We receive compensation from the providers listed below. 

The Best Antivirus of 2024

Stay safe online with Antivirus software. Compare our top Antivirus picks and choose the one that's right for you.

Protect all your devices:
  • device-windows
  • device-mac
  • device-ios
  • Android-Colour
antivirus-table-header
  • Our antivirus picks have been featured on
  • press-pc-mag
  • press-tech-radar
  • bbc
  • the guardian
  • press-cnn
1 / Most Popular
product-bitdefenderlogo-bitdefender

Bitdefender is a powerful internet security suite with impressive lab results to back it up.

Bitdefender is a powerful internet security suite with impressive lab results to back it up.

  • Excellent scores from independent lab tests
  • Online finance and banking protection
  • Very easy to use
  • Password manager and parental controls
  • Brilliant phishing protection
  • Protect all your devices without slowing them down
  • Anti-theft for Windows, Android, and iOS
9.7

Excellent

2 /
product-nortonlogo-norton

Norton offers improved online privacy and multiple layers of protection for all your devices.

Norton offers improved online privacy and multiple layers of protection for all your devices.

  • Excellent protection against ransomware
  • Online backup and recovery included
  • Powerful real-time threat protection
  • User-friendly password manager
  • Virtual private networking provided
  • Firewall included
9.4

Very Good

3 /
product-vipre-optlogo-vipre

Vipre antivirus software protects your computer with minimal impact on performance.

Vipre antivirus software protects your computer with minimal impact on performance.

  • Home and business protection
  • Malware and ransomware detection
  • Anti-spam and anti-phishing tool
  • Browsing track cleaner
  • Unlimited virtual private network
  • Firewall included
9.2

Very Good

4 /
product-mcafeelogo-mcafee

McAfee Total Protection is a stellar choice for remote workers and privacy-conscious users.

McAfee Total Protection is a stellar choice for remote workers and privacy-conscious users.

  • Defend yourself against malware, spyware and ransomware
  • Additional privacy and identity protection
  • Secure and unlimited VPN
  • File encryption included
  • Powerful phishing protection
  • Protects over 500M devices
  • Safe Family parental control
9.0

Very Good

5 /
product-bullguardlogo-bullguard

Bullguard antivirus software protects your computer with a minimal impact on performance.

Bullguard antivirus software protects your computer with a minimal impact on performance.

  • Very cost-effective
  • Boosts full-screen game performance
  • Excellent ransomware detection
  • Customisable scan types
  • Available for Windows, macOS, and Android
8.8

Very Good

6 /
product-integologo-intego

Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle X9 offers value for money and robust security tools for macOS

Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle X9 offers value for money and robust security tools for macOS

  • Tailored specifically to protect against macOS threats
  • Dual protection provides Windows coverage as well
  • Antivirus protection for iPhone and iPad
  • Unobtrusive and user-friendly interface
  • Backup and recovery software included
8.7

Very Good

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to Use AntiVirus? Collapse

Cybercrime has evolved to become more sophisticated and more dangerous. In fact, the McAfee Labs Threat Report detected an average of 419 threats per minute during the second quarter of 2020.

Modern antivirus software proactively detects and removes malware from your computer, and it is an essential layer of digital security for protecting your data. It’s not just about protecting your computer either – but also your files and your personal or financial information. Depending on your computer and operating system and what you use them for, adding extra protection on top of what’s built-in can be an absolute necessity.

How does AntiVirus Software Work? Expand

Antivirus software uses a combination of real-time protection and manual scans against a comprehensive database of potential threats, and act quickly to quarantine and neutralize any suspicious files. Most modern antivirus software also employs heuristic analysis to offer protection against new viruses and malware before they are widely recognized.

Should I Pay for AntiVirus? Expand

While built-in virus protection, such as Windows Defender, is better than ever, premium antivirus provides an added layer of protection against viruses, malware, and other threats at a relatively low cost.


Many paid-for antivirus products also offer additional features such as VPN, Password Managers and Parental Controls to help keep you and your family safe online.

What Sort of Threats does Antivirus Stop? Expand

Good antivirus software now provides comprehensive protection against all types of malicious software. This includes things like browser hijackers, malicious browser plugins, keyloggers, ransomware, and trojan horses. If any known malicious code is detected on your computer or network, the antivirus software should intervene.