Avast Premium Security review — 2026
★★★☆☆ Overall score: 3/5
Veteran free antivirus. Now owned by Norton (Gen Digital).
Monthly: $4.99/mo
Annual (first year): $49.99/year
Annual (renewal): $69.99/year
Money-back: 30 days
Annual (first year): $49.99/year
Annual (renewal): $69.99/year
Money-back: 30 days
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Protection
| Malware detection rate | 99.8% |
|---|---|
| False-positive rate | Low |
| AV-TEST score | 17.5/18 |
| Real-time protection | ✓ |
| Ransomware protection | ✓ |
| Firewall | ✓ |
Bundled features
| VPN included | ✓ (Unlimited (SecureLine, paid add-on)) |
|---|---|
| Password manager | ✗ |
| Parental controls | ✗ |
| Dark web monitoring | ✓ |
| Identity theft protection | ✗ |
| Cloud backup | ✗ |
Compatibility
| Devices covered | 10 |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Our review
Avast Premium Security is the budget pick from a recognizable brand. The 2020 Jumpshot data-selling scandal hurt trust but the antivirus product remains technically capable. Now owned by Norton's parent (Gen Digital) — shared R&D with Norton 360. Best for users who want a known brand at $5/mo.
Pros
- Free tier with strong basic protection
- 10 device coverage on paid Premium
- Behavior Shield catches zero-day malware
- Web Shield blocks malicious sites
- Owned by Gen Digital (Norton parent — same R&D resources)
Cons
- 2020 controversy: Jumpshot subsidiary sold user browsing data (since shut down)
- Bundled VPN is paid extra ($5/mo)
- Aggressive in-app upsells
- Lower detection rate than top 3