Our verdict: Avast Free Antivirus gives you real-time protection, a web shield and ransomware protection without paying. In return you get regular prompts to buy Avast's paid products. Avast's 2024 settlement with the US FTC over selling browsing data is worth knowing before you install it.
About Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus is the free Windows product from Avast, now part of Gen Digital, the company that also owns AVG, Avira and CCleaner. It scans files when they are opened or added, watches apps for suspicious behavior and quarantines anything it flags.
On top of the antivirus engine, the free version includes Web Guard against scam and phishing sites, Mail Shield for attachments, Ransomware Shield, a Wi-Fi Network Inspector and a Rescue Disk. Avast Premium Security, a paid subscription, adds more features and multi-device use. In 2024 the FTC ordered Avast to pay $16.5 million and banned it from selling browsing data for advertising.
What it does well
- File Shield. Scans every file that is opened or added to the PC in real time.
- Behavior Shield. Alerts you when an installed app starts acting suspiciously.
- Web Guard and Mail Shield. Blocks scam and phishing sites and checks email attachments.
- Ransomware Shield. Stops untrusted apps from changing or encrypting protected folders.
- Rescue Disk. Creates a bootable USB drive to clean a PC that will not start normally.
Who it is for
Good fit
Home users who want more web and ransomware protection than Microsoft Defender's defaults, without paying.
Look elsewhere
People who dislike upgrade pop-ups or do not want a security vendor with a history of selling user data.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Real-time protection at no cost
- Web, mail and ransomware shields in the free version
- Rescue Disk for badly infected PCs
- Runs on old Windows versions down to Windows 7
Cons
- Frequent pop-ups and offers for paid Avast products
- Setup can offer extra Avast software that you must untick
- Fined by the US FTC in 2024 for selling users' browsing data
How to install Avast Free Antivirus
The download is a small online installer that fetches the rest. Read each setup screen and untick any extra Avast products it offers before you click Install. Afterwards, review Menu → Settings → General → Personal Privacy and turn off the data-sharing options you do not want. Avast may ask you to reactivate the free license after 12 months.
Questions about Avast Free Antivirus
Is Avast Free Antivirus free?
Yes. The free version can be used for as long as you want; Avast may ask you to reactivate it after 12 months. Avast Premium Security is a paid upgrade with more features.
Does Avast collect my data?
Avast collects usage data for its products. In 2024 the US FTC banned Avast from selling or licensing browsing data for advertising and ordered it to pay $16.5 million. You can limit data sharing under Settings → General → Personal Privacy.
Do I need Avast if I have Microsoft Defender?
Not necessarily. Defender already gives real-time protection on Windows 10 and 11; Avast adds extra shields, such as web protection in browsers other than Edge.
