Windows has always been a prime target for hackers and malware due to its humongous user base. We store tons of personal data on our PCs, so investing in good antivirus software becomes extremely important. Bad actors could try gaining access or harming you in a variety of different ways like malware, ransomware, spyware, and viruses, and you need to ensure the antivirus can protect against 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 details for trials. That said, do note that for most Windows 11 users, the built-in Windows Security app will more than do the job. Installing a new antivirus could drastically slow down your PC, especially if it’s over a decade old. Also note that since these programs are free, we cannot guarantee they respect your privacy.
1. Windows Security
Windows Security comes built into Windows and is the only free antivirus you need for your PC. Formerly called Microsoft Defender, Windows Security is a hub that regularly and actively scans your files and the files you download and checks for malware.
It also has a few app security features like Smart App Control and reputation-based protection, which prevent malicious apps from accessing your files and websites. Windows Security also keeps your Firewall settings in check and performs device performance and health checks. The best thing about Windows Security is that it doesn’t use many system resources. Overall, it’s THE best native and free antivirus for Windows 11. If you don’t know how to activate it, here’s our enable Microsoft Defender in Windows guide that you can check out.
Pros Cons Free and natively available None Complete suite of protection Virus definitions updated regularly Real-time protection Does not eat up excessive system resources
2. Avast Free Antivirus
Avast is one of the popular free antivirus programs for Windows out there, and for good reason. It offers real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, spyware, and new and old malware. Avast Free Antivirus also offers deep rootkit scanning through boot sector scanning and more protection features for zero cost. One of the best things about Avast is that it’s compatible with Windows Security, so parallel protection does not run on your Windows 11 PC.
Make sure you select the minimal setup during the installation so that only basic protection is installed and doesn’t hog more memory. That said, the software does try to get ahead of your thinking by installing bloatware such as browser extensions and other features, which you need to be careful of when going through the installation process. Otherwise, it’s easily one of the best Antivirus software you can use on Windows.
Pros Cons Full-fledged antivirus program Filled with bloatware Real-time protection against threats Resource hog Great malware detection Many protection features
3. Bitdefender
Bitdefender’s free antivirus markets itself as an “impossibly light” software that will never slow down your PC. We found that’s far from reality as the software consumes over 700 MB of RAM which is not “lightweight” in any sense. The setup took suspiciously long, but once it was done, Bitdefender had the same scanning features as on its paid plans.
However, you miss out on vulnerability scanning and firewall protection, which are both found in Avast. Also, like Avast, the software is configured to run alongside Windows Security and won’t bring down each other’s functions. Overall, Bitdefender is a great free Windows antivirus app.
Pros Cons Free scanning Not light on PC resources Decent interface Lacks firewall support Web Protection included No custom scanning
4. AVG Antivirus
AVG needs no introduction. It’s one of the oldest players in the antivirus game and is well-known for its security and thread protection shenanigans. Since AVG and Avast are run by the same company, the installation and setup are almost identical. AVG Free brings virus, web protection, 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 as light. However, like Avast, it may also try to install web extensions on your PC during installation if you aren’t being careful. Hence, make sure to uncheck those options. Overall, AVG is a decent piece of antivirus software that should get the job done.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Real-time protection | Virus detection is relatively slow |
| Web protection | Tries installing bloatware |
| Frequently updated virus definition | |
| Light on system resources |
5. Avira Free Security
Next on our list is Avira, which is also a pretty old and trusted antivirus platform. Compared to other platforms on this list, Avira is a bit basic and kind of looks similar to Avast in terms of UI; however, it should get the job done, for the most part. For those unaware, Avira is the same company behind Norton LifeLock, which previously used to be Norton Antivirus.
Avira offers real-time protection against threats, spyware, malware, and more. Besides, its threat definitions are updated regularly. Like other antivirus on this list, Avira and Windows Security do not clash, and the software takes up the least amount of resources of any antivirus mentioned above. Overall, Avira may look quite basic, but it covers everything you’d ever need from a free antivirus software.
Pros Cons Real-time protection against malware No web and ransomware protection in free version Regularly updated Unnecessary browser extensions are added Compatible with Windows Security Free to use
These were some of the best free antivirus software you can download on Windows 11. Do you know any other free antivirus software that deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the comments.
