Did you know that any of the data you send through an unsecured connection can be intercepted and viewed by hackers? What about that some viruses let people spy on you through your webcam?
Cyber crime is a terrifying part of our day-to-day reality. Over the past few decades, the types of crime committed have gone through explosive increases. It's vital that you protect your security when you use the internet or other connections.
Avast and Kaspersky are two cyber security companies that provide antivirus solutions for multiple devices. On a basic level, there are free antivirus programs that protect against online threats. In addition, you can purchase paid plans to get more security features.
Though both companies offer protection from many of the same threats, there are some features that are different. I've taken a look at the available options so you can decide which works best for your needs.
Overview of Avast and Kaspersky
Shared Features
Unique Avast Features
Unique Kaspersky Features
Free Plan
Avast
Avast's free antivirus protection includes the following capabilities:
These cover most of the basics you want when browsing the internet. They help keep your home network secure, make sure your passwords aren't stolen, and keep your computer from being infected by viruses.
However, it's not a very comprehensive feature set in terms of backups and other forms of data protection.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky's feature set is more comprehensive:
Winner: Kaspersky
Kaspersky has more features available for free that give you further levels of protection. With the free VPN, you can protect all of your data when you browse on public networks. You can also access the cloud anywhere, and you'll get instantaneous alerts if the software detects any issues.
Pricing
Avast
Avast has a few paid options for antivirus protection that add features to their free option. The three main ones are:
Kaspersky
Kaspersky's plans come with single and multi-device protection options:
Winner: Kaspersky
Kaspersky has three paid plans available with a variety of payment options based on the number of devices. You can also get discounts by purchasing multiple years at a time. The prices are significantly lower than Avast, and you get mostly the same features.
Additional Software and Plan Features
Avast
All Avast plans come with the same features outlined in the free plan.
The Premium Security for a single device option also includes:
The multi-device package is identical, except that you can install it on up to 10 devices across Android, Mac, PC, and iOS systems.
The Ultimate package takes these features and bundles several of Avast's other paid services, including:
The cleanup and password protection tools you can get for free through other services. The biggest selling point of this package is the VPN service, but you get that free if you use Kaspersky instead.
Kaspersky
The Anti-Virus adds to the free software platform:
The Internet Security suite includes:
The Total Security suite covers:
Winner: Kaspersky
Kaspersky is the biggest winner due to the increased number of features you get for a lower price. Features like cloud security and VPN are available at much lower costs than with the Avast plans. In addition, Kaspersky's highest tiers have more comprehensive password management, file protection, and safe kids systems.
Avast may be a good choice if you're looking for simple, effective free antivirus protection. But Kaspersky consistently has more content available for a lower price when you get into the paid tiers.
See Full Review of - Kaspersky Total Security | Kaspersky Antivirus
Pros and Cons of Avast
Pros
Cons
Pros and Cons of Kaspersky
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts: Which is Better?
Both of these computer security companies offer free and paid antivirus software. The free versions both provide basic protection, while the paid plans increase your security. The better one for you just depends on what you're looking for.
Kaspersky is the best choice for overall features and affordability. The paid software comes with more comprehensive protection at a lower cost. However, the system won't necessarily run with all the same convenience of the competition.
Avast is an ideal option for those who want the customizable convenience options. If you're a gamer, you'll appreciate the Gaming Mode that optimizes system performance. The Do Not Disturb and No Pop-Up modes are also ideal for preventing pop-ups while in full-screen mode, watching videos, or playing games.
