Product Review

Affordability

Avast is high-cost antivirus software. Even though it cut down the price of the Premium Plan for Windows and became comparably cheaper than the previous year, it is still expensive than its competitors.

The Pro Antivirus charges $39.99 per year per device – which means you get to secure only one device per subscription.

If you are looking to save a few bucks, you can do so with the long term plan while you can save around 8% with the 2-year plan, with the 3-year plan you can save approximately 12%. Avast offers a 30-day free trial too but with no guarantee about its credibility whatsoever.

There is also a free plan. It is ideal for users with limited online exposure. The paid packages, on the other hand, offers a range of exciting features – each more daunting than the other. Of all, the Internet Security suite is the best-seller. Given the ransomware protection, Safe Zone display, and real-time updates, the prices seem quite reasonable.

Reliability

Avast is a popular security suite in the market. Numerous independent tests are being conducted, and its reliability has been proved time and again.

One was the 2018’s AV-Test that proved more than 99% protection. It scored full points for its above excellent level of protection. AV-Comparatives’ Real-World Protection conducted another test in 2018. Although it announced that Avast provides 99.5% protection, it could secure only the 12th position. The reason being, most competitors are 100% effective.

Avast did an excellent job in the Trojans test by MRG-Effitas. It managed to achieve a Level 2 certification because of its malware protection skills.

However, Avast could not shine brightly in the British SE Labs’s test. The test was conducted to check if the antivirus can quarantine different attacks after detection. Avast could score only 91 percent accuracy which is decidedly less compared to other free antiviruses in the market.

Product Features

There is a basic version that offers a free download. It is best suited for those with limited access to the internet. Even the company specifically mentions that it cannot be used for commercial purpose. However, it can still block various spyware and viruses and includes regular updates.

Avast has also come up with two paid versions. There is an Internet Security plan to take of activities like online banking, entering risky websites or to run risky programs. Recently, it has also added Ransomware Shield to its Internet Security and Premium plans. Under this feature, all files will remain encrypted and cannot be viewed without your permission.

Customer Support

Avast is a huge community. You can enjoy professional customer service through a number of ways. The website offers a number of frequently asked question pages that can be accessed easily. Also, there are free user forums for active discussions.

You can dial the toll-free 24/7 support number to speak directly to an executive. But then, there is no live chat which is a bummer. Apart from these, there is an email ticket support system and a comprehensive base.