Alternatives to Avast Free Antivirus
A free antivirus for Windows, Mac and Android from Avast, alongside optional paid products. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Avast Free Antivirus
A free antivirus for Windows, Mac and Android from Avast, alongside optional paid products.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Avast Free Antivirus.
AVG AntiVirus Free
A free antivirus that scans files and downloads and blocks scam websites on computers and phones.
AVG AntiVirus Free scans files and blocks scam websites on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, from the same vendor family as Avast.
Avira Free Security
Free security suite with real-time malware protection and privacy and optimization tools.
Avira Free Security bundles real-time antivirus with a software updater and browser safety tools on desktop and mobile, though it upsells paid plans and limits its VPN in some regions.
Malwarebytes
An anti-malware scanner with real-time protection, VPN and scam detection for computers and phones.
Malwarebytes offers malware scanning across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with most protection features requiring a paid plan.
Bitdefender Total Security
A paid consumer antivirus suite with malware scanning, ransomware protection and a firewall.
Bitdefender Total Security is a paid suite adding ransomware protection and a firewall across several devices.
ESET HOME Security
A commercial antivirus and internet security suite for home computers and phones.
ESET HOME Security is a paid suite with anti-phishing and payment protection across Windows, Mac, Android and Linux.
Norton 360
A paid security suite combining antivirus, a VPN, identity protection and scam detection.
Norton 360 is a paid bundle of antivirus, VPN, identity protection and scam detection with no free tier shown, and it needs a Norton account to download.
Kaspersky Premium
A commercial antivirus and internet security suite for home users, sold by Kaspersky.
Kaspersky Premium is a paid, renewable all-in-one suite for Windows and macOS only, with a trial available but no Android version listed.
Sophos Home
Antivirus for Windows and macOS home users, with protection managed remotely for the whole family.
Sophos Home is paid after the trial and lets you manage antivirus remotely for several family Windows and Mac computers, with no mobile version mentioned.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Avast Free Antivirus as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
AdwCleaner
Free on-demand Windows scanner that removes adware, PUPs and browser hijackers.
Avast Free Antivirus provides ongoing free antivirus on Windows, macOS and Android but promotes paid products, going beyond AdwCleaner's single-purpose cleanup.
ClamAV
An open source antivirus engine, used mostly for scanning mail servers and file shares rather than desktops.
Avast Free Antivirus provides free desktop protection for Windows, macOS and Android, but it is closed source, promotes paid products and is not designed for mail servers.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
A Windows anti-malware program with a dual-engine scanner, real-time file protection and web protection.
Avast Free Antivirus is free for Windows, macOS and Android, removing the cost of Emsisoft, though it promotes paid products from within the free offer.
HitmanPro
A Windows malware scanner and removal tool meant as a second opinion alongside existing antivirus.
Avast Free Antivirus is a free full antivirus for Windows, macOS and Android rather than a second-opinion scanner, and it promotes paid products.
Microsoft Defender
Microsoft's security app for individuals and families, part of a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Avast Free Antivirus is a free scanner for Windows, macOS and Android without a subscription.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
SUPERAntiSpyware
Windows scanner that detects and removes spyware, adware and other malware.
VirusTotal
Online service that checks a URL or file against many antivirus engines and URL scanners.
