Kaspersky is a premium antivirus with excellent protection scores. Windows Defender is free and built into Windows. Is Kaspersky worth paying for in 2025? We compare them head-to-head.

Protection Comparison

Kaspersky consistently scores higher in independent lab tests, particularly for zero-day threats and phishing protection. Windows Defender is good but not quite at Kaspersky’s level.

Features

• Kaspersky: VPN, password manager, parental controls, Safe Money, webcam protection, file shredder
• Windows Defender: Core antivirus, firewall, SmartScreen, basic parental controls

Privacy Consideration

Note: Due to geopolitical concerns, some government agencies have banned Kaspersky software. For regular home users, this is typically not a concern.

Verdict

Choose Kaspersky if you want premium features and the best possible protection. Windows Defender is sufficient for basic users.