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:
