Our Picks
In 2025, most devices come with built-in antivirus software. These tools scan files you attempt to download, blocking anything they deem suspicious. They also perform automated scans to find and remove malicious files that have made their way onto your computer. However, these tools often lack advanced features like the ability to schedule scans. If you want full control over your antivirus software or additional security software like safe browsing tools, you'll need to install a separate program. Luckily, there are several free antivirus tools, and some come bundled into free security suites with other safety tools. We've researched these companies and brought the best options together on this list.
What’s the best free antivirus software overall?
Avira Free Antivirus is the best free antivirus software, offering real-time protection against malware like viruses, plus manual and automated scans. Avira Free Antivirus also provides protection from phishing -- a type of fraud involving sending emails or messages pretending to come from a reputable source to steal information -- and ransomware -- a type of malware that locks your computer and requires you to send a payment to unlock it. Avira Free Antivirus also includes a software updater to automatically keep your apps and drivers up to date.
Avira Free Antivirus comes with a password manager plus a browser extension that blocks malicious sites and ad trackers/third-party trackers.
Best of all, you can use Avira Free Antivirus on most operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android. However, some features -- including the Software Updater program -- are available only for Windows PCs.
Best antivirus software
Best Overall Protection
Pros
- Real-time protection
- Phishing and ransomware protection
- Automated daily and weekly scans, with scheduling capabilities
- Software Updater
- Safe browsing tools
- Password manager
- Apps available for Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android
Cons
- Some tools are only available for Windows users
- Dashboard includes some aggressive upsells
Why we like it
Avira Free Antivirus uses the same antivirus engine as the paid version of Avira, which consistently receives high rankings in all AV-Test categories. You’ll get real-time protection as well as the option to run manual scans and schedule scans on a daily or weekly basis. This last feature is particularly notable, as both Microsoft Defender and XProtect (the MacOS equivalent to Microsoft Defender) lack the ability to schedule scans.
Other layers of protection include phishing protection, ransomware protection and a Software Updater that automatically updates apps and drivers. You’ll also get a browser extension that blocks unsafe sites, ad tracking and other third-party trackers. A password manager is also included. None of these features are included with Microsoft Defender, XProtect or Bitdefender. AVG Free Antivirus includes some of these features, but lacks a password manager.
Avira Free Antivirus is available for MacOS, iOS and Android, but certain features -- like the Software Updater -- only work with Windows. There are also many features listed in the dashboard that are only partially accessible without upgrading to a paid version. For example, if you run a System Speedup scan, Avira will find performance issues, but if you click on the option to fix them, you’ll be told to upgrade.
Who it's best for
Avira Free Antivirus is the best free antivirus if you want a full security suite without spending a dime. The Software Updater makes it a particularly great choice if you're using Windows.
Best Free Antivirus for Windows
Pros
- Built into Windows 10 and 11 and enabled by default
- Regularly updated
- Real-time protection
Cons
- Resource-intensive
- No option to schedule scans manually
- Ransomware protection is very limited
Why we like it
Microsoft Defender (formerly known as Windows Defender) is built into Windows 10 and 11 and enabled by default. Microsoft Defender consistently receives high marks from AV-Test, and the program is updated regularly to ensure protection against new malware.
Defender provides real-time protection and runs automated scans. You can run manual scans if you’re ever concerned about your computer’s performance or a specific file or program you’ve downloaded. You can also set up Controlled Folder Access, which automatically stops apps from making unauthorized changes to your folders (you can manually exclude apps you trust).
The one big drawback of Defender is that you can’t schedule the scans yourself; you’ll have to rely on the program’s automatic scans or run an on-demand check. However, Defender can track when your system is idle and tends to run scans during this time.
Windows 10 and 11 will automatically disable its own Windows Defender antivirus when you install third-party antivirus programs. If you uninstall the third-party protection, Windows will turn on its own antivirus again.
Who it's best for
Microsoft Defender is a good choice if you're looking for no-effort antivirus protection and you follow internet safety best practices.
Best for Real-Time Monitoring on Windows PCs
Pros
- Real-time protection
- Ability to schedule scans
- Lightweight and easy on PC resources
- Live customer support available for free users
Cons
- First scan takes a long time
Why we like it
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition offers real-time protection against malware like viruses and spyware alongside ransomware protection. Bitdefender antivirus regularly earns a 6 out of 6 protection ranking from the AV-Test lab, plus high rankings for usability and performance. You can run manual scans and schedule daily, weekly or monthly scans to catch anything that makes it through Bitdefender’s real-time protection.
The free antivirus version covers one Windows or MacOS computer. You can also download Bitdefender apps for iOS and Android. For broader protection including parental controls and a VPN, you can choose Bitdefender Total Security or Bitdefender Antivirus Plus.
Who it's best for
Bitdefender is a great choice if you're looking for robust antivirus protection and you don't need or want any other cybersecurity tools.
Best Free Cross-Platform Antivirus
Pros
- Real-time protection
- Scan scheduling tool
- Phishing and ransomware protection
- Browser extension to block third-party tracking and malicious websites
- Available for Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android
Cons
- Aggressively tries to sell you a paid subscription if you click on certain features or perform a “Smart Scan”
Why we like it
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, like an enhanced firewall and webcam protection. Moreover, AVG consistently earns high scores in all three AV-Test categories, with the lowest recent ranking being a 5.5 out of 6 for performance.
With AVG Antivirus Free, you’ll get both real-time protection and the ability to manually run Deep Scans to find and remove malware that gets through the initial layer of protection. You can also schedule scans to run on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
AVG Antivirus Free guards against phishing and ransomware, plus provides a browser extension that blocks harmful sites and third-party tracking. You can get AVG Antivirus Free for Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android.
The one drawback of the free version of AVG is the prominent upsells. You’ll be directed to get a paid subscription if you click on certain features. Some of these upsells are rather sneaky, such as the one associated with the Smart Scan. You can run the Smart Scan and see issues it points out -- like vulnerabilities and settings configurations that might be harming your computer’s performance -- but when you click “Resolve All”, you’ll be hit with an upsell.
Who it's best for
AVG Antivirus Free is a great choice if you're looking for robust protection but you don't need the full suite of tools provided by Avira Free Antivirus.
Factors to consider in free antivirus software
Trustworthiness
Some particularly insidious malware is disguised as free antivirus software. You download something to protect your computer, and instead, you infect it, leading to stolen data or a locked device.
You can avoid this malware by sticking with trusted antivirus companies. Choose a company from a vetted list like this one, read the third-party tests we link to and make sure the URL you’re downloading from is authentic.
Features
Antivirus software typically offers two layers of protection:
- Scans that search your computer and remove malware. Some programs let you schedule these yourself, while others run them automatically when your computer is idle. You should also be able to manually run a scan at any time.
- Real-time protection that identifies and blocks malware from being downloaded onto your computer.
Antivirus tools may also block malicious websites and protect you from threats like phishing, but these features are typically only included with premium programs. Similarly, antivirus tools may only provide limited scan scheduling.
Free vs. paid antivirus software
Most free antivirus software programs are created by companies that also produce paid antivirus tools. They typically use the same antivirus engines as the paid versions, so you’ll get the same level of scanning and malware protection you’d get if you bought premium antivirus from the company. However, this protection is often only available for one device per person, whereas paid antivirus tools offer packages for five, 10 or even unlimited devices.
Moreover, paid antivirus software usually comes with additional benefits, such as advanced ransomware and phishing protection. Many companies also offer full security suites that include things like VPNs and password managers alongside the antivirus tools. Check out our list of the best antivirus programs to learn more about these security suites.
System resource use
An antivirus tool’s real-time protection shouldn’t interfere with regular use of your computer. Deep scans will often slow things down by consuming RAM or CPU resources, but they shouldn’t make your computer totally unusable.
Issues with Avast
For years, Avast Antivirus for Windows was the gold standard of antivirus, with consistently high rankings on AV-Test. We've included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before.
However, early in 2024, the Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million to settle charges that from 2014 to 2020 the company had sold customer browsing information to more than 100 third parties. The FTC said that Avast allegedly collected the data through browser extensions and antivirus software and sold the data through its Jumpshot subsidiary.
Then-Avast CEO Ondřej Vlček responded to the initial 2020 reports with a statement that he understood that his company's actions raised questions of trust in his company. To address these concerns, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection in January 2020 and closed its operations.
We hope there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities and that Avast returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software options. Until then, we recommend using one of the other free options on this list.
Issues with Kaspersky
Kaspersky has historically been another top antivirus provider, earning high marks and awards for virus and malware protection from independent labs. However, in June 2024, the US government announced a federal ban prohibiting Kaspersky from selling antivirus or cybersecurity software or services in the US or to US citizens due to alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.
“Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard US national security and the American people," Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the official announcement of the ban.
In a statement, Kaspersky said it "does not engage in activities which threaten US national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted US interests and allies."
How we test antivirus tools
We use a three-step process to vet antivirus tools. First, we look at product pages to ensure that a tool is 100% free, and we analyze each app’s features. Next, we look through reviews of the antivirus software -- both from tech experts and from regular consumers on sites like Trustpilot -- to gauge how effective and user-friendly the software is. We also look for scam alerts or other indications of shady business practices at this point.
Finally, we consult AV-Test, an independent company with testing labs for antivirus software. AV-Test runs tests every two or three months (the exact testing cycle varies based on the product and operating system) and provides rankings for protection, usability and performance. An antivirus tool must have at least a 5 out of 6 ranking in all three categories to qualify for one of our best lists.
Other free antivirus software
Malwarebytes: a top-tier tool for removing malware
The free version of Malwarebytes is one of the best tools for finding and removing malware on your computer. You can use the Malwarebytes scanner if you’re having performance issues and you think your regular antivirus software has missed something. However, Malwarebytes doesn’t offer real-time protection in the free version, so you’ll still need another antivirus software to protect your devices in the future.