Avast Antivirus Review 2026: How Good Is It Really After the Scandal and the Acquisition by Norton?

Avast is one of the most widely used antivirus programs in the world, with a claimed 435 million active users. But between the 2020 data-selling scandal, its acquisition by Norton (Gen Digital) in 2022, and increased competition from Bitdefender and Microsoft Defender, the question really begs to be asked: Is Avast still worth it in 2026?

This review takes a close look at the Free, Premium Security, and Ultimate plans. We examine detection rates, system impact, reputation, actual prices, and, most importantly, how to share Avast Premium Family with multiple users via spliiit to split the bill.

Key points:

• Avast claims to have 435 million active users (Avast Press, 2025) and is now owned by Gen Digital, the group behind Norton and Avira.
• In the AV-TEST tests conducted in late 2025, Avast achieved a detection rate of nearly 100% for zero-day malware, on par with Bitdefender and Kaspersky (AV-TEST, 2025).
• The Jumpshot scandal (2020) left a lasting stain on the brand: the resale of browsing data from more than 100 million users.
• When purchased on the Spliiit marketplace, the Avast Premium Security Family license (10 devices) can cost significantly less per user.

What exactly is Avast Antivirus in 2026?

Avast is a Czech antivirus company founded in 1988 in Prague, acquired by NortonLifeLock in September 2022 to form Gen Digital, a group that also owns Norton, Avira, AVG, and LifeLock (Gen Digital, 2025). The merger created the world’s largest player in consumer cybersecurity, with more than 500 million cumulative users across all brands.

In practice, Avast continues to be sold under its own brand and now shares much of its detection engine with AVG. The 2026 edition includes the Smart Scan engine, an advanced firewall, Ransomware Shield, an email shield, and the Do Not Disturb feature to block pop-ups while gaming or video chatting.

Our observation: Since the Gen Digital merger, the Avast interface has become more streamlined, but cross-selling attempts (VPN, cleaner, password manager) have become more prominent. The app features a "Recommendations" tab, which is essentially an advertising space for the group's other products.

To put Avast in perspective relative to the rest of the market, our 2026 Digital Security Guide compares the top ten VPN + antivirus providers, including Avast, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Norton.

Avast Free: Is It Still Worth It Compared to Microsoft Defender?

Avast Free remains one of the most popular free solutions, with a market share of approximately 60% in the free antivirus segment, excluding Defender (Statista, 2025). However, in light of Microsoft Defender—which is already built into Windows 11 and has been rated equivalent by AV-TEST since 2023—its appeal has diminished for basic home use.

What's included in the free version:

• Real-time antivirus engine (same as the Premium version)
• Smart Scan for malware, network vulnerabilities, and performance issues
• Basic web protection against fraudulent websites
• File and behavioral shield
• Wi-Fi Network Analysis

What's missing from Free:

• Advanced Firewall and Ransomware Shield (Premium only)
• Webcam protection and anti-keylogger
• Server-side incoming email filter
• Automatic sandbox for suspicious files
• Driver updates and advanced cleanup

In practice: On a PC running the latest version of Windows 11, Microsoft Defender does 80% of what Avast Free does without requiring the installation of any third-party software. Avast Free is particularly useful on older Windows 10 PCs and for users who prefer a more user-friendly interface than the Microsoft Security Center.

Avast Premium Security: What Changes When You Upgrade to the Paid Version?

Avast Premium Security achieved a detection rate of 99.8% in the AV-TEST tests conducted in November–December 2025 for zero-day attacks, earning it the “Top Product” rating alongside Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Norton (AV-TEST, 2025). The paid version primarily adds layers of protection against modern threats: ransomware, Wi-Fi spoofing, webcam hijacking, and fake banking websites.

Notable paid modules:

• Ransomware Shield: locks sensitive files to prevent unauthorized encryption attempts
• Real Site: protects against DNS hijacking (redirecting users to a fake banking site)
• Sandbox: automatically runs suspicious files in an isolated environment
• Webcam Shield: blocks unauthorized access to the camera
• Client-side anti-spam for local email

In the 2025 AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection tests, Avast earned the "Advanced+" certification—the highest level—with an overall block rate of over 99% across more than 400 tested threats (AV-Comparatives, 2025). The measured system impact is moderate: an SSD and 8 GB of RAM are more than sufficient.

Our findings at spliiit Among the requests for antivirus sharing received in 2025–2026, Avast Premium Family ranks third, behind Bitdefender Total Security and Norton 360. The 2020 data scandal remains well-known but no longer deters French users from subscribing, especially when the 10-device Family license is shared among neighbors or roommates.

Avast Ultimate: Is It Really Worth It, or Just a False Bargain?

Avast Ultimate combines Premium Security, SecureLine VPN, Cleanup Premium, and AntiTrack into a single subscription, priced at approximately €79.99 per year for 10 devices, depending on current promotions (Avast, 2026). The issue is not so much the price as the individual quality of each module compared to market specialists.

SecureLine VPN (based on the HMA infrastructure acquired by Avast) is decent but lags far behind ProtonVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark in terms of speed and server selection. Cleanup Premium duplicates the functionality of Windows 11’s built-in tools and doesn’t justify a separate subscription. AntiTrack is useful, but Brave or Firefox with uBlock Origin do the same job for free.

• Avast 2026 Plan | Devices | Estimated Retail Price | Included Features
• Free|1|€0|Antivirus + Smart Scan
• Premium Security|1–10|€35–60/year (1st year)|+ Ransomware, Webcam, Real Site, Sandbox
• Ultimate|1–10|€60–90/year (1st year)|+ SecureLine VPN, Cleanup, AntiTrack

Important: Avast offers a heavily discounted price for the first year. Upon renewal, the price typically increases by 30% to 60%. That’s why many users switch to an annual payment plan rather than face the price hike after 12 months.

Should we still trust Avast after the Jumpshot scandal?

In January 2020, a joint investigation by Motherboard and PCMag revealed that Avast, through its subsidiary Jumpshot, was selling detailed browsing data from more than 100 million users to major companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Pepsi (Motherboard, 2020). The data included Google search queries, YouTube clicks, and shopping journeys. Avast immediately shut down Jumpshot and paid approximately $16.5 million as part of a settlement with the FTC in February 2024 (FTC, 2024).

The FTC has also prohibited Avast from reselling its users' browsing data for advertising purposes, and the company must now undergo an annual audit. Gen Digital's current policy is more restrictive: minimal data collection, no resale to commercial third parties, and limited storage duration.

Putting things into perspective: Kaspersky has been banned by Germany’s Bundesnetzagentur and U.S. government agencies over suspected ties to Russia (BSI, 2022). Avast has been sanctioned by the FTC but remains authorized everywhere. The “least worst” option is never a true guarantee, but by 2026, regulatory oversight will really start to weigh in.

How do I share an Avast Premium subscription via spliiit

Avast Premium Security offers a Family license that covers up to 10 devices across all operating systems (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS). This sharing is permitted under Avast’s Terms of Service as long as the devices belong to the same household—in the broadest sense of the term—making it an ideal candidate for sharing via the Spliiit marketplace.

In practice, the holder of the Family license invites each co-subscriber to install Avast and log in with their own Avast account linked to the license. Each user therefore retains their own dashboard and settings, without sharing their scan history.

The benefit is simple: instead of paying the full price of the license on your own, you split the bill equally among all subscribers. The more people who share the cost, the lower the price per person. To better understand the balance between security and cost, see our comparisons of Bitdefender Central, Kaspersky Antivirus, and McAfee Antivirus, as well as our list of the best premium antivirus software for 2026.

What are the alternatives to Avast in 2026?

The consumer antivirus market has consolidated around five major players: Bitdefender, Norton (Gen Digital), Avast (Gen Digital), Kaspersky (excluding the U.S. and Germany), and McAfee. Each aims for over 99% detection rates in independent benchmarks (AV-Comparatives, 2025), meaning that the choice now comes down to other factors: system impact, price, additional features, and trust.

• Bitdefender Total Security: Top AV-TEST benchmark scores for the past five years, lightest engine. See our Bitdefender Central guide.
• Norton 360: Avast's sister product under Gen Digital, better integrated with Windows, with unlimited VPN included in the higher-tier plans.
• Kaspersky Plus/Premium: Flawless detection, but subject to geopolitical restrictions in several countries. See our Kaspersky review.
• Free solutions: Microsoft Defender is sufficient for 80% of home use. See our selection of the best free antivirus programs.
• A comprehensive security approach: combine a lightweight antivirus with a VPN and best practices. Our security guide details the essential steps to take.

In practice, Avast remains a solid choice if you want a user-friendly interface, a reasonable price, and are comfortable with the new post-FTC data policy. It’s a solid offering, but not the top recommendation for those seeking the best value for money: in that regard, Bitdefender still has the edge.

Avast Antivirus FAQ

Is Avast really free, or does the Free plan hide hidden costs?

Avast Free is 100% free to use and contains no major banner ads. However, the app regularly prompts users to upgrade to Premium via notifications. No charges will be made to your credit card until you voluntarily purchase a paid license (Avast, 2026).

Can I install Avast and Microsoft Defender at the same time?

Technically, yes, but it is not recommended. Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft Defender automatically disables itself as soon as a certified third-party antivirus program is installed. Having two active real-time scanning engines can cause false positives, slowdowns, and quarantine conflicts (Microsoft, 2025).

Will Avast slow down my computer a lot in 2026?

In AV-TEST's performance tests conducted in late 2025, Avast scored 5.5 out of 6 for system impact, on par with Bitdefender and slightly below Kaspersky (AV-TEST, 2025). On a recent PC with an SSD and 8 GB of RAM, users do not notice any noticeable slowdown in everyday use.

Does Avast still share my data with third parties after the FTC ruling?

Since the FTC agreement in February 2024, Avast has been prohibited from reselling browsing data for advertising purposes for 20 years and must undergo an annual independent audit (FTC, 2024). Data collection is now limited to the technical data necessary for detection.

How do I cancel Avast Premium's automatic renewal?

From your Avast account, under the "Subscriptions" section, turn off automatic renewal at least 48 hours before the expiration date. In France, the Chatel Law requires Avast to notify you of the renewal date between 1 and 3 months in advance, giving you a legal window to cancel without incurring any fees.

Conclusion: Is Avast worth the money in 2026?

Avast is no longer the undisputed leader it was in 2015, but it remains a technically robust antivirus program, ranked among the best by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives. The Jumpshot scandal took a heavy toll on its reputation, the FTC penalty imposed safeguards, and its integration into Gen Digital is gradually bringing Avast closer to its cousin Norton.

The real value in 2026 lies in the 10-device Family License. Purchased on its own, it remains expensive after renewal. When shared among multiple subscribers via the Spliiit marketplace, it becomes one of the most cost-effective premium antivirus solutions on the market, without compromising detection quality.