Recently, I tested several antiviruses in VirtualMachine, and here are my 2cents: S Tier Kaspersky Free: Shows good scan detection rate, powerful behavior detection, runs fast with fluid performance, and has the least false positives. A Tier Bitdefender Free: Performs decently in scan detection rate and great behavior detection; however, it’s a bit laggy on my VM and has high false positives. Avast/AVG Free: Has a nice, organized interface with a great detection rate, decent behavior detection, and has few false positives. The downside is the annoying pop-up and being a bit sluggish. Windows Defender: Has no UI and a buggy Windows Security Center interface, but it boasts a high detection rate. However, its behavior detection is weak and has a high false positive rate. SEP: Technically not free, but I will give my opinion anyway. It has a dead-slow scanner, decent detection rate, good behavior detection, and decent false positive rate, but on an old Windows 98 UI. EES: Like SEP, it’s not technically free, but it shows a high scan detection rate with non-existent behavior detection; however, it’s light and has a great interface, with low false positives when PUA is turned off. B Tier Avira Free: incredibly laggy and buggy performance with a decent detection rate, non-existent behavior detection, and a decent false positive rate. F-Secure Protection (beta is free): Sluggish when opening exe, decent detection rate, decent behavior detection, high false positives. Trellix: Technically not free, heavy resource usage, laggy and sluggish performance, decent detection rate, high false positives. Drweb beta***(beta is free)***: This shows a slow scan, slow performance, low detection rate with decent behavior detection, and a low false positive rate. 360 Toal Security Suit: The cloud database in this version is much smaller than one in China , resulting in a decent detection rate. It has behavior detection and has few false positives. However, overall it’s just a nerfed version of the original. C Tier Ahnlab Lite: Decent Detection rate, No behavior detection. Malwarebytes Free: Buggy, slow performance, decent detection with no behavior detection and real-time protection for free version. To be honest, any mainstream antivirus + common sense will keep you safe. It’s no longer the XP generation. Answer from COVID-19VIRUS on reddit.com
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Windows Report
windowsreport.com › windows 11 › best tools › 7 best free antivirus for windows 11 to download in 2025
8 Best Free Antivirus for Windows 11 to Download in 2023
July 18, 2025 - Panda Free Antivirus houses many of the same features and lightweight construction that are seen in many antivirus software. It isn’t a resource hog and you can use other apps while it scans.
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Avast
avast.com › windows-11-antivirus
Download Free Antivirus Software for Windows 11 | Avast
Just make sure you’re running ... ready to protect your PC and everything you hold dear in it. ... It’s 100% compatible. Microsoft supports Avast Free Antivirus on all Windows 11 devices....
People also ask

Does Windows 11 need an antivirus?
Yes, Windows 11, like any operating system, needs antivirus protection against viruses and other types of malware. Fortunately, antivirus programs like TotalAV offer a lot more than malware scans and protection.
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cybernews.com
cybernews.com › home › best antivirus software › best antivirus software for windows 11
Best Antivirus for Windows 11 in 2026
Is 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.
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avira.com
avira.com › avira antivirus › windows
Download Free Antivirus Software for Windows PCs & Laptops | Avira
What’s the difference between Avira Free Antivirus and Avira Free Security?
In short, there is none. In the past, we added various tools and features to our Avira Free Antivirus app. This included a free VPN, software updater, and some optimization tools. Plus, we added a password manager too. After this, we renamed this all-in-one antivirus software Avira Free Security.
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avira.com
avira.com › avira antivirus › windows
Download Free Antivirus Software for Windows PCs & Laptops | Avira
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AVG
avg.com › en-ca › windows-11-antivirus
Download AVG AntiVirus FREE for Windows 11 PCs | AVG
Download free, award-winning antivirus for Windows 11. Install it in seconds to protect your devices in real time against viruses and other malware, and to secure your email accounts against online threats. 2023 Home Users Protection · 2023 Malware Protection ·
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MiniTool
minitool.com › home › news › 5 best free antivirus for windows 11/10 computer
5 Best Free Antivirus for Windows 11/10 Computer - MiniTool
January 22, 2024 - Check the details in this post. ... Avast Antivirus free edition provides essential protection for your Windows 10/11 computer. It offers 6 layers of security and a powerful virus scanner.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/antivirus › best free antivirus for windows 11?
r/antivirus on Reddit: Best free antivirus for windows 11?
June 6, 2023 - Most people will be fine with “ AVG Antivirus Free “ get it from https://www.avg.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download#pc I use this on Windows 10 and Windows 11 Computers in 2023
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SoftwareLab
softwarelab.org › best-antivirus-windows-11
The 7 Best Antivirus for Windows 11 (2026 Update)
1 month ago - Avast remains one of the strongest antivirus solutions available, offering excellent malware protection and a wide array of security tools. It does, however, lack certain premium features such as a password manager and parental controls, which Norton 360 Deluxe provides. If you’re looking ...
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TechRadar
techradar.com › computing › computing security › antivirus
The Best Free Antivirus in 2025: Expert Insights, Reviews, and Rankings | TechRadar
January 19, 2023 - You do need to enable real-time protections once AVG is installed, otherwise, it won't actively stop threats before they make it to your system. ... ✔️ You don't want to bother with downloads: Microsoft Defender comes preinstalled and running ...
Find elsewhere
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Avira
avira.com › avira antivirus › windows
Download Free Antivirus Software for Windows PCs & Laptops | Avira
Our free antivirus app for PCs, Avira Free Antivirus, is available as a free download for most computers running Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11.
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Cybernews
cybernews.com › home › best antivirus software › best antivirus software for windows 11
Best Antivirus for Windows 11 in 2026
Its free version is ideal for students, casual users, or anyone looking to secure a single device with essential features. ... Avira Antivirus is my recommended Windows 11 antivirus service for beginners.
Published   May 27, 2025
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PCWorld
pcworld.com › home › best picks › security best picks
Best free antivirus for Windows PCs 2026: Top 5 picks | PCWorld
1 day 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.
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TechWorm
techworm.net › home › list
10 Best Antivirus Software For Windows 11 in 2023 (Free & ...
January 7, 2025 - Best Free Windows 11 Antivirus Software: Windows Defender, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition, Sophos Home, AVG AntiVirus Free, Malwarebytes Free, Norton AntiVirus Plus, McAfee AntiVirus Plus
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PCMAG
pcmag.com › home › best products › security › antivirus
The Best Free Antivirus Software We've Tested for 2026 | PCMag
November 26, 2025 - Microsoft Defender Antivirus does a decent job of securing Windows 10 and 11 PCs without other antivirus protection, though it can't beat the best free or paid third-party tools.
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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 - In test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performed well for malware detection, with options ranging from Avast free antivirus software to Avast Premium Security.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/antivirus › a good completely free anti-virus
r/antivirus on Reddit: A good completely free anti-virus
December 6, 2024 -

I have recently become very concerned about the security of my Microsoft accounts since one of them was deleted by a Russian hacker. Thankfully, only my Minecraft account was on it; none of my personal info was. So I need an anti-virus that is free and capable of these points. Btw I use AVG currently but basically everything is hidden behind a paywall. I want something that's free but also like Bitdefender. Also mods pls don't delete this saying there's stuff in the wiki, Im genuinely really concerned about my account safety.

  1. Trackers and viruses Support: Block suspicious hackers, trackers and viruses. Optional: Have a feature like in Bitdefender where it scans a file before opening or smth.

  2. Optional: I don't know if this is possible but account security.

  3. Scans for finding hidden flaws or something on the PC, this is there in AVG but all that really happens is that they find nothing, but then they want you to pay for some random stuff that might happen.

  4. Doesn't randomly have a popup showing to upgrade(optional)

  5. I just like all the features of premium BitDefender and premium AVG. But I just want them for free.

This is really important for me. :)

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WizCase
wizcase.com › ✔ blog › best 100% free antiviruses for windows (tested 2025)
Best 100% Free Antiviruses for Windows (Tested 2025)
July 3, 2025 - To save you time, I tested and ranked the top free antivirus programs for Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
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Comparitech
comparitech.com › home › antivirus › free antivirus for windows 11
Best free antivirus for Windows 11 - Comparitech
July 28, 2024 - Avast One Basic has an impressive range of features for being a free Windows 11 antivirus. Of course, this starts with the ability to block viruses and other malware, using real-time intelligence to detect and stop threats.
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Bitdefender
bitdefender.com › en-ca › consumer › free-antivirus
Bitdefender Free Antivirus Software
Bitdefender Antivirus Free is a free antivirus software especially designed to protect your Windows PC. Quick to install and light on computer resources, it is good for gaming, image and video editing, and resource-intensive applications.
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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 - Microsoft Defender is a good choice if you're looking for no-effort antivirus protection and you follow internet safety best practices. ... Microsoft Defender (formerly known as Windows Defender) is built into Windows 10 and 11 and enabled by ...
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SafetyDetectives
safetydetectives.com › home › ✔ blog › 9 best free antivirus software for windows in 2026
9 Best Free Antivirus Software for Windows in 2026
August 21, 2025 - Here are the best free antivirus programs for Windows PCs or laptops with excellent malware protection and a wide range of internet security features.
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AVG
avg.com › en-ca › free-antivirus-download
Download Free Antivirus Software for PC | AVG Virus Protection
AVG even offers protection against spyware, webcam threats, ransomware, rootkits, hackers, and more. While built-in PC protection like Windows Defender might stop some of the threats you’ll face, it’s crucial to have antivirus software like AVG’s to make sure you don’t leave yourself ...