Avira and Comodo are both popular antiviruses, but Avira is so much better than Comodo. Unfortunately, Comodo’s malware scanner is disappointing, and many of its extra features leave a lot to be desired. On the other hand, Avira’s malware scanner performed well in my tests, and it has excellent additional features
Today I’m going to take a closer look at some of the other differences between Avira and Comodo so that you can choose the better antivirus in 2024.
Short on Time? Avira vs. Comodo — Final Verdict:
- 1st place:
- 2nd place:
Avira has better malware protection, provides more useful features, and is more intuitive. Avira offers excellent malware protection and extra features on a budget. If you’re after one of the best antiviruses on the market, go with Avira.
Comodo has a better firewall. Comodo’s malware protection isn’t that great, but it does feature a good firewall. If you want good web intrusion protection, go with Comodo.
Malware Protection
Avira
Avira features an excellent malware scanner that uses both heuristic analysis and an extensive malware database to protect you from rootkits, worms, trojans, and more in 2024. Avira’s malware scanner is so good that many third-party antiviruses such as TotalAV use it in their antivirus suites.
I was really happy with the malware scanner’s performance. To test Avira’s malware scanner, I downloaded an archive containing 1,000s of malware samples and hid them in different locations on my Windows 11 PC. I then ran Avira’s full system scan, which finished in about 40 minutes. While it was running, I could use my computer normally, as Avira offloads the resource-intensive process to the cloud. Avira found and removed 100% of the malware samples on my computer, which is great.
The real-time protection worked well, too. I tested it by downloading the same malware sample archive. Again, Avira was able to detect and block every malware sample before they could cause damage to my computer.
Comodo
Comodo uses heuristic analysis and a massive online malware database to scan your computer for malware.
However, Comodo’s scanner didn’t work very well on my computer. I downloaded the same malware archive containing 1,000s of malware samples that I used to test Avira, and ran Comodo’s full system scan. The scan took 3 hours to complete — which is much slower than Avira — and only found 93% of malware samples.
The real-time protection isn’t great, either. I tested it by downloading the same malware sample archive, and Comodo could only block 90% of the samples. This is particularly disappointing when Avira managed to block every sample.
Web Security
Avira
Avira’s web extension scans for and blocks access to dangerous phishing websites and trackers. The extension works on all major web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.
I was pretty impressed with the extension. I installed it on all 3 web browsers and tried to visit over 50 phishing website samples listed on PhishTank — Avira could block every single sample, including those that the default protections on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge weren’t able to block.
Avira can also protect you against exploit attacks. When I ran exploit attack samples on all 3 web browsers, Avira managed to stop the vast majority of them.
Comodo
Comodo’s web security isn’t very impressive. It blocks dangerous phishing websites, but it couldn’t block every phishing website when I visited the same 50 phishing websites I used to test Avira. It even failed to block phishing websites that Chrome, Edge, and Firefox blocked by default.
I also tested Comodo’s web filtering feature and was disappointed. It only works on Internet Explorer. Support ended for Internet Explorer in 2022, so this feature is obsolete now, and it’s a shame that Comodo hasn’t bothered to update it.
Features
Avira
Avira Prime offers coverage for up to 25 devices and includes the following features:
- Malware scanner.
- Real-time protection.
- Browser security.
- Device optimization tool.
- Driver updater.
- VPN (virtual private network).
- File shredder.
- Password manager.
- And more…
All these features work quite well, and I particularly like Avira’s driver updater. It can quickly scan every piece of software on your computer and inform you of any outdated software. This is an excellent defense against exploit attacks that target obsolete software.
I also like Avira’s VPN, which masks your IP address behind a virtual one to keep your data private. It’s not quite as good as a standalone VPN like ExpressVPN, but it works well. It uses 256-bit AES encryption and allows unlimited simultaneous connections so you can have your phone and computer connected to the VPN at the same time. I like how the VPN allowed me to watch videos, browse the web, and more without any slowdown.
Comodo
Comodo Internet Security Pro only offers coverage for one 1 device by default, but you can add additional devices for a fee. It includes:
- Malware scanner.
- Real-time protection.
- Secure firewall.
- Secure browser.
- Virtual desktop.
- Ad blocker.
- Gaming mode.
- And more…
Honestly, a lot of these features underperformed in my tests. However, I really like Comodo’s virtual desktop. It lets you create a secure environment to run suspicious applications in. The advantage of this is that if applications are infectious, they won’t be able to spread throughout your computer and cause damage. Beginner users won’t need this feature, but it’s great for advanced users.
I also like Comodo’s firewall. If you’re a beginner user, you can leave it to run out of the box and enjoy good network intrusion protection. However, if you’re an advanced user, you get lots of customization options so you can tweak the firewall to your liking. For example, you can block individual network connections you don’t want connecting to your router.
Ease of Use
Avira
Avira is one of the easiest antiviruses to use in 2024. Despite having such a wide range of features, it runs fast and installs on your device quickly.
Avira only took 10 minutes to install on my Windows 11 computer. It instantly opened when I clicked on its icon in the taskbar, and I found navigation fast and intuitive. Also, when scanning my computer, I never noticed any slowdown, thanks to Avira offloading the resource-intensive process to the cloud.
The mobile apps for Android and iOS also download quickly and run fast. Even with them running in the background, I could still use my phone as if they weren’t running while maintaining protection from the latest malware threats. I found the apps well laid out, uncluttered, and seamless to navigate.
Comodo
Comodo’s user interface is one of the few features that impressed me. The design is uncluttered, straightforward to navigate, and clean. You can also choose between two view options: Basic and Advanced.
The Basic view hides all of Comodo’s advanced features. This is ideal if you’re a beginner who wants the essential protections without constantly navigating through Comodo’s more advanced features — such as the virtual desktop.
I also like Comodo’s mobile apps for Android and iOS. They installed quickly on both my Huawei P30 Lite and iPhone 11 and were quick to navigate. That said, they contain a lot of buggy features, so you’re still better off just sticking with Avira.
Customer Support
Avira
Avira’s customer support options are pretty good. There’s a really good knowledge base, as well as responsive phone and email support. Honestly, my only complaint with Avira’s customer support is that it only offers phone support for premium users, but if you are a premium user, it’s pretty good.
Avira’s phone support team was quick to respond. The agents were friendly and helpful, and I could tell they were quite knowledgeable — I asked them a couple of technical questions and they answered and explained everything pretty well.
I had the same experience with the email support team, who were friendly and helpful and even linked me to useful resources in Avira’s knowledge base to help me further. The only downside was the slow email response time (they took 24 hours to respond).
I also wish Avira offered a live chat. This is something Comodo includes, and it’s a great way to get instant support without having to talk to anyone on the phone.
Comodo
Comodo’s customer support is pretty good. It offers phone and email support, a decent knowledge base, an online forum, and a live chat feature.
Comodo’s live chat is very good. I like how you can connect directly with Comodo’s live chat from the antivirus’s UI. Many antiviruses have you visit their website to connect with an agent. The live chat team was helpful and consistently gave clear instructions for me to follow.
I had a good experience with Comodo’s phone support too. I always connected with an agent quickly, and they were always helpful. Unfortunately, like Avira, Comodo only offers phone support to users who pay. This is super disappointing when many antiviruses provide phone support for all users.
However, I was impressed with Comodo’s email support. The email support team replied to my email within 30 minutes, which is much better than Avira’s 24-hour response time. Like with phone and live chat, the support agents were helpful and could answer all of my questions.
