Avast offers free and paid antivirus, VPN, and privacy protection software for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, now part of Gen Digital.
Category
Security
Pricing
Freemium, from Free (paid plans vary by product)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
1988
Headquarters
Prague, Czech Republic
Free PlanWindowsiOSAndroidFreemiumMac
Overview
Avast is a cybersecurity software company founded in 1988 by Eduard Kučera and Pavel Baudiš in Prague, where it remains headquartered. It is best known for Avast Free Antivirus, one of the most widely used free antivirus products worldwide.
In 2022, Avast merged with NortonLifeLock to form Gen Digital Inc., a publicly traded cybersecurity conglomerate that also owns Norton, LifeLock, and CCleaner, with Avast continuing to operate as one of its core consumer security brands.
Key Features
Avast's product line spans free and premium antivirus/internet security, Avast SecureLine VPN, a password manager, and Avast Cleanup performance optimization tools, alongside Avast One, an all-in-one subscription bundling antivirus, VPN, and identity protection.
Avast software is available across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and the company also offers Avast Business product lines for small and medium businesses.
Pricing
Avast offers a free antivirus tier for individual consumers, with paid subscriptions for premium security suites, VPN, and Avast One bundles. Pricing varies by product and region, with annual subscription plans being the most common billing structure.
Key Features
Free Antivirus — Core malware and virus protection available at no cost.
Avast SecureLine VPN — Paid VPN service for encrypting internet traffic and masking location.
Password Manager — Stores and manages passwords securely across devices.
Avast Cleanup — Performance optimization tools for cleaning up device storage and speed.
Avast One — All-in-one subscription bundling antivirus, VPN, and identity protection.
Multi-platform support — Available across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Widely used, well-established free antivirus tier
Broad product ecosystem covering antivirus, VPN, and privacy tools
Available across all major desktop and mobile platforms
Backed by Gen Digital, a large publicly traded cybersecurity company
Cons
Past controversy over data-sharing practices via its former Jumpshot subsidiary led to an FTC settlement in 2024
Free tier includes upsell prompts for paid products
Premium features require separate or bundled paid subscriptions
Pricing
Avast Free Antivirus Free
Avast One (Individual) Introductory annual pricing varies by region and promotion annual
Avast One (Family) Introductory annual pricing varies by region and promotion annual
Avast Business Antivirus Custom / contact sales annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Avast free?
Yes, Avast offers a free antivirus tier, with paid subscriptions available for premium security, VPN, and identity protection features.
Who owns Avast?
Avast is part of Gen Digital Inc., formed by Avast's 2022 merger with NortonLifeLock, which also owns Norton, LifeLock, and CCleaner.
What platforms does Avast support?
Avast software is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Did Avast have data privacy issues?
Yes, Avast's former Jumpshot analytics subsidiary (shut down in 2020) faced scrutiny over data practices, and Avast reached an FTC settlement in 2024 related to historical data-sharing.