Avast Free Antivirus
Avast is one of the easiest antivirus softwares to use, and one of the few programs to offer solid protection against zero-day attacks – new unknown threats that an antivirus hasn’t been programmed to catch yet. Impressively, Avast managed to protect against 100% of all zero-day attacks in a recent test.
Ever since Avast merged with AVG Antivirus to provide a more robust solution, they have been offering exceptionally comprehensive anti-malware and virus protection with a host of useful features that are usually only available through paid service.
AVG Free Antivirus
AVG Technologiesis one of the biggest names in the antivirus industry and we love it because it runs constantly in the background without you having to do anything.
As we mentioned above, AVG’s company recently merged with the developers of Avast. However, while both programs benefited from the collaboration, it seems AVG has gotten the shorter end of the stick. While it’s still a solid antivirus, AVG is much more like a “little brother” when compared to Avast.
However, it’s possible the company may consider combining AVG and Avast in a package deal at some point, which will offer the very best of both.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free EditionOne of the most highly recommended free antivirus softwares is Bitdefender, and it’s also one of the fastest free scanning antivirus programs available, with minimal impact on your computer’s performance. It consistently ranks at the top of various antivirus tests.
While the free version doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles that paid versions do, Bitdefender Free covers the basics exceptionally well.
Avira Free Antivirus
Avira was greatly improved after its 2018 redesign. It now offers much less impact on system performance while running, and it comes with a cleaner, more user-friendly interface.
What sets it apart is its comprehensive range of protection against anything from malicious viruses to the most dangerous Trojans. Plus, its heuristic engine allows it to detect zero-day viruses (unknown threats) really well – a feature not commonly found with free antivirus software.
This well-rounded and versatile antivirus also comes packed with many extra features to sweeten the deal.
Kaspersky Free Antivirus
Despite Kaspersky being one of the most well-recognized AV brands on the market, we can no longer recommend their products in good conscience due to speculation that their developers having been aiding state-sponsored hackers in Russian. Kaspersky has already been banned by the US government, and there is mounting evidence that they have been data mining consumer information and sending it to The Kremlin, thereby making it spyware.
Sophos Home Free Antivirus
Sophos is unique since it’s optimized for multiple machines and runs using cloud-based protection, keeping system slowdown to a minimum. As a result, it works well for families who need protection across several computers.
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus
ZoneAlarm is considered the best free antivirus for web surfers, as many of its features are geared towards online protection. While it doesn’t come with its own antivirus (it uses the standard Kaspersky engine), it comes with a solid built-in firewall that’s easy to install and configure.
Adaware Antivirus Free
Adawareis actually rebranded from a previous version. However, certain features were cut out from the change, such as URL and email protection.
Despite these shortcomings, this ‘new and improved’ antivirus is still a viable option for certain niche users like gamers. It uses Bitdefender’s excellent anti-malware engine as well as its own pretty good anti-spyware for well-rounded protection.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
Malwarebytes isn’t technically an antivirus since it doesn’t prevent infections; rather it cleans out any existing malware on your system.
Nevertheless, it’s one of the most well-respected anti-malware solutions out there. As its name implies, it specializes in malware prevention, so its other features are locked behind a paywall.
Windows Defender
Microsoft’s premier pre-installed Windows Defender started off as a sub-par but free solution in the early years. However, recent versions for Windows 8.1 and 10 have improved greatly to the point where Defender can stand on its own as a decent antivirus. It’s also completely free, with no paid version on the market.
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