivirus services for this list was quite a task – after all, these are the tools that will be responsible for protecting your device (and, in turn, your personal information) from malware and viruses.

In case you’re interested in the process itself, here are a few bullet points that explain some of the more general details:

• Virus protection. First and foremost, a good antimalware tool that will replace your Kaspersky antivirus should offer stellar virus detection rates during both real-time protection and security scans. For this, we research all the tests performed by independent antivirus testing labs and also do some in-house testing, too.
• False positives. It’s annoying when an antivirus tool keeps showing you scary notifications that turn out to be false in the end. Thus, we aim for antivirus apps that have the lowest rates of false positives.
• Reputation. This is a really important aspect, as well as the main reason we eliminated Kaspersky from our suggested antivirus lists. If the service is involved in a scandal or a data breach, it’s not worth your money.
• Extra features. Even though the main job of an antivirus tool is to protect your device from viruses, having some useful extra features doesn’t hurt. Thus, a good Kaspersky alternative will give you lots of extras like Parental Controls, a system booster, a password manager, and even a VPN.

Do I really need an antivirus tool?

If you’re getting rid of Kaspersky and thinking of not getting a replacement, please think again. You see, antivirus software is an essential service to have, surpassing even password managers and VPNs in regard to its usefulness.

When you have no antivirus tool installed, your device becomes a haven for all sorts of threats like viruses, worms, Trojans, and others. You might even get your computer completely locked due to ransomware. All it takes is a single click on a dangerous email attachment or one visit to an unsafe website. And that's why getting an alternative antivirus for Kaspersky, such as TotalAV, is a much safer decision than getting rid of antivirus programs for good.

Best Kaspersky alternative

TotalAV is an excellent antivirus that offers a basic free version, loads of features, such as a VPN and ransomware protection, and ensures 100% malware detection rates.

cybernews® score

4.6 /5

• Unmatched security
• Feature-loaded
• Free version

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It’s especially advisable to have an antivirus with Parental Controls in case you have children, as they tend to visit all sorts of pages filled with viruses, lacking the ability to differentiate between a safe webpage and a dangerous one.

In any case, you won’t make a mistake by installing a quality antivirus tool on your device, even if you practice good internet hygiene.

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