TotalAV vs. Avast 2025: Which Is Worth the Cost?

While TotalAV is an effective and reputable antivirus program, Avast stands out with perfect malware detection results and premium security features.
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Best for affordability

2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Antivirus With Web Protection
4.7
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On TotalAV's website

Antivirus Software
TotalAV
  • Real-time protection from viruses, malware, and malicious websites
  • Includes the #1 ad blocker and also monitors for data breaches
  • Comes with a full suite of performance optimization tools to keep your device fast

Best for premium features

2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Antivirus for Beginners
4.8
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Avast's website

Antivirus Software
Avast
PROMOTION: Save up to 60%
  • Consistently perfect third-party test results, verifying comprehensive antivirus, ransomware, and malware protection
  • Includes advanced security features like a VPN, firewall, data breach alerts, privacy tools, device optimization, and more
  • Maintains a full suite of features for Mac users, unlike many other antivirus options

TotalAV and Avast are both highly respected antivirus packages, but Avast stands out a little bit more thanks to its flawless testing scores for Windows and macOS. That said, TotalAV remains a highly effective option, albeit slightly cheaper than Avast.

In this article, we’ll compare both software in terms of value, features, test results, compatibility, and customer service. Read on to find out which is the best antivirus choice for your needs.

In this article
Overview comparison
Prices
Features
Test results
Compatibility and customer support
Top alternatives
FAQs
Which is better?

TotalAV vs. Avast review at a glance

  • TotalAV: Best for affordable antivirus protection
  • Avast: Best for premium security features
TotalAV logo Avast logo
Our Pick
Star rating
4.7
4.8
Starting price Free or $19.00/first yr Starts at $35.88/first yr
Max number of protected devices Up to 8 devices Up to 30 devices
Malware scans Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Opera, Amazon Fire Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get Avast

Read Avast Review

How we test and rate antivirus software

We use our proprietary grading rubric in all of our testing, which considers ease-of-use, third-party testing scores, internal testing scores, price, compatibility, and features offered, among other metrics. 

This means that our testing process is designed to ensure that the product isn't too confusing, protects as it claims, and offers you a lot for a reasonable price. We download and run each program on our own computers on home networks, just like you would. Our ratings reflect the real-world performance of the antivirus product. This ensures that we can recreate a similar experience for you and give our best advice on whether or not it's worthwhile.

To learn more about how we test, check out our full antivirus testing methodology here.

TotalAV pros and cons

TotalAV has broad compatibility and features extras like a virtual private network (VPN) and a password manager. While it doesn't cover as many devices as Avast does, TotalAV is an excellent antivirus program that does the job of protecting your devices from malicious threats — all at a reasonable price.

Pros
  • Highly-rated protection from multiple threats
  • User-friendly interface and overall app
  • Real-time protection to ensure your activity and devices are always safe
Cons
  • Only protects a maximum of 8 devices, which may not be enough for some households
  • Doesn't include advanced firewall protection

Avast pros and cons

Avast stands out due to the numerous additional security and privacy features it provides. Depending on the plan you choose, you could have webcam protection and identity theft insurance on top of all the standard features you’ve come to expect. It's a good choice if multiple layers of security and privacy are important to you. Avast has impeccable third-party test results, offering top-notch protection. It protects up to 30 devices and has optimization tools for select plans. Avast also has a pretty good free plan.

Pros
  • Consistently high antivirus test scores
  • Website scanning for online protection
  • Ransomware protection
Cons
  • No parental controls 
  • Lackluster customer support

Which antivirus is the better value?

While both offer great value, Avast has better plans and even offers a free antivirus download for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

TotalAV logo Avast logo
Our Pick
Price range $19.00–$49.00/first yr $35.88-$119.88/yr (first year only)
Best value planTotal Security plan for $49.00/first yr Avast Ultimate plan for $69.99/first yr
Money-back guarantee Yes — 30 days Yes — 30 days
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get Avast

Read Avast Review

TotalAV and Avast's basic plans are pretty comparable in terms of pricing. However, they offer different features:

  • Avast One Silver offers a firewall and webcam protection
  • TotalAV offers an ad blocker and device optimization

When it comes to the premium plans, Avast offers several different security features like:

  • Data breach monitoring
  • Device optimization
  • Identity theft alerts
  • Credit report monitoring
  • Identity theft insurance

Meanwhile, premium TotalAV plans offer only a VPN and password manager as additional features.

It's also worth noting that both TotalAV and Avast offer free antivirus programs. Yet each has different capabilities:

Winner: Avast wins since it provides a few different plans to fit your needs and has a transparent free program.

TotalAV vs. Avast: Features

TotalAV is our pick for the best features because it includes more advanced security software, including a VPN, a password manager, and an ad blocker. 

TotalAV logo
Our Pick
Avast logo
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Device optimization tools
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN
Ad blocker
Extras WebShield, junk cleaner, browser cleaner, identity protection Webcam protection, breach monitoring
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get Avast

Read Avast Review

The most notable difference between TotalAV and Avast comes down to what extra bells and whistles you get with the plan.

TotalAV macOS app dashboard

Avast lacks a password manager and ad blocker, whereas TotalAV offers these features. These aren't dealbreakers, but it does mean you'll need to find another provider if you want these tools.

Avast Virus Scans dashboard

Neither TotalAV nor Avast has any parental control options. If you’re looking for protection for your family, then these might not be the best choices for you.

Learn more about Avast and TotalAV's advanced security features in our detailed reviews:

Winner: TotalAV wins because it has more extras on top of the essentials you want from antivirus software.

TotalAV vs. Avast: Test results

Sometimes companies aren't always honest about their products and their functionality. That's why it's important to take a look at third-party testing. The test results can help reveal if a program actually works to block computer viruses.

We reviewed AV-TEST's testing results, a third-party auditing service that companies pay to verify their products. The service tested antivirus software against real-world threats with realistic scenarios, evaluating protection, performance, and usability.

Here are the results across multiple operating systems:

TotalAV vs. Avast malware protection scores

TotalAV logo Avast logo
Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score 17.5/18 18/18
AV-TEST macOS score 18/18 18/18
AV-TEST Android score 18/18 17/18
SE Labs malware protection score 97% 100%
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get Avast

Read Avast Review

Although TotalAV's third-party test scores have improved this quarter, Avast consistently achieves perfect protection for Windows and macOS. During the AV-TEST for Windows, TotalAV was docked half a point for performance. It slowed down when launching websites, more so than the industry average. It also had a slightly slower installation of frequently-used apps.

Winner: Avast wins with consistently strong test scores for Windows and macOS. Plus, it achieves higher protection scores for malware protection.

TotalAV vs. Avast: Compatibility and customer support

TotalAV logo Avast logo
Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera
24/7 customer support
Customer support options Live chat, phone, email, online guides Live chat, phone, email, forums, online guides
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get Avast

Read Avast Review

When it comes to compatibility, TotalAV and Avast are pretty much tied. They both have apps that work on popular operating systems, plus a good number of browser extensions. The only downside is that Avast doesn’t have a Safari extension at the moment.

The biggest difference comes down to customer support. If you’re a free user, Avast offers 24/7 customer support only as an add-on. You have to pay extra if you want to talk to a real person at any time. If you have a paid plan, you’ll get access to 24/7 live chat, phone, and email options. 

Overall, we had a much better experience with Avast's live support than with TotalAV. In fact, the TotalAV support agent couldn't confirm whether the suite includes a firewall (it doesn't). 

Winner: Avast.Although TotalAV offers 24/7 customer service options without requiring an additional add-on, we had a much better experience with Avast's live support.

TotalAV vs. Avast alternatives

TotalAV and Avast are two of the best antivirus programs we've tested. We recommend TotalAV for individuals seeking advanced web protection within a budget-friendly suite that includes a VPN, password manager, and highly-rated ad blocker. 

Even still, Avast is more than just a free antivirus solution. The premium packages offer excellent performance and protection. Plus, Avast is a user-friendly antivirus for all skill levels. But if you want unlimited device protection or a complete, best-in-class security suite, we recommend McAfee or Norton 360. Here's how they compare:

Antivirus
TotalAV

McAfee

Norton 360
Star rating
4.7
4.9
5.0
Price $19.00–$49.00/first yr $29.99–$249.99/yr $29.99–$299.99/first yr
# of devices protected 4 - 8 Unlimited 1 - 10
Real-time protection
Malware scans Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled
Firewall
EICAR test results 2/3 3/3 3/3
Phishing protection
Compatibility Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Opera Windows, macOS, Android, iOS Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Extras Password manager, ad blocker, VPN Parental controls, performance optimization tools, VPN Password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls, privacy monitor, identity theft protection, cloud backup
Learn more Get TotalAV Get McAfee Get Norton 360

TotalAV vs. Avast FAQs

Is TotalAV better than Avast?

No. TotalAV is a reputable antivirus protection program, but Avast performs better in independent testing. Avast also includes enhanced firewall protection and can cover more devices.

Is TotalAV a trusted antivirus program?

Yes, TotalAV is a trusted antivirus program. It had near-perfect test results in independent testing for protection against malware.

Is Avast as good as TotalAV?

Yes. Avast consistently performs better than TotalAV in independent testing. We recommend Avast for beginners who want an easy-to-use antivirus without a lot of extra features. We recommend TotalAV for individuals who want a complete security suite and advanced web protection at a budget price. Learn more in our breakdown of the best antivirus software.

TotalAV vs. Avast: Which is better?

Our pick is Avast because it has a flawless testing record, several security features, and different plans to fit your needs. 

4.8
2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Antivirus for Beginners
Antivirus Software
Avast
  • Consistently perfect third-party test results, verifying comprehensive antivirus, ransomware, and malware protection
  • Includes advanced security features like a VPN, firewall, data breach alerts, privacy tools, device optimization, and more
  • Maintains a full suite of features for Mac users, unlike many other antivirus options
Learn More

Although TotalAV tested reasonably well and has most of the essential features you need to protect your device against malware, Avast is a better choice because of its test results. It also provides several options to upgrade your security and privacy protection.

Protect Every Aspect of Your Digital Life — Even Your Time
4.7
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On TotalAV's website
2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Antivirus With Web Protection
Antivirus Software
TotalAV
  • Real-time protection from viruses, malware, and malicious websites
  • Includes the #1 ad blocker and also monitors for data breaches
  • Comes with a full suite of performance optimization tools to keep your device fast

Author Details
Sara J. Nguyen is a writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.
Kate is an Editor at All About Cookies. She has a decade of digital publishing experience and a background in EdTech. As a digital security expert, she leverages her passion for helping people to create authentic, well-researched content on a wide-range of digital privacy and security topics.