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Best for similar features
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, 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.
Norton: Best for similar features
AVG: Best for budgets
Surfshark One: Best for extras
How we tested the best Kaspersky antivirus alternatives
FAQs
Bottom line: The best Kaspersky alternatives
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
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Starting price | $38.99/first yr | $29.99/yr (first year only) | $46.68/yr (first year only) | $2.69/mo (billed biennially) |
Free version | ||||
Firewall | ||||
Phishing protection | ||||
Ransomware protection | ||||
Parental controls | ||||
Learn more | Read Kaspersky Review | Get Norton | Get AVG | Get Surfshark One |
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/yr (first year only) |
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, plus 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 Norton 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 paid plan that’s still extremely affordable.
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 on 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 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 | $2.69/mo (billed biennially) |
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, and Personal identity generator plus more |
Learn more | Get Surfshark One |
How we tested the best Kaspersky antivirus alternatives
We test the best antivirus programs using standard equipment you would have at home, including but not limited to Macbooks, PCs, and mobile devices. We pay for the products ourselves, download them, and run them through a variety of security tests.
The scores are then compared against our star rating rubric and integrated into our honest and thoughtful reviews.
FAQs
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.
Why is Kaspersky getting banned in the U.S.?
Kaspersky has been banned for use by federal agencies since 2017, but that wasn’t an all-out ban for consumers. The software was reevaluated recently and found to pose too much risk to American security. The justification is that the Russian government continues to meddle too intensively in Russian businesses, and there’s too high a risk that American data will be compromised. Kaspersky maintains that this is false.
Is Kaspersky the best antivirus software?
Ironically enough, Kaspersky is great antivirus software. While we won’t claim it’s “the best,” it performs exceptionally well in every test. It’s a shame that it’s surrounded by such shady government oversight and privacy laws because it really is top-notch security software.
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.
- 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 2024
Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
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$29.99/yr (first year only) | Best for similar features | Get Norton |
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$46.68/yr (first year only) | Best for budgets | Get AVG |
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$2.69/mo (billed biennially) | Best for extras | Get Surfshark One |
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