The Best Free Antivirus Programs

Many top antivirus programs have free versions that are just as effective as paid versions at stopping malware. The majority of antivirus programs come with a low-end, basic program with few features, a mid-range program that adds more security tools and the top-end version that comes with all the bells and bells.

AVG Antivirus The free version of the program offers superior malware protection with a minimal impact on the system. The program is free and comes with numerous other useful tools such as junk file cleanup, RAM optimization, and Wi-Fi network scanners. It’s also completely ad-free, and doesn’t require you to upgrade to premium features.

Microsoft Defender is the default anti-malware program that comes with Windows systems. It’s not the best in protecting against malware files downloading on your PC, but its free version comes with several tools like health and performance analysis and parental controls that aren’t found in paid versions of other antivirus programs.

Bitdefender’s antivirus suites are among the most well-known in the market. The free version is just as powerful and effective as the paid versions. It’s ad-free and isn’t limited in the number of devices it will check and comes with a powerful collection of anti-theft features, that allow you nordvpn firestick to track and lock or wipe a stolen Android device.

Sophos Home Free is a great choice for users who must manage antivirus protection on a family member’s computer who does not live in the same household. It scores very well for malware detection, however it has less than a good score for fraud.