Yes, Windows allows you to install a free antivirus, automatically disabling Microsoft Defender when a third-party antivirus is installed. If you uninstall the third-party software, Defender reactivates.

While free antivirus is an option, premium cybersecurity software provides superior protection. You get what you pay for, and a paid antivirus like Norton 360 can better secure your devices and data.

If you’re looking for advanced protection and a lot of other great cybersecurity features, check out this list of the best premium antivirus products on the market.

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.

All free antiviruses have some limitations and lock most of their best features behind a paywall. While a free antivirus can be a decent temporary solution, I strongly recommend that you get a premium antivirus like Norton. It has perfect malware detection rates, more extras than almost all competitors, and easy-to-use apps for all operating systems. Starting at just $29.99 / year*, Norton is also very affordable, and all of its paid plans are backed by a risk-free 60-day money-back guarantee — this gives you 2 months to try it out and see if it’s the right product for your needs.

But if you absolutely do not want to pay for antivirus protection, I recommend you take a look at Bitdefender, which has a cloud-based malware scanner plus web and real-time protection.