Best Free Antivirus Software
If you’re working on a tight budget, but want to secure your devices from the latest malware and ransomware threats, free antivirus software is a great choice. Free antivirus programs employ the same malware-scanning engines that their paid counterparts. They do not have additional tools to provide online protection such as VPN, password manager, and parental controls.
The most effective free antivirus programs should offer real-time malware detection and protection. This means that the software actively detects and blocks malware as they try to download or sneak on your computer. Prior to this, this type of protection was only available to premium subscriptions. However, it’s nowadays common in free alternatives.
The best free antivirus software should have a basic password manager as well as a VPN at a minimum on an initial trial basis. For example, McAfee’s free software provides a free trial of 30 days of its highest tier package that comes with all premium features, such as web protection and identity theft protection.
The best antivirus software for free must be easy to use. Most of the brands in this article our top picks have user-friendly dashboards, intuitive features, and good customer service. There are also mobile apps that make it easier to protect and scan your Android or iOS devices. In addition, the best free apps are licensed for use on a single device as opposed to paid versions that offer family-friendly plans as well as business tools.