Compare Avast vs PCProtect
Avast Free Antivirus vs PC Protect at a Glance
Comparing Avast Free Antivirus and PC Protect 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.
PC Protect — TotalAV engine with cross-platform mobile apps. Owned by Protected.net Ltd (UK — same as TotalAV, Scanguard). First year: $29.95 intro, renewal: $99.95.
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 | PC Protect | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $0 (free) | $29.95 intro |
| Renewal | Free / $31.20 Premium Security | $99.95 |
| Devices | 1 device (free); 10 (One Ultimate) | 1-5 devices |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| AV-TEST Feb 2026 | 18/18 | Not separately submitted |
| AV-Comparatives 2025 | Gold Overall Performance (shared with AVG), Silver Advanced Threat Protection | Not separately submitted |
| Key differentiator | Best free 18/18 antivirus, despite Jumpshot privacy history | Protected.net cross-platform mid-tier brand (same engine as TotalAV) |
| Corporate owner | Gen Digital (parent of Norton, AVG, Avira — merged 2022) | Protected.net Ltd (UK — same as TotalAV, Scanguard) |
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.
PC Protect lab results: Not separately submitted at AV-TEST February 2026. Not separately submitted.
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 PC Protect 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
PC Protect: $29.95 intro first year, $99.95 at auto-renewal. TotalAV engine with cross-platform mobile apps
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 | $24.95 |
| 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
PC Protect feature set:
- Same engine as TotalAV
- VPN
- Mobile apps
- Password Vault
The feature difference reflects the products' different positioning: Best free 18/18 antivirus, despite Jumpshot privacy history versus Protected.net cross-platform mid-tier brand (same engine as TotalAV). 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 | PC Protect | |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM footprint | 100-140 MB | 140-175 MB |
| CPU peak during full scan | 15-25% | 28-38% |
| Full scan duration | 12 min | 22 min |
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 PC Protect
PC Protect is the right choice for: Cross-platform users willing to cancel before renewal.
Specific strength: TotalAV engine with cross-platform mobile apps. Honest weakness to know: Same renewal pricing reputation as TotalAV/Scanguard.
If Protected.net cross-platform mid-tier brand (same engine as TotalAV) is the deciding factor in your buying decision, PC Protect wins this comparison for your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better detection, Avast Free Antivirus or PC Protect?
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. PC Protect scored Not separately submitted with Not separately submitted. 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 PC Protect?
Avast Free Antivirus first year is $0 (free) vs PC Protect first year $29.95 intro. Renewal: Free / $31.20 Premium Security vs $99.95. 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 PC Protect 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. PC Protect platform coverage: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. 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. PC Protect wins if Cross-platform users willing to cancel before renewal. 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). PC Protect is owned by Protected.net Ltd (UK — same as TotalAV, Scanguard). Corporate-origin concerns are the main safety conversation in 2026 — not product legitimacy.
Final Verdict — Avast Free Antivirus vs PC Protect
Pick Avast Free Antivirus over PC Protect if you are users wanting capable free tier and accepting post-FTC privacy reforms. Pick PC Protect over Avast Free Antivirus if you are TotalAV alternative buyers (it is essentially same engine / different branding). On detection, AV-Comp 2025 Gold Performance vs Same engine as TotalAV (Protected.net family) — 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 PC Protect review. For alternative picks at different price points, see our Best Antivirus for Windows 11 ranked hub.
