Windows has always been a prime target for hackers and malware due to its huge user base. We store tons of personal data on our PCs, so investing in good antivirus software is extremely important.
Malicious actors can try to gain access to your computer or harm you in a variety of ways, such as malware, ransomware, spyware, and viruses. So, you need to make sure that your antivirus can protect you from all possible threats. Fortunately, you don’t have to scour the internet to find the best one. Here are some of the best free antivirus software for Windows 11.
The antivirus programs on this list are completely free and don’t require you to enter your credit card information for trials. That said, keep in mind that for most Windows 11 users, the built-in Windows Security app will do the trick.
Installing a new antivirus can slow down your PC considerably, especially if it is more than ten years old. Also note that since these programs are free, we cannot guarantee that they respect your privacy.
1. Windows Security
Windows Security is Coming built into Windows and is the only free antivirus you need for your PC. Formerly known as Microsoft Defender, Windows Security is a hub that regularly and actively scans your files and the files you download for malware.
It also has some app security features like Smart App Control and reputation-based protection, which blocks malicious apps from accessing your files and websites. Windows Security also monitors your firewall settings and performs device performance and health checks.
The good thing about Windows Security is that it doesn’t use a lot of system resources. Overall, it’s THE best native and free antivirus for Windows 11. If you don’t know how to enable it, here’s our guide on how to enable Microsoft Defender in Windows that you can check out.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Free and natively available | None |
| Full range of protection | |
| Virus definitions updated regularly | |
| Real-time protection | |
| Does not consume too much system resources |
2. Avast Free Antivirus
Avast is one of the most popular free antivirus programs for Windows, and for good reason. It offers real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, spyware, and malware new and old.
Avast Free Antivirus also offers in-depth rootkit analysis with boot sector scanning and other protection features at no cost. One of the best things about Avast is that it is compatible with Windows securityso parallel protection is not working on your Windows 11 PC.
Make sure to select the minimum configuration during installation so that only the basic protection is installed and does not hog more memory.
That said, the software does try to get ahead of your thinking by installing bloatware like browser extensions and other features, which you should watch out for during the installation process. Otherwise, it’s easily one of the best antivirus software you can use on Windows.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Full-fledged antivirus program | Filled with bloatware |
| Real-time threat protection | A resource pit |
| Excellent malware detection | |
| Many protection features |
3. Bitdefender
Bitdefender’s free antivirus bills itself as “incredibly lightweight” software that will never slow down your PC. We found that to be far from the truth, as the software consumes over 700MB of RAM, which is not “lightweight” at all. Installation took an odd amount of time, but once it was complete, Bitdefender had the same scanning features as its paid plans.
However, you don’t get vulnerability scanning or firewall protection, both of which are present in Avast. Also, like Avast, the software is configured to work alongside Windows security and will not interfere with each other’s functions. Overall, Bitdefender is an excellent free antivirus application for Windows.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Free Scanning | Not light on PC resources |
| Decent interface | Lack of firewall support |
| Web protection included | No custom scan |
4. AVG Antivirus
AVG needs no introduction. It’s one of the oldest players in the antivirus industry and is well-known for its security and thread protection shenanigans. Since AVG and Avast are run by the same company, installation and setup are nearly identical. AVG Free brings antivirus, web, and ransomware protection. Like Avast, it also comes with firewall protection and real-time scanning.
AVG is surprisingly light on system resources; almost 6 times lighter. However, like Avast, it can also try to install web extensions on your PC during installation if you are not careful. Therefore, make sure to uncheck these options. Overall, AVG is a decent antivirus software that should get the job done.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Real-time protection | Virus detection is relatively slow |
| Web Protection | Try installing bloatware |
| Frequently updated virus definition | |
| Low system resource consumption |
5. Avira Free Security
Next on our list is Avira, which is also a fairly old and reliable antivirus platform. Compared to the other platforms on this list, Avira is a bit basic and somewhat similar to Avast in terms of user interface; however, it should get the job done, in most cases. For those who don’t know, Avira is the same company behind Norton LifeLock, which was previously Norton Antivirus.
Avira offers real-time protection against threats, spyware, malware and more. Threat definitions are updated regularly. Like other antiviruses on this list, Avira and Windows Security do not conflict, and the software uses the least resources of all the antiviruses mentioned above. Overall, Avira may seem pretty basic, but it covers everything you could possibly need from a free antivirus software.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Real-time protection against malware | No web and ransomware protection in the free version |
| Regularly updated | Unnecessary browser extensions are added |
| Compatible with Windows security | |
| Free to use |
These are some of the best free antivirus software that you can download on Windows 11. Do you know of any other free antivirus software that deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the comments.
