The 7 Best Antivirus Software
Updated by · How we research
Renewal pricing, not protection, is the trap. Seven antivirus suites compared on 2026 lab scores, false alarms and devices. Bitdefender Total Security leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Windows' own free Defender now scores with the leaders in lab tests, so a paid suite earns its price with extras such as a VPN, a password manager, backup, scam alerts and cover for phones and tablets. Those suit households with several devices. Check the renewal price, too, since it usually runs higher than the first year.
Editor's Notes
October 17, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The most striking exit is Kaspersky Internet Security, gone because the Commerce Department barred its sales and updates in the U.S. in 2024. Trend Micro Maximum Security and ESET Internet Security are no longer sold in current editions here, Avast Premium Security has no listing and an FTC order behind it, AVG Ultimate's old listing vanished, and Webroot Internet Security Plus no longer shows up in the big lab tests. Bitdefender Total Security stays on top, with the best lab record of the paid picks and a low price for five devices. Norton 360 Deluxe stays for its extras, McAfee Total Protection returns in its 2027 edition and Malwarebytes Premium Security replaces the old Malwarebytes 4.0. New picks cover a 10-device Norton plan, an unlimited McAfee+ plan and K7 Total Security, a cheap one-PC option.
We leaned on AV-Comparatives and AV-TEST results, maker pages and plan terms. One thing surprised us: Windows' own free Defender now scores with the leaders, so we list it as a special honor. The bigger trap is renewal pricing, not protection.
January 14, 2021:
The players in the antivirus field don't change too often, so this update was mostly about making sure we were recommending the most recent releases, as well as researching any new features that may have been added to a particular software and much it impacted its usefulness to consumers. We generally choose to rely on independent testing more so than those performed by the developer to get an impartial idea of how well they work, and how much they affect system performance. This is reflected in our rankings, with those that scored better in independent testing and/or being resource light receiving a higher recommendation, and those that performed more poorly or which simply had less independent testing results to analyze, not receiving as strong of a recommendation.
December 19, 2019:
Hackers are always finding new ways to infect computers. So, when it comes to anti-virus software, it is important to keep them updated and use the latest versions whenever possible. Because of this, we replaced every one of our previous recommendations with the most current iterations at the time of writing this.
Though the software on this list may be called antivirus programs, most do significantly more than just protect your computer form viruses. For example, Bitdefender Total Security and Kaspersky Internet Security offer parental controls, while the former also integrates a password manager. Webroot Internet Security Plus is another option that offers a password manager, but the real benefits of this software is how light it is on system resources. It only requires 15 MB of storage space and barely affects PC performance when scanning.
With its newest version, Malwarebytes 4.0 finally bills itself as a full antivirus software replacement. Previous iterations were simply designed to catch, as its name suggests, malware. However, with version 4.0, it can function as standalone virus protection, and it does so packaged in a sleek user interface and with less drain on system resources than many others.
It should come as no surprise that McAfee Total Protection ranks highly on our list, since it has been providing reliable virus protection since the late 1980s. In addition to traditional computers, this suite of software can be used on mobile devices and comes with 24/7 live support. Additionally, it features a password manager and includes identity theft monitoring.
Special Honors
Microsoft Defender The free antivirus built into Windows 10 and 11. It blocked 99.0% of attacks with zero false alarms in AV-Comparatives' 2026 real-world test and needs no purchase. It lacks the multi-device extras of paid suites, but for one carefully used PC it is a reasonable choice. microsoft.com
ESET A Slovak security company long favored by IT pros for its light footprint and low false-alarm count: two in AV-Comparatives' 2026 test, with a 98.5% block rate. Buy directly from ESET, since the editions listed by retailers here are outdated. eset.com
Free Protection Or A Paid Suite
Bitdefender, Norton, McAfee, Malwarebytes, ESET and K7 are common examples.
Every Windows 11 PC already runs Microsoft Defender Antivirus, part of Windows Security, along with a firewall and Smart App Control. It is no longer the weak option it once was. In AV-Comparatives' February-to-May 2026 real-world test, Defender blocked 99.0% of 400 live attacks with zero false alarms and earned the top Advanced+ award, and AV-TEST rates it a top product. For one Windows PC used with care, it is a sound baseline.
A paid suite earns its price through what comes around the scanner. Most cover several devices, including Macs, iPhones and Android phones, under one account. They add a VPN, a password manager, cloud backup, parental controls, dark web alerts and scam checks for texts and email. Those are the features home offices and families tend to need, and they are why people over 60 often do better with a suite that flags scam messages before they click. Antivirus can't stop you from typing a password into a fake site, so the FTC also advises automatic updates, multi-factor authentication and backups.
There are two main kinds of paid product. Plain antivirus scans one or a few computers. Internet security and "360" or "total" suites add the privacy and identity extras. Bitdefender, Norton, McAfee, Malwarebytes, ESET and K7 are common examples.
How To Read Lab Scores And False Alarms
Two independent labs test the major products against live threats every few months. AV-TEST scores each one from 0 to 6 for protection, performance and usability, 18 points in all, and labels the best "Top Product." In its August 2026 Windows 11 round, nearly every major suite scored 6 for performance, so slowdown is rarely a reason to pick one over another today.
AV-Comparatives runs a real-world test with malicious sites and downloads, then lowers awards for false alarms. In February to May 2026, only seven of 20 products earned Advanced+: Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norton and TotalAV. Bitdefender blocked 99.5% with five false alarms. McAfee, ESET and K7 blocked 98.5%. Malwarebytes reached 98.8% but flagged 39 harmless files, and Trend Micro flagged 83.
Small gaps in block rates matter less than you might think, because the leaders sit within about one percentage point of each other. False alarms are more noticeable day to day. A program that quarantines a tool you need trains you to click through warnings. Developers and anyone running niche or homemade software should favor a product with a low false-alarm count.
The Real Price: Renewals, Devices And Codes
Most antivirus listings show a first-year price. That number is the start, not the cost of ownership. Norton's own site lists its five-device Deluxe plan at several times what retailers charge for a prepaid card, and it states that renewal prices are higher than the initial price. Prepaid key cards and download codes from retailers often cost far less for the first year, which is how many people keep costs down.
Nearly every plan renews on its own. Some activations ask for a card before they finish. Note the renewal date, check the price a month ahead and switch auto-renewal off if you plan to buy another card. Refund windows differ: Bitdefender offers 30 days, Norton 60 days on annual plans and Malwarebytes 60 days.
Count your devices before you buy. One Windows laptop needs a one-PC plan. A family with phones, tablets and a Mac should look at five- or 10-device plans, or an unlimited one. Install only one real-time antivirus per computer. Microsoft turns Defender's real-time protection off when another antivirus registers and turns it back on when that program expires or is removed, so running two only adds conflicts. Skip Kaspersky in the U.S.: the Commerce Department prohibited its sales and updates in 2024.
How we researched this
We compared 17 product listings from nine antivirus brands, read the makers' plan pages and terms for the finalists, used the latest independent results from AV-Comparatives and AV-TEST, checked reviewer picks, and checked the U.S. Commerce Department and FTC actions against Kaspersky and Avast. The 3D models are built from published package dimensions.
Sources (12)
- AV-Comparatives: Real-World Protection Test February-May 2026
- AV-TEST: Best antivirus software for Windows 11, August 2026
- Bitdefender: Total Security
- Norton: Norton 360 Deluxe
- Malwarebytes: Premium security
- Microsoft Learn: Defender Antivirus compatibility
- Microsoft Support: Stay protected with Windows Security
- U.S. Commerce Department (BIS): Kaspersky prohibition
- FTC: Avast order on browsing data
- FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams
- CNET: Best antivirus
- PCMag: The best antivirus protection
Frequently asked questions
How much does antivirus software cost?
On this list, one-year plans range from a budget one-PC license to unlimited-device bundles that cost about five times as much; each pick shows its current price. Maker list prices are often much higher, and most plans renew automatically at a higher price than the first year.
Do I need antivirus on Windows 11?
Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender, which blocked 99.0% of attacks with no false alarms in AV-Comparatives' 2026 real-world test. It is enough for many single-PC users. A paid suite adds coverage for other devices, a VPN, a password manager, backup and scam alerts.
Can I run two antivirus programs at once?
Not two real-time scanners. Windows turns Defender's real-time protection off when another antivirus is installed. An on-demand second-opinion scan, such as the free Malwarebytes scanner, is fine to run alongside.
What are some examples of antivirus software?
Microsoft Defender is built into Windows. Paid examples include Bitdefender Total Security, Norton 360, McAfee Total Protection, Malwarebytes, ESET and K7 Total Security. Avast and AVG offer free versions.
Is Kaspersky legal in the U.S.?
No new sales. The Commerce Department's 2024 final determination barred Kaspersky from selling its antivirus in the U.S. and ended its software updates there, so existing installs no longer get protection updates.
Is Avast safe to use?
Avast's protection scores well in lab tests. In 2024, the FTC ordered Avast to pay a multimillion settlement and banned it from selling browsing data for advertising, after finding it sold that data while claiming to block tracking.
