Panda Free Antivirus Review 2025: Lightweight Security with Built-in VPN

Panda Free Antivirus is a lightweight cloud-based antivirus solution from the Spanish company Panda Security. Known for its minimal system impact and intuitive interface, this free antivirus stands out in 2025 by offering a built-in VPN and unique recovery tools-an appealing choice for Windows users seeking effective protection without slowing down their PC.

This software is featured in our top 7 best free antivirus programs for Windows in 2025.

Main Features

• Developer: Panda Security (Spain)
• Protection Level: High, but slightly behind leaders like Kaspersky and Bitdefender
• Interface: Modern, minimalist, available in multiple languages
• Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Android
• Updates: Real-time, cloud-based database

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Cloud technology ensures minimal PC resource usage
• Free VPN included (150 MB/day)
• Gaming mode disables notifications during play
• Rescue USB tool creates a bootable drive for system recovery
• Completely free with an easy-to-use interface

Cons

• Protection level is slightly lower compared to top competitors
• VPN is limited (daily quota, no country selection)
• Lacks advanced features like parental controls and firewall
• Not officially available for download in some regions (VPN required)

Performance and System Impact

The main advantage of Panda Free Antivirus is its lightweight nature. Thanks to cloud-based threat processing, CPU and memory usage remain minimal, making it an excellent option for older or less powerful PCs. During daily use, the program is barely noticeable.

Extra Features

• VPN (150 MB/day) powered by Hotspot Shield
• Gaming Mode - disables notifications while gaming or watching movies
• Rescue USB - creates an emergency bootable flash drive
• Basic web protection and anti-spyware modules

Who Is It For?

• Owners of older or low-powered computers
• Gamers (thanks to the dedicated gaming mode)
• Anyone looking for simple, lightweight protection with a bonus VPN

Comparison with Competitors

• Lighter than Avast and AVG, but with fewer features
• Protection level is below Kaspersky Free and Bitdefender Free, but Panda offers VPN out of the box
• Panda's VPN is more generous than Avira Free (150 MB/day vs. 500 MB/month)

Conclusion

Panda Free Antivirus is a solid choice for those seeking a lightweight, free antivirus with minimal impact on system performance. It's ideal for gamers and users with older PCs, while the integrated VPN and Rescue USB add extra value at no cost.

Compare Panda with other top free antiviruses for Windows in our 2025 ranking