User Reviews
avast! Home Edition
avast! Home Edition is a complete anti-virus package, that is is free for registered home non-commercial users. It contains an on-demand scanner with two interfaces (simple for novices and advanced ...
Average of 178 user ratings: 
- May 14, 2008
- For version:
- 4.8.1195
Light, fast and reliable 
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
On my 1.4Ghz centrino laptop it's hard to notice performance differences after I installed it. As of my writing, it's requiring about 76MB of ram to give maximum protection. Compliments to all the guys that are writing and maintaining this nice piece of software.
- May 11, 2008
- For version:
- 4.8.1169
Very satisfied!
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Thanks, A friend turned me on to Avast, and frankly I don't know much about 'puters,and can't see how I could spend so much time on line without it.
Review by: debdisa
First post
- May 02, 2008
- For version:
- 4.8.1169
Keeping up to date
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Amazed at the frequency of updates provided by this AV software and the ease with which it can be configured
Review by: madmike
First post
- Apr 06, 2008
- For version:
- 4.8.1169
Great program
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 4
- Overall:
Been using for some time, Great Program
Review by: sanford98
First post
- Apr 01, 2008
- For version:
- 4.8.1169
Fantastic virus scanner
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This program is fantastic so easy to install and setup. And also this even picked up a few things that my old virus program missed. Highly recommended, my thanks to the developers of a great program. Keep up the great work for future updates.
Review by: webguy39 (3)
Read all 3 reviews by webguy39
- Mar 26, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Very nice!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
All what I need to do is install. It is working very well after that.
Review by: chu1979 (4)
Read all 4 reviews by chu1979
- Mar 25, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Very impressive!
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is one of those applications that'd I'll probably upgrade to the paid version just to show my appreciation for a job well done! Norton and McAfee are both so ponderously full of nonsense and irritating system-clogging junk, avast! easily replaces them as my anti-virus application of choice.
Review by: techqi (7)
Read all 7 reviews by techqi
- Mar 22, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Great program
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Install it, set it up, forget about it. The best anti-virus program.
- Mar 20, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Great program
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Works in the background and keeps me posted on what's going on, without interfering with my work. Has blocked virus' many times.
Review by: Sniffy (3)
Read all 3 reviews by Sniffy
- Mar 18, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Fast, efficient, and lightweight
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Unlike Norton or McAfee, avast! will not cripple your computer with its "protection". PC stays snappy, and is secure. What else could you ask for?
Review by: hognala
First post
- Mar 15, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Highly recommended
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have used Avast! Home Edition for several years now after fleeing from heavy-handed Norton and McAfee (ugh!!!). I tried another freeware before Avast! and I must say Avast! wins hands down. It's light, quick, non-intrusive, dependable. I have recommended it to many people and all have been very pleased - and relieved.
Review by: whiteowl
First post
- Mar 14, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Very slow and has annoying interface
- Interface: 1
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 5
- Overall:
It's very slow and has annoying interface. Detection rate is not the best either. There is better free antivirus software available.
Review by: OriginX (3)
Read all 3 reviews by OriginX
- Jan 13, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Very pleased with this software
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I started using AVG free edition, but moved on to AVAST and prefer it. I've used it for a year or two and think it's excellent.
Review by: einstein
First post
- Jan 12, 2008
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Only one thing stopping me from keeping it
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 2
- Overall:
I've installed it twice. Overall, looks very nice, and I like the way it runs. The *only* complaint I have is I have been utterly unable to obtain a registration key. I've filled out the registration form with my e-mail address probably a half-dozen times, and I have yet to receive a registration key. Messages to the support e-mail address also go unanswered. Can't keep using it if I can't register it ...
Review by: JFSturtz (4)
Read all 4 reviews by JFSturtz
- Dec 15, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Brilliant stuff.
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I do not believe any other application can be as effective as avast! Once installed, it works so effectively in the background that I am totally unaware of its presence. I am only reminded of avast! when it is automatically updated and/or upgraded or when it warns me about attempted intrusions. Brilliant stuff.
Review by: FriedrichH
First post
- Dec 10, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1098
Niiiiiiiiice
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Avast Home edition is one of the best free antivirus, its easy, powerful, and free. It can detect from the little viruses to the meanest. and the best of all it does not consume lots of RAM (Unlike other Commercial Antiviruses eg : Mcafee, of course I'm not saying that Mcafee is not good, but it needs lots of RAM) the only bad thing about Avast is while scanning for viruses, u need to still close to it, because if it finds a virus, you will have to delete it first, because the scan will not continue until u delete the infected file(s). It's annoying...
Review by: RockmasteR
First post
- Nov 28, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1044
Avast Home is all you need
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Avast is the BEST, I really LOVE this product. It updates automatically, HANDS FREE, and a pleasant voice tells me it has been updated. It scans memory, and also will scan on reboot if you want it to. It is nice because on reboot at the command, you can select "Delete all, or Clean all" a great feature when a newbie brings you his computer with 6000 viruses. Set it and forget it... Avast really has a bright future, what a great product.
Review by: parkstreet1234
First post
- Nov 22, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1044
Tacky interface, blocked Operamail!
- Interface: 1
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 3
- Overall:
I'm not as impressed with Avast as others obviously are. The first major problem for me was that it blocked my OperaMail from receiving e-mail. I only noticed a few days after I installed Avast, that I hadn't recieved any e-mail for days. There was also no notification from Avast that it had blocked anything. After much head scratching I decided to unistall Avast, no sooner had I done that then my e-mail came flooding in! I've used Opera's ultra reliable integrated e-mail for over 5 years, and no other program has ever blocked my e-mail before. I can't use it and can't really recommend it to others that use OperaMail. I also hate the interface, it's so tacky and looks like it's been designed by a teenager trying to look cool and hip, but the result ends up looking more like a car stereo than a professional antivirus application. AVG is my choice any day over Avast.
- Oct 13, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1043
I prefer Avast!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Which is the best Antivirus software? For most users something that does a good job, is easy to set up and doesnt need any fiddling with to keep it doing its job properly is the thing to have. The fact that it is free is the icing on the cake. My family and friends often ask me to look at their PCs that have become infected, often whilst running the AV that shipped with it, even when kept up to date! Im sure we all know what those AVs are! So after uninstalling the overpriced junk suite bloatware, then running Stinger and Sysclean, Ill install AVG or Avast! Sometimes one cant quite clear everything, but the other one always gets it. Which is best? At the moment I prefer Avast! as it does a good screensaver scan, but if you dont use a screensaver you might prefer to use AVGs scheduler. Apart from that theres not much in it. Then I follow with one of the very good Freeware Personal Firewalls and a couple of Anti-Spyware programmes and Bingo. Faster, better and FREE!
Review by: GsyMoo (2)
Read all 2 reviews by GsyMoo
- Oct 12, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1043
Best of the best!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
For years I used one particular free anti virus software because I liked it a lot, but then they decided to make people pay for their software so I stopped using them. Shortly after finding this out I found Avast by searching the web. I have never been more happy with an anti virus software than I have been with Avast. I hope to be able to use them for the rest of my computer years to come!
- Oct 12, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1043
Does a perfect job for free!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have been using avast for about 4 years now, and it has never let a virus slip through. It gets automatically updated daily, just like its expensive competitive products. Avast is and excellent anti-virus product, and it is freeware!!!
Review by: Roland1955
First post
- Aug 29, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1029
The best of the best!!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have used avast for along time now, and won't use anything else because I think it is the best.
Review by: green70
First post
- Aug 12, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1029
I really like it!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Avast! have an innovative gui that i really like, it's powerful, easy-to-use and the installation file takes it's really little (about 11MB) and... it's for free!!
Review by: peppefiorenza
First post
- Aug 11, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1029
Avast! 4 home edition
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Simply a BRILLIANT Program. I've used it for over four years and it's never let me down. It has intercepted many, many virus threats! Highly recommended!
Review by: JerryChance
First post
- Aug 11, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1029
An excellent freeware antivirus app.
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have used AVG and antivir, currently and for some time I have found avast to be better than the competition on ease of use, detection rate and load on PC.
Review by: redster (2)
Read all 2 reviews by redster
- Aug 02, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1029
Excellent product
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is an excellent product -- and VERY affordable!
Review by: KevinL
First post
- Jul 28, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1029
Perfect for my needs.
- Interface: 3
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Avast! provides just the right amount of protection without consuming lots of system resources. It's ideal for me, but I don't necessarily think it's ideal for the average user, as the average user normally isn't aware of the risk they pose to themselves. It's an excellent product if you understand it's limitations, and in turn your own responsibility for safe computing. It's lightweight, dependable, and of course, free. If you generally practice safe computing, and have other products employed for different types of threats (i.e. firewall, anti-spyware, etc.), then avast! is an excellent choice for traditional virus protection. I would give it 5 stars if not for the fact that it's a bit cumbersome to configure avast! to ignore certain files appropriately and consistently. I've tried other antivirus products, paid and free, but I've stuck with avast! for the past three years or more. In general, I highly recommend avast!
Review by: Shaggy (9)
Read all 9 reviews by Shaggy
- Jul 01, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1001
Full featured and free!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I switched to Avast and I have been recommended it to family and friends that are looking for an easy,dependable antivirus. Updates are reliable and regular. The really impressive part is the available components. Standard shield(monitor)Web shield,Network shield and E-mail scanner are the components I use in addition to the scanner. The configuration options are very good. I was surprised to see that the Internet Mail and Outlook mail scanners have heuristics. The updates are automatic,but that's another feature that each individual can configure also. Avast Home is packed with components and features,especially for a free program.
Review by: moparmac (21)
Read all 21 reviews by moparmac
- Jun 15, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1001
Spread the news, this product is great!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have recommended Avast to many people who had unsuccessfully tried to clean their 'virus protected' computers after infection for weeks. Avast ALWAYS did the trick immediately. We have bought the product for use at work and I use it privately at home. It is not easy to get me excited, but I am! The only downside is that the product is not well known. We do not rate marketing here, but this is about the only area where Avast could improve!
Review by: MaxWefringhaus
First post
- Jun 13, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1001
Great product
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Good side: -Good detection rates -Free antivirus solution for home users -doesn't hog your system(like Norton) -Automatically updates to newest definitions -easy to use -I had a virus that even Norton couldn't find and avast removed it successfully. Downside: Maybe that it doesn't have a web scanner but that isn't necessary if you use Mozilla. One of the best solutions in the market and free.
Review by: my_flow48 (2)
Read all 2 reviews by my_flow48
- Jun 04, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1001
Simple but effective
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
A very good simple but effective A/V good interface!!
Review by: geofrs
First post
- May 30, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1001
I was shocked
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This software is a gem, and its free. How do they offer this for free? It has a level of quality that makes me want to pay for it. And let me tell ya, I put this antivirus to the test and it passed with flying colors. A couple days ago a friend brought me a very screwed up Emachine (I'm a computer / network technician professionally, so everyone i know has showed up at my door with computer problems at one point or another). At any rate, as i started looking at the system (win xp home) it was immediately obvious that the computer was infected with not only spyware, but i suspected that it had multiple virus`s as well. I had run across avast a few weeks ago but assumed that it was another one of these free anti-viruses that only detects problems, but wouldn't fix them unless you bought the product. After reading on their website that it does indeed remove what it detects, i still didn't have high hopes frankly but i decided to try it anyway.
Review by: scatrbrain (2)
Read all 2 reviews by scatrbrain
- May 14, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.1001
One of the best free av products
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 4
- Overall:
I've used them all (even the commercial AV products) and the only ones I recommend are Avast and AVG.
Review by: duncan
First post
- Apr 30, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.982
Avast rocks!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have found Avast AntiVirus Home Edition to be the very best anti virus program that I have tested, tried, used for over many years. Highly worthy of all it's accolades and reviews. I have tested many different free antivirus programs and this is by far the best user friendly, mostly automated, and very effective AntiVirus that I have come across.
Review by: johneb
First post
- Apr 29, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.982
The best free av software!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I would recommend this software to anyone who wish to have their PC safe from virus attack and also save money by having it free!!
Review by: Sundar
First post
- Apr 12, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
Great
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Avast fixed malware infections that many other programs could not fix. I highly recommend Avast as it is simply the best !!!
Review by: LukeHaste
First post
- Apr 11, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
Avast is excellent
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Easy to use and free to charge for private use, is possible programming for scanning at startup,nearly every day automatic update list of virus, scann very fast,it protects the computer from horse trojan/virus/malware attack,also find and delete virus and horse trojan,there is an icon near the clock that announces that [avast] is in operation
Review by: maremma1
First post
- Mar 29, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
The best free av around
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Easy to use and thorough. avast! caught a trojan that even a very well known AV failed to catch! First used this after my subscription ran out as a temporary solution but loved it so much i'm sticking with it! Also auto scans IM transfers, downloads and even speaks to you when it's updated itself! In short an excellent free all round anti virus program, the best of the freebies and better than some that are not!
Review by: twistydmorticia
First post
- Mar 18, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
Nothing to criticise - everything to gain
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I've tried everything going, but nothing beats Avast! It cleared stuff the others didn't touch. Even more unbelievable - it's free!
Review by: beccysmum (2)
Read all 2 reviews by beccysmum
- Mar 11, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
What more could you want
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I have used AVAST for nearly three years now, and I have had no problems. Other than the re-registration every 14 months, it is the best.
Review by: rongin3
First post
- Feb 13, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
This is the best freeware antivirus
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Been using Avast now for about 3 years and found it faultless in operation and detection of viruses and trojans. The boot time scan is a feature that most other virus checking programs don't have. As a technician I have scanned hundreds of client computers for viruses etc. Regardless of what virus checker they have installed I always install Avast, update definitions then perform a full boot time scan with archive checking enabled. I cant count the number of times Avast has picked up viruses that other checkers didnt know about, particularly AVG and Norton. Email integration is excellent as is the real time scan and web scanning. System operation doesnt seem to be affected to much either. Updates are seamless and automatic. You cant miss the warning when you get a virus, especially if you have the sound on. If you are a home user and paying for virus checking think again. Download Avast, install, update then remove your old program. Post results as a review.
Review by: Water4L
First post
- Feb 13, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
The best av programm!
- Interface: 4
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Strong and Light. Thanks Alwill!
Review by: PhantomLord (12)
Read all 12 reviews by PhantomLord
- Feb 11, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
An extremely good anti-virus program!!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
If you want/need protection for any of your systems, this is one full-featured product that you can not ignore. With Web scan, heuristics, email scan, P2P, and Instant Messaging scanning engines-this is nearly a "security suite". (If you use ZoneAlarm Firewall, you will need to disable one of the scanning engines due to software conflicts - still just as safe). Uses less resources than McAfee or Norton with a higher level of protection. Updates are daily and automatic.
Review by: dlbean1 (5)
Read all 5 reviews by dlbean1
- Feb 08, 2007
- For version:
- 4.7.892
Better than most and it's free
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is a great program. It won't slow down your computer. It has a very effective resident virus shield(s). One can choose scanning depth from "quick" (only recently accessed or opened files) to "thorough" (every file on the computer) and several levels between the two. The interface is different but very easy to use AND one can "reskin" it using one of the many new "skins" available at the avast! website. Overall, a great program that's actually better than many (not all) of the antivirus programs you have to pay for.
Review by: