UPDATE (2021): One of the top antivirus providers, Norton, recently removed its free package, so I’ve removed it from this list.

Frequently Asked Questions about Free Antiviruses for Windows.

Sophos - Good real-time scanning with remote access for 3 PCs. Malwarebytes - Minimalistic antivirus with on-demand scanning. Kaspersky - Free extras like a VPN, dark web monitoring, and a password manager.

TotalAV - Simple free antivirus with an intuitive interface (recommended for beginners).

3.🥉 Panda - Strong virus protection with good additional features (like a gaming mode).

2.🥈 Bitdefender - Advanced anti-malware scanner with good phishing & fraud protection.

1.🥇 Avira - Best overall free antivirus for Windows in 2021.

Quick summary of the best free Windows antiviruses for 2021: Unfortunately, no free antivirus includes all of the features you need for complete protection, but it’s better to protect yourself with the best free antivirus than no antivirus at all! I tested and ranked each free antivirus listed here for malware detection, ease of use, and additional cybersecurity features. That’s why I always recommend investing a little bit every month into premium antivirus software that includes protection against all types of malware - with extra features like a VPN, password manager, parental controls, and dark web monitoring ( Norton 360 has all of these features, is ranked as the best antivirus software for 2021, and is very affordable).

That said, every free antivirus is going to include a few frustrating limitations. I was ultimately able to find 5 free downloads that each offer free virus protection alongside a decent set of free internet security tools. This wasn’t an easy task, and I learned that there are only a few free antiviruses out there that offer decent protection for Windows computers.īut there are also some really good free antivirus programs that offer improvements over Windows’s built-in protections. Running virtual environments for various PC operating systems from Windows 7 – Windows 10, I not only looked at each antivirus’s malware protection capabilities, but also its user interface and its reputation for safeguarding user privacy. I tested every free antivirus I could find against thousands of old and new Windows malware files.

Download Avira Free Security for Windows here.

🥇 Avira: Excellent free antivirus protection that includes real-time malware scanning, a safe shopping extension, a privacy + performance optimizer, and a free VPN.

Short on time? Here’s the best free Windows antivirus for 2021:

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