PCMAG
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The Best Free Antivirus Software We've Tested for 2026 | PCMag
November 26, 2025 - Based on painstaking testing, lab scores, and hands-on evaluations, we’ve named Avast One Basic and AVG AntiVirus Free as our Editors’ Choice winners for free antivirus apps. Be sure to check out all of our top picks below, though, as price ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/antivirus › the best free anti-virus 2023 (almost 2024)
r/antivirus on Reddit: The Best Free Anti-Virus 2023 (almost 2024)
December 22, 2023 -
I currently use the FREE version of Avria Antivirus... having downgraded from the PAID due to money issues. My main question is this: is this worth keeping or is there a better FREE Antivirus that would serve me better? I do not mean FREE as in a paid free-trial------ I mean FREE as in %100 no-strings completely FREE. I use Windows 10 Pro. Advice friends?
Top answer 1 of 5
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Honestly, windows defender. I have a friend that test AVs for fun, and Windows defender actually surprised me with how well it did. It has definitely come a long way, so much so that I actually recommend it. If you want a 3rd party AV, the only other options you really have are Kaspersky and Bitdefender
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There is no best antivirus in principle. There are several antiviruses whose virus detection level tends to the maximum. You can choose between them based on price, functionality, and personal attitude. Also you can check an results of independent test labs: AV-Test, AV-comparatives, Virus Bulletin. Please don't watch any tests on YouTube cuz many of them have a lot of mistakes, have no methodology, in short, unprofessional.
Best Free Antimalware? - PCPartPicker
What's the best free antimalware software that has real-time protection and isn't a free trial · There is No anti-malware paid or otherwise that can protect you from bad habits or if someone actually wants your system More on pcpartpicker.com
Is there a good free antivirus program for Windows 8.1?
I need such a program for a friend with modest means who has an older PC that uses Windows 8.1. Thanks, Bob More on learn.microsoft.com
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Free Antivirus Software for Mac - Apple Community
Do you have any recommendations for an antivirus app for Mac? I see a lot of antivirus apps on the app store and the internet, but I don't know which ones I can trust · Posted on Apr 23, 2023 6:28 PM More on discussions.apple.com
The Best Free Anti-Virus 2023 (almost 2024)
Honestly, windows defender. I have a friend that test AVs for fun, and Windows defender actually surprised me with how well it did. It has definitely come a long way, so much so that I actually recommend it. If you want a 3rd party AV, the only other options you really have are Kaspersky and Bitdefender More on reddit.com
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December 22, 2023Is Avira Free Antivirus really free?
Yes. Avira Free Antivirus for Windows is available to download for nothing. The antivirus protection program for your PC uses the same antivirus scanning technology as Avira Antivirus Pro for online protection you can count on. The Pro version for Windows has additional features. This includes web protection and the Avira Firewall.
avira.com
avira.com › avira antivirus › windows
Download Free Antivirus Software for Windows PCs & Laptops | Avira
Is free antivirus better than paid antivirus?
The best antivirus software is the one you use. If you can’t afford to purchase antivirus software, go for the free versions. Free versions just have fewer features.
safewise.com
safewise.com › home › internet security › best free antivirus software
Best Free Antivirus Software | SafeWise
What's the best free antivirus program?
Deciding what the best antivirus program is depends on what your needs and objectives are. We value security, performance, user-friendliness, price, support, and presence of a mobile app. In EXPERTE.com's evaluation of free antivirus programs, Avast excelled in all of these categories and is our best free solution.
experte.com
experte.com › antivirus › best free antivirus
Best Free Antivirus: TOP 8 Free Antivirus Programs | EXPERTE.com
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AVG
avg.com › en-us › free-antivirus-download
Download Free Antivirus Software for PC | AVG Virus Protection
Free download · We’ve added 25 new accolades in the past two years to the hundreds we have won since we started in 1991. Our top score means you know you’re in good hands with our PC security software. 2024 Best Protection · 2024 Top Rated Product · 2023 Malware Protection · With cybersecurity, more is better. Use our antivirus software for PCs to make it simpler to detect cyberthreats and block suspicious files or activity in real time.
Avast
avast.com › en-us › index
Avast | Download Free Antivirus & VPN | 100% Free & Easy
We have calculated this based on how we blocked an average of 14,000 cyberattacks per minute in 2023, dividing the final number by 60 to get an answer in seconds instead of minutes. ... We have calculated this based on how our Avast Cleanup app helps users free up 7GB of junk every month on average.
EXPERTE.com
experte.com › antivirus › best free antivirus
Best Free Antivirus: TOP 8 Free Antivirus Programs | EXPERTE.com
Best Free Antivirus: TOP 8 Free Antivirus Programs
Still, dedicated third-party software with advanced security features doesn't need to break the bank and can even be free. We evaluated 15 antivirus solutions, some of which offer free versions of their software.
PCWorld
pcworld.com › home › best picks › security best picks
Best free antivirus 2026: Keep your PC safe without spending a dime
2 days ago - What distinguishes Bitdefender is its high rating from independent security organizations, with some of the highest detection rates for malware whether you’re online or off. So even though it’s light on features, it’s heavy on the most important quality you need in free antivirus.
SafeWise
safewise.com › home › internet security › best free antivirus software
Best Free Antivirus Software | SafeWise
Well, Bitdefender antivirus won independent tester AV Test’s top honors in 2021 for best protection.¹ In a 2022 test, independent testers AV-Comparatives found that Bitdefender caught 99.7% of real-world threats.² Bitdefender more recently ...
Published April 2, 2025
Macworld
macworld.com › home › security
Best Mac antivirus 2026: Security apps tested vs Apple Xprotect & Gatekeeper | Macworld
3 weeks ago - Best suited for cautious Mac users who want layered protection without complexity, the free trial lets them check it out with no strings attached. AVG is mostly well designed and easy to navigate. It is good at its basic job, letting you use the web with confidence. We would like to see clearer indication of when scans are running, and it didn’t manage to prevent a fake Adobe Flash Player from being installed in our tests, but it’s difficult to fault this otherwise very strong Mac antivirus, which also did a great job of removing malware that did get through.
Avira
avira.com › avira antivirus › windows
Download Free Antivirus Software for Windows PCs & Laptops | Avira
Avira Antivirus · Windows · Guard against online scams, viruses, identity theft, and more. Surf online safely and privately, thanks to our free VPN. Make your PC faster and save hard drive space.
CNET
cnet.com › tech › services & software › antivirus › best antivirus software we've tested in 2025: this security service just dethroned a top competitor
Best Antivirus Software We've Tested in 2025: This Security Service Just Dethroned a Top Competitor - CNET
November 24, 2025 - If you're looking for something easy to set up and use, ESET NOD32 antivirus may meet your needs. It earns high scores for usability and offers solid virus protection. A five-device option is available for as little as $60 for a year on the ...
Google Play
play.google.com › store › apps › details
Microsoft Defender: Antivirus - Apps on Google Play
Microsoft scans your phone, computer (PC app required), the dark web for your info and so much more. VPN works great for using public WIFI and 5GB is included, all for free!! 2,339 people found this review helpful · Alex West · more_vert · Flag inappropriate · November 5, 2023 ·
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-most-effective-and-free-antivirus-software-for-a-PC-in-2024
What is the most effective and free antivirus software for a PC in 2024? - Quora
Answer: There is no better antivirus then yourself. All anti-viruses are not perfect. I analyze 0-day to a week-old malware samples, and most AVs fail to detect them. Kaspersky failed to stop ransomware from running and only removed the malware after all the files were encrypted — Facepalm ...
Comodo
antivirus.comodo.com › comodo antivirus › best free antivirus program
Best Free Antivirus Program 2026 | Top Free Antivirus Software
January 10, 2018 - This cloud-based antivirus program ... automatic scanning of files as and when they are downloaded from the internet. ... Avast Free Antivirus provides excellent malware blocking functionality....
Avast
avast.com › en-us › free-antivirus-download
Download Free Antivirus Software | Avast 2026 PC Protection
This lets me afford the other amazing services you offer when needed, like Avast Cleanup. James M. 2023-08-29 · 5 · I've used Avast Free Antivirus on my computers, tablets, and smart phones for many years.
PCPartPicker
pcpartpicker.com › forums › topic › 435408-best-free-antimalware
Best Free Antimalware? - PCPartPicker
Avast and Microsoft Defender have free real-time protection.
McAfee
mcafee.com › en-us › antivirus › free.html
Free Antivirus Download | 100% Free and Easy Install | McAfee
McAfee Free Antivirus and Threat Protection Download. Try our Award-Winning antivirus for today’s security and privacy threats. 100% Free Download Try it Today!
CNET
cnet.com › tech › services & software › best free antivirus software for device protection in 2025
Best Free Antivirus Software for Device Protection in 2025 - CNET
November 21, 2025 - AVG Antivirus Free and the paid AVG Internet Security app use the same antivirus cores -- the difference is that AVG Internet Security comes with a full suite of tools, including an enhanced firewall and webcam protection.
Top answer 1 of 5
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I need such a program for a friend with modest means who has an older PC that uses Windows 8.1.
Thanks,
Bob
Suggest you use Windows Defender which is included as part of the Win 8.1 operating system. Be sure to uninstall whatever AV program is on the computer and use the appropriate software removal tool(s) to ensure that all remnants of previously installed AV programs are removed. List of antivirus product removal tools
Alternatively - - -
Recommend you review the following…
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/18900/consumer-antivirus-software-providers-for-windows
Choosing an Anti-Virus Program
Regards…
http://blog.emsisoft.com/2015/01/27/top-10-ways-pups-sneak-onto-your-computer-and-how-to-avoid-them/
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Use the built-in Windows 8.1 Anti-virus Windows Defender.
But also use the free on-demand version of Malwarebytes anti-malware scanner as a supplement for extra protection.
The free version is an on-demand scanner, not a real time scanner, so won't cause conflicts with Windows Defender.
Scan with it once a week, depending on your web surfing habits.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes\_free
And disable the Premium Trial and set it to the permanently free on-demand version:
https://support.malwarebytes.com/docs/DOC-1033
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254811968
Free Antivirus Software for Mac - Apple Community
Then how do I scan for malware using MacOS's built in antivirus (XProtect)? XProtect runs automatically: Protecting against malware in macOS - Apple Support. Reply · Link · User profile for user: MrHoffman · MrHoffman Community+ 2025 · User level: Level 10 · 145,043 points · Apr 24, 2023 9:15 AM in response to MrHoffman · PS: an example of the price of “free” tools from a few years ago: https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjdkq7/avast-antivirus-sells-user-browsing-data-investigation ·