Best Antivirus Software

Trend Micro is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, offering consumer security software under the names Antivirus+ Security, Internet Security, Maximum Security, and Premium Security Suite. Plans scale from single-device antivirus protection up to 10-device coverage across Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Chromebook, using cloud-based AI to detect malware, ransomware, and phishing attempts.

Higher tiers add Pay Guard for secure online banking and shopping, parental controls, social media privacy checks, and a gaming mode that pauses notifications. The Premium Security Suite includes a VPN, password manager, and identity theft monitoring with 24/7 support. Trend Micro does not offer a permanent free antivirus tier but provides a 30-day free trial.

AVG is an antivirus brand that began as Grisoft in Brno, Czechoslovakia, in 1991 and is now part of Gen Digital, with AVG Technologies historically headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It offers a permanently free antivirus product plus paid AVG Internet Security and AVG Ultimate plans covering up to 10 devices across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

AVG Internet Security adds a firewall, ransomware protection, webcam protection, and payment protection for online banking and shopping. AVG Ultimate bundles Internet Security with AVG Secure VPN and AVG TuneUp performance software. AVG also provides a browser extension that flags phishing sites and blocks tracking, and paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Avast is an antivirus and online security company based in Prague, Czech Republic, and owned by Gen Digital. It offers a free antivirus product alongside paid Premium Security and Ultimate plans that add ransomware protection, a firewall, webcam protection, and scam detection for email, SMS, and phone calls. The software runs on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, with plans covering a single device or up to ten devices under one subscription.

Premium Security includes real-time threat detection, a sandbox for testing suspicious files, file shredding, and Wi-Fi network scanning. The Ultimate bundle adds Avast SecureLine VPN, Cleanup Premium performance tools, and AntiTrack anti-tracking software. Avast provides browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Malwarebytes is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, founded in 2008. It offers a permanently free version that scans for and removes viruses, spyware, adware, and other malware on demand. Paid Premium plans add continuous real-time protection against malware, ransomware, exploits, and malicious websites, along with the Browser Guard extension that blocks scams, ads, and trackers while browsing.

The Plus plan adds Malwarebytes Privacy VPN, a no-log VPN service with a kill switch, and the Ultimate plan layers on identity theft protection with dark web monitoring and credit monitoring through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Malwarebytes software runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chromebook, and subscriptions include 24/7 support and a 60 day money back guarantee.

ESET is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, founded in 1992. Its consumer suite, ESET HOME Security, comes in Essential, Premium, and Ultimate tiers covering real-time antivirus, anti-ransomware scanning, a firewall, anti-phishing, and Wi-Fi network protection. Device counts and contract lengths are configurable, with coverage available from a single device up to 25 devices on larger plans.

Premium and Ultimate tiers add a VPN, file encryption, and a password manager, while Ultimate adds identity protection with dark web scanning, credit monitoring, and identity recovery insurance. ESET software runs on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. ESET does not sell a permanent free antivirus plan, but offers a 30 day free trial and a one-time online malware scanner at no cost.

Kaspersky is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Moscow, Russia, founded in 1997. Its consumer software, sold under Standard, Plus, and Premium tiers, includes real-time antivirus and anti-ransomware scanning, a two way firewall, safe browsing and anti-phishing tools, and online payment protection. Higher tiers add a VPN, password manager, data leak checking, and identity protection tools, along with 24/7 remote IT support on the Premium plan.

In June 2024 the US Commerce Department prohibited Kaspersky from selling security software to new US customers, and existing US subscribers were transitioned to a different vendor's product in September 2024. Kaspersky continues to sell and support its software in most other countries. Its applications run on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and the company offers a 30 day free trial alongside a limited permanent free antivirus scanner.

Bitdefender is a cybersecurity company with its global headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, founded in 2001. Its consumer lineup starts with a free antivirus scanner and scales up through Total Security, Premium Security, and Ultimate Security, adding a VPN, password manager, anti-tracker, webcam protection, and parental controls at higher tiers. All paid plans defend against viruses, ransomware, and network attacks using the same detection engine used in Bitdefender's business products.

Bitdefender's higher tiers add AI powered scam detection across email, chat, and SMS, plus identity protection with credit monitoring through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion on the Ultimate Security Plus plan. The software runs on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and subscribers manage devices through the Bitdefender Central web portal. A 30 day trial and money back guarantee are available on paid plans.

McAfee is an American cybersecurity company headquartered in San Jose, California, that has built consumer antivirus software since 1987. Its flagship consumer suite, McAfee Total Protection, provides real-time virus and ransomware scanning, a two-way firewall, a password manager, web protection against phishing sites, and a secure VPN. Coverage ranges from a single device up to unlimited devices depending on the plan.

Higher tiers, sold under the McAfee+ name, add identity monitoring, credit monitoring through TransUnion, and identity theft insurance. McAfee applications run on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, with a web portal for managing devices and subscriptions. McAfee offers a 30 day free trial and a money back guarantee, though it does not sell a permanent free antivirus plan the way some competitors do.