January 2025

Top Rated Product 2024

January 2024

Best Protection

Millions of people chose Avast Free Antivirus to get:

AI-powered anti-scam guidance

Defense against online scams

Safer browsing and emailing

An app that’s easy to install and use

Avast Free Antivirus

Now with AI-powered tech to outsmart scams

If you suspect an online message or offer seems off, ask our Avast Assistant if it’s a scam. It gives you easy-to-read guidance fast. Our smart AI-powered Web Guard can also help you block hidden scams online, plus dangerous downloads.
Free download

Multi-layered antivirus security comes as standard

More security is better security. Scan files and apps for potential malware vulnerabilities.

Plus, send suspicious files for analysis in the cloud, get threat alerts, and more.

Avast Assistant

Decide if online messages or offers are scams, supported by our smart AI assistant’s guidance.

Web Guard

Use intelligent AI to help block hidden scam websites and phishing links in emails, including malicious downloads.

Smart Scan

Scans your device for hard-to-find vulnerabilities in hidden places.

File Shield

Scans any file added to or opened on the user’s PC for threats.

Behavior Shield

Get an alert immediately if any of your apps start behaving suspiciously.

Quarantine

Isolates potentially harmful files from your operating system and sends to Avast Threat Labs for further analysis if you want.

Multi-layered antivirus security comes as standard

More security is better security. Scan files and apps for potential malware vulnerabilities.

Plus, send suspicious files for analysis in the cloud, get threat alerts, and more.

Avast Assistant

Decide if online messages or offers are scams, supported by our smart AI assistant’s guidance.

Web Guard

Use intelligent AI to help block hidden scam websites and phishing links in emails, including malicious downloads.

Smart Scan

Scans your device for hard-to-find vulnerabilities in hidden places.

File Shield

Scans any file added to or opened on the user’s PC for threats.

Behavior Shield

Get an alert immediately if any of your apps start behaving suspiciously.

Quarantine

Isolates potentially harmful files from your operating system and sends to Avast Threat Labs for further analysis if you want.

Get more than just free antivirus software, thanks to these extra privacy and security features:

But Avast Free Antivirus offers you even more

Wi-Fi network security

Connect more safely to Wi-Fi networks and help keep cyber criminals and malicious intruders out of your network and far away from your sensitive, personal files.

Network Inspector

Connect more safely, even on unsecured Wi-Fi networks, block hackers and intruders from piggybacking on your network more easily, and help keep them away from your sensitive, personal files.

Firewall

Our intelligent firewall monitors all network traffic between your PC and the outside world and helps block malicious intrusions.

Safer browsing and emailing

Stay safer when browsing, emailing, or working online. Help block malicious websites and unsafe downloads, and help stop your device from being hijacked and made part of a botnet.

Web Guard

Use intelligent AI to help block potential scam websites and phishing links in emails, including malicious downloads.

Mail Shield

Mail Shield alerts you to potentially malicious email attachments before you click on them.

Ransomware protection

Helps stop hackers from accessing, changing, or locking your personal files then holding you to ransom.

Ransomware Shield

Keep your information safer. Don't let your personal photos, files, and documents become hostage to ransomware — help prevent untrusted applications from modifying, deleting, or encrypting them.

Rescue Disk

Rescue Disk allows a user to boot their PC from an external device (CD, USB drive).

Data leak alerts

Get an alert if a password linked to your email account has been compromised.

Hack Alerts

Help keep your email accounts and their passwords secure. If we detect that your email passwords have been part of a leak or hack, you’ll get an alert, allowing you to re-secure your account immediately.

“The well-known security specialist Avast received a total of three awards for its outstanding performance... shows how reliably and securely the security software renders its service...”

“The well-known security specialist Avast received a total of three awards for its outstanding performance... shows how reliably and securely the security software renders its service...”

Avast Free Antivirus

An app that’s easy to install and use

Our antivirus software scans for security and performance issues and helps you to fix them instantly. It also protects you in real time by analyzing unknown files before they reach your desktop PC or laptop — all for free.
 
Free download

Also available for PC, Mac, and iOS

Download free antivirus

Award-winning virus, malware, and next-level online scam protection

Download a free antivirus for your Windows PC or laptop to help detect and isolate potential cyberthreats.
Check suspicious messages or offers with our new AI-powered Avast Assistant. Strengthen your defense against digital scams. Optimize your home Wi-Fi security.

Free download

Also available for PC, Mac, and iOS

You may still be wondering...

FAQs

Antivirus software is a type of software designed to detect, prevent, and remove dangerous software or malware from your computer — including viruses, trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, and more. It starts by scanning a computer’s files, programs, and disks for any hidden malware or other sophisticated threats. If threats are detected, antivirus software can quarantine infected files to prevent them from taking over your whole device.

It’s essential to have antivirus software installed on your computer because it adds a layer of cybersecurity protection and strengthens your online privacy and security. Choosing the right antivirus software can help can prevent threats that could cause data loss, system corruption, financial loss, identity theft, and privacy breaches.

Yes, there are various free antivirus software, although not all of them will provide you with full protection. Avast Free Antivirus is completely free and offers all the security you need.
 
Avast’s free antivirus software detects and blocks all types of malware in real time to prevent them from infecting your computer. At the same time, it scans your PC to remove viruses and other malware automatically before they can do real damage. 

The basic level of virus protection, like Windows Defender (Windows built-in security), may not offer the same comprehensive features, updates, and support as advanced antivirus software.

Technology is always changing which means cybercriminals can develop new tactics. Windows Defender can serve as basic protection for your computer but may not be enough to protect you from new emerging threats. It's important to consider a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity for optimal protection in the long run and you can start by trying out a free virus protection software, like Avast Free Antivirus.

Trusted by over 435 million users around the world, Avast uses advanced machine learning techniques to protect against ransomware attacks and other emerging threats. Avast Free Antivirus software detects, blocks, and removes all types of malware: viruses, adware, spyware, Trojans, and more. You’ll also get security for your Wi-Fi network and real-time defense against phishing attacks, unsafe websites, and other threats to your devices.

Avast’s free antivirus software combines cutting-edge, AI-driven cybersecurity with a massive threat-detection network of over 435 million users that lets us protect our entire community in real time against online threats whenever they appear.

Our industry-leading antivirus engine is just one of the many reasons why Avast Free Antivirus consistently earns high praise and top awards from PCMag, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, and other independent experts. We have one of the best antivirus software solutions available, because we have the right antivirus protection for all your needs.

In 2021, Avast released a new and enhanced product called Avast One, which is now available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, France, and Germany. 

Now known as Microsoft Defender, Windows Defender isn’t enough to match leading third-party antivirus programs for desktop PCs and laptops. While it’ll keep your computer relatively safe against most types of malware, its anti-phishing protection is limited to Microsoft Edge — so you’ll need Avast Free Antivirus to protect you on other browsers like Chrome and Firefox. Microsoft Defender also doesn’t score quite as highly with independent testing labs like AV-Comparatives. For comprehensive threat protection on your PC, go with Avast — the world’s most trusted antivirus.

You can use our free antivirus for as long as you want once you activate it. After 12 months, our app might prompt you to reactivate your free subscription so that you can keeping using it. If you decide to change device, you’ll need to download our free antivirus app again on that specific Windows PC. Upgrading to a paid subscription for Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device) allows you to use our paid app on up to 10 devices at once across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Upgrading to the (Single-Device) or (Multi-Device) versions of Avast Premium Security also gives you access to more advanced in-app features. If you already have Avast Free Antivirus installed, right-click on the Avast icon in your Windows taskbar, and then click Registration information. After this, click on Upgrade now on the My subscriptions screen and choose Avast Premium Security within the comparison table. This will allow you to upgrade to paid subscription.

Visit our Support Center for more FAQs

How to install

Get protected right away by following these 3 easy steps:

Step 1

1. Download

Click here to download.

Step 2

2. Open the file

Open the downloaded file and approve the installation.

Step 3

3. Install the file

Run the installer and follow the simple instructions.

System requirements

All devices require an internet connection for automatic security and program updates.

  • PC with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, or 7 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, excluding Starter and RT editions), 4 GB RAM, and 2 GB of hard drive space, ARM chips Windows 11 only
  • Mac running macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later
  • Android phone or tablet running operating system Google Android 9.0 (Android Pie, API 28) or later
  • iPhone or iPad running iOS 15.0 (Sequoia) or later

You might be also interested in...

Learn more about some of our specialized security and privacy solutions, below.
Free

Avast Mobile Security

Keep your Android device safer against viruses and other malware.

  • Learn more
Free

Avast Secure Browser

Enjoy safer, faster browsing, block more ads, and strengthen your online privacy.

  • Learn more

Avast Premium Security

Get comprehensive antivirus protection, shop and bank more safely online, and avoid ransomware more easily.

  • Learn more

Get security tips for your device,
straight from the experts

Read more at Avast Academy
Scroll to Top