Viruses and other malware can cause significant damage to your computer, making it slow or even unusable. Cybersecurity threats can steal your data, leading to issues ranging from a single compromised account to full-scale identity theft that can upend your life. Accordingly, it’s important to ensure that you’re using one of the best antivirus tools for Windows to protect your device (or devices) and your data. The question isn’t whether you need antivirus on Windows, but rather which solution is right for you.
Our Picks
Microsoft Defender, formerly known as Windows Defender, is the default antivirus program built into computers running Windows 10 and Windows 11. Because it’s free and consistently protects against modern malware, it’s the best Windows antivirus app for most folks.
Pros
- Free
- Automatically installed and enabled on your Windows computer
- Runs automatic scans during low-usage periods
- Consistently receives high marks in third-party testing
Cons
- Can’t schedule scans directly within Windows Defender
- Additional security tools are limited
- Protection may not be as comprehensive as other antivirus tools
McAfee is one of the oldest companies in the antivirus world, offering protection to hundreds of millions of computers since its launch in 1987.
Pros
- Perfect AV-Test scores in Protection and Performance throughout all of 2024
- Protection for unlimited devices
- Easy scan scheduling
- Social media privacy manager
- VPN and password manager on all plans
- Identity theft available on higher-tier plans
Cons
- Active scans’ high resource usage can be problematic for older computers
- Plans including identity theft are significantly more expensive than the base plan
The core Bitdefender antivirus software has earned high marks in all AV-Test categories throughout 2024 testing. You can get this high-level protection for Windows, Android, MacOS and iOS.
Pros
- Consistently high performance in third-party testing
- Easy scan scheduling
- Scam prevention and email protection
- Ransomware protection, including refunds on higher-tier plans
- VPN and password manager
- Ad-blocker
- Identity scanner that alerts you when your data is leaked
- Extensive identity theft protection on higher-tier plans
- Renewal prices are lower than other options from rivals
Cons
- Only covers up to five devices
- Starting prices are more expensive than other options from competitors
- Identity theft protection is only available for US residents
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I’ve researched and analyzed the many antivirus programs available so you can pick the best Windows antivirus software for your security needs.
What is the best antivirus for Windows right now?
Microsoft Defender is the best antivirus for the average Windows user. Microsoft Defender is free, automatically enabled on Windows 10 and 11 devices and a reliable source of protection from most malware.
McAfee is the best antivirus for Windows users who want more control over their antivirus settings or additional safety tools like a password manager. McAfee earns consistently perfect Protection scores on AV-Test and, unlike most paid antivirus tools, will extend this protection to unlimited devices for no additional charge.
Best antivirus for Windows
Pros
- Free
- Automatically installed and enabled on your Windows computer
- Runs automatic scans during low-usage periods
- Consistently receives high marks in third-party testing
Cons
- Can’t schedule scans directly within Windows Defender
- Additional security tools are limited
- Protection may not be as comprehensive as other antivirus tools
Microsoft Defender, formerly known as Windows Defender, is the default antivirus program built into computers running Windows 10 and Windows 11. Because it’s free and consistently protects against modern malware, it’s the best Windows antivirus app for most folks.
Why we like it
Microsoft Defender is great because it’s automatically enabled on your Windows device, so you don’t need to do anything to get its protection. You can start browsing safely the moment you turn on your device.
Microsoft Defender reliably earns high marks from AV-Test in all three testing categories -- protection, performance and usability. The program lets you run several types of active scans and performs automated scans during low-usage hours, meaning it shouldn't bog down your PC when you're trying to do something else. However, you can’t manually schedule scans through the Microsoft Defender app; you’ll need to use the Task Scheduler program instead.
Microsoft Defender is bundled into Windows Security, a suite of tools that includes a firewall and account protection tools.
Who it’s best for
Microsoft Defender is the best antivirus for Windows users who want effective antivirus protection they don’t need to think about. However, it won’t give you full control over your scan schedule, provide safe browsing tools (though Windows Security does have some safety tools for Microsoft Edge) or give you protective software like a password manager.
Pricing
Microsoft Defender is 100% free.
Pros
- Perfect AV-Test scores in Protection and Performance throughout all of 2024
- Protection for unlimited devices
- Easy scan scheduling
- Social media privacy manager
- VPN and password manager on all plans
- Identity theft available on higher-tier plans
Cons
- Active scans’ high resource usage can be problematic for older computers
- Plans including identity theft are significantly more expensive than the base plan
McAfee is one of the oldest companies in the antivirus world, offering protection to hundreds of millions of computers since its launch in 1987.
Why we like it
McAfee’s antivirus software consistently receives perfect marks from AV-Test in the protection and performance categories. McAfee’s usability scores are also typically high, with only one less-than-perfect result (a 5.5 out of 6) in all of 2024’s tests. This makes it one of the most reliable and user-friendly options for antivirus protection on Windows computers.
You can protect unlimited devices -- including Android, MacOS and iOS devices -- on the core McAfee Plus Premium plan. You’ll also get a social privacy manager for simplified privacy management on social media, a VPN to mask your online activity and a password manager to help you create secure passwords. You may be able to get a more private or faster VPN, but McAfee’s VPN should suffice for casual users. McAfee Plus Premium even includes identity alerts that inform you if your personal data is being distributed on the dark web.
Who it’s best for
McAfee’s affordable protection for unlimited devices, including devices with a variety of operating systems, makes it a great choice if you want protection for multiple computers and phones. You may also want to buy McAfee Plus Premium to access its additional security tools, especially the social media privacy manager and identity theft protection.
Pricing
McAfee Plus Premium starts at $50 for the first year and rises to $150 per year on renewal. The Advanced plan, which adds up to $1 million in identity theft coverage, costs $90 for the first year and $200 per year afterward. The most expensive plan, Ultimate, ups the ante with up to $2 million in identity theft coverage and starts at $200 for the first year but renews at $280 per year.
You can save money by choosing the McAfee Total Protection Basic plan for $30 in the first year ($90 on renewal) if you only want the antivirus for your primary computer.
Pros
- Consistently high performance in third-party testing
- Easy scan scheduling
- Scam prevention and email protection
- Ransomware protection, including refunds on higher-tier plans
- VPN and password manager
- Ad-blocker
- Identity scanner that alerts you when your data is leaked
- Extensive identity theft protection on higher-tier plans
- Renewal prices are lower than other options from rivals
Cons
- Only covers up to five devices
- Starting prices are more expensive than other options from competitors
- Identity theft protection is only available for US residents
Why we like it
The core Bitdefender antivirus software has earned high marks in all AV-Test categories throughout 2024 testing. You can get this high-level protection for Windows, Android, MacOS and iOS.
Bitdefender Ultimate Security includes far more than the core antivirus tool, including ransomware protection to prevent your data from being held hostage, scam prevention, email protection and webcam protection. You’ll also get a password manager, VPN, an identity scanner that tracks where your data is being used online and an ad-blocker with anti-tracker tech to reduce companies’ ability to steal or sell your personal browsing information. This makes it one of the most robust security suites in the business -- but it only covers five devices.
US residents can also take advantage of Bitdefender’s identity theft protection, which includes credit reporting and identity theft insurance, by purchasing a higher-tier plan.
Who it’s best for
Bitdefender Ultimate Security is a great choice if you have five or fewer devices to protect and you want top-notch data security, including identity theft protection, without breaking the bank.
Pricing
The basic Bitdefender Ultimate Security plan starts at $90 for the first year and rises to $160 per year afterward. This plan includes antivirus protection for up to five devices, scam prevention, email protection, a VPN, a password manager, an ad-blocker and an identity scanner.
Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus includes identity theft protection with $1 million of identity theft insurance, Social Security number tracking and credit reporting from one bureau. This plan costs $120 for the first year and $190 per year afterward, making it both more comprehensive and -- after the first year -- slightly more affordable than protecting five or fewer devices with McAfee’s equivalent plan.
The Extended Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus plan offers the added benefits of credit reporting from three bureaus, ransomware resolution and refund services, investment account alerts and court record monitoring. Furthermore, this tier raises the identity theft insurance to $2 million. As you might expect, this plan is more expensive -- you’ll pay $150 for the first year and $250 per year on renewal. However, the renewal cost is less than the comparable McAfee plan, so Bitdefender Ultimate Security can provide long-term savings if you’ve only got a few devices.
Factors to consider in an antivirus for Windows
Effectiveness
Your antivirus should be able to block most malware, with regular updates to ensure protection against new viruses. You can get the best protection by choosing an antivirus solution that consistently receives top marks for protection from third-party labs like AV-Test.
System resource consumption
Your antivirus software should always be actively protecting your computer, but it shouldn’t be using a lot of processing power to do so. Running a scan will use more resources, but it still shouldn’t make your computer unusable.
While there are review sites that evaluate antivirus software for resource usage, the only way to be 100% sure how an antivirus software will interact with your system is to test it on your computer. Many antivirus tools offer free trials or money-back guarantees, so you can do this without losing money.
Privacy
Antivirus software works by tracking your activities and checking unusual behavior, suspicious files or other potential threats against information stored on company servers. This helps the software identify and block malware and other digital attacks. Some antivirus tools also monitor your banking and credit card transactions to prevent identity theft.
Reputable antivirus companies take steps to anonymize this data, which you can find detailed in their privacy policies. They will also refuse to sell your data or use it for any purpose other than securing your devices and identity.
Bundled services
Many antivirus companies offer digital security bundles with tools like:
- Ransomware protection: Protocols to prevent thieves from stealing your data and forcing you to buy it back.
- Phishing protection: Email screening that blocks fraudulent emails that encourage you to reveal sensitive information.
- Password manager: A tool that helps you create and store secure passwords.
- VPN: Software that masks your public IP address to hide your online activity and location.
- Safe browsing tools: Browser extensions or even specialized browsers that block unsafe websites and third-party trackers.
- Parental controls: Tools for restricting your children’s access to certain websites or programs.
- Identity theft protection: Protocols that identify and block suspicious activity in your bank and credit accounts. Some programs also include identity theft insurance, reimbursing you for up to $1 or $2 million if a breach occurs.
Some of these bundled programs -- like the password manager or VPN -- may not be the best-in-class, but you can often save time and money with them. This makes security bundles effective for many users. However, you may want to purchase some tools separately if you have specific security and privacy concerns or needs. Additionally, while bundles can sometimes save money, you may want to do the math for yourself with what you’d pay to put together your own cybersecurity toolkit versus an off-the-shelf package.
Protection for other operating systems
Windows may be the most commonly targeted operating system, but malware is also created for Android, iOS and MacOS. Most of the best antivirus tools for Windows also offer options for these operating systems so you can protect all of your devices. Some programs may limit features on other operating systems; make sure you understand these differences if you want to protect non-Windows devices like your phone.
Cost
Many antivirus tools offer discounted pricing for the first year, allowing you to save $50 or more. However, you’ll have to pay full price when the contract renews. Make sure you’re accounting for the price increase in your long-term budget.
All of the plans discussed in this article are built for five or more devices, so you may also be able to save money by choosing a plan for one or two devices. You can always switch to a more expensive plan if you get more devices in the future.
How we test antivirus software
We analyze each antivirus tool’s website to evaluate its features, built-in security tools and bundled products (like a VPN and password manager). We also note the operating systems and number of devices covered by each plan, then compare the prices to similar offerings from other reputable antivirus companies.
Finally, we look at test scores from AV-Test, a third-party lab that evaluates antivirus tools for protection, performance and usability. An antivirus must have scores of at least 5.5 out of 6 in all three categories during all tests from the previous years to be included on this list.
Other antivirus to consider
Norton Antivirus
Norton’s antivirus tech routinely earns top marks from third-party labs like AV-Test. Norton’s protection can be used on Windows, Android, iOS and MacOS devices. However, it uses a high percentage of system resources and can significantly slow down older computers.
All Norton plans include a password manager, Genie Scam Protection program and cloud backups starting at 2GB. Norton also offers several advanced packages with a VPN, safe browsing tools and identity theft protection. However, these tools aren’t necessarily the best of their kind -- we were underwhelmed with Norton’s VPN in our hands-on testing, and the cloud backups max out at 250GB, which may not be enough for some users.
The core Norton antivirus starts at $30 for the first year and renews at $60 per year.
AVG Internet Security
AVG Internet Security is known for its intuitive interface and its consistently high marks in third-party testing from AV-Test. AVG Antivirus also offers advanced security configuration and tools for automating software updates so you’re always using the most recent -- and maybe most secure -- version of the software you work with. However, this last feature is only available for Windows devices. AVG’s antivirus software also uses enough system resources to noticeably slow down some older or lower-speced computers.
AVG Internet Security starts at $60 for the first year and rises to $100 on renewal, with full protection for up to 10 devices.
Avira Free Antivirus
We’ve declared Avira Free Antivirus to be the best free antivirus (other than Microsoft Defender) because it performs well in AV-Tests and comes bundled with various safe browsing tools. These include a browser extension that blocks ad tracking and a password manager. Windows users can also take advantage of the software updater tool. However, you’ll find that several features, like system cleanup tools, that appear in the dashboard aren’t usable; clicking on them sends you to an upsell for the paid version, Avira Internet Security.
Avira Free Antivirus is free, with a paid version available for $35 in the first year ($71 per year on renewal).
