TotalAV vs. Kaspersky 2024: A Head-to-Head Comparison

TotalAV and Kaspersky are two of the top antivirus programs, but Total AV is our winner. TotalAV has high third-party test scores and extra features like an ad blocker and virtual private network (VPN). The price starts at $39.00/yr (first year only), so it’s a fair investment for data protection.

Kaspersky is better for Windows users because it lacks a firewall and phishing protection for Apple. However, it has been listed as a national security threat by the Federal Communications commission agencies due to having links to Russia. If you can look past this, the software itself has good points like high third-party test scores.

We’ll cover TotalAV and Kaspersky's unique features along with pros and cons below.

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky review at a glance

One of the main differences between these two antivirus products is Kaspersky’s national security issues. Because the government doesn’t trust it, we thought you might want to use caution with this product. It’s also a little pricier than TotalAV; it starts at $27.99/first yr for Kaspersky Standard.

If you’re not bothered by the aforementioned security issue, Kaspersky does have other excellent features. All plans come with options like safe web browsing tools, virus removal, and a two-way firewall that monitors incoming and outgoing network requests.

If you’re more safety conscious and want a plan with no baggage, plenty of features, and offers good value for the money, TotalAV is one of the best antivirus programs you’ll find. 

• TotalAV: Best budget-friendly antivirus
• Kaspersky: Best for Windows users

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky compared

Star rating	4.7 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.	4.1 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.
Starting price	Free or $39.00/yr (first year only)	Free or $27.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	8	10
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Opera, Amazon Fire	Windows, Android, macOS, iOS
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

TotalAV pros and cons

TotalAV has done well when tested by third parties, offering protection against various types of malware. The software includes optimization tools to enhance your web activities. It also includes an ad blocker, which Kaspersky doesn't.

Kaspersky pros and cons

Kaspersky boasts a firewall (for Windows), which is something TotalAV lacks. It has also scored well during testing and has additional tools to streamline surfing.

Which antivirus has the better value?

Kaspersky doesn't compete with TotalAV's pricing, and its free version doesn't quite stack up either.

	Our Pick
Price range	$29.00–$49.00/yr (first year only)	$27.99–$38.99/first yr
Best value plan	Internet Security for $39.00/yr (first year only)	Kaspersky Premium for $38.99/first yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days for annual, 14 days for monthly	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

Kaspersky starts at a higher price point than TotalAV, and it tops out at a higher cost.

For TotalAV, we chose Internet Security for $39.00/yr (first year only) as its best value plan. You’ll get protection for six devices, and its bonus features include a virtual private network (VPN) and an ad blocker.

Kaspersky Premium is our choice for the best value for this program. It’s not quite a $20 difference, but you’ll get coverage for up to 10 devices, and it comes with many more features than the other two plans. You’ll get remote access detection, 24/7 remote IT support, and a password manager, just to name a few.

Both of these products include a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you aren’t happy with your purchase, you can get a full refund.

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky: features

Feature	Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN
Ad blocker
Device optimization tools
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

Kaspersky includes the standard antivirus features like real-time protection and ransomware protection. If you want a firewall, Kaspersky offers one but for Windows only. You can also get a password manager and a VPN, but you’ll need to opt for the Plus or Premium plans for these features.

TotalAV also includes antivirus scans, real-time protection, and protection against phishing and ransomware. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include a firewall with any operating system.

TotalAV does include features like a VPN and a password manager. Total Adblock is standard with all paid plans as well. If you pay for the Total Security subscription, you’ll also have the ad blocker to cut down on those marketing pop-ups.

If parental controls are important for your family, you won’t find those with either of these products. That may not be a deal breaker, but it’s worth noting for those who are looking for that option.

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky: test results

We rely on third-party testing to inform how antivirus programs perform when faced with real-world scenarios and environments. Aside from our testing, this helps us form a complete picture of what an antivirus is capable of and how well it might protect you. For this comparison, we referred to AV-TEST scores.

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky malware protection scores

		Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score	17.0/18.0	18.0/18.0
AV-TEST macOS score	N/A	18.0/18.0
AV-TEST Android score	18.0/18.0	18.0/18.0
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

TotalAV scored lower than Kaspersky with its Windows platform. In January, it scored 98.2% for protection against zero-day malware attacks, which is below the industry average of 99.9%. In February, TotalAV recovered and scored 100%, so it was good to see it showed improvement.

During performance testing, TotalAV also took a slight hit because it slowed computer speeds while loading webpages and installing software. TotalAV didn’t submit its macOS platform for testing, so we can’t verify how well it would perform.

Kaspersky had perfect scores across every operating system tested. It also submitted its macOS app for testing, so we’re able to verify it provides top-tier protection, performance, and usability as well.

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky: compatibility and customer support

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

Kaspersky was easy to use and the interface simple to navigate. However, we noticed that anti-phishing protection and the firewall are only available for Windows. Some antivirus programs don’t include a firewall because Macs have internal firewalls, but it would have been nice to have more transparency upfront.

We also weren’t happy with the web monitoring situation. To receive the service, you must enable the browser extension, and when we attempted to do so, our Mac sent an alert that made us uncomfortable and a little unsure. Many users aren’t going to give Kaspersky permission to read and alter every website visited.

Our TotalAV experience was much different. The features were easy to use, and we only had a couple of issues.

First, the password vault made the system crash when we tested it. Second, the dashboard repeatedly gave us notifications to enable full disk access after we already had. That was confusing and a bit annoying.

But overall, the antivirus worked well and scanning was fast. It found some threats, and we removed them without issues.

As far as customer service, both TotalAV and Kaspersky provide 24/7 support. This is specifically TotalAV’s phone assistance, while Kaspersky’s live chat, email, and phone are all 24/7. Kaspersky also offers community forums, so you can troubleshoot with other Kaspersky users.

FAQs

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky: which is better?

TotalAV is the right choice for most users (especially Americans). It's a trusted antivirus with good third-party protection scores, a user-friendly interface, and extra features.

Kaspersky has a lot to offer if you want plenty of options like a two-way firewall, anti-phishing, optimization, and more. If you aren’t bothered by the potential security problems that come with using the product, Kaspersky is best for the risk taker who wants more than typical antivirus protection.

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky alternatives

In our comparisons, we always include some alternatives in case neither product reviewed works for you. Below, we have a few antivirus programs that might meet your needs if TotalAV and Kaspersky don't.

Antivirus
Best for	Bundle services	Parental controls	Phishing protection
Starting price	Starts at $29.99/first yr	Starts at $39.99/first 2 yrs	Starts at $24.99/yr (first year only)
Additional features	Cloud backup, password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls	VPN, identity protection, parental controls, password manager	VPN, identity protection, parental controls, device optimization tools
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review