Avira Free Antivirusfor Mac

A virus-free Mac means you can continue to enjoy the features you like most; however, many anti-virus suites detract from its slick and simple feel. You’ll be happy to hear that isn’t the case with Avira.

A basic system to keep you safe

Avira Free Antivirus is security, virus, and malware protection with a no-nonsense approach.

This antivirus suite has an easy to use and plain interface, with plenty of white space, large buttons, and clear labels. The suite covers the main elements of protection; these include a status update on the real time protection, working with your Mac OS firewall, quarantining suspicious files, and scanning for malware. Even though the program is free, it maintains a high level of quality.

Industry testing has shown the software to be effective. The independent lab tests show 100% malware detection, as well as high ratings for protection, performance, and usability. There is an option to upgrade to pro for additional features like USB scanning, but the upgrade offers and even the scans themselves remain unobtrusive. The quick scan takes around 1 minute, and the full is 25 minutes. Another added convenience is being able to schedule regular scans.

One of the weaker points when it comes to testing, is the anti-phishing element. This needs to be downloaded as an extension to the browser you use. Although the protection is constant, there is some lag when it comes to updating the activity log, so you won’t always have accurate to the minute information. One other flaw is the availability of the suite; Avira doesn’t run on the slightly older versions of Mac OS.

For a free suite, it certainly delivers on a number of fronts.

Where can you run this program?

Runs on Mac OS El Capitan 10.11 and later.

Is there a better alternative?

No. Avira provides everything you need from an antivirus and avoids being too intrusive.

Our take

Avira Free Antivirus is a good choice because it’s an effective suite that doesn’t completely take over your Mac.

Should you download it?

Yes. If you are looking for a free antivirus tool that keeps you secure without blocking your activities, it is a great pick.