Either you are a corporate user or a home user you don’t want your financial and private information to be vulnerable cyber attacks that are impacting internet users around the world. A good antivirus solution is a key to save your personal data from being hacked by the hackers. There are many paid antivirus solutions that are available in the market and guarantee full protection against security threats and loopholes. But what if you cant afford to buy these expensive solutions and running low on cash? You cant leave your personal devices vulnerable to security threats and cyber attacks.
In this article, we have provided a complete list of best free antivirus software for Windows 10 that you should use to keep yourself secure. We have evaluated each of them on the basis of three parameters Features, Pros and Cons. You can find your best fit based on these parameters.
10 Best Free Antivirus Software For Windows 10
1. Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus has always grabbed the attention of the windows users because of its unique features and design. It has retained its reputation over the years among the best antivirus. Unlike other antivirus software that are available in the market, you can use it free forever. There are many promising features including online banking and shopping that are available in the free version. If you are looking for extra protection, you can upgrade to the premium version whenever you want. The paid version of Avast is available on a 30 days trial period and provides features firewall, sandboxing, and ransomware shield.
The installation process is very easy and simple, you can also install add-ons like Google and Google Toolbar.
Features:
- Browser clean up
- Home network security
- Smart gaming mode
- Password Management
- Sandbox
Pros:
- Supports multiple devices
- User community
- Provides customization for settings
- User-friendly interface
- Customizable scanning
Cons:
- Limited password management features
- The antiphishing score is poor
- Purchasing required for bonus features
Download: Avast Free Antivirus
2. Avira Free Antivirus
Avira is loved by millions of users worldwide because it provides free security suite for your personal computers and other devices. It allows its users to use it for free without sending continuous reminders for the premium upgrade, unlike other security suites. Like avast, it also provides password manager. The Avira security suite includes Avira free antivirus, Phantom VPN, and Avira system speedup. The Avira 2018 upgrade has provided many promising features to its clients. Avira has grabbed the attention of millions of users and it is considered as the strongest competitor of avast because of the Avira antivirus growing community.
Features:
- Web browser and VPN client integration
- Phishing and ransomware protection
- Email scanning
- Free add-ons
- Game mode
Pros:
- Cloud detection technology
- Free browser safety extension
- Malicious URL scans
- Signature-based malware scanning
Cons:
- Slow on-demand scanning
- The real-time scan is sluggish
- The antiphishing score is not very impressive
- Browser support for only chrome and firefox
Download: Avira Free Antivirus
3. Bitdefender Free Antivirus
You might not have an idea that Bitdefender also provides free antivirus products as well. It is loved by its users for providing protection and security against current prevailing cyber treats. The security product line that is provided by Bitdefender provides strong protection against spam, worms, trojans, rootkits and viruses. You can install it on all of your devices using the same license. Bitdefender runs in the background without even slowing down the performance of your PC. The paid version is available on 30 days trial period. The 2018 update for Bitdefender has enhanced its features by offering free services like phishing and fraud protection.
Features:
- Real-time scanning
- Anti-malware protection
- Autopilot
- Best malware detection rate
Pros:
- Phishing protection
- Malicious URL blocking
- On-demand scan
Cons:
- Lacks many valuable features – available in the paid version
Download: Bitdefender Free Antivirus
4. AVG Free Antivirus
AVG Free Antivirus is also considered as the reliable and trustable solution for virus scanning and protection. Very few vendors provide quality security solutions with their free package and AVG is one of them. Its 2018 edition has earned good ratings from various labs that are working independently worldwide. AVG Free Antivirus is available free of cost for multiple platforms with minimalistic impact on the booting process. The installation process is very simple, you just have to keep an eye on the checkboxes while installing the software. It has been acquired by avast recently but AVG is still growing as an independent vendor.
Features:
- Malware scanning
- Customized features
- Website rating feature
- PC performance scanning
Pros:
- Email and browser security
- Smart gaming mode
- Protection against spying an data theft
- Web protection portal
Cons:
- Slower than average initial scan
- The antiphishing test score is poor
Download: AVG Free Antivirus
5. Kaspersky Free Antivirus
Kaspersky Free Antivirus is also considered as one of the best antivirus solutions that are available in the market. It has gained the trust of the users and created a good reputation in the market. It provides antivirus suite that is comprised of phishing protection, spam filtering, firewall, parent control, and antivirus. It does not bother its users by showing pop-ups all the time and works on its own for allowing and blocking programs. Scan and database update is available for free while the premium version provides a lot of good features that are mentioned below.
Features:
- Webcam protection
- Audio protection
- Parental control – Premium version
- Multiple device protection – Premium version
- Privacy protection – Premium version
- Safe Money – Premium version
Pros:
- vulnerability scanner
- Online shopping protection
- Best malware detection rate
- Firewall
- Frequent updates
Cons:
- Lacks direct support for customers
- Average results for malware protection testing
Download: Kaspersky Free Antivirus
6. Sophos Home Free Antivirus
Sophos Home Free Antivirus is a complete security solution for all of your needs, as it provides an enterprise-level security solution for your systems. You can download the free version from the website that allows you to secure up to 3 systems from a single account. One of the main features that are provided by the antivirus are remote security management. You can remotely manage the security of all your computer systems. Sophos Home Free Antivirus does not send frequent notifications to its users to upgrade to the paid version.
Features:
- Malicious URL blocking
- App detection feature
- Remote security management
- Fewer upgrade notifications
Pros:
- Remote scanning
- Commercial level security for free
- Best phishing protection
- Download protection
Cons:
- Malware protection test – Poor score
Download: Sophos Home Free Antivirus
7. Panda Free Antivirus
Panda Free Antivirus is a lightweight and speedy antivirus that is available free of cost. The user interface is user-friendly and customization is available. It provides the simple and straightforward features. The paid version provides much better features because it often detects false positives in the free version so the performance is not as good. Users often receive notifications for upgrade to the premium version. If you need extra cleaning for your systems, you can create a bootable USB with Panda.
Features:
- Real-time protection
- Malicious URL scanning
- Cloud cleaner
- Bootable USB creation
Pros:
- Does not slow down the system performance
- Simple user interface
- Configuration features
- USB protection
Cons:
- False positive detection
- Poor independent test scores
Download: Panda Free Antivirus
8. Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus
If you are looking for a free antivirus solution that provides both antivirus and firewall Check Point ZoneAlarm is the right solution for you. You might not know that its antivirus and firewall is licenced from a reliable vendor Kaspersky. The user interface is pretty simple and easy to understand. The vendor has been in this business for a long time and gained the trust of millions of customers worldwide. The free antivirus is enough for securing your systems while the paid version is also available as well for those users who are looking for extra protection.
Features:
- Kaspersky license
- Free firewall
- Web-based security
- Cloud-based protection
- Real-time security
Pros:
- Antispyware
- Identity protection
- Wireless network protection
- Gamer mode
- Online backup
Cons:
- Poor hands-on testing results
- Lacks important features available in Premium version
Download: Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus
9. Comodo Antivirus
Comodo Antivirus is one of the best antivirus solutions that are available in the market. It provides extra security to the users even in its basic (free) version by considering all unknown files as a threat. The antivirus scans each and every file in order to provide complete protection and security. The user interface is very attractive and user-friendly. The new Comodo Antivirus 10 provides a very new look to the clients but if you still love the classic view you can revert back from the settings.
Features:
- Real-time scanning
- Virtual desktop
- Good score on malware blocking test
Pros:
- Extra protection
- Beautiful interface
- Autosandbox
Cons:
- Poor score in malware scanning
- False positive protection
- Dismissal phishing protection
Download: Comodo Antivirus
10. Microsoft Windows Defender
Microsoft Windows Defender is the default antivirus that is shipped with your windows. Microsoft has gained wide user acceptance in a short span of time by developing outstanding antivirus solutions. Microsoft Windows Defender provides real-time protection and receives automatic updates regularly to keep itself up to date for fighting latest security issues. It works as good as a paid product and never sends notifications for purchasing the paid version. There are some performance issues as well but Microsoft is working to resolve these issues.
Features:
- Real-time scanning
- No frequent notifications
- Configuration features
- USB protection
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Regular updates
- Malware protection
Cons:
- Performance issues
Download: Microsoft Windows Defender
So, I am sure you must have found your free antivirus solution that fits your security needs in 2018. Comment down below your favorite antivirus solution and the features that you like the most.
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