Free antivirus apps for Android

Start with what the phone already has

Since 2017, Android phones with the Google Play Store include Google Play Protect, which checks apps before they install from Play and scans the apps already on the device, including ones installed from elsewhere. It runs without setup and can disable a harmful app on its own. To check it, open the Play Store, tap the menu, and choose Play Protect; the screen shows the last scan and a switch for scanning apps for security threats, which should stay on.

Most Android malware reaches phones through apps installed from outside Google Play, fake versions of popular apps, and links in messages. A third-party antivirus app earns its place for people who sideload apps, share a phone with children, or want web protection that blocks phishing pages. For someone who installs only well-known apps from Play and keeps the system updated, Play Protect plus caution covers most of the risk.

What free tiers usually include

The free versions almost always scan installed apps and downloaded files and check new apps as they install. Many add a Wi-Fi checker and anti-theft tools for locating or locking a lost phone. Real-time web protection, app locking and ad removal are often behind the paid tier.

Be skeptical of “phone booster”, “RAM cleaner” and “CPU cooler” buttons. Android manages memory itself, and force-closing background apps mostly makes them restart and use more battery. Clearing app caches frees space, which the Settings app can already do.

Independent labs such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test Android security apps every few months and publish detection results. Most of the names below score well in those tests; the differences are mostly in extras, ads and how hard each one pushes the upgrade.

Free protection already on the phone

Several features that security apps sell are built into Android. Google’s Find My Device, on the web or as an app, can ring, lock or erase a lost phone as long as location is on and the phone is signed in to a Google account. A screen lock with a PIN or fingerprint protects the data if the phone is stolen, and it is also what makes remote erase meaningful.

Since Android 8.0, permission to install apps from outside Play is granted per app, under Settings > Apps > Special app access > Install unknown apps. Leave it off for browsers and messaging apps unless you have a specific reason, and switch it back off afterward. When an app asks for access to SMS, contacts or accessibility services that its job does not need, treat that as a warning sign.

Eight free options

Avast Mobile Security

One of the most downloaded security apps, with a quick scan, a web shield that warns about malicious sites, a junk cleaner and a photo vault. The free version shows ads and promotes paid features such as app locking and camera trap. A good all-rounder for someone who does not mind the prompts.

AVG AntiVirus

AVG has belonged to Avast since 2016 and the two apps share their detection engine, so protection is much the same. AVG’s layout differs, and it offers a remote locate-and-wipe feature through its website. Choose whichever interface you prefer; running both adds nothing.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free

The lightest option here. It scans apps as they install and on demand, using Bitdefender’s cloud service instead of storing a large signature database on the phone, so it has almost no effect on battery. The free app is only a scanner. Web protection, anti-theft, app lock and the VPN are in the paid Bitdefender Mobile Security.

Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus

The free version runs manual scans for viruses and other malware and has scored at the top of lab tests for years. Automatic real-time protection, anti-phishing and app lock need the premium upgrade, which comes with a trial. Since then, a 2024 U.S. Commerce Department ban has barred Kaspersky from selling to U.S. customers and ended its updates there that September.

Avira Antivirus Security

Avira’s free app covers scanning, anti-theft, and a privacy advisor that rates the permissions each installed app asks for. Premium adds browser protection and camera and microphone blocking.

Sophos Mobile Security

Free, and without ads, which sets it apart. Alongside malware scanning it includes a web filter, a link checker, an app lock and a built-in authenticator for two-factor codes. It suits people who want protection without upsell screens.

McAfee Mobile Security

Aimed at theft protection: it can locate, lock or wipe a lost phone, take a photo of whoever enters the wrong PIN, and stop a thief from uninstalling it. The free version carries ads, and several features need a subscription, which costs more than most rivals.

dfndr security

From the Brazilian developer PSafe, this app combines scanning with anti-phishing, anti-hacking alerts and cleaning tools. Its free version has frequent ads; a subscription removes them. Useful for its phishing alerts, less so for the performance tools.

Choosing one

Pick a single app; two scanners on one phone slow it down and can flag each other. Bitdefender suits people who want only a scanner, Sophos those who want no ads, and Avast or AVG those who want the widest free feature set. Whatever you install, keep the phone’s own system updates current, since they close the holes most malware relies on.