Avast One Antivirus Review (2023): The Truth about Avast

Avast review: summary

Avast is ranked #9 out of 20 antivirus software.

Avast has excellent anti-malware protection, a minimal impact on the speed of your PC, all important security features, and an excellent price.

The new free antivirus, Avast One Essential, includes anti-malware, anti-tracking, a firewall, and a VPN with a generous data limit of 5 GB per week. And, of course, even more complete paid options are available too.

But let’s not forget that, in 2020, Avast was caught selling user data (Google searches, Google Maps data, YouTube and YouPorn views) on millions of its users to other companies.

It was a major scandal and proof that you should never use free antivirus software. As the saying goes: If the product is free, you are the product.

Since then, Avast claims to have stopped selling user data. And honestly, we believe them. But with such excellent other options out there, like Norton, Bitdefender, or Kaspersky, why take the risk?

• Malware protection: 95%. Avast averaged 5.95 out of 6 in the last 10 protection tests. It is excellent at detecting and removing malware.
• Speed impact: 95%. Avast averaged 5.95 out of 6 in the last 10 performance tests. So it has a minimal effect on the speed of your PC.
• Features: 90%. Avast offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, firewall, unlimited VPN, and a password manager, But misses parental controls.
• Price: 80%. Avast has a fair price given the quality of its ant-malware and range of its features. But Norton is more trustworthy and has a lower price.

If you want the best protection, we recommend Norton.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Specification comparison

Below, we have compared Avast One Individual to Norton 360 Standard. These are the most affordable products at each brand, which allow you to protect at least 1 PC with the core features:

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

Norton 360 is the best antivirus for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Test score comparison

We’ve compared the 10 most recent test scores of all antivirus brands. The tests were performed by AV-Test, the German anti-malware test lab. They use three factors:

• Protection (1-6): Antivirus protection against malware attacks.
• Performance (1-6): System slowdown caused by the antivirus.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of false alarms and disruptions.

We used their results, and this formula, to calculate the final score:

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

Brands not listed in the table haven’t participated in the analysis by AV-Test. This is usually not a good sign, because most reputable brands partake in the test. Sadly, Panda, Webroot, ESET, and Sophos don’t.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

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 Windows PC with the following 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.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

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. However, take these results with a grain of salt, as some brands actively attempt to increase their ratings.

Personally, we are wary of exceptionally high scores. Especially those by brands such as TotalAV, known for aggressive marketing and sales tactics.

We consider scores between 4.0 and 4.5 good and realistic. Higher scores are dubious, and lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Product analysis

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 your country.

A lot is on going at Avast Software. The company has recently merged with Norton and it is overhauling its product lines. Currently, the old products (Avast Antivirus Free, Avast Premium, and Avast Ultimate) are still on the site, next to the new products of the Avast One group. 

We suspect that all security products will soon be consolidated into the One group, including the free version. From that moment, we think that only the privacy products will remain as standalone offers (Avast SecureLine VPN, Secure Browser, Secure Identity, BreachGuard, and Anti-Track). 

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Avast One antivirus review

Avast delivers essential security measures to safeguard users from various cyber threats, including ransomware, spyware, and more. Its user-friendly design and reliable free plan make it an attractive option.

With an efficient malware scanner and real-time protection, Avast excels in detecting malicious software, while also providing superior web protections compared to standard browser offerings.

While Avast boasts a range of premium features, such as a secure web browser, VPN, and advanced anti-tracking protection, there is room for improvement. Competitors like Norton offer more comprehensive data breach monitoring and additional features like password managers and parental controls.

Despite these shortcomings, Avast remains a top antivirus software choice, offering excellent malware protection and a user-friendly experience. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, users can confidently explore Avast’s capabilities.

Anti-malware

Avast’s malware scanner excels in identifying and eliminating malware. We tested its capabilities using over 1,100 malware samples, achieving a flawless detection rate. This result rivals top contenders like Norton, Bitdefender, and McAfee. While a complete system scan takes slightly under an hour, it does not hamper the device’s performance.

Avast offers a variety of scanning options to address specific concerns, a feature we appreciate. However, the scanner’s persistent upselling attempts detract from the overall experience. Despite this, we find Avast’s anti-malware engine to be efficient, swift, and low-impact.

Web protection

Avast’s anti-phishing protection is formidable, surpassing the default measures in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, as well as other notable antivirus solutions. The Web Shield component adds another layer of security, blocking various web-based threats.

Nevertheless, we encountered difficulties when trying to add falsely flagged sites to the exceptions list in Avast Premium Security. Furthermore, Avast’s lack of notifications on repeat visits to phishing sites is disappointing. Despite these shortcomings, we maintain that Avast’s web protection offers robust defense against a wide array of online hazards.

Device optimization tools

Avast presents user-friendly system enhancement tools that can boost computer performance and clear space. These tools encompass a junk cleaner, PC Speedup, driver updater, and software updater. The junk cleaner effectively eliminates unneeded files, while PC Speedup handles superfluous background apps.

Avast’s driver and software updater conducts scans for updates, reducing security risks. Despite their utility, we believe Avast’s tools fall short compared to competitors like Norton or Bitdefender, which provide superior performance enhancements and extra features.

Data breach monitoring

Avast delivers basic identity theft safeguards, scanning the dark web for compromised email-linked accounts. Norton excels by tracking a broader range of personal data and utilizing live human agents. In comparison, Avast’s data breach monitoring disappoints, as Norton and McAfee provide superior protection.

Rescue disk

The Rescue Disk feature is a key asset in Avast’s offering, allowing users to generate a bootable antivirus program on DVDs or USB drives. This functionality scans for viruses without booting the computer, proving valuable when malware impairs system files.

Creating a Rescue Disk is straightforward, and Avast’s website offers comprehensive guidance. Unfortunately, this feature is absent from both Avast One plans but included in the Free Antivirus plan. Competitors Kaspersky and Panda provide similar features.

Additional features

Avast boasts a range of features such as Bank Mode, Tracker Prevention, SecureLine VPN, Remote Access Shield, Data Shredder, and Webcam Shield. We find Bank Mode particularly beneficial, protecting sensitive information during online transactions.

However, Avast’s VPN falls short in speed and privacy due to connection log retention. We recommend Norton’s bundled VPN as the top choice in 2023, or alternatively, a standalone VPN like CyberGhost or NordVPN for optimal results.

Scandal

In 2019 – 2020 it became clear that Avast was tracking and selling the browsing behavior of millions of its users, through a subsidiary called Jumpshot.

Although the company states that it made these practices clear in its privacy policy and that users could opt out, it is still a massive violation of trust. After all, how many users read privacy policies?

Since the controversy, Avast has shut down the marketing analytics firm Jumpshot and ended these practices.

Although we strongly condemn the actions of Avast, the core takeaway should not solely be the demonization of the company. Instead, it should be an eye-opener about the nature of free software.

If you believe that for-profit companies are creating excellent free products, without harvesting your data, we fear you are mistaken. As long as the product is free, you are the product.

This is true for antivirus programs, VPN software, email providers, search engines, internet browsers, and many other services. If you value your privacy, you have to be willing to pay for quality software.

Avast’s free antivirus software is not unique in their data collection.

Installation and user experience

Downloading and setting up Avast antivirus is a straightforward process. The website identifies the user’s operating system automatically, offering customization choices. The entire procedure is completed in under five minutes.

We find Avast’s interface easy to navigate, with all features accessible through three main tabs: Protection, Privacy, and Performance. Brief explanations accompany each feature, and tool-specific pages include shortcuts to advanced settings. Additionally, Avast provides a search function to assist users in locating specific settings.

Avast One boasts a user-friendly interface with only slight differences from prior versions. The color

scheme is brighter, and the menu options have been rearranged. We find it disappointing that customization is limited, and the crowded Explore tab necessitates scrolling and extra clicks.

Mobile app

The company provides mobile applications for both Android and iOS, with Android offering more features due to Apple’s constraints.

Key security elements include malware scanning (Android only), Web Shield, app lock (Android only), anti-theft measures (Android only, not on Avast One), RAM boost (Android only), Wi-Fi speed tests (Android only), network inspection, data breach monitoring, Photo Vault (not on Avast One), and VPN (exclusive to Avast One).

The mobile app interface is intuitive, with the main screen displaying key tools and a menu for easy access to additional features.

We found Avast’s mobile security tools to be effective, detecting all malicious apps and blocking phishing websites in our tests. However, we believe it falls short of feature-rich rivals such as Norton and Bitdefender. Overall, Avast One offers a mostly pleasant experience, but there is room for improvement.

Customer support

Avast delivers customer assistance through phone, chat, email, a digital knowledge center, and a user forum. Accessing these channels can be inconvenient, and users of free products are guided towards the knowledge center, forum, or buying premium support. Support access varies across countries, with some having limited live chat and telephone support or no support page.

Chat support generally responds promptly and courteously, but may face difficulties with intricate issues. Email support is polite but may require up to two business days for a reply. Telephone support is the quickest and most effective, but it’s not accessible in numerous regions and might result in international call fees.

Conclusion

Avast is a commendable antivirus with a robust malware engine and efficient web protection. It includes extra features like a Rescue Disk, secure browser, advanced anti-tracking, and anti-DNS-hijacking safeguards. The user-friendly interface is straightforward to navigate, offering helpful explanations and a search function.

Nevertheless, some of Avast’s supplementary features fall short compared to competitors at similar prices, such as its VPN, the absence of parental controls, and a missing password manager.

By installing Avast, you receive a reliable internet security suite for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, presenting excellent free plans and a 30-day refund guarantee for paid plans.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

How do we test antivirus software?

The best antivirus software offer virus protection, identity theft protection, and privacy protection for Windows, macOS, and Android. Some also offer security features for iOS and Linus.

To evaluate which providers are worth your money, we run 11 tests:

> Test 1: Anti-malware protection test

We analyze antivirus software’s capability to detect and eliminate known and unknown malware, using heuristic analysis for behavior monitoring.

We conduct in-house tests and analyze those from labs like AV-Test, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives to determine the best malware protection.

Malware includes adware, keyloggers, ransomware, rootkits, spyware, trojans, viruses, worms, and more. Other cyber threats, usually not classified as malware, are (zero-day) exploits, hacks, identity theft, phishing attacks, scams, and social engineering.

> Test 2: False positives test

False positives occur when antivirus software misidentifies legitimate software, files, or websites as malicious. We rely on AV-Test’s large-scale analysis of false positives in its usability test to guide our evaluations.

> Test 3: System performance test

We measure the CPU load during antivirus software system scans and consider AV-Test’s performance results on the slowdown caused by antivirus software when opening websites and handling software.

> Test 4: Firewall test

We evaluate two-way firewalls that filter incoming and outgoing data and allow users to set rules to regulate data streams. We use the ShieldsUP! test to determine if the antivirus software blocks all ports.

> Test 5: Password manager test

We assess password managers’ ability to create, store, and autofill secure passwords, as well as additional features like two-factor authentication and biometric login.

> Test 6: Virtual Private Network (VPN) test

We evaluate built-in VPNs on their security, privacy, speed, compatibility with streaming services, unlimited data access, and support for peer-to-peer networks and torrent clients.

> Test 7: Parental control test

We examine parental control features, such as screen time rules, website/app blocking, and real-world location tracking. We test these features on a device and attempt to circumvent them, checking if the activity is accurately reported in the parental control admin.

> Test 8: Anti-phishing protection test

We evaluate antivirus browser extensions that block phishing sites by installing them and attempting to visit dangerous URLs.

> Test 9: Ransomware protection test

We assess security suites’ ability to prevent data encryption through exploit prevention and behavioral detection during ransomware attacks.

> Test 10: Bonus features test

We test any additional cybersecurity tools such as:

• Ad Blocker
• Anti-theft
• Dark web monitoring (identity protection)
• Email protection
• File encryption
• File shredder
• Gaming mode
• Microphone protection
• PC maintenance features
• Secure browser (hardened browser to protect your online banking)
• Secure cloud storage (cloud backup)
• Spam filter
• Startup optimizer
• Tune up tools
• Virtual keyboard
• Webcam protection

> Test 11: Operating system and multiple devices test

Operating system and multiple devices: We test antivirus software on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices and award bonus points for unlimited device protection.

> Test 12: Ownership and reputation test

We analyze the trustworthiness of antivirus companies, especially concerning customer data. We read press releases, news articles, and privacy policies to determine their reputation.

Sources and tools

Below are the sources and tools we’ve used to test the antivirus software:

• Apple Platform Security
• AV-Comparatives Consumer
• AV-Test Android
• AV-Test macOS
• AV-Test Windows
• GRC Firewall Test
• Microsoft Defender
• SpeedTest VPN
• Trustpilot Security Software

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions.