Avast Free Antivirus vs ClamAV
Both are free antivirus & security tools. Here is how they actually differ.
Avast Free Antivirus and ClamAV at a glance
| Feature | Avast Free Antivirus | ClamAV |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Avast (Gen Digital) | Cisco Talos |
| Licence | Free tier | Open Source |
| Cost | Free tier | Free |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | No | Yes |
| Mobile | Yes | No |
| Source code | Closed | Public |
Avast Free Antivirus: what it's good at
Avast Free Antivirus provides continuous real-time scanning against viruses, ransomware and malicious websites at no cost. It is one of the most widely installed consumer security products in the world, and the free tier covers the essentials most home users need.
- Real-time virus and ransomware shield
- Malicious and phishing website blocking
- Wi-Fi network security scanning
- Optional paid upgrade for firewall and VPN
ClamAV: what it's good at
ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine widely deployed for scanning mail gateways, file servers and uploads. It is command-line and integration oriented rather than a consumer desktop suite, which makes it the natural pick for scripted or server-side scanning.
- Fully open source
- Designed for mail and file server scanning
- Scriptable command-line interface
- Frequent signature database updates
Which should you choose?
Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.
Both run on Windows, macOS. Only Avast Free Antivirus supports Android, iOS. Only ClamAV supports Linux. If open source matters to you, ClamAV publishes its source code and Avast Free Antivirus does not.
We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Avast Free Antivirus better than ClamAV?
Neither is universally better. Avast Free Antivirus long-established free antivirus with real-time protection, while ClamAV open-source antivirus engine, standard on mail servers. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.
Are both really free?
Avast Free Antivirus is free tier and ClamAV is open source. Both can be downloaded without paying.
Can I install both?
Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.