They scan your system for malicious files and remove them.
Standalone tools are great as second opinions alongside existing antivirus apps.
We reviewed many options and picked the best free virus removal tools available.
Olivier Le Moal / Getty Images
Best for Windows: Microsoft’s MSRT
Works for Windows 7-10 on 32- and 64-bit systems.
Completely free; requires no registration.
Integrated version runs automatically with Windows updates.
Only targets ‘prevalent malware families.’
Does not appear in the Windows Start menu or as a desktop icon.
Microsoft Safety Scannerworks similarly; it works on Windows 11 through Windows 7, plus several Windows Server editions.
If you suspect an infection, it’s advisable to run both tools.
Best for Safe Mode Scans: Norton Power Eraser
Fast scans and removals.
Looks for viruses and Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPS).
Ability to undo past removals.
Can find false positives.
No options for macOS.
Just use caution when agreeing to Norton’s recommendations to remove programs.
If it’s not, you could try leaving it on your system.
it’s possible for you to always come back and remove it later.
Best For Ease of Use: Bitdefender
Easy to use.
Fast download and install.
Easy on system resources.
Basic malware removal is free, but persistent infections may require a pricey subscription.
Bitdefender is one of the best-known and highest-rated names in antivirus protection.
Once Bitdefender has detected a virus, it is quarantined and removed without much problem.
Unless it happens to be a persistent (aka recurring) virus infection.
Don’t let that scare you away, though.
Best Virus Removal Tool for Mac Users: Sophos Home
Mac or Windows versions available.
Automatic quarantine and removal of malware.
The nice thing about Sophos Home is that it works very well on Mac computers.
And since it was based on enterprise antivirus applications, it’s mostly effective at finding and removing malware.
Best for Removing Android Viruses: Avast
Excellent AV Test scores.
High ratings with Android users.
Easy to use and effective.
Not the best customer service.
Misleading ‘features’ that are actually ads to purchase pro version.
Avast is a top-of-the-lineantivirus software for Androidand other devices.
It is a full antivirus system, but as part of that system, it has virus removal capabilities.
And it performs very well, as is proven by independent lab testing through AV-TEST and others.
However, this is a full antivirus tool, so you’ll need to install it on your machine.
