10 Best Antivirus Software of 2026

1. 1

   Bitdefender

   Romanian security suite with antivirus, scam blocking, a password manager and a capped VPN across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

   8.5overall

   Romanian security suite with antivirus, scam blocking, a password manager and a capped VPN across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

   Best forHouseholds that want strong malware protection on several platforms at a low first-year price

   Adoption data

   Millions of usersBitdefender says it protects millions of users across 170 countries; it does not publish a precise user total, so this is the best figure available.

   Bitdefender, About Bitdefender (2026): “Every day, we protect millions of users across 170 countries, delivering award-winning solutions that combine innovation, performance, and ease of use.”

   Bitdefender lands at the top because it pairs a broad feature set with a low published price for multi-device coverage. The US Total Security page lists Antivirus Plus at $39.99 for the first year on up to 3 devices and Total Security Individual at $59.99 for up to 5 devices, with a Family plan at $79.99 that stretches to 5 members and 25 devices. Total Security bundles malware and ransomware protection, a scam filter that targets phishing pages, fake shops and SMS or social media scams, cryptomining protection, a password manager and data breach detection on mobile. The included VPN is the weak spot: it is limited to 200 MB per day per device, so anyone who wants a full VPN has to move up to Premium Security. Bitdefender does not publish a user count, only that it serves millions of users across 170 countries, which keeps its adoption score below the largest consumer brands. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +Total Security covers 5 devices for less in the first year than Norton 360 Standard charges for one
   • +Total Security covers 5 devices in one first-year price of $59.99
   • +30-day full trial of Total Security with no credit card required

   Limitations

   • −The bundled VPN is capped at 200 MB per day per device
   • −Unlimited VPN and AI scam protection are held back for the higher Premium Security tier
   • −Published prices are first-year rates; renewal costs more

   SummaryBitdefender offers the most complete documented feature set for the money among the paid suites here. Plan for the higher renewal price and the capped VPN.

2. 2

   ESET Home Security

   Slovak vendor's lightweight antivirus line, from NOD32 Antivirus to ESET HOME Security Essential, Premium and Ultimate.

   8.4overall

   Slovak vendor's lightweight antivirus line, from NOD32 Antivirus to ESET HOME Security Essential, Premium and Ultimate.

   Best forGamers and power users who want low system impact and fine-grained controls

   Adoption data

   one billionESET says its protection secures over one billion internet users worldwide, a reach figure rather than a count of paying customers.

   ESET, ESET NOD32 Antivirus (2026): “our proactive, award-winning protection secures over one billion internet users worldwide.”

   ESET appeals to buyers who care about speed and control more than bundled extras. Its US antivirus page describes Multithread Scanning, a small system footprint and Gamer Mode, alongside LiveGrid cloud reputation and AI-powered threat detection. NOD32 Antivirus costs $39.99 for one device for a year. ESET HOME Security Essential, at $59.99 for 3 devices, adds Ransomware Shield, Safe Banking, Safe Browsing, Webcam Protection, Microphone Monitor, Anti-Theft, Parental Control and a firewall. Premium, at $89.99, adds ESET LiveGuard, Folder Guard, encryption, AI Conversation Security and a VPN, and Ultimate adds Ransomware Remediation, Identity Protection and VPN for Router. ESET reports protecting over one billion internet users, which supports a high adoption score, though that is a reach figure rather than a customer count. Prices shown are for the first term only, so check the renewal rate. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +Documented focus on a small system footprint and Gamer Mode
   • +Clear feature split between NOD32, Essential, Premium and Ultimate
   • +Free 30-day trial with full features

   Limitations

   • −Advertised prices are valid for the first term only
   • −NOD32 Antivirus has only limited AI security features compared with HOME Security plans
   • −LiveGuard and the VPN require HOME Security Premium or above

   SummaryESET is a strong pick for performance-sensitive PCs and users who want granular settings, and NOD32 Antivirus is one of the cheaper single-device plans here. Check the renewal price, since listed prices cover the first term only.

3. 3

   Microsoft Defender

   Microsoft's antivirus built into Windows for free, plus the cross-device Defender app included in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family.

   8.4overall

   Microsoft's antivirus built into Windows for free, plus the cross-device Defender app included in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family.

   Best forWindows users who already pay for Microsoft 365 or want capable free protection with no extra install

   Adoption data

   89.0 millionMicrosoft reported 89.0 million Microsoft 365 Consumer subscribers at the end of fiscal year 2025; Personal and Family plans include the Defender app.

   Microsoft, FY25 Q4 Productivity and Business Processes Performance (2025): “Microsoft 365 Consumer cloud revenue grew 11% driven by Microsoft 365 Consumer subscriber growth of 8% to 89.0 million”

   Microsoft Defender earns its place on reach and price rather than breadth. Every Windows PC ships with Microsoft Defender Antivirus switched on, so many households already have real-time malware protection without buying anything. The cross-device Defender app, which adds monitoring and alerts for Macs, Android phones and iPhones, comes with Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and with Family at $129.99 per year for up to 6 people. That subscription is mainly an Office and storage bundle, so the security layer is effectively a bonus on top of 1 TB of OneDrive, desktop Office apps and OneDrive ransomware protection. What it lacks is the extras that dedicated suites sell: there is no VPN, no password manager and no identity insurance. Microsoft reported 89.0 million Microsoft 365 Consumer subscribers at the end of fiscal 2025, the last time it published the metric. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +No additional cost on Windows, and no third-party software to install
   • +The paid plan also bundles Office apps and cloud storage
   • +Microsoft 365 Family spreads the cost across up to 6 people

   Limitations

   • −No VPN, password manager or identity insurance of the kind sold by dedicated suites
   • −Cross-device Defender app requires a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription
   • −Paid cross-device coverage is only sold bundled with Office apps and cloud storage

   SummaryFor most Windows users the free built-in antivirus is a sound baseline, and Microsoft 365 subscribers get cross-device coverage at no added cost. Buyers who want a VPN or identity protection should look at a full suite.

4. 4

   Norton 360

   Gen Digital's flagship consumer suite combining antivirus, scam protection, cloud backup and optional LifeLock identity coverage.

   8.4overall

   Gen Digital's flagship consumer suite combining antivirus, scam protection, cloud backup and optional LifeLock identity coverage.

   Best forBuyers who want antivirus and identity theft protection from one US-focused vendor

   Adoption data

   nearly 500 millionNorton is part of Gen Digital, which says its brands reach nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries.

   Gen Digital, About Gen (2026): “Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy, identity protection and financial wellness to nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries.”

   Norton 360 is the most complete package for people who want malware protection and identity theft coverage from the same company. The US product page lists Norton 360 Standard at $94.99 for the first year on one device, with antivirus, ransomware and hacking protection, Scam Protection, Deepfake Protection, a password manager, 2 GB of cloud backup and the 100% Virus Protection Promise. Moving up adds a VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, parental controls and larger backup, and the Norton 360 with LifeLock plans add US-based restoration specialists and reimbursement coverage, starting at $189.99 for the first year. The trade-off is cost: the entry tier covers one device and costs more than Bitdefender Total Security for five. Norton sits inside Gen Digital, which reports nearly 500 million users across its brands, so its adoption score is among the highest on this list. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +Widest set of identity theft options of any suite here through LifeLock
   • +100% Virus Protection Promise on Norton 360 plans
   • +60-day money back guarantee on annual plans

   Limitations

   • −Entry Norton 360 Standard covers a single device
   • −Highest entry price of the full suites with verified US prices
   • −Standard tier lacks the VPN and Dark Web Monitoring found on higher plans

   SummaryNorton 360 is the strongest pick when identity theft protection matters as much as antivirus. Single-device buyers on a budget can find lower prices elsewhere.

5. 5

   Avast One

   Gen Digital's all-in-one Avast app with a free antivirus tier and paid Premium Security and Ultimate upgrades.

   8.3overall

   Gen Digital's all-in-one Avast app with a free antivirus tier and paid Premium Security and Ultimate upgrades.

   Best forUsers who want a capable free antivirus with an inexpensive upgrade path

   Adoption data

   nearly 500 millionAvast is a Gen Digital brand; Gen says its products reach nearly 500 million users across its portfolio.

   Gen Digital, About Gen (2026): “Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy, identity protection and financial wellness to nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries.”

   Avast One is the strongest free-to-paid ladder on this list. The Avast One app includes Free Antivirus for PCs, Macs, Android phones and iPhones, and the US comparison page lists Premium Security at $49.08 for the first year on one PC, or $69.48 for 10 devices. The Ultimate bundle adds Avast's privacy and performance tools for the same single-device first-year price, which makes it the better buy for most people who decide to pay. Avast sits in Gen Digital alongside Norton and AVG, so it benefits from the same threat data and the same nearly 500 million user base that Gen reports. The downsides are pricing structure and clarity. First-year prices are well below renewal rates, which run $77.99 and up, and the mix of Free, Premium Security, Ultimate and separate apps such as Premium VPN and AntiTrack takes effort to compare. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +Permanent free tier available on four platforms
   • +Premium Security first-year price undercuts most rivals
   • +30-day money-back guarantee

   Limitations

   • −First-year discount from $77.99 renewal price is steep, so the second year costs much more
   • −Lineup of Free, Premium Security and Ultimate tiers plus standalone apps is hard to compare
   • −Entry Premium Security price applies to a single PC

   SummaryAvast One is a sensible default for anyone who wants free antivirus now and an affordable upgrade later. Check the renewal price before the first year ends.

6. 6

   AVG

   Gen Digital's AVG brand, with a long-running free antivirus and the paid AVG Internet Security suite.

   7.7overall

   Gen Digital's AVG brand, with a long-running free antivirus and the paid AVG Internet Security suite.

   Best forWindows users who want a free antivirus and a simple paid upgrade with a firewall

   Adoption data

   nearly 500 millionAVG belongs to Gen Digital, which reports nearly 500 million users across its consumer brands; AVG's own share is not published.

   Gen Digital, About Gen (2026): “Gen brings award-winning products and services in cybersecurity, online privacy, identity protection and financial wellness to nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries.”

   AVG is the second Gen Digital brand on this list after Avast, and it covers similar ground with a more traditional product split. AVG AntiVirus Free gives Windows users basic protection, and AVG Internet Security adds an Enhanced Firewall for the home network, webcam protection, and defenses against fake and pharming websites that try to collect personal data. The US product page offers plans for a single Windows PC, a single Mac or 10 devices across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, plus 30 days of free PC protection with no credit card and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Its US prices are injected by page scripts, so we could not confirm a USD figure and value is scored conservatively. AVG draws on the same Gen Digital threat network that reports nearly 500 million users, though Gen does not break out AVG on its own. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +Long-standing free antivirus option
   • +Internet Security adds a firewall and webcam protection
   • +30 days of free PC protection and a 30-day money-back guarantee

   Limitations

   • −US prices sit in page script data rather than visible text, so they could not be confirmed for this list
   • −Feature set overlaps heavily with Avast, its sister brand
   • −Fewer privacy and identity extras than the larger suites

   SummaryAVG is a reasonable free starting point for Windows users and a straightforward paid suite with a firewall. Buyers choosing between AVG and Avast should compare current prices, since the protection overlaps.

7. 7

   McAfee

   US consumer security brand whose McAfee+ and Total Protection plans bundle antivirus, scam detection, a VPN and identity protection.

   7.7overall

   US consumer security brand whose McAfee+ and Total Protection plans bundle antivirus, scam detection, a VPN and identity protection.

   Best forHouseholds that want antivirus with identity monitoring and unlimited-device plans

   Adoption data

   600 millionMcAfee states on its U.S. homepage that it protects over 600 million connected devices, a device count rather than a count of paying customers.

   McAfee, McAfee AI-Powered Antivirus, Scam, Identity, and Privacy Protection (2026): “Over 600 million connected devices”

   McAfee sells three plan families in the US: Total Protection for basic device and identity protection, and McAfee+ Individual and Family plans for fuller privacy and identity coverage, with Family plans covering up to six people. Its homepage lists antivirus, web protection and a firewall alongside a Scam Detector for suspicious texts, sites and deepfakes, a Secure VPN, Personal Data Cleanup that asks data broker sites to remove your details, a password manager, identity and credit monitoring, and up to $2M in identity theft coverage. That breadth puts it close to Norton on paper. McAfee says it protects over 600 million connected devices, though that counts devices rather than paying customers. Two things hold it back here. Its US pages refused our automated price check, so we could not confirm a USD figure, and the advertised prices are first-term offers that renew higher. Compare its renewal rate against Norton 360 and Bitdefender before buying.

   Strengths

   • +One of the best-known consumer security brands in the US
   • +Plans combine device security with privacy and identity tools
   • +30-day money-back guarantee

   Limitations

   • −McAfee's US pages refused our price check, so the USD price could not be confirmed for this list
   • −Advertised prices are first-term introductory prices that renew at a higher rate
   • −The 600 million figure counts devices, not paying customers

   SummaryMcAfee offers a broad all-in-one bundle comparable with Norton, including scam detection and data broker removal. Check the US renewal price carefully because it could not be confirmed here.

8. 8

   Trend Micro

   Japanese security company's home lineup, from single-device Antivirus+ to the 10-device Premium Security Suite.

   7.4overall

   Japanese security company's home lineup, from single-device Antivirus+ to the 10-device Premium Security Suite.

   Best forSingle-PC owners who want a low entry price and scam-focused tools

   Trend Micro offers the most clearly laddered price list of the suites we compared. The US home page lists Antivirus+ Security at $29.95 for one Windows or Mac device, Internet Security at $59.95 for 3 devices on Windows, Mac and Chromebook, Maximum Security at $74.95 for 5 devices across Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Chromebook, and Premium Security Suite at $109.95 for 10 devices, each for one year. The top tier adds Trend Micro ScamCheck, a VPN and identity protection, and the company also offers a free Deepfake Inspector for checking video calls on a PC. That structure makes it easy to pay only for the devices you own, though anyone who wants a VPN has to go to the most expensive plan. Trend Micro has shifted its public messaging toward enterprise customers and does not publish a consumer user figure, so its adoption score is conservative. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +Lowest verified single-device entry price on this list at $29.95
   • +Clear device tiers from 1 to 10 devices
   • +Chromebook support in Maximum Security and above

   Limitations

   • −Antivirus+ covers only one Windows or Mac device
   • −VPN and identity protection are reserved for the top Premium Security Suite
   • −Trend Micro does not publish a consumer user count

   SummaryTrend Micro is a good fit for buyers who want to match the plan to an exact device count. Those who need a VPN should price the Premium Security Suite against rivals.

9. 9

   Malwarebytes

   US security company known for its malware remover, now selling device security, VPN and identity protection plans.

   7.3overall

   US security company known for its malware remover, now selling device security, VPN and identity protection plans.

   Best forUsers who want a second-opinion scanner and simple, scam-focused protection

   Malwarebytes started as the scanner people ran after something else missed an infection, and its free malware remover and AdwCleaner still fill that role. The paid line is simple: Standard costs from $59.99 per year for 3 devices and includes anti-virus for PCs, tablets and phones, Browser Guard for scam and web protection with ad and tracking blocking, data breach notifications and personalized security assessments. Plus adds a VPN from $79.99, and Ultimate adds identity protection with up to $2 million in insurance and a personal data remover. Family versions cover 10 devices. Malwarebytes also publishes free scam tools, including Scam Guard and a scam link checker, and offers free support with a 60-day money back guarantee. The entry price is higher than Bitdefender's or Trend Micro's, and the company does not publish a consumer user count, so adoption is scored conservatively. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

   Strengths

   • +Free malware remover and free scam tools such as Scam Guard and Scam link check
   • +Free customer support and a 60-day money back guarantee
   • +Family plans cover 10 devices

   Limitations

   • −Standard tier price is higher than Bitdefender or Trend Micro entry plans
   • −VPN costs extra over Standard
   • −No published consumer user count

   SummaryMalwarebytes suits buyers who value straightforward plans and strong scam tools. Price-focused shoppers will find cheaper entry tiers elsewhere.

10. 10

    TotalAV

    UK-based antivirus sold in Antivirus Plus, Internet Security and Total Security tiers with optimization tools.

    6.2overall

    UK-based antivirus sold in Antivirus Plus, Internet Security and Total Security tiers with optimization tools.

    Best forUsers who want antivirus combined with PC clean-up tools and an ad blocker

    TotalAV packages antivirus with the kind of maintenance tools that used to be sold separately. Its pricing page lists three plans: Antivirus Plus for 4 devices, Internet Security for 6 and Total Security for 8. All include real-time protection, zero-day cloud scanning, potentially unwanted application protection, phishing and ransomware protection, system tune-up tools, a disk cleaner, a browser cleaner and Total Adblock. Total VPN comes with Internet Security and Total Security, and Total Password only with Total Security. Annual and biannual plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee, and subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled. We could not confirm US pricing because the page served another currency from our location, and TotalAV does not publish a user count, so both value and adoption are scored conservatively. Buyers who mainly want malware protection get more documented security features per dollar from the suites above. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run lab tests.

    Strengths

    • +Includes clean-up and optimization tools not found in most suites here
    • +Plans cover 4, 6 or 8 devices
    • +30-day money-back guarantee on annual subscriptions

    Limitations

    • −Pricing page served a non-USD currency from our location, so US prices could not be confirmed
    • −No published user count or independent adoption data
    • −Plans renew automatically until cancelled

    SummaryTotalAV fits users who want antivirus and PC clean-up in one app. Confirm the US price and renewal terms before buying.

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