Quick answer: Avast Pro Antivirus is no longer sold. Avast’s support pages say Pro Antivirus and Avast Internet Security are no longer available to buy, and that existing users were upgraded to Avast Premium Security. If you want Avast protection today, the choice is between the free Avast Free Antivirus and the paid Avast Premium Security. Before choosing, it is worth knowing that Avast is now part of Gen Digital, and that regulators in the US and the Czech Republic penalised Avast in 2024 over the sale of users’ browsing data.
We first published this page as a review of Avast Pro Antivirus 2020 for Windows. That product has since been retired, so we have rewritten the page to explain what happened to it, where its features went, and how Avast’s current products compare. We describe the software from Avast’s own documentation and from named independent test labs; we have not run our own tests.
What happened to Avast Pro Antivirus?
Avast simplified its paid Windows line-up around 2019. Pro Antivirus, Internet Security and Premier were replaced by a single paid tier, Avast Premium Security. Avast’s current FAQ for its Windows apps states that Avast Pro Antivirus and Avast Internet Security “are no longer available for purchase via the Avast website”, that existing users received an upgrade to Premium Security, and that Avast Premier continues as Premium Security.
So if you still see “Avast Pro” on an old licence key or a reseller listing, treat it as a legacy product. Install the current Avast app instead and activate your subscription there.
Who owns Avast now?
Avast began in Czechoslovakia in 1988 as Alwil Software and is still run from Prague. In September 2022, NortonLifeLock completed its merger with Avast, and in November 2022 the combined company renamed itself Gen Digital Inc. Gen Digital has headquarters in Tempe, Arizona and Prague, and its consumer brands include Norton, Avast, AVG, Avira, LifeLock and CCleaner. Avast and AVG products now share much of the same technology, which is why their independent test results are often very similar.
Avast’s data-sharing case: what regulators found
This is the most important change since our original review, which said nothing about it.
- Jumpshot: Between 2014 and 2020, an Avast subsidiary called Jumpshot sold browsing data collected through Avast’s antivirus software and browser extensions to more than 100 third parties, according to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Avast closed Jumpshot in 2020.
- FTC order (2024): The FTC announced a settlement in February 2024 and finalised it in June 2024. Avast had to pay $16.5 million for consumer redress, is banned from selling or licensing browsing data from Avast-branded products for advertising, had to delete the data passed to Jumpshot and any products built from it, and must run a privacy programme. The FTC’s refund claims closed on 5 June 2025.
- Czech fine (2024): In April 2024, the Czech Office for Personal Data Protection (ÚOOÚ) fined Avast Software CZK 351 million under the EU’s GDPR. The regulator found that browsing data transferred to Jumpshot in 2019, relating to about 100 million users, was not properly anonymised and that users had been misinformed about how it would be used.
Avast says it stopped the transfers and shut down the subsidiary. Whether that history rules Avast out is a personal judgement. If privacy matters to you, read the data-sharing settings during installation and switch off anything you do not want.
Where the old Pro Antivirus features went
Most of what the original review praised still exists, split between the free and paid apps. The table below is based on Avast’s own FAQ for its Windows apps as of October 2026.
| Feature in the 2020 review | Where it is today |
|---|---|
| Real-time antivirus and scans | Free: Smart Scan and the Core Shields (File, Behavior, Web and Mail Shield) |
| Wi-Fi Inspector | Free, now called Network Inspector |
| Rescue Disk | Free (not available on Windows 11 on Arm) |
| Software Updater | Listed among the free features |
| Real Site (fake-website protection) | Premium Security |
| Sandbox | Premium Security |
| Bank Mode | Premium Security |
| File shredding (“erase” function) | Premium Security, as Data Shredder |
| Password manager | Not listed as a component of the current antivirus apps |
| Secure Browser and video downloader | Not listed as part of the antivirus apps |
The free app also includes Ransomware Shield, a firewall, CyberCapture (which sends unknown files for cloud analysis), Hack Alerts and a Do Not Disturb mode for full-screen apps. Premium Security adds Email Guard, Remote Access Shield, Webcam Shield, Sensitive Data Shield, Browser Shield and Deepfake Guard. SecureLine VPN and Cleanup Premium appear inside the app but need separate paid subscriptions.
Independent test results
The original review listed “test results are disappointing” as a weakness. Recent results do not support that:
- AV-Comparatives, Consumer Summary Report 2025 (published 14 January 2026): Avast Free Antivirus received a Top-Rated award for the year, a Gold award in the Performance test (lowest impact on system speed) and a Silver award in the Advanced Threat Protection test.
- AV-TEST Awards for the 2025 test year: Avast Free Antivirus won Best Usability for Windows consumers, and Avast Security won in the Best macOS Security category.
These labs tested Avast’s free product. Premium Security uses the same detection engine with extra privacy and anti-scam layers on top.
System requirements
The 2020 review quoted support for Windows XP SP3 with 256 MB of RAM. That is long out of date. Avast’s FAQ says its antivirus does not run on any Windows version before Windows 7, needs Windows 7 SP1 with the Convenience Rollup Update at minimum, and does not support Windows Server. Avast’s current support pages list Windows 11 (including Arm devices), Windows 10 and Windows 8/8.1 as supported. An internet connection is needed for installation, activation and virus definition updates.
Pricing and trials
We could not read Avast’s pricing page during this update, so we are not quoting prices. Avast Free Antivirus costs nothing. Premium Security is an annual subscription for one device or for multiple devices. Avast’s FAQ says trial length depends on your platform, region and offer (it mentions 7-, 30- and 60-day trials). Some trials need a payment method and turn into a paid subscription automatically unless you cancel, so check the terms before you start one.
Strengths and weaknesses today
Strengths
- A free version with real-time protection, ransomware protection, a firewall and a network scanner.
- Strong independent results in 2025, especially for low system impact.
- Available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
Weaknesses
- The 2024 FTC and Czech regulator findings on browsing-data sales.
- The VPN and the PC clean-up tool are extra subscriptions on top of Premium Security.
- Several protections that were part of Pro Antivirus (Sandbox, Real Site, Bank Mode) now sit behind the paid tier.
Should you choose Avast?
Our original verdict was that the free version gave most people what they needed, and Avast’s current line-up still points that way: the core protection is free, and Premium Security mainly adds privacy, anti-scam and banking protections. Before installing any third-party antivirus, remember that Windows 10 and 11 already include Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Our guide on whether a free antivirus is good enough covers that decision. For other options, see our list of antivirus software for PC, or read about Norton AntiVirus Plus, which belongs to the same parent company.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still buy Avast Pro Antivirus?
No. Avast says Pro Antivirus is no longer available to buy on its website. Existing users were upgraded to Avast Premium Security, which is the paid Windows product today.
Is Avast safe to use after the Jumpshot case?
The FTC’s 2024 order bans Avast from selling or licensing browsing data from Avast-branded products for advertising and requires a privacy programme. Avast’s protection scores well in independent tests. Whether you trust the company is your decision; review the privacy settings during installation either way.
Is Avast Free Antivirus enough for most people?
For many home users it covers the basics: real-time scanning, ransomware protection, a firewall and a network scanner. The paid tier adds features such as Sandbox, Real Site, Bank Mode and Webcam Shield.
Does Avast still work on Windows 7?
Avast’s FAQ lists Windows 7 SP1 with the Convenience Rollup Update as the minimum. Windows 7 itself no longer receives security updates from Microsoft, so upgrading the operating system matters more than the antivirus.
Who owns Avast?
Gen Digital Inc., the company formed when NortonLifeLock merged with Avast in 2022. Gen Digital also owns Norton, AVG and Avira.
Checked in October 2026 against Avast’s support FAQs, Gen Digital’s SEC filings and announcements, the FTC’s 2024 Avast order, the Czech data protection authority’s 2024 decision, and AV-Comparatives and AV-TEST results for 2025.
