10 Best Antivirus Software of 2026

Bitdefender Total Security tops this list because it pairs broad protection with a low first-year price. One Individual plan covers up to 5 devices across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and includes antivirus, malware and ransomware protection, scam protection, cryptomining protection, a password manager and a Standard VPN. Bitdefender says the suite adapts to each computer's hardware to save system resources, and it can block webcam and microphone access and clean up Windows settings in one click. The Family plan stretches to 5 members and up to 25 devices and adds parental controls with time limits, content filtering, location and activity reports. The catches are the VPN cap of 200MB a day per device, which is fine for public Wi-Fi but not for streaming, and the renewal: the $59.99 first year rises to a listed $109.99. A 30-day trial lets you check it on your own machines before paying.

Norton 360 is the most complete package here for people who want one subscription to cover several jobs. Every Norton 360 plan includes antivirus, malware, ransomware and hacking protection, Scam Protection, Deepfake Protection, a password manager, a VPN and dark web monitoring, backed by Norton's 100% Virus Protection Promise. Standard covers 3 devices with 2GB of cloud backup for $94.99 in the first year, and Deluxe covers 5 devices with 50GB of backup, Privacy Monitor and parental control for $119.99. The LifeLock tier adds identity theft protection for 10 devices. There are limits worth knowing: cloud backup and some utilities run only on Windows, and parental control monitoring covers Windows, iOS and Android but not Mac. The pricing page we checked showed no discount and did not display the renewal price, so confirm it at checkout. A 60-day money-back guarantee gives you time to decide.

ESET HOME Security is a strong pick for people who like control over their security software. The Essential plan, $59.99 for a year on 3 devices, includes antivirus and antispyware with AI-powered detection, Safe Banking, anti-phishing, webcam protection, a microphone monitor, a firewall, Network Inspector, Anti-Theft and Parental Control. ESET also lists Gamer Mode, multithread scanning and a small system footprint, which matter on older laptops and gaming PCs, and it is one of the few suites here that names Windows ARM support. Premium, at $89.99, adds unlimited VPN data, Secure Data encryption, ESET LiveGuard and Folder Guard, while Ultimate, at $179.99 for 5 devices, adds identity protection, VPN for routers and ransomware remediation. Not every feature runs on every platform, so check the platform table before buying for a Mac. The 30-day free trial needs no credit card.

Malwarebytes Premium Security is built around the threats home users most often meet today: scam sites, fake downloads, malicious ads and browser extensions. Its Standard plan, from $59.99 a year for 3 devices, includes real-time malware and PUP protection, ransomware and exploit protection, brute force protection and Web Protection that blocks phishing pages before they load. Every plan also includes Browser Guard, the company's ad and scam blocker extension. On phones it adds text and call protection, and on computers webcam monitoring, firewall control, a file shredder and a junk cleaner, though Malwarebytes notes that exact features vary by operating system. The Plus plan adds a WireGuard VPN for $79.99 a year, and Ultimate adds identity protection with $2 million of insurance. The app is simple to run, which suits people who do not want to tune settings. Families can cover 10 devices from $119.99 a year.

Microsoft Defender is the baseline every Windows PC already has, and for many careful users it is enough. Microsoft Defender Antivirus runs inside the Windows Security app with real-time protection, alongside Windows Firewall and Smart App Control, and you can right-click any file or folder to scan it. It costs nothing and needs no setup, which is why it scores highest here on value and ease of use. The paid side comes through Microsoft 365: Personal at $99.99 a year and Family at $129.99 a year include the Defender app, which adds antivirus on Mac and Android, anti-phishing on iOS and identity theft monitoring, plus Office apps and 1TB or more of cloud storage. That makes it good value for households already paying for Microsoft 365, and poor value if you only want antivirus. It lacks the VPN, password manager and parental tools that the paid suites above bundle in.

Avast One is the free antivirus to try first if you do not want Microsoft's built-in option. The free version blocks malware in real time, and paid Premium Security adds scam detection through Avast Assistant, an extra ransomware layer, a Wi-Fi security scan, a sandbox for testing suspicious apps, an advanced firewall, webcam protection, a file shredder and automatic app updates. Paid plans can cover up to 10 devices across PC, Mac, Android and iOS. On the US page we checked, both Premium Security and Ultimate cost $49.08 for the first year, with Ultimate adding Cleanup Premium, Premium VPN and AntiTrack, so Ultimate is the better buy for the first year. Watch the renewal: Premium Security renews at $77.99 a year and Ultimate at $109.99. Expect prompts to try the extra tools. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies to paid plans.

McAfee+ is the identity-heavy option on this list. McAfee's own App Store listing describes protection for smartphones, tablets, Macs and PCs, and its McAfee+ Advanced plan covers an unlimited number of devices with Secure VPN, Safe Browsing, Scam Detector, identity monitoring, transaction and credit monitoring, a security freeze and credit lock, and 24/7 online security experts. It also includes Personal Data Cleanup, which looks for sites selling your information, Online Account Cleanup for old accounts, a Social Privacy Manager that adjusts more than 100 social media settings, and $1M of identity theft coverage with restoration support. A Basic Protection tier covers a single device. We could not load McAfee's US pricing page from our location, so prices are pending here; check them on McAfee's site. The plan is strongest value for people who will use the identity services. If you only need antivirus, cheaper suites above do that job.

Webroot Essentials is the cheapest paid way into this list at $34.99 for the first year on one device, rising to $49.99 at the regular price. It protects PCs, Macs, tablets and phones with cloud-based antivirus and ransomware protection, advanced web filtering that warns you before you open a fraudulent site, real-time anti-phishing and a password manager. Webroot says it scours 95% of the internet three times a day for new threats and that its scans are fast and light, which suits older computers. Plans for 3 and 5 devices cost $48.99 and $62.99 in the first year. What you give up is breadth: there is no VPN, cloud backup or parental control in Essentials, and identity features sit in pricier Webroot plans. Webroot's FAQ also covers older products such as AntiVirus Basic and Complete, so check which plan you are renewing.

TotalAV is an easy-to-use antivirus app that runs on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Its real-time protection scans downloads, installs and executables each time they are opened, and WebShield blocks fake, scam, phishing and spoofed websites. It also blocks ads, pop-ups and in-page video ads, clears tracking cookies, runs scheduled smart scans and monitors your email address in known breach data. TotalAV sells tiers called Plus, Internet Security, which adds a VPN, and Total Security, plus a separate password manager. It offers monthly, quarterly, biannual and annual plans, and refunds are only available within 30 days of starting an annual or biannual plan or 14 days of a monthly or quarterly one, after you fully cancel. Plans renew at the then-regular rate, so note the renewal price when you buy. We could not see US prices from our location, so pricing is pending here.

Surfshark One makes sense for people who are shopping for a VPN first. One subscription covers unlimited devices and bundles Surfshark VPN with Surfshark Antivirus, which offers real-time protection, scheduled scans and webcam protection, plus Alert for leaked email addresses, IDs and credit cards, Alternative ID for a masked email and personal details, and newer scam protection tools such as scam text protection and an email scam checker. CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers and cookie pop-ups. Surfshark lists identity theft coverage of up to $1M for US residents outside New York State, and One+ adds Incogni data removal. The tradeoff is depth: compared with ESET or Norton, the antivirus is one part of a privacy bundle and offers fewer PC tools such as firewalls or backup. Surfshark's pricing page showed local currency from our location, so prices are pending. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies.