Avast will appear among the first results if you do a quick search on the internet for an antivirus. All thanks to its popularity with millions of users and a presence worldwide. In fact, reliable and independent lab tests show Avast stacks up well against competitors. In addition, the antivirus is available on almost all devices, including Android, macOS, Windows, and Windows Server.
However, Avast was involved in a data privacy scandal in late 2020 where it was caught selling user data to third parties. Because of these practices, we do not recommend it. If you are short on time and need a good antivirus recommendation, it would be best for you to check out our list of top 10 antivirus software today.
If you wish to know all about Avast to take a chance that it might be a suitable choice, please continue reading. In this Avast antivirus review, we’ll look at many aspects such as features, pricing, independent lab testing, and much more.
Avast antivirus strengths and weaknesses
Here are both Avast antivirus solid points and flaws to get the complete picture.
Pros:
- A reliable free version
- A long list of impressive features
- Effortless to download and navigate
- Real-time security against malware
- Works smoothly in the background
Cons:
- The installation process is lengthy
- Expensive business packages
- Constant pop-ups
- Privacy violations allegations
Also: Here is a comparison between Avast and Windows Defender
Avast free antivirus features
The antivirus offers various plans, including free, premium, business, and Advanced protection, each offering different features.
Avast antivirus for free has all the essential features to protect your device. This means you will get a good protection level without paying a dime. Besides the regular features, the free offering also provides some handy extras, making it even more enticing.
Virus scans
The virus scan on the free version is quick and pretty simple to use. For example, you’ll only need to click a button to flag up problems with your machine and fix them. The scan does three things that include;
- Checks for viruses and malware.
- Pursues out advanced issues.
- Bring up-to-date the virus definition to ensure you are not missing anything.
Our malware scan on macOS did not show anything but identified three advanced issues. They include security concerns with our WiFi network, fake websites vulnerability, and ransomware on two folders. However, you’ll have to update to premium packages to resolve these advanced problems.
WiFi inspector
The free version scans your entire WiFi network and the connected devices to check for vulnerabilities. It helps prevent malicious actors from compromising your privacy or stealing your data through weaknesses in your WiFi network.