Kaspersky Review
Technically elite antivirus with a geopolitical asterisk — top-rated, but decide for yourself
Last reviewed: 2026-04-09 · By GBBR Editorial Team
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Our Top Pick · Silver Tier
Kaspersky
From $35.99/mo
The Bottom Line
Kaspersky consistently earns some of the highest detection rates in independent testing, rivaling Bitdefender and ESET for the top spot in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. It earned a Silver tier rating because its threat detection is genuinely world-class, but its Russian headquarters and the U.S. government ban (FCC, CISA, and a September 2024 U.S. Commerce Department ban on new consumer sales) make it a difficult recommendation for U.S. users. Non-U.S. users in markets where Kaspersky remains commercially available may find it a competitive alternative to Bitdefender at similar pricing.
What is Kaspersky?
Founded in 1997 by Eugene Kaspersky in Moscow, Russia, Kaspersky Lab protects over 400 million users worldwide and serves 240,000 corporate clients. Its threat intelligence platform is widely regarded as among the most sophisticated in the industry — used even by competing security vendors for threat data. In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a final rule prohibiting the sale of Kaspersky products to U.S. consumers and businesses, citing national security concerns. Kaspersky denies all allegations of backdoor access or government cooperation.
What does Kaspersky offer?
Kaspersky Standard (antivirus + performance tools, $35.99/year for 3 devices) is the entry tier. Kaspersky Plus adds VPN, password manager, and identity data leak checking. Kaspersky Premium includes Premium Support and credit monitoring. All plans include 30-day money-back guarantees. Note: U.S. consumers cannot legally purchase new Kaspersky subscriptions as of September 29, 2024.
Standard (1 yr, 3 devices)
$35.99
/year
Plus (1 yr, 5 devices)
$51.99
/year
Premium (1 yr, 5 devices)
$71.99
/year
Is Kaspersky worth the price?
$35.99/year (3 devices) — competitive pricing, but U.S. availability is restricted
Comparable to Bitdefender on price and detection rates — the geopolitical risk is the primary differentiator, not the feature set
Strong valueHow we scored it
Overall score: 78/100
Consistently top-3 in AV-Test protection scores — rivals Bitdefender for the highest detection rates in independent testing
Russian headquarters; U.S. Department of Commerce sales ban effective September 2024; not recommended for U.S. users or U.S. government contractors
Full suite: VPN, password manager, identity leak monitoring, webcam protection, parental controls — competitive with Bitdefender and Norton
AV-Comparatives rates Kaspersky among the lightest on system resources — comparable to Bitdefender
Competitive pricing against Bitdefender and Norton at similar feature tiers — available in non-U.S. markets at strong value
Near-zero false positives across testing cycles — comparable to Bitdefender
Why Kaspersky is Silver Tier
Kaspersky earns Silver because its core technology is genuinely elite — AV-Test and AV-Comparatives consistently rank it at or near the top for detection rates and false positive minimization. The Silver designation reflects the U.S. government ban and the real geopolitical risk that makes it unsuitable for U.S. users, U.S. government contractors, or organizations with U.S. compliance requirements. For users in non-restricted markets (EU, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.) who are comfortable with the risk assessment, Kaspersky's technical merits justify strong consideration.
How We Test Antivirus & Security Software
Detection rates reference current AV-Test and AV-Comparatives independent lab data — we require at least two consecutive test periods to rule out outliers. Performance impact is measured by logging CPU and RAM usage during idle, quick scan, and full system scan on a standardized 256GB SSD Windows 11 test machine. We test false positive rates against 50+ legitimate applications and time both quick and full scans on a 100GB data volume. Real-world phishing protection is checked against 20 known malicious URLs. Pricing and device limits are verified at checkout — not from pricing page copy — and renewal rates are documented separately from first-year promotional rates.
Last tested: 2026-04-09 · Reviewed by GBBR Editorial Team
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Consistently top-ranked detection rates in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives
- ✓Near-zero false positives — technically among the most accurate AV engines
- ✓Lightweight — minimal system performance impact
- ✓Full suite including VPN, password manager, and identity monitoring
- ✓Competitive pricing for the feature set
Cons
- ✗Banned from new U.S. consumer sales by Commerce Department (September 2024)
- ✗Russian jurisdiction is a disqualifying factor for U.S. government contractors and compliance-sensitive organizations
- ✗Geopolitical allegations persist regardless of Kaspersky's denials
- ✗Existing U.S. subscriptions received forced updates from UltraAV without consent in late 2024
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Get Kaspersky — from $35.99/mo →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kaspersky worth it in 2026?
$35.99/year (3 devices) — competitive pricing, but U.S. availability is restricted Overall verdict: Strong value.
What is Kaspersky best for?
Kaspersky is best for: Non-U.S. users (EU, UK, Canada, Australia) who have assessed the geopolitical risk, Users who prioritize raw detection rates above all else.
Does Kaspersky have a free trial?
Kaspersky does not offer a permanently free plan. Paid plans start at $35.99/month.
Who should NOT use Kaspersky?
Kaspersky is not the right fit for: U.S. users — new purchases are prohibited under U.S. law; Government contractors or anyone under U.S. federal compliance requirements.
What are the best Kaspersky alternatives?
Top alternatives to Kaspersky include bitdefender, norton-360, mcafee.
Kaspersky earns Silver because its core technology is genuinely elite — AV-Test and AV-Comparatives consistently rank it at or near the top for detection rates and false positive minimization. The Silver designation reflects the U.S. government ban and the real geopolitical risk that makes it unsuitable for U.S. users, U.S. government contractors, or organizations with U.S. compliance requirements. For users in non-restricted markets (EU, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.) who are comfortable with the risk assessment, Kaspersky's technical merits justify strong consideration.
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