Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world and this makes it a target for cybercriminals. Threats include various forms of malware such as viruses, adware, spyware, and phishing attacks. While Google Play has built-in mechanisms in place to prevent malicious apps, they’re not always enough. This is particularly the case if you download apps from third-party sources or aren’t in the habit of practicing safe browsing habits.
If you’re concerned about your privacy or simply want to add a layer of security to your Android device, the best free antivirus tool for Android can help. In particular, it will scan your phone or tablet for malware and provide real-time protection to prevent potential threats. Some offer even more than this, be it web protection (ad, tracker, and malicious site blocking) or even a firewall or VPN. The trick is finding those that are genuinely free and of the required quality.
In a hurry? Here’s a summary of the best free antivirus for Android:
- Bitdefender Antivirus Free: Best free antivirus for Android. Uses the same engine as its paid version. Cloud scanning so it doesn’t slow down your Android device.
- Avast One Basic:Â Scores highly in independent testing. Includes a free VPN with a generous data allowance. Possibility of improving performance with cleanup tools.
- Avira Free Antivirus:Â Performed well in independent lab tests for Android antivirus providers. A comprehensive offering of extras, including ad-blocking, a VPN, and a password manager.
- AVG Antivirus Free:Â All-round security with the ability to block many types of Android malware. Ad and tracker blocking, a VPN, and even a Safe Shopping feature.
- Malwarebytes Free: Removes most malware strains with ease. Free Android antivirus option to try Premium for 7. Easy-to-use app with little to no clutter.
Criteria for the best free antivirus for Android
Separating the many free antivirus tools available for Android requires considering those that meet the following criteria:
- Virus detection and removal:Â Real-time scanning and a comprehensive malware database.
- Performance: Minimal impact on your Android device’s performance, be it your battery life or storage.
- Additional features:Â Extra security such as ad blocking, ransomware protection, or a VPN.
- Ease of use:Â Apps that are easy to navigate with clear instructions and notifications.
- Regular updates:Â The antivirus engine and malware definitions should receive regular updates to protect against the latest threats.
Best free antivirus for Android
Here’s our list of the best free antivirus programs for Android:
1. Bitdefender Antivirus Free
Bitdefender Antivirus Free uses the same scanning engine as its paid version (Bitdefender Mobile Security) and stands out for its outstanding protection rating from AV-Test. Cloud scanning helps prevent the installation of malicious apps while having little to no impact on your Android device’s battery. Virus signatures are in the cloud, so you don’t need to download and store them on your phone. The result is a lightweight app and snappy performance.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free ensures your device stays clean by automatically scanning any app upon its installation. It would be nice if it was possible to use Bitdefender Antivirus Free on more than one device, but this limitation is common with free antivirus tools. Unlike other antivirus, live customer support is available to free users.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free available on Android (5.0 or later) plus Windows and MacOS.
Pros:
- Highly impressive detection rate
- Doesn’t slow down your device
- Includes live customer support
Cons:
- Fewer extra features than Avast One Basic
BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS:Bitdefender Antivirus Free protects your Android smartphone or tablet with cloud scanning and ensures optimal performance at the same time. Automatically scans newly-installed apps and even provides live customer support.
Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus review.
2. Avast One Basic
Avast One Basic is a free, all-in-one service that combines antivirus protection with a whole host of extra security features. Its free and paid plans consistently rank among the very best antivirus offerings with high protection scores in independent testing and overall performance. The latter is helped by Avast One Basic’s speed-up and clean-up tools, both of which help speed up your Android device by getting rid of junk files and putting unused apps in hibernate.
Included with Avast One Basic is a VPN with a generous data allowance for being free (5 GB a week). It’s a shame that there’s only one location, but this isn’t uncommon with a free VPN. Avast One Basic uses real-time intelligence to stay ahead of viruses and other types of malware, ransomware included. The app has a cheerful, user-friendly design so you shouldn’t have any issues finding a particular feature or identifying actions you need to take.
You’ll find Avast One Basic apps for Android, Windows, Mac, and iOS.
Pros:
- Impressive independent testing scores
- Cleanup tool for improving performance
- Free VPN with a generous data allowance
Cons:
- You can only use it on one device at once
Our score:
FEATURE-PACKED:Avast One Basic combines real-time protection from malware with extras including a VPN and even clean-up tools for improving performance. It helps that it’s also very easy to use thanks to the beginner-friendly app design.
Read our full Avast Antivirus review.
3. Avira Free Antivirus
Avira Free Antivirus has garnered a lot of impressive reviews from Android users. This isn’t too surprising when you consider its excellent lab test results. Its real-time protection works around the clock to protect your device from new threats. It has one of the easiest-to-use Android apps of any free antivirus with its many different features clearly laid out and explained.
Most free antivirus offerings for Android protect you from viruses and that’s the extent of it, but Avira Free Antivirus also has web protection (blocks ads, trackers, and malicious web pages), a password manager, and a VPN. The VPN only includes 100 MB of data a day, which won’t be anywhere near enough for many users. Still, it’s better than nothing, particularly if you have moments when you need to connect to unsecured public wifi.
Avira Free Antivirus has apps for all of the following: Android, Windows, Mac, and iOS.
Pros:
- Lots of extras such as a password manager
- Excellent independent testing scores
- App interface is very easy to use
Cons:
- Very limited VPN data allowance
BEYOND THE BASICS:Avira Free Antivirus goes beyond real-time protection from malware with its many extras including a password manager and VPN. Scores well in independent testing and has apps that are very easy to navigate even for beginners.
Read our full Avira Antivirus review.
4. AVG Antivirus Free
AVG Antivirus Free positions itself as an all-in-one security app for your Android device, focusing on security, privacy, and performance. It protects your device not only from viruses, but other types of malware. This includes ransomware, which is not something that many free antivirus programs for Android protect against.
There’s an impressive number of features for a free antivirus. For example, ad and tracker blocking and a VPN (although data is limited to a measly 500 MB a month). AVG Antivirus Free’s Safe Shopping feature helps you identify coupons and deals. It is lacking in the way of support, though this can be said of the vast majority of free antivirus tools.
Aside from Android, AVG can be used on Windows, Mac, and iOS.
Pros:
- Includes ransomware protection
- Plenty of extra security features
- Beginner-friendly app interface
Cons:
- Limited customer support
RANSOMWARE PROTECTION:AVG Antivirus Free provides a high-level of security and privacy protection. It stops viruses, protects from ransomware, and blocks ads as well as trackers.
Read our full AVG Antivirus review.
5. Malwarebytes Free
Malwarebytes Free may not include real-time protection like its paid version but is still a handy tool for removing existing malware on an Android device. When you first download and install it, you’ll have access to its full version for free for 7 days. Once this expires, you’ll still be able to get rid of a variety of malware from spyware to ransomware.
An optional extra is the Browser Guard feature, which blocks ads and trackers as well as malicious websites. Scans are on the fast side and the app’s interface is nice and simple to navigate. There’s not a lot of features with the free version but it’s effective at removing viruses.
Pros:
- Highly adept at removing malware
- Try Premium for free for 7 days
- Simple app interface
Cons:
- Free version doesn’t include real-time protection
DETECTS AND DELETES:Malwarebytes Free is one of the best options for ridding an Android device of malware. Although no real-time protection is included with the free version, you’ll have access to a 7-day trial of Premium which does offer that feature.
Read our full Malwarebytes Antivirus review.
Finding the best free antivirus for Android: our testing methodology
Finding the best free antivirus for Android requires evaluating a range of factors including the ability to detect and remove malware. Below, we’ll explain what we’re looking for as part of our testing process.
- Malware detection and removal: The primary focus is making sure a free antivirus for Android is able to detect and remove malware. This includes looking at independent testing results. We’ve chosen free antivirus tools that offer high detection rates so you can be sure of your Android device’s security.
- System impact: You want an antivirus program to provide comprehensive protection without slowing down your device. We’ve found antivirus tools with lightweight Android apps that won’t slow your apps or drain your battery. These findings are based on our own first-hand experiences and are further corroborated by independent testing scores.
- Real-time protection:Â Real-time protection is a particularly important feature. Its proactive approach helps stop malware infections before they can occur. With the exception of Malwarebytes Free, all of the best free antivirus programs for Android include real-time protection and not just manual scans.
- Ease of use: The Android app UI of a free antivirus should be straightforward so that even those who aren’t tech-savvy can navigate and understand the various features. When testing antivirus apps for Android, we looked for those with intuitive interfaces, easy access to settings, and clear explanations of threats and recommended actions.
- Frequency of updates: The ability of an antivirus to keep up with the latest threats depends on regular updates with the most recent virus definitions. The free antivirus solutions for Android listed here have the best track records when it comes to regular updates. Some even update automatically in the background.
- Available features: Even free antivirus programs can offer more than just virus detection and removal. Some provide a VPN, password manager, or firewall. The availability of extras can further enhance your Android device’s security and might just be the difference between choosing one free antivirus and another.
Want to know more about our testing process? Our antivirus software testing post explains everything we look at, from a provider’s ability to detect and remove malware, to its advanced features.
How to use a free antivirus for Android
Unsure how to get started? Below is a simple step-by-step guide to using a free antivirus on your Android device. This should allow you to get all set up in a matter of minutes.
Here’s how to protect your device using a free antivirus for Android:
- Select a reputable free antivirus app from the Google Play Store. We particularly recommend Bitdefender Antivirus Free.
- Download and install the antivirus app via the Google Play Store.
- Open the antivirus app in Google Play or via your Android device’s app drawer.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the app. This may involve agreeing to the terms of service and granting app permissions.
- Run a full scan of your Android device and review the results, taking any actions recommended by the antivirus app.
Free antivirus for Android: FAQs
What are some key features to look for in free antivirus software?
Of course, a free antivirus for Android (or indeed any other operating system) must provide effective malware detection. Real-time protection is important because it can proactively prevent malware from infecting your device. When testing antivirus tools, we also look for those that offer regular updates to protect you from the newest threats. More specific features to look out for include web and phishing protection and privacy tools such as a VPN.
How does free antivirus software differ from paid versions?
Free antivirus software tends to offer basic protection. Generally, you can expect real-time protection, particularly with the best free antivirus tools for Android. Although the free antivirus programs we’ve covered include numerous extras, some tend to be more limited than paid versions. For example, a free version’s VPN will have a limited data allowance.
Other features, such as a firewall or ransomware protection, are much more common in paid plans. Customer support with free antivirus software tends to be limited to FAQs and community forums while a paid antivirus is likely to offer live chat, email, and maybe even phone support.
Is free antivirus software safe to use?
Free antivirus software can be safe to use. However, it’s important to choose a reputable antivirus provider for your Android device. Although free antivirus programs tend to offer basic protection, it’s nonetheless effective and more than sufficient for most people’s needs. Of course, there are some limitations and fewer advanced features but, provided your antivirus for Android has real-time protection to monitor for threats, your device should be safe.
Will an antivirus slow down my device?
Although an antivirus can slow your device, the extent of this depends on the antivirus program you’re using and your smartphone or tablet’s specifications. Older or lower-end devices may have more noticeable slowdowns for example. Full system scans as well as real-time protection tend to consume significantly more resources. Choosing one of the best free antivirus tools means you’ll have a lightweight and efficient antivirus which reduces the impact on your device’s performance.
What's the difference between free Android antivirus and paid versions?
Free Android antiviruses offer basic malware protection and manual scans, often with ads and limited support. They typically cover a single device and may have delayed updates. Paid Android antivirus, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive package. They include advanced features like real-time protection, anti-theft measures, and Wi-Fi security. Paid options are usually ad-free and offer priority customer support.
The premium versions also tend to receive faster and more frequent updates. They often come with additional tools such as VPNs, password managers, or performance optimization features.
Paid antiviruses generally allow multi-device coverage and offer more advanced scan scheduling options. While free Android antiviruses provide essential protection, paid versions offer a more robust and user-friendly security experience.
