Best Free Software For Windows 7
- Best Free Ocr Software For Windows 7
- Best Free Video Capture Software For Windows 7
- Best Free Cloning Software For Windows 7
From time to time, we have been covering good freeware and free software in our Downloads section. We have also been posting about ‘Best 5’ or ‘Top 10’ software in various categories. I am, in this post, listing links to such type of useful posts, which will help you get the best and most useful freeware for your Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 or Windows 7 computers. If you don’t want to scroll down the entire list, use CTRL+F to find what you want on this page.
Jul 07, 2010 The Best Windows 7 Downloads. By Preston Gralla. Want more customization power than you can get from free Windows 7 utilities? Try the for-pay 7Smoker Pro. Repair hardware and software. Jul 17, 2019 As one of the best free backup software for Windows 7, AOMEI Backupper Standard will be strongly recommended to all the users. Offers 4 backup types: system backup, disk backup, partition backup, and file backup. MusicBee is the best free music player for Windows 7, but for video you need VLC Media Player. Again, it supports a huge range of file formats (far more than Windows Media Center), and can be.
OK, so you have heard of Audacity, but it’s the best free audio editing program out there, so deal with it. Speaking of audio, if you are into music, you can use LMMS to create your own music tracks. Have an ISO image and older version of Windows that can’t mount ISO images? Check out WinCDEmu and create an unlimited number of virtual drives. Mar 26, 2010 The bottom line: Windows 7 will support both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. The bare minimum requirements for the 32-bit include a 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB available hard-disk space, and a DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. 64-bit systems will require at least a 1 GHz processor, 2GB RAM.
Free Software Downloads For Windows 10
Here is list of some of the best free software for your Windows 10/8/7 PC. They have been categorized as follows:
- AntiVirus software
- Firewall
- Internet Security Suites
- Change Folder colors
- File Splitter and Joiner software
- Media Players
- Windows Error Code & Message Lookup Tools
- VPN software
- Wi-Fi Hotspot software
- Intrusion Detection Software
- Anti-Ransomware Tools
- Ransomware Decryptor Tools
- Botnet Removal Tools
- USB security software
- Anti-hacker software
- Free Sandboxing software
- Brightness Control software
- Sync Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar
- Free Parental Control Software
- Free File Manager software
- Photo Editing Software
- Batch Photo Editor software
- Time lapse software
- Free Uninstaller software
- Driver Update Software
- Disk Space Analyzer software
- CHKDSK alternatives
- Imaging, Backup and Recovery Software
- Backup software for VMware & Hyper-V
- File Deleter Software
- Free File Compression Software
- Zip file repair software
- Time synchronization software
- Terminate a full-screen application
- Free FTP Clients
- Free Registry Cleaners, Junk Cleaners, and Windows Optimizers
- Game Booster Software
- Battery Limiter software
- DRM removal software for eBooks
- Audio Format Converter software
- Task Manager alternatives
- Broken Shortcut Removers
- Context Menu Editors
- To-Do list apps
- Free Password Managers
- Free Download Managers
- Shutdown Scheduler Tools
- Free Partition Manager Software
- Web Browsers
- File and Folder Synchronization Freeware
- Empty folders deleter
- Bulk Rename files
- Free File Encryption Software
- Delete your files permanently
- Data Recovery Software
- Free Notepad Replacements
- Windows Search Alternative Tools
- Automation software
- Video Communication Freeware
- Free Crapware Removal Software
- Free Video Editing Software
- Free GoPro editing software
- Desktop Recorder and Screen Recording Freeware
- Free Screen Sharing and Remote Desktop software
- Free CD DVD Data Recovery Software
- Image Deblurring Tools
- Color Picker free software
- Hard disk Monitor
- Free ISO Burners
- Free software from Microsoft
- Translator freeware
- Free PlayStation Game Emulators
- Graphic Design Tools
- Instant Chat Messengers
- Free Twitter Clients
- File Integrity Checkers
- System Performance monitor
- LAN Messengers
- Packet Sniffing Tools
- 3D Printing Software
- Clipboard alternatives or replacements
- PDF Readers
- PDF Unlockers
- Defragmentation Software
- Time Tracking tools
- Tools to Speed Up Firefox
- Barcode scanner applications
- RSS Readers
- Kundli making software
- E-mail clients
- Media Converters
- Word Processors
- Duplicate Files Finder
- Measure Startup Time
- Microsoft Visio Alternatives
- Windows Media Player Alternatives
- Bandwidth Monitoring Tools
- Screen Capture software
- Watermark Remover software
- Voice changer software
- Registry Defragmenter
- Software Update Checkers
- Event Log Managers
- Coding software
- Explorer replacements and alternatives
- Rootkit Remover software
- Remote Access software
- Software Key Finders
- Anti-theft Laptop Recovery software
- Games for Windows
- Animation Software
- Finance & Accounting Software
- Mail Servers
- Mind Mapping software.
Recommended free AntiVirus software
Installing an anti-virus or security software, after installing Windows is a must. This helps protect our Windows computer from viruses and other security threats. It is also important to keep your security software up to date at all times! Here are some very nice free AntiVirus software available for Windows you might want to check out.
Free Firewall software
A Firewall can block threats that your Antivirus may miss. Not only that, it can prevent hackers from breaking into your computer! The inbuilt Windows firewall is great and just good enough for the regular home user. But if you are looking for a third-party firewall for your computer, there are several free Firewall software available.
Free Internet Security Suites
If you are looking for an integrated, multi-layered protection software you are looking out for, you might want to consider having a look at some of these free Internet Security Suites available for your Windows PC.
Change Folder colors
This post has a list of some good freeware available on the internet for your Windows PC that helps you to change folder color thereby helping you to find them easily and quickly.
File Splitter and Joiner software
Do large file sizes also trouble you? In this post, we’ve covered some of the best file splitter & joiner software available for Windows 10/8/7.
Media Players
While Windows comes with an inbuilt media player, but it comes with restrictions. Here is a list of some of the popular media players for Windows 10 which are free.
Windows Error Code & Message Lookup Tools
These Windows Error Code Lookup Tools help you identify the Error Code and Message which Windows may throw up.
Free VPN software
These free VPN software give you protected internet access by adding security to your public as well as private networks, may it be your internet connection or a Wi-Fi Hotspot connection. In other words, it hides and protects your identity online.
Wi-Fi Hotspot software
Here is a list of some of the best free WiFi Hotspot creator software for Windows 10/8/7.
Intrusion Detection Software
An Intrusion Detection Software checks for changes that are made by unwanted programs that could be injected into your systems by cybercriminals.
Anti-Ransomware Tools
Anti-Ransomware tools will prevent or more it more difficult for ransomware to get into your computer system.
Ransomware Decryptor Tools
If you are looking for Ransomware Decryptor Tools to unlock files locked by ransomware on your Windows computer, then this list is what you are looking for.
Botnet Removal Tools
Botnet Removal Tools will detect if your computer is a part of some Botnet, and clean the infected machine.
USB security software
These USB security & antivirus software will help protect your PC from all kind of viruses that can enter through the USB drive.
Anti-hacker software
The use of these free software can help protect your computer from hackers, and so can be loosely called anti-hacker software.
Free Sandboxing software
Best Free Ocr Software For Windows 7
Sandboxing is a technique of running applications in a virtually isolated environment. Take a look at these free Sandboxing software for Windows 10/8/7.
Brightness Control software
Eye strain is a common problem for those who are constantly hooked to desktop screens, smartphones, and other digital devices. These brightness control software can help you!
Sync Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar
Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar are the most predominant calenders used today as a daily reminder. These free software to sync Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar may interest you.
Best Free Video Capture Software For Windows 7
Free Parental Control Software
You need a parental control software to protect your kids from the many types of problems that uncontrolled Internet access can create. Windows 10/8/7 includes a fine Parental Control software, but if you are looking for free third-party software, there are many such freeware available in the market. See the list of Free Parental Control Software here.
Free File Manager software
Here is a list of some of the best free File Manager software for Windows 10/8/7 – they include Shallot, Tablacus, XYplorer, FreeCommander, Unreal Commander, Multi-commander, Konverter, and FileVoyager.
Photo Editing Software
These free Photo Editor software let you manage, edit, share, and view your pictures.
Batch Photo Editor software
These free Batch Photo Editor software support batch processing which allows you to apply basic edits to multiple photos at the same time.
Best Free Cloning Software For Windows 7
Time lapse software
This post takes a look at some of the best free time lapse software to make amazing videos on Windows 10.
Free Uninstaller software
Unwanted parts of files, folders, and registry keys are many times left behind, even after you uninstall the software using the Control Panel or the program specific uninstaller on your system, thereby leading to clutter. If you are looking for a better software uninstaller for your Windows computer, you might want to check out these Free Uninstaller software.
Driver Update Software
Here is a list of 10 best free Driver Update Software to update your drivers and keep your Windows PC running smooth. These software let you update the device drivers easily without any difficulty, and are especially helpful for those who don’t want to check manually for driver updates.
Disk Space Analyzer software
Here is a list of free Disk Space Analyzer software to find out, check and analyze the disk space on your Windows computer.
CHKDSK alternatives
You can use these free CHKDSK alternative software to repair and fix the bad sectors on your Hard Drive, USB, SD Cards, etc.
Imaging, Backup and Recovery Software
The Windows operating system includes inbuilt tools that let your backup and make copies of your files and create a system image. But it is found wanting in some features, and that is why many prefer to use one or the other free Imaging, Backup, and Recovery Software available on the Internet.
Backup software for VMware & Hyper-V
Here is a list of best free backup software for VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines.
File Deleter Software
These free file deleter software will help you delete undeletable locked files and folders from your system
Free File Compression Software
File compression is a process that converts a file or a set of files to a specific format, after reducing its size/s. File compression utilities, pack your folders and files in a single file that is easy to carry, which is also reduced in size. Let us take a look at the best three free File Compression software.
Zip file repair software
If you receive The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid message, then I’d like to recommend these good free zip file repair software.
Time synchronization software
Make use of some free Time synchronization software if your Windows PC is not synchronizing system time correctly.
Tools to forcefully terminate a full-screen application
These free tools will forcefully terminate a full-screen application or game.
Free FTP Clients
FileZilla, WinSCP, Core FTP Lite, and CoffeeCup Free FTP are some popular and feature-rich Free FTP Clients for Windows; you may want to check out.
Free Registry Cleaners, Junk Cleaners, and Windows Optimizers
Apart from registry cleaners, optimization suites are also very popular with Windows users. All of us want our Windows PC’s to be running in top condition. While you can always use some tips to make Windows faster, many prefer to use a Registry Cleaner or a Windows optimization suite to keep their computer running smoothly. Go check out our list of free Registry Cleaners, Junk Cleaners, and Windows Optimizers,
READ:Reimage Repair Review.
Game Booster Software
Use one of these free software to boost gaming performance on your Windows PC.
Battery Limiter software
These free Battery Limiter software will remind you not to charge your batteries to a full 100%.
DRM removal software for eBooks
These DRM removal software for eBooks help you remove DRM protection from an ebook that you have purchased.
Audio Format Converter software
Many media players cannot play every type of format. Use these free Audio Format Converter software.
Task Manager alternatives
Here are some Task Manager alternative software that will help you manage the processes. Moreover, these software are free and hold various features
Broken Shortcut Removers
Having too many broken shortcuts on your Windows can be messy, and it’s a good idea to scan for and remove broken shortcuts every once in a while with these Broken Shortcut Removers.
Context Menu Editors
Context Menu Editors can help you manage your right-click context menu items and keep it tidy.
To-Do list apps
A to do list is an easy way of getting all your tasks done. In this article, we have rounded up some of the best to-do list apps for Windows 10.
Free Password Managers
Password Managers allow you to store your registration-related information in a secure electronic form. To log in to a site you just need to enter a single master password that allows retrieval of the specific password information for that site. Check out our list of some of the best Free Password Manager software for Windows 10/8/7.
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Free Download Managers
If you are looking for a free download manager with some advanced features, you might want to check out this list of Free Download Managers– what we think are the five best freeware in this category.
Shutdown Scheduler Tools
These free Shutdown Scheduler software will allow you to shut down, reboot, log off, hibernate or sleep your Windows 10/8/7 at particular times.
Free Partition Manager Software
While many may prefer to use the inbuilt Disk Management Tool, there are some who may want to use a third-party Free Partition Manager Software offering more features.
Web Browsers
While some of prefer to use the default Microsoft Edge, there are many who use Chrome or Firefox browser. But apart from these, there are several other alternative web browsers available for Windows OS, some with a specifically targeted feature set.
File and Folder Synchronization Freeware
If you need to keep an identical set of files and folders on two different computers or different disks or in different locations, File and Folder Synchronization Freeware utilities will help you do so easily.
Free software to delete empty folders
A TWC forum post asking if it was safe to delete empty folders made me search for some good empty folder deleting freeware. While you would make no real space savings as they occupy 0 bytes, if it is just good house-keeping you are looking, it may be a good idea. Check out the free software to delete empty folders here.
Bulk Rename files
Renaming files individually, one at a time can consume both, time and efforts. As such, bulk file renaming software that can pull out metadata can come to your immediate rescue and intend to make your life a lot easier.
Free File Encryption Software
If you need to password protect your files and folders in Windows, we can use some great freeware to do so easily. We can download various Encryption programs to keep our personal files and valuable data safe. Go get these Free File Encryption Software!
Setup & Installation. Configure your device for the best performance. Downloading the latest driver of your Belkin wireless adapter; Downloads / Firmware Downloads / Firmware Latest Updates. The different file downloads for Belkin Devices (VIDEO) The different file downloads for Belkin Devices (VIDEO). Determining the version number of the Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter, F5D7050; What is the Product Number of my Belkin Device. Download Software License. Installing a wireless USB adapter using the Setup CD (VIDEO) Installing a wireless USB adapter using the Setup CD (VIDEO) Updating the wireless adapter’s driver (VIDEO). 
Delete your files permanently
A list of some free software that let you permanently delete files and folders in Windows. Delete your files permanently using these free tools.
Data Recovery Software
Do you want to recover files and data which you may have deleted even from the Recycle Bin? Then what you need is a good Data Recovery Software. Here are a few freeware which may help you get back the lost file which you have accidentally deleted.
Free Notepad Replacements
The inbuilt Notepad in Windows is a basic text editor you can use for simple documents. If you are looking for a more jazzed up or a feature-rich Notepad replacement, you may want to check out some of these Free Notepad Replacements for your Windows.
Windows Search Alternative Tools
A fine selection of alternative some desktop search utilities which you can use instead of Windows Search. All these Windows Search Alternative Tools are free to use.
Automation software
This article guides you through some of the best Automation software that will help automate tasks on Windows 10.
Video Communication Freeware
There are many video communication software in the market. If you wish to look beyond Skype, for personal or business reasons, here are the top three Video Communication Freeware applications.
Free Crapware Removal Software
Crapware refers to applications that come pre-installed on a new computer when you purchase a branded one. These software will help you remove crapware and craplets from your Windows PC. Go here to check out the Free Crapware Removal Software.
Free Video Editing Software
Check out these 3 Free Video Editing Software for the Windows operating system. Most of us want freeware that we can use to easily edit our videos. Here are three which we think are among the best.
Free GoPro editing software
GoPro videos or any video for that matter needs editing before being presented to anyone. Here is a list of free GoPro editing tools that can help you edit GoPro videos.
Desktop Recorder and Screen Recording Freeware
You might have seen some video tutorials and wondered how they were made. Which screen recording software had they used? Was it freeware? This post talks about five good Screen Recording Freeware for Windows 10/8/7.
Free Screen Sharing and Remote Desktop software
Remote desktop applications are useful for those, who are working on a project in a team, and who want online repair support for their PC. There are lots of such applications out there, but we have chosen the best Free Screen Sharing and Remote Desktop software for you.
Free CD DVD Data Recovery Software
CD DVD data recovery software allows you to recover and rescue lost or corrupted data from damaged and unreadable disks. The top 3 Free CD DVD Data Recovery Software, in our opinion, have been listed here.
Image Deblurring Tools
Blurry photos? These free tools will help you deblur & fix blurry Photos & Images.
Color Picker free software
This list of Color Picker free software tools and free online web services will help you identify HTML color HEX, RGD, etc codes from images, websites, etc.
Monitor hard disk
These freeware will help you monitor hard disk for potential failure.
Free ISO Burners
If you are looking for freeware to burn ISO images in Windows, create bootable CDs and have a few more features, you can check out these three Free ISO Burners for Windows.
Free software from Microsoft
Microsoft has a huge line-up of paid software, but it also has lots of high-quality software that are available for free to use. Here is my list of top 5 must have Free software from Microsoft.
Translator freeware
This article lists some of the best offline free Translator apps that you can use on Windows 10.
Free PlayStation Game Emulators
There are a lot of game emulators out there for different emulating purposes such as for emulating PS 2, Nintendo Entertainment System, etc. With these Free PlayStation Game Emulators you can also play the old games – and believe me playing these old games is really fun.
Graphic Design Tools
Here is a round up some of the free easy to use graphic design tools that would help users create some stunning visual designs in a go and utilize them for your growing business.
Instant Chat Messengers
Google has GTalk, Yahoo has Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live has Windows Live Messenger and its a pain to have so many different Messenger clients installed on our PC. Here is our list of Top 5 Instant Chat Messengers available for Windows, which work with multiple accounts and networks.
Free Twitter Clients
The battle among various Twitter clients is ever-growing, getting fierce and therefore no surprises why many more are coming up to win you over or bring more flexibility and power to you. The Top 3 Free Twitter Clients for Windows are being listed and discussed here.
File Integrity Checkers
List of some free File Integrity Checkers & File Checksum Integrity Verifier tools to check file integrity of downloaded files in Windows using Using MD5 & SHA1 Hashes, by computing MD5 or SHA1 cryptographic hashes for files.
Software to monitor System Performance
These free software will help you monitor System Performance & Resources and a lot more.
Free LAN Messengers
LAN Messengers are applications or utilities that enable you to chat within a local area network without any Internet Connection – but a wired LAN is a must. There may be many Free LAN Messengers available for Windows, but these three are among the best ones in our opinion.
Packet Sniffing Tools
Packet Sniffing Tools intercept and log network traffic. Take a look at these three free tools.
3D Printing Software
3D printing is something that most technology and art enthusiasts are interested in, but everyday people don’t need it. The spike in demand and accessibility of free 3D printing software has made it popular among the designer community.
Free Clipboard alternatives or replacements
For most of us, the Windows clipboard is good enough. But if you need more functionality and features, check these Free Clipboard alternatives or replacements clipboard managers for Windows.
Free PDF Readers
While the Adobe PDF Reader is widely used, there are other freeware alternatives to Adobe Reader too, that you may like to consider, for your Windows operating system. Check out these Free PDF Readers.
PDF Unlockers
Remove PDF password with Free PDF Unlocker Software or Online Tools.
Free Defragmentation Software
For most, the best practices for using defragmentation in Windows are simple – you do not need to do anything. But if you feel that you need to have a 3rd party defrag tools you might want to check out these 5 Free Defragmentation Software.
Time Tracking tools
This post aggregates some useful time tracking software for Windows PC. Some of them are cloud-based tools that can be connected to various payment options as well.
Tools to Speed Up Firefox
Firefox has made considerable improvements in the browser’s memory consumption and utilization – but it still makes people wanting more. These four tools to Speed Up Firefox may help you optimize Firefox and its memory and make it load and run faster.
Barcode scanner applications
You may have seen some barcode scanners (hardware) in some stores are shopping complexes, but what if you want to scan your barcodes or QR codes on your Windows PC? You can do so using some of the Barcode scanner applications that enable you to do so.
Free RSS Readers
To read RSS Feeds more efficiently and in a good environment, you can use RSS Readers. There are many of RSS readers out there but very few good ones. Here are what I think are some of the finest Free RSS Readers for Windows 10/8/7.
Free Kundli making software
Kundli, is a birth chart or natal chart used to forecast the upcoming events in contrast to the study of the celestial bodies. Here is a list of some good free Kundli making software.
Free e-mail clients
While you can always access it via its web interface, it is more convenient to have an email client on your Windows desktop, so that you can read and send mail quickly. This article will tell you about some of the best free e-mail clients for Windows 10/8/7.
Free Media Converters
There are a lot of media formats out there, and it sometimes becomes very difficult for users to choose the format is best suitable for them and their device. To get the best results, you need to first convert your media into the format suitable for your device. You can convert them by using any media converter software. Here is a list of some fine Free Media Converters for Windows.
Best Free Word Processors
While there are lots of word processors out there, it is difficult to choose a good one and the one which is perfect for you. To help you out, we have compared the features of some Best Free Word Processors.
Duplicate Files Finder
Duplicate files are a problem, as you do not know which one contains the most current content. In the case of collaborating, you may miss out on changes your co-worker did to the document if you open the wrong one. This article talks about three such free Duplicate Files Finders which will help you find and delete duplicate files.
Measure Startup Time
These free software will help you measure the Startup Time in Windows. By reducing Boot time, you can also improve performance.
Microsoft Visio Alternatives
For drawing, preparing charts, flowcharts, one program that best suits everyone’s need is Microsoft Visio. Let us take a look at some free Visio alternatives that may not be highly performant, but still, beat the program when it comes to price.
Windows Media Player Alternatives
Check out some of the best alternatives to Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded for free and at absolutely no cost.
Free Bandwidth Monitoring Tools for Windows
These tools not only monitor bandwidth and Internet usage or check the speed but also detect any suspicious network activity.
Screen Capture software for Windows
The Snipping Tool in Windows 10/8/7 let you take out some nice screenshots on your Windows computer. But if you are looking for a feature-rich yet free screen capture software, then you may want to check out these free screen capture software.
Watermark Remover software
There are several free options to remove watermark from images without ever having to hire a professional. This post talks about some free Watermark Remover software.
Voice changer software
Voice changer software lets you change your voice easily. By using these fun software or tools, users can conveniently change their voices during chatting over calling apps or while playing online games.
Free Registry Defragmenter
Registry Defragmenters help in removing such bloated registry hive & empty spaces and compacting the registry.
Software Update Checkers
A Software Update Checker like Secunia, FileHippo, etc. will scan your computer for installed software, check the versions and then send this information to their respective websites and see if there are any newer releases.
Event Log Managers
Event Log Managers will view, manage and analyze your Windows Event Logs.
Coding software
This post includes a list of free Code Editors for Windows OS. Take a look!
Explorer replacements and alternatives
If you are looking forward to adding tabs, and many other features, to make the Windows File Explorer run on steroids, you can check out some of these freeware applications and add-ins. Like the tabbed browsing feature in Internet Explorer, you can also add Tabs to your Windows Explorer, using these tools.
Free Rootkit Remover software
Sometimes a rootkit may even fool your antivirus software and avoid being detected. It is at such times; you may need to take help of special Rootkit Remover or Removal Tools.
Free Remote Access software
A list of some 5 Free Remote Access software for Windows, you may want to check out.
Software Key Finders
Software Key Finder will retrieve the CD-Key and Serial for installed software on your computer, including Windows and Microsoft Office. Check out these tools.
Anti-theft Laptop Recovery software
Anti-theft Laptop recovery software are programs designed with the sole purpose of tracing your laptop’s location and retrieving it.
Games for Windows
If you are looking for some cool addictive games to download free for your Windows computer, here is our pick of some cool freeware classic Games for Windows.
Animation Software
These free animation software for Windows, Victorian Giotto, Blender, Anim8tor for 3D animation are easy to use for beginners.
Finance & Accounting Software
Go take a look at some of the free finance software for personal & home use, as well as accounting software for small, medium business – along with one for enterprises.
Mail Servers
Here are some of the best free mail servers for sending and receiving emails. You can download these mail servers, and set up IMAP/POP3 & SMTP supported email accounts.
Mind Mapping software
Here is a list of some of the best free Mind Mapping software for Windows.
And yes … you might also want to check out the complete range of our TWC freeware, eBook, etc. releases HERE.
Related Posts:
Looking for the best free antivirus software? AVG AntiVirus FREE is obviously our favorite pick, but if you need an unbiased review of the best free antivirus program, you’re in luck. On February 11, 2019, PC Mag’s Neil Rubenking rounded up the top 10 free antivirus programs for 2019, with handy links to his unbiased, independent reviews for each. So if you’re in need of free protection for Windows 7, 8, or 10, here are his top picks:
- Avast Free Antivirus
- Kaspersky Free
- AVG AntiVirus FREE
- Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
- Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ 2017
- Sophos Home Free
- Avira Antivirus
- Adaware Antivirus Free
- Comodo Antivirus 10
- Panda Free Antivirus
Read on for a quick summary of each review of the best free antivirus software.
Avast Free Antivirus - (Editors’ Choice, PC Mag)
Avast Free Antivirus took the top spot thanks to a combination of great test results and built-in features. In addition to its proven malware protection and excellent phishing protection, Avast packs in a basic password manager, a secure web browser, and more. Avast’s all-in-one Smart Scan searches for hidden malware, unwanted browser add-ons, network threats, and PC performance issues. (But if you want to solve any performance issues it finds, you’ll have to purchase Avast Cleanup Premium.)
Need a second opinion? In 2019 Avast Free Antivirus was awarded Product of the Year 2018 by AV-Comparatives, the global independent review organization. AV-Comparatives gave Avast an Advanced+ Award in every test, awarded it the Gold Award in its malware protection test, and said, “Our reviewers praised its clear, modern, touch-friendly interface and comprehensive Smart Scan feature.”
Kaspersky Free
Kaspersky Free has earned excellent marks in independent test labs, despite its lack of extra features found in some other free antivirus products. The interface shows the same six icons as in the paid Kaspersky Internet Security, but only Scan and Database Update are available to free users. If you want access to Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Parental Control, and Protection for All Devices, you’ll need to pay. That said, Kaspersky Free still gives you real-time security, very good phishing protection, and even warns of unsafe websites. Not bad for a free antivirus.
Need a second opinion?Tom’s Guide says that Kaspersky is “bare-bones basic, lacking items such as a password manager, hardened browser, firewall or other bells and whistles that rival brands build their free security software around.”
AVG AntiVirus FREE
PC Mag praised AVG AntiVirus FREE for achieving very good scores in a variety of independent tests, and for its excellent protection against phishing. AVG’s on-demand scan searches for hidden malware, unwanted browser add-ons, and PC performance issues. AVG AntiVirus FREE also gives you a free File Shredder to securely delete sensitive files. AVG protects against 0-day threats by preventing unknown (and potentially dangerous) files from opening and sending them to AVG Threat Labs for deeper analysis. If they’re found to be malicious, a cure is created and pushed out to you and all AVG users.
Need a second opinion? In its review '8 of the Best Free Antivirus Software Options', Mashable noted that AVG AntiVirus FREE has the most accurate virus detection, saying, “AVG AntiVirus FREE is near flawless with its ability to detect viruses and malware. It's unlikely anything is getting through this.”
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition includes the same core anti-malware components of Bitdefender’s paid product, but with a far cleaner interface. It obviously lacks the more advanced features of its bigger brother, but still provides excellent performance and has earned top scores in independent lab tests. But if you want a password manager, you’ll need Bitdefender’s paid antivirus (or get it free with Avast Free Antivirus). Looking for a secure file shredder? Paid version only (or free in AVG AntiVirus FREE). But for basic security, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is still a safe choice.
Need a second opinion?CNET says “Bitdefender Antivirus Free is refreshingly free of the ‘extra’ features and tools that make some apps unwieldy and confusing”.
Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ 2017
Check Point ZoneAlarm is a free antivirus-firewall combo that licenses its antivirus engine from security giant Kaspersky. Aside from this antivirus component, though, all features here are the same as you’ll find in Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 2017. And that’s a good thing, because their standalone firewall was a PC Mag Editors’ Choice winner. So, for many people, this antivirus-firewall combo will be more than good enough. But if you’re looking for features like web-based security and real-time, cloud-based protection, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Need a second opinion?Tech Advisor says ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ is “a basic, but capable internet security suite”.
Sophos Home Free
Sophos Home Free comes from Sophos, a company mainly focused on business security, and their free antivirus offers much of the same protection as their business products, including remote security management for up to three PCs or Macs. This means you can also install the free antivirus on a less tech-savvy family member’s computer and remotely manage their security for them. Sophos Home Free offers excellent phishing protection and very good malicious URL blocking, but unfortunately suffers a bit in PC Mag’s hands-on malware protection test.
Need a second opinion?SecurityGladiators echoes PC Mag’s review that Sophos Home Free “offered great performance on various antiphishing tests” but “isn’t as good at malware protection tests”.
Avira Antivirus
Avira Antivirus received excellent scores in independent testing labs and a very good score in PC Mag’s malware blocking test. When installing Avira Antivirus, you also have the chance to install other tools, including Avira Connect to launch and manage your other Avira products. On the negative side, both of its on-demand and real-time scans are slow, and its Browser Safety component only works with Chrome and Firefox. But overall, Avira Antivirus is worth a try for its accurate malware detection.
Need a second opinion? Tom’s Guide says, “Avira Free Antivirus has a heavy system load while providing only so-so malware protection.”
Adaware Antivirus Free
Adaware Antivirus Free comes from Adaware, a company formerly known as Lavasoft. This version of their free antivirus comes with a new look, but lacks features found in other free products — including the company’s own previous edition. Adaware Antivirus Free has received mixed scores in independent tests, and it doesn’t provide any protection against malicious URLs. At the end of the day, it’s a free antivirus, so there’s really no risk to try it, but you’ll find more features and better protection in the competition.
Need a second opinion?Softpedia says Adaware Antivirus Free is “a reliable choice”.
Comodo Antivirus 10
Comodo Antivirus 10 is Comodo’s newest antivirus, having skipped from version 8 straight to version 10. This newest version rocks an all-new look, but you can still revert to the “Classic” theme via settings. According to PC Mag, Comodo’s “results ranged from perfect to dismal”. The free antivirus sports impressive on-access scan results and even includes sandboxing, but you’ll need to pony up for the paid suite if you need web-based protection. Also, pay careful attention during installation, because Comodo tries to change your default homepage, new tab page, and default search engine to Yahoo!
Need a second opinion?Tech Advisor’s verdict on Comodo Antivirus 10 is that it’s “a powerful antivirus tool, highly configurable and with plenty of interesting features.”
Panda Free Antivirus
Panda Free Antivirus finished last in PC Mag’s top 10 list, but it’s still got a few good things going for it. For one, it’s got a pretty interface. It’s also speedy and lightweight, and includes USB Protection to vaccinate any USB device you plug into your PC. But if you’re installing a 3rd-party antivirus, you’re looking for protection, aren’t you? Panda Free Antivirus unfortunately underperforms in this respect, as its detection rates have apparently waned recently in independent virus lab tests.
Need a second opinion?Softpedia says “Panda Free Antivirus does an excellent job when it comes to identifying infected files while remaining light on system resources.”
Is Windows Defender good enough? No
Because Windows Defender is included free in the latest versions of Windows, you’re probably (rightfully) asking why you should even bother with a free 3rd-party antivirus. Short answer: Because Windows Defender isn’t good enough.
“Even if you're running Windows 10, you shouldn't rely on Microsoft's security tools. Many free third-party apps are more effective at keeping you safe.” — Neil Rubenking, PC Mag Best Free Antivirus Protection for 2019
First released over a decade ago as a downloadable anti-spyware program for Windows XP, Windows Defender later evolved into a full-fledged, built-in antivirus for Windows 8 and Windows 10. Unfortunately, early versions of Windows Defender were miles behind 3rd-party antivirus software in terms of malware detection. But that’s improved a bit, and today Windows Defender actually does an OK job of blocking threats. But it still lags behind in phishing protection and malicious URL blocking, and it can’t compete with the extra security features included in many free 3rd-party security software.
So, if you’re not comfortable with just “OK” protection of your private photos, documents, and data, you’d best install a 3rd-party solution. Many free antivirus programs provide far more features, better detection rates, and overall better security than Windows Defender.
Need a second opinion?Tom’s Guide gives Windows Defender a 3.5 out of 5, saying, “Defender's low system impact is offset by its long scan times and lack of creature comforts, such as the ability to schedule scans.”