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For years, if you wanted the best antivirus software, you had to pay up for genuine protection and security. Any free antivirus software admittedly lacked some critical features, like fraud protection or link blocking.
While some antivirus programs cost money, there are plenty of free options with fantastic features. These days, you don’t always have to miss out on features like malware blockers just because these antivirus options are free. Plus, you can download these programs and start using them immediately.
AVG has two major selling points. First, this free antivirus option has an impressively broad reach. The software will not only search for viruses and malware, but it also helps block suspicious links, prevent suspect downloads, and keep suspicious email attachments from being used. That makes the app a better choice for a family or elderly users on a budget.
The second benefit is AVG’s affinity with Google platforms, as it has one of the better Android downloads. With the Android app, you can do things like scan and remove malware and scan the Wi-Fi network you’re using. The Android app also has a web shield that warns you about websites with malware. And you can even use the app to check your Wi-Fi network’s speed.

Malwarebytes offers some of the best and most comprehensive virus-removal software available, frequently making it one of the first go-to sources for tech agencies and support groups alike.
The only caveat with the free version of Malwarebytes is that it’s more of a remediation tool than a live, protective shield. The scanning tool will find and remove anything once you’re already infected — effectively, too — but doesn’t prevent the infection from happening in the first place. For that, you need the premium version or one of the other tools on this list. Still, as a secondary layer of defense, the free version of Malwarebytes is a must.
Malwarebytes also has a free extension (Browser Guard) for Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox browsers, which offers web protections such as blocking third-party ads and trackers, blocking webpages that have malware, and blocking online scams.

In terms of essential protection, Avast is one of the best antivirus programs available. With Avast, you can expect an antivirus program that finds and blocks all kinds of threats including viruses, ransomware, and phishing. And two other features, Network Inspector and Smart Scan, can help you spot flaws in your security so you know what you need to fix to protect yourself. The software also includes a Silent Mode that completely silences alerts and pop-ups from Avast.
Since it’s a free program, you’ll be missing out on some features exclusive to the premium package, including remote hacking protection and the ability to protect up to 10 devices. Those wanting such upgrades will need to opt for a subscription plan, which is about $4 per month for one Windows PC or Mac for the first year, or about $50 per year. Another plan also gets you protection on 10 devices for about $6 per month for the first year. Still, sticking with the free version will keep you well-protected.
Avast also offers another, newer security suite: Avast One. There are three versions of it: Avast One Essential (the free one) and the premium versions (Avast One Individual/Family and Avast One Platinum). Avast One Essential offers more protection and performance features than Avast Free Antivirus, and it’s still free. Features include a firewall, a VPN, and a tool to help speed up your PC. If you’d like more features for free, Avast One Essential may also be worth looking into.

Avira’s streamlined free antivirus software is one of the best options for getting exactly the security features you want without any unnecessary extras or annoying bloat. Download options are available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS — and Mac/iOS compatibility is particularly good, making this a strong choice for Apple users.
The free version of Avira’s antivirus program comes with virus scans and blocking, infected file repairs, real-time updates, a potentially unwanted application (PUA) shield, an ad blocker, and a tracking blocker.
Avira also has Avira Prime, which is $10 for one month covering 5 devices, $60 for a year covering 5 devices, or $195 for two years for 5 devices. This service has features like a password generator, encryption of your web browsing data, and other extras.

It all depends on your security needs. Some free antivirus programs only focus on detecting and removing malware, but others may offer more protection in the way of anti-phishing and ad-blocking features. If you browse the web often or download email attachments often, you may want to consider antivirus options that offer web protection and email protection. If you want to be able to monitor and protect all of your devices (mobile and PC) at once with the same program, you should pick a free antivirus software that is available on all of the platforms your devices run on.
At this time, most antivirus software companies have announced that their products are compatible with Windows 11. That said, most antivirus options that are compatible with Windows 10 should also work fine on Windows 11. Make sure to install one of them if you’re trying out Microsoft’s new operating system. If all else fails, you can stick with Windows Security,  which is Microsoft’s free antivirus solution built into Windows 10 and Windows 11.
It’s so much easier to keep up with your finances throughout the year rather than trying to figure it all out during tax season. You can go into the process prepared and ready to go. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time and resources to hire a personal accountant. Of all the names to be found among the best accounting software suites, QuickBooks arguably stands the tallest. Its long-standing popularity is owed to the fact that QuickBooks is feature-rich, easy to use, and offers a variety of different packages to suit users of all types, but it’s not free (not usually, anyway). If you’re thinking of giving QuickBooks a spin and want to know if you can try it without ponying up any cash first, however, then read on. Here’s everything you need to know about the QuickBooks free trial, along with some info on how you can save on your subscription if you decide to commit.
Is there a QuickBooks free trial?
There is indeed a QuickBooks free trial available, and it’s a pretty good one. QuickBooks offers a 30-day free trial period for new subscribers, and what’s more is that it applies to the highest subscription package, QuickBooks Advanced, which normally costs $200 per month. It’s probably obvious that QuickBooks Advanced, being the highest and priciest subscription tier, is aimed at larger business operations that are likely to need and take advantage of the many features that this plan offers. However, it’s a great way to spend some hands-on time with everything that QuickBooks can do for you, and 30 days is a lengthy trial period that gives you plenty of time to try it all yourself.
For most people, the premier graphics and visual editing tool is Adobe Photoshop. It is also the most popular and widely used graphical design software suite among professionals and amateurs alike, and for good reason. Even people who have never in their lives used Photoshop know the name, which has become synonymous with any kind of digital image editing. Photoshop is professional-grade paid software, though, and it’s not exactly cheap even with some of the best Adobe Photoshop deals out there. Maybe you’ve never used it before and want to give a try before buying a license? That’s likely why you’re here looking for an Adobe Photoshop free trial (and perhaps other ways to save on this software if and when you decide to buy it). Whether you’re an amateur graphic designer or an aspiring professional, we’ve got everything you need to know right here.
Is there an Adobe Photoshop free trial?
There is actually more than one Adobe Photoshop free trial available, depending on which version you’re looking at. For the uninitiated, there are two main Photoshop packages. Adobe Creative Cloud is subscription-based, meaning you have to pay a monthly or annual fee for the license in order to use it. This is the most comprehensive Photoshop suite that gives you everything the software has to offer, with more than 20 design apps as part of the package, including Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Premiere Pro, and typically costs $55 per month or $600 per year. There is a free trial available of Creative Cloud, although it only lasts for seven days. That’s not a lot of time to explore and spend hands-on time with the full set of Creative Cloud apps. You also have to enter your credit card information in order to sign up and download the software; it’s on you to cancel your subscription before the trial period ends, or you’ll be charged.
To earn the crown as the best laptop in 2023, it needs to have it all: gorgeous design, killer performance, a productive keyboard, long-lasting battery life, and much more.
Each of the laptops below has been vetted thoroughly by us here at Digital Trends. Whether it’s an affordable Chromebook or a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, they’ve all been subjected to real-world testing, as well as benchmark and battery tests, to collect data to objectively pit them against each other.
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