Advertiser Disclosure
- Is Shredder Available On Avast For Mac Review
- Avast Data Shredder
- Is Shredder Available On Avast For Mac
- Is Shredder Available On Avast For Macbook
- Avast Data Shredder Problems
- Avast For Mac Review
Now, let’s talk about the Avast suites that are compatible with Mac platform Avast Security and Avast Security Pro are two plans that Avast offers for macOS users. So according to our testing, Windows loads faster with Avast. In the second area, we have tested computer performance in various areas and impact of the AVG or Avast on the results. Test results (higher is better) were practically the same for both products, 2,116 points for.
SoftwareLab.org is an independent software testing company. To keep our information free for you to access, we earn a referral commission when you make a purchase using one of the links below. In doing so, you are supporting independent testing, for which we are grateful. Thank you.
VERY GOOD
Avast is an excellent – and free – solution for Android. We would choose a different option on Windows or Mac.
Refund Policy: 30 days
Customer Support: 24/7 Free
Protected Devices: 1 – 5
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
The GoodCustomer Support: 24/7 Free
Protected Devices: 1 – 5
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
- Excellent protection for all devices: Avast scores well in the independent test labs, making it a safe choice to protect you from online threats.
- Great, and free, protection for Android: Although we would not recommend Avast’s free solution for Windows, for Android it’s great.
- Exceptional user reviews: Avast has more than 5 million user reviews in the Google Play Store, giving it an average score of 9.1.
The Bad
- Will slow down your MacBook: Avast did not do well on the tests for Mac, influencing the operating speed significantly.
- Expensive: If you want the full protection for Windows, it comes at a price. There are better and more affordable options, such as BitDefender.
Avast Internet Security 2019: Full Review
![Avast Avast](https://laptopninja.io/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/avg-mac.png)
Below you can find the full review, test methods, and data sources
How We Test
Using the best antivirus to protect yourself online is crucial.
To know whether Avast Internet Security 2019 is for you, we have analyzed it in detail according to 6 categories. As all of them are important, but not equal, they each have a different impact on the final score.
In the graph below you can see each category, and the impact it has on Avast’s final score. If you don’t know what the categories mean, keep reading. We explain each in detail, tell you how Avast scored, and which data sources we have used.
- Protection from Malware50%50%
- Impact on Performance15%15%
- Devices & Features10%10%
- User Reviews10%10%
- Value for Money10%10%
- False Positives5%5%
Tibor Moes
Technology analyst
Tech enthusiast and founder of SoftwareLab. He has degrees in Engineering and Business, and has been active in the analysis of software, electronics and digital services since 2013.
The Good: Avast has excellent protection scores in the tests, scoring ahead of the industry average on Windows 10, Mac, and Android. Great!
The Bad: Nothing.
What is a protection test?
The independent test labs, AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, analyze the best antivirus software several times per year. One of the categories they test, is called protection.
In this test, the antivirus programs are subjected to a range of challenges that test their entire range of security features. These features can be divided into three segments:
1. Protection from known malware
Known malwareare malware that have been discovered before. When a cybersecurity discovers a malware threat, it uploads its digital signature to a huge online database for future use.
You can imagine this digital signature as the fingerprint of a burglar. It is unique to the malware, and can help the antivirus to easily recognize it. Just as the police would use the fingerprint to identify the burglar.
On your device, the antivirus frequently runs system checks. During such a check, it scans for digital signatures to see if there are any malware infections.
This method is the most straightforward of the 3 security segments. It is called signature-based detection, but also often called virus scanning.
2. Protection from unknown malware
More complex are unknown malware samples. After all, these have never been seen before, so how to detect them? The signature-based method described above it useless against these new threats.
Here, a different strategy comes into play. The antivirus use something called heuristic file scanning. What this means, is that rather than searching for digital signatures, the antivirus search for suspicious behavior.
Imagine suspicious behavior as anything a normal program wouldn’t do. For instance, rapid file replication across a network, file deletion, or the hiding of specific files.
When an antivirus discovers such behavior, it flags the program executing it as potential malware. It then moves the malware to a safe environment, called a sandbox, where it can securely analyze the program without it being able to cause damage.
3. Protection from user-focused threats
More an more cybercriminals target users directly these days. You have probably been targeted yourself. Common examples are:
Phishing scams. Imagine an email arrives in your inbox. It says “urgent, verification required”. It seems to come from PayPal, and it requests you to verify your login details. In truth, however, the email comes from a cybercriminal attempting to trick you into handing over your login details.
As these type of attacks are not classical malware threats, antivirus had to evolve their protection methods. These days, they include many advanced features such as anti-phishing, spam filters, wifi scanners, web advisors, and many more.
Avast 2019: Windows 10 protection score
Avast scores a 9.4 in the protection tests for Windows 10. This places it ahead of the industry average, including McAfee, BullGuard, and Panda. But it still falls behind Norton and BitDefender, who both have a perfect score.
Avast 2019: Mac protection score
How to download all photos from icloud on mac. Avast, just like BitDefender and Norton, scores perfect antivirus test scores for Mac.
Avast 2019: Android protection score
Avast scores excellently on Android as well. Easily surpassing the industry average, and falling online slightly behind Norton and BitDefender, who achieved a perfect score.
Navigate this page
- Avast Review
Done reading?
Visit Avast for a unique SoftwareLab discount.
The Good: Avast scores around the industry average on Windows 10. Meaning it only has a small speed impact and can be safely used.
The Bad: The same cannot be said for Mac, however. Here Avast has a significant speed penalty.
Is Shredder Available On Avast For Mac Review
What is a performance test?
To keep you safe, antivirus operate in the background of your PC or Mac, scanning your system at regular intervals. Although this requires some resources from your device, it is often not noticeable.
However, in some cases, antivirus software require too many resources to do their job well. It can then have a severe negative speed impact.
The independent test labs analyze the antivirus software for their speed impact on Windows and Mac.
Avast 2019: Windows 10 performance score
Avast does fairly well on Windows 10, having only a limited performance impact. Fnaf pizzeria simulator download mac. It still falls behind BitDefender and McAfee though, which both require less resources to do their job.
Avast 2019: Mac performance score
There is no way around saying it: Avast should not be used on MacBooks. The performance impact is simply too great. In both Mac tests by AV-Test since January 2017, Avast had a significant speed impact on Apple’s operating software.
The Good: Avast offers a complete security solution for Windows and Android. On Windows, we would definitely recommend the paid versions. On Android, the free one is all there is, and it is really good.
![Avast Avast](/uploads/1/3/4/3/134338027/458900466.png)
The Bad: Protection for Mac is limited, but not bad. Before installing it though, keep in mind that Avast for Mac has a terrible performance impact.
What is a supported devices test?
We analyze the supported operating software and the security features offered on each. We also compare this to the other antivirus to see which offer the best protection per device.
A note on iOS:
Not all antivirus create an antivirus app for iOS.
Although it is true that iOS is a safer platform than Windows, Mac, and Android, users could still benefit from a security solution that offers them anti-theft, a VPN, a web advisor, and perhaps some parental controls.
Avast 2019: Devices and features score
Avast is a little different than most antivirus providers, as it offers its basic antivirus for free. Outside of that difference though, it follows the same formula as the rest: Extensive security features for Windows, several for Android, a few for Mac, and almost none for iOS.
For Windows 10, Avast’s free version offers its antivirus software, password manager, and wifi security advisor. The paid versions add anti-ransomware, anti-phishing, a firewall, sandbox, file shredder, webcam protection, and a VPN on top.
Overall, the paid versions are definitely worth the upgrade from the free version. Although we would opt for BitDefender as it offers better protection for Windows at a lower price.
For Mac, Avast offers antivirus, wifi protection, and anti-phishing. All for free. Pay a bit extra, and it adds anti-ransomware on top. It should be said though, that Avast has such a big speed penalty on Macbook’s that we don’t recommend using it here.
For Android, its app is for free and a very complete security solution. It comes with antivirus, anti-theft, app-lock, VPN, and wifi speed check. It sadly didn’t have the same protection scores as Norton and BitDefender, but hey, it’s free…
For iOS, there is no antivirus available. However, Avast does offer its standalone VPN and password manager.
The Good: Avast knocks it out the park. Over 5 million reviews ( 5 million ! ) rate it with a 9.1 in the Google Play Store. That is incredible.
The Bad: Nothing
What is a user review test?
User reviews play an important role when selecting a product. Sadly, however, they have also become a marketing tool. Used by many product manufacturers and comparison sites alike, to sell products.
It is therefore important to select the sources of the user reviews well. In our test, we analyze the user reviews from TrustPilot and the Google Play Store.
Avast 2019: User review score
Avast has an incredible amount of positive user reviews. In the Google Play Store, it has over 5 million positive reviews, rating it with a 9.1.
In TrustPilot, the average comes down a bit. Here around 2500 users rate Avast with a 7.4, which is still a decent score.
The Good: Avast offers a free antivirus for Android, which is a great product, offering excellent value for (no) money.
The Bad: To get complete protection for Windows, you would need to opt for one of the paid options, which are more expensive than the competition.
What is a value for money test?
We compare the protection, bonus features, and price, to the offering of the other antivirus software in the market.
Avast 2019: Value for money score
Avast offers a few free products, of which the antivirus for Android is highly commendable. It is a very complete security solution with over 5 million user reviews in the Google Play Store.
For Windows, it would be better to opt for the paid versions, as the free version is very basic. However, the paid versions are a fair bit more expensive than the competition by BitDefender, Panda, and BullGuard.
For Mac, there isn’t really any value for money to speak of. Avast for Mac has such a significant speed impact, it should simply not be used.
The Good: Avast has very few false positives on Windows, Mac, and Android. Meaning it won’t mistake many clean files for malware.
The Bad: Nothing
What is a false positive test?
When an antivirus program mistakes regular software for malware, this is called a false positive. It is nothing to worry about, but can be annoying when it happens frequently. Davinci resolve 9 lite download mac.
AV-Test and AV-Comparatives both measure the number of false positives the antivirus software have across the various operating software.
Avast 2019: Windows 10 false positives score
Avast does well on Windows 10, scoring before Norton, Panda, and BullGuard. Only slightly behind BitDefender and McAfee.
Avast 2019: Mac false positives score
Avast scores a perfect score for Mac, as did all the other tested antivirus.
Avast 2019: Android false positives score
Avast scored slightly ahead of the industry average, and just behind Norton and BitDefender, who both scored a perfect score.
Data Sources
Below you can find all the sources we have used in our analysis
Data sources we use
Protection, performance, and false positives data:
Protection, performance and false positives make up the core of any antivirus analysis. That’s why, together, they account for 70% of the total score. The data comes from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, the two leading IT security test labs.
The two European test labs set up several tests per year. For our analysis, we have included each test since January 2017. This spans over 20 antivirus software, challenged in more than 30 tests.
We found BitDefender, Norton, Panda, BullGuard, McAfee, and Avast, to be the best across all platforms.
User review data:
Our user review data comes from Trustpilot and the Google Play Store.
The Google Play Store is the place where Android users, the most used operating system for mobile phones in the world, get their apps. It has an incredible amount of user reviews. For example, Norton and Avast combined have nearly 7 million reviews there.
AV-Test:
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-mojave/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-high-sierra/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-high-sierra/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-sierra/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-sierra/june-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/february-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/october-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/october-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-mojave/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-high-sierra/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-high-sierra/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-sierra/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/april-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/february-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/october-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/august-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/april-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/february-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/november-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/september-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/july-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/may-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/march-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/january-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-mojave/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-high-sierra/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-high-sierra/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-sierra/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-macos/macos-sierra/june-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/february-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/october-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/october-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/june-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/april-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-mojave/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-high-sierra/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-high-sierra/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-macos/macos-sierra/december-2017/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/june-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/april-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/february-2019/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/december-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/october-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/august-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/june-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/april-2018/
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/business-windows-client/windows-10/february-2018/
AV-Comparatives:
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-october-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-october-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-may-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-july-november-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-october-2018-factsheet/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-june-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-july-november-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-march-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-september-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-march-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-september-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2019-march-june/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-march-april-2019-factsheet/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2018-august-november/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2018-march-june/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-removal-test-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mobile-security-review-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/mac-security-test-review-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-october-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-october-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-may-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-july-november-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-october-2018-factsheet/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-june-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-july-november-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-march-2019/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-september-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-march-2018/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-protection-test-september-2017/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2019-march-june/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-march-april-2019-factsheet/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2018-august-november/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/business-security-test-2018-march-june/
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/malware-removal-test-2018/
TrustPilot:
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bitdefender.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bitdefender.de
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bitdefenderofficial.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.norton.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/dk.norton.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.mcafee.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/france
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/germany
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/netherlands
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.pandasecurity.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/spain
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bullguard.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bitdefender.de
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bitdefenderofficial.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.norton.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/dk.norton.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.mcafee.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/france
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/germany
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/netherlands
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.pandasecurity.com
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/pandasecurity.com/spain
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bullguard.com
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.security
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.symantec.mobilesecurity
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsandroid.suite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pandasecurity.pandaav
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bullguard.mobile.mobilesecurity
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.symantec.mobilesecurity
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsandroid.suite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pandasecurity.pandaav
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bullguard.mobile.mobilesecurity
About Us | Contact Us | Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
SoftwareLab.org is operated by Momento Ventures Inc. © 2019. All rights reserved.Disclaimer: SoftwareLab.org is not an antivirus, VPN or hosting service provider and does not endorse the use of the products featured on this website for unlawful means. It is the responsibility of the user to adhere to all applicable laws. We have no control over the third-party websites we link to and they are governed by their own terms and conditions. SoftwareLab.org is supported by advertisement in order to be a free-to-use resource. We strive to keep the information accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is always the case.
(Last updated on April 20th, 2019)
Kaspersky or Avast, which antivirus software is a better option in 2019?
Read this comprehensive, value='{'show_for_logged_in':'1','hide_on_device':'}'>
Months
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
During the past few months, we evaluated and reviewed over 50 antivirus suites from the biggest names in cybersecurity. We did this so you can confidently choose the best antivirus software to protect yourself and those whom you love.
Overall, Bitdefender is our #1 antivirus software for 2019 (and beyond), because of its excellent, flawless performance in all independent lab evaluations, particularly those conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
Right now, we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package available in the market. Apart from providing excellent anti-malware protection, it offers all the advanced premium features and utilities that must be there in a high-end package -- and best of all, it offers excellent value for money. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, or smartphones) with just one license.
If you need protection for more than five devices, we highly recommend Bitdefender Family Pack 2019. It will cover all the internet-capable devices in your household with the Total Security suite, so your family is protected no matter what goes wrong.
Overall, Bitdefender is our #1 antivirus software for 2019 (and beyond), because of its excellent, flawless performance in all independent lab evaluations, particularly those conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
Right now, we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package available in the market. Apart from providing excellent anti-malware protection, it offers all the advanced premium features and utilities that must be there in a high-end package -- and best of all, it offers excellent value for money. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, or smartphones) with just one license.
If you need protection for more than five devices, we highly recommend Bitdefender Family Pack 2019. It will cover all the internet-capable devices in your household with the Total Security suite, so your family is protected no matter what goes wrong.
First, let’s see the different products Kaspersky and Avast offer.
Kaspersky Antivirus Suites |
Kaspersky Free (Windows only) |
Kaspersky Anti-Virus (Windows only) |
Kaspersky Internet Security (Mac & Windows) |
Kaspersky Total Security (Mac & Windows) |
Virus Scanner (Mac only) |
Virus Scanner Pro (Mac only) |
– |
Avast Antivirus Suites |
Avast Free Antivirus (Windows only) |
Avast Pro Antivirus (Windows only) |
Avast Internet Security (Windows only) |
Avast Premier (Windows only) |
Avast Ultimate (Windows only) |
Avast Security (Mac only) |
Avast Security Pro (Mac only) |
If you’re in a hurry and only want to see the summary of this detailed Kaspersky vs. Avast comparison, you can look at the infographic below that neatly summarizes the whole comparison.
Short Verdict
Avast offers more security-related features and extra utility tools in its security suites than Kaspersky. Independent tests prove that both software provide excellent protection against both widespread and zero-day malware, but Kaspersky is slightly better than Avast in terms of the impact on system performance.
Our recommendations: If you want to get the highest level of security and performance, there's no better choice than Bitdefender, which protects over 500 million computers worldwide.
We have reviewed and rated most (if not all) antivirus software packages out there, and we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package you can buy right now. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, or smartphones) with a single license of this suite.
If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 is the best option for you.
If you're just looking for Mac-specific protection, we recommend Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 2019 for complete peace of mind.
We have reviewed and rated most (if not all) antivirus software packages out there, and we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package you can buy right now. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, or smartphones) with a single license of this suite.
If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 is the best option for you.
If you're just looking for Mac-specific protection, we recommend Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 2019 for complete peace of mind.
Let’s start off the detailed comparison…
What’s Included in Kaspersky Antivirus Suites?
Following the footsteps of its competitors, Kaspersky released its freeware, Kaspersky Free, in July last year. The entry-level product may look bare-bones but if you take a closer look, you’ll know it still offers more in terms of features and protection than its competitors’ free products.
It provides essential malware protection, checks emails for malicious content, protects against phishing attacks, and also blocks dangerous websites and downloads. Also, it automatically scans connected USB drives for malware.
Another useful feature in the freeware is an on-screen keyword; it helps protect your sensitive information, such as banking details, from keyloggers.
How can the answer be improved? Avast for mac system requirements. System requirements. We’re not demanding. All you need is a Mac running macOS 10.9 (Mavericks) or later with at least 500 MB of disk space. An Internet connection is also.
If your computer is so riddled with malware that it can’t run antivirus software, you can use Kaspersky’s free Rescue Disk to reset your computer.
If security is your top priority, and you want to enjoy premium security-related features and advanced malware protection, you must select any of the Kaspersky’s premium suites.
Next level up is Kaspersky Anti-Virus. In that, you’ll get all the features jammed into the company’s free offering, along with ransomware protection, a game mode to minimize interruptions, and a vulnerability scan option (checks for outdated software and other vulnerabilities in your operating system).
Another level up is Kaspersky Internet Security, the company’s most popular plan. It offers a great array of features, including a two-way firewall (actively monitors network traffic and prevents attacks), a SAFE MONEY hardened browser for secure shopping/banking experience, and also helps you remove potentially unwanted programs and web trackers.
Additionally, webcam and microphone protection and a basic-level parental control filter (enables you to block your kids from seeing objectionable content and manage their social media usage) are also included in the plan.
Kaspersky Total Security is the company’s full-blown suite, boasting nearly every feature you could think of. Along with all the features that are part of the ‘internet security’ plan, you get an unlimited password manager (securely stores all your passwords at one place), an automatic backup software with 2GB of online space from Dropbox, and file encryption and shredding capabilities.
Note: Both Internet Security and Total Security suites also allow you to protect all your devices (PC, Mac, and mobile) with a single subscription.
A limited free VPN with a maximum data limit of 200MB per day is included in all Kaspersky’s security suites, including the freeware. Interestingly, even the top-notch suites have the same data usage limits.
Now, let’s talk about what Kaspersky offers for macOS users.
Much like its Windows-only freeware, Kaspersky offers a free antivirus solution for Mac users too, called Virus Scanner for Mac. It includes an on-demand virus scanner (checks for viruses, spyware, adware, Trojan horses, and other forms of malware) and also provides detailed reporting on any threats it catches.
Also, the product automatically updates itself so you don’t have to worry about updating it every now and then.
The premium version of the solution, Virus Scanner Pro for Mac, adds a download scanner (automatically scans all the files in your ‘downloads’ folder for malware) and also gives you step-by-step instructions on how to remove various malware.
If you want to get proactive protection and advanced security-related features, you should upgrade to Kaspersky Internet Security or Kaspersky Total Security – both of which are compatible with Mac platform, too.
What’s Included in Avast Antivirus Suites?
First, let’s look the Avast’s security suites for Windows users.
Avast’s free security solution, called Avast Free Antivirus, is one of the most feature-rich free security solution available in the market. It not only boasts decent level of malware protection, but also includes several security-related tools and utilities that most companies only offer in their premium suites, including an unlimited password vault, a WiFi inspector (checks for vulnerabilities in your network), and a limited software updater (tells you about other software that needs updating).
A game mode feature for uninterrupted experience and a rescue disk utility are also available in the freeware. If you want to run Avast alongside any other antivirus application, it can happily go into the passive mode.
The two browser plugins that Avast offers are Online Security and SafePrice. The former steers you clear of dangerous websites and also stops phishing attacks, while the latter is price comparison and coupon finder tool that could help you find the best deals while shopping online.
Next up is Avast Antivirus Pro. It includes everything that comes as part of the free version plus Sandbox technology (lets you test suspicious files in a virtual environment so don’t damage your computer), a Real Site feature (prevents hackers from redirecting you to fake websites to steal your sensitive details), and premium customer support.
Another level up is Avast Internet Security, the company’s most popular suite. It adds an advanced firewall, an anti-spam filter (blocks junk and phishing emails), and extra protection against ransomware.
Avast Premier includes everything in the ‘Internet Security’ suite plus a file shredder, an automatic software updater, and webcam protection.
Avast Ultimate is the company’s top-of-the-line security suite, boasting almost all the features that you could name. It includes a cleanup utility, an unlimited VPN, and an enhanced version of Avast’s password manager, along with every feature that is jammed into the ‘Premier’ suite.
Now, let’s see the Avast’s plans that are compatible with Mac platform.
Avast Security is the company’s free offering for macOS users. Besides providing great protection against different kinds of malware threats, it has a WiFi security scanner (checks your network and connected devices for vulnerabilities), a web shield (protects you from online threats), and an email shield (blocks junk/phishing emails).
Avast Security Pro adds a useful Wi-Fi intruder alert feature (instantly notifies when someone connects to your network) and also includes protection against ransomware attacks.
Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software Provides Better Malware Protection?
It’s part of the antivirus software’s job to provide top-notch protection against both known and unknown of malware threats.
Known malware (also referred to as ‘widespread malware’) is the type of malware which is already out there in the wild, and for which digital signatures are already available. Unknown malware (also called zero-day malware) exploits a previously unknown vulnerability and is much more difficult to detect as no previous signatures are available for it.
Usually, antivirus programs employ signature-based detection (checking the suspected files against a database of known malware samples) to catch known malware and heuristic monitoring (checking for behavioral attributes of suspected files) to detect unknown malware.
When a new malware sample is found, a prompt signature update is sent out to the community to make sure nobody else gets affected by it.
Now, let’s see how Kaspersky and Avast performed in the recent independent lab tests conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives – two well-known and respected companies that regularly test various security products on different criteria.
In the AV-Test’s most recent evaluations, various products – including Kaspersky and Avast – were put to test against 228 samples of zero-day malware and 4,887 samples of widespread malware in two-round tests conducted in January and February 2018.
Kaspersky and Avast both came up with perfect results; both blocked 100% of both types of malware samples in both months, receiving an excellent 6/6 rating from the security experts at AV-Test. (See this and this for detailed reports.)
Note: These tests were conducted on Windows 7 platform.
The results weren’t a lot different when the same tests were held on the Windows 10 platform, in November and December 2017, with both software once again receiving a maximum 6-star rating. This time around, however, the results weren’t as flawless as were in the Windows 7 evaluations.
Sep 29, 2009 My reg'ed copy of avast (latest version) worked fine under 10.5. I've upgraded to 10.6 and expected some software to have bugs or not work until there upgraded, but avast! On my mac has a really annoying one. OS C 10.6.8 is the last that can be upgraded on these computer that tht have the intel care duo. SO, is it possible to get an earlier version and if yes, WHERE? July 9, 2015. Avast Security for Mac. Think different about Mac security. Download Free. Essential security. Premium security. 30-day money-back guarantee. Avast Security for Mac. Download Free Buy Pro. Your Mac is not immune to threats — yet. Our free Mac antivirus protects on 3 fronts. Antivirus for mac 10.6.8 free download - AVG AntiVirus for Mac, Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac, Comodo Antivirus for Mac, and many more programs. Avast Free Mac Security. Protect your PC against. Avast for mac 10.6.8. Mac Antivirus Os X 10.6.8: Antivirus is the must have app for MAC.Due to the increased number of different viruses and hacking techniques, your personal data is always at the risk. Hacker can use your personal data for any type of illegal activities and you will found yourself in trouble soon.
Kaspersky’s protection rate against widespread malware was perfect, at 100%, in both months, but its effectiveness against zero-day malware was at 98.9% in November and 100% in December.
Other than a slightly lower 99.9% protection against widespread malware in November, Avast’s scores were perfect in evaluations held on Windows 10 platform.
Austrian lab AV-Comparatives conducts two major tests to measure the protection level of various antivirus products: Real World Protection Test and Malware Protection Test.
The former aims to rigorously challenge the participating products against ‘real-world’ conditions (as experienced by users) with their default settings in place, while the latter assesses the effectiveness of the security software’s on-demand/on-access scanning engines and behavioral detection capabilities.
AV-Comparatives’ most recent Real-World Protection Test report covered average results of the tests conducted consecutively over a period of five months, from July to November 2017). Both Kaspersky and Avast received their highest accolade — which is the “ADVANCED +” award — courtesy of their near-perfect overall protection rates of 99.7% and 99.6%, respectively. Avast registered 11 false positives (identifying legitimate software as malware) over the course of 5 months, while Kaspersky returned only 2.
In the AV-Comparatives’ Malware Protection Test, which most recently took place in September 2017, Avast’s protection rate was 99.99% with 9 false positives, while Kaspersky blocked 99.96% of the threats while returning 10 false alarms. Both software received an “ADVANCED +” award in this test.
So, it’s clear that both software provide a near-perfect level of protection against malware, and hence it’s a tie in this category.
Winner: It’s a tie
Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software Puts Less Impact on System Performance?
Since it’s part of antivirus software’s job to shield you from threats in real-time, they have to continuously run in the background to do their job, meaning they consume some percentage of your system resources all the time.
It is imperative that an antivirus program shouldn’t just provide great malware protection, but also must not significantly degrade system performance by slowing it down.
Once against, let’s see how Kaspersky and Avast fared in the independent performance tests conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
Avast Data Shredder
AV-Test’s performance test measured the impact of various antivirus programs in terms of system slowdown; they executed few common computer operations — such as downloading, installing and launching applications, copying files, launching websites — and measured the slowdown each software caused on a standard and a high-end PC.
Here’re the results of the test with Kaspersky installed:
As you can see, Kaspersky received a perfect 6/6 star rating in the ‘protection’ category.
Avast, however, was found to be a little more resource-intensive than Kaspersky; it received a slightly lower but still acceptable 5.5/6 star rating from the experts at AV-Test.
Note: These tests were conducted on Window 7 platform in January and February 2018. The same tests when held on Windows 10 platform in November and December last year saw both products receive exactly the same results.
AV-Comparatives does a similar study to calculate the impact of different antivirus software on computer performance. They also executed few common computer operations, like file copying, installing/uninstalling applications, browsing websites, and more, to gauge the impact each product puts on system performance
Kaspersky once against came up with better results than Avast; it received a slightly lower impact score of 8.1 as opposed to the Avast’s 8.9. However, both software were awarded the highest “ADVANCED +” accolade.
Winner: Kaspersky
Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software Offers a Better User Interface?
I think you’ll agree with me when I say everyone prefers a cleaner, easy-to-use interface than a clunky, old-fashioned one.
First, let’s dive into the Kaspersky’s interface…
Kaspersky interface looks light, bright, and simple. The homepage has a lot of features and useful links but yet it seems clean and uncluttered. It has six different modules: Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Parental Control, and Protection for all devices. Each one of them contains relevant features and their settings.
Clicking the ‘More Tools’ button on the main window takes you to the advanced security features and their settings.
At the top, there’s a green banner that changes to red when the software detects an issue that needs your attention. A horizontal menu with links to news, settings, support, and more.
If you’re using the free version, you’ll see that most premium features are greyed out, meaning you have to upgrade to a premium plan to get them.
Now, let’s look at the Avast’s interface…
Avast interface follows a dark, modern-styled theme and looks neat and well-organized. The first thing you’ll when you open the software is a reassuring “you’re protected” message with a checkmark provided your PC’s health is okay. Just below the message is a button to run a useful ‘smart scan’.
Along the left, there’s a vertical menu comprising Status, Protection, Privacy, and Performance tabs. Each tab when clicked elegantly opens relevant modules and their settings in a horizontal roll-out manner. Settings and Upgrade buttons are self-explanatory.
If you’re using the freeware, you’ll not have access to the premium features. Also, an unobtrusive banner advising an upgrade is also there at the bottom for free customers. Avast security for mac is the best.
Overall, it can be said that both software offer a user-friendly interface.
Winner: It’s a tie
Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software is Less Expensive?
First, let’s look at the prices of Kaspersky’s security suites.
Kaspersky Security Products | Prices |
---|---|
Kaspersky Anti-Virus | Check Price |
Kaspersky Internet Security | Check Price |
Kaspersky Total Security | Check Price |
Kaspersky Small Office Security | Check Price |
Kaspersky Business Products | See Full Range |
Now, let’s look at the pricing of Avast’s security suites.
Avast Security Products | Prices |
---|---|
Avast Pro Antivirus | Check Price |
Avast Internet Security | Check Price |
Avast Premier | Check Price |
Avast Ultimate | Check Price |
Avast Security for Mac | Check Price |
Avast Business Products | Check Prices |
It’s clear that Kaspersky’s suites are not only less expensive but also cover more devices.
Winner: Kaspersky
Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software is More Popular?
It is not an easy task to decide which of the two software is more popular among the antivirus community as both Kaspersky and Avast claim to have a community of 400 million users.
To decide a winner in this category, I will look the independent market share statistics and the total numbers of downloads of each software on CNET’s download.com.
According to OPSWAT – a company that releases monthly reports on the market share of leading antivirus companies – Avast leads the table with a dominating 19.64% of the total antivirus market share, followed by ESET (13.31%) and Malwarebytes (12.9%). Kaspersky Lab is last on the list, with only 3.86% of the market share. https://dynaclever.weebly.com/how-temporarily-disable-avast-for-mac.html.
On download.com – which is the world’s most popular software download portal – Avast has remarkably more overall total downloads than Kaspersky.
Is Shredder Available On Avast For Mac
So, Avast is the clear winner in this category.
Winner: Avast
Final Verdict
The world we live in is becoming increasingly complex with every single day, and it makes sense to say that a premium antivirus suite has become more of a requirement rather than a choice.
Months
Days
Hours
Minutes
Is Shredder Available On Avast For Macbook
Seconds
Avast Data Shredder Problems
Our recommendations: After reviewing over 50 antivirus suites from some of the biggest names in the cybersecurity landscape, we believe that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus suite for 2019 in terms of value for money. A single subscription of the suites lets you protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, and smartphones) in any combination.
Plus, it comes with premium customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 is the best option for you.
Plus, it comes with premium customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 is the best option for you.
Related Comparisons
Avast For Mac Review
Avast vs AVG
Bitdefender vs Avast
Malwarebytes vs Avast
Bitdefender vs Kaspersky
Windows Defender vs McAfee
McAfee Vs Malwarebytes
Trend Micro Vs Webroot
Bitdefender vs Malwarebytes
Windows Defender vs Avast
McAfee vs Norton
McAfee vs ESET
Kaspersky vs ESET
Kaspersky vs Norton
McAfee Vs AVG
Windows Defender Vs Norton
Bitdefender Vs Windows Defender
Bitdefender vs ESET
McAfee vs Trend Micro
McAfee vs Webroot
Bitdefender vs AVG
McAfee vs Kaspersky
Bitdefender vs McAfee
Bitdefender vs Norton
Avira vs Avast
McAfee vs Avast
Norton vs Avast
Bitdefender Vs Avira
Bitdefender vs Avast
Malwarebytes vs Avast
Bitdefender vs Kaspersky
Windows Defender vs McAfee
McAfee Vs Malwarebytes
Trend Micro Vs Webroot
Bitdefender vs Malwarebytes
Windows Defender vs Avast
McAfee vs Norton
McAfee vs ESET
Kaspersky vs ESET
Kaspersky vs Norton
McAfee Vs AVG
Windows Defender Vs Norton
Bitdefender Vs Windows Defender
Bitdefender vs ESET
McAfee vs Trend Micro
McAfee vs Webroot
Bitdefender vs AVG
McAfee vs Kaspersky
Bitdefender vs McAfee
Bitdefender vs Norton
Avira vs Avast
McAfee vs Avast
Norton vs Avast
Bitdefender Vs Avira