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For a Windows 10 or 11 PC, start with Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which is included in Windows Security. In AV-TEST’s August 2026 Windows 11 test, Microsoft Defender scored 17.5 out of 18; the tested free editions of Avast and AVG scored 18 out of 18. Phones need a different approach: Android security apps can be compared using Android-specific tests, while iPhone apps should be judged by features such as phishing protection rather than assumed to scan the whole device.
Which free antivirus should you use on a Windows PC?
For many home users, the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus is a practical no-cost starting point. Microsoft says Windows Security is built into Windows 10 and 11 and includes real-time protection and manual scanning. If you already have another antivirus installed, check that one active product is providing protection rather than assuming both are working together.
Independent lab results offer a useful comparison, but they describe specific products, operating systems, and test periods—not a guarantee about what any antivirus will catch tomorrow.
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AV-TEST: Windows 11 consumer test, August 2026
AV-TEST awards up to six points each for protection, performance, and usability, for a maximum of 18. It identifies scores of 17.5 or higher as eligible for its “TOP PRODUCT” award. These are the results for the named editions and versions in its August 2026 Windows 11 test:
#1 Best Overall
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
| Product tested | Protection | Performance | Usability | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Consumer) 4.18 | 6/6 | 5.5/6 | 6/6 | 17.5/18 |
| Avast Free Antivirus 26.6 | 6/6 | 6/6 | 6/6 | 18/18 |
| AVG Antivirus Free 26.6 and 26.7 | 6/6 | 6/6 | 6/6 | 18/18 |
Source: AV-TEST, August 2026 Windows 11 consumer test. Each category is scored out of six; 18 is the maximum.
The separate performance and usability scores matter: a perfect protection score does not mean two products have identical impact or ease of use. These results also apply to the exact editions named. For example, a result for a paid suite should not be treated as a result for that vendor’s free edition.
Rank #2
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few clicks, and your info stays protected on public Wi-Fi every time you connect.
- PERSONAL DATA SCANS – Take your info off the market. We’ll find your personal information on sites selling it, then guide you on how to remove it.
- SOCIAL PRIVACY MANAGER – Decide what you share. McAfee finds the privacy settings buried in your social accounts and fixes them.
AV-Comparatives: real-world Windows test, February–May 2026
In a separate test, AV-Comparatives reported the following protection rates across 400 test cases on fully patched 64-bit Windows 11:
| Product | Reported protection rate |
|---|---|
| Microsoft | 99.0% |
| Avast | 99.3% |
| AVG | 99.3% |
| Bitdefender | 99.5% |
| Norton | 99.3% |
| TotalAV | 99.0% |
Source: AV-Comparatives, Real-World Protection Test, February–May 2026; 400 cases on fully patched 64-bit Windows 11.
Rank #3
![Norton 360 Premium 2027 Antivirus, 10 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JNWru8mYL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 10 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
These are results for the products and period listed by the lab, not predictions of future performance or a phone comparison. AV-Comparatives notes that AVG and Norton use the Avast engine, so those vendor scores are not wholly independent evidence of different underlying engines. The test result for Bitdefender does not establish a result for its free edition.
Is Windows Defender enough?
Microsoft Defender is a reasonable place for a typical home user to begin: it is built into Windows 10 and 11, and the cited tests show strong results for the tested Windows 11 edition. A third-party free antivirus may be worth considering if you want a particular feature it offers, but the evidence here does not establish a complete, current feature comparison across vendors or regions.
Rank #4
- MCAFEE TOTAL PROTECTION IS ALL-IN-ONE PROTECTION — delivering award-winning antivirus for 3 devices, with identity monitoring and VPN
- ID MONITORING — we'll monitor everything from email addresses to IDs and phone numbers for signs of breaches. If your info is found, we'll notify you so you can take action
- BANK, SHOP, AND BROWSE ANYWHERE SECURELY WITH UNLIMITED VPN — protect your online privacy automatically when connecting to public Wi-Fi
- SECURE YOUR ACCOUNTS — generate and store complex passwords with a password manager
- AWARD-WINNING ANTIVIRUS — rest easy knowing McAfee will notify you of risky websites and protect you from the latest threats
Before installing another product, confirm its exact free edition, platform availability, and which protections are included where you live. Do not assume a feature advertised for a paid suite is part of the free version. The available test results also do not support a universal claim that one free product is always faster, less intrusive, or easier to use than another.
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Android security products should be assessed using Android-specific evidence, not Windows scores. AV-Comparatives’ 2026 Mobile Security Review tested the latest apps it obtained from Google Play in May 2026 on unmodified Android 16. Its included products included Avast One Free 26.6, AVG AntiVirus Free 26.6, and Google Play Protect & OS Features 50.9. Their presence in the review is not, by itself, a ranking or proof that every free app offers the same protection.
Best Value
- Lifetime Protection : Safeguards your laptop, PC’s, Macs, tablets, and smartphones Lifetime against Viruses, Malware, ransomware, Spyware, Phishing and ensures secure browsing for a lifetime
- Digital Freedom for Lifetime: Work, surf, bank, and shop in complete confidence, Ultimate Security Antivirus provides Zero-day protection using our ultra-fast, incredibly intelligent Cerebro Scanning Engine.
- Webcam Protection & Parental Control[Windows]: Prevents unauthorized applications and hackers from spying on you by blocking access to your webcam. K7 Ultimate Security Antivirus ensures kids’ privacy & safety on online by applying parental & privacy Measures.
- Backup & Restore: Ultimate Security’s complete protection prevents loss of important data by enabling you to back up all data and restoring whenever you want [Windows]; backup and restore Contacts [Android, iOS].'For more details about product, please visit our official website.
- EMAIL DELIVERY:Activation Key will be sent through email along with installation and activation instructions to your registered email ID within 24 hours
If you choose an additional app, install it through Google Play and check its current permissions and free-tier terms. Consider what protections it actually provides for Android rather than relying on a Windows product’s name or score.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do iPhones need antivirus?
Do not expect an iPhone app to behave like a Windows endpoint scanner that can inspect other apps at will. Microsoft describes its iOS offering in terms of anti-phishing and identity monitoring; its consumer anti-malware support covers Windows, Mac, and Android. Microsoft also explains that iOS security settings prevent one app from seeing the URL another app is opening.
For iPhone, assess an app by its specific features—such as phishing or web protection, identity monitoring, or scam alerts—and check whether those features require a subscription. This evidence does not establish a current Apple-authored position on antivirus; the platform distinction here is based on Microsoft’s documented product scope and explanation of iOS URL visibility.
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- Check your Windows protection. Open Windows Security and confirm Microsoft Defender Antivirus is active if you do not have another antivirus installed. Windows Security provides real-time protection and manual scanning.
- Choose only one real-time antivirus configuration. If you add a third-party Windows product, verify its exact free edition and make sure the previous product has not left protection disabled. Do not run competing real-time products together unless the vendors explicitly support that setup.
- Install Android apps from Google Play. Check the app’s current permissions and identify which protections are actually available without payment.
- Use iPhone protections for their stated purpose. Keep iOS current, secure your accounts, handle links cautiously, and select any app for the specific anti-phishing, identity, or scam-alert features it provides—not an assumed device-wide scan.
- Keep your software patched. Update the operating system, browser, and other applications. AV-Comparatives explains that fully updated software makes exploits harder to use because known vulnerabilities may already be patched.
AV-Comparatives puts the maintenance point plainly: “Users should be aware that by always keeping their system and third-party applications up-to-date/patched, they can dramatically decrease the risk posed by exploits.”
Quick Recap
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