When comparing Kaspersky Free vs Avira, the Slant community recommends Avira for most people. In the question“What is the best antivirus software for Windows?” Avira is ranked 7th while Kaspersky Free is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Avira is:
I've used AVG Free in the past, and it seemed to slow my computer more than Avira does.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Top rated in comparisons
Pro Will watch over email and web sites
Pro Not the lightest on resources, but not the worst either
Pro Can set preferences about how to deal with PUP's and other notifications: ask, quarantine, or exclude
Pro Fast, and free version seems powerful
I've used AVG Free in the past, and it seemed to slow my computer more than Avira does.
Pro Can install more components if you wish.
Optional installs include VPN, System Speedup, a password manager, browser extensions, and a hardened browser.
In the case that you've downloaded the Free Suite (not recomended), you can uninstall the above mentioned additional downloads with Avira's Connect app or any uninstaller utility software. This flexibility to cherry pick your extra software keeps the bloatware down somewhat.
Cons
Con Russian company
Russian company. Banned by British and U.S. government for collecting and sharing data with Russian government.
Con Occasional pop-up ad in the taskbar
The ad is nagging the user to purchase Avira
Con Extras like Browser Safety include offers/deals when you're shopping
This is exactly the sort of behavior users want to prevent when using antivirus and similar security tools.