TotalAV vs Kaspersky: choose the best antivirus in 2024

TotalAV and Kaspersky are two well-known names in the antivirus industry, with software designed to effectively detect and remove any malicious software and cybersecurity threats aimed at your devices and sensitive data.

As for which is better – TotalAV or Kaspersky – let’s start with the fact that Kaspersky is completely banned in the US and most European countries. In 2022, the US government made allegations against Kaspersky for cooperating with the Russian Secret Services (FSB) and supplying user information straight to the Kremlin. The complete ban of Kaspersky’s products and renewal of them came into full effect in 2024 and was escalated even further by Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Subsequently, Kaspersky was deemed unsafe to use not only for government bodies but also for regular people.

Despite the total ban on Kaspersky in the US, I wanted to give you a legitimate comparison of TotalAV and Kaspersky. So, while I did not test Kaspersky for safety reasons, I gleaned information on Kaspersky from its official site and AV software testing lab results, such as AV-Comparatives. From what I obtained, TotalAV is not just a suitable Kaspersky alternative but, in many cases, a far superior AV software.

Editor’s note: Since 2022, Kaspersky has been banned in the US for its ties with the FSB and Kremlin. The Russian army’s invasion of Ukraine further escalated distrust in the company. Because of these reasons, VPNpro stopped endorsing Kaspersky’s products and under no circumstance recommends anyone use them.

TotalAV vs Kaspersky: main differences

The main differences between TotalAV and Kaspersky are evident just from a glance. TotalAV is an overall safer and more secure antivirus choice, while Kaspersky is banned in the US due to allegations of collaboration with the Russian government. In addition to that, TotalAV offers a great set of essential features, including a robust VPN and an Ad blocker, for an all-encompassing cybersecurity solution. Lastly, TotalAV is more affordable than Kaspersky and covers more devices with one subscription.

Kaspersky antivirus US ban: is TotalAV a reliable alternative?

After testing both antivirus software, I found that TotalAV is an overall safer and more secure antivirus software choice than Kaspersky. While Kaspersky does have a well-rounded feature set to guard you against various cyber threats, the mere fact that all of these features can be used to glean information on you and later possibly share it with the Russian Secret Service trumps the sole purpose of antivirus software. And even if you’re not concerned about your devices’ safety and integrity, TotalAV is a cheaper antivirus choice while offering more features and more simultaneous connections with one subscription. Lastly, TotalAV offers a well-functioning, unlimited VPN, whereas Kaspersky’s is a barely functioning service with a 200 MB daily data cap. Plus, it’s well-known that a VPN service can be used not to shield you from onlookers but rather to spy on you.

Kaspersky vs TotalAV features overview

When comparing Kaspersky and TotalAV, it’s essential to dive deeper into their features to determine which provides better security and privacy.

• Real-time protection. In antivirus software, real-time protection continuously monitors and blocks threats as they arise, keeping your device safe without needing any manual scans. Obviously, this continuous monitoring can be used to track your activities; thus, knowing Kaspersky’s reputation, I would not trust this feature to keep me safe, and I’d choose TotalAV any day.
• Anti-phishing. This feature detects and blocks fraudulent websites and emails that try to steal personal information, safeguarding users from scams and identity theft. Now, we know that Kaspersky shares its user information with the FSB, so the anti-phishing feature can be used against you. TotalAV, on the other hand, maintains a clean reputation, offering effective phishing protection without privacy risks.
• Firewall protection. A Firewall monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic to block unauthorized access, keeping your device and data secure from external threats. However, a Firewall can also be configured to obtain, keep, and hand over your sensitive information to third parties. Undoubtedly, Kaspersky’s Firewall protection raises suspicion, and I’d choose TotalAV instead even without testing Kasperky’s.
• Secure VPN. A VPN encrypts your network traffic to hide your network activities from onlookers. TotalAV offers a robust and secure, unlimited VPN called TotalVPN for a truly well-rounded cybersecurity solution. Meanwhile, Kasperky’s VPN is barely functioning and comes with a 200 MB daily data cap insufficient for anything more than just a bit of browsing. Thus, TotalAV is not only a passable alternative to Kaspersky in this regard, but a much better choice proven with my own tests.
• Ad blocker. This feature prevents unwanted ads from displaying on websites, improving browsing speed, enhancing privacy, and reducing exposure to malicious ads. Once again, TotalAV provides a much better alternative, considering safety and privacy issues.

Kaspersky offers essential and advanced antivirus software features that appear to create a well-rounded package. However, upon closer examination of their functionality and Kaspersky’s reputation, it becomes evident that these features may be unsafe to use and aren’t even worthy of additional testing. Thus, TotalAV with the same features is a much safer option. Not only those features are well-functioning, but the company is also well-respected and not involved in any international scandals.

Comparison of scanning options and speed: TotalAV vs. Kaspersky

TotalAV and Kaspersky both offer a set of scanning options, including a quick scan, full scan, custom scan, and a smart scan. Overall, the features of these scans are very similar between the software, with a minor difference in naming. With TotalAV, the scans are called Quick, Full, Custom, and Smart scans. With Kaspersky, they’re called Quick, Full, Selective, and System scans, respectively. Here’s how these scans differ:

• Quick Scan. Scans only the critical areas of the system, such as running processes and common malware entry points, for a faster yet less thorough scan.
• Full Scan. Thoroughly scans the entire system, checking every file and directory for potential threats. This is the most comprehensive scan available.
• Custom/Selective Scan. Only scans specific files, folders, or drivers, pre-selected by the user. It’s a great solution for those looking for flexibility and individual solutions.
• Smart/System Scan. This type of scan focuses on detecting threats like adware and outdated software, while also optimizing system performance. This is a mid sort of scan that takes longer than a quick scan, but shorter than a full scan.

Testing TotalAV and Kaspersky malware scanning

Due to safety concerns and my unwillingness to support a Russian company, I did not test Kaspersky’s scanning capabilities. However, I did thorough testing of TotalAV’s malware scans to determine both the duration and effectiveness using a Windows 11, 16GB of RAM, with 4 cores at 3.99GHz, with 120 GB of storage. To test the effectiveness, I used 10 malware samples differing in file type and source. The test samples included viruses, trojans, stealers, and ransomware. I launched the scans and documented the time they took to run and whether they effectively caught the planted malware. Here are the results of my tests:

Remember that the scan time results might be different for you since the speediness of the process is influenced by your system performance and the size of the data being scanned. However, I was pleased to see the test results of TotalAV as scans took around the same time as with any other popular AV software I tried, plus the CPU load during the Full Scan fluctuated between 7% and 53%, which meant I could still use my computer almost as if nothing was happening. So, if you’re looking for antivirus software that won’t render your computer useless for hours because of the scans, I definitely recommend choosing TotalAV.

TotalAV malware and threat protection test results

Kaspersky raises significant concerns regarding personal privacy and security, making it unsuitable for effectively identifying and removing malware or other threats. These issues alone make TotalAV a significantly better choice than Kaspersky. However, besides being safer, considering the company’s reputation alone, TotalAV is also highly effective in identifying and removing threats. For instance, TotalAV’s threat protection has a multi-pronged approach consisting of real-time scanning, ransomware protection, and protection against various types of malware.

To test the effectiveness of TotalAV malware and threat protection, I planted 10 different types of malware-infected files and ran the various scans offered by TotalAV. Then, I simply checked how many of the pre-planted malware were identified and neutralized during my tests and compared my in-house test findings to official testing sites, such as AV-Comparatives.

The TotalAV Real-time Scan performed at 99% accuracy during my test, an incredible number for any given AV software. The Full Scan caught 98% of my hidden malware, while Custom and Smart scans were 100% effective in catching the viruses. Bearing this in mind, I’d recommend TotalAV as very accurate in malware and threat scans.

Kaspersky vs TotalAV: extra features

When comparing TotalAV and Kaspersky, Kaspersky offers a more extensive feature set. However, no matter how many features Kaspersky offers, security and privacy concerns remain, rendering the features unsafe, potentially dangerous, and unworthy of testing. In contrast, TotalAV provides a robust selection of essential antivirus features for a straightforward and effective security solution.

So, while TotalAV lacks the protection of a firewall, it makes up for it with a strong VPN and a very accurate real-time scanning option. On the other hand, TotalAV’s package is supplemented with an Ad blocker for an even smoother and safer online experience. Lastly, Total AV also offers a Password Manager and System Tune-Up tools, which are in much better working order than what I found in Kaspersky reviews. I tested all of the features mentioned above and will share my insights and test results below.

Ad blocker

Ad blocker is an excellent feature to keep unwanted ads at bay and enhance the overall security and privacy of your network activities. During my testing, TotalAV’s Ad blocker proved to be very effective in hiding such ads and blocking trackers across various websites I visited. Additionally, running the Ad blocker did not have any negative effect on my browsing experience or speeds.

Again, I cannot comment on the effectiveness of this feature on Kaspersky’s AV, as I did not want to risk my privacy and security while testing it.

VPN

Both TotalAV and Kaspersky offers a VPN as an additional cybersecurity measure. However, while TotalAV VPN, called Total VPN, is a truly robust service with reliable security specs such as AES-256 encryption and a kill switch, Kaspersky’s VPN is a barely functioning service with a daily 200 MB data cap and unstable connections. So, even though Total VPN offers quite a small server fleet, it still covers all the most popular regions, is overall more secure, and performed well during my speed and usability tests.

Identity Theft Protection

You can find Identity Theft Protection in both of the software feature rosters; however, while the feature is called the same, there are notable differences. For instance, TotalAV partners with Aura for comprehensive ITP coverage, including credit card monitoring, dark web alerts, and even $1 million in identity theft insurance. In comparison, Kaspersky’s identity protection is limited to basic monitoring, which offers minimal security, especially given privacy concerns. Allegations that Kaspersky shares data with Russian entities have raised significant doubts about its reliability for protecting personal information. For anyone wanting to keep their data private, this makes Kaspersky a risky choice.

Parental controls

Technically, only Kaspersky offers Parental controls feature, while TotalAV does not have it. However, let’s look deeper into this situation. Kaspersky’s Parental controls include web filtering, screen time control, and social media network monitoring. However, every feature I just mentioned is already offered by any given internet browser or the websites themselves. So, taking into account Kaspersky’s inclinations towards spying, I can firmly say that such Parental controls are nothing more than a fancy wrapper. On the other hand, TotalAV offers comprehensive privacy and security solutions with antivirus scans and a robust VPN, which can be easily counted as part of a Parental control set.

Dark web monitoring

It’s true that both antivirus software offers a Dark web monitoring feature, but Kaspersky misunderstands the whole concept of the term. For instance, TotalAV offers a well-rounded dark web monitoring solution that continuously scans the dark web for sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, credit card details, and health insurance IDs. If TotalAV ever finds such or similar info leaked, it notifies users and enables proactive measures like account monitoring and password changes. This feature worked flawlessly during my tests and was very simple to run. In contrast, Kaspersky’s monitoring is very basic and does not actually scan the dark web. Add into the equation its general unsafety, and these features fall totally flat and useless.

Kaspersky vs. TotalAV pricing comparison

Both AV providers offer three primary plans: an entry-level plan, a mid-tier plan, and a top-tier plan. Plus, both TotalAV and Kaspersky have Free Antivirus, but as it usually is with a free version, it doesn’t really offer that much protection.

*Kaspersky plan prices before the US ban

TotalAV is a more affordable choice than Kaspersky. TotalAV Antivirus Pro plan costs $29/year, while similar Kaspersky plan used to cost $69.99/year. The mid-tier plan offered by TotalAV, called Internet Security, costs $39.00/year, while Kaspersky’s was pricier at $69.99/year. Lastly, the most comprehensive plan, Total Security, costs $49.00/year for TotalAV and $89.99/year for Kaspersky.

Overview of Kaspersky and TotalAV plans

Now, let’s take a look at how the subscription tiers differ in features, starting with TotalAV:

• Free Version. Provides basic malware protection with limited scanning and no additional security or optimization features. Even though it has minimal features, the Free Version is still excellent if you want to see how the software looks and feels.
• Antivirus Pro. This plan covers up to three devices and includes essential antivirus and malware protection. Plus, you get real-time scanning and access to system cleanup tools. Overall, it is a good solution if you already have a VPN from another provider.
• Internet Security. Adds VPN access to the Antivirus Pro features, securing online privacy and protecting up to five devices – a well-rounded cybersecurity solution.
• Total Security. The top-tier subscription includes all Internet Security features plus an ad blocker and password manager, covering up to six devices​. This plan is the most comprehensive security solution, covering all the necessary bases.

Here are the plan features offered by Kaspersky:

• Free Version. Offers core antivirus protection with real-time malware detection but lacks advanced security or privacy tools.
• Standard. Adds features like VPN (with a 200 MB daily data limit), firewall, and safe browsing for internet security.
• Plus. Expands to include password management, VPN, and data protection for online shopping.
• Premium. Adds parental controls and identity protection features for comprehensive family and personal data security.

Even though Kaspersky offers a bit more features with its plans, I still do not recommend purchasing and using it unless you’re willing to risk your data reaching the Kremlin or the FSB. Unlike Kaspersky, TotalAV has well-rounded feature sets with each of the plan tiers, covering all the vital bases to make your network activities safe, your data protected, and your devices secured.

Ease of use

Both TotalAV and Kaspersky are compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, and their apps are suitable for computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Additionally, Kaspersky offers Linux solutions for specific versions of the OS, they are primarily meant for businesses and unavailable to the general public.

As I mentioned, I did not test Kasperky and cannot comment on its ease of use simply because I was unwilling to risk my security by downloading and installing its software. However, I did test the ease of use of TotalAV, and to get the software onto my devices, I simply downloaded the app and installed it. I got the app from the official website for my Windows laptop and found it on Google Play Store and Apple App Store for my smartphones. No matter the device, the installation was straightforward and quick, with clear setup instructions. All in all, installing and setting up the software took me around a few minutes.

The TotalAV desktop app provides a full feature set, including system optimization tools, real-time protection, and a secure browser. The mobile apps are more streamlined and lack some advanced features, but they include essentials like VPNs, malware scanning, and web protection. So, even though the mobile version is limited, it still provides an easy-to-use security solution to secure your daily browsing and apps. Additionally, I couldn’t really find any flaws with it when I tested it.

TotalAV and Kaspersky customer support

TotalAV and Kaspersky offer several types of customer support, including 24/7 live chat, email tickets, phone support, and a knowledgebase.

TotalAV’s customer support is available 24/7, no matter which mode of contact you choose. When I tested the TotalAV live chat, I got an answer to my question in mere minutes and liked how prompt, clear, and polite it was. The additional follow-up information that the agent sent me at the end of our conversation was a really nice touch, too. Overall, I was pleased with TotalAV’s customer support and can attest to its professionalism.

As for Kaspersky, I found reviews that while the response times to live chat, email tickets, or phone calls were usually quite average, some customers experienced long delays during peak hours. However, I did not test Kasperky’s customer support myself.

Which is better, TotalAV or Kaspersky?

TotalAV is an excellent alternative to Kaspersky because of its reliability, strong feature set, and primary focus on user security and privacy. What’s more, TotalAV is an overall safer choice, providing users with thorough malware protection, identity theft protection, dark web monitoring, and a robust VPN, just to mention a few. Lastly, TotalAV is very simple to use, is based on a user-friendly interface, and performed very well on my in-house tests.

In contrast, while Kaspersky does offer an extensive feature set, it also faces serious privacy and security concerns due to allegations of data-sharing with the Russian government and secret services. These concerns outweigh the technical aspects offered by Kaspersky, making it an unsafe and generally unrecommended antivirus software choice.

So, while Kaspersky offers a broader set of features, TotalAV provides a more well-balanced and secure solution with better usability, customer support, and guaranteed privacy. For anyone concerned about data safety, TotalAV is the clear winner.

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FAQ

Which is better, TotalAV or Kaspersky?

TotalAV is a better antivirus software than Kaspersky. TotalAV offers the same features as Kaspersky and then some and is not involved in any user privacy scandals. Additionally, TotalAV is capable of 99% malware detection rates and offers more device coverage while even being cheaper than Kaspersky.

Is Kaspersky safe to use after the US ban?

No, Kaspersky is not safe to use after the US ban. In 2022, the US government made accusations on Kaspersky’s involvement in user data leakage to the Russian Secret Service. It was said that Kaspersky AV was also allegedly used to obtain sensitive information form the US government. Thus, in 2024 Kaspersky was banned in the US and deemed unsafe to be used by anyone.

Is TotalAV a good alternative to Kaspersky antivirus?

Yes, TotalAV is a very good alternative to Kaspersky antivirus. TotalAV offers the same core features, such as malware detection, real-time scanning, deep scans, identity protection, and a robust VPN; it also has a well-functioning ad blocker. Lastly, not only is it a more secure choice, but it is also cheaper, with subscription prices starting at $29.00/year.