Alternatively, Malwarebytes provides family plans for up to 20 devices, but they’re more expensive than Bitdefender’s family plans. Malwarebytes defaults to three-device coverage on individual plans but lets you pay to extend coverage to five, 10 or 20 devices (though 20-device coverage is extremely expensive). If our initial research shows that a company provides a broad range of high-value security tools, or an affordable antivirus with robust features, we move on to hands-on testing. We also consider the operating systems and number of devices each antivirus tool can protect, prioritizing tools that can protect all of your computers and mobile devices. Our research process starts with looking at each antivirus company’s website to evaluate its features, additional security tools (such as VPNs) and pricing to determine its overall value. While our antivirus reviewer is Canadian, most of our audience resides in the US, so reviewing Kaspersky was not an effective use of our resources.
Advanced plans include anti-theft security for your devices and an unlimited VPN, but they don’t include the privacy or identity monitoring tools provided by our top-ranking antivirus companies. Bitdefender offers three affordable subscription tiers where you can bundle your antivirus with a VPN, identity theft protection or dark web monitoring. AVG Ultimate’s long-term cost is high for a plan without data monitoring, but its 10-device coverage and access to AVG TuneUp still make it valuable for some.
We also test every antivirus app ourselves to evaluate its malware protection, in part to gain insight into how it works. The mere fact that a company’s antivirus software appears in the results is a vote of confidence. Survey results vary for the most widely used commercial antivirus software, but Norton and McAfee generally appear at or near the top. We’ve created a separate collection of the best Mac antivirus software for you.
Multi-layered antivirus security comes as standard
Microsoft Defender — formerly Windows Defender — provides good security for most people, scoring a 100% malware detection rate in the most recent tests conducted by AV-Test. However, multiple of McAfee’s plans cover unlimited devices, which makes it a good choice if you have more than 10 devices to protect — you’ll have to pay extra for unlimited device coverage from Norton. The best antivirus software on the market based on our testing is a tie between Bitdefender and Malwarebytes, with the two providers trading blows. This involves purchasing a plan, installing all of the suite’s security tools, and testing each tool for performance (the percentage of resources used and speed of scans) and usability (ease of use). Kaspersky Lab is a Moscow-based cybersecurity company that produces highly rated antivirus software for both businesses and individuals. In order to be effective, antivirus tools need to track a considerable amount of data about your device activity — so you’ll need to trust the company to protect your data.
- Even family plans from other companies typically restrict you to 20 or 25 devices, so McAfee’s unlimited device coverage can be beneficial for those with large families and numerous devices.
- McAfee’s not great if you want to run scans while actively using your computer, and I found its privacy features underwhelming.
- It can help you block various types of malware, including viruses.
- Many antivirus companies now offer cybersecurity suites with additional tools like browser safety extensions, dark web monitoring and privacy monitoring.
- Firewalls and spam filtering aren’t common antivirus features, but some of our top picks include them as bonuses.
- But in 2026, the competition heated up thanks to Malwarebytes making major strides since our 2025 tests.
Best parental controls
Malwarebytes’ family plans protect for 10 devices, plus the option to extend coverage to 20 devices for an additional fee. Those with advanced concerns about data privacy or identity theft can invest in Ultimate, starting at $140 a year and rising to $280 a year afterwards. Notably, only the highest-tier plan has an introductory discount, whereas other antivirus companies provide introductory discounts on all of their plans. Malwarebytes plans range from $45 https://master-your-business.com/what-are-the-latest-digital-marketing-trends/ a year for single-device antivirus coverage to $250 for the first year (renewing at $500 a year) for a comprehensive cybersecurity bundle on a family plan.
After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces. Of course, we’ve already mentioned sandboxing, vulnerability scanning, and application allowlisting.
- The safe browsing extension blocks several types of trackers without compromising your browsing experience.
- Furthermore, AVG’s identity theft insurance caps out at $1 million, so people with particularly high assets might want to choose a company like Bitdefender or Malwarebytes.
- Some providers, likeMcAfee, offer unlimited device allowances, with others offering coverage for anywhere from three to 10 devices on individual plans and 20 to 25 devices on family plans.
- Additionally, people in the US with significant financial assets can leverage Bitdefender’s higher-tier plans to access identity theft protection.
- So if you want to play it safe and boost the malware protection on your Mac, it’s a good idea to add a third-party antivirus solution.
Outsmart scams with AI-powered tech
AVG’s data monitoring and identity protection tools aren’t included with its antivirus bundles, forcing you to purchase them separately — a minor annoyance for most, but a major annoyance for some. The safe browser is similar to Norton’s, providing robust protection from ad trackers and other spyware alongside tools like a notes app. AVG is a good choice for budget-conscious folks who want fundamental device protections and tools for improving device performance.
Ultimate
Our anti-malware finds and removes threats like viruses, ransomware, spyware, https://vectorart1.com/load/articles/news/discussion/11-1-0-132 adware, and Trojans. Malwarebytes free antivirus includes multiple layers of malware-crushing tech. Plus, it can support you to defend yourself from phishing attacks and email-based cyberthreats while helping to protect your home Wi-Fi network from cybercriminals. Some also protect you as you browse the web, blocking dangerous downloads or links.
Who It’s For
You might even have devices using all of these operating systems if you need one ecosystem for work and prefer a different one for personal use. I generally don’t recommend antivirus software that uses more than 40% of CPU power during scans, especially if it takes more than 10 minutes to complete them. The percentage of CPU power used by any program will depend on the resources your computer has available, but you can get a rough idea of resource usage by reading hands-on reviews. The best antivirus companies submit their programs to regular testing from third-party labs like AV-Test or AV Comparatives. ESET NOD32 delivers reliable protection from viruses and other malware, with a 98.3% online detection rate and a 100% online protection rate in AV-Comparatives’ September 2025 testing.
Virus scanner and antivirus for Mac
Security for every device in your office, including personal devices A browser extension for a faster, safer, and more private browsing experience. Download the app to get your first 7 days of Premium features for free. Get your first 7 days of Premium features for free.
You need antivirus software if you want to protect your PC against viruses, malware, ransomware, and the variety of other online threats out there. AVG has been protecting users for more than 30 years and offers a free download of antivirus software for PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone/iPad. There are various options open to users who want to download the best free antivirus software.
As an alternative to bundling, you could go the a la carte route, sourcing antivirus from one company, then get your VPN, password manager, identity theft protection and data removal services separately. VPNs from antivirus-first companies generally lack important privacy features and cause major speed loss. Some, like Bitdefender and Malwarebytes, offer plans with identity theft protection and insurance. Many antivirus companies now offer https://italycarsrental.com/professional-cybersecurity-verification-services-from-a-specialized-company.html cybersecurity suites with additional tools like browser safety extensions, dark web monitoring and privacy monitoring. Some providers, likeMcAfee, offer unlimited device allowances, with others offering coverage for anywhere from three to 10 devices on individual plans and 20 to 25 devices on family plans.
