Avira VS Avast (2020 update)

An ever-growing array of malware varieties and other cyber threats are threatening users. Today, malware is one of the more common ways to infiltrate or damage the device. This is why you should not forget about reliable and trustworthy security and antivirus software.

However, today’s antivirus offerings and a variety of providers might mislead some users in choosing the best product for them, that’s why researchers at Reviewed by Pro constantly test and review Security, Privacy, Recovery solutions, and other utilities, so users can choose the most suitable product for them.

Which is better Avira or Avast?

Avira and Avast are both reputable and well-known Internet security and antivirus providers.

Do not have time to read the entire article? No problem, check out the table to see the main features we tested including offerings, antivirus protection, security and privacy features, system-performance impact, design and popularity, and one winner.

antivirus protection, security and privacy features, system-performance impact, design and popularity, and one winner.

Antivirus protection	10	10
System-performance impact	9.2	9.5
User interface	9	10
Popularity	10	4
Overall score	9.8	9.6
Discount for our readers	-20% Off	-10% Off
Pricing	From 39.57 / 3 devices for 1 year	From $32.39 / device for 1 year

Avira overview

Avira is one of the best-known names in the security industry. Avira is a German-based security software vendor which focuses on providing award-winning Antivirus, Internet Security, Privacy, Identity and Performance software and tools for all the major operating systems, servers, and networks.^[1]

The company was established in 1986 and since then successfully leads the security market.

Avast overview

Just like Avira, Avast is a very well-known name in the cybersecurity industry.

The company protects more than 435 million users around the globe. The company is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic and has 25 offices worldwide. Avast was founded in 1988.^[2]

The company develops a variety of products for business users and consumers, including free and paid antivirus and Internet security solutions, performance tools and privacy applications across all the major operating systems and IoT devices.

Avira Offerings

The latest Avira offerings:^[3] Avira follows a freemium model offers users free and paid products. For example, Windows users can get Free feature-limited Avira Free Antivirus, and paid versions:

• Avira Antivirus Pro covers the security essentials.
• Avira Internet Security Suite is the most popular product from Avira, offering a variety of security, privacy, and performance features.
• Avira Prime is compatible with Windows, Macs, Android, and iOS devices, allows all-in-one access, flexibility and all new premium features.
• Avira SafeThings secures all smart devices in the household against cyber attacks, viruses and spying attempts.

Avira product comparison	AntivirusPro	Internet Security Suite	Prime
Block threats in real time & repair files	✔	✔	✔
Safely shop, surf, and bank	✔	✔	✔
Block annoying ads	✔	✔	✔
Benefit from customer support	✔	✔	✔
VIP support	✔	✔	✔
Auto-generate and securely store passwords	✗	✔	✔
Automatically update your programs	✗	✔	✔
Fix your software flaws	✗	✔	✔
Update your drivers	✗	✔	✔
Enhance your PC’s speed	✗	✗	✔
Clean your PC & protect your privacy	✗	✗	✔
Anonymize your web surfing	✗	✗	✔
Unblock access to websites	✗	✗	✔
Install premium mobile apps	✗	✗	✔
Get free access to future products	✗	✗	✔
Discount for our readers	-20% Off	-20% Off	-20% Off
Price	$35.99	$46.99	$103.99

Similarly to Avira, Avast follows the freemium model.^[4] The latest antivirus offerings for Windows include the following:

• Avast Free Antivirus is a feature-limited free version of the antivirus program
• Avast Internet Security
• Avast Premier
• Avast Ultimate

Avast also offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

Features

Avira detects and blocks all types of malware, such as ransomware, Trojans, viruses or spyware. It includes Protection Cloud Technology, PUA Shield, Browser Tracking Blocker, Safe Browsing and Ad Guard.

Avira Antivirus Free provides users with next-gen antivirus protection, powered by artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, and endpoint antivirus scanner.

In addition to Avira Antivirus Free, users can download many of its free tools, such as feature-limited Avira Phantom VPN, Avira Password Manager, Avira Privacy Pal, Avira Browser Safety, Avira SafeSearch Plus, Avira AppLock+; Optimization tools Avira Free System Speedup, Avira Software Updater, Avira Android and iOS Optimizer.

• Avira Antivirus Pro includes antivirus features that detect and blocks threats, it also repairs files, secures users while shopping and banking online, includes Ad Blocker, and protects a home network.
• Avira Internet Security Suite adds extra features including a password manager, it automatically updated applications and drivers, fixes software flaws.
• Finally, Avira Prime offers VIP customer support and other premium features, such as performance tools, a VPN service, includes privacy, performance and security apps for a mobile device and more.

As it was mentioned before, Avast provides users with free and premium versions of the antivirus.

Avast Free Antivirus includes antivirus protections in a real-time, Wi-Fi scanner and password manager. The full-featured versions offer webcam protection, browsing security, firewall, an extra layer or ransomware protection and more. The most expensive tier also includes Avast Cleanup, Avast SecureLine VPN and Avast Passwords Premium.

• Avast Internet Security also includes premium features such as protection while banking and shopping online, Sandbox suspicious apps, a strong firewall against hackers, protection against spam and phishing emails and an extra layer of ransomware security.
• If you need more, Avast Premier protects against webcam spying, allows users to permanently delete sensitive files and information, and automatically updates applications on the PC.
• Avast Ultimate offers all above and also includes Avast SecureLine VPN, Avast CleanUp Premium and Avast Passwords Premium.

Antivirus protection

Avira uses the same detection techniques for all of its Windows products.

Avira’s antivirus defenses include a traditional malware scanner that searches for the digital signatures or suspicious icons to match already known malware signatures and heuristic monitoring which looks for suspicious behavior and analyzes code. Avira collects all new and unusual behaviors to Avira’s cloud-based servers, on which all the icons are carefully investigated.

The antivirus engine includes Real-time Cloud scanning which examines unknown files in the cloud anonymously from over 400 million its customers. Users can easily turn off the sharing feature.

It is worth to mention that Avira demonstrates almost flawless malware detection. It was tested in the latest antivirus tests by the independent German-based lab AV-TEST.^[5] Avira got the rating 6.0 out of 6.0 and detected 100% of zero-day malware attacks, including web and e-mail threats. When it comes to detection and prevalent malware, Avira managed to detect 100% and 99.9% of all the 19,6977 samples used.

Just like Avira, Avast Antivirus offers same malware detection technologies to all its Windows antivirus products, free and paid versions. We tested the antivirus application for about two weeks and it demonstrated almost perfect antivirus protection rates.

German-based AV-TEST testing lab also tested Avast in its the most recent test conducted. The application detected 100% of zero-day malware attacks, including web and e-mail threats. It also detected 100% of widespread and prevalent malware.

Both providers offer superior malware detection results.

Protection agains 0-day malware attacks (web and email threats)	100%	100%
Detection of most common spread malware in last 4 years	100%	99.9%
Protection Score	10	9.9

System-performance impact and scans

When it comes to performance results, Avira is very light on a system and it demonstrates a lower influence on computer speed than most of its competitors.

Avira also was tested by AV-TEST^[5] that rated it 6 out of 6.

• Impact while launching popular websites – 9%.
• Impact while downloading frequently-used applications – 1%.
• Impact while launching standard software applications – 5%.
• Impact while installing frequently-used applications – 26%
• Impact while copying files – 8%.

Researchers at Reviewed by Pro also pointed out that one of the strongest sides of Avira is low resource usage. The full system scan took an average of about 1 hour and 40 minutes. The quick scan took only 1 minute and 30 seconds which is very quick compared to other similar products.

Avast also is light on a system’s resources, as we did not even notice while the antivirus was working on the background. However, it demonstrated lower rates than Avira in the AV-TEST test.

• Impact while launching popular websites – 25%.
• Impact while downloading frequently-used applications – 0%.
• Impact while launching standard software applications – 13%.
• Impact while installing frequently-used applications – 18%
• Impact while copying files – 2%.

Slowing-down when launching popular websites	25%	9%
Slower download of frequently-used applications	0%	1%
Slower launch of standard software applications	13%	5%
Slower installation of frequently-used applications	18%	26%
Slower copying of files (locally and in a network)	2%	8%
Overall rating	9.2	9.5

It also offers various scanning options, scheduled scans. If users want to scan a particular file or folder, instead right-click, they can use the drag and drop feature, which is also convenient.

All in one, Avira offers slightly better performance results than Avast.

Customer support

One thing we don’t usually get with antivirus software is easy-to-reach technical support and prompt answers from them. We couldn’t say that it is extremely easy to reach the customer support at Avira, because you still have to fill out a form and enter the registered email address to see their email or phone number.

Avira also has an informative support page for those, who prefer looking information themselves.

Avast also includes premium customer support in its premium plans, however, you will not be able to reach free support. Avast has an informative support webpage that may seem a bit similar than Avira. Users can find their tips, manuals, FAQ section, useful links, and more product-related information.

User interface

Avira’s interface is very bight and open. As usual, the main window is half-size and cannot be expanded, but can be moved around. The main window indicates the device’s performance and provides the list of other Avira applications installed, such as Software Updated, Phantom VON, System Speedup, Password Manager, SafeSearch Plus and Software Updater.

As was mentioned before, Avast Free Antivirus has a simple interface. The antivirus itself is easy to use and does not require much IT knowledge in order to use it. The interface window cannot be resized or viewed full screen but can be moved around. All the major categories and features appear in the main window and it has a left-side menu bar that includes status, protection, privacy, and performance options.

Popularity

According to OPSWAT’s streamlined Windows Anti-malware Market Share Report^[6], which includes the most recent data collected for 6 months from June to December, Avast Software has the largest market share among the most popular anti-malware products with 18.44% of the total antivirus market share. Avira appears at the bottom with 4.5% of the market share.

Manufacturer/Brand	Market share
	18.44%
	12.58%
	12.33%
	10.54%
	9.09%
	7.03%
	6.65%
	4.5%
	3.27%

So we have to admit that Avast Software has the largest market share in the security industry. It is worth mentioning that its market share also includes AVG users.

The final verdict

All in all, we rate the latest Avira Antivirus one of the best in the industry. It is a great application if you have a device that you want to keep running fast and malware-free. Avira offers flexible plans and a decent set of tools.

Avast is a decent security and antivirus software. The application is simple and easy to navigate and demonstrates superior antivirus rates.

As you can see both, Avira and Avast are decent antivirus providers offering protection and performance that users can rely on. However, in this battle, Avira is a winner. It demonstrates superior detection and performance rates, as well as has a pleasant and intuitive user interface.

Antivirus protection	10	10
System-performance impact	9.2	9.5
User interface	9	10
Popularity	10	4
Overall score	9.8	9.6
Discount for our readers	-20% Off	-10% Off
Pricing	From 39.57 / 3 devices for 1 year	From $32.39 / device for 1 year