The Best Free Antivirus – Top 10 for 2023 Compared

Aleksandar Stevanovic

Aleksandar Stevanovic

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Alex is a Senior Software Content Writer at Techopedia. He focuses on creating reader-oriented comparison pages, reviews, research pieces, and editorials. With nearly a decade…

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| Fact Checked by Michael Simon

Michael Simon

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Michael is a Tech Content Editor at Techopedia, who is passionate about delivering high-quality tech content online and ensuring the accuracy of our content. With…

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Last updated: 13 September, 2023

Getting the best free antivirus will provide you with basic protection for your device. Cost-free plans are ideal for getting a better picture of a brand, and antivirus companies promote their different security features by including them in their charge-free plans.

Each antivirus is suited to different use cases, depending on the features included and their configurations. Our experts have tested dozens of free antivirus software tools, looking for the most effective and reliable solutions. Here’s our list of the best free antivirus software for 2023.

The Market’s 10 Best Free Antiviruses Ranked

Here’s a quick rundown of the best free antivirus products for 2023. Find the best antivirus solution for your family or business below.

1. TotalAV – Overall, the best free antivirus solution in 2023, compatible with all devices and operating systems, which hits a 97.7% protection rate against malware and viruses.
2. TrendMicro – An excellent all-around service that detects 100% of 4-week-old malware. Works well on PCs and mobile devices.
3. Intego – Comes with a feature-packed subscription plan specifically tailored for protecting Mac devices. Its free offer includes malware, on-demand, and external mounted drive scans.
4. Avast – Reliable protection for PCs with Windows 10 or 11. Boasts 100% malware detection and a 100% success rate against zero-day malware.
5. Avira – A powerful free antivirus solution for iOS devices. Comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee for paid plans.
6. McAfee – Offers a password manager, a WebAdvisor, and a malicious website blocker, all at no cost to you. It boasts 100% protection against malware.
7. Norton – Get the deluxe package for a 30-day free trial from the leading provider. The offer includes a 60-day money-back guarantee for paid subscription plans.
8. ESET – 100% prevention against malware. The best Windows 11 antivirus on the market, with a generous 6-month trial period.
9. Bitdefender – Scans for and deploys malware solutions in the cloud instead of installing directly to your Android device. Because of that, this pick has a minimal impact on your battery life, even at full speed.
10. AVG – Rated as one of Reddit’s best free antivirus solutions, and which boasts 100% protection against worms, malware, and Trojans. The free version comes with real-time protection.

Are Free Antivirus Software Solutions Enough?

Free antivirus software solutions are enough to cover basic user needs. A cost-free antivirus will behave exactly like any other paid version. It will:

• Sweep your device and look for unwanted software
• Warn you before entering suspicious websites and prevent phishing attacks
• Detect and delete harmful software from your device

For an average user with limited needs, this will be more than enough. For example, if you’re a copywriter and most of your work comes down to reading websites while researching the subject, a free version should do the job nicely.

On the other hand, if you run a startup or small business with 5+ employees, it might be challenging to keep your network protected without at least a starter subscription plan.

The paid version of an antivirus will typically boast multiple security features – far more than its free version. It likely also includes an additional layer of protection and more effective virus-sweeping algorithms.

On top of that, most paid antivirus solutions use AI to recognize patterns and prevent newly-designed viruses from entering your network.

What Features Can I Expect From a Free Antivirus?

You can’t expect the same level of protection from free and paid versions of antivirus – which is only natural. Getting a premium version will generally protect you from known and unknown threats with almost 99% accuracy.

Still, cost-free antivirus subscription plans keep getting better every day and offer innovative solutions against online threats.

The most common security features you can expect to find in a free antivirus are:

• Anti-malware scanner – Great at protecting against polymorphic and zero-day malware. It can detect and remove unwanted malware from the system.
• Anti-phishing protection – Scans your email inbox and aims to block phishing emails that contain malicious content.
• Cloud scanning – Scans for weak points within a cloud platform. Great for discovering and improving the cloud’s security network.
• Low battery impact – Some free antiviruses are equipped with a low battery impact feature to reduce the device’s battery consumption.
• Browsing history scan – Protect devices from online threats in real-time while downloading from your browser.
• Performance scan – The best free antivirus will provide you with tips on how to remove unnecessary files in order to optimize your system’s performance.
• Home network scan – Looks for potential risks and protects devices that connect to your home WiFi.

Ideally, the best free antivirus protection will offer all the features mentioned above. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world. Thus, you should look for a solution that covers most of these options.

Luckily for you, our experts have found 10 antivirus utilities that match this description.

Reviewing the Market’s Top-Rated Free Antivirus Solutions

Here are our reviews of the top 10 free antivirus solutions on the market today. Read below for more.

1. TotalAV – Overall, the Best Free Antivirus Solution in 2023

TotalAV is overall the best free antivirus in 2023. This antivirus scored highly in the most recent lab test results, and it offers a decent amount of high-quality, cost-free features.

It is one of the highest-performing antivirus solutions you can find today, as proven by countless independent tests. Under AV-Comparatives’ Tests, TotalAV blocked 508 online threats out of 520 and delivered an impressive 97.7% protection rate.

When it comes to free antivirus protection, TotalAV covers everything you need from A to Z. It includes:

• Malware Scanning
• Malicious URL Blocking
• Phishing Protection

The Malware Scan option will search your device’s directories for viruses and unwanted software, and it’ll allow you to select the drivers you wish to be scanned manually. This is an especially good option if you’re in a hurry and don’t want to spend countless hours scanning your laptop or mobile phone.

If you think you may have downloaded a contagious document, simply select the file you wish to scan, and TotalAV will inspect it within minutes or even seconds.

Phishing protection, meanwhile, will keep your devices safe against phishing and web addresses hosting malicious links. TotalAV free antivirus will scan your email inbox for these malicious websites and prevent hackers from locking your device.

Finally, TotalAV’s free antivirus protection will work in the background to prevent you from entering potentially harmful websites. If there’s a chance of infecting your devices while browsing the web, the free antivirus will recognize the danger and block the URL you’re about to visit.

It’s good to remember that TotalAV has a paid version on offer as well. The Antivirus Pro subscription plan includes real-time protection against viruses, malware, ransomware, and trojans. This plan is only $29/y and covers the needs of any small-to-medium business.

2. TrendMicro – Great All-Around Antivirus Solution

TrendMicro is an excellent solution if you use several devices of different types – it’s great for protecting Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. It offers four free antivirus download files that cover different security areas.

That said, it does not offer traditional free antivirus software packed with different features. Instead, it allows you to test several options before purchasing one of its paid products.

As a result, you can pick between four antivirus options:

• Virus Scan – Detecting and removing viruses, worms and spyware
• Home Network Scan – Protecting devices connected to home WiFi
• Performance Scan – Recommends removing unnecessary files to optimize your device’s system performance
• Browsing History Scan – Stops you visiting scam websites that host malicious files

You can download each feature separately from TrendMicro’s official website. The download shouldn’t take more than a few seconds, depending on your network speed, and the files won’t make any significant impact on your PC, laptop, or smartphone memory, as they take only a few MB of space.

As a result, you can easily run antivirus scans, no matter the age of your device. Because of that, TrendMicro is one of the best free antivirus software solutions for any Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS device.

If you wish to increase the level of security, you can try the Basic account. This option includes antivirus and security features for one device of your choice. This plan offers more advanced protection against internet and email scams, plus ransomware protection. It costs just $19.95 a year.

Finally, it’s really worth noting that TrendMicro excels in several fields, including protection against worms and Trojans. The latest AV-Test shows TrendMicro has 100% efficiency against these online threats, with minimal impact on your device performance.

3. Intego – Keep Your Mac Devices Locked Against Online Threats

Intego is a well-known brand that focuses on Apple devices. Since 1997, this company has been developing MacOS antivirus solutions and, as a result, has reached over 34 million users and counting.

The best free antivirus for Mac devices offers a massive library of features designed for home and business users. When it comes to protecting MacOS, Intego offers three paid and one free subscription plan.

You can get the Virus Barrier Scanner at no cost. This feature is available on the Mac App Store, and you can download it anytime.

The Virus Barrier allows you to run an unlimited number of daily scans. You can pick between a manual and an automatic option. You can also manually pick which computer partition you wish to scan.

The free Intego antivirus will scan your computer against known threats periodically. It’ll also scan your emails to eliminate potential threats. Once a potential threat is detected, you can either put it in quarantine or remove it completely from your system.

All in all, Intego offers excellent, cost-free protection. You can combine it with some of the best Mac password managers for maximum results.

However, you need to remember that the free version of Intego antivirus does come with certain limitations. For instance, its free plan doesn’t cover real-time protection. Hence, your Mac device might be vulnerable to freshly created viruses.

Because of that, it’s worth checking the Intego Personal plan. It covers daily scans against all known viruses, malware, and ransomware. The price for an annual subscription is only $19.99, which is nothing considering this antivirus hits 99.2% detection rates on AV-Tests against Trojans and worms.

4. Avast – Popular PC Protection Trusted by 400+ Million Users

Avast’s free antivirus is the best antivirus software available. And it’s popular for a good reason – it’s safe, reliable, and offers plenty of features.

Many rate it as the best free antivirus for PCs using Windows. However, it also offers a great selection of Mac, Android, and iOS features.

In fact, it offers several layers of security. The security software will regularly scan your device, looking for viruses and vulnerabilities in the defense shield. Once it finds a threat, it’ll immediately send that information to the cloud and push the cure directly to the user.

The free protection by Avast will work while your system is turned off. This is great as the antivirus will continue scanning for contagious files or suspicious apps. You can allow your antivirus to quarantine online threats or manually isolate malware or viruses.

Besides device protection, Avast is the best free antivirus solution for WiFi network security. It offers an intelligent firewall that scans the traffic between your device and the network. Once it detects a threat, it’ll block it immediately.

Its malware block success rate is impressive. Avast blocks web and email malware in 100% of cases. Moreover, Avast has a 100% success rate in detecting malware dangers, as shown in AV tests.

All in all, the Avast free plan offers the best antivirus solution if you intensively cruise the internet. However, it doesn’t include protection against hackers.

So, if you need a strong web shield against third-party remote attacks, we recommend going for the Premium Security plan. It costs only $4.19/m and includes countless features to protect your business against hackers and zero-day malware.

5. Avira – Get Premium iOS Protection for Free

This service boasts a versatile security system that includes the best free antivirus for iPhone devices, a password manager, and one of the best business antivirus software products.

Avira’s free security for iOS devices includes protection against public WiFi dangers and can block Siri from recording your conversations.

Connecting to public WiFi may harm your device in more than one way. The moment you connect to a public unprotected network leaves your iPhone vulnerable to viruses, malware, and all kinds of threats that may squeeze their way into your device.

Also, don’t forget your iOS device can become a victim of hacker attacks. By getting access to your personal or business phone, a hacker might steal your passwords, personal and bank information, and virtually everything relevant you keep locked in your phone.

Avira is great if you frequently connect to public WiFis as it scans the network, prevents you from downloading viruses and malware and stops you from entering phishing and scam websites.

The Avira free antivirus protection prevents Siri from looking into your phone conversations. Firstly, it protects your privacy. Secondly, it prevents any third party from using AI algorithms to transcript your calls and hand them over to annoying marketers or, even worse, scammers.

If you need extra protection, it’s good to know Avira offers a complete security shield for up to five devices for the price of only $26.99/yr. You get antivirus protection, browsing security shield, phishing, and unknown caller blockers included in the package.

6. McAfee – Perfect Choice for Windows 10 Protection

McAfee is a popular Windows 10 antivirus solution with 108+ million users in 182 countries. It offers an antivirus, VPN, and mobile security.

This antivirus is simple to use because of its intuitive interface. Thus, it’s extremely popular among less tech-savvy users. Click on the McAfee antivirus free download button to get the latest version. The download process lasts no more than a few seconds. Setting up your antivirus protection will be a breeze as well.

When it comes to features, the best free antivirus for Windows 10 brings two options to the table. True Key acts as a password manager. It’ll save your passwords as you enter them into the browser.

WebAdvisor is the second feature, and it covers a broader area. Its main use is to keep users safe against phishing websites. Once it detects a suspicious website, it automatically blocks the URL.

On top of that, this antivirus uses sophisticated algorithms to alert you if you typed an incorrect web address. Finally, McAfee’s free protection will scan your downloads and eliminate potential risks.

7. Norton – Take Advantage of the 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Norton is one of the best spyware removal tools and has been around since 1990. It stands out with an impeccable 100% malware detection and removal success rate.

First of all, it’s important to stress that Norton does not offer a traditional free virus protection tool. Instead, the company has decided to make the free trial and money-back guarantee its main competitive advantages.

Norton Security Deluxe is one of the most powerful malware scan and removal tools you’ll find on the market. It boasts a 100% accuracy rate when it comes to detecting and removing malware and spyware from your system.

On top of that, the Security Deluxe will scan your downloads and block or eliminate potential threats. At the same time, the Norton virus protection will maintain zero influence on your computer performance while downloading frequently used applications.

The Norton Security Deluxe is available for a 30-day free trial. If you’re satisfied with the level of protection you’re getting from this antivirus, you can go for the annual subscription for only $49.99 per year.

Finally, you’ll have 60 days to make a decision whether to use the one-year subscription, or you can ask for your money back if you’re not satisfied, which is a pretty good deal. You can also get Norton AntiVirus Plus, which is just $19.99 for the first year.

8. ESET – Ultimate Windows 11 Protection

ESET is the best free antivirus for Windows 11, with over one billion users around the world. The company’s computer security software hit 5.5/6 under AV-Test lab tests, which puts it among the best antivirus software for 2023.

Furthermore, it has minimal effect on your computer performance. Namely, your computer may suffer up to 7% slower download speed and experience a 7% slower standard software app launch speed.

Like Norton, ESET also does not offer the antivirus for free. Instead, you can pick any of the three subscription plans and test them for 30 days at no cost.

Once you download the antivirus, you’ll get a referral link. Send it to your friends, and if someone subscribes to the ESET’s services, you’ll be able to renew the trial period for six months.

9. Bitdefender – Best Free Antivirus for Android

Bitdefender takes the lead when it comes to the protection of smartphones based on the Android operating system.

The free antivirus software scored highly with AV-Test, showing 100% accuracy against Trojans, malware, and worms.

On top of that, it’s incredibly efficient. Bitdefender’s impact on your Android device will be minimal. For instance, for Windows devices, Bitdefender may slow down your computer by 1% when downloading and 1% when copying files, with an industry average of 2% for Windows antiviruses.

You can expect the same from its Android protection. The Bitdefender free Android antivirus uses services deployed in the cloud to look for outbreaks instead of storing information on the device. As a result, you can expect a super-efficient, feather-light service that’ll do most of its work without you even noticing it’s there.

This – the best free Android antivirus – covers malware protection and cloud scanning. Those needing smartphones to complete daily work tasks will undoubtedly benefit from advanced phishing and VPN protection. This service is available for a one-year subscription and costs $14.99 annually.

Considering all of the above, don’t be surprised if you find Bitdefender in the best antivirus for Android list.

10. AVG – Reddit’s Most Popular Free Antivirus

AVG is a family-oriented antivirus software solution. After 30+ years of experience in the industry, it shouldn’t come as a surprise this antivirus hits the highest marks when it comes to detecting and blocking malware, Trojans, and worms.

The AVG antivirus software free plan includes six layers of protection when protecting against viruses, malware, and spyware.

Simultaneously, it boasts around-the-clock ransomware protection, blocking malicious websites from accessing your email inbox. Moreover, the AVG antivirus will stop you from entering rogue or suspicious websites, protecting you from online scammers.

AVG offers real-time protection to its users at no cost, which is a rare benefit among the many free antivirus solutions in 2023. For this reason, AVG is frequently mentioned as the best free antivirus on Reddit, alongside Avast and TotalAV.

AVG has paid plans, as well. The Basic Protection is dirt cheap, and it includes AI Detection, CyberCapture, and Behaviour Shield features for only $3.89 per month, which is cheaper than Burger King’s regular cheeseburger.

Comparing the Best Free Antiviruses in 2023

Here’s a brief comparison between the best free antivirus solutions in 2023. Read the table below and find the best free antivirus protection.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Free Antivirus for PC or Mobile

Here are the essential factors to consider when choosing the best free antivirus solution for personal or business needs.

Type of Protection

Before even considering getting free internet security software, you should think about the type of protection you really need. The most common free antivirus uses are:

• Virus scan and prevention
• Malware, ransomware, spyware and worms removal
• Blocks spam and ads through browser extensions
• Firewall protection against phishing attacks
• Protection against zero-day malware
• Home network security
• Removable device scan
• Identity theft prevention

For example, if you’re using a home network, getting the best free antivirus software can protect you from hacker attacks. Hackers can easily access your personal, business, or bank information through cracks in your home network protection.

Getting the best WiFi router isn’t enough. The best antivirus software free tools are a great addition to your home WiFi security system. It adds an extra layer of protection and prevents hackers from gaining control over your home devices. As a result, you should look for a free antivirus with a WiFi scan feature.

On the other hand, if you intensively browse the web, it would be a good idea to look for antivirus programs that offer automatic and on-demand free virus scans and protection against phishing sites.

The benefits of having free antivirus protection are many. It’s up to you to choose the one that suits your needs the best.

Performance Impact

For instance, an antivirus solution offering real-time protection will consume more energy from your device than the one with webcam protection only. Having a cost-free antivirus installed may result in:

• Slowing down your device while launching websites
• Lowering the download speed and installation of frequently used apps
• Sluggish app launch
• Slower file copying

You’ll find many variations here. For example, Intego has a 0% influence on your computer speed while downloading. However, it may slow down the installation of some popular apps by 82%.

On the other hand, AVG will slow down your download by 1%. But, the app installation will be only 12% slower.

Naturally, your antivirus’s impact on your device will also depend on the machine’s configuration, age, operating system you use, and other factors.

Compatibility

Make sure to pick an antivirus that works well with your device and its operating system. Some free antiviruses may cover multiple platforms and are compatible with different devices.

However, some antivirus solutions focus more on one platform or device type. As a result, you’ll get TotalAV if you wish to have the best free antivirus for Windows and Android.

On the other hand, Avira is the most popular solution for iOS devices, while Intego keeps Macintosh computers safe against online threats.

Price of the Paid Plans

There’s a chance you’ll want to go for premium protection at one point. Make sure to check the selected antivirus pricing before you download the software.

Pick an antivirus that offers multiple pricing plans. This way, you’ll be able to keep enhancing the level of protection as your security needs increase.

Customer Service

Not all antivirus users are tech-savvy. Some find antivirus complex and annoying with all those security pop-ups and notifications. Sometimes, an action demands immediate attention, but you’re not exactly sure what to do. Should you remove the virus, leave it, or send it to quarantine?

Because of this, you should look for a free antivirus that offers the best customer service. That way, you’ll have support every step of the way, from the free antivirus download to the manual virus scan setting.

Free vs. Paid Antivirus

Consider the chance that getting the best free antivirus won’t be enough to satisfy your needs. There’s an apparent difference between paid and free antivirus solutions.

Some free versions of an antivirus come with a browser extension. This is great for those who browse the web frequently or make online purchases. Some free antiviruses feature advertisements, which can be annoying but are a necessary evil as they make such software available for free.

On the other hand, if you need advanced help against hackers, you should look for a paid account. Antiviruses with paid subscription plans offer real-time protection and protection against zero-day malware.

Also, paid antiviruses use sophisticated algorithms based on machine learning to proactively seek and destroy any potential dangers that might compromise your personal or business details.

Finally, paid versions are updated regularly and offer more dedicated customer service. Some of them come with the best VPN service attached, a password manager, or parental control options.

You shouldn’t make any compromises when picking the best antivirus, and if you need to go for a paid plan, there are plenty of affordable options. It’s easy to find them. You only need to know where to look.

Are Built-In Virus Protection Services Enough?

All modern devices, including PCs (Windows 10 and 11), Mac, iOS, and Androids, have built-in protection. The main question is, are built-in antiviruses good enough to handle all dangers?

The most straightforward answer is yes, but to a certain extent. For example, Windows Defender, primarily built for Windows 10 and 11 devices, stands out with 100% detection against the most common malware.

Also, it stands out with 0% false warnings and blockages concerning actions when installing and using certain apps and software, which meets industry standards.

However, it is also a fact that Windows Defender falls short when it comes to detecting 0-day malware. Namely, the Windows built-in security was successful in 99.3% of cases against 0-day malware and phishing threats, as per AV-Test.

Considering this fact, it might be beneficial to include an additional layer of protection. This might be any antivirus solution that comes with a 100% success rate against malware.

Best Antivirus Software Guides

If you want to stay protected online, check out our best antivirus guides:

• Best Antivirus Software Products in Canada
• Best Antivirus Software UK
• Best Antivirus for Servers
• Best Antivirus for Android

Conclusion – What is the Best Free Antivirus to Use in 2023?

TotalAV is the best option when it comes to free antivirus solutions. Its free plan includes a comprehensive library of features typical for paid subscription plans. In this case, you can count on Malware Scan, Phishing Protection, and Malicious URL Blocking at no cost to your budget.

Additionally, TotalAV boasts a 97.7% detection score against malware, and it stands out for its minimal impact on devices when downloading and launching popular apps.

Stay protected and waste no time – hackers certainly won’t. Grab the best free antivirus now.

Free Antivirus FAQs

Aleksandar Stevanovic

• 

Aleksandar Stevanovic

Alex is a Senior Software Content Writer at Techopedia. He focuses on creating reader-oriented comparison pages, reviews, research pieces, and editorials. With nearly a decade of experience, he’s written for numerous leading brands across various niches, such as The Tech Report, Bitcoincasinos.com, CEX.IO, Forbes, Business2Community, and many more. His expertise in cybersecurity has made him a popular authority on privacy tools such as VPNs, password managers, blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and antivirus software. You'll find Alex working on cars, playing guitar, and cooking fantastic food in his spare time. You can reach Alex on Twitter: @stevanovic_alex

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