Cybersecurity · head to head
Avast One vs Microsoft Sentinel
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Avast One ransomware and Wi-Fi vulnerability protection only on paid plans; Microsoft Sentinel billing is driven by the volume of log data ingested per day, so cost scales with log noise rather than with users or protected assets
- They diverge on capability: Avast One covers Antivirus, Microsoft Sentinel covers AI-powered analytics.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Avast One and Microsoft Sentinel actually diverge.
| Attribute | Avast One | Microsoft Sentinel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | usage-based |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, Api |
| Founded | 1988 | 1975 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Avast One
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- VPN
- Data breach monitoring
- Email Guardian
- Webcam Shield
- Ransomware Shield
- Performance optimization
Only in Microsoft Sentinel
- AI-powered analytics
- Fusion detection
- UEBA
- Automated response playbooks
- Threat intelligence
- Hunting queries
- Workbooks
- Incident management
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Avast One
- Antivirusnot Microsoft Sentinel
- Internet Securitynot Microsoft Sentinel
- Privacy Toolsnot Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Sentinel
- Cloud-based security information and event management (SIEM)not Avast One
- Extended detection and response (XDR) across enterprise infrastructurenot Avast One
- Data ingestion and long-term security analyticsnot Avast One
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Avast One
- Ransomware and Wi-Fi vulnerability protection only on paid plans
- Free plan VPN is limited, no data breakthrough monitoring
- Rebuilt app in May 2026 may have stability issues
Microsoft Sentinel
- Billing is driven by the volume of log data ingested per day, so cost scales with log noise rather than with users or protected assets
- Commitment tier discounts require reserving daily ingestion capacity in advance, and a tier cannot be downgraded until 31 days have passed
- Commitment tiers start at 100 GB per day, above what smaller estates ingest
- Charges for Log Analytics, Logic Apps and Machine Learning are billed separately on top of Sentinel itself
- The free allowance is only up to 5 MB per user per day for selected Microsoft 365 security logs
- Promotional commitment pricing is time limited and locks in only until a stated end date
Pricing, plan by plan
Avast One
Free- FreeFree
- Antivirus
- Limited VPN
- Privacy tools
- Silver$2.99/month
- Enhanced antivirus
- VPN
- Device cleanup
- Premium$4.19/month
- Full antivirus
- VPN with 55 servers
- Password manager
- Premium Plus$11.67/month
- All Premium features
- 30 devices covered
Microsoft Sentinel
Free- Pay-As-You-Go$2.46/day
- Per GB ingested
- 90-day retention
- First 31 days free for new workspaces
- Commitment TiersFree
- 100GB to 50TB tiers
- Up to 65% discount
- Predictable billing
- Microsoft 365 E5Free
- Free data ingestion for M365 logs
- Bundled with E5 license
Which should you pick?
Choose Avast One if
- You need antivirus.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want firewall.
Choose Microsoft Sentinel if
- You need ai-powered analytics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want fusion detection.
Questions people ask
- Is Avast One or Microsoft Sentinel better?
- Neither clearly leads. Avast One starts at Free and Microsoft Sentinel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Avast One or Microsoft Sentinel?
- Avast One starts at Free and Microsoft Sentinel at Free.
- Does Avast One or Microsoft Sentinel run on more platforms?
- Avast One runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Microsoft Sentinel runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Avast One for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Avast One best used for?
- Avast One is most often used for antivirus, internet security, privacy tools. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what Microsoft Sentinel is typically brought in for.
- What can Avast One do that Microsoft Sentinel cannot?
- Avast One covers Antivirus, Firewall, VPN, Data breach monitoring. Microsoft Sentinel covers AI-powered analytics, Fusion detection, UEBA, Automated response playbooks.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Avast One: Is Avast One free?
Yes. Avast One offers a free tier with antivirus, VPN (limited), and privacy tools. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for Silver and $4.19/month for Premium covering up to 5 devices.
SourceMicrosoft Sentinel: How is Microsoft Sentinel pricing calculated?
Microsoft Sentinel uses a pay-as-you-go usage-based model where you pay only for data ingested, stored, and consumed. Flexible commitment tiers are available to reduce total cost of ownership, with specific rates not published on the public pricing page. Source: https://www.microsoft.com/security/business/siem-and-xdr/microsoft-sentinel/
SourceAvast One: What does Avast One include?
Avast One provides antivirus, VPN, password manager, device cleanup, Wi-Fi security, data breach monitoring, and protection against AI-generated scams and deepfakes.
SourceMicrosoft Sentinel: Does Microsoft Sentinel require an Azure subscription?
Yes, Microsoft Sentinel requires a Microsoft Azure subscription to operate. Pricing is handled through Azure and varies based on data consumption and the commitment tier you select. Source: https://www.microsoft.com/security/business/siem-and-xdr/microsoft-sentinel/
SourceAvast One: Does Avast One have ransomware protection?
Ransomware protection is available only on paid plans, not the free tier. Free users get antivirus and basic protection only.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Sentinel
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