Best Antivirus Software
The best antivirus and internet-security software, ranked on protection, performance, and value.
Bitdefender consistently tops independent malware tests while staying light on system resources. Strong features and value across its Total Security tiers.
Norton 360 bundles top-rated antivirus with a VPN, password manager, cloud backup, and dark-web monitoring. A comprehensive security suite for families and individuals.
Malwarebytes is renowned for cleaning up infections other tools miss, with a lightweight real-time protection layer. Great as a primary or second-opinion scanner.
Side-by-side comparison
| Comparison | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Starting price | $3/mo | $3/mo | Free | $3/mo |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid | Freemium | Paid |
| API available | ||||
| Best for | Performance-conscious users | Families & individuals | Users wanting simple cleanup | Families with many devices |
| Top malware detection | ||||
| Low system impact | ||||
| Ransomware protection | ||||
| VPN (limited) | ||||
| Anti-phishing | ||||
| Real-time malware protection | ||||
| Secure VPN | ||||
| Password manager | ||||
| Cloud backup | ||||
| Dark-web monitoring | ||||
| Free malware scanner | ||||
| Real-time protection | ||||
| Ransomware shield | ||||
| Web protection | ||||
| Browser Guard | ||||
| Antivirus & firewall | ||||
| Unlimited devices (top tier) | ||||
| Identity monitoring | ||||
| VPN | ||||
| Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best antivirus software?+
Bitdefender is our #1 pick, rated 4.6/5. The full ranked list with pricing and trade-offs is above.
How did you rank these tools?+
Rankings weigh user ratings, feature depth, pricing value, and fit for the use case. We update them as products evolve.