Antivirus & Malware Protection

Our top three antivirus apps

The first two are close. Avast comes first because its free version gives a Windows PC real-time protection and a firewall, and it has free apps for Mac, Android and iPhone too. Bitdefender's free tier is Windows-only, but Total Security can be tried free for 30 days and its app averages 4.7 from about 38,000 ratings. Norton 360 is third for households that want a VPN, passwords and PC backup in one plan. McAfee narrowly missed: its app averages 4.7 from about 239,000 ratings, but its listing has no password manager or backup.

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   First: Avast

   Free plan

   For: Most people, and anyone who wants to pay nothing

   Avast Free Antivirus gives a Windows PC real-time file, behavior and web shields, ransomware protection, a firewall and network scans, and there are free Avast apps for Mac, Android and iPhone. Premium Security adds Bank Mode, Email Guard, a sandbox and webcam protection, for one device or up to 10. Know the limits: Avast's website refused automated reads when this listing was checked, so its paid prices are not listed here; check avast.com before buying. The VPN and Cleanup Premium cost extra unless you buy Ultimate, and some trials ask for a payment method.

   Avast pricing and details
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   Second: Bitdefender

   Free plan · from $49.99/yr

   For: Households that want a paid suite across every device

   Bitdefender Antivirus Free gives a Windows PC real-time malware and ransomware protection with no time limit, and paid plans cover Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. Total Security is $59.99 the first year for 5 devices, then $109.99, with a password manager, and refunds run for 30 days after a purchase or a renewal. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 from about 38,000 ratings. It is second because the free version runs on Windows only and needs an account, and the VPN stops at 200 MB a day below Premium Security.

   iPhone and iPad app: 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store

   Bitdefender pricing and details
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   Third: Norton 360

   Free trial · from $84.99/yr

   For: Households that want a VPN and backup in one plan

   Norton 360 Deluxe covers 5 devices on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone with real-time protection, a VPN for every device, a password manager, cloud backup for Windows PCs and parental controls. Norton's US order page shows it from $39.99 for the first year, then $104.99 a year. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 from about 183,000 ratings. It is third because there is no free version, only a 30-day trial, and the backup and Norton Family parental controls do not work on a Mac.

   iPhone and iPad app: 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store

   Norton 360 pricing and details

Ranked on Oct 17, 2026 from what each listing shows and what people say about the tool, not from our own testing. How we rank