Kaspersky Standard
Consistently strong detection at the lowest effective price in the top five, with a genuine free tier for anyone not ready to commit.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android
What we measured
Kaspersky Standard posted a 99% detection rate on the live zero-day feed with a compact resource footprint, and the free tier uses the same detection engine as the paid plan.
Where it wins
01
Malware protection
99% detection on the live zero-day feed, using the same core engine across the free and paid tiers.
02
Free tier
Kaspersky Free covers real-time antivirus protection with no time limit, missing only the extras bundled into Standard.
03
System performance
A light resource footprint that held up well across our three hardware tiers, including the oldest test machine.
04
Firewall & network monitor
A two-way firewall and network attack blocker are included on the paid tier.
The trade-offs
- Genuine free tier using the same detection engine
- Strong protection-to-price ratio on the paid Standard plan
- Light system footprint even on older hardware
- No iOS app in this product line
- VPN is a separate paid add-on
- Free tier omits firewall and payment protection
Common questions
Is Kaspersky Free actually free forever?
Yes — Kaspersky Free has no trial countdown, though it omits the firewall, payment protection, and other extras bundled into Standard.
Does Kaspersky include a VPN?
Not by default — Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection is a separate product, sold standalone or bundled into higher Kaspersky tiers.
Is Kaspersky Standard available for iPhone?
No — this product line covers Windows, macOS, and Android; there is no iOS client under the Standard plan.
How does the free tier compare on detection?
It uses the same core detection engine as the paid Standard plan, so malware-catching performance is effectively identical.
If this isn't the fit
Our verdict: the best value pick in the top five.
Kaspersky Standard delivers detection within a point of the category leaders at the lowest street price we tracked this cycle, and its free tier is a legitimate option if you just need baseline protection.
Get protected — $29.99/yr →