Best free antivirus with a generous feature set
Visit Avast One →Avast One represents a meaningful redesign of Avast's product line, unifying its antivirus, VPN, and cleanup utilities into a single integrated platform. The free tier is remarkably generous: you get real-time malware protection, a VPN with 5GB of weekly data, a basic firewall, and system cleanup — all at no cost. In malware detection tests, Avast posted a 98.2% detection rate with a moderate impact on system performance. Paid plans unlock unlimited VPN data and advanced features like sensitive data monitoring.
5GB weekly data allowance on the free plan with 50+ server locations. Built directly into the Avast One interface with simple one-click activation.
Scans for sensitive documents — tax returns, bank statements, passport scans — and relocates them to a protected folder inaccessible to unauthorized apps.
Automatically scans incoming emails for malicious attachments, phishing links, and scam content before they can reach your inbox.
Scans for outdated drivers and updates them automatically, closing security vulnerabilities stemming from unpatched hardware drivers.
| Malware Detection | 98.2% |
|---|---|
| Devices Covered | Up to 30 |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| VPN Included | Yes (5GB/week free) |
| Password Manager | No |
| Parental Controls | No |
| Customer Support | Live chat (paid only) |
| Free Version | Yes |
| Feature | Avast One | Bitdefender | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | $39.99/yr | $49.99/yr |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 60 days |
| Malware Detection | 98.2% | 99.9% | 99.4% |
| Free Version | Yes (generous) | Yes | No |
| VPN Included | Yes (5GB/week free) | Yes (200MB/day) | Yes (unlimited) |
| Devices Covered | Up to 30 | Up to 10 | Up to 10 |
| Parental Controls | No | Yes | Yes |
| Password Manager | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Live Chat | Paid only | Yes | Yes |
Avast has made significant changes since the 2020 controversy surrounding its subsidiary Jumpshot selling aggregated user data. The company shut down Jumpshot, ended all data-sharing practices, and introduced new privacy controls and independent audits. Current Avast products are safe to use.
The free tier includes real-time antivirus, a 5GB/week VPN, basic firewall, and system cleanup. Paid plans unlock unlimited VPN data, advanced ransomware shielding, sensitive data monitoring, and driver updates. Premium also removes the occasional upgrade prompts that appear in the free version.
The free VPN can unblock some region-locked content, but the 5GB weekly cap is too restrictive for serious streaming. Paid plans with unlimited data work better, though server coverage is still more limited than dedicated VPN providers like NordVPN.
Avast One has a moderate performance footprint in our testing — heavier than Bitdefender or Malwarebytes but lighter than Trend Micro. Full scans produced a 6–8% slowdown on a mid-range Windows laptop, while real-time protection had a small but measurable impact on everyday tasks.
Avast One is the best free antivirus solution on the market. The combination of strong malware protection, a built-in VPN with a generous data allowance, and a clean interface makes it our top recommendation for budget-conscious users. The paid tiers are competitive but not class-leading, so users willing to pay may find better value elsewhere.
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