The best antivirus in 2026: start with the free one you already have

We did not run our own malware tests. Two independent labs do that work properly, with hundreds of live samples every round, and publish the results: AV-TEST in Germany and AV-Comparatives in Austria. This page uses their published results for the periods named, plus each company's own description of its plans.

If you only want to know whether you need to buy anything, read is free antivirus enough? first. Mac and iPhone owners should read do Macs and iPhones need antivirus?, because the answer there is different. This page is for people who have decided they want a closer look at the options.

AV-TEST scores Windows products out of 6 in three areas: protection, performance (how much the product slows the computer) and usability (mainly false alarms). In its test of home products on Windows 11 during July and August 2026, every one of the 15 products it tested reached the Top Product threshold of 17.5 points.

Source: AV-TEST home Windows results, August 2026 round. The only place the free option trails is half a point on performance.

AV-Comparatives runs a year-long series and gives awards at the end. In its Summary Report 2025, the Top-Rated award (90 points or more across all its tests) went to Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, ESET, G Data, Kaspersky and Norton. Microsoft Defender took part in the same consumer series but did not win a Top-Rated or medal award, a reminder that one lab's round is not the whole picture. Its most recent tests are listed on the latest tests page.

Defender ships with Windows 10 and 11, updates itself through Windows Update and costs nothing. With top protection scores, the case for replacing it rests entirely on extras, not on catching more malware. It is also the product with the least reason to upsell you or collect your browsing.

Two settings are worth checking: that Windows Security shows Defender as your active antivirus, and that Controlled folder access (ransomware protection) is on if you keep important files on the computer. Our Windows security settings guide walks through both.

Bitdefender scored full marks in the AV-TEST round above and won Top-Rated in AV-Comparatives' 2025 series. Its consumer line runs from Antivirus Plus up through Total Security, Premium Security and Ultimate Security, according to its plan page. Total Security covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS on one subscription and includes a password manager; Premium Security adds unlimited VPN traffic; the Ultimate tiers add identity monitoring.

Prices on its site are for the first year and the subscription renews automatically at a renewal price the plan page does not show, so check the renewal figure in your account after you buy and set a reminder.

Norton 360 also scored full marks with AV-TEST and won Top-Rated with AV-Comparatives for 2025. Norton belongs to Gen Digital, the owner of Avast and AVG. According to Norton's product page, Norton 360 Deluxe covers up to five devices and includes a VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls and 50 GB of PC cloud backup; the "with LifeLock" plans add identity theft protection.

Norton suits people who want antivirus and identity monitoring from one company on one bill. The trade-off is the same as Bitdefender's: listed prices are for the first year, and the renewal price is higher. If identity monitoring is the main draw, read is identity theft protection worth it? first, because the core protection (a credit freeze) is free.

Deciding between these two? See Bitdefender vs Norton.

Malwarebytes is best known for its free on-demand scanner, one that many technicians use as a second opinion. Its paid Premium edition scored full marks in the AV-TEST round. If you think a computer is already infected, see how to remove malware.

ESET is light on system resources and a favorite of people who want a security product without much marketing inside it. It earned full AV-TEST marks and a 2025 Top-Rated award.

Avast and AVG offer free editions with good lab scores. Before choosing one, know that in 2024 the FTC ordered Avast to stop selling browsing data for advertising after alleging that it collected and sold users' browsing information; our free antivirus guide covers this. Kaspersky products also test well, but in June 2024 the Commerce Department barred Kaspersky from selling or updating its products in the United States, so they are not a practical choice for US readers.

• One Windows PC, careful habits: Microsoft Defender. Spend the money on nothing.
• Mixed household (Windows, Mac, Android) or someone who clicks on everything: Bitdefender or Norton 360, for cross-browser web filtering and one license.
• You also want identity monitoring and backup in the same bundle: Norton 360 Deluxe or a LifeLock plan, after freezing your credit for free.
• Computer already acting strangely: a Malwarebytes free scan, then the steps in our malware removal guide.
• iPhone: no antivirus app can scan other apps on iOS. Keep it updated instead.

Whatever you pick, antivirus is one layer. A password manager, two-factor authentication and automatic updates stop more real-world attacks than the difference between any two products in the table. Take the five-minute self-check to see which of those you are missing.