TotalAV vs. Kaspersky 2025: A Head-to-Head Comparison

TotalAV is our winner. Although Kaspersky was a solid antivirus program for Windows with excellent third-party test results, it is banned in the U.S. Even still, we appreciate that TotalAV also performs well and includes additional features such as an ad blocker, a password manager, a virtual private network (VPN), and more. The price for TotalAV starts at $39.00/first yr, so it’s a fair investment for data protection.

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

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky review at a glance

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

	Our Pick
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/first yr	Free or CA$27.99/first yr or GBP15.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	Up to 8	Up to 10
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 Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

TotalAV pros and cons

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 has performed well in third-party tests, offering protection against various types of malware. The software includes optimization tools to enhance your web activities. It also includes a top-rated ad blocker, which Kaspersky doesn't.

Kaspersky pros and cons

One of the main differences between these two antivirus products is Kaspersky’s national security issues. Kaspersky is banned in the U.S., and it’s also a little pricier than TotalAV, starting at CA$27.99/first yr or GBP15.99/first yr for Kaspersky Standard. However, all plans come with options such as safe web browsing tools, virus removal, and a two-way firewall that monitors both incoming and outgoing network requests. Kaspersky boasts a firewall (for Windows), which is something TotalAV lacks. It has also performed well during testing and features additional tools to streamline the surfing experience.

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	$19.00–$49.00/first yr	CA$27.99-CA$38.99/first yr or GBP15.99-20.99/first yr
Best value plan	Internet Security for $39.00/first yr	Kaspersky Premium for CA$38.99/first yr or GBP20.99/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/first yr 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
Device optimization tools
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN
Ad blocker
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 includes features such as 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 them 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	17.5/18	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18	18/18
AV-TEST Android score	18/18	18/18
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

During performance testing, TotalAV experienced a slight slowdown, as it reduced computer speeds while loading webpages and installing software. Meanwhile, Kaspersky had perfect scores across every operating system tested. 

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 was 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 were also unhappy with the web monitoring situation. To receive the service, you must enable the browser extension. When we attempted to do so, our Mac sent an alert that made us uncomfortable and left us a little unsure. Many users won’t give Kaspersky permission to read and modify every website they visit.

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, even though we had already done so. 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 for customer service, both TotalAV and Kaspersky offer 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.

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky alternatives

Kaspersky was a good choice, but due to national security concerns, it is banned in the U.S. Even still, we've found TotalAV to be one of the best antivirus programs available, and we love the inclusion of Total Adblock. But if you need unlimited device coverage or more advanced security features, here's how TotalAV compares to other highly rated antivirus providers:

FAQs

TotalAV vs. Kaspersky: which is better?

TotalAV is the right choice for most users, especially U.S.-based users looking for trustworthy antivirus protection.

It's a trusted antivirus with good third-party protection scores, a user-friendly interface, and extra features.