Many of the top antivirus software programs have free versions that are equally effective as their paid counterparts in stopping malware. The majority of antivirus programs offer a basic program with limitations on features. A mid-range program includes additional security tools, and the top-end programs have all the bells and whistles.
AVG Antivirus Free version provides excellent security against malware with minimal impact on the system. AVG Antivirus is free and includes numerous other useful tools, such as junk files cleanup, RAM optimization and Wi-Fi network scanners. It is also ad free and doesn’t nag users to upgrade to premium features.
Microsoft Defender is the default malware protection software that comes preinstalled on Windows systems. It’s not the greatest at protecting against malware files being downloaded onto your computer but its free version includes various tools, including health and performance analyses, as well as parental controls that aren’t found in paid versions of other antivirus software.
Bitdefender’s suites, which include antivirus software, are among the most well-known in the market. The free version is just as powerful and efficient as the paid versions. It is ad-free, has no limits on how many devices it is able to be able to scan and has a complete collection of anti-theft features, such as the ability to locate and lock or wipe a stolen Android device.
Sophos Home free is ideal for people who wish to manage antivirus protection of a computer belonging to family members who do not reside in the household. It scores excellently in malware detection but it has a lower score for Phishing.