Is Avast Free Antivirus Safe in 2026? Lab Scores, the FTC Case and What to Check

Avast Free Antivirus is one of the most recognisable free security products, and it keeps turning up near the top of “best free antivirus” lists. It also has a documented privacy scandal in its past. Both things are true, and a fair answer to “is it safe?” has to cover protection and trust. I did not run my own malware tests for this article, and I will not pretend to have. What follows is a summary of independent lab results, a reviewer’s hands-on testing, and the US Federal Trade Commission’s own words, all linked so you can check them. Facts are as of 26 October 2026.

See our affiliate disclosure and how we review. Updated: November 2026

Short answer

• As protection against malware, it tests very well. Independent labs and a respected reviewer rate it highly.
• On privacy, it carries a real black mark. In 2024 the FTC finalised an order against Avast over selling users’ browsing data. The order restricts what Avast may do, and it does not erase what happened.
• For many Windows users, the built-in Microsoft Defender is enough, so the free Avast is a choice rather than a necessity.

What independent labs say

AV-TEST evaluated Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 on Windows 11 during July and August 2026 and scored it 6.0 out of 6.0 in each of protection, performance and usability, for a perfect 18 out of 18 (AV-TEST report). The same report lists 100% detection in both its real-world zero-day test (297 samples) and its reference set of widespread malware (12,543 samples). AV-TEST tests products with default settings, which is a fair match for how most people actually use free software.

PCMag’s Neil Rubenking, in a review updated on 9 June 2026, gave the product (reviewed as Avast One Free) 4.5 out of 5 and an Editors’ Choice, shared with AVG’s free antivirus (PCMag review). He notes a strong phishing-protection result and, in the same review, some weaknesses: his hands-on ransomware test missed two samples, and the firewall adds little beyond what Windows already provides. That is an honest mix, and it is why I would trust a review with criticism in it over one that is all praise. The same review also explains that Avast shares a single scanning engine with AVG and Norton, which are owned by the same parent company.

The FTC case: what actually happened

On 27 June 2024 the FTC finalised an order banning Avast from selling, disclosing or licensing web-browsing data for advertising purposes, and required it to pay $16.5 million (FTC press release). According to the FTC’s complaint, Avast collected consumers’ browsing information through its browser extensions and antivirus software, stored it indefinitely and sold it through its Jumpshot subsidiary to more than 100 third parties, while telling users its products would protect them from online tracking. These were allegations resolved by a settlement order.

Under the order, the FTC says Avast must delete the browsing data transferred to Jumpshot and products derived from it, obtain affirmative express consent before selling or licensing browsing data from non-Avast products to third parties for advertising, notify affected consumers, and implement a comprehensive privacy program. I think two readings are reasonable. One is that a company under a binding order now has strong reasons to behave. The other is that you should not forget it needed an order in the first place. Neither is a reason to panic, but if privacy is your main reason for installing security software, this history matters.

The practical downsides

• Upsells. PCMag describes many features in the free app as locked behind a paid tier, and a “fix all issues” button that leads to an upgrade page. Expect nagging.
• Extra software. The suite pushes related products such as a secure browser, VPN trials and cleanup tools. Install only what you need.
• Overlap with Windows. Windows includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Microsoft: Windows Security), and PCMag’s review notes it also earned a perfect 18 points in AV-TEST’s latest round, so a second engine is optional.

If you install it anyway

1. Download only from Avast’s own website, never from a third-party download portal.
2. Decline the bundled browser, VPN and cleaner unless you want them.
3. Open the privacy and data-sharing settings after installing and read each option rather than clicking through.
4. Run the first full scan, then leave real-time protection on.
5. Do not install a second real-time antivirus alongside it. Two will conflict.

Who should pick something else

If you want a paid suite with a bigger feature set, compare options in my best antivirus guide. If you are weighing Avast against Bitdefender specifically, my Bitdefender vs Avast comparison lays out the trade-offs. For another established name, see the McAfee Antivirus overview. If you are curious about Avast’s VPN add-on and streaming, read Avast SecureLine and Netflix. For a reminder that no antivirus is immune to its own bugs, see my news post on Microsoft Defender flaws added to CISA’s exploited-vulnerabilities list.

Disclosure: this article contains no affiliate links at the time of writing. If that changes, links will be marked and this verdict will stay the same.

Frequently asked questions

Is Avast Free Antivirus safe to install in 2026?

As malware protection it scores very well. AV-TEST gave version 26.6 a perfect 18 out of 18 in July and August 2026. Privacy-wise, the FTC’s 2024 order over browsing-data sales is a legitimate concern to weigh.

Did Avast sell user data?

The FTC alleged that Avast sold detailed browsing data of users through its Jumpshot subsidiary to more than 100 third parties. The case ended with a settlement order, a $16.5 million payment and a ban on selling or licensing browsing data for advertising.

Is Avast better than Windows Defender?

Both score highly in independent testing. Defender is built into Windows and has no upsells, while Avast adds extras and a paid tier. For many people the difference in protection is small.

Is Avast Free really free?

The core antivirus is free, but many other features in the app are locked behind paid upgrades, according to PCMag’s review.

Can I run Avast alongside another antivirus?

Not as two real-time scanners. Running two together can cause conflicts and slow your computer. Pick one active real-time antivirus.