Avast vs Webroot (March 2026)
| AAvast | WbWebroot | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $24.99/yr |
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Best For | Home users seeking comprehensive protection, Families with multiple devices | Individuals needing lightweight antivirus for 1-5 personal devices, Gamers requiring non-intrusive PC protection |
Both Avast and Webroot earn a 4.2/5 rating — your choice depends on which feature set and pricing model fits your workflow best.
Quick Overview
Avast
Comprehensive antivirus and cybersecurity solution offering real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and online...
- Best for: Home users seeking comprehensive protection, Families with multiple devices
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Antivirus Software
- Founded: 1988
- Pricing model: freemium
Webroot
Webroot delivers cloud-powered antivirus and security for PCs, Macs, mobiles, and Chromebooks, emphasizing speed, low re...
- Best for: Individuals needing lightweight antivirus for 1-5 personal devices, Gamers requiring non-intrusive PC protection
- Starting price: $24.99/yr
- Category: Antivirus Software
- Founded: N/A
- Pricing model: subscription
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Avast | Webroot |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time Malware Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ransomware Shield | ✓ | ✗ |
| Firewall Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webcam Shield | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wi-Fi Security Scanner | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Password Manager | ✓ | ✗ |
| SecureLine VPN | ✓ | ✗ |
| Browser Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Shredder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Real-time antivirus/malware protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ransomware protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Phishing/anti-phishing protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Browser protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Password manager | ✗ | ✓ |
| Identity protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| VPN | ✗ | ✓ |
| Unlimited backup | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud-based scanning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-device support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Gaming optimization | ✗ | ✓ |
| PC Optimizer | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Prices last verified: March 16, 2026
Avast
Webroot
Pros & Cons
Avast
- Excellent malware detection rates (99.96% online protection)
- Robust free version with essential features
- User-friendly interface suitable for beginners
- Multi-platform support (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)
- History of unauthorized data collection issues
- Quick scan missed malware in testing
- Higher system resource usage on Windows
- Limited customer support for free users
Webroot
- Extremely lightweight with minimal system resource usage
- Fast cloud-based scans
- Real-time threat blocking without daily updates
- Multi-device support up to 5+ devices
- No free tier or trial available
- Limited standalone options for 1-3 devices in premium plans
- iOS protection limited to browser/backup with no app scanning
- Some features Android-only
Which Is Best for You?
Choose Avast if:
- Home users seeking comprehensive protection
- Families with multiple devices
- Budget-conscious users wanting free antivirus
- Users needing multi-platform security
- You want to start with a free plan
Choose Webroot if:
- Individuals needing lightweight antivirus for 1-5 personal devices
- Gamers requiring non-intrusive PC protection
- Families protecting multiple devices with identity/VPN needs
- Users prioritizing cloud-based, low-resource security
- Budget is a priority ($24.99 vs $31.20)
Our Verdict
After thorough analysis, Avast takes the lead in this comparison, though both tools share an identical 4.2/5 rating.
Avast is best for Home users seeking comprehensive protection and Families with multiple devices. Excellent malware detection rates (99.96% online protection).
Webroot remains a strong alternative, especially for Individuals needing lightweight antivirus for 1-5 personal devices and Gamers requiring non-intrusive PC protection. Extremely lightweight with minimal system resource usage.
Pricing-wise, Webroot is the more affordable starting option. Evaluate free trials of both before committing.