Since the late 1980s, McAfee has established a strong presence in software security, and for two decades, it has been synonymous with Windows antivirus protection. Many new Windows computers come equipped with McAfee pre-installed, much like its competitor. Unlike other services, McAfee+ charges uniformly for households with 12 devices or just two, regardless of the slowest device’s speed or whether coverage is limited to one user. In June 2024, the US government prohibited Kaspersky from selling software or providing updates to Americans due to supply chain concerns, forcing the company to exit the US market.
As a Canadian resident, I valued Malwarebytes for extending identity theft protection beyond US borders. For US residents with substantial financial assets, Bitdefender’s premium plans offer access to identity theft protection. AVG stands out with one of the best free antivirus apps available, complemented by useful device optimization features ideal for beginners or busy users. AVG, a freemium antivirus provider, is our top recommendation for the best free antivirus solution on the market. If you already subscribe to a VPN, NordVPN Threat Protection Pro could be a worthwhile addition—though it won’t perform a full system scan.
Surfshark One offers OBS Studio antivirus protection along with privacy features like a VPN, breach alerts, and email masking for just $2.79 per month over the first two years. Beyond antivirus protection, Surfshark One provides additional tools to safeguard your data and devices, including Incogni for data removal. It also includes webcam protection to prevent unauthorized access to apps and websites. Due to its minimal resource usage, this antivirus is well-suited for midrange and older PCs struggling with heavier security suites. The software’s impact on system performance is negligible, using only a small fraction of CPU resources.
Norton Malware Detection Results in Testing
When selecting antivirus software, evaluate its system requirements and performance impact to avoid noticeable slowdowns. Emsisoft holds about 1% of the antivirus market—a modest yet noteworthy share given the industry’s vast competition. This is evident in its strong user reception, high consumer ratings, and extensive feature set. Though Emsisoft’s market share is small, it remains a highly trusted option for Windows security.
Deluxe at $49.99 is the sensible purchase for most Windows households, and it is the cheapest tier that includes parental controls and a useful amount of backup. Select Plus goes further with Scam Protection Pro, which covers email, calls, texts and browsing, adds an AI assistant called Norton Genie, and reimburses up to $10,000 if a scam gets through. It also happens to be the single most effective ransomware defence anyone here offers, because an encrypted drive stops mattering when a clean copy sits somewhere the malware cannot reach.
Could you explain the distinction between a full scan and a quick scan?
Phishing scams are increasingly convincing, ransomware attacks are rising, and data breaches are occurring at an alarming scale. An affordable, user-friendly antivirus subscription with reliable daily protection and system cleanup tools. A comprehensive antivirus subscription that includes VPN, identity protection, and robust malware detection—perfect for securing multiple devices. For data backup, we recommend an online service to ensure a secure copy if devices are damaged, lost, stolen, or infected. However, modern Android phones benefit from Google’s built-in anti-malware scanning.
Even if you are one of the lucky people who have never faced a malware attack, you never know what is going to happen the very next moment. To protect your Windows PCs from such attacks, you’ll definitely be using an antivirus program. Just like the previous lists, Bitdefender has managed to score the top position by scoring perfect 18 points in three tests. The tradeoff is fewer consumer-friendly extras (no big VPN/backup bundle) and a slightly more technical interface. ESET is the connoisseur’s pick — featherlight on resources and packed with advanced controls. If you want antivirus plus an unlimited VPN, password manager, and 50GB of cloud backup in one subscription, nothing else bundles this much value.
Typically, TotalAV Antivirus Pro costs $100 annually for a subscription. You’ll gain full access to its core protection features, plus coverage for up to five devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, or smartphones. After installation, you’ll answer simple setup questions, such as which protections to enable and whether to activate cloud backup. Malwarebytes is among the options, though I’d advise against installing it on smartphones. Malwarebytes provides a free 14-day trial to test its subscription service.
After 12 months, our app might prompt you to reactivate your free subscription so that you can keeping using it. Microsoft Defender also doesn’t score quite as highly with independent testing labs like AV-Comparatives. Rescue Disk allows a user to boot their PC from an external device (CD, USB drive). If you suspect an online message or offer seems off, ask our Avast Assistant if it’s a scam.
While it covers essentials effectively, advanced users may find its lack of customization or deeper security controls limiting. One Reddit user shared frustration over the difficulty of canceling their TotalAV subscription. Online complaints frequently highlight the company’s poor customer service record. Currently, the service is available for $30 in the first year.
Best antivirus of 2026 reviewed and ranked
Note that the one service we always recommend buying separately is a VPN, as the VPNs offered by antivirus-first companies typically lack advanced privacy features and also significantly slowed down my internet during testing. Things like advanced device optimization, VPNs, password managers, dark web monitoring, data removal tools and even identity theft protection are often found in cybersecurity suites from top-ranking antivirus companies. However, paid antivirus software often comes bundled with other cybersecurity tools that can be beneficial for some people. While it’s often impossible to be 100% certain of this, it is easy to find information about companies that have been caught by authorities, so you can avoid them. The top-level suite, Malwarebytes Ultimate, includes privacy monitoring and identity protection features, including $2 million of identity theft insurance.
Comodo has a broad influence in internet and software security. Since it focuses primarily on business solutions, its consumer offerings remain surprisingly limited. Conversely, consumers often express dissatisfaction with the company behind it, resulting in lower review ratings. Despite its average test scores, Comodo remains one of the most recognized and trusted Windows security brands, thanks to its free version. Yet, its service has earned awards for protection excellence and an AV-Test “Top Product” certification.
The device security toolkit allows adjustments to Windows firewall settings, security configurations, and startup processes. You can also install the free Browser Guard extension for anti-tracking without switching browsers. Despite its light footprint, it efficiently detects most active threats, making it a strong secondary antivirus option. Bitdefender allows upgrades at any time, with premium plans starting at $25 for the first year ($50 annually thereafter) for single-device protection. Despite its lightweight design, Bitdefender maintains strong malware detection capabilities. As a result, Bitdefender is ideal for users with older or underpowered machines, as well as those with cutting-edge devices.
