Emsisoft is a powerful antivirus program with cutting-edge malware detection — the anti-malware engine is strong enough to stand up to viruses, trojans, and spyware, as well as newer threats like ransomware and rootkits. I tested Emsisoft with a wide range of test malware, and it blocked every malware file before it was able to make an impact on my devices. While the anti-malware engine is completely secure, Emsisoft doesn’t include some of the latest security tools that you might need to keep your devices 100% safe. For example, Emsisoft doesn’t include features like a VPN, password manager, parental controls, and identity theft protections which are included in premium antivirus suites like Norton 360 .

Does Emsisoft have a free plan?

Emsisoft does offer a free antivirus scanner, but that’s it. The free scanner isn’t advertised on their site, but after the 30-day free trial of Anti-Malware Home , the free scanner stays on your computer if you decide not to purchase the full Emsisoft package. If you just need to check your device for viruses, it’s a pretty useful tool. But it doesn’t include web protections, mobile support, the Behavior Blocker tool, the Emergency Kit, or the remote management features which make Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home a really good product. Competitors like Avira offer more full-featured free antivirus packages with a variety of useful features, but Emsisoft’s free scanner is still a decent choice.

Is Emsisoft Mac or iOS compatible?

Unfortunately, no. Emsisoft only works for Windows and Android devices — which makes sense, because those two operating systems account for the vast majority of devices worldwide. But it’s still frustrating, especially for people who use both Windows and Mac devices. There are some really good options out there for Apple-specific internet security tools, but Emsisoft is not one of them.

Will Emsisoft slow down my computer?

Any antivirus product will cause a little bit of system slowdown, especially during scanning. This is because the software has to assess every single file and program on your system, checking it against a malware database and analyzing for suspicious behavior. However, Emsisoft’s scanning engine is partially designed by Bitdefender , which is one of the least CPU-intensive antivirus scanners on the market today. I was able to use photo editing programs on my computer and surf the internet with zero slowdown while running a full system scan, which is better than some competitors like McAfee . Emsisoft also has lots of options for notifications and scheduling scans which can help you to keep scans and notifications from clogging up your system during busy hours. Plus, Emsisoft includes a Quiet Mode, which suspends scans and notifications whenever a program enters full screen mode. You can also toggle Quiet Mode on whenever you need your computer to run at peak performance. Any antivirus will slow down your computer a little, but if you schedule scans, use quiet mode, and clean up your device regularly, it shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, learning how to use an antivirus program effectively is a lot easier than dealing with a malware infection that wipes all of your data and crashes your computer.