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If you are asking whether Avast’s free antivirus is good at finding and blocking malware on Windows, the independent 2026 lab results point to yes. AV-TEST gave Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 a perfect 18 out of 18 in its July–August 2026 evaluation on Windows 11. AV-Comparatives reported a 99.3% protection rate for a group that includes Avast in its February–May 2026 real-world test. The privacy record is the main reason to read those scores alongside a second set of facts: the FTC’s 2024 order over Avast’s past browsing-data sales.
This review is built from published lab reports, the FTC’s order and Avast’s own pricing and plan pages. It does not include hands-on testing by our editors, so every performance figure below is attributed to the lab that produced it.
What the independent labs found
Two independent labs published 2026 results covering Avast’s consumer products on Windows. The table lists each result with the product, test period and platform the lab reported.
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| Lab and test | Test period | Product or group | Reported result | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV-TEST, home-user evaluation | July–August 2026 | Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 | 6/6 protection, 6/6 performance, 6/6 usability (18/18 total) | Windows 11 Professional, 64-bit |
| AV-Comparatives, Real-World Protection Test | February–May 2026 | Avast/AVG/Norton group (shared result) | 99.3% protection rate across 400 test cases | Windows |
| AV-Comparatives, real-world factsheet | July–August 2026 | Avast One Free Antivirus | Chart covers 200 live malicious URLs; protection figure not stated in the factsheet summary | Windows |
| AV-Comparatives, false-alarm test | September 2025 | Avast consumer product | Figures are in the full report and are not quoted here | Windows |
AV-TEST: full marks for one tested version
AV-TEST evaluated Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 on Windows 11 Professional, 64-bit, during July and August 2026. It tested 15 home-user products continuously over those two months, using default settings and the latest publicly available versions. The software was allowed to update and use its cloud services, and the scenarios combined realistic use with live threats. Each category allows up to 6 points, and Avast received the maximum in protection, performance and usability.
#1 Best Overall
- SPEED-OPTIMIZED, CROSS-PLATFORM PROTECTION: World-class antivirus security and cyber protection for Windows (Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11), Mac OS (Yosemite 10.10 or later), iOS (11.2 or later), and Android (5.0 or later). Organize and keep your digital life safe from hackers
- SAFE ONLINE BANKING: A unique, dedicated browser secures your online transactions; Our Total Security product also includes 200MB per day of our new and improved Bitdefender VPN
- ADVANCED THREAT DEFENSE: Real-Time Data Protection, Multi-Layer Malware and Ransomware Protection, Social Network Protection, Game/Movie/Work Modes, Microphone Monitor, Webcam Protection, Anti-Tracker, Phishing, Fraud, and Spam Protection, File Shredder, Parental Controls, and more
- ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING: Your product-specific code is printed on a card and shipped inside a protective cardboard sleeve. Simply open packaging and scratch off security ink on the card to reveal your activation code. No more bulky box or hard-to-recycle discs. PLEASE NOTE: Product packaging may vary from the images shown, however the product is the same.
When you cite these scores, keep the product version and operating system with them: 18/18 total — AV-TEST, 2026 (Avast Free Antivirus 26.6, Windows 11, July–August 2026), with 6/6 protection, 6/6 performance, and 6/6 usability — AV-TEST, 2026.
AV-Comparatives: a group figure, not an Avast-only rate
AV-Comparatives’ Real-World Protection Test summary for February to May 2026 reports 99.3% — AV-Comparatives, 2026, across 400 test cases. That figure is shared by the Avast, AVG and Norton group in the results table, so it should not be quoted as Avast’s own score. The lab defines its protection rate as blocked cases plus half of user-dependent cases.
AV-Comparatives July–August factsheet
The July–August 2026 factsheet lists Avast One Free Antivirus among the tested products. Its chart covers 200 live malicious URLs found in the field. The product name differs from the one AV-TEST used (Avast Free Antivirus 26.6), so treat the two results as separate tests of separate version labels rather than one shared build.
Rank #2
![Norton 360 Deluxe 2027 Antivirus, 5 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IYV5zGyCL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 5 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
Reading the protection numbers in context
Blocking malware is only one part of an antivirus result. AV-Comparatives also counts clean files and domains that were wrongly blocked, and in that measure lower false-alarm scores are better. Its awards combine observed results with statistical models, so a protection rate alone does not describe the tradeoffs.
- The most recent false-alarm test in these results is from September 2025, older than the 2026 protection tests. Check the full report for its figures before judging false alarms.
- The 200-URL chart covers only the July–August 2026 period. It is a snapshot of that window, not a long-term record.
- The AV-Comparatives award and false-alarm details sit in the full reports, which cover four months of testing.
What the lab results do not establish
Lab results are evidence of how a product performed under test conditions. They are not a guarantee of protection on any particular computer.
- Other platforms. These results concern Windows. They do not show the same protection on Mac, Android or iOS, even though Avast sells products for those platforms.
- Later updates. The results describe the tested versions and dates. They cannot show how later software updates behave.
- Your own machine. A lab’s test system does not predict performance on a specific PC, software mix or browsing pattern.
- Hands-on experience. This article does not include hands-on testing by its author or editors, and its test figures come from the labs named above.
Free and paid plans
Avast’s EU comparison page lists three plans: Free Antivirus, Premium Security and Ultimate. Products are offered for PC, Mac, Android and iOS, and device coverage and included features vary by plan. The prices below are the amounts displayed on that EU page, in euros.
Rank #3
![Norton 360 Premium 2027 Antivirus, 10 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JNWru8mYL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 10 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
| Plan | Device offer | First-year price | Renewal price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Antivirus | Device count not stated for this plan | Free | Free |
| Premium Security | One PC plus one mobile device | €39.99 | €72.99 |
| Premium Security | 10 devices | €49.99 | €99.99 |
| Ultimate | One PC plus one mobile device | €69.99 | €104.99 |
| Ultimate | 10 devices | €79.99 | €139.99 |
These are promotional, region-specific amounts. The first-year price applies only to the first year, and the renewal price is what you pay after it. Prices in other countries, and the total shown at checkout, may differ, so confirm the figure in your local checkout before buying. This review does not cover cancellation or refund terms, so read those at checkout as well.
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What the paid plans add
The EU page describes a shared feature set across the range: malware and ransomware detection, Wi-Fi security checks, scam detection, ransomware protection, a firewall, webcam protection, file shredding and automatic app updates. Availability varies by plan and device, so check the feature list for the tier you are buying. Ultimate adds Cleanup Premium, Premium VPN and AntiTrack.
These are Avast’s own descriptions of its products. The independent results above measure protection, performance and false alarms, not these extras.
Rank #4
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
Privacy history and the FTC order
The FTC alleged that Avast’s past collection and sale of users’ browsing data conflicted with what users had been promised. That history is the main reason privacy belongs in any decision to use the product.
What the final order requires
The FTC finalized its order in June 2024. The order bans Avast from selling, disclosing or licensing web browsing data for advertising purposes, and Avast must pay $16.5 million. In a December 2025 update, the FTC said it had sent nearly $15.3 million to 103,152 consumers who filed valid claims.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said: “Avast promised users that its products would protect the privacy of their browsing data but delivered the opposite.” (FTC press release on the final order, June 2024)
Best Value
- POWERFUL, LIGHTNING-FAST ANTIVIRUS: Protects your computer from viruses and malware through the cloud; Webroot scans faster, uses fewer system resources and safeguards your devices in real-time by identifying and blocking new threats
- IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION: Protects your usernames, account numbers and other personal information against keyloggers, spyware and other online threats targeting valuable personal data
- REAL-TIME ANTI-PHISHING: Proactively scans websites, emails and other communications and warns you of potential danger before you click to effectively stop malicious attempts to steal your personal information
- ALWAYS UP TO DATE: Webroot scours 95% of the Internet three times per day including billions of web pages, files and apps to determine what is safe online and enhances the software automatically without time-consuming updates
What Avast says now
Avast’s current company page says it does not sell users’ personal data, and that its privacy safeguards align with the FTC settlement and its privacy policy. That is Avast’s own statement, and it does not replace the FTC’s account of the case.
This review could not independently verify current product telemetry, the categories of data collected or every default privacy setting. Read Avast’s privacy policy and check the settings during installation before deciding.
Quick Recap
Who should choose what
- Free Antivirus suits a single Windows PC user who wants the protection that AV-TEST scored, has no budget for a subscription, and is comfortable with the FTC order and Avast’s current privacy statement.
- Premium Security suits households or small offices that need coverage for several devices, including phones, and want the broader feature set on the EU page.
- Ultimate suits users who also want Premium VPN, Cleanup Premium or AntiTrack.
- Readers on macOS, Android or iOS should look for independent results on their own platform before deciding. The Windows results do not transfer.
Before you pay
- Confirm the operating systems and the number of devices you need on the plan’s page for your country.
- Check the feature list for the exact tier you are considering, because availability varies by plan and device.
- Read the cancellation and refund terms at checkout.
- Decide whether Avast’s privacy history and current statement are acceptable for your use, and read its privacy policy before installing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
