Kaspersky Antivirus Premium Review (2026): The right choice?

Full Review

Kaspersky is ranked #9 of the 28 best antivirus of 2026.

Kaspersky offers a robust antivirus scanner with a variety of additional features to enhance online safety. Key highlights include excellent anti-phishing protection, which uses multi-layered detection to block harmful sites, and parental controls for safer online experiences for kids. It also features a reliable VPN with fast speeds and support for torrenting, although its split-tunneling option is limited to Windows 10 and later.

The platform’s Safe Browsing, on-screen keyboard, and Safe Money tools add extra layers of protection, particularly against keyloggers. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for both beginners and experienced users, with helpful tutorials and support for seamless navigation.

Installation is quick, taking only about five minutes, and protection activates automatically after setup. Kaspersky offers three paid plans—Standard, Plus, and Premium—covering various device limits, up to 20 in some regions. There’s also a free version available, and all paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Anti-malware

Kaspersky’s anti-malware engine combines a robust signature database with advanced cloud-based machine learning to identify both known and emerging threats. Its detection accuracy ranks among the highest in the industry, matching competitors such as Norton and Bitdefender with a flawless 100% malware detection rate. The system intelligently uploads suspicious files to its cloud network for rapid classification and analysis.

Kaspersky offers six distinct scanning modes: Quick Scan, Background Scan, Full Scan, Selective Scan, Removable Drive Scan, and Application Vulnerability Scan. This variety allows users to customize their protection, from quick memory checks to deep system sweeps. Scans can also be scheduled flexibly — triggered after startup, at set times, or following updates.

During testing, the Quick Scan completed in just two minutes, detecting threats in critical system areas. The Full Scan was thorough, finding every hidden malware sample without noticeable system slowdown. Real-time protection was equally effective, blocking malicious downloads instantly. Kaspersky’s quarantine management ensures false positives are rare and easily reversible, offering users precise control over detected files.

Anti-phishing

Kaspersky’s anti-phishing system combines real-time URL analysis with a dynamic database of malicious sites to block deceptive links. Its Safe Browsing feature supports all major browsers, actively comparing web addresses against threat repositories and scanning for suspicious patterns. In testing, Kaspersky blocked most phishing pages, performing slightly below Norton and Bitdefender but still within a high accuracy range.

The URL Advisor enhances security awareness by marking search results with colored indicators, allowing users to assess risk before clicking. Additionally, Private Browsing helps prevent tracking by ad networks, analytics firms, and social media platforms. However, default permissions grant data access to Kaspersky’s 80+ partner sites, which users must manually disable.

Kaspersky’s on-screen keyboard protects against keyloggers and is especially useful when combined with Safe Money — a secure browser designed for online banking and shopping. Safe Money scans sites for certificate integrity, rootkits, and tampered modules, ensuring encrypted transactions. Though effective, the secure browser loads slowly and occasionally interferes with Google services, requiring manual adjustments. Despite these minor issues, Kaspersky’s layered web defense system remains strong and user-friendly.

Firewall

Kaspersky’s firewall offers a powerful network defense system that blocks intrusion attempts and exploits more effectively than Microsoft Defender’s default protection. During testing, it successfully prevented most simulated attacks and identified risky traffic with precision. It also provides extensive visibility into active connections, displaying app details, trust levels, and user activity statistics.

Advanced users benefit from granular control options, including port access detection, custom packet rules, and adjustable permissions for specific protocols such as DNS over TCP or UDP. These options make it easy to fine-tune protection based on system requirements.

Despite its robust functionality, the firewall’s interface is somewhat disorganized. Some features are split between the firewall panel and broader network settings, reducing usability. Additionally, Mac users only receive basic network attack blocking, lacking the full customization available on Windows. Nevertheless, for most users, Kaspersky’s firewall offers dependable protection and strong configurability for detecting and managing network-based threats.

Password manager

Kaspersky’s password manager provides secure storage for login credentials, payment information, and personal notes, protected by AES 256-bit encryption and a strict zero-knowledge framework. Users retain complete control of their master password, as Kaspersky cannot recover or access it, ensuring privacy. The premium version allows unlimited storage, while the free plan limits entries to five.

Setup is simple, requiring a separate installation and master password creation. The system supports automatic password saving and filling via browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, and others. In testing, auto-fill and capture performed flawlessly on both desktop and mobile once properly configured.

The password generator can create complex combinations up to 99 characters long and includes a history log of recent passwords for quick retrieval. Kaspersky also integrates an authenticator for generating one-time codes, eliminating the need for separate 2FA apps. While it lacks advanced features like password sharing or recovery options, the manager remains a secure, efficient, and easy-to-use solution for everyday credential protection.

VPN

Kaspersky’s VPN, included with Plus and Premium plans, delivers solid privacy features and decent usability but mixed performance in speed tests. It offers unlimited data, leak protection, a kill switch, Smart Protection, split-tunneling, and access to over 70 server locations. While its encryption and security infrastructure meet industry standards, connection speed drops were noticeable during testing.

Despite performance issues, the VPN stands out for streaming compatibility — it reliably accessed Netflix and Amazon Prime, outperforming several competitors like Avira. Upload speed reduction was moderate, but download speed suffered a significant decline, affecting browsing fluidity on distant servers.

The VPN integrates seamlessly with Kaspersky’s ecosystem and is ideal for users seeking secure, casual browsing and occasional streaming. However, it lacks advanced options such as dedicated IPs or multi-hop connections offered by top standalone VPNs. Overall, Kaspersky’s VPN balances functionality and accessibility well, but its inconsistent speeds may frustrate users requiring high-performance connectivity.

Other security features

Beyond core protection, Kaspersky includes a comprehensive suite of utilities that enhance privacy, device performance, and parental control. Its Safe Kids module offers powerful content filters, app usage monitoring, screen time control, and GPS tracking. These features work well on Android, though iOS functionality is limited. Social network monitoring only supports VK, but location tracking and geofencing perform reliably.

System optimization tools such as PC Speed-Up, Quick Startup, and Duplicate Finder help improve performance and reclaim disk space. The Hard Drive Health Monitor provides proactive alerts about potential hardware issues, while Privacy Cleaner removes browsing traces automatically. However, users must run each tool separately, unlike Bitdefender’s unified optimization module.

Kaspersky also includes Intrusion Prevention, webcam and microphone access control, and Stalkerware Detection to identify apps that spy on user activity. The Smart Home Monitor tracks connected devices but cannot directly block suspicious ones. Rescue Disk enables offline malware removal, and Backup & Restore supports data preservation via cloud or external drives.

Additional features like gaming mode, ad blocking, and a data leak checker round out Kaspersky’s offering. While some tools lack polish, the suite’s breadth and reliability make it one of the most feature-rich security solutions available.

Plans and pricing

In the table below are the core products with their features and prices.

The prices shown are from the USA. However, most brands have different prices (and currencies) in other regions. So visit the brand’s website to see the price in our country.

Note: Kaspersky has rebranded its products. Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Kaspersky Internet Security, and Kaspersky Total Security are now Standard, Plus, and Premium. The Kaspersky Security Cloud is also no longer available.

Plan description

We took a close look at Kaspersky’s pricing and plans, and here’s our take:

Kaspersky Standard

Cost: $38.49/year

Features:

• Malware scanner
• Anti-phishing
• Firewall
• Data leak checker (1 email)
• System clean-up tools

Verdict: If you need basic security for multiple devices, this plan is a good starting point. But, if you’re looking to protect just one device, competitors like Norton offer similar features at a lower price.

Kaspersky Plus

Cost: $52.99/year

Features:

• All Standard features
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN
• File shredder
• Data leak checker (up to 50 emails)

Verdict: This is the plan we recommend for most users. The inclusion of an unlimited VPN is a standout feature, rarely seen at this price point in rival products like Bitdefender.

Kaspersky Premium

Cost: $74.99/year

Features:

• All Plus features
• Identity protection wallet
• Remote access detection
• Parental controls (1-year only)
• Premium support

Verdict: If you have kids, the one-year-free parental controls make this plan worth considering. However, the ‘Premium Support’ might not be a compelling addition given that Kaspersky already has decent 24/7 support options.

All plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try risk-free. Kaspersky also provides a free basic antivirus option, albeit with limited features. Overall, the plans offer good value, particularly the Plus package, which strikes a balance between cost and features.

Test score comparison

We conduct in-house anti-malware tests and review the results from AV-Test, a German lab renowned for its objective evaluations. Below is the average of the last 10 AV-Test results for Windows. Their scoring criteria are:

• Protection (1-6): Effectiveness in blocking malware.
• Performance (1-6): Impact on system speed.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of errors like false alarms.

We calculate a final score using this formula:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

While these results influence our choice of the best antivirus for Windows 11, other factors like privacy and identity protection also play a key role. For a similar analysis for Android or macOS, visit our other comparisons:

• The best antivirus for Android.
• The best antivirus for Mac.

Note: Brands not listed in the table either do not participate in AV-Test trials or are tested too infrequently, such as Surfshark Antivirus.

Source: AV-Test (Last updated: November 2025).

Price comparison

We’ve compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a  single Windows PC with the most essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. 

We consider scores above 4.0 very good. Lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Source: TrustPilot. Last Update: November 2025.

Company Profile

Kaspersky is a leading cybersecurity firm, privately held with its holding company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1997, the company has amassed over 25 years of experience in the industry, and it protects more than 400 million individuals and 240,000 corporations across 200 countries and territories.

The company prides itself on its commitment to quality, regularly participating in independent tests to evaluate the effectiveness of its technologies against evolving threats. This has earned Kaspersky a strong presence in public TOP3 metrics and numerous awards.

At the core of Kaspersky’s operations is a team of 4,000 highly qualified specialists. They focus on developing innovative and user-friendly solutions that allow people to use technology without worrying about cybersecurity risks. The company’s portfolio is diverse, offering various security solutions that cater to a wide range of customer needs.

In terms of corporate values, Kaspersky prioritizes transparency, innovation, simplicity, and a human-centric approach. The company aims to build a safer world by adopting a “Cyber Immune” security model, which focuses on creating systems that are inherently secure. This approach is guided by the philosophy that the cost of launching a successful cyberattack should exceed its potential benefits. Eugene Kaspersky, the CEO, is a key proponent of this forward-thinking strategy.

By consistently delivering high-quality, effective solutions and maintaining a strong set of values, Kaspersky has established itself as a market leader in cybersecurity.

How we test antivirus software

At SoftwareLab, we provide thorough and unbiased antivirus reviews to help you make informed cybersecurity decisions. Our comprehensive testing covers all critical aspects of antivirus performance. We assess each product in six key categories, weighted by importance:

For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.