Installing an anti-virus or security software, after installing Windows is a must. This helps protect our Windows computer from viruses and other security threats. It is also important to keep your security software up to date at all times! While the built-in Windows Defender in Windows 11 and Windows 10 does a great job, some of you may want to opt for a third-party free antivirus software instead. Here are some very nice best free antivirus software available for Windows 11/10 you might want to check out.
Free antivirus software does work to protect against many known viruses; however, it might not be as comprehensive as paid versions. Users can expect basic defense mechanisms, but for advanced protection, including real-time defense against new threats and additional features, a paid antivirus is recommended for optimal security.
Free AntiVirus software for Windows 11/10
I have included only those antivirus programs which offer full real-time protection, and are not just stand-alone scanners:
- Windows Defender
- Kaspersky Free Antivirus
- Avira AntiVir Personal
- Avast Antivirus Free
- Comodo Antivirus Free
- Bitdefender Free Antivirus Edition
- ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall
- Panda Free Antivirus
- AVG Anti-Virus
- Sophos Home Free Antivirus
- ClamAV.
1. Windows Defender
Windows Defender is Microsoft’s free antivirus offering to users of genuine Windows 11/10/8/7. It is specifically designed for individual consumer PC use using the smallest resource footprint possible to provide complete anti-malware protection and will include a new protection technology, as part of the Microsoft anti-malware engine, called Dynamic Signature Service (DSS).
2. Kaspersky Free Antivirus
Kaspersky Free Antivirus offers powerful anti-malware protection for Windows users like file, email and web antivirus, automatic updates, self-defense, quarantine, etc.; and will not include advanced security features. It includes a Real-time Shield.
Read: EDR vs Antivirus: Which is better and why?
3. Avira AntiVir Personal
Avira AntiVir Personal offers you basic protection & protects your computer against dangerous viruses, worms, Trojans, and costly dialers.
4. Avast AntiVirus
Avast! Free Antivirus is perfect for people who send e-mails and surf popular websites. Its Antivirus and anti-spyware engine provides reliable protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits, trojans, and other forms of malicious software.
Read: Crystal Security is a free cloud based Anti-Malware for Windows PC
5. Comodo Antivirus Free
Comodo Antivirus Free offers an Antivirus scanner, a quarantine, a Sandbox operating environment, and a Task Manager. Its fast cloud-based scanning gives you a list of infected files in real time.
Read: CatchPulse free AI-powered antimalware protection for Windows
6. Bitdefender Free Antivirus Edition
Bitdefender Free Antivirus Edition uses one of the world’s most effective antivirus engines, ICSA Labs certified scanning engines found in other BitDefender products for free. This allows you to enjoy basic virus protection for no cost at all. It includes a Real-time Shield. UPDATE: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is to be retired soon.
Other free antivirus software:
- ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall
- Panda Free Antivirus
- AVG Anti-Virus
- Sophos Home Free Antivirus
- NANO Antivirus
- ClamAV antivirus.
Free antivirus that do not have to be installed
If you want to take a second opinion, you can use any one of these free Standalone On-demand Antivirus Scanners. The post lists free on-demand, second-opinion antivirus scanners that you can use. Some of them are standalone, while some of them, you may need to install. Let us have a look at the standalone virus scanners first.
Free Online Virus Scans
Most of these free Online Malware Scanners will not ask you to install anything on your computer. You can upload the file on their website, and they will scan the file using API of different anti-malware services. Once the scan is completed, you will receive a report about it.
Free Cloud Antivirus tools
These Free Cloud-based Antivirus may also interest you. A cloud-based antivirus software does not store the virus definitions on your Windows computer. Rather than using your computer’s processing power, this cloud-based antivirus sends data about potentially malicious files to the company’s servers for analysis.
Apart from these freeware if you’d like to suggest any more freeware antivirus software, do share below.
Go here if you are looking for free Internet Security Suites or free firewall software for your Windows 11/10/8/7 computer.
Antitvir has blown it with their latest release. AVG has been lacking in both detections and resource friendliness. That leaves just MSE and avast!. I prefer MSE on 64-bit systems and avast! on 32-bit systems.
I use MSE and I’m happy using it.
I install Avast free on Windows XP customer PC’s and always MSE on genuine Vista and/or Windows 7 PC’s.
I used to use AVG but now I use MSE. I am shocked Microsoft made such a great AV and for free! I have installed MSE on all my Windows boxes (XP, Vista, Win 7).
MSE works great on Windows 7 64bit.
I have used MSE but have switched back to Avast because it seems to update definitions. I have to check Windows Update to update MSE definitions. It could take up to 24 hours for it to update and install automatically.
MSE is great on its stage …. but I would also like to suggest you to go for Panda Cloud Antivirus.
One that definitely needs to be added to the list is Comodo. I’ve been using it about 8 months and it works very well. It’s easy to use but still has very advanced features for the power user. It also provides internet firewall capabilities a’la Zone Alarm. I’ve also taken to using their free Comodo Backup software.
I’ve used the others too. I used AVG for a long time but ditched it because it was too much of a cpu hog for my liking. Even coming out of sleep mode it insisted on chewing up cpu for several minutes before calming down.
MSE was a similar resource hog. It seemed to just chew up lots of memory, leak handles, and just not function very well.
My only negative comment about Comodo is that it tends to be a little too aggressive about reporting false positives. You have to add exceptions for things like the tightvnc installer binary (I keep it in my dropbox), that sort of thing.
I’m Indonesian
The Best Is Kaspersky 7 & 2010
Other Than That There Is No Good
Other Than That Suck
AVG Avast Avira
Usually Only Remove Viruses
Then I Could Too If Just Remove The Virus
I’m surprised no-one mentions FortiClient which is free, can be used in commercial environments, and comes from a company that does corporate filtering routers and firewall.
Avira 10 is the newest version and good for protection
I have used Microsoft Security Essentials and Panda Cloud Antivirus Free and have been very pleased with both. I am now commited to Kaspersky Internet Security because it provides hacker and banner protecton. Neither MSE nor Panda can defend well against web-attacks. But they will do for a casual user.
Out of free antiviruses, Avast 5 and Microsoft Security Essentials are the best.
Out of paid antiviruses, Kaspersky (KIS 2011) and BitDefender (soon 2011 will be released) are the best.
MSE for me ;)
Install and never worry.
Gli antivirus free non servono.Per chi usa internet e scarica di tutto l antivirus deve essere in ver. PRO.Un buon virus disabilita e rimuove gli antivirus free.
Panda the best
MSE is useless!! It rated very low on recent tests, it’s just a dummy -_-
panda cloud antivirus has a good detection but it slowed down my pc
AVG? They don’t have a free version any more. A time-limited “free trial” doesn’t count to me.
Totally AGREE!
Long time no comments… I’m using Avira Free Antivirus latest version. Avira has been in the top 5 best antivirus with excellent detection & removal rates.I have been using it for the last year with no issues what so ever. You will get a pop-up add once in awhile but it’s not a big issue. It’s the price you pay for free protection and Avira FREE is as good, and in some cases, better than paid software. Give it a try and enjoy …
I have used Avast for almost one year. A few days back one of my friend suggested me about
the antivirus protection services of AskPCExperts and trust me there services
are really very good and at a reasonable price.
I Used Complete Free Comodo Antivirus for Windows 7 – Download Here: https://antivirus.comodo.com/windows-7/
Dear Anand Khanse, I must say I receive your comments and blogs very gratefully and have used many of your offerings on my Win. 7. I do suggest, however, that, sadly, PC Tools is being eliminated by Symantec, either totally or in part. I really like PC Tools and miss it . Please think and ask yourself, is there any point in referring to an extinct application/extension/add-on? With a whole lot of respect and pleasure in your company!!!
Thanks. I have removed it. :)
I hope to receive some reply here, altho it is slightly off topic. Here goes, and redirect me if so required. Subject:meganet-decentralized-internet. Do you or any of your acquaintances comment on meganet? Advise.
Sure they do. I use AVG AntiVirus Free Edition 2015. Look again.
and NANO Antivirus!
Spybot search and destroy has a free version (besides apaid version) it protects the PC very well if used on a regular basis with many features. Also Malwarebites has a free version
1) Never trust anyone/thing;
2) The more it differ from standard (default/vendor), the better/safer.
So I prefer Comodo + SuRun + SandBoxIE + OpenVPN + modified configs/group policies