Avast’s antivirus products posted strong results in the most recent independent Windows lab tests. AV-TEST gave Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 a perfect 18 out of 18 on Windows 11 in July and August 2026. AV-Comparatives reported a 99.3% real-world protection rate for a group of brands that includes Avast, over February to May 2026. Those are the strongest numbers available, but they are lab results, and Avast’s privacy history includes a 2024 FTC order that deserves as much weight as the scores.
This article reports published lab results, Avast’s posted prices, and public FTC records. It does not describe hands-on testing by its author.
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What the independent lab tests show
The two labs that published 2026 results for Avast tested different product names and used different methods. Their figures should be read separately rather than combined.
AV-TEST: Avast Free Antivirus 26.6, July–August 2026
AV-TEST evaluated Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 on Windows 11 Professional (64-bit) during July and August 2026. The lab continuously evaluated 15 home-user products in that window, using default settings and the latest publicly available versions. Products were allowed to update and use their cloud services, and the test scenarios combined realistic use with live threats.
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Each product can earn up to six points in each of three categories. Avast’s result, as reported by AV-TEST in 2026:
| Category | Avast score | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | 6 | 6 |
| Performance | 6 | 6 |
| Usability | 6 | 6 |
| Total | 18 | 18 |
These scores apply to Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 on Windows 11 during that test window. The report covers the free product, so it does not directly score Premium Security or Ultimate, and it says nothing about versions released after the test.
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February–May 2026
AV-Comparatives reports a 99.3% protection rate for the Avast/AVG/Norton group across 400 test cases. In the summary table this is a shared group result, not an Avast-only score, so it should not be quoted as Avast’s own rate.
The lab’s protection rate counts fully blocked cases plus half of the user-dependent cases. The report also considers clean files and domains that were wrongly blocked, and lower false-alarm results are better. Awards combine observed results with statistical models, so a high protection rate alone does not settle how a product ranks.
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- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few clicks, and your info stays protected on public Wi-Fi every time you connect.
- PERSONAL DATA SCANS – Take your info off the market. We’ll find your personal information on sites selling it, then guide you on how to remove it.
- SOCIAL PRIVACY MANAGER – Decide what you share. McAfee finds the privacy settings buried in your social accounts and fixes them.
AV-Comparatives factsheet, July–August 2026
The July–August 2026 factsheet lists Avast One Free Antivirus among the tested products. Its chart covers 200 live malicious URLs found in the field. The full reports for the four-month period include false-alarm results and awards, so the factsheet alone does not show the whole picture.
AV-Comparatives names this product Avast One Free Antivirus, while AV-TEST tested Avast Free Antivirus 26.6. The two labs use different product names, so their results should not be treated as measuring the same build.
Other recent Avast results for Windows consumer products
A results index for Avast’s consumer Windows products lists these most recent main tests:
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- Real-world protection, July–August 2026
- Performance, April 2026
- Malware protection, March 2026
- False-alarm tests, September 2025, which is the oldest entry and is more than a year old as of this article
What these tests do not establish
- Platform: every result above is for a Windows product. They do not show that Avast performs the same way on macOS, Android or iOS.
- Time: each test covers a named period and product version. They do not show how later software updates behave.
- Your computer: lab machines running default settings are not your PC, so the scores do not predict speed or false alarms on your own setup.
- Guarantees: a high protection rate is not a promise that any particular threat will be stopped.
- Hands-on experience: this article does not describe testing by its author.
Plans and prices on Avast’s EU page
Avast’s official EU comparison page lists three consumer plans: Free Antivirus, Premium Security and Ultimate. Products are offered for PC, Mac, Android and iOS, and the features and device coverage shown depend on the plan and the device.
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- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
Features listed by Avast
- Malware and ransomware detection, Wi-Fi security checks, scam detection, ransomware protection, firewall, webcam protection, file shredding and automatic app updates. Whether each feature is included depends on the plan and device.
- Ultimate is presented with Cleanup Premium, Premium VPN and AntiTrack.
These are Avast’s own product descriptions. The independent lab results above do not verify each listed feature.
Paid plan prices in euros
The prices below were displayed on Avast’s EU page when this article was prepared. They are regional and promotional, and they may change. Renewal amounts apply after the first year. Confirm the amount that appears at checkout in your country.
| Plan | Devices covered | First-year price | Renewal price | Increase at renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Security | 1 PC + 1 mobile | €39.99 | €72.99 | €33.00 |
| Premium Security | 10 devices (device mix not stated) | €49.99 | €99.99 | €50.00 |
| Ultimate | 1 PC + 1 mobile | €69.99 | €104.99 | €35.00 |
| Ultimate | 10 devices (device mix not stated) | €79.99 | €139.99 | €60.00 |
On these figures, the 10-device Premium Security offer works out to €5.00 per device in the first year, compared with €20.00 per device for the one-PC-plus-one-mobile bundle. The per-device cost rises sharply at renewal in every paid option shown.
Free Antivirus is the no-cost option on that page. Device limits for it are not stated in this article, so confirm them on the EU page before installing. This article also does not establish Avast’s cancellation or refund terms; check them at checkout.
Rank #4
Privacy history and the FTC order
Privacy is the main caveat for Avast. The FTC’s case concerned Avast’s past handling of browsing data, and the final order is binding on the company.
What the FTC order requires
In June 2024 the FTC finalized an order against Avast. According to the FTC’s June 2024 release, the order bans Avast from selling, disclosing or licensing web browsing data for advertising purposes, and it says Avast must pay $16.5 million. The order followed allegations about Avast’s past browsing-data collection and sales.
In December 2025 the FTC said it had sent nearly $15.3 million to 103,152 consumers who filed valid claims.
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Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in the FTC’s press release on the final order: “Avast promised users that its products would protect the privacy of their browsing data but delivered the opposite.”
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Avast’s current position
Avast’s current company page says the company does not sell users’ personal data, and that its privacy safeguards align with the FTC settlement and its privacy policy. That is Avast’s own statement. It does not replace the FTC’s account of the earlier conduct.
What remains unverified
No independent check of the following is available in this article:
- What telemetry the software sends today
- Which categories of data are collected
- The default privacy settings in each product
Readers who weigh browsing-data privacy heavily should read Avast’s current privacy policy and review the privacy settings after installing.
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The free plan fits if
- You use Windows and want the product with the most direct support in the lab results, since the AV-TEST report covers Avast Free Antivirus 26.6.
- You do not need the extras that Avast places in its paid tiers.
- The feature list and device limits shown on the EU page work for your household.
A paid plan is worth comparing if
- You want Cleanup Premium, Premium VPN or AntiTrack, which Avast shows with Ultimate.
- You need to cover several devices and the 10-device offer’s per-device first-year cost is lower than the bundle you would otherwise buy.
The protection evidence applies most directly to the free product. A paid plan has to justify its price with features, device coverage or cost, not with the lab scores alone.
Quick Recap
Before you pay, compare
- The lab results for the exact product you are considering, since the AV-TEST report covers the free product only.
- Your device count and operating system mix against the plan’s device coverage.
- The first-year and renewal price in your country at checkout.
- Cancellation and refund terms, which this article does not establish.
- Avast’s current privacy policy and the FTC order.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
