Features

avast! Free Antivirus is loaded with tons of features. From the home tab you can gain quick access to your system status, virus scan, software updater, stats, and the market. Features like the firewall and SafeZone require a premium subscription.

The software updater that's included with avast! Free Antivirus alerts users about outdated applications that are installed but only offers a link to the program page to download the latest update. Paying for a premium subscription will allow you to update your apps within the application. There's even an option to update automatically in the paid versions of avast!

avast! Free Antivirus offers more than just virus protection. The application also includes "cloud services," which gathers information from other avast! users to compare the reputation of similar files. These updates are constantly streamed to and from avast! so users don't have to worry about downloading updates.

New to avast! Free Antivirus is the Market where you can purchase additional features and services. The app itself is very good at reminding users how many features are missing so the Market makes it even more tempting to upgrade. Purchases can be made directly inside the application.

Usability

Using avast! Free Antivirus is very straightforward. Features and sections of the application are clearly marked with short explanations about what each feature does.

Like with many other antivirus applications, the amount of options and features is a little overwhelming. There are icons in the Security tab that are clearly marked with a green status light indicating everything is working as it should. This makes it easy to see what parts of the application require user action.

For the most part, avast! Free Antivirus is an application that you can configure and forget about. The program will display a popup if anything needs your action.

Quality

avast! Free Antivirus is well designed with tons of features. While it's not as simple as it could be, it works well and is completely free. It's nice that avast! Free Antivirus doesn't include an annoying tool bar, but it does install a web extension to monitor malicious links while you're browsing.

While avast! Free Antivirus excels as an antivirus application, it doesn't do much in the way of being a one-stop-shop for all your computer maintenance needs. Other apps like IObit's Advanced Systemcare with Antivirus offer more features that will make sure your computer is running its fastest.

Scans were performed quickly but not the best we've seen. This really depends on your hardware and how many files you have on your computer.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it's easy to see what avast! Free Antivirus remains at the top of our download charts. The amount of features that free users have access to is amazing. While it's annoying that the app nags you to upgrade to a paid subscription, it's a small price to pay for a well designed antivirus solution that's completely free. Now if only avast! could include some computer maintence features.

What's new

Download avast! Free Antivirus 8.0.1489 in Softonic

Avira Free Antivirus 2013 is the free – for personal use – version of Avira Antivir Premium; this means there are a few advanced features unavailable, like the virus filter for email or for web browsing, but the program is as powerful and efficient as its big brother.

Avira Free Antivirus 2013 installs in a few seconds and starts protecting your system in real time right away. It includes all the tools and options you would expect from an antivirus these days, such as different types of scan, support for scheduling, automatic updates, and a quarantine area for suspicious files.

On the downside, Avira Free Antivirus 2013 is let down by a somewhat rough interface that feels like it was designed ten years ago and never restyled: simple to use, but too plain.

Looking for an efficient, uncomplicated antivirus tool? Avira Free Antivirus 2013 may be a good choice.

Download Avira Free Antivirus 2013 13.0.0.3640 in Softonic

AVG Anti-Virus features a bunch of dedicated modules to protect you from antivirus, spyware and rootkits and spam, and also includes the so called LinkScanner – an extra layer of protection that checks search results and web links to make sure they’re safe. In recent years, the developers have added more intrusive features that try to intefere with browser settings such as your preferred search engine but overall, it still remains a good anti-virus option.

One of the best things about AVG Anti-Virus is that it offers neat, effective protection while staying silently minimized in your system tray without guzzling system resources and of course, without constantly bothering you with warning windows or update messages. Since it's the trial version of a complete program, AVG Anti-Virus does show the odd nag screen encouraging you to buy AVG Professional, something which may annoy some users.

AVG Anti-Virus features a nicely designed, more user-friendly interface, which mimics the Windows Modern UI, and supports touch in Windows 8. Of course, you still have the same three types of scan: full system, selected files and folders and anti-rootkit. AVG Anti-Virus also lets you schedule scans for a certain day and time.

New in 2013 is an enhanced and simplified firewall. Previous versions of AVG didn't include any firewall at all so it's a nice addition. Settings for the firewall are easy to use and understand, making personalization network access for specific apps a breeze. The firewall will also help scan links, fight spam, and protect against wi-fi hacking.

The whole AVG Anti-Virus package should be enough to ensure you're not infected with any virus. The program also integrates seamlessly with Windows Explorer, allowing you to scan files from their context menus. AVG Anti-Virus's database is automatically updated on a daily basis, so you're always protected from even the most recently discovered threats. Although AVG Anti-Virus still remains a very powerful packages, there are other anti virus tools - such as Avast! - that do as good a job if not better.

Performance of AVG Anti-Virus has increased as well. Startup times are now 26% quicker, scanning times are 36% faster, and interface loads over 200% faster

AVG Antivirus remains a perfect security solution for the average computer user, providing a powerful weapon against viruses.

Download AVG AntiVirus 2013 2013.0.3267 in Softonic

New for 2013 is a completely redesigned interface with tons of additional features that make it a holistic security suite for your PC. Antivirus is still at the heart of Panda Antivirus Pro but it also includes a firewall, USB 'vaccine,' multimedia/gaming mode, and safe browser.

The interface of Panda Antivirus Pro has been completely redesigned since the last version with a focus on making it easy to read and use. Functions are now big, colorful icons and the most vital information is presented at the top with charts and large text. Menus and their explanations have also been simplified so you know exactly what each feature does.

New in Panda Antivirus Pro 2013 is the USB vaccine, which prevents malicious software from automatically running when connected to the computer. This is a pretty basic way to prevent infections from external devices but useful, nonetheless.

Performance of the application is good with quick scans and consumes minimal system resources. Panda Antivirus Pro focuses on creating an unobtrusive security experience and it succeeds on the most part. You can set up Panda and just forget about it. It will run in the background and will only alert you if an infection is found or if you need to take action. The firewall replaces the Windows default firewall and has the ability to allow connections from common applications. You'll have to decide whether to give an app that hasn't been white listed internet access.

When tested against standardized virus attacks, Panda Antivirus Pro stopped infected files immediately and without major interruption of our work. We especially liked the fact the Panda Antivirus Pro doesn't fill up the screen with unnecessary warnings all the time.

Panda Antivirus Pro is an unobtrusive, efficient and user-friendly antivirus app that protects your system without needless interruptions.

Download Panda Antivirus Pro 2013 in Softonic