Microsoft Defender vs. Avast 2026: Is It Worth Upgrading the Free Windows Antivirus?

Avast is the better choice for antivirus software due to its extensive security features, competitive pricing, and layered scam protection. That doesn't mean Microsoft Defender (formerly Windows Defender) can't stop malware in its tracks, but it doesn't go the extra mile to provide comprehensive security protection.

Still, if you've just opened your brand-new PC, make sure Windows Security is active before going online.

Since both antivirus solutions offer a free tier, you may wonder which one is the best for you. We've tested both, so check out our side-by-side comparison below. Whether you're a PC-only user or have multiple devices, one of these may offer better protection.

Microsoft Defender Antivirus vs. Avast overview

• Microsoft Defender Antivirus: Best for new Windows computers
• Avast: Best for bundled security

		Best Overall
Star rating	4.9 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.
Starting price	Free or $9.99/mo for Microsoft Defender	Free or starts at $35.88/first yr
Max number of protected devices	30 (paid plans)	10
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection	Yes — failed our phishing test
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more	Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Antivirus Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

Microsoft Defender Antivirus pros and cons

Based on our experience, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is a good antivirus, especially since it's free and included with your device. While you can purchase a Microsoft 365 plan with Microsoft Defender, you don't actually need one to enjoy the benefits. The Windows Security suite offers comprehensive device coverage, and its antivirus protection scores are solid.

One drawback is that real-time protection scans can consume significant CPU resources and negatively impact overall system performance. Defender also falls short in some areas, especially if you want a comprehensive security suite that includes an ad blocker, VPN, performance-enhancement tools, and more. Microsoft Defender Antivirus is really only there to keep your PC malware-free, but it does that very well.

Avast pros and cons

We actually love Avast and recommend it frequently. While its free tier is impressive, the added bonuses in paid plans make Avast a full security stack. Avast scans networks for security issues, protects against phishing, includes anti-tracking technology, and more.

When you sign up for one of Avast's premium plans, you get 24/7 support included. We would love to see that on the free plan, but we understand why it isn't. Since we find the paid plans well worth your investment, we don't think this is a deal-breaker. This is especially true, considering how well Avast's third-party protection scores perform. It's just a trustworthy system.

Which antivirus is the better value?

Avast is the better value for money, considering what you get with the paid plans. We think Microsoft 365 is a bit pricey, but Microsoft Defender Antivirus offers full protection without requiring an upgrade purchase.

Avast offers better paid plan options, and we appreciate the extras that come with them.

		Best Value
Price range	Free or $1.99–$19.99/mo for Microsoft Defender	$49.08-$69.48/first yr
Best value plan	Free plan	Avast Premium Security for $49.08/first yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Antivirus Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

We believe Avast's paid plans are a better option than those included with Microsoft 365. Microsoft 365 doesn't offer much more protection. Most of the additional features focus on storage, email, and Microsoft Copilot (which we don't trust because it's invasive and catalogs even sensitive data for AI purposes). You really only need the free Defender, which is why we chose that option.

Avast, on the other hand, includes webcam protection, scam protection for your email, texts, and calls, privacy alerts, compatibility with various operating systems and browsers, and a lot more. Step up to Avast Ultimate, and you add a VPN and device cleanup tools. While the free Avast program is good, the added protection in paid plans is better.

Microsoft Defender plans

Microsoft Defender Antivirus is free, but you can buy a Microsoft 365 plan that includes the Microsoft Defender security package, plus additional storage, email capabilities, and more. (We do suggest disabling Copilot if you purchase 365.)

Microsoft Defender Antivirus: Free antivirus solution included with Windows. Windows Security offers real-time protection, ransomware protection, and network protection.

Microsoft 365 Basic: Covers one device with 100 GB of cloud storage, Outlook, and OneDrive. No identity theft protection.

Microsoft 365 Personal: One person on up to five devices, 1 TB cloud storage, productivity apps with Microsoft Copilot, email, ID security, and data security. Also offers ID theft monitoring and insurance, and includes Microsoft Defender advanced security features, such as anti-phishing technology.

Microsoft 365 Family: Up to six people, each on up to five devices, with 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person), productivity apps with Microsoft Copilot, email, ID security, and data security. Also offers ID theft monitoring and insurance, parental controls through Microsoft Family Safety, and Microsoft Defender advanced security features.

Microsoft 365 Premium: Everything in Family, plus expanded access to Copilot features and Microsoft Designer.

Avast plans

Avast Free Antivirus: This free plan includes real-time malware and ransomware protection, the Smart Scan, and Network Inspector to check your Wi-Fi for weak points.

Avast Premium Security: Everything in the free plan plus a firewall, webcam protection, remote access protection, fake website detection, and the full Scam Guardian toolkit for email, SMS, and call scams. Windows users also get deepfake video detection, a sandbox for opening risky files, a file shredder, and an app updater. Covers one desktop plus one mobile device, or up to 10 devices.

Avast Ultimate: Everything in Premium Security, plus Avast SecureLine VPN, Avast Cleanup device optimization, and AntiTrack.

Which antivirus has better features?

Avast offers better features and more comprehensive protection than Microsoft.

Additionally, Microsoft has relaunched its Copilot feature with Microsoft 365 plans. Copilot wants to take screenshots of your activity, whether it's private or not, then categorize and make the images searchable. This is a huge invasion of privacy. On the other hand, Avast attempts to protect your information with additional features, including webcam security.

		Best Features
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Webcam protection
Email, SMS, and call scam protection
Device optimization tools		Avast Ultimate only
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN		Avast Ultimate only
Ad blocker
Extras	ID theft monitoring, cloud storage, Microsoft 365 apps	Scam Guardian, deepfake video detection, breach monitoring
Learn more	Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Antivirus Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

Microsoft Defender Antivirus offers real-time threat protection, a firewall, and parental controls through Microsoft Family Safety, but it doesn't provide a full cybersecurity suite. Even Microsoft Defender, included with paid 365 plans, offers little more than advanced phishing protection.

Avast includes all those security features, plus webcam protection, tracker blocking, scam protection across email and mobile, and more.

Scam protection

Scams have moved well past sketchy email links, and this is where the two products separate. Avast Premium Security bundles a set of tools it calls Scam Guardian. Email Guard connects to Gmail, Outlook, and other providers and flags suspicious messages before you open them. SMS Guard and Call Guard block scam texts and calls through the mobile app. Avast Assistant also lets you paste a message or offer to get a read on whether it's legitimate.

Avast has also added deepfake video detection on Windows, which watches for manipulated video while you're browsing.

Microsoft Defender covers anti-phishing across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and it's decent at flagging known malicious sites. But it stops there. There's no SMS or call filtering, no email scanning beyond Outlook's own spam controls, and nothing aimed at deepfakes. When we ran our phishing test, Defender didn't catch the page even with its browser extension installed.

Data security on the web is one of the most pressing issues facing most Americans today. We appreciate the lengths to which Avast goes to provide you with a comprehensive protection suite.

Microsoft Defender Antivirus vs. Avast: Test results

Avast edged out Microsoft Defender in the most recent round of third-party testing, and it passed every EICAR test we ran. Defender stumbled on phishing. That doesn't mean Defender isn't good at stopping malware, because it is. It just means Avast is more consistent across the board.

We rely on third-party testing from sites like AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs because they have the resources to thoroughly test aggressive and dangerous malware, viruses, and other threats. We use EICAR, a personal testing site that simulates viruses, malware, and other threats, to assess how well each antivirus (AV) software performs.

		Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score	17.5/18	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	N/A	18/18
AV-TEST Android score	N/A	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	100%	99.97%
SE Labs results	100%	98%
EICAR score	2/3	3/3
Learn more	Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Antivirus Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

Both antivirus platforms did well in testing. AV-TEST didn't include Microsoft Defender in its macOS or Android rounds, so there are no scores for those platforms, but Defender held its own on Windows.

Avast did better, however, not just because it had broader compatibility, but because its protection features were more robust.

Which antivirus has better compatibility and customer support?

Avast matches Defender on operating system coverage and adds 24/7 support for paid subscribers, but we had a better experience chatting with a Microsoft representative. Still, Avast has an edge because you can reach a human whenever you need one.

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS	Yes — no antivirus, anti-phishing only
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, plus its proprietary Avast Secure Browser
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Online guides, chat, phone, forms	Online guides, email, phone, chat
Learn more	Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Antivirus Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

Both antivirus designs are user-friendly. We didn't have issues navigating either. Defender now covers the same operating systems as Avast, so the gap is narrower than it used to be.

Where Avast pulls ahead is support and browser coverage. You get 24/7 help on paid plans, and extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera against Defender's Chrome-only option. Defender's iOS app also skips antivirus entirely and focuses on anti-phishing and identity monitoring.

Microsoft customer support also helped clarify the difference between Microsoft Defender and the Windows Security app.

Top antivirus alternatives

Microsoft Defender Antivirus offers solid free antivirus protection for Windows. But we don't think it's worth upgrading to Microsoft Defender. If you need more built-in security features for online browsing, want to cover unlimited devices, or want to splurge on an unstoppable cybersecurity suite, check out TotalAV, McAfee, or Norton.

Microsoft Defender Antivirus vs. Avast: Which is better?

We think Avast is a better choice than Microsoft Defender. Avast offers advanced protection features, layered scam protection for your inbox and phone, and optional VPN and cleanup tools on Avast Ultimate.

		Our Pick
Value
Features
Test results
Compatibility & customer support
Learn more	Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Antivirus Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

Even if you only use Avast's free version, you'll still be getting a high-quality antivirus product with extra protection. Microsoft Defender can take you so far, but Avast will go the rest of the way.

Given its consistent performance, competitive pricing, and advanced security features, we recommend upgrading to a complete Avast protection suite.

Not sure Avast is the right upgrade? We've compared the top picks head-to-head in our guide to the best antivirus software of 2026.

FAQs