Both Avira and BitDefender are reputable companies and are regularly tested by testing agencies. Keep in mind when people give their negative opinions and experiences, they do count for something. But corporations with large baskets of money, resources and research time also use enterprise versions of their AV products. If Avira and BitDefender are trash products, that would not happen. Answer from Merrinopheles on reddit.com
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Avira
avira.com › avira antivirus › mac
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac: virus protection for Apple
Download it now for your Mac with macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and later versions! For additional features get our Free Security Suite, including free Antivirus for Mac, free Phantom VPN to secure and anonymize your online surfing, Avira Browser Safety (on Firefox) to block ads and browser trackers.
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PCMAG
pcmag.com › home › reviews › security › antivirus
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac Review | PCMag
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac costs nothing and is easy to use, but a paid upgrade is required for full access to all features. Free lab-tested antivirus protection for your Macs
Rating: 3.5 ​
Discussions

Should I install "Avira Free Security" on… - Apple Community
This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers. Should I install "Avira Free Security" on my iMac? More on discussions.apple.com
🌐 discussions.apple.com
Is Avira really that bad? And recommendations for apple products?
Both Avira and BitDefender are reputable companies and are regularly tested by testing agencies. Keep in mind when people give their negative opinions and experiences, they do count for something. But corporations with large baskets of money, resources and research time also use enterprise versions of their AV products. If Avira and BitDefender are trash products, that would not happen. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/antivirus
19
2
October 30, 2023
How is Avira AV?

In terms of paid AVs I'd recommend Kaspersky and ESET above it, Emsisoft too, but if you're getting it for free then definitely go for it.

Malwarebytes free is a good second opinion, on demand scanner that you can use along side Avira, just deactivate the premium trial.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/antivirus
29
2
August 22, 2018
Best Free AntiVirus For Mac

Avira or Sophos

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/antivirus
4
2
April 17, 2018
People also ask

How good is Avira free antivirus?
Yes. The free download, Avira Free Antivirus for Mac, uses the same detection engine as Avira Antivirus Pro 2019 which was given a 99.8% protection rate by both AV-Comparatives and AV-Test.
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avira.macupdate.com
avira.macupdate.com › security › antiviruses
Download Avira for Mac | MacUpdate
What’s the difference between Avira Free Security and Avira Free Antivirus?
In short, there is no difference. When we added additional tools and features such as the VPN, the software updater, the optimization tools, and the password manager to our standalone Avira Free Antivirus solution, we renamed this all-in-one solution Avira Free Security. So that even those users who don’t know this and who are searching for Avira Free Antivirus can find what they’re looking for, we still offer Avira Free Security under the name Avira Free Antivirus.
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avira.com
avira.com › en › free-security
All-in-One: Avira Free Security | Free download
Is Avira safe for Mac?
Yes. MacWorld states that "For no money down, this suite [Avira free Mac security] offers real-time protection and a firewall."
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avira.macupdate.com
avira.macupdate.com › security › antiviruses
Download Avira for Mac | MacUpdate
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Macupdate
avira.macupdate.com › security › antiviruses
Download Avira for Mac | MacUpdate
Download the latest version of Avira for Mac for free. Read 50 user reviews and compare with similar apps on MacUpdate.
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Macworld
macworld.com › home › security › reviews
Avira Free Security for Mac review: Decent free malware protection | Macworld
Avira Free Security for Mac review: Decent free malware protection
If you’re looking for a reliable and free antiviral utility for your Mac, Avira Free Security is worth a gander, but expect to be hassled for a subscription. For alternatives, see our roundup of the best antivirus software for Mac. In the world of software, there’s free, there’s a trial period, there’s a demo, and there’s some strange, hybrid concoction that makes sense to the company trying to sell you the software. This is the case with Avira Free Security for the Mac, which essentially functions as a strange, sleeper demo and pathway to Avira’s assorted features, services, and subscriptions
Rating: 4 ​
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 256076603
Should I install "Avira Free Security" on… - Apple Community
No, macOS can protect itself without the use of third-party junk-ware. ... Malware..? Maybe if you download a lot of unsigned junk-apps or blindly click on spam e-mail links...? Then perhaps you need to run an occasional malware scan using Malwarebytes. ... Does my iMac require that I purchase an antivirus software?
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/antivirus › is avira really that bad? and recommendations for apple products?
r/antivirus on Reddit: Is Avira really that bad? And recommendations for apple products?
October 30, 2023 -

My dad has always bought a AV software for my brother, himself and me and he just renewed his Avira Prime for another year. All 5 licenses are used, my desktop (windows) is safe, but I wanted to secure my laptop (MacBook) and phone (iPhone) as well. So I did a little Googling and check Reddit and noticed that this sub does not seem to like Avira. But when I google Avira it seems mostly positive.

So I was I was wondering if Avira prime is really that bad? Or if it is just that the free version sucks because of the advertisements or if it's a bad product all around?

And I was wondering what to maybe use instead for my apple products. I read bad things about Bitdefender when I google it, but you guys seem to love it.

Thanks in advance! :)

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Softonic
avira-free-antivirus-for-mac.en.softonic.com › home › security & privacy › avira free antivirus for mac
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac (Mac) - Download
April 12, 2025 - Avira Free Antivirus for Mac has been thoroughly scanned by our advanced security systems and verified by industry-leading partners. This file comes from the official developer and has passed all our security checks, showing no signs of viruses, malware, or spyware.
Rating: 7.3/10 ​ - ​ 135 votes
Find elsewhere
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Avira
support.avira.com › hc › en-us › articles › 360001227085-How-do-I-install-Avira-Antivirus-for-Mac
How do I install Avira Antivirus for Mac? – Official Avira Support | Knowledgebase & Customer Support | Avira
Download the current Avira Antivirus version. Start the installation process by double-clicking the Avira Icon in your downloads folder. Accept the software licensing agreement and click Continue.
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CNET
download.cnet.com › avira-free-antivirus › 3000-2239_4-75703190.html
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download
April 23, 2021 - Download Avira Free Antivirus latest version for Mac free. Avira Free Antivirus latest update: April 23, 2021
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Download
avira-free-antivirus-for-mac.en.download.it › security & privacy › avira free antivirus for mac
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac for Mac - Free download
Download latest version of Avira Free Antivirus for Mac. A free virus checker that is well-suited for being used both personally and professionally.
Rating: 8/10 ​ - ​ 18 votes
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FileHorse
mac.filehorse.com › windows › anti-virus and security
Avira Free Security for Mac - Download (2025 Latest Version)
Download Avira Free Security for Mac from FileHorse. 100% Safe and Secure ✔ Best Mac antivirus with free VPN and password manager included!.
Published   August 21, 2025
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Tom's Guide
tomsguide.com › computing › internet › online security › antivirus
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac Review: You Can Do Better | Tom's Guide
Avira Free Antivirus for Mac Review: You Can Do Better
Avira may not charge for its Mac protection, but other free options provide better malware detection, system impact and design.
Rating: 3 ​
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FileHippo
filehippo.com › mac › download_avira-free-antivirus-for-mac › history
Download older versions of Avira Free Antivirus for Mac - FileHippo.com
Discover all versions of Avira Free Antivirus for Mac for Mac. You can download every previous version of Avira Free Antivirus for Mac, safe and entirely free.
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Gen™
gendigital.com › us › en
Powering Digital Freedom for people everywhere | Gen™
Free antivirus pioneer offering internet security software and online safety. Free antivirus, software protection, and cybersecurity app for every device.