Visibility in this ranking can be paid for. Payment gives a vendor more visibility, higher up on the review pages; it never adds a vendor, and it never changes a word of the review. The largest vendors in antivirus software
cannot hold places 1 to 3. Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands in a category,
wherever the category has them; the established names follow from place 4 in their ranked order. How it works: placement disclosure ·
editorial process.
The 13 tools, reviewed
#1 G DATA
German antivirus with three Windows tiers and a long trial · Germany · gdata.de
German vendor Windows-first 30-day trial
G DATA earns the top place by being easy to read. The trial page lays out three Windows products in order of scope, one Mac product and one Android product, and states that the support team is reachable around the clock even while you are still on the trial. That removes the usual guesswork of which bundle includes what.
- Pricing: Per device bundle / year. Prices were not readable on the pages checked. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Households that want a European vendor and human support
- Strengths: Antivirus for Windows; Internet Security with real-time scanning; Total Security with firewall.
Where it falls short
The consumer line is thin outside Windows: the Mac tier is called basic protection and iOS does not appear in the product list. There is no free permanent edition, so you pay after thirty days.
Wrong for
Anyone who wants a single subscription covering many iPhones and Macs, or identity theft monitoring in the same bill, should price Bitdefender or Norton instead.
Visit G DATA →
#2 ESET HOME Security
Slovak antivirus with a lean entry product and ESET HOME console · Slovakia · eset.com
Slovak vendor Light on resources No-card trial
ESET sells the same engine in several packagings, and the ladder is the easiest to understand of the group: NOD32 Antivirus for a straight scanner, home security plans above it, a VPN and privacy add-on, and a small-office product that shares the same ESET HOME console.
- Pricing: Per plan and device count / year. Tiered by plan and device count (Premium and Ultimate bands covering 1 to 10 and 11 to 25 devices were visible). Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Buyers who want a light scanner and a clean console
- Strengths: NOD32 Antivirus; ESET HOME account console; Mobile Security.
Where it falls short
The headline plans are marketed with device bands, so the real price depends on how many machines you count, and the cart on the US store asks you to choose a number of devices and years before showing a total.
Wrong for
Families wanting parental control, identity monitoring and cloud storage in one price should compare Norton 360 or Bitdefender Total Security before settling on ESET.
Visit ESET HOME Security →
#3 F-Secure Total
Finnish all-in-one security with VPN and ID protection · Finland · f-secure.com
Finnish vendor All-in-one app Stated renewal price
F-Secure Total is a single app for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS that combines antivirus, a VPN, scam protection and identity monitoring, with the Internet Security product sitting below it for people who only want the scanner.
- Pricing: Per device band / year. Renewal after the 30-day trial was shown as €69.99, €89.99 or €99.99 a year depending on the device band chosen. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: People who want one app and a stated renewal price
- Strengths: Antivirus; F-Secure VPN; ID Protection for passwords and online identity.
Where it falls short
Three renewal prices appear on the page without a clear device mapping in the text we could read, so you must open the cart to see which band applies. The trial renews automatically unless cancelled.
Wrong for
Offices that need central management for several staff machines should look at the small-business products of ESET or Bitdefender instead of the consumer app.
Visit F-Secure Total →
#4 Malwarebytes
Malware removal specialist with free scanners and paid tiers · United States · malwarebytes.com
US vendor Free cleanup tools Published prices
Malwarebytes made its name as the program you install when something is already wrong, and the free scam, link and footprint tools on its site keep that role open without a purchase. The paid ladder is easy to compare: Standard for devices, Plus adding a VPN, Ultimate adding identity protection, and family editions covering ten devices. A 60-day money-back guarantee is stated.
- Pricing: Per plan / year. Standard from USD 59.99 a year for 3 devices, Plus (with VPN) from USD 79.99, family Standard USD 119.99 for 10 devices, Ultimate with identity protection listed at USD 279.99 with a displayed discount to USD 139.99. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Users who want to clean an infection and keep a second scanner
- Strengths: Real-time malware protection; Ransomware protection; Browser Guard extension.
Where it falls short
The product is narrower than the suites above it.
Wrong for
A household needing parental controls, backup and a password vault in one subscription should compare Norton 360 or Bitdefender Total Security first.
Visit Malwarebytes →
#5 Bitdefender Total Security
Romanian multi-platform suite with a family tier for 25 devices · Romania · bitdefender.com
Romanian vendor Cross-platform Free edition exists
Bitdefender has the most complete consumer range of the European vendors, from free antivirus and a free Android edition through Antivirus Plus, Internet Security and Total Security to Premium and Ultimate. Individual plans cover five devices and family plans twenty-five, with a parental-control layer that shows activity reports for children.
- Pricing: Per plan and member count / year. Total Security Individual covers up to 5 devices and Family up to 25. Free plan: free plan.
- Best for: Families covering Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
- Strengths: Total Security across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS; Ransomware protection; Scam protection against phishing and fake shops.
Where it falls short
The VPN bundled in Total Security is capped at 200 MB a day, which is only an occasional-use allowance.
Wrong for
Anyone who wants the VPN for streaming or travel should buy it separately or pick a bundle with an unlimited tunnel, such as Kaspersky Premium.
Visit Bitdefender Total Security →
#6 Norton 360
Antivirus bundled with VPN, backup and LifeLock identity cover · United States · us.norton.com
Gen brand Identity theft cover Cloud backup
Norton is the product to look at when antivirus is only one line in a longer list of needs. The 360 tiers add a password manager, cloud backup, dark web monitoring, parental controls and, at the top, LifeLock identity theft protection, which is a US-centered service. The page also advertises a virus protection promise and a newer deepfake feature.
- Pricing: Per plan / year, first-year pricing. First-year prices seen: Mobile Security USD 29.99, AntiVirus Plus USD 59.99, 360 Standard USD 94.99, 360 Deluxe USD 119.99 and 360 with LifeLock Select Plus USD 189.99. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: US households wanting identity theft cover in one plan
- Strengths: Antivirus and ransomware protection; Secure VPN; Cloud backup.
Where it falls short
The prices shown are first-year figures and the page text states savings against a renewal price without showing it in the content we could read.
Wrong for
People outside the US, or buyers who only need a scanner, should look at Bitdefender, ESET or G DATA rather than paying for identity cover they cannot use.
Visit Norton 360 →
#7 Avast One
Free antivirus inside the Avast One app for all platforms · Czech Republic · avast.com
Gen brand Free edition Czech roots
Avast One is the simplest way to get a free scanner on every device in the house. The free edition runs inside the Avast One app on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, and a paid Premium Security plan raises coverage to ten devices.
- Pricing: Free plan plus paid tiers. Free Antivirus is part of the Avast One app. Free plan: free plan.
- Best for: Users who want a free scanner across all devices
- Strengths: Free Antivirus for PC; Free Security for Mac; Free Security for Android.
Where it falls short
The free version is a funnel: upgrade prompts appear, and the premium features that make a difference sit behind the paid plan. The price was not readable on the pages checked.
Wrong for
Buyers who object to upgrade nudges or want a family or identity bundle should compare ESET, Bitdefender or Norton.
Visit Avast One →
#8 Kaspersky Premium
Three-tier home security with unlimited VPN in Premium · Russia · kaspersky.com
Russian parent company Three clear tiers Unlimited VPN in Premium
Kaspersky presents the simplest ladder in the table: Standard with twelve protection features, Plus with seventeen and Premium with twenty-four, so a buyer can see what an upgrade adds. Premium advertises an unlimited VPN, and a Safe Kids year is attached to some plans. A 30-day money-back guarantee is stated.
- Pricing: Per plan / year. Three plans, Standard (12 protection features), Plus (17) and Premium (24), with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Buyers in markets where it is permitted and who want a graded ladder
- Strengths: Standard antivirus; Plus internet security; Premium total security.
Where it falls short
The contact page lists offices but the consumer terms depend on the country you buy from, and the legal entity differs by region.
Wrong for
Anyone subject to a procurement rule, a client contract or a government restriction on the vendor should choose ESET, Bitdefender or F-Secure instead.
Visit Kaspersky Premium →
#9 AVG
Free antivirus plus separate PC, Mac and mobile add-ons · Czech Republic · avg.com
Gen brand Free edition Many add-ons
AVG keeps a separate shelf for each job: free antivirus, Internet Security, TuneUp for system cleanup, a VPN, AntiTrack and BreachGuard. That makes it easy to buy only what you want, and the free antivirus covers PC, Mac and Android. The brand belongs to Gen, which says so in its site footer.
- Pricing: Free plan plus paid tiers. AVG AntiVirus FREE costs nothing. Free plan: free plan.
- Best for: Windows users who want a free scanner and optional tools
- Strengths: AntiVirus FREE; Internet Security; Ultimate bundle.
Where it falls short
The range is a set of separate products, so a full protection stack means buying several subscriptions rather than one bundle, which makes the price hard to compare.
Wrong for
A household that wants one app for scanning, backup and identity should choose Norton 360 or Bitdefender Total Security rather than assembling AVG parts.
Visit AVG →
#10 Trend Micro Maximum Security
Device-count tiers with scam checking and ID protection · Japan · trendmicro.com
Japanese vendor Device-count tiers Scam tools
Trend Micro prices its home line by number of devices, which is the most straightforward way to buy: one device, three, five or ten, with the list price crossed out next to the first-year price. Newer additions include a ScamCheck app for Android and iOS, a free deepfake inspector for video calls and a free HouseCall scanner.
- Pricing: Per plan and device count / year. Antivirus+ Security (1 device) USD 29.95, Internet Security (3 devices), Maximum Security (5 devices) USD 74.95 and Premium Security Suite (10 devices) USD 109.95 for the first year, with higher list prices shown struck through. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Households picking by number of devices
- Strengths: Antivirus+ Security; Internet Security; Maximum Security for 5 devices.
Where it falls short
All the prices on the page are first-year promotional ones with a larger list price beside them, so the second year costs more. The top suite is priced for ten devices even if you own four.
Wrong for
Buyers who want an unlimited VPN or identity theft cover in the same plan should compare Kaspersky Premium or Norton 360.
Visit Trend Micro Maximum Security →
#11 Avira Prime
German free-to-premium range with VPN and software updater · Germany · avira.com
German operator Free all-in-one Gen brand
Avira offers a free all-in-one app with the essential tools, a mid-tier Internet Security and Prime, which adds a VPN, a software updater, a password manager and a device cleaner. Prime can cover five or twenty-five devices on a monthly or yearly term.
- Pricing: Free plan plus paid tiers. Avira Free Security is free. Free plan: free plan.
- Best for: Users who want a free all-in-one and a Prime upgrade
- Strengths: Free Security app; Antivirus for PC, Mac, Android and iOS; Prime with premium tools.
Where it falls short
The site warns that Windows versions that are out of support cannot download the software, and the Phantom VPN is not available in India because of a governmental data-logging rule. Prices could not be read.
Wrong for
Anyone who needs a VPN that works in India or wants a vendor independent of Gen should look at F-Secure, ESET or G DATA.
Visit Avira Prime →
#12 Panda Dome
Five-step ladder from a free edition to Premium with a price lock · Spain · pandasecurity.com
Spanish heritage Free tier Renewal price lock
Panda Dome runs from a free antivirus through Essential, Advanced, Complete and Premium to a Family edition, with a separate Android app, a VPN and a password manager. The site calls Panda Security a WatchGuard Technologies brand and promises that purchases made during the offer keep their price at renewal, which is rare in this market.
- Pricing: Free plan plus paid tiers. Panda Dome Free, Essential, Advanced, Complete, Premium and Family. Free plan: free plan.
- Best for: Buyers who value a locked renewal price
- Strengths: Panda Dome Free; Essential; Advanced with firewall.
Where it falls short
The English site shows a countdown banner with a 60 percent offer, so the real list price is unclear.
Wrong for
People who need full identity monitoring, or a vendor with a consumer focus, should compare Norton 360, F-Secure Total or Bitdefender.
Visit Panda Dome →
#13 Webroot Essentials
Cloud-based antivirus sold in 1, 3 and 5 device plans · United States · webroot.com
OpenText brand Cloud-based Low entry price
Webroot is the cheapest first-year entry in this table. Essentials covers one, three or five devices at USD 34.99, USD 41.99 and USD 44.99, with larger list prices struck through, and it runs on PCs, Macs, phones and Chromebooks. The company calls itself an OpenText brand with a cloud-native architecture.
- Pricing: Per device count / year. Essentials for 1 device USD 34.99 the first year (list USD 49.99), 3 devices USD 41.99 (list USD 69.99), 5 devices USD 44.99 (list USD 89.99). Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Single-purpose users on a small budget
- Strengths: Antivirus protection for PC, Mac, phone and Chromebook; Cloud-based threat detection; Password manager.
Where it falls short
The list price is roughly double the first-year price for the three and five device plans, so renewal is the real cost. The page we read offers no parental control or identity product at the Essentials level.
Wrong for
A buyer who wants parental controls, identity monitoring or a larger bundle should look at Norton 360 or Bitdefender Total Security.
Visit Webroot Essentials →
Questions and answers
What is the best antivirus software in 2026?
G DATA ranks first of 13, best for households that want a European vendor and human support. ESET HOME Security is second (buyers who want a light scanner and a clean console) and F-Secure Total third (people who want one app and a stated renewal price). Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands, wherever the category has them.
Is free antivirus good enough?
For basic scanning on one computer, often yes. Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender and Panda all offer permanent free tiers, and Malwarebytes gives free cleaning tools.
Do I still need antivirus on a Mac or iPhone?
Macs can be infected, and several vendors here sell Mac products, including G DATA, AVG, Avast and Trend Micro.
Why does the price jump when I renew?
Most vendors show a discounted first-year price and bill the higher list price afterward. Webroot, for example, shows USD 44.99 for five devices in the first year against a USD 89.99 list price.
Who owns Avast, AVG, Avira and Norton?
All four are brands of Gen Digital Inc. Each of their sites carries a Gen copyright line, and Gen lists headquarters in Tempe, Arizona and Prague. Buying two of them is buying from the same company.
Is Kaspersky allowed where I live?
Rules differ by country, and some governments restrict the use of the vendor, so check current guidance from your own authorities before buying.
Can a small business use consumer antivirus?
A few computers with no central management can run consumer plans, and some vendors, such as ESET and Malwarebytes, also offer small-business products under separate names.
Is the VPN included in my antivirus any good?
It depends on the cap. Bitdefender Total Security includes a standard VPN limited to 200 MB per day, which covers occasional use only. Kaspersky Premium advertises unlimited traffic, and Norton, Avira and F-Secure bundle a VPN in upper tiers.
Will two antivirus programs protect me better?
No. Two real-time scanners compete for the same files and slow the machine, and they can flag each other as threats.
How do I move my licence to a new computer?
Most vendors let you deactivate a device from the online account and install on the new one. ESET lists device transfer in its account area, and Bitdefender, F-Secure and G DATA offer product activation and change-product pages.
What should I look at besides detection scores?
Look at the renewal price, the device count, the VPN cap, the vendor owner and the support options.
