Windows Defender vs. Avast: Which Antivirus Is Better?

Highlight

• ✅Both tools provide a reasonable level of device protection.
• ✅If you're looking for more sophisticated features, Avast is the better choice. However, if you need basic protection without any extra cost, go with Windows Defender.
• ✅It's crucial to have an effective backup tool in place, as antivirus software alone isn't enough to ensure the safety of your data.
• ✅Todo Backup is our top pick due to its efficient data backup and recovery mechanisms.

Installing efficient antivirus software on your device protects it from malware and virus attacks, ensuring the safety of your personal information. There are numerous antivirus options available; however, in this article, we will compare Windows Defender with Avast to help you determine the best fit for your device.

While both tools provide a certain level of device protection, we wanted to assess how well they perform. To determine which is better, we'll compare them based on security, pros and cons, pricing, ease of use, main features, and their impact on your computer's performance. Read on for an in-depth look at each tool.

Overview of Windows Defender and Avast

Before diving into a detailed comparison of Windows Defender and Avast, it's essential to have an overview of each antivirus software. Here's a description of each antivirus program.

Windows Defender is an integrated security software developed by Microsoft that safeguards users' computers from viruses, spyware, malware, and other potentially unwanted software. It provides real-time protection and regularly updates its database to address new threats. Furthermore, Windows Defender includes a firewall that helps block unauthorized network access. In the Windows 10 operating system, it serves as the default antivirus program.

Windows Defender is an antivirus software pre-installed in all Windows operating systems. It was initially introduced in Windows XP as a free anti-spyware program. Over time, it evolved into a comprehensive antivirus solution that safeguards Windows computers from virus attacks.

Since the software is free, it's available to all Windows users. Currently, you can use it on Windows 8, 10, and 11. The antivirus scans programs or files before they run on your Windows computer.

Read more: Is TotalAV a Good Antivirus? | Is Norton a Good Antivirus?

2. Avast

Avast is a cybersecurity software primarily focused on protecting users from online threats, viruses, and malware attacks. The software employs next-generation technologies to defend against the latest virus assaults. Avast supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It offers both free and paid versions, with the paid edition providing additional advanced features.

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Windows Defender vs Avast: A Comprehensive Comparison

To aid you in choosing between Windows Defender and Avast, this section will compare them across various aspects. Our comprehensive comparison of these two tools will encompass the following areas. Read on as we delve into each aspect in detail. Afterward, you can decide which software to use to protect your device.

1. Security and Reliability 2. Pros and Cons 3. Pricing Plans 4. Ease of Use and Interface Design 5. Key Features 6. Impact on Computer Performance

1️⃣ Safety and Reliability

#Windows Defender (Note: #Windows Defender refers to the built-in security software developed by Microsoft, designed to protect the Windows operating system from viruses, malware, and other online threats.)

Windows Defender protects your device with a feature called the “Windows Defender Firewall.” This built-in tool shields your Windows PC from malicious traffic and keeps track of connections going in and out of your network. In addition, Windows Defender comes with a signature-based scanner that monitors your device for digital threats.

This scanner is periodically updated to help protect your device from new threats. Windows Defender also includes a "Find my device" feature that can help you track down a lost PC. If it's stolen, you can lock the device or wipe the data to prevent unauthorized access.

Last but not least, this free antivirus for Windows also features parental control, which lets you monitor and control your children's online activity.

Related Reading: Windows Defender vs Norton: Which One Should You Choose?

#Avast is a widely known computer security software that protects personal computers from viruses, spyware, and various online threats. It's commonly referred to as "阿瓦斯特" or "艾维斯特" in Chinese.

On the other hand, Avast Antivirus is also renowned for its effective security and reliability features. For Windows users, it offers various security products, such as:

• Avast Free Antivirus.
• Avast Internet Security.
• Avast Premier.
• Avast Ultimate.

Avast's free antivirus software requires no subscription plan. It helps protect your device from basic digital threats but might not defend against advanced ones. Avast's cybersecurity solutions offer protection against malware and virus attacks, providing coverage for common threats. Additionally, it includes an excellent firewall for safeguarding against spam and phishing attempts.

Avast Premier, on the other hand, includes a file shredder that can permanently delete suspicious downloads. It also protects you from webcam spying. Finally, Avast Ultimate includes all the features from previous packages.

In addition, it comes with a password manager feature that uses a digital vault to protect all your passwords. It also features a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that allows you to access content anonymously and unrestrictedly within your local area.

2️⃣ Pros and Cons

We will use the following chart to compare the pros and cons of two antivirus tools.

Now that you've seen the pros and cons, you should have a clear idea of each antivirus.

You may also be interested in: Norton vs McAfee Comparison | Windows 11 Virus and Threat Protection Not Working

3️⃣ Pricing Plans

Windows Defender Antivirus is free, so it doesn't have any pricing plans. On the other hand, Avast offers both free and paid versions. Avast's freemium version is called "Avast Free Antivirus." Like with Windows Defender, there are no costs associated with using this plan. However, Avast's free version provides quite basic security features.

The first paid version is called "Avast Internet Security," which runs $59.99 per year for one device. Next up is "Avast Premium," which costs $69.99 per year for one device. The most expensive Avast plan is "Avast Ultimate," which goes for $119.99 per year for one device. Choose the pricing plan that best suits your needs.

4️⃣ Usability and User Interface Design

Windows Defender sports a clean and straightforward user interface (UI) with its main features gathered on the left for easy access. While there's no option for scheduling scans in the interface, you can choose to run different types of scans.

The main control panel for Windows Defender is called the Windows Defender Security Center, where you can access its main features and operations. This is what the main user interface of Windows Defender looks like:

On the other hand, Avast Antivirus also has an intuitive user interface design. It sports a dark theme that's appealing to first-time users. Right in the middle of its main screen is a big green checkmark that indicates everything is okay. However, if the checkmark is red, it means the tool detected a virus.

There's a “Quick Scan” button to check your PC for potential viruses. Avast arranges its main features neatly along the left-hand panel, making it very easy to use. These are grouped into “Status,” “Privacy,” “Protection,” and “Performance.”

You can also customize the interface to your liking. Here's a screenshot of the main Avast interface:

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5️⃣ Key Features

Both Windows Defender and Avast provide excellent security features for your device. However, Avast usually offers more functionalities, as it has a premium version that unlocks additional features not available in its free plan. Here's a comparison of their main features:

As you can see from the table above, Avast can offer more features if you're willing to upgrade to a paid version. It includes a virtual private network (VPN), webcam protection, and a sandbox mode, none of which are available with Windows Defender.

Avast, however, lacks some of the features that Windows Defender offers, such as password protection and parental controls.

6️⃣ Impact on Computer Performance

Since antivirus software regularly scans your device, it can significantly affect overall system performance, potentially slowing down other programs running at the same time. According to AV-comparatives' Performance Impact tests on various antivirus programs, Windows Defender and Avast have the least impact on PC performance.

In the AV tests, Avast scored 9.8, ranking 8th, while Windows Defender scored 28.4, placing it 16th. These AV comparisons show that Avast performs better than other antivirus software. However, Avast appears to have much less impact on PC performance compared to Windows Defender.

When we ran full scans with both tools on the same computer, this is how they affected CPU, memory, and disk usage:

As you can see from the table above, while Avast takes longer to complete a full scan, its impact on CPU, memory, and disk is minimal.

Windows Defender vs Avast: Which One Should You Choose?

When choosing between Windows Defender and Avast, there are several factors to consider, including but not limited to:

### Key Features 1. **Multilingual Support**: Supports translation between multiple languages, including but not limited to Chinese, English, French, German, and more. 2. **Real-time Translation**: Instantly translates text, sentences, or paragraphs without any delay. 3. **Voice Recognition and Synthesis**: Equipped with advanced voice recognition technology to transcribe speech for translation and can playback the translated results in audio form. 4. **Image Text Recognition**: Translates text from images, useful for menus, books, signs, and other scenarios. 5. **Offline Translation**: Provides translation services even without an internet connection by pre-downloading language packs. 6. **Full Document Translation**: Supports the translation of entire articles or documents while preserving the original formatting and structure. 7. **Gesture Input**: Allows handwritten input and gesture recognition for non-standard words or special characters, making input quick and easy. 8. **Smart Suggestions**: Offers the most suitable translation options based on context, enhancing accuracy. 9. **Learning Tools**: Includes vocabulary books, grammar guides, and other features to aid users in learning and memorizing new words. 10. **Cross-platform Usage**: Synchronized usage across smartphones, tablets, and computers with seamless transitions. 11. **User-friendly Interface**: Features a clean and straightforward design for intuitive operation. 12. **Privacy Protection**: Adheres strictly to data privacy policies, ensuring the security of users' translation history and personal information.

Usually, we consider Avast to be the better antivirus software because it offers more features than Windows Defender. However, you have to pay for these features. On the other hand, Windows Defender is entirely free, and you won't have to spend an extra dime to scan viruses on your computer before using it.

If you're looking for a basic, no-cost antivirus for your PC, Windows Defender is a good choice, and will be sufficient for people who are less likely to encounter viruses and malware.

Performance/Presentation

Another factor to consider when choosing which software to go with is performance. Generally, Avast has less of an impact on your computer's performance than Windows Defender. This means that Avast uses fewer CPU resources when scanning for viruses, allowing you to run other programs while using it.

Not so with Windows Defender, which can affect overall PC performance while it runs.

Security

In terms of security, Avast is considered safer than Windows Defender. It provides extra layers of protection against online threats, viruses, and malware attacks. You can trust Avast to provide effective defense even against the most severe viruses.

While the software effectively scans for viruses on your computer, leaving no stone unturned, Windows Defender falls short as it only protects your device from basic viruses and might miss some malware attacks targeted at your computer.

#️⃣ Judgment

This discussion suggests that Avast is the better option if you need more sophisticated features. However, if you're looking for basic protection and don't want any extra charges, Windows Defender is also a good choice. The final decision is up to you!

While both Windows Defender and Avast provide decent data security, for more critical information, you might want to opt for a more professional and efficient software, such as TotalAV.

TotalAV is an antivirus software renowned for its comprehensive digital protection. It features an intuitive interface that offers ultimate safeguarding for your digital assets. Equipped with robust defense mechanisms, it shields against online threats effectively. Its compatibility with multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, makes it an ideal choice for securing all your devices.

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TOTALAV

TotalAV is an award-winning antivirus and security software that provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, and online threats.

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Bonus tip: Add an extra layer of protection with a backup PC

Using an antivirus alone is not enough to keep your data secure. There are times when antivirus software may fail, leaving your computer vulnerable to virus attacks that can damage important data. This is why it's essential to use a reliable tool like Todo Backup to back up your data.

Antivirus software can protect your devices from malware and viruses, but not your data. For that, you need a backup service. Our favorite is Todo Backup, which offers efficient mechanisms for backing up and restoring data.

It enables you to back up your data quickly and restore it when needed. You can back up files to a local drive, cloud, NAS, external drive, or network. The tool offers up to 250GB of free cloud storage space.

Todo Backup offers various features, such as:

• Basic backup plan.
• Enhanced backup efficiency.
• Multipath backup storage.
• Password-protected backups.
• Simplified backup management.
• Bootable backup and recovery.
• Restore backups to systems with different hardware.

Ready to start using Todo Backup on your computer today? Make sure to download and install the free version of the software on your machine. The steps to use it are straightforward.

Final Abstract

This article provides an in-depth understanding of the comparison between Windows Defender and Avast. We believe Avast is a better antivirus choice because it offers more features than Windows Defender. Additionally, it protects you from advanced viruses and malware threats, whereas Windows Defender only provides basic protection.

In addition to using antivirus software on your computer, it's crucial to add an extra layer of security to your data with a tool like Todo Backup. This data backup and recovery software enhances file efficiency by preventing unintentional loss. It offers various backup mechanisms. Download the Todo Backup tool now on your computer for efficient data backup.

Don't forget to share this post with your fans and friends to help them stay safe online too!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about Windows Defender and Avast.

If I have Avast, should I turn off Windows Defender?

When you install third-party software like Avast, Windows Defender will turn off automatically, so you don't need to disable it manually. Once Avast is activated, it will provide more advanced protection than Windows Defender.

Will Windows Defender be enough in 2023?

It depends on your needs. If you require basic computer protection and don't want to pay extra for a third-party antivirus, Windows Defender should suffice. However, if you want an additional layer of security for your device, subscribing to a reliable third-party tool like Avast Antivirus is crucial.

Does Windows Defender slow down your computer?

Unlike Avast, Windows Defender might slow down your computer when running in the background because it uses more CPU resources. During a virus scan, Windows Defender might bog down other programs because of how much it taxes your system. You can temporarily disable Windows Defender when it's least needed to improve your device's overall performance.