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Cybersecurity · head to head

Avast One vs Polco

Avast One logo

Avast One

Cybersecurity

All-in-one protection for your digital life

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Polco logo

Polco

Government

Civic Engagement and Polling Platform

From
$300/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Avast One has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Avast One ransomware and Wi-Fi vulnerability protection only on paid plans; Polco interface has a formal, academic tone compared to modern civic engagement platforms
  • They diverge on capability: Avast One covers Antivirus, Polco covers Scientific Surveys.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Avast One and Polco actually diverge.

Attributes where Avast One and Polco differ
AttributeAvast OnePolco
Starting priceFree$300/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
Founded19882015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Polco

  • Scientific Surveys
  • Live Polling
  • Community Benchmarking
  • Priority-Based Budgeting
  • Demographic Analysis
  • NRC Surveys
  • ArcGIS
  • Social Media

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Avast One

  • Antivirusnot Polco
  • Internet Securitynot Polco
  • Privacy Toolsnot Polco

Polco

  • Citizen Servicesnot Avast One
  • Records Managementnot Avast One
  • Public Safetynot Avast One
  • Civic Engagementnot 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

Polco

  • Interface has a formal, academic tone compared to modern civic engagement platforms
  • Emphasizes surveys and benchmarking over open discussion forums and idea boards
  • Pricing is custom quote-based without transparent pricing on the website

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

Polco

$300/month
  • Community Engagement$300/month
    • Community Surveys
    • Live Polling
    • Benchmarking

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.
Avast One review

Choose Polco if

  • You need scientific surveys.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live polling.
Polco review

Questions people ask

Is Avast One or Polco better?
Neither clearly leads. Avast One starts at Free and Polco at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Avast One or Polco?
Avast One has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Avast One and $300/month for Polco.
Does Avast One or Polco run on more platforms?
Avast One runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Polco runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Avast One for free?
Yes. Avast One has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Polco starts at $300/month.
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 Polco is typically brought in for.
What can Avast One do that Polco cannot?
Avast One covers Antivirus, Firewall, VPN, Data breach monitoring. Polco covers Scientific Surveys, Live Polling, Community Benchmarking, Priority-Based Budgeting. Both handle Web support.

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.

Source
Polco: How does Polco ensure survey data quality?

Polco uses scientific survey methodology through the National Research Center, with pre-tested survey questions and verification that participants live in the surveyed area to eliminate outside interference and bad-faith responses.

Source
Avast 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.

Source
Polco: What's the difference between Polco and open discussion platforms?

Polco emphasizes scientific surveys and benchmarking over open forums or suggestion boards, prioritizing rigorous data collection for policy decisions over broad community brainstorming.

Source
Avast 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.

Source
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