Cyberattacks are increasing every day.
Antivirus software is a must for every unit.
We understand that they are not cheap for a basic user.
But there is good news: some companies are offeringfree antivirus softwarefor basic home users.
Firstly, I doubted them and then decided to do a thorough research.
After a lot of research, I am writing this post to describe everything here.
We can not rely blindly on any of them.
Before we do further discussion about free antivirus, Lets first find out the best free antiviruses.
This list is primarily for Windows 11 and Windows 10 users.
However, all of these programs are also available for Mac and mobile (Android, and iOS).
Todays mostly security software comes with cross-platform compatibility.
Finally, here is a list of the top ranked truly free antivirus software.
They are not just the trials.
I have prioritized and ranked them based on the experience, user interface, and user reviews.
It is my own mind; yours may differ.
While all of the free anti antivirus software on this list is nearly identical in terms of effectiveness.
The additional features they provide may vary and may make the difference.
Indeed, all of these software performed well in testing labs.
Now lets know in deep what I have researched
Why do companies provide antivirus software for free?
How do companies survive by providing free Antivirus?
With free antivirus software, users cant ask for customer support.
To get support from the company, users need to take out a paid subscription.
So even by providing the software for free, companies are still making money.
So there are many ways to monetize the traffic theyre getting by providing free antivirus software.
Is free antivirus any good?
The answer depends on which free antivirus are you going to use.
Because in the market some fake antiviruses are also available.
Many people think that free antivirus cant give the same level of protection as a paid antivirus.
As a result, legitimate free antivirus software is recommended, and they are good to use.
These include features like antivirus, antimalware, anti-ransomware, web protection, etc.
in its basic protection module.
Some companies also provide additional tools like WiFi security and limited use of VPNs.
Compare and find the best free antivirus.
I have written a short review below with the pros and cons of popular free virus protection software.
all of them have these common capabilities.
Today mostly all software have integrated the cloud based technology, which make these software light weight.
So they put little impact on system performance.
Above free antivirus program are suitable for basic home users.
Refer for detailed featurecomparisonof these free antiviruses.
1.)
Avira Free Security
Avira is a well-known name in the security industry and is famous for its free antivirus.
It is known for its reliability and authenticity.
And this could be the reason behind the acquirement of Avira by the security giantNorton Lifelock.
It is a lightweight free security software.
Download Avira Free Antivirus
The Avira free security suite is packaged with multiple useful utilities.
Though some of them are paid for full features, some basic features are available for free.
This enables users to browse the internet in a secure environment.
It also comes with a cloud detection technology powered by artificial intelligence & provides a zero-day protection.
As a matter of fact, I found an option in this software called Windows privacy setting fixes.
Despite the fact that it is only available for paid subscriptions, it is really useful for privacy protection.
These are the hidden options in Windows 10.
Even though this feature is not available in paid security software.
Another thing that we noticed is that it installs the Opera web app automatically in the background.
And we didnt find any option to skip it.
2.)
Avast Free Antivirus
It is a cloud based light weight security tool to protect the computer for free.
Download Avast Free Antivirus
Avast is the first security company to start offering true free antivirus.
It has refined its products to a great extent.
It provides some extra features, like a password manager and WiFi security, which other companies dont provide.
Though it recently lost credibility due to news about privacy issues in its internet tool extension.
But still, it is the number one choice and there is no issue with using its antivirus product.
Of course, in the free version, it may display some ads.
And most of these ads offer to upgrade to the paid version.
During installation, it provides an optional Chrome installation.
But you may skip it.
3.)
Bitdefender antivirus free edition
Next is Bitdefenders free antivirus.
Very few people know that Bitdefender has its own free antivirus product.
It is a light-weight and silent antivirus utility.
I can say that it is the least annoying free antivirus.
Download Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Bitdefender offers the best protection against cyber threats.
and is known for its best antivirus engine.
Its antivirus engine is used by many other antivirus companies.
Its not only compact but also runs in the background, protecting your box without troubling you.
In short, it is an install and forget bang out of light-weight free antivirus solution.
Bitdefenders free antivirus also includes free phishing protection and fraud protection.
So it could be the best option to protect the PC for free.
4.)
AVG Antivirus Free
AVG is offering almost the same things that Avast is offering, except its user interface.
Avast & AVG are now a single company.
Download AVG Free Antivirus
AVG antivirus is still a good choice for the protection of your rig.
It earned good ratings from independent labs as a good free protection software for common computer threats.
AVG is free and is available for Mac, Android, and PC.
It has features like link scanning for malicious links, downloads, and emails.
it’s possible for you to also scan for PC performance problems with this free antivirus.
Recently, AVG was acquired by Avast, but all AVG products are still continuing.
So it is your choice whether you choose Avast or AVG.
Both are equally good and provide the same technology.
Panda Dome Free
Download Panda Free Antivirus
Panda is another light-weight cloud antivirus.
USB protection is its unique feature that other antiviruses do not offer in their free versions.
It also has an option to create a bootable rescue disk for an infected PC.
It also provides a free VPN with a daily limit of 150 mb.
During installation, it also provides the option to load the Opera net internet ride.
But there is an option to uncheck it.
Actually, these are two separate products, free antivirus and free firewall.
So it’s crucial that you install them separately.
So it looks like a nice package to protect your system for free.
In addition, ZoneAlarm revamped its user interface and it is now available with a fresh new look.
Is anti-virus software necessary for Windows 11 and 10?
The answer to this question is, It depends.
It is important to note that antivirus software is not a requirement for Windows 10 and 11.
However, it does provide an added layer of protection against viruses and other malware.
It is called Windows Defender Antivirus and it is free to download from the Microsoft store.
But theres some confusion around Microsoft Defender and whether its enough to keep your PC protected against malware.
Actually, Microsoft doesnt focus on security products, so they recommend installing third-party antivirus software.
Another good reason is the support and extra security features provided by the other companies.
As a result, my suggestion is that Windows requires third-party antivirus software.
Is free antivirus software for PC better than Windows Defender?
Some people believe that free antivirus software is better than Windows Defender.
This can be seen as a benefit because it helps protect the computer against future attacks.
Windows Defender is a pretty good option if you dont want to install any additional software on your system.
But it lacks some extra features, like web protection.
The other thing that matters is the option to upgrade to a paid subscription and support.
Users can easily switch from free antivirus software to paid antivirus software to get more protection and help.
Is it safe to use a free antivirus software?
but some of them are not safe to use.
Some free antivirus software might have malware bundled with it.
Who should use free antivirus software?
Free antivirus software is a great option for those looking to stay secure with minimal investment.
However, there are many features that come with the paid version that make it worth the investment.
Many free antivirus programs have both a free and paid version.
Free antivirus compared to paid antivirus?
Here is a brief comparison between free and paid antivirus software.
Same thing is with the free security software.
This is because they are always downloading new games, playing online, and spending hours on their computers.
Some of the other options areAvastandAVG.
They both provide full screen mode or game mode option in its free edition.
Best Free Antivirus with Firewall
Most of the free antivirus software does not include the firewall security.
And this is the major difference between a free and paid antivirus software.
All the free antivirus uses the default windows inbuilt firewall.
I have only found one software which providing firewall for free.
So best free antivirus with a firewall isZoneAlarm.
So which free antivirus program should I choose?
Antivirus software is actually operating system-based, and most antivirus software today are multi-machine and multi-OS compatible.
Consider the facts, like support in your country/language, price, and features they provide.
Avast is getting popular these days as it is offering lots of features in its free version.
checkout what is thedifference between free and paid Avastsoftware.
In the end
In conclusion, completely free antivirus software are available in the market.
Some companies provide them as a freemium service.
Basic features are free, and premium features can be purchased as per requirement.
Free antivirus from reputable brands is safe to use and is recommended for essential unit protection.
Download the free antivirus and peek if it best fits for you.
FAQs
Yes, there are free antivirus software programs available.
However, there are always strings attached to these offers.
Yes, there are many companies that are providing completely free antivirus software as a freemium service.
Yes, they may show you occasional ads or offers.
But some of these software programs do not show any ads but offer to upgrade to a paid subscription.
These are really free forever and are not time bounded limitation.
But some companies require you to register a free account to get the free lifetime license key.
Every company has different criteria, so compare them and choose the best one for you.
Read :best paid antivirus software for windows.
Yes free antivirus listed here provide real time protection.
Actually, every security company wants to reach the maximum number of potential customers.
So to gain popularity, they provide a basic level of protection for free.
Though there are some fake antivirus products as well, so be aware and only choose the trusted brand.
Without real time protection, antivirus software is almost of no use.
Its just a malware removal tool that just provides on demand scanning.
Normally not, Free anti virus software does not include a firewall.
Though you’ve got the option to find some free firewall program.
Also check :
yo share your experience and reviews.
It will help other users make the perfect choice for the best free antivirus.
Now you do not need to search for counterfeit, cracked antivirus software on dangerous websites.
They may harm the system instead of doing any good.
