The Best Antivirus Software We've Tested for 2026 - PCMag

Table of Contents No matter what the device, if there’s software for it, there’s malware for it. As our reviews from the '80s show, even the earliest PCs needed antivirus protection. We devised a range of hands-on testing techniques that set the stage for our long tradition of rounding up the best antivirus apps. Based on independent lab test results and our own hands-on experience, we’ve identified Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and Norton AntiVirus Plus as our Editors’ Choice winners among antivirus utilities. That said, you should consider the details of all the apps we've selected here, as one of them might fit your needs. Our Top Tested Picks Best Overall Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Available at Bitdefender Check Price EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best for Extra Security Features Norton AntiVirus Plus Available at Norton Check Price EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best for Single-PC Households McAfee AntiVirus $49.99 at McAfee See It EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best for Remote Control Emsisoft Anti-Malware Available at Emsisoft Check Price EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best for Tech-Savvy Users ESET NOD32 Antivirus Available at ESET Check Price EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best Breadth of Features G Data Antivirus $29.95 at G DATA Software See It EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best for Speedy Scans Malwarebytes Premium Security Available at Malwarebytes Check Price EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best for Thrifty Users Sophos Home Premium Available at Sophos Check Price EXPAND  PROS & CONS Best for a Small Footprint Webroot Essentials $29.99 for 1 Device on 1 Year Webroot Essentials Plan at Webroot See It EXPAND  PROS & CONS See (4) More Featured Deal What is this? Best Overall Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Get 50% off Bitdefender Antivirus Plus (1 Year Protection for Only $24.99) See It The Best Antivirus Deals This Week* Surfshark One — Protect 5 Devices for $2.49 Per Month on 2 Years Plan + 3 Months Free and Includes VPN Norton AntiVirus Plus — Protect 1 Device for $2.50 Per Month on 1 Year Norton AntiVirus Plus Plan ESET — $3.49 Per Month for 3 Devices on 1 Year ESET Essential Plan McAfee — Plans Start at $4.16 Per Month for Unlimited Devices + Scam Detector Webroot Essentials — $29.99 for 1 Device on 1 Year Webroot Essentials Plan *Deals are selected by our commerce team The Best Antivirus Software for 2026 Compare Specs Select Up To 3 04rK8yQu2cIXBMdJVdlQRnz Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Norton AntiVirus Plus McAfee AntiVirus Emsisoft Anti-Malware ESET NOD32 Antivirus G Data Antivirus Malwarebytes Premium Security Sophos Home Premium Webroot Essentials 00F5LnMyGOjRo1yu6Oadv0n Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Norton AntiVirus Plus McAfee AntiVirus Emsisoft Anti-Malware ESET NOD32 Antivirus G Data Antivirus Malwarebytes Premium Security Sophos Home Premium Webroot Essentials 03ukCMGudzLvpPEiBrWPQHB Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Norton AntiVirus Plus McAfee AntiVirus Emsisoft Anti-Malware ESET NOD32 Antivirus G Data Antivirus Malwarebytes Premium Security Sophos Home Premium Webroot Essentials Your Selections Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Available at Bitdefender Check Price Norton AntiVirus Plus Available at Norton Check Price McAfee AntiVirus $49.99 at McAfee See It Rating 4.5 4.5 4.0 Best For Best Overall Best for Extra Security Features Best for Single-PC Households On-Demand Malware Scan On-Access Malware Scan Website Rating Malicious URL Blocking Phishing Protection Behavior-Based Detection Vulnerability Scan Firewall Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks RELATED: Best Free Antivirus Best Mac Antivirus Best Malware Protection Best Ransomware Protection Best Spyware Protection EDITORS' NOTE March 12, 2026: With this update, our lineup of recommended antivirus software remains unchanged. The existing picks have been vetted for currency and availability. (Credit: Bitdefender) Best Overall Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 4.5 Outstanding Pros & Cons Excellent scores in independent lab tests Very good defense against phishing fraud Multi-layered ransomware protection Isolated browser for banking safety Prevents advertisers from tracking you Many security-centered bonus features Protection for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS Poor score in hands-on malware blocking test Mediocre score in hands-on malicious URL defense test Full VPN access requires a separate subscription Every antivirus should scan for and remove any existing malware infections when it’s installed and then stand guard against future attacks. The best ones also monitor your web browsing and steer you away from dangerous pages of all kinds. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus does all this and so much more, and the independent testing labs rave about it. You won’t go wrong relying on Bitdefender for your antivirus protection. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW Today’s Best Deal Learn More Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review (Credit: Norton) Best for Extra Security Features Norton AntiVirus Plus 4.5 Outstanding Pros & Cons Top scores in independent lab tests Excellent scores in hands-on tests Data Protector foils ransomware attacks Intelligent firewall protection Includes vulnerability scan and other suite-level features Can no longer create local backups Relatively expensive Quick, name three antivirus companies. Was one of them Norton? Probably. Norton’s antivirus prowess has developed over the decades, and Norton AntiVirus Plus is the pinnacle of that evolution. It earns outstanding scores from independent labs and ranks near the top in our hands-on tests, including one using more than a dozen real-world ransomware samples. If malware somehow slips past, Norton promises to fix the problem. It includes numerous features beyond basic antivirus protection. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW Today’s Best Deal Learn More Norton AntiVirus Plus Review (Credit: PCMag Composite; McAfee) Best for Single-PC Households McAfee AntiVirus 4.0 Excellent Pros & Cons Near-perfect lab test scores Excellent scores in our hands-on tests Money-back virus protection pledge Missed two ransomware samples in testing Protects just one PC with no volume discount McAfee AntiVirus used to offer cross-platform protection for an unlimited number of devices, but the current edition strictly protects only one Windows PC. It clearly appeals to a different audience than it once did. Still, testing labs continue to shower accolades on its core antivirus protection, and it offers features far beyond the core antivirus essentials. Not everyone has a houseful of devices. If you just want to protect that one all-important PC, you should give McAfee a look. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW $49 at McAfee Learn More McAfee AntiVirus Review (Credit: Emsisoft) Best for Remote Control Emsisoft Anti-Malware 4.0 Excellent Pros & Cons Online console allows full remote management Prevented all file-encrypting ransomware behavior in testing Very good scores in our hands-on tests Dangerous website blocking is browser-independent Unusually lengthy initial scan Scores from just one independent lab In one form or another, Emsisoft has been protecting users against viruses and other malware for more than 20 years. It does everything an antivirus should, and based on my testing, it does it all very well. An outstanding remote management system makes Emsisoft an excellent pick if you manage security for less tech-savvy family members. And in testing, its behavior-based ransomware detection prevented any of a dozen ransomware samples from damaging a single file. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW Today’s Best Deal Learn More Emsisoft Anti-Malware Review (Credit: ESET) Best for Tech-Savvy Users ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4.0 Excellent Pros & Cons Perfect scores from four independent labs HIPS component blocks exploits Comprehensive device control Poor score in our malware-blocking test Ransomware protection not effective in testing ESET NOD32 Antivirus scores better with the independent labs than almost any competitor, receiving the maximum possible score in tests by four labs. It gets top scores in some (but not all) of our hands-on tests. Beyond the antivirus basics, it throws in some very useful features. Device Control gives you the last word on which removable devices are approved for use. SysInspector provides extensive details about your PC, its operating system, and its apps. Yes, you have to be seriously tech-savvy to make use of these high-tech features. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW Today’s Best Deal Learn More ESET NOD32 Antivirus Review (Credit: G Data) Best Breadth of Features G Data Antivirus 4.0 Excellent Pros & Cons Good score on our hands-on malware protection test Protects against banking Trojans, keyloggers, ransomware, and exploits Relatively inexpensive Includes spam filter Only one recent lab score available G Data Antivirus has been protecting PCs against viruses and other malware for almost as long as PCs have been around. Chances are good that it’s older than you—at least, it’s older than the median age in the US. Despite this venerable history, it costs less than most competitors and offers a feature set that goes well beyond the bare necessities. Independent lab tests and our own tests demonstrate that it performs its job effectively, although it doesn’t score as high as the top competitors. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW $29 at G DATA Software Learn More G Data Antivirus Review (Credit: Malwarebytes) Best for Speedy Scans Malwarebytes Premium Security 4.0 Excellent Pros & Cons Near-perfect score in malware blocking test Very good protection against malicious and fraudulent sites Ransomware protection detected all samples Now includes tools and data breach reporting Perfect score from one antivirus testing lab Some tools limited to Windows 11 For many years, the cleanup-only Malwarebytes Free was (and still is) the go-to solution after regular antivirus protection failed. It has always been a specialty tool, not for everyday use. Malwarebytes Premium extends that protection with all the features you expect from a full-scale antivirus, including on-demand and scheduled scanning, as well as on-file access. Its Threat Scan is speedy, and it uses various real-time protection techniques, including behavior-based detection, ransomware activity detection, and protection against exploit attacks. It now includes the ability to scan for breaches involving any email account you own. Additionally, its new Tools section offers useful system tools, some of which are available only on Windows 11. Anyone who’s used Malwarebytes Free to remedy another antivirus tool’s slip-up will appreciate the full-powered Malwarebytes Premium. Even if you never needed that kind of rescue, this app's speedy scan and flexible pricing are a big draw. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW Today’s Best Deal Learn More Malwarebytes Premium Security Review (Credit: Sophos) Best for Thrifty Users Sophos Home Premium 4.0 Excellent Pros & Cons Excellent scores in some of our hands-on tests Effective ransomware protection Remotely manages up to 10 PCs or Macs Inexpensive Limited results from testing labs Ineffective parental control No longer offers mobile management or keylogger protection Advanced features require uncommon tech expertise Sophos is a big name in business-level antivirus, with remote management to keep the IT team thoroughly in control of security. Sophos Home Premium brings that same remote management to you, the consumer. You can install antivirus protection for your family and friends, whether they’re on the other side of town or across the country, and manage all the installations from your own desktop. Best of all, it’s seriously inexpensive, with a 10-license price that matches what many competitors charge for three licenses, or even for just one. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW Today’s Best Deal Learn More Sophos Home Premium Review (Credit: Webroot) Best for a Small Footprint Webroot Essentials 4.0 Excellent Pros & Cons Small footprint on disk Aced our hands-on tests Can remediate ransomware damage Includes LastPass password manager Advanced features Limited lab test results Advanced features require uncommon expertise Webroot Essentials is the smallest antivirus we've seen. Back when diskettes were common, it would fit on just one. Webroot’s local presence can be tiny because its intelligence resides in the cloud. Like most antivirus tools, it eliminates known malware on sight, but treats unknown malware differently. It sends details about any unknown program to the cloud and lets that program run in a bubble, virtualizing any system changes so they don’t become permanent. Cloud analysis can take some time, but if it determines that the program is malicious, Webroot removes the program itself and rolls back any system changes. Why We Picked It Who It’s For Specs & Configurations GET IT NOW See It Learn More Webroot Essentials Review Get Our Best Stories! Stay Safe With the Latest Security News and Updates Sign up for our SecurityWatch newsletter for our most important privacy and security stories delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for our SecurityWatch newsletter for our most important privacy and security stories delivered right to your inbox. Email Sign Me Up By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Buying Guide: The Best Antivirus Software for 2026 What Are Viruses, Malware, and Ransomware? We call these apps antivirus, but in truth, it's unlikely you'll encounter an actual computer virus. Malware these days is primarily about generating revenue, and there's no easy way to profit from spreading a virus. Ransomware and data-stealing trojans are much more common, as are bots that let the bot-herder rent out your computer for nefarious purposes. Modern antivirus utilities effectively detect and remove trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and other malware. As noted, PCMag has reviewed numerous commercial antivirus utilities. We've named two Editors' Choice winners from that extensive field and honored others with four-star or better ratings. One of the utilities listed in this article should address the problem if you have malware. What Is the Most Widely Used Antivirus Software? Every Windows computer comes with Microsoft Defender Antivirus preinstalled, making it the most widely used antivirus software. However, if you've installed third-party protection, Defender stays on the sidelines. If no other antivirus is present or your existing antivirus expires, Defender steps up. Commercial antivirus apps offer protection beyond what's included with Windows, but Defender is looking better lately, with some solid scores from independent testing labs. The combination of strong lab scores and a great score in our hands-on malware protection test raised its rating to 3.5 stars. As it is a free, built-in utility, we're not including it in this roundup of commercial antivirus apps. What Is the Best Free Antivirus Software? You’ve come to the wrong place if you’re looking for free antivirus protection. Our list here covers the very best antivirus tools, and they’re not free. On the other hand, the best free antivirus apps beat out many of their commercial counterparts. Consider Avast One Basic or AVG AntiVirus Free if your budget just doesn’t stretch to paying for antivirus protection. What Is the Best Antivirus for macOS? This roundup gathers the best antivirus tools for your Windows PCs. That doesn’t help if you’re strictly a Mac user, of course. We’ve created a separate collection of the best Mac antivirus software for you. You’ll notice some familiar names—our Editors’ Choice picks for Mac antivirus are Bitdefender Antivirus Plus for Mac and Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac. McAfee vs. Norton: Which Is Better? Survey results vary for the most widely used commercial antivirus software, but Norton and McAfee generally appear at or near the top. Is Norton or McAfee better? Both rise above most competitors, but PCMag has identified Norton's protection as outstanding, earning it an Editors' Choice award. What Is the Best Virus Protection According to Independent Tests? We take the results reported by independent antivirus testing labs seriously. The simple fact that a company's antivirus software shows up in the results is a vote of confidence. It means that the lab considered the program significant, and the company felt the cost of testing was worthwhile. Of course, high scores on the tests are also important. We follow five labs that regularly publish detailed reports: AVLab Cybersecurity Foundation, SE Labs, AV-Test Institute, MRG-Effitas, and AV-Comparatives. We've devised a system to aggregate their results to yield a rating from 0 to 10. With perfect scores from all five labs, Norton currently tops the list. Also tested by five labs, Avast managed a 9.8-point aggregate lab score. ESET, with near-perfect scores from four labs, also managed a 9.8-point aggregate score. How We Test Malware, Spyware, and Adware Defenses We also test every antivirus app ourselves to evaluate its malware protection, in part to gain insight into how it works. Depending on how thoroughly the antivirus prevents malware installation, it can earn up to 10 points for malware protection. Our malware protection test necessarily uses the same set of samples for months. To evaluate a program's handling of newly discovered malware, we test each antivirus using a large collection of extremely new malware-hosting URLs provided by MRG-Effitas, noting the percentage of them it blocks. Apps receive equal credit for preventing all access to the malicious URL and removing the malware during the download process. Some apps earn stellar ratings from the independent labs, yet don't fare as well in our hands-on tests. In such cases, we defer to the labs, which bring significantly greater resources to their testing. Want to know more? You can dig into a detailed description of how we test security software. What's the Best Antivirus for Malware Protection? Antivirus utilities distinguish themselves by going beyond the basics of on-demand scanning and real-time malware protection. Some rate URLs you visit or appear in search results using a red-yellow-green color-coding system. Some actively block processes on your system from connecting with known malware-hosting URLs or fraudulent (phishing) pages. All software has flaws, and sometimes these flaws can compromise your security. Prudent users keep Windows and all programs up to date, patching those flaws as soon as possible. The vulnerability scan offered by some antivirus apps can verify that all necessary patches are present and even apply any that are missing. Spyware comes in many forms, from hidden programs that log every keystroke to Trojans masquerading as legitimate programs while secretly mining your data. Any antivirus should handle spyware, along with all other types of malware; however, some include specialized components dedicated to spyware protection. You expect an antivirus to identify and eliminate malicious programs, while leaving legitimate programs alone. What about unknowns, programs your AV can't identify as good or bad? Behavior-based detection can, in theory, protect you against malware, so new researchers have never encountered it. However, this isn't always an unmixed blessing. It's not uncommon for behavioral detection systems to flag many innocuous behaviors performed by legitimate programs. Recommended by Our Editors What to Do If Your Antivirus Stops Working Is Your Security Software Working? Here's How to Check I've Installed a Thousand Antiviruses—Here Are 8 Things I've Learned Allowlisting is another approach to the problem of unknown programs. This type of security system only allows known-good programs to run; unknown programs are banned. This mode may not be suitable for all situations, but it can be useful in certain cases. Sandboxing allows unknown programs to run while isolating them from full access to your system, preventing them from causing permanent harm. These additional layers enhance your protection against malware. What's the Best Antivirus for Ransomware Protection and Firewall? Firewalls and spam filtering aren't common antivirus features, but some of our top picks include them as bonuses. Some of these antivirus programs are even more feature-packed than certain security suites. Among the other bonus features are secure browsers for financial transactions, secure deletion of sensitive files, wiping traces of computer and browsing history, credit monitoring, virtual keyboards to foil keyloggers, cross-platform protection, and more. Of course, we've already mentioned sandboxing, vulnerability scanning, and application allowlisting. We're seeing more and more antivirus apps adding modules specifically designed for ransomware protection. Some work by preventing unauthorized changes to protected files. Others keep watch for suspicious behaviors that suggest malware. Some even aim to reverse the damage. Given the growth of this scourge, any added protection is beneficial. Beyond Antivirus: Install a VPN Your antivirus utility works in the background to keep out any faint possibility of malware infestation, but its abilities don't extend beyond the bounds of your computer. When you connect to the wild and woolly internet, you risk the possibility of your data being compromised in transit. Sticking to HTTPS websites when possible can help, but installing a VPN (virtual private network) is also recommended to protect your data in transit. This component is important enough that we're seeing it as a bonus feature in some antivirus tools. What Is the Best Antivirus Software Now? Which antivirus should you choose? While you have many options, two stand out from the rest. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus earns perfect and near-perfect scores from three independent antivirus testing labs, and offers more features than some security suites. Norton AntiVirus Plus likewise offers many suite-level features and earns excellent scores from all five testing labs we follow. We've named these two our Editors' Choice winners for commercial antivirus, but they're not the only antivirus apps worth consideration. Read the reviews of our top-rated programs, then make your own decision. Editors’ Note: Given that the US government has banned new sales of Kaspersky security products, we no longer recommend them.