The Best Antivirus: A data-driven comparison

Installing an antivirus program for Windows and Mac is almost essential these days. But with dozens of antivirus tools available, choosing the right one can feel like guesswork. To make the decision process easier for you, we’ve developed a data-backed approach to determine which providers you can rely on to provide the best possible protection against malware, phishing, potentially unwanted programs, and more.

The antivirus market is fairly dense. You could spend hours trying to find a reputable antivirus tool that fits your needs. This page should help get you on the right path.

Our list of trusted antivirus tools is based on hours of research into the most important criteria for AV tools. We evaluated over 45 free and subscription-based AV tools against the following benchmarks:

You’ll find that many antivirus tools may fit your needs. Most have a very similar set of tools and functions and may include only one or two distinguishing features. The biggest aspect that we’ve found that separates various AV tools is the price, effectiveness of their malware scanning and removal engine, and their level of transparency. Some also include VPNs and other bundled solutions. If you’re looking for a standalone VPN solution, check out Best VPN list

16 best antivirus tools for (Windows and Mac)

Our data-backed analysis of the 45+ antivirus tools filters down to these top 16 as the most trustworthy and reliable programs offered at the best prices.

1. Norton

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Norton the following scores:

• Protection score: 99.75
• Performance score: 92.5
• False positives score: 86.9
• Transparency score: 80

Norton has made its mark as a standout choice, getting our vote as the best overall antivirus. Known for its powerful anti-malware engine, Norton 360 emerges as a top pick, combining an intuitive interface with a wide range of internet security tools at a competitive price point.

Starting with the Norton 360 Standard package, users get the essentials of antivirus protection, smart firewall, and online safety while browsing. It also includes extra features like 10GB of cloud backup, a password manager, and a secure VPN. An interesting addition is the SafeCam feature, which ensures your webcam’s security, and the dark web monitoring service that alerts you if your personal information is found on illicit online markets.

The Norton 360 Deluxe package is an upgrade worth considering for those seeking more comprehensive coverage. It extends protection to up to five devices and increases cloud backup to 50GB. It’s particularly family-friendly, thanks to its parental control features, including a ‘school time’ feature for monitoring children’s online activities. Norton’s Privacy Monitor aids in removing your personal data from public databases, bolstering your online privacy.

Then there’s the premium offering: Norton 360 with LifeLock Select. This package adds the LifeLock Identity Alert™ system, which monitors the use of your personal information online and includes credit monitoring and legal assistance in identity theft cases. Flexible payment options, including a monthly plan, make this package particularly accessible.

Performance-wise, Norton strikes a balance between thorough protection and system performance. Quick scans are efficient with minimal impact on system resources, while full scans are more comprehensive but understandably more taxing on the CPU. The user interface contributes to Norton’s appeal, offering straightforward navigation and clear indicators of protection status and scanning schedules.

Customer support is another strong suit for Norton, with 24/7 availability through various channels, including live chat and social media. The user communities are a boon, offering quick solutions to common problems.

For 2023, Norton rolled out the Phone Takeover Monitoring feature to guard against SIM-swapping and port-out scams. However, it’s worth noting that despite its VPN service’s global server access, it struggles to bypass geo-restrictions on platforms like Netflix.

BEST ANTIVIRUS:Norton is our #1 choice antivirus for Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone users. It’s easy to set-up, fast, offers great protection and lots of extra features. Includes a 60 day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk free.

Read the full Norton Antivirus review.

2. Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark Antivirus isn’t just an antivirus; it’s a comprehensive security suite that packs a punch. With a 99% zero-day malware prevention rate, it’s a top-tier choice for anyone serious about digital security.

• Protection Score: 99
• Performance Score: 94.5
• False Positives Score: 96
• Transparency Score: 93

The software is part of the Surfshark One package, offering antivirus, identity monitoring, and a secure browser. It’s competitively priced and backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Performance-wise, Surfshark is a lightweight app that doesn’t skimp on features. Quick scans are fast but may miss some malware, while full scans are thorough and efficient. The user interface is clean and integrates seamlessly with Surfshark’s VPN service. And if you ever run into issues, their 24/7 customer support is on standby to assist.

COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY WITH VPN INCLUDED:Surfshark Antivirus has an outstanding protection rating, 24/7 support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out the full Surfshark Antivirus review.

3. Intego Antivirus

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Intego Antivirus the following scores:

• Protection score: 91
• Performance score: 91
• False positives score: 100
• Transparency score: 75

Intego owners have a little something to boast about here. Of the many antivirus apps on the market, Intego is one of the (very) few that puts makes Mac computers its primary focus. That approach pays off with an AV app that’s among the most effective in the market for Mac users and in general.

The company provides several packages, including its well-rated VirusBarrier X9 software and NetBarrier X9 software. VirusBarrier X9 is a full-coverage antivirus tool that includes real-time scanning and other threat protection tools. Meanwhile, NetBarrier X9 is constructed around preventing unauthorized access to Mac devices.

INTEGO:Best for Mac users Offers various packages and threat protection tools.

Read our full review of Intego Virusbarrier X9.

4. TotalAV

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give TotalAV the following scores:

• Protection score: 91.6
• Performance score: 83.3
• False positives score: 100
• Transparency score: 90

Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed an almost night-and-day transformation of TotalAV’s product. While other services may best it in areas like Performance (the impact on the user’s system resources), few can claim to have worked harder to respond to customer demands for improvements. Over the years, TotalAV’s customers have pushed for the company to overhaul the app’s functionality and design and a new approach to billing transparency. TotalAV listened and responded in the way you’d hope a company would.

This antivirus application offers a high-grade real-time scanning tool and a healthy list of “antis”:anti-phishing, anti-ransomware, anti-adware, and anti-spyware. The service also bundles in a Safe Browser VPN, system optimization tools to help improve the speed and functionality of your computer, a password manager, and a dark web monitoring service.

BEST BUDGET ANTIVIRUS:Great protection at a low cost. Works well on all systems and is hard to beat for the money.

Check out the TotalAV review.

5. McAfee Total Protection

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give McAfee Total Protection the following scores:

• Protection score: 91.73
• Performance score: 92.5
• False positives score: 97
• Transparency score: 95

McAfee is unequivocally one of the best internet security apps on the market. Its security software consistently scores well in independent testing lab results and on consumer review websites. With single device and family options that can protect up to 10 devices at once, McAfee should be on everyone’s shortlist for internet security.

Depending on the exact package you get from McAfee, you’ll find real-time virus scanning, added firewall protection, protection against phishing sites and other suspicious links, and encrypted storage for protection against threats like ransomware. All Total Protection software packages include McAfee Shredder, which will entirely delete files from your system. McAfee also adds identity theft protection if you go all-out with Total Protection.

MCAFEE:Award-winning antivirus. One of the most popular brands and for a good reason. A simple-to-use antivirus that gets the job done.

Read our review of McAfee.

6. VIPRE Antivirus

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give VIPRE Antivirus the following scores:

• Protection score: 99.83
• Performance score: 94
• False positives score: 100
• Transparency score: 100

VIPRE’s biggest problem is that you may never have heard of it. But based on its excellent scores and complete pricing and billing transparency, it should be one of the options you consider as you search for a trustworthy security tool. VIPRE has an advanced and well-regarded virus engine for subscribers. But it also maintains a number of other security tools that will protect your computer and your identity as you browse the web.

Available on both Windows and Mac computers, the VIPRE Home Protection software includes its top-rated real-time antivirus engine and other must-have security features. At a minimum, you’ll also get ransomware protection and added cloud-based security against malware and spyware.

In its more advanced security packages, VIPRE also offers application patching (automatically updates your apps to the latest version), email spam filtering, anti-tracking, sensitive document auditing, a dark web scanner (warns you if your private information appears on the dark web), and much more.

VIPRE:Reliable performance. Lesser-known contender that scores high marks on transparency and false-positive detection. Offers more than just anti-virus protection.

See the full VIPRE Antivirus review.

7. Bitdefender Internet Security

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Bitdefender Internet Security the following scores:

• Protection score: 99.3
• Performance score: 91.5
• False positives score: 100
• Transparency score: 100

Bitdefender is one of the fastest-growing internet security tools on our list, especially regarding name recognition and usage. It’s currently trusted by over 500 million computer users worldwide. The software is almost as highly utilized as tools offered by McAfee.

Bitdefender has among the most extensive security packages of any option on our list. The primary coverage includes its high-functioning real-time antivirus software. Its newest package option, Bitdefender Premium Security, offers multi-layer ransomware protection, a secure VPN, parental controls, a device optimizer, and minimal system impact. There are also over a dozen privacy protection features, including anti-tracking, microphone and webcam protection, social network protection, safe online banking, and more.

Moreover, Bitdefender’s software is included when you the company’s smart home security hub device, the Bitdefender Box.

BITDEFENDER:Set-and-forget. Multi-platform protection to suit most needs. Covers a microphone, webcam, social media, internet banking, and more.

Check out our in-depth Bitdefender review.

8. Panda Antivirus

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Panda Antivirus the following scores:

• Protection score: 99.75
• Performance score: 90
• False positives score: 60
• Transparency score: 80

Panda has a few unique features that make may help make the case for those shopping around for antivirus protection. Alongside its high protection score, with near-perfect results from independent testing labs, Panda is one of a select few AV providers that has an “unlimited devices” option for buyers. As with all tools, the price is a bit higher for more device coverage, but if you’re planning to protect more than 10 devices, most providers would require you to purchase another subscription.

The software focuses on machine learning to protect against malware, ransomware, and other threats. Still, its approach can be a bit heavy-handed, leading to an excessive amount of false positives. If you can put aside the fact that it’s a bit aggressive in labelling perceived threats, you’ll find its ultra-high-tech approach means it offers far better protection than many competing tools.

PANDA:Unique features High protection score and unlimited devices option for buyers.

See the full Panda Dome review.

9. ESET Internet Security

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give ESET Internet Security the following scores:

• Protection score: 99.5
• Performance score: 90.5
• False positives score: 99.7
• Transparency score: 90

ESET’s suite of tools is among our preferred options thanks to the company’s dedication to its craft. We’ve found ESET offers notably reliable protection, with a near-perfect protection score averaged across several independent testing labs. The company also follows a highly ethical and transparent billing process that makes it clear what you’re getting, when and how the service auto-renews, and how to turn off auto-renewal before the subscription period turns over.

As a security solution, ESET delivers a wide range of features and tools that cover the breadth of your security and antivirus/antimalware needs. At the Essential level, ESET offers high-grade protection against viruses, malware, and ransomware. The Premium-grade application includes added firewall protection, secure password management, encrypted online shopping and banking, anti-phishing, and physical tracking in case your computer is lost or stolen.

ESET:High-grade reliable protection.  A one-stop-shop solution with a wide range of features to cover most needs.

Check out our full ESET review.

10. Avira Antivirus

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Avira Antivirus the following scores:

• Protection score: 99.75
• Performance score: 90
• False positives score: 95
• Transparency score: 75

Germany-based Avira performs well among independent lab tests. Its protection, performance, and usability (false positives) scores are all above the 90% range, making it one of the top products to explore. Particularly of interest to consumers may be the monthly billing option. While most other internet security tools only allow for 1-3 year protection plans, Avira lets you sign up for a month-to-month option, making it easier to cancel your subscription and avoid 2nd-year renewal price shocks.

There are just 3 package options available for Avira subscribers, including a free tool. All offers its expertly-crafted real-time antivirus engine, privacy tools that eliminate online tracking, a free (limited) VPN, and performance optimization features, and a password manager. If you upgrade to its paid packages, Avira throws in a software updater, a more advanced password manager, and in the Prime package, unlimited VPN among other desirable features.

AVIRA:Flexible monthly billing plans.  A great performer with a low level of commitment. Easily switch between packages as your needs change.

Read our full Avira Antivirus review.

11. Avast Antivirus

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Avast Antivirus the following scores:

• Protection score: 100
• Performance score: 100
• False positives score: 100
• Transparency score: 75

Avast is well-known for its free antivirus option, but it also has a well-regarded subscription-based AV tool with an exceptional number of features. Its independent testing lab scores are as high as could be, with AV-Test giving it a perfect score on all three testing categories. Given this company also owns a few other privacy-related properties (such as AVG and the VPN service HideMyAss) it’s not too much of a surprise that they understand what it takes to make a winning product in this market.

The company’s real-time antivirus scanner is backed by a cloud-based machine learning algorithm that dynamically assesses and determines when threats occur. And because it’s a learning algorithm, it’s also capable of pinpointing zero-day viruses. Surprisingly, these excellent features are available at the free level. With Premium or Ultimate, the service adds some extensive security extras, such as anti-tracking and anti-ransomware tools.

This service scores well, but it adds far too many hoops and layers for subscription cancellation, leading to a lower score on that end.

AVAST:LOW-COST PROVIDER With Avast’s free and paid option, they offer an Antivirus solution for any type of user.

Read our full Avast review.

12. AVG Internet Security

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give AVG Internet Security the following scores:

• Protection score: 100
• Performance score: 91.6
• False positives score: 100
• Transparency score: 75

Although AVG is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avast (another AV product company), nothing has changed about what it offers. Its long and respected history in the antivirus and software security market spans nearly 30 years. During that time, the company made a name for itself by offering one of the best-functioning free antivirus tools. That free tool is still a major feature of its catalog, but it also delivers more extensive subscription-based security packages.

All of AVG’s software packages deliver speedy real-time antivirus protection as well as a digital blockade against phishing attempts. The company’s Internet Security package also provides features for safe browsing and online banking, enhanced firewall, webcam protection, and secure file encryption (helps stop the impact of ransomware). With the Ultimate package, AVG tosses in an anti-theft feature to help track stolen devices, app and device locking, and its Secure VPN.

AVG:Decades of experience.  A leading company that pioneered many of the industry’s threat protection technology. Packages offer a wide choice of features to suit your needs.

Check out the in-depth AVG review.

13. Trend Micro Antivirus

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Trend Micro Antivirus the following scores:

• Protection score: 97
• Performance score: 88
• False positives score: 88
• Transparency score: 95

Trend Micro has an exceptionally large suite of tools for business users and home users, making it a great option for both. In fact, it has among the largest number of package options of any provider on our list, including Home Network Security for smart homes devices, ID Security that sweeps the web for leaked data, and mobile device security for both iOS and Android.

The company’s 2nd-year prices trend on the higher side due to forcing specific device coverage amounts. As a nod to that fact, Trend Micro offers exceptionally favorable first-year pricing discounts that give you ample time to try out the software before deciding if it’s worth the full price.

TREND MICRO:LARGE SUITE OF TOOLS Significant focus on business endpoint protection.

Read our review of Trend Micro.

14. Sophos

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Sophos the following scores:

• Protection score: 70
• Performance score: 80
• False positives score: 83
• Transparency score: 50

Sophos is the very definition of a “mixed bag”. While it has some positives, many of these are outweighed by very notable and hard-to-ignore negatives. For example, Sophos offer a wide range of features with its free version (which is free forever, by the way). Many of the premium features, like Identity Protection, Advanced Malware Scan and Clean, Banking Protection, Ransomware Protection and others are included on a 30-day trial basis. That’s far more than most of its competitors.

However, Sophos is not widely accepted or adopted for home users. So much so that it consistently gets ignored by major independent testing labs, like AV-Test, which hasn’t bothered testing the tool in nearly a decade. Our own tests indicate that Sophos does work to identify and remove malware from systems, but it doesn’t give users much information about scan results.

What’s more, Sophos does everything it can to prevent you from canceling your account. Like most other antivirus tools, Sophos is subscription-based with a yearly plan. But it doesn’t give you this information on the sign-up page, offers no information on how to cancel the subscription before auto-renewal, and in fact, gives no information on auto-renewal at all when you go to pay. And if you do want to cancel, Sophos makes you jump through a lot of hoops to get there, with no way to manually turn auto-renewal on or off independently as a customer.

You might find value in Sophos as a tool, especially if you use the free version. But if you plan to pay, make sure you dig deep into the knowledge base to figure out how to cancel if you don’t like the service.

SOPHOS:UNIQUE SECURITY FEATURES Wide range of features available with its free version.

Check out the full Sophos review.

15. Webroot

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Webroot the following scores:

• Protection score: 73
• Performance score: 73
• False positives score: 73
• Transparency score: 70

While it’s more of a “C” student in its scoring, we don’t want to count out Webroot thanks to a few unique selling points. Most obviously, Webroot provides its tool at bargain pricing. First-year discounts are available, but even its second-year prices are roughly half of what competitors like Trend Micro offer for a similar product.

A big draw for potential Webroot users is its system impact. Its antivirus scanner is designed to search only critical system areas where malware tends to hide out, leading to faster scan times and less resource-heavy scans. This is a bit of a double-edged sword approach, however, as it’s the primary reason Webroot’s independent testing lab results tend to be middling.

Nevertheless, those who need the comfort of reasonable protection and who don’t engage in excessively risky web surfing will find Webroot is cheap and effective for what it does.

WEBROOT:LOW-SYSTEM IMPACT Bargain pricing and low system impact make this provider a good choice for netbook users

Read our Webroot Antivirus review.

16. Comodo Internet Security

Our research into critical areas important in verifying the quality of antivirus tools leads us to give Comodo Internet Security the following scores:

• Protection score: 100
• Performance score: 91.6
• False positives score: 91.6
• Transparency score: 80

Comodo is not what first comes to people’s minds when they think of consumer internet security, but it’s not one we could leave out. The company specializes in a large range of internet security concerns, more notably for websites. But its home-based security product is not only rated well but is also one of the least expensive products on the market. Granted, the lower price comes with significantly fewer features, but if you’re on a tighter budget this is a trustworthy option to consider.

There are several antivirus options available through Comodo. Its free version carries the full version of its real-time antivirus protection tool. A wider range of internet security protection is available through its Complete and Pro packages, which add an additional firewall, automatic sandboxing of unknown viruses, secure shopping, Wi-Fi hotspot protection, online file storage and backup, and unlimited live access to experts for troubleshooting and virus removal.

COMODO:Budget-priced minimum protection. Fewer features than others on this list. Good coverage for most situations.

Read our review of Comodo Antivirus.

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How to Choose a Trustworthy Antivirus Program

Selecting the ideal antivirus can be a daunting task, given the plethora of options like Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender that dominate the market. To cut through the noise, we’ve employed a multi-faceted, unbiased approach.

We’ve consolidated data from independent labs and factored in our own rating criteria for billing transparency. This eliminates subjectivity and provides a comprehensive view of each antivirus solution.

Navigating through lab tests and consumer reviews can be overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our tools aggregate the latest data, including pricing and consumer reviews, to facilitate easy comparison of over 50 antivirus options.

By using our tools, you can confidently select an antivirus solution that offers robust protection without breaking the bank or slowing down your system.

Consumer-friendly table of antivirus software

If you’re looking for a quick and easy reference guide, use this table to look up the software you may be interested in purchasing, or to compare different software based on certain, important criteria, such as price.

Aggregated antivirus scores and data

Use the following tool to compare antivirus tools based on protection (how effectively they identify malware), performance (how efficiently they run on your computer), and false positives (how often they incorrectly identify safe programs as viruses). You can also filter for price, and by how many device installations you’ll get for the lowest price possible.

How to use this tool

There are multiple ways you can use this tool.

First, you can filter by aggregated protection, performance, or false positive scores. Simply click the box for that name.

Each tool is organized based on how many independent labs have a recent test for that software.

All software available in the data is colored by the aggregated scores they received (0-100, with 100 being a perfect score). Each point in the chart is sized by how many device installs you get for the minimum purchase price.

Use the filters on the right side look up specific tools by name, or to filter based on the minimum number of devices with 1-year purchase, annual subscription price (if any), the number of independent labs testing each program, and by the average score for that category.

All operating systems are vulnerable to virus infections

All computer users should consider installing at least a free, third-party antivirus tool. At present, most operating systems come with a free tool pre-installed, but you should also consider purchasing or downloading a separate application. Our data suggest that the programs included in most operating systems are not nearly as effective.

The single best solution to stopping a malware infection is to use an antivirus program. These tools continuously scan your computer or mobile device and your web browser, looking for known viruses and anything that looks and acts like a virus. When a suspected virus is detected, the tool will automatically quarantine it, preventing it from infecting your device. You will then get a message that gives you the option to either delete the file if it’s a virus or release it if it was a false positive.

If you’re installing an antivirus tool on a device that’s already infected, you can also use the tool to scan the device and remove any pre-existing malware or other infections.

Windows antivirus

Although Mac users should also consider getting an antivirus tool, Windows users, in particular, have the greatest need. Over 99 percent of malware that exists were specifically designed to infect Windows computers.

This does not mean that Windows computers are inherently more vulnerable than Mac computers. However, the prevalence of viruses impacting Windows computers means that as a Windows user, you are simply more likely to run into a virus at some point while browsing the web or using your email.

Mac antivirus

One of the biggest threats for Mac users is complacency. Although most viruses that exist were designed for Windows computers, Mac computers are still susceptible to getting virus infections.

Notably, there are far fewer antivirus programs that exist for Mac computers, mostly because of the far lower number of Mac computers and fewer number of viruses impacting Mac computers. As a result, our research only focuses on Windows computers. Still, you can find a review of top Mac antivirus programs here.

Linux antivirus

There’s an on-going debate in the Linux community about whether or not antivirus is necessary for this operating system. The argument is essentially the same as with Mac users. Because there are fewer Linux users, there are also far fewer viruses attacking Linux operating systems.

However, we’ve found that Linux computers can and do get viruses. You can find out more here in our study on Linux viruses.

Android and iOS antivirus

Viruses on mobile devices are far less common, but they do exist. Among the mobile device world, the situation is similar to Windows vs. Mac. If you have an Android device, you are extremely susceptible to getting a virus infection, especially from malicious app downloads.

According to mobile cybersecurity company Lookout, phishing is among the biggest threats facing mobile users. Importantly, many mobile users are not prepared to stop phishing attempts, which increasingly come in the form of spam text messages.

Many of the antivirus tools we cover in our data provide mobile tools. However, there are also many tools available specifically for Android and iOS devices.

Our Antivirus Review Methodology

We’ve rigorously analyzed over 30 antivirus solutions, leveraging data from five independent testing labs: AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, SE Labs, Virus Bulletin, and MRG Effitas. Our evaluation tool focuses on three key metrics:

1. Protection: The tool’s efficacy in detecting and neutralizing malware.
2. False Positives: The frequency with which the tool misidentifies benign programs as threats.
3. Performance: The tool’s impact on system resources, including memory and CPU usage.

Each lab employs unique rating standards. For instance, AV-Test scores each category out of 6, while AV-Comparatives uses a 100-point scale for Protection and raw counts for False Positives. We’ve averaged scores and made necessary adjustments to harmonize these disparate methods.

Our charts also indicate the number of labs that tested each antivirus solution. Additionally, we’ve incorporated filters for price, device coverage, and average consumer review scores to help you pinpoint the best value for your needs.

A Note on Avast and AVG

While Avast performed extremely well in our review, this service now comes with a warning. A Motherboard and PCMag investigation published in January 2020 found that Avast was not only secretly recording and collecting user web browsing data, but was then selling that data for profit. According to the report, Avast was recording “Every search. Every click. Every buy. On every site”. The company was then selling that data to major companies, including Google and Microsoft.

The data was sent to and processed by Avast-owned company Jumpstart, which marketed and sold the data. Since the report published, Avast killed its Jumpstart subsidiary company, but the damage had already been done.

Note that Avast also owns AVG, making this well-rated antivirus program suspect as well.

Outside of these issues, both Avast and AVG are well-performing antivirus tools. However, consumers who have extra concerns may want to avoid these tools in favor of other equivalently-rated programs.

Results overview

There are a few interesting takeaways from the data that may interest consumers.

First, it should be noted that almost every AV tool on the market that was tested by the 5 testing labs performed similarly with regard to Protection. That means that almost any tool you purchase is likely going to identify, quarantine, and clean malware from your system with a high degree of success. Of the tools tested by the labs, only 4 received sub-par scores:

1. ViriT eXplorer PRO: 40.83/100
2. Webroot Antivirus: 72.75/100
3. Rising Security Cloud Client: 77.86/100
4. Quick Heal Total Security: 79.40

All others received aggregated scores of 90/100 or better. This means consumers’ best option is to consider more carefully the other areas of value: Performance, False Positives, Price, and the number of devices allowed per purchase.

Protection

The protection score is a measurement of how effectively the tool was able to identify and remove malware, including zero-day viruses. Many tools score well on this front, with some of the best scores going to the following consumer-focused apps:

1. AVG Internet Security (100%)
2. Avira Internet Security (100%)
3. Comodo Internet Security (100%)
4. Faronics Anti-Virus (100%)
5. Panda Free Antivirus (100%)
6. Total AV (99.9%)
7. VIPRE Advanced Security (99.83%)
8. Avira Antivirus Pro (99.75%)
9. Bullguard Internet Security (99.75%)
10. Norton 360(99.75%)
11. NANO Antivirus (99.7%)
12. Arcabit AntiVirus (99.52%)
13. Total Defense Premium (99.52%)
14. ESET Internet Security (99.5%)
15. Microsoft Windows Defender (99.3%)
16. Bitdefender Internet Security (99.3%)
17. Cyren Command Anti-Malware (99.17%)
18. K7 Total Security (99.15%)

That’s a long list of AV tools that scores 99% or above in their ability to detect and remove malware! But you’ll note that not all of these made our top 10, and some that made our top 10 scored slightly less than 99%. That’s because the ability to detect and remove malware is only one important factor when deciding on which AV tool to go with.

Additionally, small variations in the protection scores are usually acceptable. Most users will experience few, if any, differences when using tools that have protection rates within a few percentage points of each other.

Performance

• eScan Internet Security Suite
• Ahnlab V3 Internet Security
• Panda Free Antivirus

Ahnlab is not available to consumers, however, and while Panda Free Antivirus scored well in performance, its false positives score was extremely subpar. That makes eScan Internet Security Suite the best in this category.

False Positives

Four testing labs used False Positives as a measure for testing. Not every tool showed up in every lab test, however, and we had to make some adjustments particularly for AV-Comparatives, which did not create an average score for that category but instead offered only gave a raw number (e.g., the total number of false positives each tool sent back).

25 tools in this category scored a perfect 100, meaning they did not send back any false positives. However, when you consider the Performance and Protection scores, the top tools in this category are:

• eScan Internet Security
• Vipre Advanced Security

eScan comes out on top in this category as well, although Vipre performed noticeably better in the Protection category, whereas eScan scored a perfect 100 Performance and False Positives.

Price (free)

Quite obviously, most consumers prefer a free tool versus a paid one. And indeed, many of the free tools on the market are high-quality options worth considering.

The best free antivirus tools on the market, based on score averages across all three categories, include:

• Tencent PC Manager
• Avira Free Security Suite

Consumers may also want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which comes loaded with any new installation of Windows, or Panda Antivirus Free. Those two tools score well in the Protection and Performance categories but poorly in False Positives.

Price (paid)

As far as low-cost options, however, there are a few stand-out AV tools that may offer great value and quality, while there are some notable exceptions that are far too pricey for what they deliver.

Among the paid tools, the best include:

• Comodo Internet Security: $19.69/year
• NANO Antivirus: $12.03 for 500 days (may not be available to US or UK consumers)
• Arcabit Antivirus: $23.64/year
• Avira Antivirus Pro: $35.99/year
• G-Data Internet Security: $39.95/year
• eScan Internet Security: $49.95/year

Beyond these, most services cost $50/year or more, and indeed, the services with the best test results are also ultimately among the most expensive. eScan is the only exception, making it one of the best-paid options based on its positive test results.

A few tools are simply not worth the price, however, as they are both expensive and poor performing. These include:

• Quick Heal Total Security: $74/year
• PC Pitstop: $50/year

Other available tools may still be worth the price when consumers take into consideration other features. Individual investigation of those features may be prudent before making a final decision based on price.

Minimum devices per purchase

Most AV companies charge more money per month for more device installations. However, each offers several device installations for the base price. You can normallinstall the software on multiple devices with one subscription. If you need to cover multiple devices while saving money, this AV tool is a good option:

• McAfee Total Protection Plus: 5 devices, $79.99/year

Those looking to cover multiple devices may be better served with one of these options, all of which also have good test results.

Antivirus FAQs

See Also:

• Best Free Firewalls
• Free Antivirus Software
• Best Windows Antivirus

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