Avast vs Datadog: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Avast and Datadog comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Avast
Free antivirus, scam blocking, privacy, and cleanup in one app
Best for you if:
- • You need security features specifically
- • Avast One Free is $0. Premium Security is the first paid antivirus step.
- • US Premium Security: $49.08 year 1 then $77.99/year (1 PC + 1 mobile). 10 devices: $69.48 then $99.99/year.
Datadog
Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps
Best for you if:
- • You need monitoring features specifically
- • Cloud monitoring and security platform
- • Unified observability across infrastructure
| At a Glance |  Avast |  Datadog |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Security | Monitoring |
Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Avast or Datadog?
Choose Avast if
Free antivirus, scam blocking, privacy, and cleanup in one app
- A real free Avast One / Free Antivirus app, not a 7-day teaser only
- Published US dollar prices on official Premium Security and Ultimate pages
- 1+1: one desktop Premium seat includes one mobile
- Your work is security-shaped, not monitoring-shaped
Choose Datadog if
Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps
- Comprehensive platform
- Great visualizations
- 700+ integrations
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
- Your work is monitoring-shaped, not security-shaped
| Feature | Avast | Datadog |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.3/5 176 reviews | ★4.5/5 1,092 reviews |
| Categories | SecurityVPN | MonitoringLog Management |
In-Depth Analysis
Avast
Free antivirus, scam blocking, privacy, and cleanup in one app
Stay on Avast One Free if you only want a scanner.
Watch out
Renewal is higher than year 1.
Strengths
- +A real free Avast One / Free Antivirus app, not a 7-day teaser only
- +Published US dollar prices on official Premium Security and Ultimate pages
- +1+1: one desktop Premium seat includes one mobile
- +30-day Windows trial with no card
Weaknesses
- -Renewal is higher than the first-year sale ($77.99 vs $49.08 on the small Premium pack)
- -In-app upsells on the free app
- -Owned by Gen Digital. Past privacy controversies are part of the brand history
- -Android / iOS-only Premium is sold inside the mobile app, not as a desktop SKU
Key features
Datadog
Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps
Datadog is the most comprehensive observability platform, infrastructure monitoring, APM, logs, RUM, security, and 750+ integrations in one place.
Watch out
APM requires Infrastructure Monitoring on the SAME hosts: you cannot buy APM alone. APM Pro ($35/host) + Infra Pro ($15/host) = $50/host minimum. Most pricing pages only show the APM price
Strengths
- +Comprehensive platform
- +Great visualizations
- +700+ integrations
Weaknesses
- -Complex pricing
- -Can be expensive
Key features
Pricing: Avast vs Datadog
| Plan | Avast | Datadog |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Avast One Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $77.99 year Premium Security (1 PC + 1 mobile) | $15 /host/month (annual) Infrastructure Pro |
| Tier 3 | $99.99 year Premium Security (10 devices) | $23 /host/month (annual) Infrastructure Enterprise |
| Tier 4 | $109.99 year Ultimate (small pack) | $31 /host/month (annual, with Infra) APM |
| Tier 5 | $139.99 year Ultimate (larger pack) | $40 /host/month (annual, with Infra) APM Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Avast pricing and Datadog pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Avast
Want the highest-rated option?
Avast: 4.3/5 (176 reviews). Datadog: 4.5/5 (1,092 reviews).
Go with: Datadog
Value user reviews?
Avast: 176 reviews (4.3/5). Datadog: 1,092 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Datadog
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Avast is a security tool. Datadog is in monitoring. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Datadog is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5.
Key Takeaways
Datadog
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5
- Larger review base (1,092 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Avast
- Better fit for security
The Bottom Line
Datadog is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Avast or Datadog better?
Datadog is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Avast and Datadog used for?
Avast: Free antivirus, scam blocking, privacy, and cleanup in one app. Datadog: Cloud monitoring, security, and AI investigations for DevOps.
What does Avast cost vs Datadog?
Avast is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Datadog is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.