Trend Micro HouseCall review

HouseCall is Trend Micro's free on-demand scanner, and its main selling point is that it plays nicely with whatever you already run. Trend Micro's FAQ says you do not need to remove your antivirus first, which makes it a low-risk second opinion. It detects and cleans viruses, worms, malware and spyware, and Trend Micro says it also looks for malicious software hidden outside of files. You choose a quick scan of critical system files, a full system scan or a custom scan, and the report shows what threats targeted the device. Expect the full scan to be slow: Trend Micro says it can take from a few minutes to several hours depending on drive size and connection speed. After a detection the company recommends installing one of its paid antivirus products. It is a solid free backup scanner, but Malwarebytes, ESET and Emsisoft document more cleanup detail.

Who it is for

People who want a free second scan that runs next to the antivirus they already have.

Price

Free.

It is a free scanner that detects and cleans viruses, worms, malware, spyware, and other malicious threats that can harm computers and laptops.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Detects and cleans viruses, worms, malware and spyware
• Quick, full or custom scans
• Detailed report of the threats found
• Works alongside existing antivirus programs
• Checks for malicious software hidden outside of files

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free with no need to remove your current antivirus
• Strength: Choice of quick, full or custom scan
• Strength: Clear report of what targeted the device
• Weakness: Full scans can take several hours
• Weakness: No real-time protection
• Weakness: Trend Micro pushes its paid antivirus after a detection

Key facts

• Scan types: Quick, full, custom
• Works with other antivirus: Yes
• Scan time: A few minutes to several hours
• Price: Free

Where it ranks

Trend Micro HouseCall is No. 8 in our Best Malware Removal Tools verdict.