Depending on your security needs, a free antivirus for Windows 11 may be perfectly adequate. The key is to avoid those that don’t provide enough protection or have privacy concerns.
Through our own in-house testing, we assess each antivirus provider’s effectiveness at detecting and removing malware. We also look at other key areas, such as a program’s performance when running scans. Furthermore, we use independent testing lab results to confirm our own findings. This thorough and consistent process helps us identify the best free antivirus programs for Windows, ensuring you have the best possible protection at no cost.
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to Windows 11 antivirus programs. As such, there are several quality free antivirus options to choose from. Don’t have time to read the full post? Here’s a quick rundown of those that performed best in testing:
- Avast One Basic: Best free antivirus for Windows 11. Uses real-time intelligence and provides plenty of features including ransomware protection. Free VPN with 5 GB of data a week. Good antivirus lab scores.
- Avira Free Antivirus: Real-time protection without slowing down your device. Plenty of extras including a password manager. Also includes a free VPN albeit with limited data.
- Bitdefender Antivirus Free: Offers very strong protection but is lightweight and easy to use. Non-intrusive and offers live chat support.
- AVG Antivirus Free: Firewall protection as well as features to help safeguard your email. Real-time protection and a clean interface which makes it ideal for beginners.
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus: Simple protection that’s always on. Easy to navigate and with quick scans. Scored well for malware protection from independent testing labs.
- Malwarebytes Free: Includes a 14-day free trial of the Premium version. Free tier with the ability to remove stubborn viruses. Also an option of an ad and tracker blocker.
Criteria for the best free antivirus
With plenty of options to choose from when it comes to free antivirus programs for Windows 11, we aim to narrow it down to a select few. In doing so, we want to avoid antivirus programs that don’t provide sufficient protection or have other issues, such as too many ads. Here’s what we looked for:
- Windows compatibility: Offers a free antivirus app for Windows.
- Real-time protection: Identifies and stops threats before they can do harm.
- Minimal system impact: Protects your device without slowing it down to a noticeable degree.
- Frequent updates: Ensures you’re protected from the latest threats through regular updates.
- Easy to use: A clean UI that’s easy to navigate while keeping you up-to-date.
- Genuinely free: Free forever (not just a free trial) and won’t hold you to ransom.
Best free antivirus for Windows 11 in 2024
Here’s our list of the best free antivirus programs for Windows 11:
1. Avast One Basic
Avast One Basic has an impressive range of features for being a free Windows 11 antivirus. Of course, this starts with the ability to block viruses and other malware, using real-time intelligence to detect and stop threats. This includes ransomware protection for your personal files, ensuring hackers can’t access and lock you out of them. It also blocks dangerous downloads and sites and even removes dangerous email attachments.
Where Avast One Basic differs from many of its counterparts is its inclusion of a free VPN. This is limited to one location and 5 GB of data a week but it’s still a nice addition and may be enough for your basic browsing needs. However, Avast One Basic only covers one device and lacks some of the more advanced features (such as an advanced firewall and webcam protection) found in its paid plans.
Pros:
- Ransomware protection for your files
- Free VPN with 5 GB of data each week
- Excellent antivirus lab scores
- Free protection for all platforms
Cons:
- Doesn’t include an advanced firewall
- Protection limited to one device
PACKED WITH FEATURES:Avast One Basic performed well in independent lab tests and certainly isn’t short of features. Particularly impressive is its ransomware protection for all of your personal files. Its free VPN has a decent allowance of 5 GB a week.
Read our full Avast Antivirus review.
2. Avira Free Antivirus
Avira Free Antivirus provides free antivirus protection for Windows 11 which is available for you to use as long as you like. Avira has won countless awards for its ability to block adware, ransomware, and spyware. This is in part thanks to real-time protection and updates and the fact that it does not slow down your PC in the process. It includes PC tune-up tools for optimizing your device’s performance by clearing junk files.
Avira Free Antivirus includes browser tracking and ad blocking as well as safe shopping, which helps you find secure deals and coupons when buying online. Although it also offers a free VPN, data is limited to just 500 MB a month, which isn’t enough for even the lightest users. A bundled password manager makes this free antivirus offering stand out from many others.
Pros:
- Doesn’t slow down your device
- Offers extras including a password manager
- Provides real-time protection and updates
Cons:
- VPN has a very limited allowance
- Not the cheapest if you’re looking to upgrade
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE:Avira Free Antivirus offers an optimizer, allowing you to free up space and improve performance. It provides real-time protection from threats and includes many extras such as a password manager and VPN.
Read our full Avira Antivirus review.
3. Bitdefender Antivirus Free
Bitdefender Antivirus Free prides itself on its ability to nullify emerging AI-driven threats, detecting and isolating everything from ransomware to trojans. Despite its power, it’s remarkably lightweight and doesn’t slow down your Windows 11 computer. In fact, it’s one of the more discreet free antivirus programs, alerting you to threats without being overly intrusive.
Live chat support is available, regardless of its free status. Unlike some free antivirus programs, it’s permanently free (not a limited time free trial) with absolutely no hidden costs. While it provides your PC with protection and even prevents phishing and online fraud, you’d need to upgrade to a paid plan if you want to benefit from features such as web tracker blocking.
Pros:
- Comprehensive protection from threats
- Very lightweight and doesn’t slow down your device
- Non-intrusive and doesn’t bombard you with ads
- Includes live chat support
- Genuinely and permanently free
Cons:
- Lacking advanced features of premium antivirus programs
BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS:Bitdefender Antivirus Free stands out for its powerful yet lightweight real-time protection. Self-contained so you only have to see it when you enter the app. Free forever and offers live chat support even to its free customers.
Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus review.
4. AVG Antivirus Free
AVG Antivirus Free ensures you have real-time protection from not only viruses but scam websites and infected emails. It stands out for its firewall, which stops unauthorized traffic from accessing your network. Another intriguing feature is AVG’s HackCheck, which alerts you if your email becomes compromised. Likewise, its Email Shield warns of infected emails and attachments before you click on them.
This free antivirus solution for Windows 11 is particularly easy to use thanks to the app’s very clean interface. Arguably more important is the fact that AVG Antivirus Free performed well in independent testing, scoring particularly high in terms of malware and phishing protection. However, it doesn’t receive the best customer support reviews and free users only have access to a community forum.
Pros:
- Includes firewall protection
- Easy to use for beginners
- Scored well in independent tests
Cons:
- Not the best support offering
- Free plan covers just one device
FIREWALL PROTECTION:AVG Antivirus Free includes a firewall and has a number of quality features including email protection. The app is very simple to navigate, making it a good choice for first-time antivirus users. Strong performance in testing.
Read our full AVG Antivirus review.
5. Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Microsoft Defender Antivirus can save you some time because it’s already available on your Windows 11 device. It offers always-on, real-time protection from viruses, ransomware, trojans, and more. However, it’s missing many of the features available in some paid and even free antivirus tools. Its menu is simple to navigate with a number of icons including Virus & threat protection and Device performance & health, each of which clearly shows if action is required.
Scans are fairly fast, and Microsoft Defender Antivirus offers particularly strong protection from malware, as evidenced by its high scores from independent testing labs. Yet, when you consider that some free antivirus programs include features such as a free VPN or email protection, Microsoft Defender Antivirus certainly looks a little limited. Despite this, it’s a decent option if you don’t yet have protection and need more time to assess your options.
Pros:
- Pre-installed on Windows 11
- Always on if you don’t have other protection
- Strong malware protection scores
Cons:
- Very limited in terms of features
- Doesn’t offer live support
CONVENIENT OPTION:Microsoft Defender Antivirus comes pre-installed on your Windows 11 device and is always on if you don’t have another antivirus activated. It provides real-time protection and performs well in independent tests but has limited features.
Read our full Microsoft Defender Antivirus review.
6. Malwarebytes Free
Malwarebytes Free lets you scan for viruses and malware and remove them for free. Upon first installing Malwarebytes, you’ll get a free 14-day trial of the Premium version before it reverts to the free version. However, it should be noted that unlike the other antivirus solutions covered in this post, the free version doesn’t provide real-time protection. This makes it more suitable for removing existing viruses.
Like most free antivirus programs for Windows 11, Malwarebytes Free doesn’t offer live chat support or more advanced features, be it a firewall, VPN, or parental controls. One feature that is included with the free version of Malwarebytes is Browser Guard. This serves to block ads, trackers, and malicious websites. Overall, it’s best used alongside another antivirus that offers real-time protection such as Bitdefender or Avast One.
Pros:
- 14-day free trial of Premium included
- Browser Guard blocks ads and trackers
Cons:
- No real-time protection
- Absence of live chat support
STUBBORN MALWARE REMOVAL:Malwarebytes Free helps you get rid of existing problems but doesn’t provide any real-time protection. Still, you can try its Premium version for free for 14 days. Further, the free version includes an ad and tracker blocker.
Read our full Malwarebytes Antivirus review.
Finding the best free antivirus for Windows 11: our testing methodology
Although there are many more free antivirus solutions than those listed in this post, plenty failed to meet our requirements. Using our tried and tested antivirus methodology, we’re able to narrow down the many options. Here’s what we were looking for:
- Malware detection and removal: Of course, the primary focus is finding free antivirus programs that not only detect malware, but help you remove it. This requires the ability to identify and eliminate a wide range of threats. Aside from viruses, this may include spyware, ransomware, or adware.
- System impact: Some free (and even some paid) antivirus programs can have an impact on performance during active scans or simply while running in the background (real-time protection). Your free antivirus for Windows should be able to run efficiently without significantly slowing down your system.
- Real-time protection: Real-time scanning is particularly important because it can help prevent malware from entering your device in the first place. Real-time protection involves scanning incoming emails and downloads to identify potential threats, stopping them before they can do any harm.
- Ease of use: Antivirus software should be user-friendly so that it’s quick and easy to navigate as well as configure. Beginner-friendly antivirus solutions provide clear alerts when issues arise and should also make it easy to know when you’re required to take specific actions, be it to download an update or schedule a scan.
- Frequency of updates: It’s vital for antivirus programs, free and paid alike, to provide regular updates. This helps them maintain protection against the very latest threats. We expect to see not only software patches but virus definition updates.
- Available features: Although the ability to detect and remove malware is of primary importance, the availability of additional features can be a big plus. Whether that’s a firewall, parental controls, or even a VPN, such features can set certain free antivirus tools apart and enhance your security in the process.
How to use a free antivirus for Windows 11
The best free antivirus programs for Windows 11 are easy to use thanks to beginner-friendly apps. Even if it’s your first time using an antivirus for Windows, you’re unlikely to have any trouble. To make things even easier, we’ve provided some simple setup instructions below.
Here’s how to protect your device using a free antivirus for Windows 11:
- First, download and install one of the best free antivirus tools for Windows 11. We particularly recommend Avast One Basic.
- Open the antivirus program and make sure it’s up to date. The good news is that most antivirus programs provide automatic updates.
- You can now have the antivirus perform a full scan of your device to check for any existing threats.
- Upon completion of the scan, you’ll be prompted to take specific actions if any threats have been identified.
- Check to see that real-time protection is enabled so that your Windows 11 device is always being monitored.
Free antivirus: FAQs
What are some key features to look for in free antivirus software?
There are a number of key features to look for in a free antivirus to ensure your device receives adequate protection from threats. In particular, real-time protection continuously monitors your system for threats, alerting to detected issues. Of course, the ability to detect and remove various types of malware is also one of the key features offered by a quality free antivirus. Regular updates ensure software recognizes and protects against the latest threats.
We expect the above from a quality free Windows 11 antivirus but the best options offer even more than this. You may wish to look for features such as email protection (scanning of attachments and links), web protection (blocks malicious websites), or even ransomware protection which prevents your files from being encrypted and held to ransom. Of course, paid antivirus solutions will offer far more features of this nature.
How does free antivirus software differ from paid versions?
There are a few differences between free antivirus software and their paid counterparts. Of course, with free antivirus programs, you can expect more basic protection from threats while paid versions come with more advanced protection features such as a firewall or ransomware protection. Indeed, paid antiviruses also have more additional tools, be it a VPN or password manager.
Another key difference is that very few free antivirus providers offer customer support to free users. Instead, you’ll usually be limited to community forums or FAQs. Paid versions however tend to include live chat and email support, often 24 hours a day.
Is free antivirus software safe to use?
Free antivirus software can be safe to use but it’s important to choose a reputable provider and be aware of its limitations. Even the best free antivirus for Windows 11 offers basic protection against threats.
For more advanced protection, you’d be better off with a quality paid antivirus. If you do use a free antivirus, be sure to schedule regular scans and keep software updated. Browse safely and exercise caution with suspicious links and attachments.
Will an antivirus slow down my device?
You can expect an antivirus to slow your device, but the extent of the slowdown depends on a few factors. Some antivirus solutions are better optimized than others, using fewer resources. Real-time protection that involves continuous monitoring of files and activities can consume more resources, as can full system scans. If these combine with other resource-intensive tasks such as streaming, performance can be slowed as a result.
By sticking with the best free antivirus tools covered in this post, you can expect lightweight software that has minimal impact on system performance.