Viruses, hackers, trojans—online threats are everywhere, and protecting your digital identity is no longer optional. It’s on you to stay ahead. That’s where antivirus software comes in.
These tools aren’t just about scanning for viruses anymore—they’re full-on security suites. The right one won’t just catch malware; it’ll remove it, block it before it hits your system, and keep your entire setup running smoothly in the background.
That’s why comparisons like Avira vs Avast matter—when both offer powerful features, the details make all the difference.
Quick Summary
So which one’s actually worth your time?
Avast usually lands high on the list when it comes to free antivirus software—it’s reliable, intuitive, and offers a solid layer of protection right out of the box. And if you ever want to step things up, their premium options give you even more tools to work with.
Then there’s Avira, which plays in a slightly different space. It’s built a strong reputation for lightweight performance across platforms, making it one of the better choices for users bouncing between PC, Mac, and mobile devices.
If you’re stuck choosing between them, this side-by-side breakdown of Avira vs. Avast should help make things clearer. And if you want to dive deeper into the details, this Avira or Avast review is worth a look.
Feature Round Up
Avira (Covers up to 25 devices):
- VPN
- System optimization tools
- Password manager
- Game booster
- File shredder
- Vulnerability scanner
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Avast (Covers up to 30 devices):
- Real-time anti-malware protection
- Web protection
- VPN
- Rescue Disk (not in Avast One)
- Wi-Fi network security
- Firewall
- PC clean-up tools
- File shredder (not in Avast One)
- Sandbox (not in Avast One)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Pricing
| Avast | Avira | |
| Starting Price | $31.20/first yr | $26.99 / First year |
| Money Back Guarantee | 30 Days | 60 Days |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
Features
Both Avira and Avast offer strong protection, but most of their advanced tools are reserved for paid users. Alongside standard scans and real-time defense, both include a firewall, ransomware protection, and tools for safer browsing.
In the Avast vs Avira debate, small differences start to show when you dig into the extras. Only Avast includes webcam protection, while Avira gives you a built-in password manager. Higher-tier users on both platforms get VPN access, though neither option stacks up against dedicated VPN apps. Avast has its own firewall, while Avira connects to the Windows Firewall through its control center. Avast also lets you run suspicious files in a secure Sandbox, isolating them from the rest of your system.
Their mobile apps go beyond antivirus, with anti-theft features like GPS tracking and remote control. Again, most extras are gated behind a premium plan. Avira includes mic and camera protection, while Avast offers App Locking—letting you secure apps with a fingerprint, pattern, or PIN.
Feature-wise, both providers cover a lot of ground. But if you’re looking for that extra layer of control and a few more tools, Avast has a slight edge with features Avira doesn’t currently match.
Malware Protection
Avira
Avira runs on a lightweight, cloud-based scanner that’s surprisingly powerful. It combines advanced heuristics with an extensive malware database to catch a wide range of threats, including cryptojackers, trojans, spyware, rootkits, adware, and more.
I hid thousands of malware samples on my test machine, and Avira detected every single one. Since the scans happen in the cloud, there was barely any impact on system performance during a full scan.
Its real-time protection also works well. I tried downloading several malware samples and ran a ransomware simulator. Avira blocked the files instantly and stopped any encryption attempts before they could start.
Avast
Avast delivered similar results. It detected 100 percent of the malware I tested and completed a full system scan in under an hour, which matches the speed of other leading antivirus programs. Performance stayed smooth throughout the scan.
Its real-time protection was just as effective. Avast blocked every attempt to download malicious files, and its Ransomware Shield adds another layer of defense by protecting key folders if ransomware tries to get through.
Web Security
Avira
Avira’s web protection, called Browser Safety, helps block access to phishing sites and also works as a tracker blocker. In testing, it outperformed the built-in protections in both Chrome and Firefox by catching more phishing attempts. That said, it wasn’t completely flawless. In a few cases, it incorrectly flagged a known phishing site as safe, even though it still blocked the connection.
One thing Avira handles well is false positives. If it mistakenly flags a site you trust, you can whitelist it right from the notification with a single click. Some antivirus programs make you dig through settings for that, which isn’t exactly user-friendly.
Avira also includes exploit protection, which adds another layer of defense against browser-based attacks and zero-day threats.
Avast
Avast’s phishing protection also performed well. It successfully identified most phishing attempts during tests on PhishTank and clearly offered stronger results than Firefox’s built-in safeguards. It didn’t trigger any false positives during testing, which made the experience smoother.
Avast also includes an ad blocker, but it’s only available through its free Secure Browser. That’s a bit of a drawback since most users are unlikely to switch from their default browser just to enable one feature.
Ease of Use
Avira
Avira is one of the easiest-to-use antiviruses out there. Its interface is straightforward and intuitive, making the setup process quick—just download and install in about five minutes. Scanning your entire system takes a single click, and scheduling scans is as simple as clicking on a calendar to choose your preferred date.
In terms of scan options, Avira offers more flexibility than most antiviruses I’ve tried. While other programs provide quick, custom, and full scans, Avira goes further with options like rootkit, hard drive, and removable drive scans—all accessible with just a few clicks.
Avira’s mobile app mirrors its desktop version in terms of ease of use. The interface is clean, and you can scan your entire device with one tap. On my Android, the app detected 100% of the malware samples I tested.
Avast
Avast also delivers a user-friendly experience. Its basic features are clearly labeled with brief descriptions, so even someone without a tech background would have no trouble navigating. It includes a search function in the settings, making it easy to find specific options.
However, I was surprised to find that Avast doesn’t let you schedule scans for a specific time and date. You can only set up automatic scans to run daily, weekly, or monthly. This can be inconvenient if you want scans to run when you’re not actively using your computer.
Avast’s mobile apps maintain the same ease of use, with powerful anti-malware features that mirror what’s available on the desktop version.
Customer Support
Avira
Avira offers support through email, phone, and an online knowledge base. Email responses usually come within 24 hours, which isn’t the fastest but still decent.
Phone support is available toll-free in over 30 countries, with specific operating hours. The agents I spoke with were really helpful and resolved my issues promptly.
Their online knowledge base is comprehensive and includes a handy search function, so troubleshooting is quick. The solutions were detailed and generally solved most of my problems.
Avast
Avast offers live chat, email, and phone support, plus a community forum and a well-organized online knowledge base.
I connected to a support agent via live chat almost instantly. While they handled my basic concerns well, they didn’t offer detailed answers for more complex issues.
To Sum Up…
Avira provides a lightweight, fast antivirus scanner with great extra features like performance optimization tools and a solid VPN. It’s also very user-friendly, with intuitive mobile apps and affordable pricing (starting at $26.99 per year). Plus, you get a 60-day money-back guarantee to test it risk-free.
Avast is also intuitive and offers strong malware protection, but it doesn’t have as many features as Avira, and it’s pricier. Still, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it without worry.
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