For years, I used to use Avast, as I heard a lot of negative stuff about Windows Defender, and how it was inferior. That was years and years ago though. Last year, I had an IT specialist try to tell me that Windows Defender is better than Avast, because even if you disable Windows Defender, there’s still some components of it that run in your background, so it just bogs your computer down and takes up more resources. So then when I built my new rig, I’ve just been using Defender so far, but I don’t like it.
I take everything I hear with a grain of salt, IT or not. I’ve also read numerous articles over the years that shows Avast uses less resources than Defender. Plus, …
For years, I used to use Avast, as I heard a lot of negative stuff about Windows Defender, and how it was inferior. That was years and years ago though. Last year, I had an IT specialist try to tell me that Windows Defender is better than Avast, because even if you disable Windows Defender, there’s still some components of it that run in your background, so it just bogs your computer down and takes up more resources. So then when I built my new rig, I’ve just been using Defender so far, but I don’t like it.
I take everything I hear with a grain of salt, IT or not. I’ve also read numerous articles over the years that shows Avast uses less resources than Defender. Plus, I like that Avast isn’t as intrusive (once you disable all their optional components), and doesn’t automatically take it upon itself to quarantine something even before asking me. Meanwhile, I’ve had Windows Defender quarantine something, ask me after the fact if the file is ok or not, and even after I check off that it’s ok, I’m unable to retrieve the file and they keep it quarantined. So, I really don’t like Defender, but wanted to see... does Avast use less resources? Would it be the better choice?
I’d use Defender, but Avast Free is top-rated:
Having said that, Avast was purchased by NortonLifeLock so I’m sure they’ve been planning how to enshittify Avast. 
No AV here. I used a Linux boot USB and ripped out the msft crap and never looked back. If I do happen to grab something infected there’s plenty of alarm bells going off re login attempts.
The other option is to not use Windows at all since that’s the primary attack.
Either is fine for an average user who isn’t purposefully visiting questionable websites or running questionable software.
I’d use Defender, but Avast Free is top-rated:
Having said that, Avast was purchased by NortonLifeLock so I’m sure they’ve been planning how to enshittify Avast.
Oh, that’s really good to know! I don’t know enough about Norton to say whether they are better or worse than Windows, lol. Either way, I have no doubt that Avast is going to go downhilll as well
Either is fine for an average user who isn’t purposefully visiting questionable websites or running questionable software.
I do both, lol.
But I mean seriously, I know how to determine good vs bad torrents, or anything else that could come from questionable sources. Every once in a rare while though, something gets through. I’d say it’s probably been about 10yrs or so, but I like to have at least some sort of antivirus on my PC, plus Malwarebytes installed to run in case of any issues too.
I do know enough to have a separate partition specifically for my OS, so if something does get on there, my files, software, etc. are all fine (plus, a backup external drive, which I admittedly don’t use nearly as often as I should)
I know I should be using Linux, but I’ve used Windows since Windows existed. I have so much software for it now that switching over is just something I don’t have time to do. I’m sure I could run most of it on Linux one way or another, but I don’t have the time. I’m back in college full-time, kids, and having to re-learn C++ and refreshing myself on LaTeX again as well. Too much on my plate already. One day, I’m sure I’ll switch over, or at least do what I used to... have a separate partition with Linux. I don’t on my new rig simply because I never used Linux. It just took up space
Oh, that’s really good to know! I don’t know enough about Norton to say whether they are better or worse than Windows, lol. Either way, I have no doubt that Avast is going to go downhilll as well
Some of us have used PCs since the bad old days of DOS in the 1980s, and Peter Norton has a very rich history in PC lore. His utilities software was the standard back then, and Symantec’s Norton AntiVirus was one of the first popular AV products in the early 1990s.
After the world transitioned to Windows 95, NAV had a poor reputation as a resource hog. It took Symantec a very long time until Norton AntiVirus became a competitive product again (perhaps mid 2010s or so).
Anyway, Symantec acquired LifeLock back in 2017 and that was a company that served no public good. I guess LifeLock hasn’t ruined the company yet, so perhaps Avast (based in Prague, Czech Republic) has a chance after all.
Windows Defender vs Avast: The Better Choice in 2025
✅ Windows Defender (Microsoft Defender Antivirus) Pros:
- Free & Built-in: Comes pre-installed with Windows 10/11, no setup required.
- Decent Malware Protection: Scores well in AV-Test evaluations (100% detection of zero-day threats).
- Low System Impact: Lightweight and integrates seamlessly with Windows.
- Parental Controls & Sign-in Protection: Useful for families and basic identity protection.
- Firewall & Real-time Protection: Included and effective.
Cons:
- Limited Advanced Features: No VPN, sandboxing, webcam protection, or password manager.
- Slower Scan Speeds: Full scans take longer than Avast.
- Less Customization: Fewer options for power users.
✅ Avast Antivirus Pros:
-
Excellent Malware Detection: 100% detection rate in independent tests.
-
Fast Scanning: Quicker than Windows Defender with minimal system slowdown.
-
Advanced Features(in paid versions):
-
VPN
-
Webcam protection
-
Sandbox mode
-
Wi-Fi inspector
-
Password manager
-
User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate and configure.
Cons:
- Privacy Concerns: Past issues with data collection in the free version (now reportedly resolved).
- Frequent Upgrade Prompts: Free version pushes users toward paid plans.
- Some Features Locked Behind Paywall: Full protection requires a subscription.
🏆 Final Verdict
- For Basic Users: Stick with Windows Defender if you want solid protection without installing anything extra. It’s free, reliable, and good enough for most users.
- For Power Users or Those Seeking Extra Features: Go with Avast, especially the Premium Security or Avast One plans. You’ll get stronger malware protection and a richer feature set.