10 Best Antivirus Software in 2023: Windows, Android, iOS & Mac

Katarina Glamoslija

Updated on:

April 1, 2023

Short on time? Here’s the best antivirus for 2023:

• 🥇 Norton: Excellent virus and malware protection, with tons of extra features like anti-phishing, a VPN, a password manager, parental controls, live dark web monitoring, cloud backup, and a lot more.

Risk-Free for 60 Days — Try Norton Now

There are hundreds of antiviruses out there — and they all claim to offer the best protection at the best price. But I tested the top antivirus software on the market and only a few of them are strong enough, secure enough, and effective enough to be considered one of the best antiviruses of 2023.

Most antivirus programs nowadays include more than just a virus scanner — they also come with features that add additional protection, like a network firewall, phishing protection, a virtual private network (VPN), a password manager, parental controls, as well as dedicated protections for mobile devices.

But a lot of antiviruses don’t exactly work as advertised — they have poor malware detection rates, they don’t consistently block malicious sites, and their extra features are badly designed and virtually useless (despite charging you an extra fee).

I spent weeks testing the top antiviruses on the market — I ranked them on security, functionality, speed, and price. Norton came out on top, but I found 10 other products that are also excellent. Read on to find out more about each of them and decide which is best for you.

RISK-FREE FOR 60 DAYS — TRY NORTON NOW

We Care About Your Online Safety

At SafetyDetectives, we want you to make the best decisions when it comes to online safety. So we’ve been reviewing and comparing antiviruses, password managers, VPNs, and parental control tools since 2018. Read our About Us Page to learn more, or see how we test different products.

🥇1. Norton 360 — Best Antivirus for Windows, Android & iOS

Norton 360 offers unbeatable virus and malware protection. It’s a well-built and well-maintained internet security suite that fully ensures all information stays secure, private, and protected — and it works well across all operating systems. It’s the best choice for home users looking for a complete, intuitive antivirus with some of the best cybersecurity protections out there, all for a low-cost yearly subscription.

Norton’s antivirus software uses a unique scanning engine powered by heuristic analysis and machine learning, making it capable of scanning, finding, and removing all of the newest and most advanced types of malware. It scored a 100% protection rating during all of my independent tests, and it consistently scored higher on detection and threat prevention than built-in antiviruses (like Windows Defender).

Norton 360 comes with a wide range of additional features — and they’re all easy to use and work just as promised. The features include:

• Secure firewall.
• Password manager.
• Webcam protection.
• VPN (with unlimited data).
• Dark web monitoring.
• Cloud storage.
• Ransomware protection.
• And a lot more…

My favorite extra is dark web monitoring (it’s by far the best dark web monitoring tool I’ve ever tested). It constantly scans the dark web for a wide range of personal information, including credit card details, insurance documentation, home addresses, phone numbers, gamer tags, and more, and it immediately alerts you if it detects any stolen data.

Norton provides excellent value across all of its packages. Priced at $19.99 / year, its entry-level AntiVirus Plus plan doesn’t come with a lot of features, but it still has real-time malware protection, a firewall, a password manager, and 2 GB secure cloud storage. Norton 360 Standard is also a pretty good deal — it adds unlimited VPN access, 10 GB secure cloud storage, and dark web monitoring, and covers 3 devices for $39.99 / year.

Norton 360 Deluxe is the best-value package for most users — for $44.99 / year, you get more licenses (up to 5), more storage space (up to 50 GB), and access to some of the best parental controls on the market. Starting at $99.99 / year, Norton 360 with LifeLock also adds identity theft protection and credit monitoring via Norton’s sister company, LifeLock — but these advanced plans are only available for US customers.

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Norton – 54% off

Get Norton 360 Deluxe for only $44.99

Bottom Line:

Norton 360 provides the best antivirus protection in 2023. It offers one of the strongest cybersecurity packages around — complete protection from all malicious threats alongside a ton of excellent extra features, like a VPN (with unlimited data), a password manager, secure cloud storage, parental controls, and a lot more. You can try Norton risk-free with the company’s 60-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full Norton review here >

🥈2. Bitdefender Total Security — Best for Lightweight Scanning + Tons of Additional Features

Bitdefender has an extremely advanced antivirus engine — it uses a massive malware database together with machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect and protect against malware more effectively than almost any other competitor on the market.

Bitdefender found and removed every malicious threat from my system when I tested it. And because its engine is cloud-based, all of the malware scans take place on Bitdefender’s cloud server, offloading the strain on your device. Bitdefender caused virtually zero system impact to both my Windows and Mac laptops, even during intensive, full-disk scans.

Similar to Norton, Bitdefender includes advanced settings for users who know how to customize their antivirus protection. You can set custom scan settings for specific areas of your computer, like scripts, network shares, boot sectors, and even new/modified files. Bitdefender’s advanced settings help further its reputation as one of the most powerful and customizable malware scanning engines out there.

But Bitdefender isn’t just an anti-malware scanner — it’s one of the most comprehensive security suites available, providing some of the best protection for both computers and mobiles, with features like:

• Web protection.
• System optimizer
• VPN (200 MB/daily).
• Parental controls.
• Password manager.
• Webcam protection.
• Ransomware protection.
• And a lot more…

Bitdefender’s web protection is excellent — the anti-phishing protection blocked the vast majority of phishing sites in my testing, and I’m a big fan of Safepay, which is a secure, encrypted browser window for online banking and shopping. I particularly love Bitdefender’s multi-layer ransomware protection, which adds a data-protection layer over your important files so that they can’t be encrypted during a ransomware attack.

Bitdefender’s VPN is also one of the best on the market, providing lightning-fast access to encrypted servers around the globe — unfortunately, unlike Norton’s VPN, Bitdefender’s VPN limits your daily data usage on all but the most expensive plan.

Speaking of plans, Bitdefender has several low-cost packages available. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, which is priced at $23.99 / year, has many of Bitdefender’s premium features (except webcam protection, parental controls, and a device optimizer), but it’s only available for Windows. Bitdefender Internet Security adds on parental controls, a firewall, and coverage for up to 3 Windows computers for $32.99 / year.

My favorite plan is Bitdefender Total Security, which includes up to 5 licenses for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS for $35.99 / year.  There’s also Bitdefender Premium Security, which includes all of Bitdefender’s features, plus the VPN with no limitations — at $59.99 / year, it’s pricier than some competitors, but considering the VPN is as good as the top standalone VPNs, I still think it’s worth it.

Read Review

Bitdefender Total Security – 62% off

Get Bitdefender Total Security for up to 5 devices for only $35.99

Bottom Line:

Bitdefender offers cloud-based scanning and heaps of cybersecurity tools for a cheaper price than most competitors. I recommend Bitdefender if you’re confident with computers and looking for a comprehensive cybersecurity suite with extras like a VPN, parental controls, and a password manager. And you can try out Bitdefender risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get Protected with Bitdefender Now

Read the full Bitdefender review here >

🥉3. McAfee Total Protection — Best for Online Security (+ Great for Families)

McAfee Total Protection has a great range of internet security features — malware protection, anti-phishing protection, a password manager, a VPN, and identity theft monitoring and coverage. And all of its features are intuitive, easy to use, and work just as promised.

Its excellent virus protection abilities alone make McAfee a great choice — scoring a perfect 100% detection rate against all of the malware samples during my series of tests. McAfee detected, blocked, and removed both simple and advanced threats, including viruses, trojans, spyware, keyloggers, and rootkits.

Its anti-phishing protection is also excellent, preventing me from accessing known phishing and malicious sites. It identified the vast majority of risky sites, outperforming both built-in protections from browsers like Chrome and Firefox and web protection from most competing antiviruses.

I’m also a huge fan of McAfee’s Wi-Fi protection. This provides an easy-to-read map of all devices on your home Wi-Fi network, giving you total control over your online security and allowing you to lock out intruders.

McAfee’s parental controls are also some of the best on the market — in addition to blocking inappropriate and unwanted content and apps, they also come with advanced location tracking, which allows you to track your child’s device with almost perfect accuracy (this feature works much better than Google or Apple’s tools for locating devices).

However, McAfee did slow down my computer a bit during full system scans (unlike Norton and Bitdefender). While I was able to browse the internet, use Microsoft Office, and watch videos on YouTube (but there was some buffering), I couldn’t play CPU-intensive games as my screen kept freezing during gameplay.

McAfee’s plans, which start at only $39.99 / year, offer excellent value. The Plus plan ($39.99 / year) provides coverage for up to 5 devices, and the Premium family package ($64.99 / year) adds parental controls and coverage for an unlimited number of devices. There’s also the Advanced plan ($99.99 / year), which adds anti-theft coverage of up to $1 million and other anti-theft protections.

Read Review

McAfee Premium – 60% off

Discount applied automatically at checkout.

Bottom Line:

McAfee Total Protection offers a great range of internet security protection for all computers and mobiles. Its anti-phishing and Wi-Fi protections are exceptionally good, blocking all risky sites and offering centralized security control over every device on your network, and its parental controls are some of the best on the market. This makes McAfee Total Protection particularly great for families looking to keep a highly secure Wi-Fi network and improve their children’s safety both online and offline. All Total Protection packages include a commitment-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full McAfee review here >

4. TotalAV — Best for Ease of Use (Super Beginner-Friendly)

TotalAV has an excellent antivirus scanner and a couple of really good extras, all inside a very intuitive dashboard — making it a particularly great choice for beginner users who don’t want to deal with complicated menus and settings. However, TotalAV also includes many customization options that advanced users will appreciate.

TotalAV’s antivirus scanner is fast and reliable, with near-perfect malware detection rates. The scanner caught 99% of all of my test malware, from viruses and trojans to ransomware, missing only a couple of tricky files (which Norton and Bitdefender managed to catch).

You also get a full range of extra internet security features. I particularly like TotalAV’s performance optimizer — during my tests, it cleaned up more space on my computer than most other competitors. I also like TotalAV’s VPN — it’s secure, works with popular streaming sites, and maintains pretty fast speeds across all servers (which is why it ranks as one of the best antivirus-bundled VPNs on the market).

The only feature I’m not too happy about is the password manager, which I think needs a lot of improvement — if you want a good password manager bundled with an antivirus, I recommend Norton or Avira, both of which provide high security, unlimited password storage on unlimited devices, and extras like password security auditing.

My favorite TotalAV plan is Internet Security, which covers up to 5 devices and costs $39.00 / year. TotalAV Antivirus Pro is a good entry-level package for users looking to protect up to 3 devices, and it costs $19.00 / year, whereas TotalAV Total Security adds a password manager, ad blocker, and protection for up to 6 devices for $49.00 / year.

Bottom Line:

TotalAV has a powerful antivirus engine and a good range of features inside a user-friendly dashboard — I recommend TotalAV for first-time users just needing something safe, secure, and easy to use. TotalAV’s packages all have a wide range of features, and they’re all designed for maximum ease of use. Plus, all TotalAV purchases have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full TotalAV review here >

5. Intego — Best for Comprehensive Mac Protection

Intego is the best macOS antivirus out there. Most antivirus brands only focus on protecting Windows PCs — even competitors like Norton and Bitdefender offer far fewer features for their macOS programs than they do for their Windows versions. But all of Intego’s Mac antivirus packages were exclusively designed to provide high-quality internet security and optimization tools to macOS. It greatly enhances Apple’s built-in safety features with things like:

• Real-time malware protection.
• Mac optimization and cleaning tools.
• Advanced Mac backup options.
• Network security options.
• Parental controls.

Intego’s antivirus engine scored a perfect detection rate against all of my test malware (both macOS and PC malware). And its scans are fast — scanning over 800,000 files in under 2 hours. I also really like that subsequent scans take only a few minutes, thanks to Intego’s file caching system that ignores already-scanned files (Norton uses the same technology to skip over previously scanned files).

I’m also a huge fan of Intego’s customizable smart firewall — it monitors both incoming and outgoing network connections and alerts you to programs trying to connect to the internet, which prevents programs from sending data from your Mac without you knowing (perfect for stopping hidden spyware attempting to send sensitive information to hackers). The firewall also adjusts its settings automatically depending on your environment — if you’re at home, work, or using a public Wi-Fi network — ensuring you have the most appropriate settings switched on.

Intego has a lot of pretty cool additional features — I particularly like how you can connect an external drive or an iOS device to your Mac and run an antivirus scan of it with Intego’s virus scanner. Because Intego doesn’t offer internet security protection for mobile, this saves you from needing to get multiple antivirus packages to protect your iOS devices — but if you want to do more than run antivirus scans on iOS, you’ll need to get a separate iOS antivirus app.

Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle X9 plan is excellent — it comes with all of Intego’s best features, including disk optimization tools and parental controls. There’s also the Mac Internet Security X9 plan, but it only has real-time malware protection and a firewall. Starting at $1.67 / month, Intego is a bit more expensive than the competitors, but then again, most competitors offer very basic programs for Mac users (typically only malware scanners).

Intego also has a Windows product, Antivirus for Windows, but it’s just a simple virus scanner and not full-suite security software like Intego’s Mac products. If you need a Windows antivirus, any of the other ones on this list are better choices.

Bottom Line:

Intego is the best antivirus for macOS in 2023 — it offers excellent protection against Mac-based malware, it greatly enhances and improves upon Apple’s already built-in security and device optimization tools, and it comes at a great price. And there’s a 30-day no-risk money-back guarantee, so you’ll be able to see if it offers the best protection for you.

Get Protected with Intego Now

Read the full Intego review here >

6. Kaspersky Premium — Best for Online Shopping + Banking

We currently have no evidence to suggest that Moscow-based Kaspersky is a threat to users. You can read more about our decision to continue recommending it on our website here

Kaspersky Internet Security has excellent antivirus protection, plus some impressive bonus features like dangerous site protection that will help keep you safe online. Its antivirus engine consistently delivers some of the best results in the industry against all types of malware — the program was 100% effective in all of my anti-malware testing.

Kaspersky also includes a good variety of cybersecurity features, such as:

• Anti-phishing protection.
• Safe Money secure browser.
• VPN (unlimited data).
• Password manager.
• Smart Home Monitor.

I really like Kaspersky’s Safe Money feature — the program detects when you’re about to make a payment online or access a banking website, offering to launch a safe, sandboxed browser window that’s impenetrable to malware and spyware. While I’m a fan of Safe Money, I slightly prefer Bitdefender’s secure browser, Safepay, which loads much faster than Kaspersky’s. Kaspersky also lets you use a virtual keyboard when handling online payments to avoid keyloggers.

In my opinion, Kaspersky Premium is the best-value plan, providing malware scanning, web protection, the Safe Money secure browser, an unlimited-data VPN, a password manager with unlimited password storage, home Wi-Fi monitoring so you can keep track of who connects to your network, and 1 free year of Kaspersky parental controls for up to 3 users. At only $48.99 / year, this is a good deal — and there are also options to cover 5, 10, and even 20 users.

Bottom Line:

Kaspersky offers a well-designed antivirus package with a good anti-malware scanner. In addition, you get useful extras like a secure browser for online finances, a VPN, a password manager, and 1 free year of parental controls. All of Kaspersky’s plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full Kaspersky review here >

7. Avira Prime — Best for System Optimization

Avira has one of the strongest and most robust antivirus engines around — it consistently earns high scores during independent testing (and scored a 100% detection rate during all of my tests), and it’s so good that Avira’s anti-malware technology has been licensed out to several competitors, including TotalAV.

Avira Prime also comes with a lot of really good additional features, such as:

• Privacy optimization.
• System optimization.
• VPN.
• Password manager.
• Premium apps for Android and iOS.

Avira’s system optimization tools are some of the best on the market. While many antivirus products include tune-up tools designed to help your device run smoothly and free up hard drive space, Avira comes with the most advanced tune-up and clean-up tools bundled with an antivirus, including:

• Startup optimizer. Saved a full 2 minutes from my PC’s start time!
• Game booster. Automatically allocates system resources and stops background processes to improve system performance.
• Junk file cleaner. Removes duplicates, unused files, and some cached files.

Avira Prime is a particularly good antivirus if you have an old or slow PC that’s often low on hard disk space. Avira’s system optimization tools had my old Windows 7 computer running like new — in fact, it almost seemed faster than my new Windows 10 PC! And since Avira’s antivirus engine operates entirely in the cloud, it won’t slow down your devices like many other competitors that download bulky software packages to your system.

At $59.99 / year, Avira Prime is a good value, but it’s pricier than some top-rated antivirus packages. Avira does have cheaper plans, including Internet Security ($45.99 / year), but Prime is the only package that includes advanced system optimization, the unlimited-data VPN, and mobile apps.

Avira’s free version is the best free antivirus software on the market — if you don’t want to spend any money right now, Avira Free can help keep your device protected with real-time protection, ransomware protection, and even a free version of Avira’s VPN.

Bottom Line:

Avira is the most lightweight security suite on my list, with a cloud-based scanner and excellent system optimization tools. It also has a VPN, password manager, and coverage for up to 5 devices across all operating systems. You can try out Avira risk-free with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full Avira review here >

8. Panda Dome — Best for Flexible Pricing

Panda offers an advanced virus scanner and easy-to-use interface, and it has 5 different pricing plans to choose from — I love that Panda provides its excellent security solution to everyone, regardless of budget. I’m also happy that Panda’s malware scanner performed well during testing (95% malware detection rate and 100% ransomware detection rate), and I liked most of the additional features too.

One Panda extra I really like is the Rescue Kit, which is a bootable version of Panda that can be operated from a thumb drive (in case your computer gets heavily infected by malware).

Panda’s flexible pricing options include:

• Free. Includes real-time virus protection for Windows and an app scanner for Android, plus a Rescue Kit and a VPN (limited to 1 server and 150 MB per day).
• Essential ($23.99 / year). Adds Android and macOS real-time malware protection, a Windows firewall, and Wi-Fi protection.
• Advanced ($28.49 / year). Adds parental controls for Windows, protection against ransomware, and safe browsing.
• Complete ($42.99 / year). Adds a password manager, device optimization tools, and a file encrypter and shredder.
• Premium ($66.99 / year). Adds unlimited VPN access, an update manager, and 24/7 priority technical support.

All of Panda’s features are great, but I was disappointed with Panda’s VPN — it didn’t perform well in speed tests, and the unlimited VPN is only available on the most expensive plan. If you’re looking for a VPN included in an antivirus package, I’d recommend Norton or TotalAV.

Bottom Line:

Panda has an option for every user, whether they want a simple free malware scanner with real-time protection or a full-featured internet security suite. Panda comes with lots of extras, including advanced ransomware protection, a Rescue Kit for saving malware-infected PCs, a password manager, parental controls, and a file encrypter and shredder. And all of Panda’s premium plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full Panda review here >

9. Trend Micro — Best for Secure Web Browsing

Trend Micro has a decent anti-malware engine, as well as an excellent web browser extension that monitors security risks, blocks online scams, and checks websites for unsafe content. The antivirus scanner scored pretty well in my testing, catching the majority of viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware on my system, though it didn’t score as well as top competitors like Norton and Bitdefender. Trend Micro also offers several scan customization settings, allowing users to adjust the malware protections.

Trend Micro detected more phishing websites than Chrome, Firefox, or Safari when I tested it. In addition, it detected scam links, unsafe content, malicious code, and even misinformation, and it also blocked ads and scanned my browsing history for any dangerous sites I may have visited accidentally.

Starting at $19.95 / year, Trend Micro offers several plans to choose from. Trend Micro Antivirus + Security protects 1 Windows device with malware protection, advanced ransomware protection, and a secure browser for online finances. Trend Micro Internet Security protects up to 3 devices (PC only) and adds device optimization tools, social networking protection, and parental controls. Trend Micro Maximum Security protects up to 5 devices (including Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and Chromebook) and adds a password manager.

Bottom Line:

Trend Micro offers a strong set of malware and internet security features for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Chromebook users. It’s particularly good at web protection, and its browser extension will help you avoid malicious websites, scam links, and suspicious content. All Trend Micro plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full Trend Micro review here >

10. Malwarebytes — Best for Basic Protection

Malwarebytes is a simplistic, easy-to-use antivirus that offers good virus protection for all operating systems and devices. During my tests, Malwarebytes’s advanced malware scanner detected around 90% of my test malware, which is pretty good (but not as good as top competitors like Norton or Bitdefender).

Malwarebytes also comes with excellent web protections, which successfully identified and blocked most of the phishing sites I tried visiting during testing, as well as ads, trackers, and other potential scams.

Malwarebytes also offers a VPN with unlimited data, servers in 30 countries, and decent speeds. However, Malwarebytes’s VPN isn’t a good choice for streaming or torrenting (if you’re looking for a good VPN to access streaming sites and torrent files, I recommend ExpressVPN).

Unfortunately, Malwarebytes doesn’t have any additional features that the other antiviruses on this list offer (like a firewall, PC optimization tools, parental controls, etc.). While I’d like to see Malwarebytes add some of these extra features, I still think it’s a pretty good choice for users looking for a minimalistic antivirus program that they can install and forget about. Malwarebytes starts at $37.49 / year.

Bottom Line:

Malwarebytes offers a good malware scanner, excellent web protections, and a decent VPN, but not much else. While Malwarebytes lacks a lot of the features I’d like to see in a premium antivirus in 2023, it’s still an overall good choice for users looking for a simple, no-frills antivirus. Malwarebytes comes with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full Malwarebytes review here >

Bonus. MacKeeper — Intuitive & Feature-Rich Antivirus for Mac

MacKeeper is one of the rare antiviruses specifically designed for Mac — and it comes with good malware protection, a range of security and privacy features that build upon Apple’s native protections, and a very intuitive macOS app.

In my testing, MacKeeper detected over 99% of Mac-specific malware files, which is similar to the best antiviruses for Mac, including Intego and McAfee. And its Mac cleanup and optimization tools removed around 7 GB of junk and duplicate files from my MacBook Pro (I also really like how MacKeeper offers the option to delete unwanted email attachments, which is something I haven’t seen in any other antivirus).

MacKeeper’s VPN is also really good — secure, fast, and able to access streaming sites like Netflix. The only thing I dislike about the VPN is the lack of transparency regarding the no-logs policy, so I’d like to see MacKeeper provide clearer information on how it manages user data.

On the other hand, MacKeeper is missing anti-phishing protection, which I consider to be a crucial security feature for an antivirus in 2023. It also doesn’t have a firewall or parental controls, both of which are included with Intego.

MacKeeper offers several plans that start at $10.95 / month. The plans are all the same, and the only difference between them is in the length of the subscription and the number of Mac computers covered (1-3).

Bottom Line:

MacKeeper is a really good Mac-only antivirus — it has near-perfect malware detection rates, it includes excellent system cleanup tools, and it offers a secure and fast VPN with unlimited data. However, it’s missing anti-phishing protection, a firewall, and parental controls. MacKeeper offers several paid plans and backs all purchases with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full MacKeeper review here >

Comparison of the Best Antiviruses of 2023

Antivirus
Starting Price
Malware Detection Rate
Firewall
VPN
Password Manager
Parental Controls
Extra Features
Supported Operating Systems
Number of Devices
Free Version
Money-Back Guarantee

1.🥇Norton
$54.99 / year
100%
✅
Unlimited data
✅
✅
Webcam protection, dark web monitoring, cloud storage
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chromebook
Up to 5
❌
60-days

2.🥈Bitdefender
$23.99 / year
100%
✅
Unlimited data (with Bitdefender Premium Security)
✅
✅
System optimizer, webcam and microphone protection, ransomware remediation
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Up to 10 (with Bitdefender Premium Security)
❌
30-days

3.🥉 McAfee
$39.99 / year
100%
✅
Unlimited data (with automatic subscription renewals)
✅
✅
Wi-Fi protection, identity theft protection
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Up to 5 on the Plus plan, and unlimited on the Premium and Advanced plans
❌
30-days

4. TotalAV
$19.00 / year
99%
✅
Unlimited (with TotalAV Internet Security)
✅
❌
Performance optimization, ad blocker
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Up to 6
✅
30-days

5. Intego
$1.67 / month
100%
✅
❌
❌
✅
Mac optimization and cleaning tools, Mac backup options
Mac, Windows
Up to 5
❌
30-days

6. Kaspersky
$27.99 / year
100%
✅
Unlimited (with Kaspersky Plus and Premium)
✅
✅
Wi-Fi monitoring, secure browser
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Up to 20
✅
30-days

7. Avira
$45.99 / year
100%
❌
Unlimited data (with Avira Prime)
✅
❌
System optimization tools
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Up to 5
✅
60-days

8. Panda
$23.99 / year
95%
✅
Unlimited (with Panda Dome Premium)
✅
✅
Wi-Fi protection, file encryption and shredding, update manager
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
You can cover as many devices as you want
✅
30-days

9. Trend Micro
$19.95 / year
97%
❌
❌
✅
✅
Secure browser, social networking protection, device optimization
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chromebook
Up to 5 devices
❌
30-days

10. Malwarebytes
$37.49 / year
95%
❌
Unlimited (with Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy)
❌
❌
None
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Up to 5
✅
60-days

Bonus. MacKeeper
$10.95 / month
99%
❌
Unlimited
❌
❌
Mac cleanup and optimization tools
Mac
Up to 3
❌
14-days

Try Norton Now (Risk-Free for 60 Days)

How I Rated the Best Antivirus Software of 2023

• Ensure strong malware protection.

  I only recommend products that have been proven to protect against the most advanced malware threats — not only viruses, but also spyware, rootkits, ransomware, and anything else that could cause me or my devices harm. I personally conducted dozens of malware tests, stress-tests, and CPU performance tests to make sure that these products can provide rock-solid protection against all viruses, malware, and other dangerous internet security threats.

• Check there are no (or minimum) false positives.

  While no antivirus software is 100% immune to false positives, some programs raise fewer false positives than others — I still think it’s better for an antivirus to raise false positives than to miss real malware, but constantly getting false alerts can be pretty annoying. The antiviruses on this list returned zero or very few false positives during all tests.

• Look for high-quality features.

  Most antivirus brands offer additional internet security features in their paid antivirus packages. But a lot of times, these extras are just flashy additions that will weigh your computer down and affect your device’s performance (not to mention increase the price). I personally tested each of the features for each of the products on this list to guarantee that each antivirus’s features are genuinely useful and effective, not just expensive, flashy extras.

• Check for speed and efficiency.

  The best antiviruses are lightweight and run smoothly — even on older or slower computers — across all of the software’s intended operating systems. I personally tested and measured how quickly and efficiently each antivirus on this list performed against all the other antiviruses on the market.

• Go for multi-platform support.

  The top antiviruses are compatible with all operating systems, including popular ones like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. While not all of my top choices support all platforms (for example, Intego is exclusively designed for Mac), most of the antiviruses I recommend work flawlessly across all operating systems.

• Make sure it’s easy to use.

  Whether you’re an amateur or an expert, you need virus protection for your computers, your phones, and your tablets. But if the software is so technical that you need to be an IT expert to stay protected, then most users will get too frustrated to even receive basic protection. I personally tested each antivirus software here to make sure that pretty much anyone will be able to set it up easily and use it properly.

• Check it has good customer support.

  It’s important to have access to multiple customer support channels in case you need help with your antivirus software. The brands on this list offer a wide range of customer support options, including live chat, email support, knowledge bases, FAQs, and forums. I reached out to each company’s customer support team, browsed their knowledge bases, and posted questions on their forums, and I was satisfied with the way they handled my inquiries and resolved my issues.

• Opt for good value.

  Antivirus software can be a big investment. I considered all relevant factors such as web and browsing protection features, how many devices are covered, and whether or not there’s a free trial or money-back guarantee. I personally feel that all of these top antiviruses provide great value.

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How to Choose the Best Antivirus for Your Operating System

All of the antiviruses on this list provide strong malware protection and a good range of additional cybersecurity protections, but not all of them are great for all operating systems. For example, an antivirus that works perfectly on Windows may have a limited macOS version, or it may provide subpar performance on mobile.

I can honestly recommend Norton as the best overall antivirus in 2023, having stress-tested all of the programs on this list on all of the most popular operating systems. In addition to having perfect malware detection rates and a comprehensive set of internet security tools, Norton provides well-designed, intuitive apps for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS. While it doesn’t have an app for Chrome OS, its Android app also works on Chromebooks (and it’s our #1 choice for Chromebook protection).

You may also wish to take a look at our curated lists of the best antiviruses for different operating systems and devices below:

• Best antiviruses for Windows. Most antivirus brands have the best protections for Windows devices, so choosing the best Windows antivirus can be difficult. But after extensive research, testing, and comparing, we recommend Norton as the top pick for Windows 8, 10, and 11.
• Best antiviruses for Mac. Unfortunately, because most antiviruses focus on Windows, a lot of them provide only bare-bones versions of their Windows software for Mac users. However, there are several really good macOS antiviruses that provide good malware protection, improve upon Apple’s built-in protections, and are easy to use on Mac devices. Our top choice for macOS is Intego.
• Best antiviruses for Android. Many Android antiviruses aren’t good enough to fully protect your device from the latest internet threats, but there are a handful of apps that provide excellent malware and web protection, as well as extras that can further secure your online activities. We recommend Norton or Bitdefender as the top Android antiviruses.
• Best antiviruses for iOS. While it’s true that iOS devices can’t get viruses, they are vulnerable to a wide range of online threats, including phishing scams, spyware and adware, and identity theft. The best iOS antiviruses can keep your device and data safe from all of these threats. Our #1 antivirus for iOS is Norton.

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Built-In vs. Third-Party Antiviruses — Which is Better?

A good third-party antivirus is a better choice. The in-built protections of Mac and Windows simply can’t compete with a premium antivirus. While both operating systems come with basic free protections, these are just not enough to keep you safe from the most advanced threats in 2023.

If you’re a Windows user, you’ll have Windows Defender on your computer (newer Windows 10 and 11 computers call it Windows Security or Microsoft Defender). While it’s a decent free antivirus, it scores consistently lower for malware detection than top standalone brands like Norton and Bitdefender. What’s more, it doesn’t get updated as regularly as premium standalone products, and it lacks all the additional security tools that a good paid antivirus can provide, such as a VPN, performance optimization tools, a password manager, and more.

Instead, I recommend investing in a premium antivirus like Norton to keep yourself safe online. It has a comprehensive suite of tools to ensure your security — including the best dark web monitoring on the market. However, if you’re set on using a free product, a decent free plan like Avira’s will also keep you safer than Windows Defender can.

Macs are less vulnerable to malware than Windows PCs — but they still need protection! Macs come with a few built-in security features, including web protection, anti-theft tools, an app review tool, and an app scanner. These are useful enough, but on their own they’re not enough to keep you safe. Your Mac could still be vulnerable to advanced ransomware, spyware, adware, and other threats.

Instead of relying on Mac’s built-in tools, try a premium Mac-specific antivirus like Intego. It offers flawless malware detection, excellent Mac cleanup tools, parental controls, and much more.

Overall, it’s not wise to rely on your computer’s in-built protections. Instead, choose a reliable premium antivirus to keep you fully protected online. Any of the products on my list will give you better protection than Windows’s and Mac’s in-built tools can.

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Why We Still Recommend Kaspersky

The German and US governments have warned against using Kaspersky, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) warned companies against using Kaspersky antivirus products due to the company’s possible ties to the Russian government. This was followed by the US Federal Communications Commission’s decision to add Kaspersky to its list of national security threats.

However, at this point, there is no evidence to suggest Kaspersky is unsafe. In 2017, Kaspersky started its Global Transparency Initiative — it moved its data storage centers to Switzerland, opened Transparency Centers in Switzerland, Spain, Canada, Brazil, and Malaysia where its source code and software updates are continually assessed, and passed the Service Organization Control for Service Organizations (SOC 2) Type 1 audit.

What’s more, Kaspersky has exposed many cases of cyber espionage, including those perpetrated by both Russia and the US, and its researchers are among the most well-respected in the industry.

Given all this, we have no reason to think Kaspersky is now a threat to users. But if you’re worried about Kaspersky putting your online security at risk, there are many other alternatives to choose from, including Norton or Bitdefender.

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Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut:

• ESET. ESET makes great contributions to the field of cybersecurity. Unfortunately, its current home antivirus product is not user-friendly enough for me to put it on this list.
• Webroot. Webroot is a lightweight program with a good malware scanner and an excellent password manager, but its ransomware protection isn’t great, its system optimization tools need improvement, and it’s missing most of the extras I want to see in a premium antivirus in 2023.
• Sophos. Sophos is good at detecting all types of malware, its apps are very easy to use, and it has remote management for up to 10 devices. However, I don’t like its additional features, and I think the brands that made it to my list offer an overall better value.
• Heimdal. Heimdal is a decent antivirus with a good firewall and advanced inspection features. Unfortunately, it has some annoying bugs and offers fewer security features than similarly-priced competitors on this list.
• Comodo. Comodo is a free antivirus with decent malware removal rates, but its cross-platform antivirus product currently has too many bugs, and certain features don’t work properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an antivirus work?

Antivirus software scans your device for any harmful files. These harmful files are known as viruses or malware — and they include a wide range of different threats, like trojans, worms, spyware, adware, keyloggers, cryptojackers, rootkits, and more. In most cases, malware is designed to damage your device or gain access to your sensitive data for financial gain — or both.

Antivirus programs use malware databases to see if the code of any of your scanned files matches the code of known malware in the database. They also check for files that are similar to the ones in the database. Advanced programs like Norton also use machine learning to detect malware based on their behavior. This is how antivirus software is able to detect new or emerging malware.

In addition to providing an on-demand malware scanner that detects and removes malware that has already infected your system, antivirus software also includes real-time protection that actively scans the programs that are running in real-time. Real-time protection is therefore able to block malware BEFORE it can infect your device.

Antiviruses can sometimes flag safe files as unsafe. These are known as false positives. If this happens, all you have to do is whitelist the program, and your antivirus will allow it to run. Whitelisting files is easy, but you should only do it if you are certain that a file is 100% safe.

What’s the best antivirus software for Windows 10?

I recommend Norton 360 as the best antivirus for most Windows 10 users. It provides the best antivirus protection according to my tests, and it includes some excellent extra features — phishing protection, Wi-Fi protection, a password manager, a firewall, a VPN, and a lot more.

But all of the antiviruses on this list will work for all Windows 10 users (and many even work on older PCs that run on Windows 7 and Windows XP).

Do I really need an antivirus in 2023?

If you’re using the internet, you need to stay protected against online threats. The good news is that you’re probably already using an antivirus — if you’re on Windows, Mac, or mobile OS, your devices already have antivirus protection. And these built-in antiviruses are not bad. But they do leave a lot of holes in your cybersecurity.

The top antivirus packages all offer advanced protections — full-suite anti-malware engines (including phishing protection, ransomware protection, webcam protection, and Wi-Fi protection), security enhancements (including customizable firewalls, parental controls, and device optimization), and extra features (like password managers, file shredders, and VPNs). Norton 360 and Bitdefender Total Security both have all of these things and more.

So the question of buying an antivirus isn’t so much about if you need it — because you do — but it’s more about what level of protection you want to have.

Is it worth paying for antivirus software?

Yes. While free antivirus software, including Windows Defender that’s built into all PCs, has greatly improved over the years, it still lacks many protections necessary for complete online security in 2023.

For example, most free antiviruses lack real-time protection, which prevents malware from installing on your device while you’re using your computer. Free products also lock some of their most useful features behind a paywall, such as ransomware protection, web protection, or virtual private networks (VPNs).

The best paid antiviruses, on the other hand, include all of these features, plus many other extras (like password managers, parental controls, and system optimization tools). Premium antiviruses like Norton also include multi-device coverage across all major operating systems so you can protect all of the devices in your household.

How much does a good antivirus cost?

A decent antivirus doesn’t cost much at all, especially considering the protection one offers.

For example, Norton, our top-rated antivirus, starts at just $54.99 / year. You can also pay a little extra to upgrade your plan to cover all of your devices and to access more features, such as dark web monitoring, a VPN, and identity theft protection.

However, some antivirus products are far too expensive and don’t provide good-quality features, so it’s always best to look for antiviruses that offer a good value for the price.

What is the cheapest antivirus software?

Bitdefender is one of the cheapest antiviruses on the market, starting at just $23.99 / year, and it also offers some of the best security features around.

However, most top antivirus brands regularly run special promotional offers, significantly reducing their price per subscription (for example, Norton is currently offering a 54% discount, so its plans start at just $54.99 / year).

It’s worth noting that some cheap (and free) antiviruses don’t offer a decent level of protection, so while you may be saving money, you could put your devices at risk. That’s why you should only choose a trusted low-cost antivirus that offers excellent security protections.

What’s the best antivirus software for Mac?

I recommend Intego as the best antivirus for Mac. It’s designed exclusively for macOS, and it performed exceptionally well in my tests. It’s got a lot of cool features like real-time protection and a customizable network firewall.

That said, most of the antivirus products on this list have highly capable Mac applications as well. And they all run without any issues, even though there may be certain conditions.

For example, Norton 360 is a great choice for Mac users, but certain features (such as Cloud Backup and Parental Control) are limited on Mac due to Apple’s restrictions.

How do I choose the best antivirus software for me?

Choosing the right antivirus software package can be challenging — there are so many choices, and the most expensive products don’t always offer the best protection.

Here’s what you should do to help you find the right antivirus product:

• Decide what features you need. Basic antivirus protection is essential, but other internet security features are also important. If you use public Wi-Fi networks, you should choose a product that includes a VPN. If you have kids, you should find an antivirus with parental controls. The more comprehensive products on this list, such as Norton 360, provide these advanced features (and a lot more).
• Consider which and how many devices you need to protect. You might have more than one device that requires antivirus protection. All the products on this list offer plans with multiple licenses — for example, you can use the top McAfee plan on an unlimited number of devices, including smartphones. While most of my top choices also offer top-quality apps for all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, some antiviruses don’t have mobile apps — for example, Intego doesn’t have an app for iOS or Android, but it’s my top recommendation for macOS.
• Take advantage of a free trial/money-back guarantee. There are several brands on this list that offer a no-commitment free trial. For example, your first month using Panda is totally free. And almost every other brand offers a “no questions asked” money-back guarantee — for example, TotalAV offers a 30-day refund period, and Norton’s refund period is a generous 60 days.
• Test out the software. Spend some time testing the product you’ve chosen. If you’re not happy, reach out to customer support. Or simply get a refund — these brands have seriously good reputations to maintain, and they will 100% honor any valid refund request. You could conceivably test every product on this list — at no expense whatsoever — before settling on the right one.

Will an antivirus slow down my device?

Antivirus software may slow down your device — but system slowdown usually happens only during a full system scan. However, the best antivirus programs run quickly and smoothly even during full scans, allowing you to uninterruptedly use your device.

My top choices, Norton and Bitdefender, had zero impact on my device’s performance during testing — I could stream video, play games, work online, and make video calls while they were running in the background.

Additionally, some of my top choices have excellent system optimization tools that will help clean and speed up your device. And some brands even include game boosters (I recommend Norton for gamers), which enable you to play high-performance games without any lag.

Best Antivirus Programs in 2023 — Final Score: