Microsoft Defender
Microsoft
Already on your PC, and better than its reputation.
Price
Free
Last checked
June 2026
Best for
Careful single-PC users
Category
Free & built-in
About Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender ships with Windows, updates itself through Windows Update, and never tries to sell you anything. In AV-TEST’s January-February 2026 round it scored the full 6 out of 6 for protection. The honest limits: phishing protection is strongest in Edge and weaker in other browsers, there is no VPN or password manager, and it covers only Windows. We list it without any affiliate link because a comparison site for antivirus that ignores Defender is not being straight with you.
“The free baseline that made half the paid market nervous. A perfect 6/6 protection score in recent AV-TEST rounds, zero nags, zero installs. It lacks a VPN, password manager, and cross-platform coverage, but for a careful single-PC user, Defender plus good habits is a legitimate choice.”Editorial team, via AntivirusShortlist
Where to get it
Free
Sign up directly with the provider.
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