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.
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Overview
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Best OverallBitdefender Antivirus Plus
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Best for Tech-Savvy UsersESET NOD32 Antivirus
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Best for Extra Security FeaturesNorton AntiVirus Plus
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Best for Single-PC HouseholdsMcAfee AntiVirus
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Best for Remote ControlEmsisoft Anti-Malware
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Best Breadth of FeaturesG Data Antivirus
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Best for Speedy ScansMalwarebytes Premium Security
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Best for Thrifty UsersSophos Home Premium
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Best for a Small FootprintWebroot Essentials
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Best OverallBitdefender Antivirus Plus
Pros & Cons
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 all kinds of dangerous pages. 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
Scores in hands-on tests: Year after year, Bitdefender hovers at or near perfection in independent lab tests. And year after year, it doesn’t fare quite as well in my hands-on malware protection tests. It did manage to detect 100% of my real-world phishing samples, though, and I can’t argue with its thick stack of lab honors.
Independent lab test scores: The independent testing labs routinely grant Bitdefender perfect scores, with an occasional score that’s merely near-perfect. Currently, it appears in reports from four of the five labs I follow, with perfect and near-perfect scores across the board. My algorithm yields an aggregate lab score of 9.6 points (out of 10) for Bitdefender, putting it among the best.
Pricing and pricing tiers: At $49.99 per year for one license and $69.99 for three, Bitdefender costs more than many of its competitors. Not a lot more, but more. Take a look at how much more you get, though, and you’ll realize it’s still a bargain.
Ransomware protection: Bitdefender’s Advanced Threat Protection relies on behavioral monitoring to detect malware, including ransomware. Behavioral detection doesn’t kick in until the ransomware does something, so it’s conceivable a few files might get encrypted before Bitdefender gives it the boot. A separate Ransomware Remediation feature kicks in to restore files if the issue occurs. In testing, with no help from the regular antivirus, Bitdefender’s multi-layered ransomware protection proved maximally effective.
Features beyond antivirus: The Plus in the name Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is there for a reason. This app does everything you’d expect, and does it well, plus a lot more. Ransomware protection, a hardened browser for your financial transactions, VPN protection for your online connections, a feature that smacks down ad trackers, and automatic detection of missing security patches...the list goes on. You can use it on Windows or macOS, and even apply any spare licenses to protect your mobile devices.
Who It’s For
The laid-back user: If you want comprehensive protection with minimal interaction, simply start Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and enable its Autopilot feature. Now you can sit back and do, well, anything you want!
The feature collector: Sure, you could buy an antivirus utility that merely does the minimum an antivirus must do. But you want one that does more—way more. Bitdefender’s collection of features beats out many security suites, and there’s no padding. All the added features actively improve your security or privacy.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Protection Type Antivirus Ransomware Behavior Detection Ransomware Protection Recover Files VPN Limited Vulnerability Scan Website Rating Learn More Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review -
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Best for Tech-Savvy UsersESET NOD32 Antivirus
Pros & Cons
ESET NOD32 Antivirus scores better with the independent labs than almost any competitor, receiving perfect and near-perfect scores 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
Scores in hands-on tests: NOD32 scored a perfect 100% in my phishing detection test and came close with 97% in a test involving protection against malware-hosting URLs. However, in my malware-blocking test, which involves more than 70 curated and analyzed samples, it scored lower than the competition. Its mostly perfect lab test scores don’t align with that last score. When that happens, I give the lab scores more weight.
Independent lab test scores: I follow five independent antivirus testing labs, and four of them included ESET in their latest test reports. Results were almost all perfect, which isn’t common. ESET's aggregate lab test score is 9.8 out of 10 possible points.
Pricing and pricing tiers: NOD32 costs less than most competing antiviruses. You pay $39.95 per year to protect one PC, plus $5 per additional PC, up to a total of 5.
Ransomware protection: At its higher security suite tiers, ESET adds several ransomware-specific features, including blocking unauthorized apps from changing files and remediating any ransomware activity that occurred before detection. The simple antivirus reviewed here does have a behavior-based detection layer dedicated to ransomware, but that’s all. In testing with other antivirus layers disabled, several ransomware attacks eluded NOD32. One even outsmarted the antivirus with all layers up and running.
Features beyond antivirus: NOD32 does everything an antivirus should and goes well beyond, delving into highly technical territory. Its device control system gives you very fine-grained control over removable devices of many kinds. SysInspector provides a detailed report on your PC and its software. Even if you don’t know how to interpret it, a tech support agent will surely find it valuable. And while it doesn’t come with a firewall, it actively detects and blocks exploit attacks targeting vulnerabilities in the operating system and popular apps.
Who It’s For
Score trackers: ESET’s scores from the independent testing labs are unimpeachable—it earned perfect scores from three of four labs that tested it. And it took top scores in some of our hands-on tests as well.
Thrifty users: NOD32’s pricing scheme starts off lower than almost all the competition and lets you subscribe for precisely the number of licenses you need, with no waste.
Tech experts: When faced with a security app that’s both highly useful and highly technical, you dive right in. You’ll have no trouble setting up NOD32’s device control to block promiscuous use of thumb drives, allow a few you’ve vetted as clean, or block most users from access to certain devices while allowing yourself full control.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Learn More ESET NOD32 Antivirus Review -
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Best for Extra Security FeaturesNorton AntiVirus Plus
Pros & Cons
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
Scores in hands-on tests: While Norton didn’t hit 100% in any of my hands-on tests, it came very close in all of them, which is more than most competitors can say. Norton detected phishing sites at 99% accuracy and prevented malware downloads from 99% of my sample malware-hosting URLs. In my malware-blocking test, it detected 97% of the samples and thoroughly quashed their activities, earning 9.7 out of 10 possible points. That’s quite an array of top scores.
Independent lab test scores: If an antivirus appears in test reports from an independent lab, it means that the lab considered the app important enough to test, and the security company deemed the test worth participating in. Norton is clearly important, as it routinely appears in reports from all five of the labs I follow. Combining results from the five labs, my aggregate score algorithm assigns Norton a perfect 10.0 out of 10 possible points.
Pricing and pricing tiers: Many antiviruses are available for just under $40 for a one-year subscription, with another cluster priced at just under $50. At $59.99 per year, Norton costs more than most antivirus software. To be fair, it also offers more features than most. And if you need to protect multiple devices, including those running macOS, Android, or iOS, you can purchase a five-pack for $84.99 per year.
Ransomware protection: When ransomware hits, it holds your most important documents hostage until you pay up to have them decrypted. It can be a nightmare. Norton’s Data Protector component prevents this danger by blocking all unauthorized changes to files in protected folders. With real-time protection, behavioral detection, and exploit protection turned off, Data Protector caught all but one of my real-world ransomware test specimens. Some attackers managed to encrypt thousands of files outside the protected folders. You’ll want to make sure you’ve protected all important locations.
Features beyond antivirus: There’s much more to Norton than just antivirus. Its firewall protects against external attacks and internal betrayal, without bombarding the unsuspecting user with confusing pop-up queries. Active exploit detection provides another layer of protection against network-based attacks. Norton’s backup system archives your files in the provided online storage, and the software updater ensures your apps have the latest security patches. Tune-up tools clean junk files, manage programs launched at startup, and defragment disks. To top it off, your subscription can protect Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.
Who It’s For
The score tracker: Which antivirus should you buy? Well, which one gets the best scores? For folks who rely on the hard numbers, Norton is hard to beat. It earns top scores from all independent labs and also remains in the winners’ circle in my hands-on tests of antivirus effectiveness.
The old-school enthusiast: Norton's technology has been combating viruses and other malware for ages, dating back to the MS-DOS era. If you want protection from a known brand with decades of proven chops, Norton AntiVirus Plus is the perfect choice.
The loyal customer: When you buy antivirus protection, you expect it to do its job, right? Norton makes that expectation explicit with its Virus Protection Pledge. If malware eludes all protective layers, Norton’s experts will log in to your device and manually hunt down the infestation. In the unlikely event that the malware is successful, Norton will issue a refund. To merit this promise, you must show your loyalty by signing up for automatic renewal, but that’s only reasonable.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Firewall Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Vulnerability Scan Website Rating Learn More Norton AntiVirus Plus Review -
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Best for Single-PC HouseholdsMcAfee AntiVirus
Pros & Cons
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
Scores in hands-on tests: Along with a few other regulars, McAfee routinely tops my phishing protection test, detecting 100% of the real-world phishing pages. It also scores well in preventing malware downloads from ever reaching my test systems, although its latest test against malware-hosting URLs didn’t quite reach the top. Like Bitdefender, McAfee doesn’t always show the same peak performance in my malware protection test as it does in lab tests. When the two don’t jibe, I give more weight to the labs.
Independent lab test scores: Independent labs highly regard McAfee's malware-fighting technology. Three of the five labs I follow include McAfee in their current analyses, and it earned a perfect score in most of the latest test reports. Processing its current scores through my aggregate lab test algorithm yields a score of 8.9, out of 10.
Pricing and pricing tiers: For many years, a McAfee AntiVirus Plus subscription offered unlimited cross-platform antivirus protection for all your devices. However, in late 2023, McAfee dropped the Plus from the name and reduced coverage. The current McAfee AntiVirus remains a powerful choice for a single Windows PC, but doesn’t extend to other platforms. It no longer offers unlimited devices or even the usual volume discounts for multiple licenses. To get unlimited protection from McAfee, you must upgrade to the McAfee+ security suite. That’s what McAfee hopes you do. You won’t even find the $49.99 McAfee AntiVirus on the McAfee website. Rather, you must seek it from third parties like Amazon and Best Buy.
Ransomware protection: Many antivirus apps allow you to configure ransomware protection separately from regular real-time antivirus protection, making it easy to test for ransomware. With McAfee, the two are inextricably combined; therefore, I tested using brand-new, hand-modified copies of my samples. The regular antivirus still wiped out half of those on sight. The rest managed to at least launch, giving the behavioral detection system a chance to prove its worth. McAfee caught all but one of the file-encrypting ransomware specimens, but the one that slipped through encrypted 10,000 files and displayed its ransom note. A wiper-style whole-disk attack also succeeded. And again, all of McAfee’s protective layers were turned on during this test.
Features beyond antivirus: McAfee AntiVirus has long been more than a simple antivirus app, but some of its bonuses have fallen by the wayside. It no longer includes the vulnerability scan or home network management components, and the App Boost and Web Boost features have departed. The developers found that customers just weren’t using those. However, it still integrates a basic firewall, and its WebAdvisor browser extension flags unsafe links in search results and social media. It can foil snoops by cleaning up traces of computer and browser activity. Its File Shredder permanently deletes sensitive files beyond forensic recovery, and it even detects and prevents cryptojacking. There’s a lot here.
Who It’s For
The score tracker: Some consumers like to get a feel for different antivirus apps before making a choice, while others cut straight to the scorecards. Is that you? McAfee earns excellent scores from the independent testing labs, reaching perfection in almost every test. It also tops out some (but not all) of my hands-on tests.
The loyal customer: When you show your loyalty by signing up for automatic renewal, McAfee offers a Virus Protection Pledge in return. If malware gets past its protection, McAfee experts will remotely remediate the infestation; if they are unable to do so, you will receive a refund. It’s a cozy relationship.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Firewall Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Website Rating Learn More McAfee AntiVirus Review -
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Best for Remote ControlEmsisoft Anti-Malware
Pros & Cons
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 a dozen ransomware samples from damaging a single file.
Why We Picked It
Scores in hands-on tests. In my hands-on malware blocking test, Emsisoft detected 98% of the samples, the same as Sophos. Incomplete blocking of detected attacks brought Emsisoft's overall score to 9.4 out of 10. Tested with a newer collection of malware, Avast, AVG, and Norton managed 9.7 points, and Malwarebytes edged them out with 9.8. Most of the rest scored lower than Emsisoft. Its web protection scored 97% against both malware-hosting URLs and phishing fraud. As I discuss below, it managed to defend against a dozen real-world ransomware samples.
Independent lab test scores. In years past, Emsisoft frequently earned excellent scores in AV-Comparatives test reports, and it would at least appear in AV-Test reports, though without reaching perfect scores. But Emsisoft’s participation with those labs stopped about eight years ago. AVLab tested Emsisoft’s business edition, which uses the same antivirus engine as the consumer edition reviewed in PCMag, and gave it a perfect 100% score.
Pricing and pricing tiers. Like ESET, Emsisoft charges just under $40 per year for a single license. Only G Data, which asks $29.95 for one license, costs less. If you have multiple PCs to protect, you can get a three-license Emsisoft subscription for $59.95, or max out at five licenses for $79.95 per year. Emsisoft’s pricing is very middle-of-the-road.
Ransomware protection. Some antivirus apps foil ransomware by preventing all unauthorized changes to files in protected folders such as Documents and Pictures. This often allows ransomware to encrypt many files outside protected folders. Others detect and block ransomware by analyzing its behavior, but in many cases, ransomware encrypts dozens or hundreds of files before it's detected. In my testing with a dozen real-world ransomware attacks that encrypt files, Emsisoft proved fully effective, detecting all ransomware behavior without allowing any damage to a single file on the test system.
Features beyond antivirus. Emsisoft scans files on access, on demand, and on schedule, and its web protection proved effective at blocking access to dangerous and fraudulent sites. Beyond covering all the basics, its most significant feature is a very thorough remote control and management system. Anything you can do locally, like launch a scan or check for updates, you can also do remotely, meaning you can manage security for your friends and family. A remote-controlled content filter system is more useful in a business setting; it’s not for parental control.
Who It’s For
The family tech support wizard. You read PCMag, so chances are your friends and family know you as their local, personal security expert. If you equip your family with Emsisoft, you can resolve any issues without leaving your desk using the comprehensive remote control and management system. And if Uncle Billy just can’t resist tweaking security settings, you can even lock out local control.
The ransomware fighter. The idea of losing your important work to ransomware horrifies you. Sure, any antivirus should fight off ransomware just as it does any other kind of malware, but you want more assurance. Emsisoft builds in ransomware-specific behavior-based detection, and in testing, it performed perfectly, better than any competitor.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Protection Type Antivirus Ransomware Behavior Detection Learn More Emsisoft Anti-Malware Review -
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Best Breadth of FeaturesG Data Antivirus
Pros & Cons
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
Scores in hands-on tests: I gain valuable hands-on experience by testing each antivirus with real-world threats. The tests also provide useful scores for comparison. G Data fended off 97% of malware downloads in my malicious URL blocking test, which is its best score to date. It didn’t fare as well in my straight malware-blocking test, scoring 9.0 of 10 possible points, just a tenth above Microsoft Defender's score. And its phishing detection score of 91% puts it in the bottom half.
Independent lab test scores: Two independent labs include G Data in their latest reports, and its scores range from near-perfect to perfect. Running those tests through my aggregate scoring algorithm yields 9.3 out of 10 possible points.
Pricing and pricing tiers: If you’re looking for a bargain, you’ll like G Data’s pricing. A single license costs $29.95 per year, which is among the lowest prices for a commercial antivirus. You can upgrade that to three licenses for $39.95 or five for $49.95. That five-license price is the same as what you pay to protect a single device with Bitdefender, McAfee, or Webroot, and a single Norton license runs even higher.
Ransomware protection: With G Data, you get multiple layers of protection against malware. In addition to the usual real-time protection, it includes ransomware activity monitoring, a behavioral detection system called Beast, and the DeepRay machine learning system. In testing, G Data detected all real-world ransomware samples except for a couple that took no action. The behavioral detection systems ran a bit behind, allowing about half of the ransomware samples to encrypt some files before they were quashed. Remember, though, that I couldn’t run this test without disabling regular real-time antivirus protection.
Features beyond antivirus: Throughout its evolution, this antivirus app has incorporated numerous additional security tools. With the regular antivirus disabled, its behavior-based ransomware protection layers proved effective. An exploit detection component scored better than most competitors in testing. Other bonus features include spam filtering, BankGuard protection for financial transactions, active defense against keyloggers, and fine-grained control over startup programs.
Who It’s For
The feature collector: Viruses and Trojan Horse programs are common threats, blasted by every antivirus. G Data also takes on exploits, ransomware, keyloggers, attacks on financial transactions, and spam, with startup program control as well. If you’re looking to get all the protective features you can from your antivirus, look no further.
The old-school enthusiast: According to the G Data website, the company released the first-ever antivirus program in 1985. Whether or not it was the very first, G Data Antivirus has a long and storied history. Some people lean toward the newest, shiniest antivirus protection, while others prefer a mature program that has had plenty of time to shake out any weaknesses. G Data Antivirus is a full-fledged utility with numerous security bonuses. It’s just the thing for those seeking a barrel-aged antivirus tool.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Learn More G Data Antivirus Review -
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Best for Speedy ScansMalwarebytes Premium Security
Pros & Cons
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
Scores in hands-on tests: Malwarebytes is on a streak in my hands-on malware-blocking test, interrupted by a single fluke low score. In four successive reviews, it scored 9.8, 10, 9.8, 9.3 (the fluke), and 9.9. It's still on top with 9.8 out of 10 possible points. Malwarebytes earned a very good 96% detection score in my antiphishing test, but didn’t do as well at preventing malware downloads. In my test, using malware-hosting URLs, the system achieved only 83% protection.
Independent lab test scores: Early in its existence, Malwarebytes didn’t participate in lab tests at all, as the developers contended that its advanced techniques weren’t compatible with standard testing. Over the years, it has popped up in some tests, with scores ranging from dismal to perfect. In 2022, it took perfect scores from MRG-Effitas and AV-Test; AV-Comparatives also certified its protection, though not at the highest level. In 2023, it achieved a top rating from MRG-Effitas and earned a near-perfect Top Product rating from AV-Test. Currently, it holds mixed scores from three labs, resulting in an aggregate score of 7.6.
Pricing and pricing tiers: Most antivirus apps offer a volume discount of some kind for those needing to protect multiple devices. However, the discount tiers don’t always jibe precisely with your needs. Suppose an antivirus offers subscriptions for one, three, five, or 10 devices, but you need seven. You’ll have to buy 10 licenses and waste three of them. Until recently, that wasn't the case with Malwarebytes. A single license was $44.99, but after that, the price was $39.99 plus $10 per device, ranging from $49.99 for two devices to $229.99 for 20 devices, with no licenses wasted. The current pricing system offers one-, three-, five-, 10-, and 20-license options. Pricing for one, three, or five licenses is unchanged. A 10-license subscription drops from $129.99 to $119.99, and the 20-pack goes from $229.99 to $169.99.
Ransomware protection: This app’s real-time protection wiped out all my ransomware samples on sight, so I had to disable it before running tests with real-world ransomware specimens. With regular protection crippled, Malwarebytes still detected all my file-encrypting ransomware samples. As can happen with behavior-based detection, a few files on the test system were encrypted before Malwarebytes intervened, but almost all of these were logs and other unimportant ancillary files.
Features beyond antivirus: Malwarebytes focuses strongly on antivirus basics, while also extending its protection with a behavior-based detection layer that has proven effective against ransomware. Its exploit protection system is hard to test, as it only reacts to exploits that match an actual vulnerability on the victim system. The latest edition scans the dark web to see if any of your email accounts were exposed in a breach. It also adds tools, including app startup management, a handy Windows Firewall control panel, and (in Windows 11) a collection of useful system tweaks.
Who It’s For
The efficiency fiend: Malwarebytes has a clean, tidy appearance, but more importantly, it runs a full Threat Scan in minutes, where the average app takes hours, or at least an hour. If you want an app that takes care of business expeditiously, this one’s for you.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Learn More Malwarebytes Premium Security Review -
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Best for Thrifty UsersSophos Home Premium
Pros & Cons
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
Scores in hands-on tests: I put Sophos through my hands-on tests, which yielded scores ranging from very good to perfect. Reaching that perfect score, Sophos fended off malware downloads from 100% of the malware-hosting URLs I threw at it. In my simple malware blocking test, it detected 98% of the samples and earned 9.6 out of 10 possible points. Sophos didn’t reach its maximum score in my test using recently discovered phishing frauds, but its 95% detection score is still very good.
Independent lab test scores: As I mentioned, Sophos is a well-established name in enterprise security, which may make promoting the consumer-grade app less of a priority. Sophos doesn’t invest effort in participating in many independent testing labs. However, for the last five years, it has taken AAA certification, the top of the five certification levels, in every test by London-based SE Labs.
Pricing and pricing tiers: The yearly cost to protect one PC with antivirus software typically ranges from $39 to $59. The price per device typically decreases with multi-license subscription tiers. Sophos, by contrast, has a single pricing tier—protect 10 devices (Windows or Mac) for $59.99. Per device, that’s about $6 per year, lower than almost any competitor.
Ransomware protection: “Zero-day ransomware” strikes fear into the hearts of security professionals. Zero-day means it’s so new that standard antivirus techniques don’t recognize it, so spotting it based on behavior is the only possibility. With normal real-time protection completely disabled for testing, Sophos detected almost all my ransomware samples based on their behavior. The only ones it missed were those that didn’t take any action—no behavior, no detection. And unlike many competitors, it smacked down all the attacks before they could encrypt even a single document.
Features beyond antivirus: You manage Sophos through an online console, sending instructions to the tiny local agent on each device. Tiny or not, the agent packs in plenty of bonuses, including ransomware protection that aced my tests, defense against exploit attacks, an admittedly less-effective parental control content filter, protection for financial transactions, webcam hijack prevention, and more. It’s small, but mighty.
Who It’s For
The thrifty user: You want to keep your family group safe from malware, but you don’t want to break the bank. A Sophos subscription lets you protect up to 10 PCs or Macs for the same price as a single Norton antivirus installation. Now that’s a bargain!
The family tech support: Are you the default security expert for your extended family or circle of friends? Are you tired of driving across town to rescue your beloved uncle after he clicked something he shouldn’t have? With Sophos Home Premium, you can keep your family safe without leaving your home base.
The organizer: The local Sophos agent takes up minimal space on your computer. Configuration and tracking are pushed up to the online console. If you’re not the account manager, you’ll hardly notice Sophos. And if you are, you have a single spot to manage all your installations.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Hardened Browser Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Protection Type Antivirus Ransomware Behavior Detection Webcam Protection Learn More Sophos Home Premium Review -
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Best for a Small FootprintWebroot Essentials
Pros & Cons
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
Scores in hands-on tests: While Webroot doesn’t always perform well in full-scale lab tests, it has achieved some excellent scores in hands-on tests. In my simple malware blocking test, it correctly identified 99% of the samples as malicious and scored 9.7 out of 10 possible points. Challenged to detect dangerous websites and prevent malware downloads, it achieved 97% protection. And in my anti-phishing test, it detected 100% of the fraudulent websites. That’s an awesome collection of scores.
Independent lab test scores: Webroot’s delayed-action detection isn’t a good fit for most standardized lab tests. The labs mostly expect an antivirus to either flag malware immediately or not at all. Over the past 10 years, Webroot has appeared sporadically in tests conducted by MRG-Effitas and AV-Test, yielding mixed results. In the last five years, its only scores have come from SE Labs, mostly AAA ratings, with a sprinkling of AA and A ratings. At present, it holds two lab scores: a 100% detection score from AVLab and an AAA rating from SE Labs.
Pricing and pricing tiers: At $49.99 to protect a single computer, Webroot is on the medium-high side, with many competitors coming in $10 lower. A three-license Webroot subscription for $69.99 looks better, though, and at five licenses for $89.99, you’re paying about $18 per device. That’s still slightly high compared with most, but certainly better.
Ransomware protection: Webroot eliminates malicious programs while allowing legitimate programs to run unhindered. For unknowns, it applies close scrutiny and checks with the cloud, keeping a journal of any changes the program makes. After a thumbs-down from the cloud, Webroot wipes the program and reverses those journaled changes. In the past, I’ve been able to demonstrate for myself that the journal-and-rollback system reverses the effects of ransomware. More recently, the app’s detection has become too accurate; I haven’t been able to simulate an unknown ransomware sample with the latest version. However, my past tests have shown that it works.
Features beyond antivirus: Despite the name, Webroot Essentials covers more than the antivirus essentials. For starters, your subscription comes with a full subscription to LastPass Premium, in case you don’t have a password manager. A firewall component monitors network activity from unknown programs and activates if it detects ransomware. You’ll also find some bonuses of a technical nature, like a list of all active processes, a detailed report of Webroot’s activity, and a collection of advanced features for cleaning up after malware.
Who It’s For
The organizer: Do you believe that good things come in small packages? Webroot is one of the smallest antivirus apps around, with an installer that would fit on a single diskette.
The tech expert: Not every consumer is ready to confront a list of active processes or manually restore system settings damaged by malware. If you’re ready to face those and other technical features and could run a custom malware removal script without flinching, Webroot may be just the thing for you.
Specs & Configurations
Behavior-Based Detection Firewall Malicious URL Blocking On-Access Malware Scan On-Demand Malware Scan Phishing Protection Protection Type Antivirus Ransomware Behavior Detection Ransomware Protection Recover Files VPN None Website Rating Learn More Webroot Essentials Review -
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Best For | Best Overall | Best for Tech-Savvy Users | Best for Extra Security Features | Best for Single-PC Households | Best for Remote Control | Best Breadth of Features | Best for Speedy Scans | Best for Thrifty Users | Best for a Small Footprint | Best Overall | Best for Tech-Savvy Users | Best for Extra Security Features |
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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 AntiVirus Plus 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 the lab considered the program significant, and the company felt the testing cost was worthwhile. Of course, high test scores 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.
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.
Editors’ Note: Given that the US government has banned new sales of Kaspersky security products, we no longer recommend them.