Kaspersky vs Avast: Is a Paid Antivirus Worth It?

Kaspersky vs Avast: Is a Paid Antivirus Worth It? Sometimes. Avast gives away a free antivirus and sells Premium Security on top; Kaspersky comes as paid plans with a 30-day refund promise. Paying makes sense once you want extras such as a VPN, scam shields for email and phone, or help from a person. If you want cashback we suggest Kaspersky, because Avast is not one of our shops. Status October 2026, prices shift.

What Avast gives away and what it sells

Avast describes a Free Antivirus as part of its Avast One app, aimed at basic protection. The paid step is Premium Security, which adds an email shield for up to five accounts, protection against scam calls and SMS on the mobile app, a remote access shield for Windows and deepfake video detection on Windows. Premium Security comes in two forms: one Windows PC plus one mobile device, or ten devices. Avast gives a 30-day money-back guarantee on the buying page, a 30-day trial on Windows without a credit card and a 60-day trial on Mac that is billed at zero at checkout.

What Kaspersky sells

Kaspersky splits home protection into three paid plans: Standard counts 12 protection features, Plus 17 and Premium 24. Malware, ransomware, safe browsing and a firewall come with every plan. Premium is the one with the long list, from VPN and password manager to identity protection and a person on call around the clock, and Safe Kids is thrown in for the first year. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies here too.

Cashback and the refund

Our shop page Kaspersky at daily cashback opens the British store. It shows the current rate alongside any discount code listed next to it and is refreshed daily. Avast is not on our shop list, so no reward comes from us for an Avast order. A refund cancels the reward at either brand. If you only want to test, start with a free trial; it costs nothing and leaves your cashback untouched.

When free is enough, and when it is not

If you browse, shop and bank on one Windows laptop and keep your updates current, a free antivirus covers the core. A paid plan earns its keep when you protect several devices, work with passwords across them, use public Wi-Fi often or want a service desk to call. Families with children also gain from parental tools. A VPN in the same plan saves you a separate subscription, but only if you will really switch it on.

Compare the cost over two years

Both providers advertise a starting price for the first year, and Avast says outright that it saves compared with its renewal price. Look at the renewal line before you buy, and put both years side by side. Divide by the devices you protect and the answer is a price per device you can compare with anything else, including no subscription at all.

At a glance

Question	Kaspersky	Avast
Cashback shop	yes, Kaspersky UK	not listed
Free version	not given	Free Antivirus, part of Avast One
Paid plans	Standard, Plus, Premium	Premium Security, Ultimate bundle
Feature count	12, 17 or 24 depending on the plan	not given
Devices	shown in the Kaspersky order step	1 PC plus 1 mobile, or 10 devices
Money-back guarantee	30 days	30 days
Trial	trials page on the Kaspersky site	30 days Windows, 60 days Mac

Who suits what

• One Windows PC, careful habits: try Avast Free Antivirus first and see whether it is enough.
• A household with several devices and online banking: Kaspersky Plus or Premium, bought through the shop page.
• Someone who wants a trial before paying: Avast's trial periods, then decide.

What we recommend

If you decide to pay, Kaspersky is our pick, because it has a cashback page, three clear tiers and a 30-day guarantee. If free protection is all you need, Avast's free version is a fair place to start, only without a reward from us. If the timing of the purchase is on your mind, timing a software purchase collects the pointers.

Quick takeaways

• Avast has a free antivirus; Kaspersky is sold as paid plans.
• Both promise a 30-day refund window.
• Of the two, only Kaspersky has a page as a cashback shop.
• Check the renewal price before you pay.