Panda - Strong virus protection with good additional features (like a gaming mode).

3.🥉 Avira - Cloud-based malware scanner with good system optimization.

2.🥈 Bitdefender - Advanced antivirus engine & anti-phishing tools with low system impact.

1.🥇 Norton - Best Windows antivirus on the market (with a 60-day money-back guarantee).

Quick summary of the best free Windows antiviruses for 2022:

Unfortunately, no free antivirus includes all of the features you need for complete protection, but it’s better to protect yourself with the best free antivirus than no antivirus at all!

I tested and ranked each free antivirus listed here for malware detection, ease of use, and additional cybersecurity features. That’s why I always recommend investing a little bit into premium antivirus software that includes protection against all types of malware - with extra features like a virtual private network (VPN), dark web monitoring, and a password manager ( Norton 360 has all of these features, is ranked as the best antivirus software for 2022, and is very affordable).

That said, every free antivirus has a few limitations. There are some really good free antivirus programs that offer improvements over Windows’s built-in protections, as well as features that aren’t offered by Windows Defender. I didn’t only look at each antivirus’s malware protection capabilities but also its user interface, its reputation for safeguarding user privacy, and its ability to integrate with recent versions of Windows. I tested every free antivirus I could find against thousands of old and new Windows malware files. Download Norton for Windows here (60-days risk-free).It’s not 100% free, but it has a 60-day money-back guarantee, which gives you 2 full months to see if it’s right for you. 🥇 Norton: Advanced virus and malware protection with extras like webcam protection, a VPN, a password manager, parental controls, dark web monitoring, and more.Short on time? Here’s the best free Windows antivirus for 2022:

Best antivirus 2017 free windows 7