Avast Free Antivirus
Free tierby Avast (Gen Digital)
Long-established free antivirus with real-time protection.
- Real-time virus and ransomware shield
- Malicious and phishing website blocking
- Wi-Fi network security scanning
7 Best Free Antivirus & Security Software in 2026
Antivirus scanners, anti-malware tools and password managers that protect your machine and your accounts without a subscription.
- 7 programs listed
- 2 open source
- ₹0 cost to download
- 100% official publisher links
Free antivirus & security programs
AVG AntiVirus Free
Free tierby AVG (Gen Digital)
Lightweight free antivirus with web and email protection.
- Real-time malware detection
- Email attachment and download scanning
- Performance scan for junk files
Bitdefender Antivirus Free
Free tierby Bitdefender
Minimal-configuration antivirus with a top-rated engine.
- Highly rated detection engine
- Very low system impact
- Almost no configuration required
Malwarebytes Free
Free tierby Malwarebytes
The standard second-opinion malware remover.
- Excellent adware and PUP removal
- Runs alongside your existing antivirus
- On-demand scanning in the free tier
ClamAV
Open Sourceby Cisco Talos
Open-source antivirus engine, standard on mail servers.
- Fully open source
- Designed for mail and file server scanning
- Scriptable command-line interface
KeePassXC
Open Sourceby KeePassXC Team
Offline password manager — your vault never leaves your disk.
- Fully offline encrypted vault
- No account or subscription required
- Browser integration extension
Bitwarden
Free tierby Bitwarden, Inc.
Open-source password manager that syncs across all your devices.
- Unlimited passwords and devices, free
- Open-source client and server
- Apps and browser extensions for every platform
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Try removing a platform or licence filter — or browse another category.
Browse all categoriesHow to choose antivirus & security software
Antivirus scanners, anti-malware tools and password managers that protect your machine and your accounts without a subscription. With 7 free options on this page, the practical way to narrow it down is by three questions: which platform you run, whether you need the source code to be open, and how much complexity you actually want.
Because everything here is free, you are not risking money by testing two or three — which is usually faster than reading another comparison article. 2 of these are open source, meaning no vendor can revoke your access or move the software behind a paywall later.
Is free antivirus & security software safe?
Yes — when you get it from the publisher. Nearly every "free software gave me a virus" story traces back to a third-party download portal that wrapped the genuine installer in its own bundler.
That is precisely why this directory hosts no installers at all: every button above opens the software author's own website, so you receive the authentic signed build.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free antivirus & security software?
There is no single winner, and any page claiming otherwise is guessing on your behalf. Avast Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus Free, Bitdefender Antivirus Free are the most widely adopted here. Avast Free Antivirus long-established free antivirus with real-time protection.
Do I need to create an account?
Not with us. We have no accounts, no paywall and no download gate. Some publishers may ask you to register on their own site — that is their choice, not ours.
Why don't you show star ratings?
Because we have no honest way to produce them yet. Ratings on a directory are only meaningful if they come from verified real users, and inventing them — as many software listing sites do — would make every other fact on this page untrustworthy too. We publish verifiable attributes instead: developer, licence, platforms and features.
Best free antivirus & security software by platform
Replacing paid antivirus & security software
Compare antivirus & security software head-to-head
Avast Free Antivirus vs AVG AntiVirus FreeAvast Free Antivirus vs Bitdefender Antivirus FreeAvast Free Antivirus vs Malwarebytes FreeAvast Free Antivirus vs ClamAVAvast Free Antivirus vs KeePassXCAvast Free Antivirus vs BitwardenAVG AntiVirus Free vs Bitdefender Antivirus FreeAVG AntiVirus Free vs Malwarebytes Free