Panda Antivirus vs. Avast
Let’s start by looking at the similarities between these two products. They have a lot in common, and that’s partially why critics and regular users are so fond of comparing them. Here are some of the key features that are available with the Avast and Panda antivirus software:
- Real-time protection against malware
- Full support of Win, Mac, and Android
- Wi-Fi network protection (keeps the hackers and “peeping Toms” at bay)
- Parental control (for hand-picking which content your kids are allowed to watch)
- Full-Fledged VPN (makes it impossible for third parties to track your online activities)
- Anti-Ransomware protection
- Secure Shopping and Banking
- Data Shield (for encrypting sensitive data on your device)
- Password Manager (helps to come up with hard-to-crack passwords)
- Cleanup tools (for boosting overall OS performance and cleaning space on the hard drive)
- Money-back guarantee (you have 30 days to get a full refund)
- Manual virus scanning
- Automated virus scanning
- USB and registry startup scanning
- Rootkit protection (prevents hackers from exploiting rootkit weaknesses in the OS)
- Adware protection (stops noisy and unwanted ad pop-ups)
- Ticket support
Those are some of the most important features that these products have in common. However, they aren’t identical copies of each other. As you’ll learn in the next section, Avast has several key extras that make it stand out compared to its rival. Let’s take a look at the main differences next.
Avast vs. Panda – the Main Differences
The Avast-exclusive features include:
- Sandbox (allows the user to run suspicious files/apps in a safe environment)
- Email filtering (keeps malicious emails, spam, and junk at bay)
- Data Shredder (used for permanently getting rid of unwanted files)
- Secure browser (serves as an additional layer of defense)
- Optimization for smartphones
- Comprehensive phone support
- Email support
Furthermore, Avast boasts decent performance in recent third-party tests. Panda was also rated highly by AV-Comparatives and AV-Test; sadly, it hasn’t been tested for a very long time. And while system impact is not very different, Avast is still the best security software as it earned 6/6 in the AV-Test evaluation. Panda received a 5/6 rating.
As for the user interface, we’re happy to say that both products offer intuitive navigation and a clever layout. Unfortunately, Panda’s “cheesy” background is a bit too distracting for comfort. So, again, Avast is the good antivirus in this comparison, while Panda is the close second.
Now, while it’s obvious that Avast is a superior pick in terms of features and capabilities, Panda is the less costly choice. You can get it for as low as $4.99 per month (the Essential package). Premium, the most expensive tier, is available for $13.99. For comparison, the entry-level Avast Premium Security package costs almost $6.
Which is better in protection: Avast free vs. Panda free antivirus
Moving on with our comparison of antiviruses, let’s take a look at what the free editions of both products come packed with. In many ways, the free editions are the best way for a developer to interest potential clients.
Here’s what Avast free has to offer:
- Real-time protection
- Secure Browser
- Password Manager
- Fully compatible with Win, Mac, Android, and iOS
- Wi-Fi Inspector
- Decent third-party test results
The list of features available with Panda free is as follows:
- Real-time malware protection
- Free VPN (150MB/day)
Notably, Panda free is only compatible with Windows OS. It does not support the other three leading platforms, which, of course, is a big downside. Plus, while it does offer a VPN, this antivirus still can’t compare to what Avast free has to offer. Panda is significantly less feature-packed and doesn’t include a secure browser, password, manager, and Wi-Fi inspector.
Avast, in turn, is wildly popular partly thanks to the impressive list of extras that are available with the free edition. What these two free products have in common is the fact that you can only protect one single device. It is a standard routine for the majority of free-of-charge internet security solutions, though.
Panda Dome vs. Avast – Which is Better?
So, who is the winner in this Avast vs. Panda comparison – which product deserves your attention? After we carefully examined the shared features, main differences, and talked about the free editions, it’s rather clear that Avast is the winner. First of all, it achieves better results in third-party lab tests. Secondly, it has a lower system impact and includes a decent set of extras.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an affordable antivirus, Panda will be a far better pick. It’s very reasonably priced, and you can get the entry-level Essential package for almost nothing. Yes, Panda is among the least expensive antivirus software 2022 has to offer. But, other than that, Avast is the undisputed champion in this competition.
Panda highlights:
- Compatible with Windows 10 and older versions down to Windows XP
- Offers protection for Macs and Android devices
- Attractive and sleek interface
- Affordable prices and a wide choice of plans
- Doesn’t have much impact on the system
Avast highlights:
- Compatible with all modern platforms.
- Different levels of protection against malware.
- Effectively detects phishing sites.
- A strong security plug-in for browsers which automatically detects suspicious websites.
- New passive mode for running multiple security products in parallel.