Is Avast! No Longer Free?

[anaxcrosswords]

I've been using Avast! for a long time, but I've now started getting a regular popup (every couple of hours) prompting me to renew, but there is no free option. It's £20 for a year, £30 for 3 years (or something like that!).
To be honest I really don't mind paying but I'd prefer not to if I still can. Anyone here know if that's still an option?

[society]

http://www.avast.com/en-us/index

[ST24]

It could be that because you've been using it for a while they'd like you to try a paid version.
If you're short of money you could try a different free antivirus - there's a few of them available. AVG is good.
If you have problems uninstalling Avast (or any other program) try the free version of Revo Uninstaller.

[Wak]

I've been using the FREE Avast for about 12 years now and am still using it today. It usually updates about twice per day so it must still be working OK

[anaxcrosswords]

Just an update on this. I wasn't really reading the popup message thoroughly enough. My free protection is still there. What I'm being nagged for is a data protection add-on which, tbh, I don't need as I never do stupid stuff like opening suspicious emails/links or 'liking' stuff on FB.
It looks I'm just going to keep getting nagged to buy a product I don't need. Annoying, but there you go.

[deggers316]

unload the avast you've got and download the free version shown in "societies" answer
problem solved

[Giggsie]

lot of users have this one........and it's free.......http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/security-essentials-download

[Giggsie]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/security-essentials-download

[wildwood]

//It looks I'm just going to keep getting nagged to buy a product I don't need. Annoying, but there you go.//

Well, it is a very good free program. To reject their occasional pro version advertising is a small price to pay.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Go into settings and in the left hand menu choose silent/gaming mode. Make sure both boxes are ticked and save and exit.
Your popups will stop.

[society]

When reinstalling Avast pay close attention to any box you might be encouraged to check - one might be an option for not wanting the paid version of Avast. Refrain from checking that box.

I used to have free-Avast but now I stick with Microsoft Security Essentials.

[anaxcrosswords]

Mojo, that's brilliant! Thank you.
Thanks all for your suggestions.

[anaxcrosswords]

Ha! Except it doesn't work (not your fault Mojo). I've checked the silent/gaming mode box which actually says no popups will appear, but they do.

[galeck1947]

The latest version of AVAST has a bug in it that is doing it, AVAST are aware of this and are working on a fix for it as soon as it can