AV Comparatives
AV-Comparatives is an independent Austrian cybersecurity testing organization that evaluates antivirus, EDR/XDR, mobile, Mac, and IoT security products for global vendors and CISOs. It operates a B2B2C model where vendors commission and pay for testing while results are freely published for consumers and enterprises.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersInnsbruck, Austria
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AV Comparatives does
AV-Comparatives is an independent cybersecurity testing organization headquartered in Innsbruck, Austria, founded in 2003 and operating as a private limited liability company (AV-Comparatives GmbH, FN 365425s). It conducts comparative evaluations of antivirus, endpoint security, EDR/XDR, mobile, Mac, anti-phishing, APT, and IoT security products for global cybersecurity vendors, CISOs, consumers, analysts, and journalists. The firm's testing portfolio includes Real-World Protection Tests, Malware Protection Tests, Performance Tests, EDR Detection Validation Tests using 14-stage APT scenarios, Mobile Security Reviews, Mac Security Reviews, APT Detection Coverage Tests, Anti-Phishing Certification Tests, Offensive Security Tests, and an IoT Testing and Certification Platform developed with MCI Innsbruck researchers. AV-Comparatives holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, publishes results freely to the public without registration fees, and distributes findings via its website, the AVC-News mobile app (Android and iOS), PR Newswire, social media, and email newsletters.
The firm operates a B2B2C business model in which security vendors commission and pay for testing and certification of their products, while results are freely accessible to consumers, news organizations, scientific institutions, and CISOs to inform purchasing decisions. Reported customer logos include Avast, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, ESET, Microsoft, Norton (Gen Digital), McAfee, Fortinet, CrowdStrike, Elastic, Palo Alto Networks, ManageEngine, and Sangfor, among others. Distribution is website-first with global reach and no geographic restrictions. Recent product expansions include an IoT Testing and Certification Platform, APT Detection Coverage testing against 7,579 samples from 126 documented APT groups, and dedicated services for Investors and M&A professionals, positioning the firm to capitalize on European IoT security legislation compliance demand. The company employs 11-50 staff, has no parent company or subsidiaries, has not raised outside funding, and does not publicly disclose revenue.
AV Comparatives firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AV Comparatives
- Legal name
- AV-Comparatives GmbH
- Website
- https://av-comparatives.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AV-Comparatives is an independent Austrian cybersecurity testing organization that evaluates antivirus, EDR/XDR, mobile, Mac, and IoT security products for global vendors and CISOs. It operates a B2B2C model where vendors commission and pay for testing while results are freely published for consumers and enterprises.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AV Comparatives industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Testing & Certification
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Application Security Testing (SAST/DAST/IAST/SCA) (HDADACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Vulnerability Management, Pen Testing & Attack Surface Management (ASM) (HLACAJAN)
Keywords
Where AV Comparatives is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Innsbruck
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AV Comparatives business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Vendor Testing Services: Security vendors commission AV-Comparatives to test and certify their products, receiving detailed performance reports and certification that can be used for marketing purposes.
- Free Consumer Access: Test results are freely available to consumers, news organizations, and scientific institutions, creating brand recognition and industry authority without direct revenue from these audiences.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
AV Comparatives product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AV-Comparatives is an independent organization that systematically tests and certifies cybersecurity software — including antivirus, EDR/XDR, mobile, Mac, and IoT security products — on behalf of security vendors who commission the tests. Test results are published publicly and free of charge for end users and the broader security community, while approved vendors receive certification seals and detailed reports for product positioning.
Product overview
AV-Comparatives is an independent cybersecurity testing organization based in Innsbruck, Austria, offering a comprehensive portfolio of test products across consumer, enterprise, and IoT security categories. The core offerings include the Consumer Main-Test Series (Real-World Protection Tests, Malware Protection Tests, Performance Tests, False Alarm Tests), Enterprise Security Tests (Business Security Tests, EDR Detection Validation Tests, Endpoint Prevention & Response Tests, Offensive Security Tests), and specialized evaluations (Anti-Phishing Certification Tests, Mobile Security Reviews, Mac Security Reviews, APT Detection Coverage Tests). The organization also provides free tools like the AVC-UnDroid Android analysis tool and the AVC-News mobile app. Recent additions include an IoT Testing and Certification Platform developed with MCI Innsbruck. Test results are freely accessible, with detailed reports available for enterprise clients and vendors seeking single-product testing. The company publishes annual summary reports and Security Surveys, and has recently expanded into automated testing methodologies incorporating AI for detection summaries and SOC analyst workflow improvements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Antivirus and Endpoint Security Testing
- EDR/XDR Detection Testing
- Mobile Security Testing
- Mac Security Testing
- IoT Security Testing
- Approved Security Product Certification
- AVC-UnDroid Platform
- AVC-News
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% phishing detection rate achieved by NordVPN in AV-Comparatives Anti-Phishing Test
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use AV Comparatives
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AV Comparatives technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
AV Comparatives partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MCI Innsbruck (The Entrepreneurial School)coreAV-Comparatives collaborated with MCI Innsbruck researchers to develop an innovative IoT testing and certification platform that evaluates the cyber-resilience of connected devices. This partnership produced the platform awarded at Tiroler Innovationspreis 2025 and led to the nomination for Euregio Innovation Award at European Forum Alpbach 2025.
- Epic GamesminorResponsible disclosure relationship where AV-Comparatives researchers reported MEL/Vacphage.A vulnerability discovered in Autodesk Maya binary files distributed via Fab.com to Epic Games' security team before public announcement.
- Gen Digital (Parent company of Norton, Avast, AVG, Avira)coreGen's consumer cybersecurity brands regularly commission AV-Comparatives testing, with Norton, Avast, AVG, and Avira collectively earning 28 award recognitions in 2025.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AV Comparatives competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TÜV Rheinland: Global testing, inspection, and certification provider across many industries including cybersecurity. Comparable as an established independent certifier for IoT and security products, though operating at much larger scale and across broader non-security verticals.
Direct peers
- AV-TEST: Independent IT security institute based in Germany that performs antivirus and security software testing and certification. Directly comparable as a longstanding European independent testing lab serving the same vendor base and consumer audiences with overlapping methodologies (Real-World Protection, Performance, Usability tests).
- Virus Bulletin: Long-established independent security testing organization running the VB100 certification and regular anti-malware comparative tests. Direct peer in independent security product certification, comparable audience (vendors, analysts, security professionals), with similar publication-based authority.
- MRG Effitas: UK-based independent cybersecurity testing lab focused on anti-malware, EDR, online banking, and ransomware protection evaluations. Closely comparable in business model (vendor-commissioned testing with published results) and target vendor base.
- West Coast Labs: Independent security product testing and certification lab offering Checkmark certification for anti-malware and related security technologies. Comparable as a vendor-commissioned certification body with overlapping endpoint security focus.
- ICSA Labs: Independent testing and certification organization (historically associated with Verizon) that certifies security products including anti-malware and endpoint solutions. Comparable in vendor-paid certification model and recognized seal-of-approval positioning.
- SE Labs: UK-based independent security testing lab that runs enterprise and consumer endpoint protection, EDR, and email security tests. Directly comparable as a paid testing service for major security vendors, with overlapping enterprise-focused certifications.
Emerging players
- MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations: MITRE-run independent evaluations of EDR and XDR solutions against ATT&CK-mapped adversary tactics. Comparable as a free, publicly influential independent assessment of enterprise security products, though its scope is broader (no consumer AV) and its funding model differs (non-profit/government vs. vendor-paid).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AV Comparatives social profiles
Digital presenceAV Comparatives compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
AV Comparatives financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AV Comparatives leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
AV Comparatives funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AV Comparatives M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AV Comparatives
What does AV Comparatives do?
AV-Comparatives is an independent organization that systematically tests and certifies cybersecurity software — including antivirus, EDR/XDR, mobile, Mac, and IoT security products — on behalf of security vendors who commission the tests. Test results are published publicly and free of charge for end users and the broader security community, while approved vendors receive certification seals and detailed reports for product positioning.
Is AV Comparatives a public or private company?
AV Comparatives is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AV Comparatives founded?
AV Comparatives was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AV Comparatives based?
AV Comparatives is headquartered in Innsbruck, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does AV Comparatives make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Vendor Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are free Consumer Access.
Who are AV Comparatives's main competitors?
TÜV Rheinland is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are AV-TEST, Virus Bulletin, MRG Effitas, West Coast Labs, ICSA Labs and SE Labs. MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations is listed as an emerging player.
Does AV Comparatives have an API?
No public API is recorded for AV Comparatives.
What industry is AV Comparatives in?
AV Comparatives's product category is Cybersecurity Testing & Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADACAC, Application Security Testing (SAST/DAST/IAST/SCA), with a secondary code of HLACAJAN, Vulnerability Management, Pen Testing & Attack Surface Management (ASM). Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 7373.