Below is a snapshot of the Web page as it appeared on 5/10/2024 (the last time our crawler visited it). This is the version of the page that was used for ranking your search results. The page may have changed since we last cached it. To see what might have changed (without the highlights), go to the current page.
Bing is not responsible for the content of this page.
Best Antivirus of 2024: Expert Picked | U.S. News
When you use links on our website, we may earn a fee.
Even though computers and other devices often have built-in protections, antivirus software is crucial to keep malware from infecting them. Whether you want a standard, affordable antimalware application, or something more robust with built-in virtual private network (VPN), password manager, and identity protection, there are plenty of great options available. Here is the best antivirus software available today based on extensive research and interviews with antivirus software professionals.
Quality modern antivirus software needs to be more than just an antivirus: It needs to offer you complete, and robust protection. That’s what you get with our favorite solution. BitDefender Total Security combines a strong antivirus scanning and active monitoring tool with robust protection against ransomware. It’s affordably priced, too, with a free trial available so you can try it risk-free.
You do have to pay to protect multiple devices, as there’s no option for a single device. This isn't a problem for most people, however. BitDefender Total Security is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can manage all those devices from a central interface, making it great for installing on your kids’ devices, and the parental controls help you block harmful internet content from reaching them.
Specs
Price:
$70/month
Feature set:
Antivirus, anti-ransomware, VPN, parental controls, and central control hub
Compatibility:
Windows 10/11, macOS, Android, iOS
Ease of installation:
Intuitive interface with a central control hub for device management
You don’t get much more "budget" than free, which is what you get with AVG Free Antivirus. It has a strong automated and manual scan antivirus solution, with live protections for your PC, Mac, or mobile device. It has Android and iOS applications and includes built-in email and web browsing protections across a range of apps and browsers.
It doesn’t have the advanced ransomware protection of some paid solutions, including AVG’s own, but it does block modifications of files from untrusted programs. You’ll get a few prompts to upgrade AVG while using certain features, like the system optimizer, but if you don’t mind clicking a few crosses now and again, AVG Free Antivirus will give you a robust layer of protection against a range of threats.
Specs
Price:
Free
Feature set:
Firewall, antivirus, email and web protections, basic anti-ransomware security
Compatibility:
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Ease of installation:
Fast and easy to install with an intuitive and clean interface
If you only want a tool for running occasional manual antivirus scans, or you want a robust antivirus program that has one of the best manual scanning tools in the industry, Malwarebytes Premium should be at the top of your list. It offers an excellent manual scan tool, outstanding real-time protection, and security against ransomware and phishing attacks.
The Premium package is missing a few advanced features like a firewall or identity protection (though you can pay more for those). Still, its per-device pricing is a welcome change from the bundled packages of other providers.
Our contributor, Jon Martindale, has used Malwarebytes Premium for several years himself and always found it a capable tool. When used in conjunction with Windows Defender, it offers robust protection against a wide range of web threats.
Specs
Price:
$40/month
Feature set:
Real-time and manual scans, web and ransomware protection.
Compatibility:
Windows, macOS, iOS, ChromeOS, Android
Ease of installation:
Fast and simple installation with a clean interface
Staying safe online isn’t just about protecting your devices; it’s about protecting your identity, too. It’s all too easy for nefarious actors to steal your identity and pretend to be you on various sites and services, especially now with the growth of AI in malicious online activity. Norton 360 Select With LifeLock has the most robust identity protections of any antivirus software, including monitoring of your social media accounts, purchasing habits, online accounts and identities, and information on the dark web.
If Lifelock detects that you’ve been compromised, Norton can help you recover your identity, providing up to $ 1 million worth of insurance for legal costs and other proceedings should you need it. This can be extended to up to 10 devices on a single subscription, including your kids, who you can manage the devices of through the robust parental control system.
Specs
Price:
$100 for up to 10 devices
Feature set:
Antivirus, ID theft, VPN, password manager, and cloud backup
If you’re new to antivirus software or just want software that's easy to use and maintain, the Trend Micro Maximum Security suite is the best option for you. It includes a range of additional features, including a VPN and password manager. While they are a little barebones compared to the competition, this keeps them streamlined and simple. Much like the interface for the antivirus itself, which is one of the easiest and cleanest to navigate.
There’s comprehensive live protection, as well as fast and effective manual scanning if you want peace of mind that your system is absolutely clean right now. Its pricing is relatively affordable for this level of coverage, too, so you’ll get everything you need and then some, all in a neat and easy-to-use package.
Specs
Price:
$50 per year for 5 devices
Feature set:
Anti-virus, VPN, password manager, ransomware protection, ID theft protection
Compatibility:
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, ChromeOS
Ease of installation:
Super fast installation and very easy-to-use interface
Some people think Macs don't need antivirus software, but that's not true; macOS can be targeted by malware just like Windows. The best of the best antivirus software for Macs is Intego Mac Internet Security X9. It includes a pair of tools that together offer stalwart protection against viruses, malware, ransomware attacks, phishing, and direct hacking attempts. It combines a powerful firewall with excellent live protection and manual scanning for a complete antiviral solution.
There are a few missing advanced features in the base package like VPN and parental controls, but you can pay a little extra for those if you want them. You can also pay extra for Windows compatibility if you want to use Intego on your Mac and Windows devices, though it’s not necessary.
If you have an Android smartphone and want better antivirus protection than it comes with by default, the Eset Mobile Security Premium application is the best solution. It combines robust antivirus protection with anti-phishing and call filtering, making your experience of using your phone more secure and less disruptive.
The desktop version costs extra, but the per-device pricing is excellent, even if you do get better value by covering more devices on one subscription. There’s a free version too, if you want to try Eset out or just use it for its antivirus capabilities. The additional features are well worth paying for though, turning Eset into a robust antivirus tool.
Specs
Price:
$13 for one device
Feature set:
Anti-virus, payment protection, anti-ransomware, anti-theft protections, anti-phishing and call filtering
Compatibility:
Android (Windows and macOS are optional extras)
Ease of installation:
Fast and efficient installation with a clean interface
All modern antivirus solutions are good enough to catch the odd virus you come across in the wild, but if you want seriously robust protection against a wide range of threats, you want an antivirus tool that can cover all the bases. Our top choice is BitDefender Total Security, which offers strong antivirus scanning, active monitoring, and ransomware protection, all at an affordable price.
Antivirus Software
Real-time protection capabilities: This is arguably the most important, baseline feature of any modern antivirus. While manual scanning was perfectly fine decades ago, modern malware is incredibly resourceful and capable, meaning you need regular scans and live monitoring of your PC to watch out for ransomware and more traditional malware attacks as they happen, letting the antivirus stop them in their tracks before they can do too much harm.
“[Any] antimalware solution must continually interrogate incoming files and packets in real-time to determine if they are malicious in nature,” Schwarberg says. “Additionally, the solution must allow the user to run scans at any time or schedule them in the future.”
Feature set and additional security tools included: There are a range of additional features that come as part of most modern antivirus suites. These can include useful tools like VPNs, password managers, cloud storage, tracking and detection of phishing websites and emails, blocking of malicious links, and ransomware protections.
"The best antivirus software would also be the best anti-ransomware tool, as well,” says data-driven defense evangelist at KnowBe4, Roger Grimes. Although he's skeptical that a targeted ransomware attack on an organization can be stopped by off-the-shelf applications, they do provide a layer of defense against more randomized, chance-based ransomware attacks.
Compatibility with your operating system and other software: There’s no use in buying an antivirus solution that doesn’t work with your devices. Make sure that whether you’re looking to protect your desktop PC, your smartphone, or your kids’ laptops, you buy an antivirus that supports the various operating systems you want to install it on. Also, make sure it supports the number of devices you want to protect.
“Companies typically have computers for daily use and servers that perform various shared functions,” Schwarberg says. “Multiple computing types also means various operating systems within the network which may include Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Additionally, some organizations have company-owned mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets).”
User interface and ease of use: If you aren’t a regular user of third-party software, some antivirus solutions can be a little complicated to use. Although all of them are designed with some measure of intuitive use in mind, some are much more suited to beginners than others. Some tools are all-in-one designs, which can streamline their use but make the interface more complex. On the other hand, using different applications for different things (antivirus, password management, etc.) can be a little overwhelming for novice users.
Pricing and subscription models: All modern antivirus solutions utilize some form of subscription model. That usually involves paying a monthly or annual fee for a set number of devices to be protected. More devices usually mean better value, but not if you don’t have that many devices in need of protection. Ensure you buy an AV solution that will protect all your devices and maybe a couple more, but don’t buy licenses you won’t use.
The Best Antivirus Software
To find the best antivirus software, our contributor Jon Martindale spoke with a number of antivirus and security professionals to find the latest insights into what makes a great antivirus solution. They included LK Tech’s Katherine Butler-Dines; COO at Resecurity, Shawn Loveland; chief security strategist at Exabeam, Steve Moore; data-driven defense evangelist at KnowBe4, Roger Grimes, and Larry Schwarberg, VP of information security at the University of Phoenix, among others.
He also considered user reviews and looked specifically at antiviral effectiveness, operating system compatibility, subscription costs, device support, and the range of additional features. Finally, he arrived at his list of the best antivirus software available today.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US
Jon Martindale is a technology journalist with 20 years of industry experience. He’s written for Digital Trends, Forbes, PCGamer, and many other publications. He’s interviewed many analysts and experts over the years and prides himself on being able to distill complex topics into easily digestible recommendations. To Jon, the best antivirus is one that’s reliable, doesn’t interrupt your day-to-day activities, and offers comprehensive protection against a range of threats.
You want an antivirus that protects you against all threats: Viruses, ransomware, phishing, and direct hacking, at the very least. But you can look for more advanced features like VPNs and identity protection, too. That’s especially true for enterprises and corporations.
Modern antivirus solutions are updated daily, if not hourly, so you always have the most up-to-date virus and malware signatures so your antivirus is looking for the latest threats. They also employ machine learning and predictive AI to try to guess the next hacking trends, which provides some protection against emerging threats.
Most antivirus software won't have a noticeable effect on your computer’s performance when it's running in the background. During an active scan, it will affect speed and performance, so try to schedule scans at night or during a time when you know you won’t be using your computer.
Free antivirus solutions are always quite barebones. They offer some protection, but you don’t get advanced features like ransomware protection, phishing security, and nice-to-have extras like VPNs or password managers. Some free antivirus software, like Malwarebytes, only offers remedial scanning rather than live monitoring. Be sure you get an antivirus with live protection, whether you’re going free or paid.
While a lot of free antivirus software programs have limited functionality, some offer enough features for users with basic needs. We recommend AVG Free Antivirus. Unlike most free offerings, AVG Free still offers live protection – a must with any antivirus software you are considering – and adds anti-phishing warnings, as well as email and web browsing protection.
Most modern antivirus solutions will do a good enough job if all you need is basic antivirus protection. However, if you have a particular need like identity protection, compatibility with a certain operating system, or a suite of tools that works for the whole family, some antivirus tools will be better than others. Check out our recommendations above; one of them is bound to be right for you.
Some antivirus solutions cause more of a performance hit on your system than others, especially when scanning. But unless you're performing very demanding activities regularly or you feel the need to perform regular, intense scans of your system, this is unlikely to be a problem. You can schedule scans and updates to take place outside of your main use hours, too.
Jon Martindale is an author and tech journalist with 20 years of industry experience. He’s written for a number of major publications, including U.S. News, Forbes, DigitalTrends, and PCGamer, among others. He prides himself on being able to distil complex information down into digestible formats that entertain as much as they inform. He is an avid PC builder and gamer, and enjoys tinkering with the latest generations of a range of PC components.
Jeff Kinney has been a writer and editor for more than 20 years. He currently is a senior editor at U.S. News 360 Reviews, where he focuses on consumer electronics and technical services. Prior to joining U.S. News & World Report, Kinney worked as a reporter and editor for Bloomberg, LexisNexis, and other news organizations.
U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.