Avira Free Antivirus

avira.com

Free plan WindowsmacOSiOSAndroidAPIBrowser extension

Spec score 8.9 #17 of 120 in Antivirus software

What it is

Avira Free Antivirus is a freemium internet-security product for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Its Free Antivirus plan costs nothing and includes 500 MB of VPN data per month. The product combines real-time malware monitoring with ransomware protection, a password manager, privacy settings optimization, browser protection, Safe Shopping, PC tune-up tools, and Software Updater. Avira describes coverage for ransomware, spyware, adware, phishing, and zero-day attacks. Detected files can be deleted or quarantined. Browser Safety can block harmful ads and pages and prevent online tracking. The free version uses the same scan engine and cloud-based detection system as Avira Antivirus Pro; the paid version adds signature-based and heuristic analysis and advanced web protection. The free plan is for private, non-commercial use. Free users can seek help from Avira’s worldwide community, while support requests require an Avira license. Avira states it does not sell user data or share it with government, Big Tech, or advertising networks.

Spec sheet

What it does: Avira Free Antivirus provides real-time malware protection, scanning and quarantine for consumer devices.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Free plan: YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · avira.com
Headquarters: Avira's listed principal place of business is Kaplaneiweg 1, 88069 Tettnang, Germany.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Additional utilities: The page lists Safe Shopping, password management, PC tune-up tools, and Software Updater among the included tools.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Adware scanning: An adware scanner detects potentially unwanted advertising software in downloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Antivirus protection: The product continuously monitors systems in the background and analyzes suspicious files through Avira Protection Cloud.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Browser extension: Avira Browser Safety is described as a browser add-on that can block harmful ads and web pages and prevent online tracking.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Browser protection: Browser Safety blocks infected websites, browser trackers, and intrusive ads.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Browser safety: Avira Browser Safety blocks malicious sites, phishing attempts, trackers and unwanted downloads through browser extensions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Cloud detection: Avira says its Protection Cloud enables 99.99% detection rates and uses collective intelligence from uploaded digital fingerprints.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Company founding: Avira says it was founded in 1986 by Tjark Auerbach.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Company scale: Avira reported more than 100 million customers and over 500 employees in its 2018 company description.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Detection technology: The free version uses the same scan engine and cloud-based detection system as Avira Antivirus Pro.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Free VPN: The free offering includes VPN protection with a 500 MB monthly data allowance on the desktop product.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Free-user support: Avira says free users can ask experienced users for help in its worldwide community; support requests require an Avira license.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.avira.com
Independent testing view: TechRadar ranked Avira seventh of ten vendors in its aggregate comparison of nine antivirus laboratory reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Installation: Avira's download instructions say users download an installer, run it, follow the setup steps and then start a scan or use the product in the background.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Legacy system requirements: Avira's user manual specifies Windows 7 or 8, a 1 GHz Pentium-class processor, at least 150 MB disk space and 1 GB RAM for those versions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Licence: Avira consumer products are governed by Avira's License and Services Agreement rather than an open-source licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Limit: pricing and complexity: G2 reviewers mention comparatively high pricing and complaints that installation adds unnecessary applications or complexity.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: slowdowns and alerts: Capterra and GetApp reviews report occasional system slowdowns, delayed notifications, false positives and blocked unknown files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Limit: support and licensing complaints: Trustpilot reviews include reports of license activation problems, difficulty obtaining help and complaints about scare-oriented advertising.Read 15 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
Managed .NET packages: Avira publishes NuGet packages for managed SDK, remediation, endpoint-protection client and update functionality.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nuget.org
OEM APIs: Avira offers partner REST APIs for file reputation, web reputation and cloud-sandbox threat analysis.Read 15 Oct 2026 · oem.avira.com
OEM SDKs: Avira provides endpoint, cross-platform and Android anti-malware SDKs for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android integrations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · oem.avira.com
Ownership news: NortonLifeLock announced on December 7, 2020 that it would acquire Avira for approximately $360 million from Investcorp Technology Partners.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sec.gov
Paid-version difference: The page says Antivirus Pro adds signature-based and heuristic analysis and an advanced web protection feature.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Password manager: Avira lists password management as a free-product privacy feature for creating and remembering account passwords.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Praise: detection and resource use: Capterra reviewers praise Smart Scan, malware detection, broad protection and relatively low resource consumption.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Praise: protection and usability: G2 reviewers repeatedly describe strong real-time protection, easy installation, simple operation and limited performance impact.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Privacy statement: Avira states that it does not sell user data or share it with third parties such as government, Big Tech, or advertising networks.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Privacy tools: The product page lists a free VPN with a 500 MB monthly data limit and privacy settings optimization.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Product scope: Avira Free Antivirus combines security, online privacy, and device optimization tools.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Protection scope: internet securityRead 21 Sep 2026 · avira.com
Quarantine: Detected malicious files can be deleted or moved to quarantine, where they can no longer do damage.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Ransomware protection: The free product includes signature-based anti-ransomware protection intended to block known ransomware.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Rating on Apple App Store: 4.3 out of 5 from 4,700 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Capterra: 4.5 out of 5 from 77 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store: 4.1 out of 5 from 3,000 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on G2: 4.7 out of 5 from 26 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp: 4.5 out of 5 from 77 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Google Play: 4.7 out of 5 from 734,000 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 from 32,675 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
Real-time protection: Its antivirus protection monitors for malware and online threats in real time.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
SDK documentation: The OEM anti-malware SDK page says integrations are fully documented and supported, with library and daemon service modes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · oem.avira.com
SDK licensing and updates: The Android SDK includes its own licensing mechanism and HTTPS updater, and exposes functionality through Kotlin/Native and Java JNI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · oem.avira.com
Security positioning: Avira states that it is part of the IT Security Made in Germany initiative and says it does not sell user data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Software updater: The free suite includes a Windows software-updating tool intended to close vulnerabilities in outdated applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Support access: Free users can search the knowledge base and use the community, while email, chat and phone support require an Avira license.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.avira.com
Supported consumer systems: The current product page lists Windows, macOS, Android and iOS as supported consumer platforms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Supported devices: The page lists Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS versions of the free product.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Supported platforms: Windows,macOS,Android,iOSRead 21 Sep 2026 · avira.com
System optimization: PC tune-up tools clean junk files, improve boot performance and reduce device slowdowns.Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Threat coverage: The page describes protection against ransomware, spyware, adware, phishing, and zero-day attacks.Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com
Usage limit: Avira support says Free Antivirus is for private, non-commercial use.Read 11 Oct 2026 · support.avira.com

Plans and prices

Free Antivirus Free 500 MB VPN data per month Read 21 Sep 2026 · avira.com

Avira Free Antivirus Free Free · personal, non-commercial use · VPN: 500 MB/month Read 11 Oct 2026 · avira.com

Avira Free Antivirus Free malware protection · real-time scanning · ransomware and adware detection · Windows, macOS, Android and iOS availability Read 15 Oct 2026 · avira.com

Every Avira Free Antivirus plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

Covers Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Real-time malware monitoring
Ransomware protection included
Password manager included
Free VPN allocation

Limits

VPN is limited to 500 MB monthly
Free plan excludes commercial use
Support requests require an Avira license
No free trial is offered

Who it suits

It suits private, non-commercial users seeking one free security product across desktop and mobile platforms. It is useful for people who also want a password manager and a defined VPN allowance.

Verdict

Avira Free Antivirus combines device protection, privacy tools, and utilities across four operating systems at no listed cost. The 500 MB monthly VPN limit and private-use restriction are central conditions of the free plan.