Free vs Paid Antivirus - Do the Differences Really Matter?

The question of free vs paid antivirus is quite entrenched over time. Which PC antivirus should you install? If you have asked yourself this question at least once, well, know that you are not alone. Of course, in 2022, having an antivirus installed on the computer and / or devices used is quite obvious, especially if we look at what has happened in the last three years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have found ourselves more connected to the Internet, not only for work, between smart working and agile work, but also to combat lockdown boredom. Whether it's to watch Netflix, make a video call with your boss or colleagues, or to check your e-mail, it is undeniable that we are much more active online and this inevitably leads to greater exposure to online threats, not only viruses, but also phishing. and ransomware, not to mention the advertising trackers that too often are intrusive and violate our privacy.

And as the consumption of VPNs has increased, related to both the protection of traffic to corporate networks in the event of remote working , as well as accessing geo-localized content in entertainment, the need to protect systems from online threats also increases. This is where antiviruses come into play: there are different brands on the market, and many offer free packages, whether they are demo versions or all-round freeware programs. Windows already includes a small security suite, Windows Defender, albeit with its limitations. But is it always worth relying on a free antivirus? Let's find out now.



An antivirus suite can be expensive

Why choose a free antivirus?

So, in the face of tags that can easily exceed a hundred euros, the temptation to "settle" for a free version can become quite strong. But who should choose a free antivirus instead of a paid one?

Let's analyze the common characteristics of free antiviruses, without considering the time trial versions, since they often offer everything that is included in the premium packages, but only for a limited time. Generally, free antiviruses have these limitations:

cover only one device offer basic protection against malware, eg. do not include firewall, URL blocking or other extras are only available for specific platforms (eg. Windows or Mac) may not offer more advanced analytics, eg. in terms of "behavior" they often storm the user with warnings and offers to switch to the paid version they do not always have the same capabilities as paid antivirus sometimes they are cumbersome on the system, especially if full of promotional ads What we can assume is that a free antivirus might be fine for users who have very limited requirements: for example, those who use only one computer for Internet access or do not need to protect sensitive documents, work files or other sensitive content. In cases like these, the use of Windows Defender may be enough, even if this is often very limited in its ability to detect and block malware, as often demonstrated by AV-Comparative tests, to give an example.




Evaluating anti-ransomware capabilities is key when choosing of an antivirus

Why opt for a paid antivirus?

If you have already done your research or invested the time to read our reviews, you will have noticed that for some time now, rather than antivirus, we speak of a security suite. And it is not simply a change in terminology: in fact, more and more often, the various brands try to offer users diversified solutions, able to protect devices not only from malware, but also from other types of threats and inconveniences, such as trackers. particularly intrusive advertisements, malicious URLs, identity theft attempts or violations aimed at stealing bank data, without forgetting the fearsome ransomware attacks.


But a fundamental discriminant in choosing a paid package rather than another is above all the number of protected devices: many of us use smartphones, tablets, laptops, fixed PCs, often switching from one to another (for example starting a purchase on Amazon from the mobile phone and then completing it at home, from the comfort of the PC), and very often antivirus for a fee, they relegate to the more expensive plans the possibility of covering 5-10 devices at the same time and of various platforms (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chromebook and so on). Therefore, in choosing a paid antivirus, it is necessary to evaluate some fundamental factors:

quality of the antivirus engine number of devices covered supported platforms price / devices / annuity ratio features and fundamental functions offered: protection from ransomware, ability to threats stop, firewall, spam filter, phishing protection and URL blocking any extras included: VPN, parental controls, password manager, secure vault, cloud backup These are all the features you need to consider when choosing a paid antivirus. Thankfully, many suites, such as Trend Micro, offer the option to try out all of the package features for free before committing to a financial commitment, which is another aspect you can consider.

Here are some of the best paid antivirus we have. we would like to recommend you:



Bitdefender Antivirus, one of the best security packages ever

Bitdefender Total Security is an impressive suite with loads of features, if you are looking for an all-encompassing product, this could be for you. In addition, Bitdefender's anti-ransomware system is effective and well thought-out.

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Norton, an antivirus also effective against ransomware

Norton is one of the best antivirus on the market, which we recommend unreservedly, also for its ransomware protection system.

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Trend Micro Maximum Security

Trend Micro Maximum Security provides advanced protection for Windows and Android devices, more than enough on macOS and outperform most competitors on iOS. Its protection from ransomware is one of the most effective.

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Conclusion

Answer the question "better to use a free antivirus or to choose a paid one?" it is neither obvious nor simple. There are good reasons to opt for a paid security suite, especially if you have a lot of devices to protect (or perhaps a large family) or if you want to make sure your work files stay safe from possible ransomware attacks. On the other hand, spending € 100 a year to protect a single Windows PC that you do not use for business purposes and that does not contain sensitive data may not make much sense. But if you decide to stay on a paid antivirus, don't stop at Windows Defender, also because, as we have seen, there are free packages with much better performing antivirus engines, such as Avast and Avira for example. A further food for thought may be the arrival of security packages integrated into some VPN services. For example, NordVPN offers Threat Protection, while the Surfshark One package includes a good quality VPN and antivirus. If you need both a VPN and an antivirus, these options could save you some money. But always carefully evaluate what you actually need and carefully compare the features offered.

So, clearly establish your needs and then follow the criteria we have suggested above to make your choice. On the other hand, you will always have the opportunity to change your mind and switch to a premium package or take advantage of the money-back guarantee offered by the vast majority of brands on the market.

Read also: The best free VPNs of 2022