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 1. Home
 2. Best Picks
 3. Antivirus


THE BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE 2021: FREE ANTIVIRUS AND PAID OPTIONS TESTED

By Paul Wagenseil published 2 days ago

This is the best antivirus protection you can get today

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

Comments (59)

If you're running Windows, you'll need one of the best antivirus programs, free
or paid. Windows gets attacked much more often than any other software platform,
and using a PC without antivirus software is just asking for trouble.



Fortunately, Windows 8.1, 10 and 11 come with Microsoft Defender Antivirus,
which was once awful but is now among the best free antivirus programs
available. 



If you just want to keep your PC free from infection, Defender might be all you
need. But it can't match the extra features that come with the best paid
antivirus software, and even some other free programs.

If you've got kids at home, you can get a premium security suite that includes
parental controls along with antivirus software. Many suites also include VPN
service, password managers, backup software or even identity-theft protection —
all bundled more cheaply than if you bought each feature on its own.

Each brand's antivirus programs share one Windows malware-detection "engine,"
but more features get added as subscription prices rise. 



For example, Kaspersky has the free Kaspersky Security Cloud, the basic
Kaspersky Anti-Virus, the midrange Kaspersky Internet Security and the premium
Kaspersky Total Security. Norton LifeLock has even more plans mixing in various
levels of protection. 

The more expensive plans also bundle in antivirus software for Macs and Android
devices and offer limited security programs for iOS devices as well. (There are
no true antivirus apps for iPhones and iPads.) 

Here's our list of the best paid antivirus programs. Don't forget to check out
our list of the best free antivirus software halfway down this page.


THE TOP 3 BEST ANTIVIRUS BRANDS

Click here if you're in the U.S.

1. Kaspersky provides the best antivirus protection overall
Kaspersky Total Security combines one of the world's top-rated malware-detection
engines with a ton of useful features. It's the best antivirus software you can
buy today.

Click here if you're in the U.S.
Click here if you're in the U.K. (or anywhere else)


View Deal
2. Bitdefender offers the best value in antivirus software

2. Bitdefender offers the best value in antivirus software
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus combines great malware protection with an assortment
of useful features and an easy-to-use interface, all at a very affordable price.


View Deal
3. Norton packs in everything but the kitchen sink

3. Norton packs in everything but the kitchen sink
Norton's antivirus products offer a password manager, unlimited VPN data,
identity theft protection, parental controls and even online storage. If you're
willing to pay full freight, you'll get almost every kind of digital security
you could ever need.

View Deal
 * Best Mac antivirus software
 * Best Android antivirus apps
 * Best free antivirus software


WHAT IS THE BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE?

Best Antivirus: Top 7

1. Kaspersky Total Security
2. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
3. Norton 360 Deluxe
4. McAfee Internet Security
5. Trend Micro Maximum Security
6. ESET Smart Security Premium
7. Sophos Home Premium


Our top choice is Kaspersky Total Security, which delivers excellent malware
protection, a full complement of extra features and an easy-to-use interface.

Right behind that are the entry-level Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the best
bargain in antivirus software, and Norton 360 Deluxe, which offers a ton of
extra features, including unlimited VPN service and LifeLock identity
protection.

Any of these three would serve you well, but the ideal choice depends on your
circumstances. See our section on how to choose the best antivirus software
below, or our stand-alone antivirus buying guide.

For the best free antivirus, we like Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, which sailed
past Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition for the top spot. Both offered excellent
protection without system slowdowns, but Kaspersky's free program lets you
schedule scans, adds a ton of useful extras and had the smallest system impact
we've ever seen.

Our free rankings immediately follow our paid rankings below.


THE BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE YOU CAN BUY TODAY



(Image credit: Kaspersky)


1. KASPERSKY TOTAL SECURITY

THE BEST ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION OVERALL.

SPECIFICATIONS

Anti-theft: Yes
Backup software: Yes
Firewall: Yes
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: Yes
Parental controls: Yes
Password manager: Yes
Ransomware rollback: Yes
Webcam protection: Yes
Virtual keyboard: Yes
VPN: Limited upsell
Wi-Fi scanner: Yes


REASONS TO BUY

+Excellent malware protection+New stalkerware protection+Password manager,
parental controls

REASONS TO AVOID

-Limited VPN usage-Microphone protection hard to enable


Kaspersky's Windows products have excellent malware-detection scores and a
light-to-moderate system-performance impact, the two most important criteria in
our rankings. 

The entry-level program, Kaspersky Anti-Virus (starting at £12.49 UK/$29.99 US),
has dedicated ransomware protection, a virtual keyboard and a convenient online
account portal. But it's beaten by Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, which has even
more features.

Kaspersky Internet Security (£17.49 UK/$39.99 US) is our top choice among
midrange packages. It has a secure browser, anti-theft protection for laptops,
webcam protection and a limited-use VPN client that kicks in when you connect to
an open Wi-Fi network. It also includes software for macOS, Android and iOS.

The premium antivirus suite, Kaspersky Total Security (£19.99 UK/$44.99 US),
adds backup software, parental controls, file encryption, a file shredder and an
unlimited password manager. We think it's the best antivirus software you can
buy today.

As mentioned earlier, Kaspersky Total Security has won Best Antivirus Software
in the 2021 Tom's Guide Awards.

Read our full Kaspersky Total Security review.

Image

The best antivirus software you can buy
Kaspersky offers excellent malware protection, lots of useful extra features and
a light system impact with an easy-to-use interface. 

Click here if you're in the U.S.
Click here if you're in the U.K. (or anywhere else)





(Image credit: Bitdefender)


2. BITDEFENDER ANTIVIRUS PLUS

THE BEST VALUE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

SPECIFICATIONS

Anti-theft: No
Backup software: No
Firewall: No
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: Yes
Parental controls: No
Password manager: Yes
Ransomware rollback: Yes
Webcam protection: No
Virtual keyboard: Yes
VPN: Limited upsell
Wi-Fi scanner: Yes
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
€15.99
/year
Visit Siteat Bitdefender

REASONS TO BUY

+Very good malware protection+Lots of useful extra features+Light system impact
with active scans

REASONS TO AVOID

-Heavy background system impact

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is our top choice among entry-level antivirus
products. It has very good, if not perfect, malware-detection scores. Its active
scans don't add much to the background system impact, but that background load
is a bit heavy. 

It also offers the most value, with an unlimited password manager, a secure
browser with a virtual keyboard, a Wi-Fi network scanner, a file shredder,
protection against encrypting ransomware and Bitdefender's new web-privacy
software -- features often found only with pricier antivirus packages.

The midrange Bitdefender Internet Security adds parental controls, webcam
protection and a two-way firewall, while Bitdefender Total Security tops off the
lineup with an anti-theft feature for laptops, a system optimizer and licenses
for Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android. 

A fourth product, Bitdefender Premium Security, is basically Total Security with
unlimited VPN usage and priority tech support. (The other programs limit you to
200MB of Bitdefender VPN usage per day.) 

But the best deal is the Bitdefender Family Pack, which puts Total Security on
up to 15 devices for (a frequently discounted) $120 per year.

As mentioned above, Bitdefender Total Security has merited a Highly Recommended
mention for Best Antivirus Software in the 2021 Tom's Guide Awards.

Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus Plus review.



(Image credit: Norton)


3. NORTON 360 DELUXE

ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER NEED.

SPECIFICATIONS

Anti-theft: No
Backup software: Yes
Firewall: Yes
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: No
Parental controls: Yes
Password manager: Yes
Ransomware rollback: No
Webcam protection: Yes
VPN: Unlimited
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
View at Amazon
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See all prices (15 found)
190 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆

REASONS TO BUY

+Excellent malware protection+Parental controls, backup software, online
storage, password manager, webcam protection, unlimited VPN+LifeLock identity
protection with top tiers

REASONS TO AVOID

-Heavy slowdown during full scans-Pricey

All of Norton's antivirus products offer excellent malware protection, and the
once-heavy system-performance load is much lighter. The number of extra features
each program has varies, but the sweet spot in the lineup is Norton 360 Deluxe. 

It includes a password manager that works on all major platforms, unlimited VPN
service, dark-web personal-data monitoring, parental controls and up to 50GB of
online storage space. Two other offerings, Norton 360 Premium and Norton 360
Platinum, give you more online storage and expand the antivirus and VPN coverage
to 10 and 20 devices, respectively. 

If you want full-on identity protection, Norton offers three bundles with
varying degrees of LifeLock service and even more online storage. Their
subscription prices run well into the triple digits, but still cost less than if
you were to buy the identity protection, password manager, cloud-backup storage
and antivirus software separately.

Unlike some of the other best antivirus software makers, Norton doesn't offer a
file shredder, file encryption or secure web browser with any of its products.
Yet every other digital-protection service you could possibly ask for is
included with at least some of its bundles.

Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review.



(Image credit: McAfee)


4. MCAFEE INTERNET SECURITY

A BARGAIN FOR BIG FAMILIES, BUT NOT PERFECT PROTECTION

SPECIFICATIONS

Anti-theft: No
Backup software: No
Firewall: Yes
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: No
Parental controls: No
Password manager: Yes
Ransomware rollback: Yes
Webcam protection: No
Virtual keyboard: No
VPN: No
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Visit Site

REASONS TO BUY

+Protects lots of machines for cheap+Password manager+Improving malware
protection

REASONS TO AVOID

-Very heavy performance hit-No parental controls on mid-priced tier

McAfee's malware detection has improved greatly in the past couple of years, but
it's still not quite top-of-the-line. 

Despite that, the entry-level McAfee AntiVirus Plus is a bargain: $60 per year
buys software for up to 10 (in practice, unlimited) devices, whether they run
Windows, macOS, iOS or Android, and the software comes with a file shredder and
a two-way firewall. 

To get parental controls or one of the best password managers in the business,
you'll have to spring for McAfee Total Protection or its sibling McAfee
LiveSafe, which comes pre-installed on many new PCs. 

The multi-device licenses of those two security suites also come with an
identity-protection service. But none of the McAfee products have a secure
browser or webcam protection, which you often get with other premium antivirus
programs.

At the top is McAfee Total Protection Ultimate, which adds unlimited VPN service
with no strings attached. Hardcore PC gamers may consider McAfee Gamer Security,
which for $60 per year offers low-overhead protection for a single rig.

Read our full McAfee Internet Security review.



(Image credit: Trend Micro)


5. TREND MICRO MAXIMUM SECURITY

SOLID PROTECTION, BUT SCAN SLOWDOWNS

SPECIFICATIONS

Backup software: No
Firewall: No
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: Yes
Parental controls: Yes
Password manager: Yes
Webcam protection: No
Virtual keyboard: No
VPN: Yes
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Visit Site

REASONS TO BUY

+Very good malware protection+Secure browser, password manager+Dark Web scans

REASONS TO AVOID

-Heavy performance hit during scans-Many false positives on some tests

Trend Micro offers very good protection, but its malware-detection engine
creates a heavy system load during scans and returns a fair number of
false-positive results. 

The brand's entry-level program, Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security, has basic
tools but does have a secure web browser. Parental controls, a system optimizer
and a file shredder are bundled into the mid-range Trend Micro Internet
Security. 

Trend Micro Maximum Security adds a password manager, a secure browser and file
encryption, while the new Trend Micro Premium Security adds a VPN and dark-web
monitoring of personal data.

However, none of Trend Micro's programs include a two-way firewall or webcam
protection, standard with other brands' midrange offerings. Nor does the premium
product have the cloud storage or backup software that some of the best
antivirus brands add as enticements to their flagship packages.

Read our full Trend Micro Maximum Security review.



(Image credit: ESET)


6. ESET SMART SECURITY PREMIUM

VERY GOOD PROTECTION WITH A VERY LIGHT TOUCH.

SPECIFICATIONS

Anti-theft: Yes
Backup software: No
Firewall: Yes
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: Yes
Parental controls: Yes
Password manager: Yes
Ransomware rollback: No
Webcam protection: Yes
Virtual keyboard: No
VPN: No
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
View at Amazon
View at Proshop DE
View at MediaMarkt DE
See all prices (7 found)

REASONS TO BUY

+Very good protection+Remarkably little system-performance impact+File
encryption, hardened browser, webcam protection

REASONS TO AVOID

-Lacks file shredder or VPN-Can get expensive

ESET is one of the biggest antivirus names in Europe, with a very small
system-performance load and fast scans. Its malware-detection rate used to be
kind of meh, but has improved markedly in recent lab tests. 

The entry-level ESET NOD32 Antivirus is easy to use, but has few useful extra
tools. ESET Internet Security adds webcam protection, parental controls and a
browser-hardening extension, as well as ESET security-software licenses for Mac,
Android and Linux devices.

The top-billed ESET Smart Security Premium tosses in file encryption and a
password manager. However, there's no VPN client, backup software or file
shredder.

ESET's pricing is per device, which is optimal for users who might have more
than a few devices to protect. But if your device count gets into double digits,
ESET's costs can add up.

Read our full ESET Smart Security Premium review.



(Image credit: Sophos)


7. SOPHOS HOME PREMIUM

EFFICIENT AND INEXPENSIVE

SPECIFICATIONS

Anti-theft: No
Backup software: No
Game mode: No
Hardened browser: No
Parental controls: Yes
Password manager: No
Ransomware rollback: Yes
Webcam protection: Yes
Virtual keyboard: No
VPN: No
Wi-Fi scanner: No
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Sophos Home Free
Sophos Home Premium
€40
/year
Visit Siteat Sophos

REASONS TO BUY

+Inexpensive+Encrypts keyboard data

REASONS TO AVOID

-So-so malware protection-Moderate performance penalty during scans-Lacks VPN,
password manager, file shredder

Sophos Home Premium does its job economically, offering reasonable protection
from malware at an affordable price.

Because it's spun off from Sophos' enterprise software for business clients,
Sophos Home Premium lacks many of the bells and whistles other security suites
offer, such as a password manager, identity theft protection service or VPN
service.

What Sophos Home Premium does have is the essentials: ransomware rollbacks,
webcam defenses and protection against keyloggers, malicious websites and
boot-sector and fileless malware. It also has a web-filter system for parents
and an online management console from which you can tweak most of the settings.

Some people might demand more from an antivirus suite, but anyone who would
rather buy only what they need will appreciate Sophos Home Premium's
just-the-basics approach.

Read our full Sophos Home Premium review.


BEST ANTIVIRUS NEWS AND UPDATES

— Sadly for us, Bitdefender has decided to discontinue Bitdefender Antivirus
Free Edition, one of the best free antivirus programs we've ever seen. 

— Netgear released urgent security fixes for 35 different models of Wi-Fi
routers.

— Nine high-end Wi-Fi routers contained numerous serious security flaws, a study
found.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


THE BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE

A good paid antivirus suite is a digital-protection jackknife, often bundling in
parental controls, identity theft protection, a password manager, backup
software, cloud storage, a firewall, a system optimizer and software for Mac,
Android and iOS as well as Windows.

But what if you just want Windows antivirus software without all of those pricey
extras? And what if you can't afford to pay for antivirus software? One of the
best free antivirus programs might be exactly what you need.

 * Best internet security suites
 * The best Windows 10 antivirus software

Free antivirus software used to be a step down from the paid software and
involved trade-offs. The protection wasn't as good and you'd either have to put
up with ads filling your screen or with constant nags to upgrade to a paid
program.

That's all changed. One of the best antivirus makers, Kaspersky, offers a free
version with the same excellent malware protections as its paid offerings. (Its
top rival, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition, has been officially discontinued,
although Tom's Guide readers can still download it with this link.) A merger
between the biggest names in free antivirus, Avast and AVG, created a combined
malware-detection engine that's much better than the sum of its parts. 

Meanwhile, Microsoft's built-in antivirus software, Windows Defender, aka
Microsoft Defender Antivirus, has gone from being a joke to being one of the
best antivirus programs out there, free or paid. 

You can now get free antivirus protection that's as good as anything you pay
for. So here are the best free antivirus programs based on their protection,
system impact, ease of use and extra features.


WHAT ARE THE BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS PROGRAMS?

Best Free Antivirus: Top 5

1. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free
2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
3. Windows Defender Antivirus
4. Avast Free Antivirus
5. AVG AntiVirus Free

Kaspersky Security Cloud Free Antivirus may be the best free antivirus program
we've ever seen. It has excellent malware protection, a decent set of extra
functions and features, and a system-performance impact so small that our
computer actually sped up after we installed the program.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition has been officially discontinued, and we're
not sure how long Tom's Guide readers can still download it. It's the best "set
it and forget it" free antivirus option. It takes care of itself and doesn’t
need user intervention.

The sleeper here is Microsoft Defender Antivirus, aka Windows Defender, which is
built into Windows 8.1 and 10. It's now one of the best antivirus programs
altogether. You don't have to install or download it — it's already on your PC.

If you want an unlimited password manager or a hardened web browser, Avast Free
Antivirus might be for you. Its malware protection is much better than it once
was, although its performance impact is fairly heavy. 

Avast's stepsister AVG has the same malware-detection engine, but lacks Avast's
full slate of useful extra features. But it does have a file shredder and system
optimizer.

We have to mention one program that's not antivirus software, but which we
recommend anyway: Malwarebytes Free. While antivirus tries to stop malware from
infecting your machine, Malwarebytes functions as the cleanup crew, sweeping out
less-harmful adware or potentially unwanted programs that the antivirus software
ignores. It works well alongside any antivirus program.


THE BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE YOU CAN GET TODAY



(Image credit: Kaspersky)


1. KASPERSKY SECURITY CLOUD FREE

THE BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE, HANDS-DOWN

SPECIFICATIONS

Email scans: Yes
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: No
Password manager: Limited
Ransomware reversal: Yes
Scan scheduler: Yes
Support options: FAQs, forums
Upsell nag factor: Moderate
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
View at Mr. KeyShop
View at cyberport DE
View at Proshop DE
See all prices (16 found)

REASONS TO BUY

+Top-notch malware protection+Tiny performance impact+Tons of useful extra
features

REASONS TO AVOID

-Password manager, VPN service are just teases-Lacks phone support

Kaspersky doesn't talk much about its free antivirus product, and you might have
a hard time finding the free Kaspersky software download page on the company's
website. 

That's too bad, because Kaspersky Security Cloud Free is the best free antivirus
product we've ever tested. We've never seen such a combination of excellent
protection and extra features in a free antivirus program. 

It's got a bright, comprehensible interface, a lot of customization potential
and Kaspersky's unbeatable malware protection. The program also lets you
schedule scans, and its performance impact was so small that it actually sped up
our test machine a bit. 

Kaspersky's useful extra features include a file shredder, an on-screen keyboard
and an email scanner. The password manager and VPN service are fairly limited,
however, unless you pay.

Read our full Kaspersky Security Cloud Free review.



(Image credit: Bitdefender)


2. BITDEFENDER ANTIVIRUS FREE EDITION

THE BEST SET-IT-AND-FORGET-IT ANTIVIRUS OPTION

SPECIFICATIONS

Email scans: No
Game mode: No
Hardened browser: No
Password manager: No
Ransomware reversal: No
Scan scheduler: No
Support options: FAQs, forums
Upsell nag factor: Minimal
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Visit Siteat Bitdefender

REASONS TO BUY

+Very good malware protection+Completely automatic interface+Truly no muss, no
fuss

REASONS TO AVOID

-No extra features whatsoever-No quick scans or scan scheduling

Bitdefender has officially discontinued Antivirus Free Edition, and it will be
supported only until June 30, 2022. We still love it and you can still get it,
but proceed at your own risk.

Compared to premium paid antivirus programs that are big, heavy and loaded with
extra bells and whistles, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is like a '60's
sports car, stripped to the essentials but still providing plenty of power.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition offers nothing but the basics. There's no
password manager, no gaming mode, no quick scans and no scan scheduling. You can
manage the software from the program's System Tray icon, but you don't really
need to interact with Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition after its
installation. 

Yet Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition has the excellent Bitdefender
malware-detection engine, which sits just below Kaspersky and Norton in the
lab-test rankings. 

It's the best free antivirus software if you want a security solution that you
can set up and then forget about. It's also perfect if you need to protect the
computer of an elderly relative but don't have time to manage antivirus software
from afar.

Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition review.



(Image credit: Microsoft)


3. WINDOWS DEFENDER ANTIVIRUS

MORE THAN GOOD ENOUGH TO LEAVE IN PLACE

SPECIFICATIONS

Email scans: No
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: Edge & IE only
Password manager: Yes, with other Microsoft apps
Ransomware reversal: Yes
Scan scheduler: Yes
Support options: 24/7 phone, email support
Upsell nag factor: Nonexistent


REASONS TO BUY

+Very good malware protection+Built right into Windows 8.1 and 10+You'll barely
know it's there

REASONS TO AVOID

-Some features work only on Microsoft products-Hard to schedule scans

Microsoft's built-in antivirus software is now a heavy hitter. While Windows
Defender, aka Microsoft Defender Antivirus, doesn't quite beat Norton or
Kaspersky in malware-protection lab tests, it comes out ahead of Avast, AVG and
most other free antivirus products while operating almost entirely behind the
scenes.

You won't be getting many extra features with Windows Defender itself, yet
Windows 10 does have parental controls, a gaming mode and protections for its
own Edge and Internet Explorer browsers. There's no built-in VPN, but you also
won't be bothered by pop-ups trying to upsell you to paid antivirus software. 

As for a password manager, there's a stealth one built into the Microsoft
Authenticator app for Android and iOS that syncs with the Edge browser, as long
as you're signed into your Microsoft account on all devices.

We still recommend going for Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, which has even less
of a system impact, better malware protection and more useful extras, but
there's absolutely nothing wrong with using Windows Defender as your primary
antivirus solution.

Read our full Windows Defender review.



(Image credit: Avast)


4. AVAST FREE ANTIVIRUS

TONS OF FEATURES, LESS-THAN-PERFECT PROTECTION

SPECIFICATIONS

Email scans: Separate tool
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: Separate tool
Password manager: Not any more
Ransomware reversal: Shield only
Scan scheduler: Yes
Support options: : FAQs, forums
Upsell nag factor: Omnipresent
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Avast Free Antivirus
Visit Siteat AVAST Software

REASONS TO BUY

+Wi-Fi scanner+Very customizable

REASONS TO AVOID

-Password manager discontinued-Mediocre malware protection-Heavy system hit
during scans

Avast Free Antivirus has the best assortment of extra goodies of any free
antivirus program, including a hardened browser, a gaming mode, a Wi-Fi network
scanner and a recently added ransomware shield. (Unfortunately, the unlimited
password manager has been discontinued.)

The program is also very customizable, letting you tweak its appearance and
functions to suit your style. It even offers limited access to Avast's VPN
service. 

However, Avast Free Antivirus caused a pretty heavy system load in our testing
and its scans took a long time. It also kept nagging us to upgrade to Avast's
paid antivirus protection, and played bait-and-switch with features that looked
like they were free but weren't. 

Most significant of all, the malware protection in Avast Free Antivirus is a peg
down from Kaspersky's or Bitdefender's, whose free programs also bothered us
less about paid upgrades and had lighter system loads.

Read our full Avast Free Antivirus review.



(Image credit: AVG)


5. AVG ANTIVIRUS FREE

AVAST'S NEGLECTED STEPSISTER

SPECIFICATIONS

Email scans: Yes
Game mode: Yes
Hardened browser: No
Password manager: No
Ransomware reversal: No
Scan scheduler: Yes
Support options: FAQs, forums
Upsell nag factor: Inescapable
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
AVG AntiVirus Free
Visit Siteat AVG Technologies

REASONS TO BUY

+File shredder+Lots of customization options

REASONS TO AVOID

-Middling malware protection-Slow full-system scans-Almost no extra features

AVG shares a decent, if unspectacular, malware-detection engine with its
corporate sibling Avast while having a much lighter system-performance impact. 

But AVG AntiVirus Free also has far fewer useful extra features than Avast Free
Antivirus. While the latter is almost a free security suite with lots of bells
and whistles, AVG AntiVirus Free is the quiet, neglected child that gets the
hand-me-downs.

The good news is that AVG's wide range of customization options and its file
shredder and system optimizer are still available, and its interface is open and
easy to use. The bad news is that like Avast Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus Free
constantly bugs you to upgrade to paid antivirus software. 

Worst of all, given its middling malware detection and dearth of extra features,
there's no convincing reason to choose AVG AntiVirus Free over the built-in and
overall better Microsoft Defender.

Read our full AVG AntiVirus Free review.


HONORABLE MENTION



(Image credit: Malwarebytes)


MALWAREBYTES FREE

ESSENTIAL SIDE PIECE

TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Malwarebytes Free Edition
Visit Siteat Malwarebytes

REASONS TO BUY

+Complements antivirus software+Removes adware, other unwanted
software+Absolutely no downside to having it

REASONS TO AVOID

-Installs trialware of paid version-Manual definition updates

Malwarebytes Free, formerly called Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, is not antivirus
software. Instead, it's a very useful malware-removal tool. 

What's the difference? Unlike antivirus software, Malwarebytes Free can't
prevent a PC from being infected. But it does an excellent job of cleaning out
malware that's already on your system, as well as removing (legal) adware and
potentially unwanted programs that antivirus software often ignores. 

Malwarebytes Free doesn't interfere with any antivirus software that's already
installed, so it's perfectly safe to install it alongside one of our recommended
brands. (Just don't upgrade to the paid Malwarebytes Premium, true antivirus
software that does poorly in lab tests and which will conflict with other AV
programs.)

We recommend Malwarebytes Free as a complement to any of the best antivirus
programs, free or paid.

Read our full Malwarebytes Free review.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE FOR YOU

Before you buy antivirus protection, figure out what you need. If you have young
children at home, then consider midrange antivirus products, most of which
include parental controls. 

Do you want an all-encompassing security solution? Many premium products include
identity-theft protection, password managers, backup software and/or VPN
service. 

Or are you a techie who understands and the risks of using the internet? Then a
low-priced basic program might be all you need.

MORE: How to buy antivirus software

Once you've got your priorities figured out, then determine how many machines
you'll need to protect. 

Most vendors offer single-device licenses for Windows PCs. But multi-device,
multi-platform licenses for five, 10 or more computers and mobile devices are
available in midrange and premium antivirus packages, covering Windows, macOS,
Android, iOS and sometimes even Linux. Some vendors offer plans that cover an
unlimited number of devices.

Gone are the days when you could walk into a store and pay a one-time fee for an
antivirus product that came in a box off a shelf. All the vendors now sell their
software licenses as yearly (or multiyear) subscriptions. The upside is that
you'll always get the latest software, which you can download and install
straight from the internet.


ANTIVIRUS PRICING AND FEATURES

Many antivirus products are sold online for much less than their list prices.
But each brand offers basic, midrange and premium configurations of features and
pricing, with every step up adding more features.

Think of autos at a dealership. You can get a base-model car that will get you
from place to place just fine. For a few grand more, you can buy a car with
satellite radio, but no heated side-view mirrors, alloy wheels or in-car Wi-Fi
hotspot. Or you can spend a lot more to get a loaded car with all the fixin's.

Antivirus makers also hope you'll spring for extra options, whether you need
them or not. The one thing you can't trade up to is a bigger engine: All the
Windows antivirus products in a given brand's lineup will use the same
malware-detection engine and provide the same level of essential protection.

Basic paid antivirus software is usually just called "Antivirus" or similar, and
yearly subscriptions start at $40-$60. The software will have essential malware
protection and maybe a password manager or a two-way firewall.

Midrange antivirus software packages are frequently nameplated as "Internet
Security" and start at $60-$80 yearly. They generally add parental controls,
some of which are very good, plus a few other features such as webcam
protection. They often include multi-device licenses and antivirus software for
Mac and Android devices.

At the top are the premium "security suites," which toss in all the extra
security tools an antivirus brand can offer, such as password managers, VPN
client software, backup software, online storage and even identity-protection
services. 

List prices start at $80-$100 per year, but make sure you really need those
extra tools you're paying for. The password managers are often quite good, but
the online storage can be paltry and the VPN services often don't give you
unlimited data.

We've collected the best premium antivirus packages on this list of the best
internet security suites.


HOW WE TEST THE BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE

Our evaluations are based on each antivirus program's interface, performance,
protection and extra features. Was the interface intuitive and user-friendly?
How badly did malware scans slow performance? How well did the program detect
and remove malware? Does the program offer useful additional tools?

Most of our tests were performed on the same Asus X555LA laptop running 64-bit
Windows 8.1 (later upgraded to Windows 10), with an Intel Core i3-4005U
processor, 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive containing 36GB of files. 

Some of our newer performance tests were done on a Lenovo ThinkPad T470 with a
2.5GHz Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage
containing 43.3GB of files.

To assess a program's impact on system speed on both Windows and macOS, we used
our own custom tests, which measure how long a CPU takes to match 20,000 names
and addresses on an OpenOffice or Excel spreadsheet. The longer it took the
laptop to finish either test, the heavier the performance impact. 

For malware-detection scores, we use the results of three independent testing
labs: AV-TEST in Germany, AV-Comparatives in Austria and SE Labs in England.
Each lab subjects the major antivirus brands' products to stress tests involving
thousands of pieces of malware, including hundreds of previously unseen samples.


EDITORS' NOTE: WHY WE RECOMMEND KASPERSKY

Kaspersky antivirus products have been banned from U.S. government agencies and
U.S. defense contractors, and we can understand why. Because the company is
Russian and antivirus software can peer deep into a PC, using Kaspersky software
would create an unacceptable risk for persons and organizations involved in
national security and critical infrastructure.

However, we still think Kaspersky software is perfectly safe for home users.
We've seen no evidence to convince us otherwise. Kaspersky researchers are well
respected throughout the antivirus industry, and the company has publicly
exposed Russian cyberespionage campaigns as well as those from the United States
and other countries around the world.

 * The best identity-theft protection: Make sure your personal data is safe
 * The best cloud backup services: Don't lose any data
 * The best password managers: Keep your online accounts locked down



Paul Wagenseil
 * 

Paul Wagenseil is a senior editor at Tom's Guide focused on security and
privacy. He has also been a dishwasher, fry cook, long-haul driver, code monkey
and video editor. He's been rooting around in the information-security space for
more than 15 years at FoxNews.com, SecurityNewsDaily, TechNewsDaily and Tom's
Guide, has presented talks at the ShmooCon, DerbyCon and BSides Las Vegas hacker
conferences, shown up in random TV news spots and even moderated a panel
discussion at the CEDIA home-technology conference. You can follow his rants on
Twitter at @snd_wagenseil.




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See all comments (59)



59 Comments Comment from the forums
 * Paul Wagenseil
   Archived comments are found here:
   http://www.tomsguide.com/forum/id-2829139/antivirus-software-apps-2016.html
   Reply
 * martinsmith123
   I will prefer Kaspersky antivirus licensed software
   Reply
 * punkncat
   So wait, wasn't Kapersky implicated in a security vulnerability that the AV
   software was providing metrics on user data and phoning home with it?
   Reply
 * dleippe
   Is that a question or a statement
   Reply
 * stones710
   I don't see anything about a virtual keyboard in Bitdefender; how do I find
   it and how does it work?
   Reply
 * punkncat
   > 21306295 said:
   > Is that a question or a statement
   
   
   This symbol "?" at the end of a statement makes it a question in the typical
   world of grammar. Normally the language structure and wording is fairly
   indicative as well, however I can see where you would be confused with the
   statement.
   It was a question based on a recollection...
   Read More Reply
 * Rocky Bennett
   > 21294904 said:
   > So wait, wasn't Kapersky implicated in a security vulnerability that the AV
   > software was providing metrics on user data and phoning home with it?
   
   
   
   
   Yes they were. It made the national news for a few days then blew over.
   Reply
 * chris240b
   Do the authors of these articles take into consideration anything except how
   well they perform as antivirus software? Kaspersky has been implicated in
   data breeches at the NSA and other government and corporations around the
   world. They apparently work with the Russian government for nefarious
   reasons.
   Reply
 * Rocky Bennett
   ^^^ This has never been proven. Can you link an article that proves your
   statements.
   Reply
 * emkei
   Kaspersky Total Security is my choice because of its' real-time defense
   against the latest malware and threats. Also, because it offers nearly
   everything I could want in a security suite.
   Reply
 * View All 59 Comments

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