How to Cancel Avast in 2026 (Uninstall Completely + Stop Data Collection)

Updated 2026-02-21 · 7 min read

What Avast Costs

• Avast Free Antivirus: $0 — but collected and sold your browsing data
• Avast Premium Security (1 device): $49.99/year intro → $89.99/year renewal
• Avast Premium Security (10 devices): $59.99/year intro → $119.99/year renewal
• Avast Ultimate: $71.88/year intro → $149.99/year renewal (bundled VPN + cleanup)
• Avast SecureLine VPN: $55.99/year
• Avast Cleanup Premium: $39.99/year — PC "optimization" that's mostly placebo

Step 1: Cancel Your Subscription

1. Go to my.avast.com and log in
2. Click Subscriptions
3. Find your active subscription → click Unsubscribe
4. Avast will show you retention offers and "what you'll lose" — click through to confirm
5. Look for a confirmation email

Step 2: Request a Refund

• 30-day money-back guarantee on new purchases
• Auto-renewal refund: Contact support within 30 days of charge
• How: Go to support.avast.com → Billing → Request Refund
• If denied: File a chargeback with your bank, citing the FTC settlement as evidence the product was deceptive

Step 3: Completely Uninstall Avast

Avast installs deep system hooks that survive normal uninstallation. Follow these steps carefully:

Windows (recommended method):

1. Download the Avast Uninstall Utility (avastclear.exe)
2. Boot into Safe Mode: Hold Shift → click Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced → Startup Settings → Safe Mode
3. Run avastclear.exe in Safe Mode
4. Select the Avast installation directory and click Uninstall
5. Restart your computer normally
6. Verify Windows Defender is active: Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security

Mac:

1. Open Avast → Avast menu → Uninstall Avast Security
2. If that doesn't work: Finder → Applications → move Avast to Trash
3. Delete leftover files: ~/Library/Application Support/Avast
4. System Settings → Privacy & Security → remove any Avast system extensions

Browser cleanup (critical):

• Avast Online Security: Remove from Chrome extensions, Firefox add-ons, Edge extensions
• Avast SafePrice: Shopping extension that tracks your browsing — remove immediately
• Avast Secure Browser: A Chromium-based browser Avast may have installed without clear consent — uninstall via Windows Apps
• Default search engine: Check if Avast changed your default search to their own — reset to Google/DuckDuckGo

The Full Timeline of Avast's Data Selling

• 2013: Avast creates Jumpshot subsidiary to monetize user data
• 2015-2019: Jumpshot sells "Every Click" data packages to 100+ companies including Google, Microsoft, Pepsi, McKinsey
• 2019: Security researchers discover Avast browser extensions collecting detailed browsing data
• Jan 2020: Motherboard/PCMag investigation exposes the full scope of data selling
• Feb 2020: Avast shuts down Jumpshot after public backlash
• 2022: NortonLifeLock acquires Avast for $8.6 billion (now Gen Digital)
• Feb 2024: FTC orders Avast to pay $16.5M and bans them from selling browsing data

What to Use Instead (Free + Private)

• Windows Defender (free): 99.5%+ detection rate, no data selling, built into Windows
• Malwarebytes Free: Second-opinion scanner for monthly manual scans
• uBlock Origin: Browser extension that blocks malicious ads and tracking scripts
• Bitwarden (free): Password manager — replaces Avast Passwords
• ProtonVPN (free tier): Replaces Avast SecureLine VPN — actually audited, Swiss privacy laws

There is no good reason to have Avast installed on any computer in 2026. A company that was fined by the federal government for selling its users' browsing data should not be trusted with system-level access to your computer. Uninstall it, use Windows Defender, and move on.