Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard vs Avira
Where AdGuard and Avira differ
| Compare |  AdGuard |  Avira |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free AdGuard DNS Starter plan by default; AdGuard Content Blocker free but with features limited compared to AdGuard for Android | 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free) |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, Yandex Browser | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Logging policy | Traffic filtered locally on device; AdGuard does not know which sites you visit | Strict no-logs policy; browsing activity not tracked and data not sold to third parties |
| Jurisdiction | CY | DE |
| Open source | YesHas it | No |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Private dns | Ad blocker, Browser |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, Dnscrypt | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- AdGuard scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Platforms: only AdGuard offers MacOS, Linux, Android TV.
- Platforms: only Avira offers Mac.
- Support channels: only AdGuard offers Email.
- Open source: only AdGuard.
- Founded is lower at Avira: 1986 vs 2009.
- Privacy tool type: only AdGuard offers Private dns.
- Privacy tool type: only Avira offers Browser.
Our verdict on each
AdGuard
AdGuard fits readers who want ad blocking and DNS protection in the same place, with a free plan for the basics and an open source VPN alongside it. A paid AdGuard plan covers 10 devices, and the longest subscription term is 24 with a money back window of 30 days.
Avira
Avira suits readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager under one subscription, and who keep paying after the first year. The annual antivirus plan opens at €47.95 and renews at €87.95, so the renewal figure is the one to plan around.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard | Avira |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.1Monthly billing sits at €5.95, and renewal at €87.95 outweighs the lower entry price. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.0Extras add vpn and password manager, a 30 day trial and a 60 day money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.4 | 9.8Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AdGuard | Avira |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 18 of 232 | 27 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 18 of 280 | 25 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 10 of 63 | 13 of 63 |
| Parental control apps | 7 of 59 | 12 of 59 |
| Free VPNs | 14 of 189 | 23 of 189 |
Where these facts come from
AdGuard
- adguard.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- adguard-dns.io: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Avira
- avira.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- e-shop.avira.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard | Avira |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | ADGUARD SOFTWARE LIMITED | Avira Operations GmbH |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Germany |
| Founded | 2009 | 1986Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | AdGuard | Avira |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €5.95 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €4.00 |
| Devices | 10Higher | 5 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | 36 |
| Features | No logs, Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €87.95 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Features | Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Kill switch |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Streaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services) |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Longest plan (months) | 24 monthsHigher | 12 months |
Password managers
| Fact | AdGuard | Avira |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | Not confirmed | AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test certifications, antivirus products only (2020) |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | 256-bit encryption, bank-grade |
Identity protection
| Fact | AdGuard | Avira |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Pros and cons
AdGuard
Pros
- Traffic is filtered locally on device, so AdGuard does not know which sites you visit, and the software is open source.
- The free plan is the default and covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app.
- Apps and extensions cover Windows, macOS and Linux, keeping one set of rules across phones, desktops and browsers.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so most questions end up in the help centre or the community.
- The free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app, so phone users may end up paying for it.
Avira
Pros
- A free version and a free password manager plan sit alongside the paid tiers
- A single subscription covers 5 devices across Windows, Mac and Android
- The bundle adds vpn and password manager to the antivirus plan
Cons
- Renewal runs at €87.95 against a first year of €47.95
- Support runs on help centre and community only
- Free usage is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free)
Who each suits
AdGuard
Who it suits
- Readers who want an ad blocker, private DNS and a VPN from a single company.
- People who want filtering to happen on device on open source software.
- Households with several devices to cover, since the VPN plan covers 10.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, whose aliases are free with an Apple Account, when the email address is the only thing to hide.
- EasyOptOuts, which has no free plan, when a free tier to try first matters.
Avira
Who it suits
- Readers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager from a single subscription.
- Small households that fit within 5 devices and want a free version to fall back on.
- People who want coverage on Windows, Mac and Android without managing separate vendors.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need wider device coverage: Comodo (Xcitium) lists 50 devices.
- Readers shopping in Brazil, where ESET Brasil prices its first year at BRL 64.22.
- Readers already inside the Apple ecosystem, where iOS, iPadOS and macOS are covered.
Current offers
AdGuard
Current offer
Free trial
AdGuard for Windows 14-day trial period: 14 days
Included with the AdGuard for Windows v8.0 download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Try Premium free for 7 days in AdGuard for iOS: 7 days
In-app offer before purchasing an iOS subscription; no payment taken during the trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
AdGuard DNS Personal plan free for AdGuard VPN customers: Free AdGuard DNS Personal subscription
Requires an active AdGuard VPN subscription; activated from the AdGuard account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Free AdGuard license for contributors and developers: Free license key
For community contributors (translations, beta testing, filters, knowledge base) and developers requesting a developer license
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Avira
Current offer
Free trial
Not ready to commit? Get FREE 30-day access to all our Premium products: 30 days free
No credit card required; email address required; homepage legal text states that for trials a payment method is required at sign-up and is charged at the end of the trial unless cancelled first
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Big savings. Strong online security: 45% off Avira Prime: 45% off the first year of Avira Prime (up to 5 devices)
Applies to the first annual period; subscription automatically renews at the renewal price unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
AdGuard
Is there a free AdGuard plan?+
Yes, and the free plan is the default. It covers DNS blocking, while the free Content Blocker drops features next to the full Android app. The starter apps already run on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you can try blocking on a phone, a desktop or a browser before paying.
What does the paid VPN plan include?+
The paid AdGuard VPN plan covers 10 devices at a time, and the longest subscription term runs 24. Its feature set includes no logs and streaming and split tunnelling and obfuscation, and a money back window of 30 days sits behind the purchase if the fit is wrong.
Avira
What does Avira cost in the first year, and what happens at renewal?+
The annual antivirus plan is €47.95 for the first year and renews at €87.95. Monthly VPN billing is €5.95, and the long-term VPN plan runs €4.00. The step up at renewal is the part worth budgeting for if you stay subscribed.
Is there a free Avira version?+
Yes. Avira offers a free version of the antivirus, and the password manager has a free plan as well. The free VPN is capped at 500 MB/month data (Phantom VPN free), so it suits light use rather than everyday browsing. The free tiers give you a way to sample the products before paying.
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