7 Best Antivirus 2026: AV-TEST Verified (From $20/yr)

Every 39 seconds, a cyberattack occurs somewhere in the world. New malware variants appear at a rate of 560,000 per day. Your computer, your data, and your identity sit squarely in the crosshairs of hackers, ransomware operators, and identity thieves who grow more sophisticated by the month.

Yet not all antivirus software rises to meet these threats equally. Some fail to detect modern malware. Others drain your system resources or badger you with upsells. A few have been caught selling user data or, in one notable case, been banned by governments over security concerns.

We analyzed results from independent testing labs AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, reviewed pricing structures, and evaluated feature sets across the major antivirus providers. Here are the seven options worth considering in 2025, along with one you should probably avoid.

Quick verdict: Bitdefender delivers the best combination of protection and value for most users. Norton 360 wins for those who want comprehensive identity protection bundled in. Avast remains the best free option for basic protection.

Quick Comparison: Top Antivirus Software 2025

Detailed Antivirus Reviews

Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender has earned its reputation as the antivirus to beat. In AV-TEST’s August 2025 evaluation, it achieved perfect 6/6 scores across all three categories: protection, performance, and usability. AV-Comparatives’ February-May 2025 Real World Protection Test ranked it first among all tested products with a 99.8% protection rate.

The technical implementation justifies those scores. Bitdefender uses a cloud-based scanning engine that combines traditional signature detection with machine learning. This approach catches both known malware and zero-day threats while keeping resource usage low. During full system scans, you can continue working without noticeable slowdown.

Beyond core antivirus, Total Security includes a robust feature set. SafePay provides a secure browser environment for online banking and shopping, complete with a virtual keyboard to defeat keyloggers. The ransomware remediation feature monitors for suspicious encryption activity and can restore files from backup if an attack succeeds. Parental controls, webcam protection, and a file shredder round out the package.

The included VPN works well but comes with a significant limitation: 200MB daily data cap. That’s enough for occasional secure browsing on public WiFi, but nowhere near sufficient for regular use. Removing the cap requires upgrading to Premium Security or purchasing VPN access separately.

The $19.99 introductory price jumps to $89.99 on renewal (see our tips on avoiding renewal traps below). Even at full renewal price, Bitdefender undercuts Norton while matching its protection capabilities.

Bottom line: Bitdefender offers the best protection-to-price ratio in the market. The combination of top-tier detection rates, minimal performance impact, and comprehensive features makes it our top recommendation for most users.

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Norton 360 Deluxe

Norton 360 has evolved from a simple antivirus into a comprehensive security suite. The Deluxe tier bundles malware protection with features that address modern digital threats: identity monitoring, unlimited VPN, password management, and cloud backup.

Protection performance remains among the industry’s best. Norton detected 100% of zero-day malware attacks in AV-TEST’s evaluations, with a 99.96% protection rate in AV-Comparatives’ real-world testing. The engine runs efficiently too, completing full system scans in approximately 10 minutes in our testing.

The bundled VPN sets Norton apart from Bitdefender and most competitors. Rather than imposing daily data caps, Norton provides unlimited VPN access across all covered devices. The VPN includes 2,000+ servers in 29 countries, 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch (Windows and Android), and a verified no-logs policy.

Dark web monitoring scans underground marketplaces and data breach databases for your personal information. When your email, phone number, or financial data appears in a breach, Norton alerts you promptly. The 100% Virus Protection Promise adds peace of mind: if Norton fails to remove malware and their support team can’t fix it, you get a refund.

The main drawback is price—$49.99 first year, $119.99 on renewal. You’re paying for the identity protection features, so if you don’t need dark web monitoring or already have a VPN, the premium may not be justified.

Bottom line: Norton 360 Deluxe makes sense for users who want a single subscription covering antivirus, VPN, and basic identity monitoring. The bundled features provide good value compared to buying each separately.

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McAfee Total Protection

McAfee positions itself as the family security solution, and its unlimited device policy supports that claim. The Premium plan covers every device in your household, from laptops to smartphones to tablets, under a single subscription. For families with many devices, this alone can justify choosing McAfee over per-device competitors.

Protection capabilities hold up to scrutiny. McAfee’s scanner identified 100% of malware samples in independent testing, with a 99.7% real-time protection rate. The False Positive rate remains low, meaning McAfee rarely flags legitimate files as threats.

The identity protection suite goes beyond basic monitoring. Higher-tier plans include credit monitoring, bank and credit card transaction alerts, Social Security number monitoring, and up to $2 million in identity theft coverage. The Personal Data Cleanup feature finds and helps remove your information from data broker sites.

Performance represents McAfee’s weakness. Full system scans take significantly longer than competitors, sometimes exceeding an hour. During scans, system slowdown is noticeable. Streaming video or gaming becomes impractical while a scan runs. The company has improved optimization in recent versions, but McAfee still trails Bitdefender and Norton in this area.

The interface can feel pushy. McAfee frequently prompts you to enable additional features, upgrade your plan, or consider add-ons. This aggressive approach to upselling detracts from the user experience, even if the core protection works well.

Bottom line: McAfee makes sense for households with many devices, especially those interested in the identity protection features. Just expect longer scan times and occasional promotional messages.

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TotalAV

TotalAV has emerged as a legitimate competitor despite being newer to the market than established names. AV-TEST awarded it a 5.5/6 protection score, with 100% detection of widespread malware and strong performance against zero-day threats. The 99.6% detection rate in independent testing places it among the top tier.

The interface prioritizes simplicity. Where Norton and Bitdefender pack their dashboards with options, TotalAV presents a clean layout that non-technical users can navigate easily. Quick scans complete in under five minutes; full scans take 20-30 minutes. CPU usage during scans averages around 34%, leaving plenty of resources for other tasks.

The Internet Security plan includes a VPN with unlimited data, making it one of the better value propositions in the market. The Total Security tier adds a password manager (Total Password) for $10 more. Both tiers include WebShield browser protection, which blocks phishing sites and malicious downloads.

TotalAV’s limitations become apparent when compared to more established competitors. There’s no behavior-based detection to catch unknown malware through suspicious activity patterns. No firewall. No parental controls. No webcam or microphone protection. These omissions matter less for basic home use but leave power users wanting more.

Note the renewal price: that $29 first-year price balloons to $129 on renewal. See our renewal pricing tips below for mitigation strategies.

Bottom line: TotalAV offers solid protection in a user-friendly package. It’s particularly well-suited to users who find traditional antivirus interfaces overwhelming and don’t need advanced features like parental controls.

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Malwarebytes Premium

Malwarebytes occupies a unique position in the antivirus market. Rather than competing directly with comprehensive suites like Norton or Bitdefender, it excels as a specialized tool for malware removal and as a second layer of protection.

The detection story is mixed. MRG Effitas awarded Malwarebytes Product of the Year 2025, noting 100% detection rates across malware, ransomware, and banking protection categories in their testing. However, SE Labs’ Q3 2024 report showed a lower 88% detection accuracy, and independent testing by Cybernews found only 57% of test samples detected. This variability suggests Malwarebytes performs well against known threats but may miss newer or less common malware.

Where Malwarebytes shines is remediation. If your system is already infected, Malwarebytes excels at finding and removing the malware. The scanning engine identifies threats that other antivirus programs miss, particularly adware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and browser hijackers. Many security professionals keep Malwarebytes on hand specifically for cleanup operations.

The Browser Guard extension deserves mention. Available for Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox, it blocks malicious websites, phishing attempts, trackers, and pop-up ads. In testing, it caught more phishing pages than browsers’ built-in protections.

Resource usage is minimal. Malwarebytes runs quietly in the background with negligible CPU impact. You won’t notice it’s there until it catches something.

The feature set is sparse compared to price. At $44.99 for a single device, you get anti-malware and anti-phishing. No firewall. No password manager. No VPN in the base plan. Competitors offer more for less. Malwarebytes Plus adds a VPN for additional cost.

Bottom line: Malwarebytes works best as a complement to your primary antivirus or as a tool for cleaning infected systems. It’s not recommended as your only protection layer, but it adds value when paired with Windows Defender or another antivirus.

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Avast Free Antivirus

Avast Free Antivirus proves that effective protection doesn’t require a paid subscription. In AV-Comparatives’ February-May 2025 Real World Protection Test, Avast blocked 421 out of 423 test cases for a 99.5% protection rate. AV-TEST awarded perfect 6/6 scores across protection, performance, and usability.

Unlike many free antivirus programs, Avast includes full web protection. The browser extension blocks phishing sites and malicious downloads across all major browsers. This feature alone makes Avast more useful than competitors who reserve web protection for paid tiers.

Additional features exceed free tier expectations. The WiFi network scanner identifies vulnerabilities in your home network. Gaming mode suppresses notifications and reduces background activity during fullscreen applications. The password manager, while basic, stores and auto-fills credentials securely.

Because Avast doesn’t require an account, you can install it on unlimited devices. This makes it particularly useful for protecting family members’ computers without managing multiple subscriptions.

The elephant in the room is Avast’s history. In 2020, investigations revealed that Avast’s subsidiary Jumpshot was collecting and selling user browsing data. Avast shut down Jumpshot and revised its privacy practices, but the incident damaged trust. The company now operates under different ownership (merged with Norton LifeLock in 2022), and current privacy policies appear standard, but some users remain wary.

The interface frequently prompts you to upgrade to paid tiers. These notifications aren’t malicious, but they can feel like nagging. Free users should expect occasional reminders that premium features exist.

Bottom line: Avast Free provides legitimate protection that rivals paid options. It’s the best choice for users who genuinely can’t afford a subscription. Those with privacy concerns may prefer Windows Defender as an alternative free option.

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A Note on Kaspersky

Kaspersky historically ranked among the best antivirus programs for malware detection. However, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security prohibited Kaspersky from operating in the United States, citing concerns about the company’s ties to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and the potential for the Russian government to compel cooperation in malicious activities.

Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security has also recommended replacing Kaspersky software. The UK, Canada, and Italy have imposed various restrictions.

For users outside affected jurisdictions, Kaspersky’s technical capabilities remain strong. But the geopolitical situation and lack of US updates make it unsuitable for recommendation here.

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How We Evaluated

Our rankings draw from multiple sources to avoid the limitations of any single testing methodology:

Independent lab results from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives form the foundation. AV-TEST evaluates products monthly, scoring protection (0-6), performance (0-6), and usability (0-6). Products scoring 17.5 or higher earn their “TOP PRODUCT” designation. AV-Comparatives conducts real-world protection tests using hundreds of live malware samples, measuring both detection rates and false positives.

Feature analysis compared what each product includes at each price tier. We weighted features based on practical value for home users: antivirus detection, web protection, and VPN matter more than niche tools most users ignore.

Pricing research examined both introductory and renewal rates. Many antivirus products advertise aggressive first-year discounts before tripling the price on renewal. We note both prices to give an accurate cost picture.

User experience evaluation considered installation process, interface clarity, notification frequency, and customer support quality. Products that pester users with constant upselling were marked down.

We did not accept payment, free subscriptions, or preferential treatment from any antivirus provider.

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What to Consider When Choosing Antivirus Software

Detection Rates Matter, But Context Is Key

A 99.5% detection rate sounds impressive until you realize it means 1 in 200 malware samples gets through. With 560,000 new malware variants appearing daily, even tiny gaps in protection create real risk. Prioritize products that consistently score 99%+ in independent testing.

However, don’t obsess over small differences. The gap between 99.5% and 99.8% matters less than consistent performance over time. Products that score well across multiple testing periods and methodologies prove more reliable than one-time high scorers.

System Performance Impact

Antivirus software that slows your computer defeats its purpose. Modern products should run unobtrusively in the background, with scans completing quickly and minimal CPU impact during normal use. Products using cloud-based scanning (like Bitdefender) typically perform better than those doing everything locally.

Free vs. Paid: What You Actually Get

Free antivirus programs provide basic protection that exceeds running nothing at all. For users on tight budgets, Avast Free or Windows Defender offer legitimate security. However, paid tiers typically add:

• Ransomware protection and remediation
• Phishing and web threat blocking
• Firewall and network monitoring
• VPN access
• Password management
• Identity monitoring
• Customer support

If you handle sensitive data, bank online, or want peace of mind, paid protection provides meaningful benefits.

Renewal Pricing Traps

Nearly every antivirus vendor uses aggressive introductory pricing followed by steep renewals. Expect your $30 first-year subscription to cost $80-130 on renewal. Strategies to mitigate this:

• Set calendar reminders before renewal dates
• Cancel before renewal and look for “win-back” offers
• Consider multi-year plans that lock in lower rates
• Compare renewal prices when choosing initially

Platform Coverage

Most users need protection across Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. Verify that your chosen antivirus supports all platforms you use. Also check device limits. Some products cover 1 device while others allow 5, 10, or unlimited devices under a single subscription.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Windows Defender good enough in 2025?

Windows Defender (now called Microsoft Defender) has improved dramatically and provides solid basic protection. AV-TEST gives it perfect scores for protection. However, it lacks advanced features found in paid solutions: no VPN, no password manager, limited identity protection, and basic ransomware defense. For casual users who practice safe browsing habits, Defender may suffice. For users who want comprehensive protection or regularly download files, a dedicated antivirus adds meaningful security.

Do I need antivirus on Mac?

Yes. While Macs face fewer malware threats than Windows PCs, they're not immune. Malware targeting macOS has increased significantly in recent years. Adware, phishing attacks, and browser hijackers affect Mac users regularly. Most major antivirus products now offer Mac versions with similar protection levels to their Windows counterparts.

Can I run two antivirus programs at once?

Running two real-time antivirus programs simultaneously causes conflicts. They compete for system resources, flag each other as threats, and can cause system instability. However, Malwarebytes is specifically designed to run alongside other antivirus software as a second-opinion scanner. You can also run on-demand scanners (like the free version of Malwarebytes) for periodic checkups without conflict.

How often should I run antivirus scans?

With real-time protection enabled, full system scans are less critical than they once were. Most security experts recommend a weekly quick scan and monthly full scan. Schedule scans during times you're not actively using your computer. Real-time protection handles most threats automatically; scheduled scans catch anything that might have slipped through.

What's the difference between antivirus and internet security suites?

Antivirus software focuses on detecting and removing malware. Internet security suites bundle antivirus with additional tools: firewalls, VPNs, password managers, parental controls, and identity monitoring. For most home users, an internet security suite provides better value than buying these tools separately. Basic antivirus alone may suffice for single-purpose computers or very budget-conscious users.

Do free antivirus programs sell my data?

Some have. Avast's subsidiary was caught selling browsing data in 2020, leading to significant backlash and policy changes. Free products must monetize somehow, whether through upselling paid features, displaying ads, or collecting data. Windows Defender is funded by Microsoft's broader business model and doesn't rely on data collection. If privacy is paramount, paid antivirus or Windows Defender present lower risk than free third-party options.

Why was Kaspersky banned in the US?

The US Department of Commerce banned Kaspersky in September 2024 due to national security concerns. The government cited Kaspersky's potential ties to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and the risk that the Russian government could compel the company to access sensitive user data or deploy malware through software updates. Kaspersky disputes these claims but can no longer operate or provide updates in the United States.

Is antivirus software worth the cost?

For most users, yes. The average cost of recovering from a malware infection exceeds $500 when accounting for time, potential data loss, and professional remediation. Identity theft costs victims an average of $1,000 and countless hours. A $40-80/year subscription that prevents even one incident pays for itself many times over. That said, free options like Windows Defender or Avast provide legitimate protection for budget-constrained users.

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Final Verdict: Which Antivirus Should You Choose?

Bitdefender Total Security earns our top recommendation for most users. It leads independent testing benchmarks while maintaining light system impact. The feature set covers everything most homes need, and pricing remains reasonable even after the first-year discount expires.

Norton 360 Deluxe wins for users who want antivirus and identity protection in one package. The unlimited VPN, dark web monitoring, and cloud backup add genuine value. You’re paying more, but you’re getting more.

McAfee Total Protection makes sense for large households. The unlimited device policy covers every family member under one subscription. Just set expectations for longer scan times.

TotalAV suits users who want effective protection without complexity. The clean interface and fast scans appeal to those who find traditional antivirus software overwhelming.

Malwarebytes works best as a second-layer scanner or for cleaning infected systems. It’s not recommended as your only protection, but it adds value alongside Windows Defender.

Avast Free remains the best option for users who genuinely cannot afford a subscription. The protection rivals paid alternatives, though privacy-conscious users may prefer Windows Defender instead.

Whichever option you choose, running any reputable antivirus provides dramatically better protection than running none. The differences between top-tier products matter less than the gap between protected and unprotected. Pick one, keep it updated, and practice safe browsing habits.