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 2022, and is very affordable).
That said, every free antivirus is going to include a few frustrating limitations. I was ultimately able to find several 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 11, 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.
It’s not 100% free, but it has a 60-day money-back guarantee, which gives you 2 full months to see if it’s right for you.
For free trial with paid monthly subscription, you can request a full refund within 14 days of being charged. For each annual renewal or free trial with paid annual subscription, you can request a full refund within 60 days of being charged, and after the 60 days, a pro-rated refund of the days left in your renewed subscription term, beginning the month after you request the refund.
Set-up: to get the protection/service started, you must download and install on each device and/or complete set-up.