Club Benefits
Antivirus software is imperative if you want to avoid the latest threats, from info-stealing malware or ransomware that locks up your computer unless you pay a fine. It works in the background, combating these risks and allowing you to go about your day as you normally would.
Some computers have built-in antivirus software, for example, Window's Microsoft Defender. While this is great for baseline protection, if you want something more comprehensive with more customization, that's where the best antivirus software comes in.
Based on our extensive testing, research and the results from third-party labs, Norton 360 Deluxe is our pick for the best antivirus software overall. It’s easy to use and provides effective malware protection without significantly impacting your computer’s performance. You also get plenty of extra features you’ll actually use.
However, there are plenty of other great antivirus providers too, and in this guide we'll take your through all the options. Whether you’re looking to secure a single device or ensure your entire household is protected from the latest threats, this is the best antivirus software you can get right now.
The best antivirus software you can buy today
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
The best antivirus software overall
Norton 360 Deluxe offers solid, real-time malware protection with plenty of scan options and little impact to performance. It also has more features than you can shake a stick at.
Norton's familiar interface highlights important and common functions, making them easy to find and easy to drill down to find more advanced features.
From a webcam blocker and warning for suspicious websites, to intrusion detection against botnets, brute force attacks, and file and print sharing vulnerabilities, this package has all the features you need to protect yourself while you're online. You'll also get a firewall, password manager, VPN, parental controls, and ransomware rollback.
These features do all come at a price, however, and that is literally a higher price. At $119.99 per year — after the first year, as Norton does offer some introductory prices that can lower this price for your first annual subscription — Norton 360 is one of the more expensive pieces of antivirus software on this list. It also only offers coverage for up to five devices. However, if these features are what you're after, then you might find it worth it. If you're just looking for an antivirus on the cheap, you might be better off going for Malwarebytes Plus.
Additionally, during our testing, we found that the features were a bit of a mixed bag, performance-wise. Some of them were mainly just alert-based rather than solution-focused, and therefore not as useful as they could be. For example, if you use its dark web scanner to see if your sensitive information has been leaked on there, you can’t automatically fix any issues unless you purchase the Privacy Monitor Assistant add-on for $109.99 a year (you could still fix it manually yourself for free, though).
As well as this, Norton 360 does not include a file shredder or file encryption. If these are absolute musts, then you might want to go for McAfee+ Premium.
When it comes to scanning options, Norton 360 Deluxe includes a quick scan, a full scan, or a pre-boot deep scan, all of which ran very fast and none of which impacted overall performance.
Norton 360 Deluxe’s antivirus protection scoring is overall fairly excellent in independent lab testing where they’ve consistently ranked in the top tiers. For example, in AV-Comparatives' December 2025 tests, Norton 360 Deluxe achieved a protection rate score of 100%. It did have a slightly higher false positive rate than that of Bitdefender Total Security and McAfee+ Ultimate, however, its score was the same as Avast Premium Security.
- Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review
The best antivirus software for features
If you're looking for a straightforward antivirus, look no further than Bitdefender Total Security. It provides great value in terms of protection and extra features, has little discernible impact on performance, and has a straightforward interface that helps you find what you need without any fuss.
It's a little cheaper than Norton 360, with the first year running at $59.99, although the subscription fees rising to $109.99 afterwards. This price includes excellent, real-time antivirus protection as well as features like a free VPN (although it is limited to 200 MB of data per day), a firewall, an anti-spam feature, a secure browser, phishing, and webcam protections.
During testing, we found the included features were all useful, particularly the webcam and microphone privacy feature that blocks unauthorized access, the optimization app that helps speed up your PC by removing unnecessary files, the data protection utility that securely deletes files, and the Safepay browser that protects financial transactions.
Bitdefender Total Security has a range of scans available, including quick or full system scans, as well as custom scans for single files or folders. It's exceptional at isolating files, protecting you from ransomware, and blocking infections before they occur. In our testing, the quick scans took only a few minutes while a full scan of 1.5M files took 30 minutes, making it faster than Norton 360 Deluxe.
During independent testing, Bitdefender Total Security performed exceptionally well, achieving an antivirus protection rate of 99.1% in AV-Comparatives' tests published in December 2025. While this is slightly lower than both McAfee+ Ultimate and Norton 360 Deluxe, it is by between 0.5-0.9%. Additionally, its false positive rate was lower than that of Malwarebytes Plus, Norton 360 Deluxe, and Avast Premium Security.
The software has built-in features that will learn your computer’s file structure, which should improve scan times as well. The Advanced Threat Detection feature is a more proactive scanning feature that monitors for suspicious activity in real-time in order to be able to intercept threats before infections occur. Plus, there’s a Ransomware Remediation feature that blocks intrusive software from infecting sensitive files.
During our testing, we found the interface clear and efficient to use — it even has a customizable dashboard where your most-used utilities can be added (and ones you don’t use, removed). It also includes a VPN map, so you can see where you're virtually connected to.
One of the downsides is the fact that the VPN is limited to just 200 MB per day. With a limit like this, you're unlikely to be able to do any high-bandwidth activities while connected, like streaming movies or TV, or gaming. If you want an antivirus with an unlimited VPN, consider McAfee+ Premium.
Additionally, the password manager included with your subscription is a 30-day free trial version, which is not particularly useful. If you want to continue using the password manager after these 30 days, you'll need to pay $19.99 for an annual subscription. Not the highest price, but not nothing either.
- Read our full Bitdefender Total Security review
The best antivirus software for families
McAfee+ Ultimate is a welcome security package if you have many devices to protect, a big household, and a lot of family members. It does everything you’d want to protect your PC, Mac, or smartphone, and the package doesn’t limit how many devices you can use with your account.
In addition to an extremely powerful antivirus solution, you get features that help protect you (and your family) during your online activities as well. Among the many included features that come with McAfee+ Ultimate is a VPN (with no restrictions to a set file transfer limit), full access to a password manager, identity monitoring, a social media monitoring tool, a text scam detector, and more.
During testing, there were no performance problems during scanning. A full scan of 926K files took 35 minutes, which is the same time as Norton 360 Deluxe, although slightly slower than Bitdefender Total Security. McAfee+ Ultimate also offers options for a quick scan and a five-minute scan if you want to speed things up a little.
Some of the features offered, however, are available in Windows as free tools, like a file shredder and a clean up tool that removes temporary files.
McAfee+ Ultimate's pricing starts out pretty reasonable, usually around $49.99. However, you should keep in mind that after the first year, this price jumps up quite significantly to $149.99. So, if you don’t need many devices covered, it may not be worth the fee.
McAfee+ Ultimate offers an unlimited VPN, which is handy for those who want a VPN along with their antivirus. During testing, we found the unlimited VPN easy to configure and use. Additionally, its features, like the password manager, were easy to install and worked as expected.
McAfee+ Ultimate's antivirus protection scores in independent tests are outstanding overall, achieving a protection rate of 99.5% in AV-Comparatives' tests published in December 2025. Its false positives score was excellent too, on par with Bitdefender Total Security, and better than Norton 360 Deluxe, Malwarebytes Plus, and Avast Premium Security.
The main drawback here is the higher price point, although if you’re covering multiple devices, then you may find it worth it. Still, if you're after a budget antivirus, consider Malwarebytes Plus.
- Read our full McAfee+ Premium review
The best antivirus software for banking
A highly capable antivirus package that focuses on the most serious security threats, Avast Premium Security has a straightforward design intended for those who just want to run antivirus software.
It’s a lower priced security package that doesn’t throw in a lot of bloatware, which means it doesn’t come bundled with a lengthy list of features, but does include some security add-on’s that are helpful specifically for banking safely.
At $79.99 a year, Avast Premium Security is one of the cheapest antivirus options on this list. However, this also means it lacks some of the features available with other antivirus programs. Most notably, it doesn’t come with a VPN or a password manager. If you want these features, consider checking out McAfee+ Ultimate or Malwarebytes Plus.
However, it does include features such as a webcam blocker, a data shield for sensitive documents, a data shredder, an Email Guardian tool, as well as protection against DNS hijacking and remote desktop exploits.
It also includes a banking mode which allows you to conduct financial transactions in a browser that runs on top of Windows for added protection. This is great for added peace of mind during the sensitive transactions. You can also scan your computer for sensitive information, such as a PDF that contains a Social Security number, and block access to those documents. This adds an extra layer of protection to your personal information.
Though it lacks some of the polish of its sister software, Norton 360 Deluxe, Avast Premium Security still has speedy and capable performance during scans. Speaking of scans, it offers a quick scan, a targeted scan which allows you to select specific folders, or a boot sector scan which runs before Windows loads.
In testing, a quick scan took only three minutes, and a full boot sector scan took twelve. This is a lot speedier than the other products on this list, although it didn’t find as many files as competing products.
With this being said, Avast Premium Security achieved the same antivirus protection rate as Norton 360 Deluxe in AV-Comparatives' testing published in December 2025, a score of 100%. It also achieved the same false positives rate, which was decent but still higher than that of Bitdefender Total Security and Mc Afee+ Ultimate.
- Read our full Avast Premium review
The best budget antivirus software
Malwarebytes Plus is for those who are looking for basic protection without a lot of fuss. Though it does include some essential security features, for example, an unlimited VPN, it is a full-featured security suite like Norton 360 Deluxe. Instead, it is a good quality, low-cost tool that has a straightforward interface and a simple goal to protect your system from malicious threats and malware.
Intended as more of a basic antivirus scanner, Malwarebytes Plus' annual cost is only $59.99 a year for three devices, making it the cheapest antivirus on this list. For that, you get options for a quick scan that can be scheduled to run regularly, a manual scan, or a custom scan to select specific folders.
It does still have some features, namely a Browser Guard extension for web browsers that scans for web-based threats in order to block them in real time. It also has some advanced features, for example, an anti-heap spraying feature, and another feature that fights against exploits related to ASLR.
With this being said, there is no boot sector scan option or full scan (if you want these options, consider Avast Premium Security), but the quick scan only took 26 seconds during testing. While Malwarebytes Plus performed fairly well in AV Comparatives' independent tests published in December 2025, achieving an antivirus protection rate of 98.1%, this score is lower than that of the other providers on this list. It also had a much higher number of false positives as compared to every other antivirus on this list, meaning it may incorrectly flag threats, making it less reliable than the other providers on this list, too.
We found that in many ways, the biggest advantage is that there aren’t many features to configure in the software here. For example, it does have an unlimited VPN, though you cannot select a server location. Additionally, Malwarebytes Plus does block ransomware attacks, but does not encrypt or backup files.
Overall, this isn’t an advanced product, although it excels if you need a quick scan to see if a computer or phone is infected.
- Read our full Malwarebytes Plus review
Also tested
We test a lot of apps when searching for the best antivirus software, but only a handful can reach the top spots. If you're after more options, here are some other great antivirus packages that didn't quite make the mark.
How we test the best antivirus software
We test each antivirus program and evaluate its interface, performance, protection, extra features and — above all — overall value.
After timing and rating the installation process’s ease, we looked at whether the interface was simple and straightforward, convoluted and difficult to grasp — or something in between.
Next, we went through all the major and many minor features that each suite provides, including VPN access, file shredding and backup software, if included.
As far as performance goes, we measured how much the system slowed down while the program was scanning for malware using a Lenovo ThinkPad T470 with a 2.5GHz Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage containing 43.3GB of files.
To gauge each program’s impact on system performance, we used our custom Excel test which measures how long a PC takes to match 20,000 names and addresses on a spreadsheet. The longer the task takes versus a baseline reading, the more the system performance is impacted.
For malware detection performance, we referred to results from tests conducted by three independent labs: AV-TEST in Germany, AV-Comparatives in Austria and SE Labs in England.
Each lab periodically subjects major antivirus programs to stress tests that include thousands of pieces of malware as well as hundreds of “zero-day” samples that the software has to learn to recognize.
We paid particular attention to false positive readings of safe software deemed dangerous by the program under review as an indication of the precision of the program’s scanning technology.
How to choose the best antivirus software for you
When choosing an antivirus software, the top priority among all other decisions should be how well it performs to keep your system safe from malware and viruses.
To help you determine which of the many options out there will be the best at protecting your devices, we use results from tests conducted by three different independent labs to help us determine which antivirus program excels at finding and eliminating malware threats.
We also perform our own tests to see how much each program slows down your system, and how many resources it will consume to run both while scanning and while running in the background.
You’ll also want to read reviews online to see what other users have to say about their experiences with using the software, how it performed, what the interface was like, and how responsive the customer service was.
Next, consider the needs of your household and what devices you want to protect. How many family members do you have in the home? How many devices does each person need coverage for? What platforms do each of those devices use, and are the features they'll need available on these platforms?
Make a list of what devices and operating systems you need coverage for, as not all antivirus programs will cover all of them, and some will offer bundles for multiple family members or devices.
Narrow down the features you would like to see included in your antivirus program – because most antivirus programs offer so many features, it’s easiest to start out by making a list of what features are most important to your needs.
Do you also need parental controls? Is a VPN important to you? Would you like a password manager or file shredder? What about a hardened browser, a firewall, or webcam protection? Think about what you’d like most as additional security features and list them out, and see what the top antivirus programs offer.
Lastly, consider how much you want to spend — some antivirus programs will offer bundles for their suites, or tiers, that will package deals that include numbers of licenses or devices protected for a single purchase. You should also check a company’s website for any trial offers, as many will give you 30 days to try out their program for free before purchasing. Just make sure to cancel before the trialis over, or risk paying for software you don't want.
Free vs paid antivirus software
With so many antivirus programs to choose from, there’s absolutely no reason for your PC or smartphone to go unprotected — especially when there are free programs available to choose from as well. So, why would you bother paying for something that you didn’t have to?
Well, there are lot of reasons to choose one antivirus program over another but if you’re looking specifically at just free versus paid antivirus programs there are a few reasons to choose one over the other.
Free antivirus software will always provide users with basic protections against the most common malware threats, and will block dangerous files and applications. It should also warn you about suspicious websites, offer a cleanup option for infected files or apps and recognize when unknown devices are using your network.
However, a paid option is going to go a step beyond and offer more comprehensive security features — more advanced protections against unknown or upcoming threats, a more thorough feature set including VPNs, password managers, a file shredder that will fully remove deleted files and may cover more devices including tablets and smartphones.
Paid antivirus software also generally includes customer support via phone, chat or instant messaging and email whereas free versions will not. Plus, they add functions like an ability to customize your antivirus service, a feature to block suspicious sites, and a backup service to save data or back up devices.
It might also include features like webcam protection, remote control prevention to keep others from controlling your system, and the ability to run apps or software in a “sandbox” setting.
Paid antivirus software also generally includes customer support via phone, chat or instant messaging and email whereas free versions will not. If just the basics will do, a free version will be enough but if you’re looking for something more then it’s worth looking at some paid options.
Antivirus FAQ
How does antivirus software work?
Well, antivirus software works by running in the background and scanning your computer to find, quarantine and eradicate a computer virus. Ideally, an antivirus program can also protect your computer from an infection before it occurs, blocking attacks and keeping your data safe from any piece of code that intends to cause it harm.
Your computer is basically an open endpoint on the internet and there are a wide variety of viruses that can cause harm to your system, either by making it inaccessible, slowing it down, disrupting services or by stealing your information. You often won't even know that your computer is infected.
Antivirus software runs in the background to monitor your internet connection and look, in real-time, for harmful software. It can detect software against signature files that are constantly updated by looking for patterns in the code that match a known threat. That means the antivirus software can quarantine a file and block a virus to protect your computer before an infection occurs.
Apart from this, an antivirus program can also periodically scan your hard drive looking for malicious software, though it's becoming less common to install apps and store data locally. The best antivirus software can do both, and some will now use AI to complete these tasks.
Do you really need antivirus software?
If you're not pirating software or doing anything really advanced online, do you really need to get antivirus software for your computer?
Absolutely. It doesn't matter if you intend to design your own video game, or just want to check your email, if you have a computer — and especially if that computer is online — you absolutely, positively should have an antivirus software installed.
Microsoft computers come with Microsoft Defender built-in, so it's easy enough to set it up and forget about it if you just want to run with a free option. However, you do need to make sure that your system is protected against malware and other nastiness that exists online.
There are a million ways that hackers and threat actors are trying to work their ways into your machine — and even if you're extremely careful, it's possible that you may miss the latest scam.
Or maybe you let someone check their email on your laptop and they click a link in a phishing attempt. Perhaps a software download you try is actually an incorrect URL that leads to a malicious site. Or you didn't update your operating system and there's a vulnerability that allows a hacker access.
Maybe you didn't have a password manager and now several of your accounts have been breached. You get the picture; an antivirus software, and it's many included features, can provide you with a lot of protection, no matter how careful you are online.
Which antivirus software is completely free?
One of the first questions many people will ask themselves about antivirus software is "Do I really need to pay for antivirus software?" And as we've covered before, no, you do not.
Microsoft Defender comes built-in to Windows systems and we've found it has actually come quite along way. Not only does Defender now offer quality malware protection, showing an ability to detect, block and neutralize viruses, but it also comes with a solid array of features.
There's a password manager and parental controls, and a feature for the Edge browser that can block known malicious websites and downloads. It will also allow you to schedule scans.
However, like all free antivirus software you do lose out of many of the features that come along with a paid version such as a VPN, ransomware rollback and — a hefty drawback for some users — you will be stuck using Microsoft products to access some of these features like using Edge or Microsoft Teams.
If that's a dealbreaker, you can look at other free antivirus software programs (Avira, AVG and Avast all have one), or you can try out a free 30 day trial of a paid software.
When can you temporarily disable your antivirus?
There are not many instances when it's a good idea to disable your antivirus program, but here is a short list of when it may be appropriate: when you're troubleshooting an issue with a program or software (to identify if that's the cause), if you need to download a trusted program and your antivirus is flagging it as a threat, or if you need to use a specific network configuration.
Even in these instances, it is always considered to be best practices to immediately turn your antivirus program back on as soon as you've completely your tasks to minimize the risk of any threats.
