We stand with Ukraine to help keep people safe. Join us

Antivirus app with on-demand scanning.

3.0
Based on 64 user ratesRead reviews & comments
Free
In-app purchases

Avast overview

Avast for Mac provides enhanced security with intelligent threat-detection, real-time protection, and additional features to prevent malicious attacks.

Simple to install and easy to use, Avast antivirus for Mac is designed for effortless Internet security. It protects your identity, ensures your privacy, and secures your files, folders, and computer.

Avast comes in two versions:

  1. Avast Security for Mac is a free download.
  2. Avast Premium Security is licensed for 1, 2, or 3 years for with single or multi-device options (up to 10). The premium version offers a 60-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Download Avast for Mac and get:

  • Real-time protection: Blocks malware, spyware, Trojans, and viruses in real-time.
  • Web Shield: Prevents access to dangerous downloads and websites.
  • Email Shield: Protection against receiving or sending infected attachments.
  • Scheduled scans: Schedules full virus scans for minimal user impact.
  • Real-time updates: Protects your Mac against the latest threats.
  • Wi-Fi Security Alerts: Issues warnings about home or public network weaknesses.

Additional Features

  • Ransomware Shield: Prevents personal files from being held for ransom.
  • Wi-Fi Inspector: Real-time alerts regarding network intruders and vulnerabilities.
  • Real Site: Multi-layer security protection against spoofed sites.
  • Phishing Net: Avast’s cloud database protection against threats identified worldwide.

Awards and Recognition

  • AV-Comparatives: Avast Free Antivirus (now known as Avast Security for Mac) was awarded two stars for both Real-World Protection and Malware Protection, and three stars for Performance.
  • AV-Test: 100% for protection against malware infections and 100% for usability.

Version Features

Avast comes in two free and one licensed package.

Avast Security

  • Real-time protection against malware, spyware, viruses, and other threats.
  • Email and web shields for enhanced protection.
  • Wi-Fi security alerts when threats are detected.
  • Scheduled scans and real-time updates.

Avast Premium Security

Everything in Avast Security PLUS:

  • Ransomware protection against the encryption of personal files.
  • Wi-Fi vulnerability detection and protection.
  • Multi-layer phishing protection.

What’s new in version 15.2

Updated on Mar 14 2022

  • WebShield: Added per-domain silent mode for alerts.
  • WebShield: Added better malware description in alert dialogs when available.
  • RealSite: Added DNS over HTTPS protocol for secure resolution via Avast servers.
  • SmartScan: Added simpler communication of all solutions Avast can provide.
  • WiFiInspector: Updated scanning engine.
  • Uninstaller: Can now be found directly in Applications folder.
  • Other bugfixes and stability fixes
View older Avast updates

Information

License

Free

Size

25.2 MB

Downloads

63957

App requirements

  • Intel 64
  • OS X 10.10 or later

FAQ

Is Avast good for Mac?
Yes. Avast Mac security is a highly effective solution protecting against all types of malware. It comes in both paid and free versions.
Is Avast safe for Mac?
Yes. Avast Security for Mac detected 100% Mac malware threats during tests conducted by Top Ten Reviews, making it one of the best antivirus programs for Mac solutions.
Is Avast free for Mac?
Yes. As a free mac security product, Avast Security for Mac is recognized as being one of the best free Mac antivirus programs available.
Does Avast remove malware?
Yes. Avast Free Antivirus was awarded two stars for both Real-World Protection and Malware Protection by AV-Comparatives. The product offered 100% protection against both Mac and Windows malware.
Does Avast slow down my computer?
No. Avast Free Antivirus was awarded three stars for Performance by AV-Comparatives.
Try our new feature and write a detailed review about Avast. All reviews will be posted soon.

What customer like

Security
Performance
Stability

What needs improvements

Support
Bug fixing

Avast qualities

Value
4.0
Ease of use
4.0
Features
5.0
Reliability
4.0
Customer support
2.0

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
0.0

(0 Reviews of )

There are no reviews yet
  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Feb 25 2024
15.2
1.0
Feb 25 2024
1.0
Version: 15.2
In the continued lawsuit of the US Federal Trade Commission vs Avast: "Avast ordered to stop selling browsing data from its browsing privacy apps. Identifiable data included job searches, map directions, "cosplay erotica."" ARTICLE: It includes links to both the FTC Complaint and their proposed order. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/avast-ordered-to-stop-selling-browsing-data-from-its-browsing-privacy-apps/ - - Of interest from the article: "Since the time of the FTC's complaint and its Jumpshot business, Avast has been acquired by Gen Digital, a firm that contains Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, CCLeaner, and ReputationDefender, among other security businesses." - - I'm personally considering Gen Digital to be the next Symantec, in a bad way.
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Oct 27 2023
15.2
1.0
Oct 27 2023
1.0
Version: 15.2
YES, Avast / AVG were caught deliberately and systematically SELLING USER DATA. That of course is nothing new in the computing field. But at least the company relented in 2020. Are they a reputable company now? Keep an eye on them. - -> From 2020: "AVAST Unit Stops Collecting User Data After Privacy Complaints. Company to close DATA-SELLING SUBSIDIARY, but experts say users of antivirus software could still be at risk. - -> https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/avast-shutters-data-selling-subsidiary-in-wake-of-privacy-complaints-a9105985168/
MyronV9060
MyronV9060
Oct 31 2022
15.2
5.0
Oct 31 2022
5.0
Version: 15.2
Does the basics of anti-virus and malware successfully. It found a virus on my iMac upon initial installation and execution, and it intercepted a few malicious website over the last 2.5 years of using it. My employer recommended Avast for my Mac over other options when I started working from home due to the COVID pandemic. I've been very happy with what the free version has provided and am strongly considering purchasing it for the extended options such as system cleaning.
Michael-Vilain
Michael-Vilain
Sep 16 2021
14.2
0.0
Sep 16 2021
0.0
Version: 14.2
A friend installed Avast on their PC and found out "death will not release you" from their Marketing department. He never paid for anything service or gave them credit card information but that didn't stop the company from charging his credit card. He called his bank in an outrage about the fraudulent charge. I recommended filing consumer fraud charges with the CA AG and complaining about every email to their upstream Internet provider. It's seemed to have stopped now. Maybe the Marketing director moved on to another company when the CA AG came calling.
bob-185
bob-185
Dec 4 2020
14.2
5.0
Dec 4 2020
5.0
Version: 14.2
I have tried a few anti virus programmes but always come back to this one. I like its simplicity.
RogerG5788
RogerG5788
Mar 3 2020
14.2
1.0
Mar 3 2020
1.0
Version: 14.2
If you want to enter the world of strange behaviour on your mac, install this software. Otherwise, avoid it. Does not play well with Little Snitch and it also adds it's own commercials to your e-mails i.e. a burger commercial (popup offer) added to CNET e-mail. Little Snitch alerted me to that intrusion. Also takes a very long time too unsubscribe. Follow Apple rules and you will be safe.
Solutionscts
Solutionscts
Jan 30 2020
14.2
1.0
Jan 30 2020
1.0
Version: 14.2
Anti-virus vendor Avast has been collecting users' browsing histories and selling that personal information.... Vice said: Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data An antivirus program used by hundreds of millions of people around the world is selling highly sensitive web browsing data to many of the world's biggest companies, a joint investigation by Motherboard and PCMag has found. Our report relies on leaked user data, contracts, and other company documents that show the sale of this data is both highly sensitive and is in many cases supposed to remain confidential between the company selling the data and the clients purchasing it. The documents, from a subsidiary of the antivirus giant Avast called Jumpshot, shine new light on the secretive sale and supply chain of peoples' internet browsing histories. They show that the Avast antivirus program installed on a person's computer collects data, and that Jumpshot repackages it into various different products that are then sold to many of the largest companies in the world. Some past, present, and potential clients include Google, Yelp, Microsoft, McKinsey, Pepsi, Home Depot, Condé Nast, Intuit, and many others. Some clients paid millions of dollars for products that include a so-called "All Clicks Feed," which can track user behavior, clicks, and movement across websites in highly precise detail.
clqdr
clqdr
Oct 16 2019
14.2
1.0
Oct 16 2019
1.0
Version: 14.2
If you want to enter the world of strange behavior on your mac, install this software. Otherwise, avoid it.
Mikael-B
Mikael-B
Aug 9 2019
13.11
3.0
Aug 9 2019
3.0
Version: 13.11
I tried Avast after 4 years with AVG Antivirus, just to see if Avast's purchase of AVG meant they had learned anything from them. The apps look very similar and have similar paid for services.
However, while Avast scans fine and can find dodgy trojans, its web screening, in macOS 10.12, is meddling with basic web operation and triggering both Firefox and Safari for secured sites peddling its own distrusted SSL key for those sites. That's not acceptable. AVG does not do this. I'm taking 2 stars off for this, because it renders Avast quite unusable. I'm going back to AVG.

Sampler
Sampler
Dec 23 2018
13.4
5.0
Dec 23 2018
5.0
Version: 13.4
I'm very happy with Avast. I've had the free version for four years, first on El Capitan and now on High Sierra. I run occasional File scans manually. Early on, there was a conflict between Astrill VPN and Avast's mail shield. However, since I switched to VPN.AC, a much better and cheaper VPN, I've had no issues. The mail shield has found occasional bad actors in mail and mail attachments, while the web shield has blocked some problem web pages.. I've never experienced any slowdowns. My wife has had the same setup and similar good experience. Sure, I would like a real-time file scanner, but I don't expect it in a free program and I suspect that it would take up more resources. The key to happiness has been to ignore every popup offer. They don't come often enough to be annoying.
valpar-fr
valpar-fr
Sep 17 2018
13.4
0.5
Sep 17 2018
0.5
Version: 13.4
I tried to upgrade to Avast Business from a free version. It 's now a nightmare : I have no more Antivirus and I am unable to install the new version due to some Kaspersky files remaining on my computer. Avast has not answered to my request. So, at this stage, my advice is : don't upgrade
CODE_ASH
CODE_ASH
Jul 20 2018
13.9
5.0
Jul 20 2018
5.0
Version: 13.9
Not that good UI
Pirx
Pirx
Jul 12 2018
13.4
5.0
Jul 12 2018
5.0
Version: 13.4
I came from Intego, Kaspersky, Norton, SOPHOS Pro and changed to Avast, because of its superior detection of virii.

To first of all to answer the ever re-appearing question "I have a Mac, do I really need antivirus?": Yes, you do. It does not need to be a virus that affects OS X, you could inadvertendly cause an infection of others by you forwarding or sharing infected files. If you are in business and infect your customers, that is the sure way out of business.

I do not share the experience of any slow-downs by Avast at all. To the contrary, the use of cycles of Avast seems to be much less than other antivirus I have used over the years.

Apart from the ransomware shield and webshield, I particularly appreciate the e-mail shield of Avast, as we have been subject to a barrage of phishing and malware loaded e-mails, which all other antivirus did not detect. While I am certainly capable of identifying problematic e-mails, my associates may not. DIY also consumes precious time.

I don't share the experience of excessive invasiveness by Avast. In fact, I experience no invasiveness at all.

At the time of this writing, based on my experience, Avast antivirus is the best for Mac, in my opinion.
swanbeth99
swanbeth99
May 30 2018
13.4
3.0
May 30 2018
3.0
Version: 13.4
One of the greatest antivirus on a market, but it became too invasive and it slows down my computer, despite i have a good machine (Macbook Pro 2017)
seahunt
seahunt
Apr 17 2018
13.4
1.0
Apr 17 2018
1.0
Version: 13.4
The most egregious thing Avast did was corrupt two emails which arrived several hours apart. Somehow, the email scan managed to combine the two emails into a single garbled email. Since both emails were still on the server I was able to retrieve them and compare the three raw source files. What Avast did was astonishingly awful. Two other annoyances: I didn't like the way it interacted with Little Snitch and the Avast-provided uninstaller only uninstalls the app. I used another app to find all the bits and pieces left behind and manually deleted them.
skylinewarrior
skylinewarrior
Feb 16 2018
13.4
0.0
Feb 16 2018
0.0
Version: 13.4
Just another antivirus that slows my PC..
kristysmith016
kristysmith016
Jan 17 2018
13.2
0.5
Jan 17 2018
0.5
Version: 13.2
Is there any point installing Antivirus for Mac?
anonymous-thrush-1121
anonymous-thrush-1121
Nov 18 2017
13.0
5.0
Nov 18 2017
5.0
Version: 13.0
I change from Sophos Home to this. Because Avast block coinhive, Sophos Sophos Home does not block its operation with detection alone.
zlazkow
zlazkow
Dec 19 2016
11.18
2.0
Dec 19 2016
2.0
Version: 11.18
First what I want to say - Avast is extremely invasive. So, I pulverized it after one scan.
Installed it yesterday, run it, found one "infected" file which turned out to be from another free antivirus app. from App Store. I'm sure it wasn't "infected". But I went ahead and deleted it thru Avast. And then deleted the other one all together. After the scan was done, Avast got quite nasty, installed itself on the menu bar without ability to quit it. It also decided to keep my iMac "safe" by "watching" it. Couldn't find a way to quit, so I trashed it. Before trashing it, I purchased iTrash, which is superb, and used it to get rid of avast. Recommend Trend Micro, minimalist app. non invasive.
lacwbo
lacwbo
Nov 11 2016
11.18
0.0
Nov 11 2016
0.0
Version: 11.18
I hate it when the update is listed as: Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated. I like to know what I am updating for. Also I find Sophos Home works fine and is also free.
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Oct 27 2023
15.2
1.0
Oct 27 2023
1.0
Version: 15.2
MyronV9060
MyronV9060
Oct 31 2022
15.2
5.0
Oct 31 2022
5.0
Version: 15.2
bob-185
bob-185
Dec 4 2020
5.0
Dec 4 2020
5.0
Version: null
RogerG5788
RogerG5788
Mar 3 2020
1.0
Mar 3 2020
1.0
Version: null
Solutionscts
Solutionscts
Jan 30 2020
1.0
Jan 30 2020
1.0
Version: null
clqdr
clqdr
Oct 16 2019
1.0
Oct 16 2019
1.0
Version: null
Mikael-B
Mikael-B
Aug 9 2019
3.0
Aug 9 2019
3.0
Version: null
davetorr44
davetorr44
Mar 4 2019
0.5
Mar 4 2019
0.5
Version: null
Sampler
Sampler
Dec 23 2018
5.0
Dec 23 2018
5.0
Version: null
valpar-fr
valpar-fr
Sep 17 2018
0.5
Sep 17 2018
0.5
Version: null
june8
june8
Aug 11 2018
5.0
Aug 11 2018
5.0
Version: null
CODE_ASH
CODE_ASH
Jul 20 2018
5.0
Jul 20 2018
5.0
Version: null
Pirx
Pirx
Jul 12 2018
5.0
Jul 12 2018
5.0
Version: null
swanbeth99
swanbeth99
May 30 2018
3.0
May 30 2018
3.0
Version: null
seahunt
seahunt
Apr 17 2018
1.0
Apr 17 2018
1.0
Version: null
abyteofdata
abyteofdata
Jan 25 2018
4.0
Jan 25 2018
4.0
Version: null
kristysmith016
kristysmith016
Jan 17 2018
0.5
Jan 17 2018
0.5
Version: null
anonymous-thrush-1121
anonymous-thrush-1121
Nov 18 2017
5.0
Nov 18 2017
5.0
Version: null
zlazkow
zlazkow
Dec 19 2016
2.0
Dec 19 2016
2.0
Version: null
seealtaf
seealtaf
Sep 21 2016
0.5
Sep 21 2016
0.5
Version: null
ohmmmmmm
ohmmmmmm
Aug 12 2016
4.5
Aug 12 2016
4.5
Version: null
scoutpaget
scoutpaget
Nov 15 2015
1.0
Nov 15 2015
1.0
Version: null
Wild-West
Wild-West
Oct 4 2015
5.0
Oct 4 2015
5.0
Version: null
freiheit
freiheit
Sep 25 2015
1.0
Sep 25 2015
1.0
Version: null
jdidun
jdidun
Aug 26 2015
5.0
Aug 26 2015
5.0
Version: null
Ray-Ban
Ray-Ban
Aug 19 2015
4.0
Aug 19 2015
4.0
Version: null
jrkow
jrkow
Aug 6 2015
4.0
Aug 6 2015
4.0
Version: null
Jim-Jones
Jim-Jones
Aug 4 2015
5.0
Aug 4 2015
5.0
Version: null
superroberto
superroberto
Jul 31 2015
2.5
Jul 31 2015
2.5
Version: null
aheur
aheur
Jul 30 2015
5.0
Jul 30 2015
5.0
Version: null
My-Name-Is-Fry
My-Name-Is-Fry
Jul 28 2015
5.0
Jul 28 2015
5.0
Version: null
los(00)santos
los(00)santos
May 26 2015
5.0
May 26 2015
5.0
Version: null
assassin-assassin
assassin-assassin
Apr 6 2015
5.0
Apr 6 2015
5.0
Version: null
Penguirl
Penguirl
Mar 11 2015
1.0
Mar 11 2015
1.0
Version: null
koehnleinruth
koehnleinruth
Feb 13 2015
5.0
Feb 13 2015
5.0
Version: null
Lookky
Lookky
Jan 30 2015
0.5
Jan 30 2015
0.5
Version: null
tjekov37
tjekov37
Jan 30 2015
3.5
Jan 30 2015
3.5
Version: null
Gseifert
Gseifert
Jan 30 2015
5.0
Jan 30 2015
5.0
Version: null
jack2001
jack2001
Jan 22 2015
5.0
Jan 22 2015
5.0
Version: null
Tomq
Tomq
Dec 26 2014
2.0
Dec 26 2014
2.0
Version: null
Free
In-app purchases
How would you rate Avast?
Similar apps
MacKeeper
One app to clean and secure your Mac.
Is this app is similar to MacKeeper? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
1
Upvotes
1
Total score
0
Downvotes
AweEraser
Erase data securely.
Is this app is similar to AweEraser? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
0
Upvotes
1
Total score
0
Downvotes
PUB Expert
Read, edit, and create MS Publisher documents (was Publisher Editor for Microsoft).
Is this app is similar to PUB Expert? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
0
Upvotes
1
Total score
0
Downvotes
Malwarebytes
Adware removal tool (was AdwareMedic).
Is this app is similar to Malwarebytes? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
2
Upvotes
1
Total score
-1
Downvotes
ClamXAV
Virus checker based on ClamAV.
Is this app is similar to ClamXAV? Vote to improve the quality of this list.
Vote results
3
Upvotes
1
Total score
-2
Downvotes