The Best Kaspersky Alternatives For 2025

Though Kaspersky antivirus has always performed well, its ties with Russia and now an outright ban in the United States have given it a troubled history. If you’re a Kaspersky user who’s now left looking for the best alternative to switch to, we recommend Norton, AVG, and Surfshark One.

We chose these alternatives because we think they’ll hit the mark or give you some exciting upgrades. Norton carries many of the same features as Kaspersky, which is why it's our top pick. Meanwhile, AVG’s free plan offers comparable protection to Kaspersky’s Standard plan, and Surfshark One’s combination of antivirus, VPN, and CleanWeb offers upgraded extras.

If you’re shopping for an alternative, we’re confident one of these best antivirus software choices will give you everything you’re looking for in a replacement.

The best Kaspersky alternatives

We know that antivirus software works by blocking bad stuff from infecting your computer, but what about the extras?

• Norton: Best for similar features
• AVG: Best for budgets
• Surfshark One: Best for extras

Top 3 Kaspersky alternatives compared

Star ratings	4.1 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	CA$27.99/first yr or GBP17.99/first yr	$29.99/first yr	$46.68/yr (first year only)	$3.39/mo (billed annually)
Free version
Firewall
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Parental controls
Learn more	Read Kaspersky Review	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review	Get Surfshark One Read Surfshark One Review

Norton: Best for similar features

Who it’s best for

Anyone who wants a product nearly identical to Kaspersky in terms of protection, features, and functionality should consider Norton. Norton includes a real-time antivirus, a VPN, parental controls, and more.

What we liked

We like how comprehensive Norton’s offerings are. Even if you choose the lightest plan, you’ll still receive Norton’s excellent protection, password manager, and cloud storage. From there, the features only increase, including many of the same features touted by Kaspersky.

Parents benefit from parental controls, while individuals can rely on identity protection and reimbursement for stolen funds. Depending on what Kaspersky plan you had, you’ll likely find something similar with Norton.

What we didn’t like

Norton’s annual prices are higher than Kaspersky’s, even at the highest tier. Kaspersky users who want the highest level of protection may experience some sticker shock.

Norton specs

Starting price	$29.99/first yr
Free version	No
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	Yes
Extras	Cloud storage, password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring, identity theft protection, and stolen funds reimbursement, and more
Learn more	Get Norton

AVG: Best for budgets

Who it’s best for

Anyone who wants quality protection that works on a budget will find AVG a great fit. Even if you decide to upgrade, you’ll still have a budget-friendly option with some great features, like a VPN and anti-tracker technology.

What we liked

AVG provides stellar protection with its free product, and it only gets better from there. If you’re looking for protection only, AVG has top scores similar to Kaspersky. If you want a reasonably priced antivirus with a few extras like a VPN or performance enhancement tools, you can upgrade to a highly affordable paid plan.

AVG’s basic protection will keep you safe from malware, viruses, trojans, and other unsavory things on the internet, but where it really shines is with its paid plans. It will:

• Help you avoid sham websites
• Protect you from phishing scams on web pages
• Hide you from online trackers
• And more

For such a reasonably priced antivirus, we’re very impressed.

What we didn’t like

AVG’s protection is top-tier, but we wish it included additional features like parental controls. We also wish 24/7 support was available for the free version, but it’s only available with the paid version.

While AVG will protect you, it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles of a more robust antivirus.

AVG specs

Starting price	$46.68/yr (first year only)
Free version	Yes
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	No
Extras	Performance enhancement tools, VPN, anti-tracking technology
Learn more	Get AVG

Surfshark One: Best for extras

Who it’s best for

Anyone who wants quality extra features should consider Surfshark. Most VPNs that come with antivirus software turn out to be pretty basic, but Surfshark has one of the best on the market. The CleanWeb and identity protection features also give you security that extends beyond viruses and malware.

What we liked

Surfshark has expanded quickly since its launch in 2018. It’s gone from a lightweight VPN to a fully rounded security suite in less than six years. And the protection you get from Surfshark is top-of-the-line. We view this rapid increase in services as a testament to Surfshark’s commitment to better security.

Because Surfshark started as a VPN and branched into antivirus, it really knows how to focus on VPN users’ needs. Most VPNs that come with an AV product aren’t that robust. They’ll likely keep you secure, but they won’t really do a lot else. Surfshark, being one of the best VPNs available, provides excellent security all the way around.

What we didn’t like

Surfshark lacks a firewall, which you may not think is a big deal, but an additional firewall provides another security layer. This isn’t a deal breaker by any means, but with all the features already offered, it's odd that it wasn't included.

We also wish Surfshark had incorporated parental controls into its plans. Although Surfshark is almost a perfect security suite, the lack of some of these features takes it down a notch.

Surfshark One specs

Starting price	$3.39/mo (billed annually)
Free version	No
Firewall	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	No
Parental controls	No
Extras	VPN, ad blocker, email masking, private search, personal data security reports, personal identity generator, and more
Learn more	Get Surfshark One

Is Kaspersky safe?

We can’t claim that Kaspersky is safe. While we don’t work in the Kaspersky main offices, we understand how various governments require businesses within their borders to turn over customer data. Russia has very aggressive policies about data handling, including the ability of the government to perform scheduled and unscheduled inspections and audits of all companies handling personal data. This doesn’t fill us with confidence, so we would have to agree that Kaspersky is not safe.

The U.S. government named Kaspersky a national security threat back in 2017, prohibiting the use of its software on federal devices. As of September 2024, the U.S. enacted an outright ban of Kaspersky, prohibiting even public use of the software due to national security concerns. 

FAQs

Bottom line: The best Kaspersky alternatives

We believe that Norton, AVG, and Surfshark One are the best Kaspersky alternatives because of their features and price points:

• Norton is a trusted name that offers almost identical features to Kaspersky, making it our top recommendation for a Kaspersky alternative.
• AVG has great budget options that mirror Kaspersky’s free and lower-priced tiers.
• Surfshark includes great protection with some exciting extras that may make you feel like you’ve upgraded your protection.

If you’re a Kaspersky user, you’ll soon find that you are no longer privy to updates beginning in September 2024. You’ll need a new antivirus that stays current to protect you from the latest threats. With any of our three options, you won’t miss your old software.

3 best Kaspersky alternatives for 2025

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	$29.99/first yr	Best for similar features	Get Norton
	$46.68/yr (first year only)	Best for budgets	Get AVG
	$3.39/mo (billed annually)	Best for extras	Get Surfshark One