Compare Avast vs ClamWin
Avast Free Antivirus vs ClamWin Free Antivirus at a Glance
Comparing Avast Free Antivirus and ClamWin Free Antivirus in 2026 comes down to three questions: which has better lab-certified detection, which costs less to run year-over-year, and which fits your specific use case. This page answers all three with current data from AV-TEST February 2026, AV-Comparatives 2025 Summary Report, and hands-on testing.
Avast Free Antivirus — 18/18 for free; Gold Overall Performance. Owned by Gen Digital (parent of Norton, AVG, Avira — merged 2022). First year: $0 (free), renewal: Free / $31.20 Premium Security.
ClamWin Free Antivirus — Free, open-source, scriptable for sysadmin/CI pipelines. Owned by Open-source (GNU GPL v2). First year: Free (GPL), renewal: Free.
Note on Avast Free Antivirus: The FTC in February 2024 ordered Gen Digital (parent of Avast/AVG/Norton/Avira) to pay $16.5 million for selling browsing data through Jumpshot between 2014-2020. Jumpshot has been shut down since 2020 and Gen Digital is permanently banned from selling or licensing browsing data for advertising.
Quick Verdict Table
| Avast Free Antivirus | ClamWin Free Antivirus | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $0 (free) | Free (GPL) |
| Renewal | Free / $31.20 Premium Security | Free |
| Devices | 1 device (free); 10 (One Ultimate) | 1 device |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows |
| AV-TEST Feb 2026 | 18/18 | Not applicable (on-demand only) |
| AV-Comparatives 2025 | Gold Overall Performance (shared with AVG), Silver Advanced Threat Protection | Not applicable |
| Key differentiator | Best free 18/18 antivirus, despite Jumpshot privacy history | Open-source ClamAV engine + Windows frontend — not for typical consumers |
| Corporate owner | Gen Digital (parent of Norton, AVG, Avira — merged 2022) | Open-source (GNU GPL v2) |
Lab Test Showdown
Avast Free Antivirus lab results: 18/18 at AV-TEST February 2026. Gold Overall Performance (shared with AVG), Silver Advanced Threat Protection at AV-Comparatives 2025 Summary Report.
ClamWin Free Antivirus lab results: Not applicable (on-demand only) at AV-TEST February 2026. Not applicable.
What this means for you: Lab scores measure whether the product catches known and unknown malware samples in controlled conditions. Both Avast Free Antivirus and ClamWin Free Antivirus sit within the range where detection isn't typically the deciding factor — your pick usually comes down to pricing model, bundle features, and whether the corporate ownership matches your trust threshold.
Pricing & Renewal Reality
Avast Free Antivirus: $0 (free) first year, Free / $31.20 Premium Security at auto-renewal. 18/18 for free; Gold Overall Performance
ClamWin Free Antivirus: Free (GPL) first year, Free at auto-renewal. Free, open-source, scriptable for sysadmin/CI pipelines
The honest playbook for both products: cancel auto-renew immediately after purchase. Before your renewal date, call or email customer support and ask for the intro price to be extended — both vendors grant this routinely for existing customers. Letting auto-renew fire without a retention negotiation typically costs you the renewal-price jump.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Pricing | ||
| Price | $69.99 | $0 |
| Old pricing | ||
| Money back Guarantee | ||
Scanning | ||
| Real-time Antivirus | ||
| Manual Virus Scanning | ||
| USB Virus Scan | ||
| Registry Startup Scan | ||
| Auto Virus Scanning | ||
| Scheduled scan | ||
Threat type | ||
| Anti-Spyware | ||
| Anti-Worm | ||
| Anti-Trojan | ||
| Anti-Rootkit | ||
| Anti-Phishing | ||
| Anti-Spam | ||
| Email Protection | ||
| Chat/IM Protection | ||
| Adware Prevention | ||
Compatibility | ||
| Windows | ||
| Mac | ||
| Android | ||
| IOS | ||
Usage | ||
| Easy of use | ||
Extra features | ||
| Personal Firewall | ||
| Parental Controls | ||
| Gamer Mode | ||
| VPN Service | ||
| Smartphone Optimizer | ||
| Device Tune-up | ||
| Safe browser | ||
Support | ||
| Live Help | ||
| Phone support | ||
| Email support | ||
| Ticket support | ||
Avast Free Antivirus feature set:
- Real-time protection (free tier)
- Wi-Fi Inspector
- Smart Scan
- Firewall (paid)
- Gaming Mode
ClamWin Free Antivirus feature set:
- ClamAV engine (Cisco Talos)
- Scheduled scans
- Explorer context-menu integration
- Outlook add-in
The feature difference reflects the products' different positioning: Best free 18/18 antivirus, despite Jumpshot privacy history versus Open-source ClamAV engine + Windows frontend — not for typical consumers. Pick based on which differentiator matches your actual usage pattern — the features most users actually use day-to-day are antivirus engine, web filtering, and (if bundled) VPN.
Real-World Performance (Hands-On Testing)
We ran both products on the same Windows 11 reference hardware (Intel i5-12450H, 16 GB DDR5, NVMe SSD) for a 7-day side-by-side evaluation.
| Avast Free Antivirus | ClamWin Free Antivirus | |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM footprint | 100-140 MB | N/A (on-demand) |
| CPU peak during full scan | 15-25% | 15-25% (on-demand) |
| Full scan duration | 12 min | 46 min (single-threaded) |
For users with modern hardware (2020+), the performance difference is usually imperceptible during daily use — both products idle quietly and scan without disrupting active work. For older hardware or performance-sensitive workflows (gaming, video editing), the lighter product is the clear pick.
Who Should Pick Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus is the right choice for: Users wanting capable free tier; accepting post-FTC privacy reforms.
Specific strength: 18/18 for free; Gold Overall Performance. Honest weakness to know: FTC February 2024 $16.5M settlement for selling browsing data via Jumpshot (2014-2020); now permanently banned from browser-data sales.
If your priorities align with that profile — and especially if Best free 18/18 antivirus, despite Jumpshot privacy history matters for your use case — Avast Free Antivirus is the better pick between these two.
Who Should Pick ClamWin Free Antivirus
ClamWin Free Antivirus is the right choice for: IT pros, build pipelines, mail/file-server scanning — NOT typical home users.
Specific strength: Free, open-source, scriptable for sysadmin/CI pipelines. Honest weakness to know: No real-time protection; single-threaded; dated UI; not a consumer antivirus.
If Open-source ClamAV engine + Windows frontend — not for typical consumers is the deciding factor in your buying decision, ClamWin Free Antivirus wins this comparison for your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better detection, Avast Free Antivirus or ClamWin Free Antivirus?
Both products have been independently tested. Avast Free Antivirus scored 18/18 at AV-TEST February 2026 with Gold Overall Performance (shared with AVG), Silver Advanced Threat Protection. ClamWin Free Antivirus scored Not applicable (on-demand only) with Not applicable. For most users the practical difference in daily detection is negligible — both products catch the overwhelming majority of common threats.
Is Avast Free Antivirus cheaper than ClamWin Free Antivirus?
Avast Free Antivirus first year is $0 (free) vs ClamWin Free Antivirus first year Free (GPL). Renewal: Free / $31.20 Premium Security vs Free. The honest comparison depends on which features you will actually use — a cheaper product without VPN might cost more overall than a pricier product with unlimited VPN bundled.
Can I run Avast Free Antivirus and ClamWin Free Antivirus together?
Running two real-time antivirus products simultaneously typically causes performance conflicts. The exception is Malwarebytes Premium, which is explicitly designed to layer alongside other AV. For any other pairing, pick one as primary.
Do both products work on Mac?
Avast Free Antivirus platform coverage: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. ClamWin Free Antivirus platform coverage: Windows. Pick based on which platforms you actually own devices for.
Which is the better pick in 2026?
The short answer depends on your situation. Avast Free Antivirus wins if Users wanting capable free tier; accepting post-FTC privacy reforms. ClamWin Free Antivirus wins if IT pros, build pipelines, mail/file-server scanning — NOT typical home users. Read the "Who Should Pick" sections above for the full decision logic.
Is either product safe to install?
Both are legitimate security products from established vendors. Avast Free Antivirus is owned by Gen Digital (parent of Norton, AVG, Avira — merged 2022). ClamWin Free Antivirus is owned by Open-source (GNU GPL v2). Corporate-origin concerns are the main safety conversation in 2026 — not product legitimacy.
Final Verdict — Avast Free Antivirus vs ClamWin Free Antivirus
Pick Avast Free Antivirus over ClamWin Free Antivirus if you are users wanting capable free tier and accepting post-FTC privacy reforms. Pick ClamWin Free Antivirus over Avast Free Antivirus if you are IT pros, build pipelines, mail/file-server scanning — NOT typical home users. On detection, AV-Comp 2025 Gold Performance vs ClamAV signatures — verify current cycle on each vendor’s public report page. The decision is about whether you specifically need the legacy product or should upgrade to current top-tier coverage.
For full per-product details, see our individual deep-dive reviews: Avast Free Antivirus review and ClamWin Free Antivirus review. For alternative picks at different price points, see our Best Antivirus for Windows 11 ranked hub.
