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Best Free Alternatives to Kaspersky Premium
Stop paying $30/yr. Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: SecurityVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
TotalAV (Free Edition)
FREEBest Overall FOSS Alternative
Why we like it
Highly rated in 2025 lab tests; includes a basic anti-malware scanner, data breach monitoring, and system optimization tools; very intuitive for beginners.
Keep in mind
The 'Free' version lacks real-time protection; requires manual scans to detect and remove threats.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free
FREEBest Lightweight Protection
Why we like it
Industry-leading malware detection rates; extremely low impact on system resources; set-and-forget real-time protection; no credit card required.
Keep in mind
Lacks the unlimited VPN, firewall, and identity theft tools found in Kaspersky's Premium tier; Windows only.
Avast One Basic
FREEBest for All-in-One Features
Why we like it
Includes a firewall and a limited VPN (5GB/week) for free; excellent phishing and ransomware protection; cross-platform support.
Keep in mind
Ad-supported with frequent upsell prompts; data privacy concerns under its parent company Gen Digital.
Microsoft Defender
FREEBest for Seamless Integration
Why we like it
Built directly into Windows; zero-configuration required; no impact on startup times; excellent real-time detection for a free tool.
Keep in mind
Lacks 'Total Security' extras like a VPN, password manager, or cross-platform mobile management dashboard.
Avira Free Security
FREEBest for Privacy Tools
Why we like it
Includes a built-in VPN (500MB/mo), password manager, and browser safety extension; very lightweight cloud-based engine.
Keep in mind
The VPN limit is quite small for heavy users; scanning speed can be slower than Bitdefender.
Malwarebytes (Free)
FREEBest for Remediation
Why we like it
The gold standard for cleaning a system that is already infected; identifies 'Potentially Unwanted Programs' (PUPs) that others miss.
Keep in mind
Free version is a scanner only; does not provide real-time background protection.
Sophos Home Free
FREEBest for Family Management
Why we like it
Allows remote management of up to 3 devices from a single web dashboard; business-grade anti-phishing and web filtering.
Keep in mind
Requires a web account for all configuration; local controls are limited.
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall
FREEBest Firewall Protection
Why we like it
Unmatched incoming/outgoing firewall control; includes a basic antivirus engine; great for protecting against hackers on public Wi-Fi.
Keep in mind
User interface looks dated; antivirus database updates are less frequent than premium suites.
GlassWire (Free Tier)
FREEBest Network Monitoring
Why we like it
Beautiful visual graphs of your network activity; alerts you when a new app tries to connect to the internet; high transparency.
Keep in mind
Not a full antivirus suite; must be used alongside Microsoft Defender or another scanner.
TinyWall
Best for Advanced Users
Why we like it
Completely free and open source; non-intrusive firewall that hardens Windows Defender without annoying pop-ups.
Keep in mind
Requires manual 'whitelisting' of apps; no built-in antivirus engine.
ClamWin
Best Open Source Scanner
Why we like it
100% open source; portable (can run from a USB drive); zero background system impact.
Keep in mind
Manual scans only; no real-time protection; lower detection rates for the latest zero-day threats.
AVG AntiVirus Free
FREEBest for Speed & Performance
Why we like it
Identical core engine to Avast; features a 'Software Updater' to patch holes; very fast full-system scans.
Keep in mind
Frequent 'system speed-up' ads; can be heavy on older hardware during active scans.
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