AV-C is an independent group that uses multiple tests throughout the year to evaluate many aspects of AV solutions, including both free and paid products, and standalone and security suites.
They recently released a summary of their 2015 tests of some 21 popular products, including awards given and a very comprehensive review of each product. You can access their results (in pdf format) here:
www.av-comparatives.org/summary-reports
Comments:
- The only free AV to be awarded a "Top Rated Product" was avast free (5 Advanced+, 1 Advanced, 1 Standard)
- Panda free AV was awarded at least an "Advanced" ward in the 7 tests it participated in ( 1 Advanced+, 6 Advanced)
- Windows Defender Free (aka MSE) got the highest marks for the fewest false positives.
- Emsisoft Anti-Malware (the paid product) was also a "Top Rated Product". I mention this only because I've used the free version for years, as an on-demand scanner. (Presumably some of the goodness of the paid version rubs off).
- For those contemplating which security solution to choose, this is a good read.