At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Clean, uncluttered interface
• Excellent antivirus safety
• Well-priced for its characteristic set

Cons

• Full scans have an effect on PC efficiency when utilizing Microsoft Office apps
• No included password supervisor

Our Verdict

Avast One expands upon the corporate’s free safety suite, with upgraded defenses towards on-line threats and extra options. You don’t get simply wonderful antivirus safety, however instruments to safeguard your identification and privateness (together with a VPN with limitless bandwidth), in addition to tune up your PC. While it lacks a password supervisor and parental controls, should you’re all set on these fronts, this app’s polish is difficult to beat.

Price When Reviewed

$50.28 / 5 gadgets I $69.48 / 30 gadgets

Best Prices Today: Avast One

You might let Windows defend your PC — it does already protect towards on-line threats. But unbiased antivirus software program like Avast One is best at catching viruses and malware, and wins on consumer friendliness, too.

Avast truly has two strains of paid merchandise, each powered by the identical antivirus engine. They have equally clear interfaces, too. But the Avast One line focuses on identification and privateness issues, making it arguably the higher alternative for most individuals. Life is essentially performed on-line as of late, and staying secure is extra than simply thwarting malware and exploits. Phishing schemes and private info leaked in information breaches can weaken your safety, too. 

Avast One permits you to keep on prime of those points, that are at the moment unavoidable in fashionable life, and does so with polish.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best antivirus software for Windows to find out about competing merchandise.

What does Avast One embody?

Avast One enhances the already broad safety towards on-line threats obtainable within the free Essentials plan — it each upgrades current defenses and provides new ones to the set, too.

The fundamentals embody the corporate’s top-notch antivirus and firewall, which block malware, ransomware, malicious web sites and downloads, and community intrusions. The suite additionally screens for susceptible networks, compromised purposes, makes an attempt at unauthorized entry to the saved passwords in your browser, and appearances of your information on the darkish internet. And you get PC utilities, too: a system optimizer and software program updater.

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Upgrading to Avast One unlocks safeguards towards risks like webcam takeovers; webmail messages containing malware and phishing makes an attempt; shady apps attempting to find delicate information (like social safety numbers) in your PC; and malicious redirects for web sites you go to (aka DNS hijacking). 

You get strengthened identification and privateness protections as properly. For starters, darkish internet monitoring turns into steady within the background. The VPN places no restrictions on bandwidth or server utilization, too, and on-line trackers get blocked. Avast One even ties these latter two options collectively in a “Private Mode” setting to your default browser’s incognito tabs. When enabled, a safe VPN connection and monitoring prevention will mechanically kick in everytime you begin an incognito session. 

As for PC utilities, you get three extras: a disk cleaner, driver updater, and duplicate file finder.

Avast One doesn’t embody a password supervisor or parental controls. You’ll should look elsewhere for these providers, as Avast doesn’t supply them in any respect.

How a lot does Avast One value?

If you purchase a license straight from Avast, you get a reduced charge for the primary 12 months, then the usual worth afterward. Plans bought by Avast include a 30-day money-back assure and are mechanically enrolled in auto-renewal.

Individual plan (5 gadgets)

• $51 for the primary 12 months
• $110 per 12 months thereafter

Family plan (30 gadgets)

• $70 for the primary 12 months
• $150 per 12 months thereafter

For extra financial savings on Avast One plans, you possibly can reap the benefits of a special offer for PCWorld readers, which drops the price of the primary 12 months to $33 for five gadgets and $53 for 30 gadgets. You may also try our article on discounted antivirus software that explains methods to get offers by on-line shops like Newegg.

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You can set up Avast One on PC, Android, macOS, and iOS gadgets. The Avast One Family plan additionally features a Family Sharing characteristic — it means that you can invite different customers with separate accounts to share in that greater gadget restrict.

Relative to Avast’s Premium Security plan, which has the same variety of options, you’ll pay much less for Avast One within the first 12 months (relative to the variety of gadgets you could have). However, Avast One is costlier in subsequent years, when the fee rises to the complete record worth.

Key options of Avast One

Installation and consumer interface

After downloading Avast One out of your on-line account dashboard and putting in, you’ll see a display asking to begin a scan of your PC. You can select to take action (which is really helpful), or skip to entry the app.

Avast One’s interface is light-themed, with a mixture of cream, tan, and orange accents for its shade theme. A easy navigation bar lives on the left aspect of the display, giving fast entry to the dashboard, options, notifications, and settings. The tabs aren’t labeled as clearly as in competing software program — Account is the place you’ll discover settings and different app-related data, for instance. But you may get oriented shortly, due to good descriptions inside every part of the software program.

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Opening the app will present the Home display, which is a dashboard that allows you to run a scan, activate the VPN, or run considered one of a number of utilities. You have simply two choices for scanning right here, a sensible scan and a deep scan. For others, you should head to the Scan Center inside the Explore tab, which homes all Avast One options. There you’ll discover choices for Targeted Scan and Boot-Time Scan along with the good and deep scan defaults. You may also create a customized scan. But not like Avast’s Premium Security suite, Avast One’s scan settings are extra restricted. In reality, this distinction is how the 2 merchandise diverge — Avast One focuses on an easier expertise geared towards life on-line, whereas Premium Security prioritizes better management over safety in your PC.

Some customers might not just like the record format of the Explore tab. Though it teams the completely different settings by kind (Device Protection, Online Privacy, Smooth Performance), those that wish to see all the things on a display without delay might discover it irritating to should scroll. But every entry is labeled clearly and described properly.

Surprisingly, Avast One’s try and upsell its extra premium plans is a reasonably discreet button on the prime of the window, subsequent to the reduce and exit buttons. It’s way more delicate than the strategy taken by Avast’s sister firm, AVG.

Virus, malware, and menace safety

Real-time safety

Avast One retains steady look ahead to real-time threats, each on-line and in your PC. When you browse the net, the software program scans pages for malware and watches for makes an attempt to redirect you to pretend websites. The site visitors going to and out of your PC additionally get screened for suspicious exercise, as do makes an attempt to entry passwords saved to your browser. If you select to offer Avast entry to your webmail account (like Gmail), it’s going to additionally monitor your e mail for phishing scams and malware.

On your PC, Avast One scans information you add or open, checks downloaded e mail in Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird for malicious attachments, and limits entry to folders usually goal by ransomware (and any others you add to the record). It additionally permits solely accepted apps to make use of your webcam.

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Avast One additionally tracks information breaches to see if any of your e mail addresses (as much as 5) have appeared in them. You’ll get notified at any time when a match is discovered. Changing your password on that service or web site — and any others the place you might need additionally used it or a detailed variant — will probably be as much as you to carry out your self, although. (Which is when a password supervisor turns out to be useful.)

Scheduled and handbook scans

Unlike different antivirus software program makers, Avast doesn’t arrange a default scheduled scan in a freshly put in app — and so Avast One lacks this characteristic out of the field (so to talk), too. It’s an odd transfer, since scheduled scans sustain the safety of a PC with minimal consumer effort wanted.

To get your PC on an everyday scan schedule, you possibly can click on the Automated Smart Scan scheduling button within the Scan Center’s Scan Now tab. A wise scan checks for malware, vulnerabilities in your browser and apps, and different points, with a view to maintain your PC clear general.

Alternatively, you possibly can create your individual customized scan, which helps you to choose from Deep Scan, Targeted Scan, or Quick Scan as your template. Deep scans dig totally by your PC, whereas focused scans look at particular information or folders. Quick scans have a look at generally focused and important areas of your system. You can then additional tweak a handful of superior settings.

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For each good scan and customized scan scheduling, your choices are to run the scan simply as soon as, day by day, weekly, or month-to-month. Of the choices, I like to recommend scheduling a fast scan or customized scan — they require no consumer enter to finish. Smart scans ask to your enter on findings for every portion of the scan earlier than transferring to the subsequent piece.

If you favor to manually run a scan, your choices are Smart Scan, Deep Scan, Targeted Scan, Boot-Time Scan (which searches for any threats earlier than Windows begins), and any of your customized scans. Unlike Avast’s Premium Security suite, you possibly can solely alter your customized scan’s settings.

Firewall

Avast One’s firewall handles all site visitors coming and going out of your PC, fully changing Windows personal default safety. For most individuals, it’s going to really feel like an improve — the interface makes monitoring and controlling app entry really feel straightforward, quite than scary. You can clearly see which Windows applications and providers are at the moment on-line and which have requested for entry, in addition to instantly block any suspicious gadgets on the record.

(Windows might have come a good distance with its safety suite, however dig into its firewall settings, and also you’ll see a mixture of interfaces from completely different eras—and most of them aren’t pleasant to a non-technical viewers.)

The default settings are satisfactory for most individuals, although Avast One doesn’t permit a lot customization. You can add new apps, block apps or gadgets, and alter three settings (two of that are associated to notifications). But that covers the fundamentals sufficiently.

Ransomware Shield

A typical safety towards ransomware, which encrypts information in order that the attacker can extort cash from victims, is to restrict software program entry to folders usually focused by such malware. Untrusted apps can’t change or delete information in these areas. So even should you by accident set up ransomware in your system, you get an additional layer of protection.

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By default, Avast One screens particular file sorts inside your Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Videos, and Music folders, together with paperwork, footage, and movies. You can manually add extra folders and file sorts (utilizing file extensions like .tiff or .pdf) to the protected record. Well-known apps (e.g. Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop) mechanically get entry, however not any others.

For a stronger protection, you possibly can change the settings to let solely accepted apps by, in addition to wholesale defend all information inside protected folders. But remember these tighter restrictions can require intervention in your half to make sure apps like video games nonetheless perform usually.

Of course, for the perfect safety, it’s best to nonetheless independently maintain a minimum of one present, offline copy of your information — like on an exterior drive you solely connect with your PC when performing the backup. Your PC might fall to ransomware, however your information received’t be misplaced to you.

Additional options

Browser extensions

Avast One mechanically screens and blocks malicious web sites, however the optionally available Avast Online Security & Privacy extension may help you keep away from clicking on unhealthy hyperlinks to start with. Search leads to Google and Bing get visible badges that point out if a web site is secure or not. They may be straightforward to overlook at first, although, because the icons are smaller and extra delicate.

The extension can even block trackers, a number of advert networks, and cookie permissions. In reality, it mechanically requests solely obligatory cookies from websites. If you’re bored with pop-ups asking you to your cookie preferences, you’ll just like the final characteristic. Having to manually set up the extension turns into definitely worth the effort.

Network Inspector

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Hopping onto a brand new community can expose you to vulnerabilities — a problem that Avast tries to resolve with its Network Inspector characteristic. You run the scanner to search for potential threats lurking on the community you’re related to, like DNS hijacking or a weak password on a router, or a susceptible gadget.

This device has restricted utility, particularly for public networks. To defend your self on such connections, the reply is straightforward: Use the included VPN to take care of your safety and privateness. For a non-public community that you simply belief (just like the one you could have at house), it could enable you to confirm your router is configured with a minimum of basic safeguards in place.

You can alter the settings for computerized scanning and if gadgets are checked for weak passwords. You may also test to your connection historical past to see what networks you’ve just lately used.

PC utilities (Disk Cleaner, Driver Updater, and Duplicate File Finder)

Avast One unlocks three further utilities to assist maintain your PC working effectively: Disk Cleaner, Driver Updater, and Duplicate File Finder.

Disk Cleaner and Driver Updater simplify duties you possibly can carry out your self in Windows. Disk Cleaner permits you to dump momentary information, downloads, gadgets within the Recycle Bin, damaged shortcuts, and damaged registry keys to free area in your PC. Driver Updater scans your PC for outdated drivers and handles updating any which are old-fashioned.

Both have clear interfaces which are defined with clear, easy language, which is an enchancment over poking round in Windows to do the identical work. Disk Cleaner additionally permits you to see precisely which momentary information are on the chopping block, and unselect particular classes to maintain them round.

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There’s only one draw back to those two instruments — how straightforward it’s to make use of them. Disk Cleaner makes deleting parts from registry too fast and easy. Fiddling along with your Windows registry could cause issues, so it’s best to at all times perceive what you’re altering; but with Disk Cleaner, you possibly can wipe elements of your registry with out having to know the place to dig and why. Similarly, updating a driver with out figuring out its supply may also result in later points, although normally not as unhealthy as a botched registry.

Happily, Duplicate File Finder provides no purpose for concern. It carried out surprisingly properly in my gentle testing — the utility might inform the distinction between information that have been created individually however functionally the identical, and precise copies with completely different names. Video information created as a part of my Handbrake benchmarks are the identical for real-world functions, however the device didn’t flag them. It did catch information I copied however renamed.

Sensitive Data Shield

Many folks retailer information containing delicate info on their laptop, corresponding to banking particulars, social safety numbers, paycheck data, and even passwords — and that apply can change into a legal responsibility in case your laptop is compromised. 

(Side observe: Storing passwords in a doc in your PC could be very insecure. Use a password manager with a database saved in your laptop as an alternative — it’s going to encrypt the info and drastically strengthen your safety.)

Avast tries to protect your PC from this menace with its Sensitive Data Shield characteristic. It scans your PC for paperwork for widespread forms of personal info, then restricts entry to the record of the information discovered. Malicious apps received’t have the ability to uncover and extract that information. You can manually flag further information for defense, in addition to permit or block particular apps.

The characteristic has restricted effectiveness, although. The scanner doesn’t at all times catch each file with delicate data — and it solely seems to be for .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, and .xlsx information. You can’t manually add information of different sorts, both.

VPN

Accessing Avast One’s VPN is most simply performed by the principle dashboard, the place you possibly can immediately flip on a connection to the preselected server. You may also faucet the tile to leap to the VPN Secure Connection display, which helps you to alter a handful of settings.

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If you select the latter choice, you possibly can flip the VPN on and off, choose a selected server, and alter the connection settings. The VPN may be configured to mechanically activate in sure eventualities, like when on an untrusted community (e.g., public Wi-Fi), a banking web site, streaming, or purchasing. It additionally helps peer-to-peer connections.

Additionally, you possibly can toggle whether or not Avast sends autoconnection notifications, kills all web site visitors if the VPN by accident disconnects whereas lively, and permits your PC to see native gadgets (like printers) when the VPN is on. The first two options are enabled by default, whereas the latter is disabled.

Avast gives servers in 37 nations, which span Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, and the USA. You can select a selected metropolis for 5 nations (Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, UK, and the USA).

Customer assist

If you could have questions on Avast One, you should use Avast’s support website or help forums to search out solutions. Customer service can be obtainable by phone, email, or chat. The assist web site is the perfect place to begin with for fundamental questions — there’s even a helpful user guide if you wish to get correctly acquainted with the software program.

Updates and upkeep

Avast One mechanically updates its virus definitions and the app itself within the background by default — you don’t should test on it. However, you possibly can change these settings so that you simply solely get notified when updates can be found, or go for full handbook management (not advisable). You may also manually test for updates within the app settings (Account > Settings > General).

Performance

Avast’s antivirus engine usually performs properly in assessments performed by main safety analysis establishments. It detected one hundred pc of the threats in AV-Test’s zero-day assault and malware analysis for November and December 2023 (probably the most present as of this text’s publishing). All 11,859 samples for just lately found and widespread malware and 210 samples for zero-day assaults have been blocked.

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In AV-Comparatives’ real-world safety take a look at for July through October 2023, Avast additionally blocked one hundred pc of the 512 take a look at instances, with simply two false positives. It carried out virtually as properly in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, with a powerful 99.97 p.c on-line safety and 99.5 p.c on-line detection charge. Its offline detection charge was a bit decrease than the highest performers, coming in at 95.3 p.c — although that’s nonetheless markedly increased than the precise low performers of the group. (Trend Micro sits on the backside with a 57.1 p.c offline detection charge.)

For extra refined, focused threats, Avast nonetheless has room to enhance — it caught 11 of the 15 take a look at instances in AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Advanced Threat Protection Test, which entails threats like fileless assaults and malicious scripts. However, Avast caught take a look at instances that increased performing rivals missed, suggesting that antivirus distributors are all nonetheless strengthening their safety on this space.

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In day by day use, count on Avast to have minimal influence on system sources throughout most common duties, particularly when left idle within the background. When I ran PCMark 10’s Extended benchmark, which simulates internet shopping, video chatting, gaming, and picture and doc enhancing in free, open-source apps, the scores remained the identical as earlier than putting in Avast One. The software program additionally had little impact on our Handbrake encoding take a look at, which transforms a big, uncompressed video file right into a smaller, compressed model. When working a deep scan repeatedly within the background, efficiency dipped by about 10 p.c for each benchmarks — a modest quantity in comparison with opponents.

The one exception to this conduct is when engaged on Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint paperwork. Avast was aggressive throughout in its scans after I ran UL Procyon’s Office Productivity benchmark, which focuses on Microsoft Office use. When Avast One was idle within the background, scores dropped by about 11 p.c when idle. They fell by 25 p.c when a deep scan was run repeatedly.

In the actual world, these outcomes counsel heavy Microsoft Office customers on slower PCs must be strategic in regards to the timing of scans. A full system scan scheduled for off-hours (like once you’re asleep) received’t intervene with getting work performed. During lively hours, you may see some efficiency results when in Office apps, however not as notably.

Should you purchase Avast One?

Avast One offers robust, broad protection towards on-line threats, with options that make an improve from the free model (or Microsoft Defender) worthwhile. In addition to wonderful malware safety, it offers instruments that simplify safeguarding your privateness and preserving your PC in tip-top form — and the interface for managing all the things is clear and easy, besides. This safety suite does lack a password supervisor and parental controls, however should you’re set on these fronts, this app’s polish is difficult to beat.

Editor’s observe: Because on-line providers are sometimes iterative, gaining new options and efficiency enhancements over time, this overview is topic to vary with a view to precisely mirror the present state of the service. Any modifications to textual content or our closing overview verdict will probably be famous on the prime of this text.