TotalAV vs. Avast 2024: Which is Worth the Cost?

Best for affordability

4.8

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.

Editorial Rating

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On TotalAV's website

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Antivirus Software

TotalAV

First year discount on paid plans

• Real-time protection from viruses, malware, and online threats
• Blocks tracking cookies and ads, proactively monitors for data breaches, and option to schedule smart scans
• 100% compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems on up to 3 devices
• Lacks firewall protection

Best for premium features

4.8

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.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Avast's website

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Antivirus Software

Avast

• 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

TotalAV and Avast are both highly respected antivirus packages, but Avast stands out a little bit more thanks to its flawless testing scores. That said, TotalAV is still a highly effective option that comes in at a little 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.

TotalAV vs. Avast review at a glance

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.

On the other hand, TotalAV is an excellent antivirus program that does the job of protecting your devices from malicious threats — all at a reasonable price.

• TotalAV: Best for affordable antivirus protection
• Avast: Best for premium security features

TotalAV vs. Avast

Starting price	Starts at $29.00/yr (first year only)	Starts at $35.88/yr (first year only)
Free version
Max number of protected devices	8	30
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Opera, Amazon Fire, Safari	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

TotalAV vs. Avast: Prices

		Our Pick
Price range	$29.00–$49.00/yr (first year only)	$35.88-$119.88/yr (first year only)
Best value plan	TotalAV Total Security plan for $49.00/yr (first year only)	Avast One Gold plan for $83.88/yr (first year only)
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:

• Avast’s free antivirus program protects you against malicious threats, monitors for suspicious activity, and includes a firewall
• Meanwhile, TotalAV seems to only provide manual antivirus scans.

TotalAV vs. Avast: Features

	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 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.

Avast doesn't have a password manager or ad blocker, where TotalAV does. These aren't dealbreakers, but it does mean you'll need to find another provider if you want these tools.

Both TotalAV and Avast don't have any parental control options. If you’re looking for protection for your family, then these might not be the best choices for you.

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 took a look at AV-TEST's testing results, which is 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

		Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score	17/18	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 Avast Read Avast Review

*AV-TEST Windows - Jan/Feb. 2024

*AV-TEST macOS - Mar. 2022 (TotalAV), Dec. 2023 (Avast)

*AV-TEST Android - Mar. 2024

Avast passed with flying colors. It experienced no issues on Windows, macOS, and Android, successfully blocking malware infections without affecting device performance.

TotalAV has respectable scores, although it was last tested on macOS back in March 2022. While it scored perfectly on Android, it struggled a little with Windows. The biggest issue is that it scored only 98.2% for zero-day protection, where the industry average is 99.9%. Another issue was that TotalAV slowed down the installation of frequently used apps.

Overall, TotalAV still performed reasonably well in third-party testing, but Avast didn't falter at all.

TotalAV vs. Avast: Compatibility and customer support

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari	Yes — Chrome, Microsoft 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 amount of browser extensions. The only downside is 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.

TotalAV vs. Avast FAQs

TotalAV vs. Avast: Which is better?

Avast has a flawless testing record, several security features, and different plans to fit your needs. Meanwhile, TotalAV tested reasonably well and has most of the essential features you need to protect your device against malware.

In the end, Avast is a better choice because of its test results. It also provides several options to upgrade your security and privacy protection.

TotalAV and Avast alternatives

TotalAV and Avast may not be the right choice for you, especially if you are looking for parental controls. Here are a few other options to find the best antivirus program:

• McAfee: McAfee provides real-time virus protection, and it also offers excellent parental control features. Not only does it protect your child's device from malware, but it can also limit content, manage screen time, and send location-based alerts.
  
  Get McAfee | Read Our McAfee Review
• Bitdefender: Bitdefender has all the essential tools to protect your device from malicious threats, including a firewall. It also comes equipped with several other tools to protect your device and privacy.
  
  Get Bitdefender | Read Our Bitdefender Review
• AVG: AVG has several features to protect your device including a firewall, webcam protection, and password protection. It's well equipped to handle numerous online threats. However, there are no parental controls.

  
  Get AVG | Read Our AVG Review

4.8

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.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Avast's website

Antivirus Software

Avast

• 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

Author Details

Sara J. Nguyen

About the Author

Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance 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.