Antivirus companies require a lot of manpower, time and resources for their software to keep up with the latest malware created by the bad guys who are always trying to be a step ahead. This is why a large proportion of antivirus software packages are subscription based that require an annual renewal payment in order to continue downloading the latest definition and engine updates. Fortunately there are quite a number of reputable and popular antivirus companies such as AVG, Avast, Avira, Ad-Aware, ZoneAlarm etc, that offers a freeware version of their antivirus software for computer users to install and protect their computer from malware.
Although the free antivirus products are absolutely free to use, most of the time there is a catch where you will most likely find some features that provide additional protection being disabled. Other than that, the word “free” does not necessarily mean without limitations or restrictions. If you read the long and boring End User License Agreement (EULA) that is displayed during installation which most of us ignore and blindly click on the Agree button to continue the installation, it contains very important information to where you can install and use their free antivirus software. Most of the time a free antivirus is intended only for non-commercial, personal home use while academic institutions, business, commercial, corporate or government use is prohibited. You or your company can be heavily fined if it’s discovered you’re breaking the license agreement.
For your convenience, we’ve reviewed all of the free antivirus license agreements and compiled a list of those that can be used without restrictions. The URL to the official agreement and screenshot is also included as a proof to this research.
List of Free Antivirus Allowed for Commercial Use
1. Comodo Antivirus / Internet Security
Both Comodo Antivirus and Internet Security can be used for commercial and personal use. This license agreement is stated very clearly in their EULA document that can be downloaded from Comodo’s official website. Visit the link below, click on Comodo Security Solutions, Inc. tab and finally click on Comodo Internet Security or Comodo Antivirus EULA PDF document. Refer to point number 2.1 in the second page of the PDF file. Take note that they have specific license agreement for every version number. So make sure you check that the terms of use remains the same when you’ve upgraded to a newer version.
View Comodo EULA | Download Comodo Antivirus
2. Immunet
The free version of Immunet antivirus doesn’t have any restriction in usage at all. You can use it for both personal and commercial purposes at any place including office, servers, education facilities and etc. You can find this statement on ClamAV’s FAQ webpage question number 4. Both ClamAV and Immunet have been acquired by SourceFire which is why you’re seeing Immunet’s FAQ posted on ClamAV’s website.
View Immunet FAQ | Download Immunet
3. NANO Antivirus
NANO Antivirus can be used without any restrictions and this information is posted at their website in License Agreement page.
View NANO Antivirus License Agreement | Download NANO Antivirus
4. Microsoft Security Essentials (Partial)
Many people would have thought that Microsoft Security Essentials is free to use without any limitations as long as the Windows operating system is genuinely licensed but unfortunately their licensing terms say differently. According to the first point in the Microsoft Security Essentials license terms page that is posted on their website, you are only allowed to use the software on up to 10 computers if you operate a small business. MSE usage in Government or academic institutions is restricted.
View MSE License Terms | Download MSE
5. UnThreat Antivirus
UnThreat Antivirus EULA didn’t contain very clear terms of usage stating that their free antivirus can be used on commercial. We’ve contacted them using their official contact form asking them if their free antivirus can be used used for corporate, commercial or educational facilities. 5 days later we received a reply from them confirming that the “free version of UnThreat, may be used without any licensing fees”. Please see screenshot below for proof.
View UnThreat EULA | Download UnThreat Free Antivirus
List of Free Antivirus Allowed for Non-Profit Organizations
1. Avast!
Avast! free antivirus is strictly prohibited for commercial use but it is allowed for certain non-profit educational institution or non-commercial public library in the U.S.A. Check their EULA PDF file point number 2.
View Avast! EULA | Download Avast! Free
2. Panda Cloud Antivirus
The legal notice page only said that the free version cannot be used for commercial purposes or in corporate environments. However, if you go to the “For Business” page, you can see clearly that the Panda Cloud antivirus free edition is only free for home users and “non-profit organizations”.
Visit Panda Cloud Website | Download Panda Cloud
3. ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall
Any free version of ZoneAlarm products can be used for a not-for-profit charitable entity excluding government and educational institutions. You can find this information on their official end user license agreement page point number 2.1.
View ZoneAlarm EULA | Download ZoneAlarm Free AV
Unknown usage restrictions
- 1. FortiClient Lite – View EULA
- 2. Rising Antivirus 2011 – View EULA
- 3. ZenOK – View EULA
- 4. Roboscan – View EULA
We’ve also checked the end user license agreement for the free antivirus of Ad-Aware, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, Clearsight, Digital Defender, Kingsoft, Outpost Security Suite, PC Tools, Preventon, Returnil System Safe, UtilTool, Zillya! and they are all strictly for personal non-commercial home use only.
Rising Antivirus – at least the version I used – is USELESS. I tried it because it was the very last antivirus that would run on Windows 98. It won’t even detect the EICAR antivirus test file!
Very Informative.. Thanks for Sharing :)
thank you raymond for offline updates. i love you
thanks,raymond
Excellent article and perfectly timed! I needed to find some antivirus solutions that our IT group could recommend to other businesses in situations where they weren’t willing to pay for antivirus and this article was what I needed. Thank you!
So I also wonder if you could post an article about free anti-malware software that can be used commercially?
thank you !!! . good information. Very useful & informative post…
thank you for the useful info !
About MSE, it says small bussines can use it on up to 10 devices, and educational institutions are not allowed to use it. Now, in Widows 8, MSE is installed by default. As a school about to rool out Windows 8 to 300+ computers this year, where does that leave us? Do we really have to explicitly remove MSE from our base installation image?
Also, as it is installed by default, neither the administrator or the end users are presented with a separate EULA for mse…
There’s a reason why it is called Windows Defender in Windows 8 although it is claimed to be the same as MSE.
I like Avast! and Panda Cloud only, and i’m using Avast! with Vietnamese interface
Hi Ray…
FANTASTIC article… it’s hard to get this kind of information compiled!! :)
Great stuff.
Just a question for you:
Do you know how are Microsoft Security Essentials restrictions with non-profit organizations? Or in another way, do you know if the 10 devices limit still apply or is it unrestricted on this condition?
Thanks for your help and congratulations on your GREAT WORK again! :)
Hi Fernando,
That’s a good question because it seems a bit grey as non-profit organization is not specifically mentioned in their EULA. I am not a lawyer so I can’t answer for that but I found a thread where a Microsoft Community Moderator (Kosh Vorlon) said that “Non-profit organizations (wherever located) just like any other business would be under the Small Business rules (#2) and subject to the restrictions in (#3).”
Thanks for the quick answer… I didn’t pay attention, but we also have this restriction:
“The software may not be used on devices owned by government or academic institutions.”
Here in Portugal, Non-Profit organizations are somehow related to the government… seems like I’ll stick to Comodo AV! :)
Many thanks!! :)
Thanks for this useful & informative post… God bless..
Raymond!
I am very glad (and the rest of your fan base) to see that you are posting again.
Hope you and the family are doing well.
Indeed, come Monday I am going to send this link to the IT boss of my not-for-profit group.
I am sure that he will be more than delighted to receive the listing you have produced.
On behalf of my IT boss and my not-for-profit . . . I would like to give, you, Raymond – - A BIG Thank You from New York!
Raymond:
All software should be downloaded to “save”, and scanned with their anit virus software & malware software, before you even thing of installing the software. Then before you agree to the “EULA”, every one should have the free EULAyzer software that is free to download. Acts like your own personal lawyer and breaks down the “EULA”, in the software in simple terms, plus even shows you listed dangers that are embedded in the software like toolbars, third party usage, and adware. My advise is do not try and be your own lawyer, or just ignore the “EULA” agreement. I have noticed ever since the world wide economy turned down that respected software companies are installing all types of adware and toolbars that you may not want, or will cause damge to your computer.
Im tempted to wonder why a corporate would use a freeware antivirus solution it sounds like scrimping on security locks and getting them from Walmart,
Not all corporate and non-profit organization can afford to pay for enterprise products that cost a lot of money.
Thanks Raymond! Not only is this posting handy for businesses looking for a free antivirus but also for your everyday pc user. Your listing shows a/v’s that I wasn’t really aware of. So. I’ll be researching those mentioned and have a play with them on my test computer. Keep up the brilliant postings…
hi thanks for information.i m looking for this information because i want to run a internet club and need a free commercial antivirus.thanks
thanks, a good information. it helpfull
Thanx a lot Raymond
i know u heard this word over million times but My language doesn’t help me to thank u with other words..
Great post Ray. THANKS a lot
Interesting article as always… I’ll take it into consideration when I help my friend setup his little office next week. Thanks!
good post
Very well said Ray. I’ve been through the ordeal of suggesting Free antivirus solutions for corporate users and come to realize that there are no reliable free solutions that can be really suggested for enterprise usage.