Quick summary of the best free Windows antiviruses for 2024: That said, it’s better to use the best free antivirus than no antivirus at all! I found several good free antivirus programs that offer improvements over Windows’s built-in protections, as well as features that aren’t included in Windows Defender at all. 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 2024, and is very affordable). I didn’t only look at each antivirus’s malware protection capabilities, but also its reputation for safeguarding user privacy, its ability to integrate with recent versions of Windows, and its user interface.īut it’s important to keep in mind that every free antivirus has limitations. I tested heaps of free antiviruses against thousands of Windows malware files, both old and new. 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 2024: