Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Best starting choices: AVG AntiVirus Free and Avira Antivirus Security. In AV-TEST’s July 2026 evaluation, both scored the maximum 6/6/6 for protection, performance and usability. That is a dated laboratory result—not a permanent “best” guarantee—and Android already includes Google Play Protect. Choose a separate antivirus only if its extra scanning or privacy features justify its permissions, advertising and upgrade prompts.
Best free Android antivirus apps at a glance
| Option | Latest cited independent result | What the free option can add | Important trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVG AntiVirus Free | AV-TEST, July 2026: 6/6/6; version 26.6 tested with default settings | Anti-malware scanning, Wi-Fi security, safe browsing, app auditing, breach alerts and a photo vault are described in AV-Comparatives’ review | Ad-supported; the reviewed introduction requests full file access for scanning and asks for consent to personalized advertising. Features and prompts may change. |
| Avira Antivirus Security | AV-TEST, July 2026: 6/6/6; version 7.32 tested with default settings | Use the free tier for its published core protection and privacy features, checking the current in-app list before installation | The cited material does not establish a complete, current regional free-tier feature matrix or advertising policy. |
| Google Play Protect | AV-TEST endurance test covering July–December 2025: 99.6% in real-time tests and 99.7% in reference sets | Built into certified Android devices; scans apps installed from Google Play and other sources, and regularly checks the device. Android also provides Chrome Safe Browsing, Find Hub theft functions and privacy controls. | Those percentages describe one lab period and methodology, not an individual safety guarantee. AV-TEST’s author Markus Selinger said Play Protect “does not always keep the devices safe.” |
| Avast One Free | No AV-TEST July 2026 result is used here for a ranking | AV-Comparatives describes anti-malware, Wi-Fi security, safe browsing, app auditing, breach alerts and a photo vault in the reviewed free offering | Ad-supported, with the same general free-tier trade-off of promotions and feature changes. |
Do not treat AVG and Avira as meaningfully different on the July AV-TEST score alone: they tied at the maximum in all three categories. The practical choice is therefore about permissions, advertising, interface and the features you actually need.
Why AVG and Avira lead this shortlist
AV-TEST tested 12 Android mobile-security products in July 2026 using current versions and default settings. Each product could earn up to 6 points in protection, 6 in performance and 6 in usability, for 18 points total. AVG Antivirus Free 26.6 and Avira Antivirus Security 7.32 each received 6/6/6.
AV-TEST’s categories include malware detection, device impact and false-positive-related usability considerations. A perfect result means those products performed best in that specified test round and setup; it does not prove that every future version, device or threat will produce the same outcome.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Android Security & protection
- Daily Virus Database checkup and updates
- Scan Apps and Files
- System Cleaner Integrated
- Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Pick AVG when its utility bundle fits you
AV-Comparatives describes AVG’s free app as including anti-malware scanning, Wi-Fi security, safe browsing, app auditing, breach alerts and a photo vault. In that review, the introduction requested full file access so the app could scan files, and the ad-funded tier requested consent to personalized advertising. Read each permission and consent screen rather than accepting it automatically.
Pick Avira when you prefer its current free experience
Avira also achieved 6/6/6 in the cited AV-TEST round. The available evidence does not establish a complete, up-to-date list of every Avira free feature in every country, so verify the Google Play listing and the app’s own free-versus-paid labels before relying on a particular tool.
Is Google Play Protect enough?
Play Protect is not an optional replacement for basic security hygiene: it is already part of the Android security picture on certified devices. AV-Comparatives describes it scanning apps at installation, including apps from third-party sources, and checking the device regularly. Android’s broader built-in protections include Chrome Safe Browsing, Find Hub theft functions and privacy controls.
Rank #2
- Payment Protection – lets you to shop and bank safely online
- Proactive Anti-Theft – powerful features to help protect your phone, and find it if it goes missing:
- Anti-Phishing – uses the ESET malware database to identify scam websites and messages
- Call Filter – block calls from specified numbers, contacts and unknown numbers
- Antivirus – protection against malware: intercepts threats and cleans them from your device
That does not make every third-party app useless, nor does it guarantee safety. In AV-TEST’s separate endurance test for July through December 2025, Play Protect detected 99.6% of the real-time test set and 99.7% of the reference set. Several third-party products reached 100% on those sets. The results apply only to that period, platform and laboratory method, not to your phone’s future downloads.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFor many people, leaving Play Protect enabled, installing apps carefully and keeping Android updated is a reasonable baseline. Add a third-party app when you specifically want its additional scanning, Wi-Fi checks, breach alerts or other functions and accept the associated data access and advertising model.
How independent Android antivirus tests should be read
Protection is only one axis
AV-Comparatives’ 2026 Android review examined malware protection, false positives, anti-theft functions and battery drain. It used more than 3,000 malware samples and 500 clean apps; the clean apps were used for a separate false-positive test. A high detection rate with excessive warnings, battery use or unreliable anti-theft tools would not be a complete recommendation.
Rank #3
- - Light weight, lightning quick scanning of apps
- - Automatic scanning of newly installed apps to protect against a breach by malware, spyware, trojan and virus threats
- - Notifies you of harmful apps with the option to remove them immediately
- - Online virus definition updates to ensure that you always have the latest version available
- - Extremely low battery usage
Certification has a defined bar
AV-Comparatives’ Approved Mobile Product criteria require at least 99% protection, no more than 10 false positives and less than 8% battery-drain impact, along with reliable core functions. Certification is a useful minimum standard, not a universal ranking of user experience or value.
Test dates matter
Android versions, app builds, malware campaigns, permissions and subscription prompts change. Always attach the month and test setup to a result. A July 2026 score should not be presented as an undated promise for 2027.
Which Android antivirus app is actually free?
“Free” can mean that the scanner costs nothing while the app is ad-supported, requests broad permissions or reserves some functions for a paid upgrade. AVG and Avast’s reviewed free tiers are explicitly ad-supported in AV-Comparatives’ account. Avira’s exact current regional limits are not established by the cited material.
Rank #4
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
Before installing, inspect the Play Store description and the first-run screens for:
- Which scans and protections work without a subscription.
- Whether advertising is personalized and what consent controls are offered.
- Why file, accessibility, notification or device-administrator access is requested.
- Which features trigger a trial, payment screen or recurring subscription.
- Whether the app is available in your country and supports your Android version.
Do not grant a permission merely because an app calls itself antivirus. A file scanner may need file access; unrelated access should have a clear explanation and an easy way to decline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical decision guide
Choose no additional antivirus
Use this route if Play Protect is active, you install mainly from trusted sources, keep Android and browsers updated, and do not need extra breach, Wi-Fi or app-audit tools. This is a choice to rely on Android’s baseline protections, not a claim that they stop every threat.
Best Value
- Real-Time Virus Protection: Detect and remove malware, spyware, and viruses instantly.
- Junk File Cleaner: Clear unnecessary files to free up valuable storage space.
- Battery Saver: Extend your device’s battery life with efficient power-saving tools.
- Privacy Scanner: Keep your personal data secure with advanced privacy protection features.
- Wi-Fi Security: Detect and avoid unsafe networks to ensure secure online browsing.
Choose AVG AntiVirus Free
Choose AVG if its combination of scanning, Wi-Fi checks, safe browsing and audits is useful to you and you are comfortable reviewing file-access and personalized-advertising consent. Its 6/6/6 AV-TEST result is the strongest cited reason to shortlist it, not a reason to ignore the free-tier terms.
Choose Avira Antivirus Security
Choose Avira if its current Play Store listing and setup screens offer the features you want with a permission and advertising model you prefer. Its tied 6/6/6 result makes it a peer to AVG in the cited test rather than a proven second-place product.
Reconsider any app that hurts the phone
Uninstall or disable a security app if it causes unusual battery drain, persistent intrusive notifications, unexplained accessibility access or repeated upgrade prompts that outweigh its benefit. Android’s built-in protections remain available, but check that Play Protect is enabled after removal.
Installation checklist
- Open the Google Play Store and verify the developer name, recent update date and current Android requirements.
- Read the free-feature list and subscription screen before starting any trial.
- Install only one real-time antivirus app; running multiple scanners can add notifications and resource use without giving a simple “double protection” benefit.
- Keep Play Protect enabled even after installing AVG, Avira or another scanner.
- Review permissions in Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions and revoke access that is not needed for the function you use.
- Run an initial scan, then monitor battery use and notifications for several days.
Bottom line for 2026
AVG AntiVirus Free and Avira Antivirus Security are the most defensible free third-party picks from the cited evidence because both earned 6/6/6 in AV-TEST’s July 2026 test. AVG has a more specifically documented free feature bundle, but its ad-supported model and file-access request deserve scrutiny. Avira is equally strong in that lab snapshot, while its exact free-tier details require an on-device check. Play Protect remains the essential baseline and may be all you need; install another app only for a clearly useful extra.
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