How To Run Commercial Antivirus Software Without Paying For It
This article is not about illegal methods to obtain software products without paying money for them. But read on if you are interested in how you can protect your computer with the latest antivirus software without having to pay for it.
The principle is simply: most antivirus companies offer test versions of their products. These versions can usually be tested for 30, 60 or 90 days. All you need to do to protect your computer with antivirus software is to install a new product whenever the trial of an old product ends.
You need a minimum of four antivirus products, preferably the most reliable ones that offer 90 days of testing.
Tip: you can check the most recent antivirus ratings on sites like AV-Test or AV-Comparatives.
You start again with next year's edition of the first antivirus software that you started with. If there are not enough 90-day trials you switch to 60 or 30-day trials instead or use a free antivirus software to fill gaps in the 12-month cycle.
The following links point to antivirus software programs that can be downloaded as trial versions. These trial versions can be used for either 30 days, 60 days or 90 days without pay.
Which antivirus software developers offer 90-day trials?
- None right now
Which antivirus companies offer 60-day trials?
Which antivirus software developers offer 30-day trials?
- Avast Internet Security [link]
- Avast Premier [link]
- Avast Pro Antivirus [link]
- AVG Internet Security [Link]
- AVG Ultimate [link]
- Avira Antivirus Pro [Link]
- Avira Internet Security Suite [Link]
- Avira Total Security Suite [Link]
- Bitdefender Antivirus Plus [link]
- Bitdefender Total Security [link]
- Bitdefender Internet Security [link]
- BullGuard Premium Protection [link]
- BullGuard Internet Security [link]
- BullGuard Antivirus [link]
- Comodo Antivirus Advanced [link]
- Comodo Internet Security Pro [link]
- ESET Smart Security Premium [link]
- ESET Internet Security [link]
- ESET Nod32 Antivirus [link]
- F-Prot Antivirus [Link]
- G DATA Antivirus [link]
- G DATA Internet Security [link]
- G DATA Total Security [link]
- Kaspersky Antivirus [link]
- Kaspersky Internet Security [link]
- Kaspersky Total Security [link]
- McAfee Total Protection [link]
- Panda Basic Protection [link]
- Panda Advanced Protection[link]
- Panda Complete Protection [link]
- Quick Heal Total Security [link]
- Quick Heal Internet Security [link]
- Quick Heal Antivirus Pro [link]
- Trend Micro Maximum Security [link]
- Trend Micro Internet Security [link]
- Trend Micro Antivirus + Security [link]
- Vipre Advanced Security [link]
- ZoneAlarm Pro Antivirus [link]
14-day trials
Please let us know in the comments if we have missed a product.
Some notes: This article does not rate the antivirus programs linked in it. There may be free programs out there that are comparable to the listed antivirus products. The only problem with this method is that users need to install different antivirus software regularly. This not only means more work for the user but also the requirement to get used to new software products.
Many antivirus companies are running promotions every now and then that offer longer trial versions for download. This will obviously help tremendously.
Now You: Any thoughts or ideas?
Interesting, but not always feasible and not suitable for every systems.
You used to be able to set your computer clock back to extend the 30 days period. I suppose that probably doesn’t work anymore. :)
I guess a free antivirus SW (my choice is avira), a well maintained OS with only the necessary services running, PC placed behind a NAT router, and some precaution of opening email attachments (from strangers or spam-like mails from your buddies) or deleting them without even opening the mail might keep you safe* even without reinstalling big AV packages every 3 months.
*Compared to the real threat. This is my home PC without any critical stuff on it. Photos and music backed up. If it is a business environment I guess it’s safer to invest in security.
I second the free Avira. In terms of detection rates for both known and in the wild it ranks as one of the top options there.
Add in it light use of resources and you really can’t justify paying for another solution.
Martin is there any way to reinstall the eset.I.e by uninstalling it and then after removing registry entries or something like this,reinstall the eset?wot do u say?
Fun idea. :) Seriously supposed advantage of commercial solutions over free ones (the one I losing faith in fast) would not be worth additional hassle.
A side effect: You might be able to catch a virus after 30 days or 90 days that the previous AV missed ;)
I Prefer Avira free: for me simply the best!
Avast.com is free for home users. Works very well. It just requires an email registration to activate. You get an 18 month license that is free to renew.
There are abundant free (and good) alternatives to these and most paid vendors periodically offer longer free licenses (I’m happily using a 1 year PCTools license). Within the last 30 days or so, I’ve seen 1 year Dr. Web, and 1 year Fortinet, and others.
Agnitum Outpost has a 30 days deadline .
BTW Nice post!
This is interesting, but think about the leftovers in your registry and the number of unused drivers that some of them left behind after you uninstall one anti-virus. This will later cause various system problems.
I think using a good free anti-virus solution like Avira personal edition, coupled with spybot search and destroy, etc is more feasible option.
or, Install Avira – one of the bests anti-virus with fully functional free version.
If you want a commercial one, pay for it !
Avira Premium Security Suite 3 months exclusively for Ubisoft — https://license.avira.com/en/promotion-hylm9fbv7chaxs8zbl83
I use eEye Blink free edition which has everything I need (AV, firewall, etc.) and wouldn’t waste time with Norton or others as they slow down your PC.
Hmm, interesting. But home users can easily do with the free ones available.
nice idea but you can use long time free nod32 by register with different email id.try it
I want to download free (without paying money) antivirus from the internet available free without paying ones, please tell me the steps?
Marly, you can use Avast http://www.avast.com/index or AVG http://free.avg.com/de-en/homepage for free, they are both ok.
You were very help full.
Still i need a free antivirus program.
ThankYou
chad
you can use runasdate software to run antivirus program so it will keep the software date always with in trial period but computer date as normal. try it