This is the full index of every antivirus we review, ranked by our 6-factor score (40% independent lab results, 20% pricing, 15% hands-on performance, 10% feature depth, 10% platform coverage, 5% community & support). Ratings are re-checked as new lab cycles and prices land; the list was last reconciled on July 9, 2026. Tap any product for the full review.
| Editor's Top Tier | ||
| #1 | BitdefenderBitdefender Total Security scores 18/18 at AV-TEST and won 4 AV-TEST Awards in 2025. Best value antivirus in 2026 at $19.99 first year for 5 devices. | 9.0/10 |
| #2 | Norton 360Norton 360 scores perfect 18/18 at AV-TEST with 31 consecutive TOP PRODUCT certifications. Includes unlimited VPN, dark web monitoring, and covers up to 10 devices. | 9.0/10 |
| #3 | Microsoft DefenderMicrosoft Defender ships free with Windows 10 / 11 and scored 18/18 at AV-TEST February 2026 — matches paid Bitdefender, Norton, and Kaspersky on detection. No subscription, no upsell modals. Windows-only (no Mac, | 9.0/10 |
| Strong Choices | ||
| #4 | Avast Free AntivirusOne of the industry leaders, Avast offers robust protection from all types of malware along with numerous add-ons. | 8.5/10 |
| #5 | AVG AntivirusAVG uses the same engine as Avast, confirmed by AV-Comparatives March 2026. Scores 17.5/18 at AV-TEST February 2026. AVG Internet Security $59.99 first year (up to 10 devices), $119.99 on renewal. No parental controls at | 8.5/10 |
| #6 | ESETESET Home Security Premium scored 17.5/18 at AV-TEST February 2026 and earned AV-Comparatives 2025 Gold for Advanced Threat Protection. Slovak family-owned vendor since 1987. Lightest agent footprint among paid suites in | 8.5/10 |
| #7 | Kaspersky PremiumKaspersky earned Top-Rated 2025 from AV-Comparatives — Advanced+ in all 7 tests, Gold for Malware Protection (99.99%) and Gold for lowest false positives. AV-TEST Jan-Feb 2026: 18/18. Topped AV-Comparatives’ April | 8.5/10 |
| #8 | IntegoIntego Mac Internet Security X9 — Mac-only specialist since 1997. Scored 97.1% on the AV-Comparatives Mac Security Test June 2025 with zero false positives across 500 clean apps. Apple Silicon native (M1–M4). | 8.0/10 |
| #9 | Panda Dome PremiumPanda Dome Premium scored 17.5/18 at AV-TEST February 2026 and ships the cheapest unlimited-VPN-plus-antivirus bundle on the market in 2026. WatchGuard-owned since 2020. From $28.49 first year (1 device); ~$49 promo for | 8.0/10 |
| #10 | Sophos HomeSophos Home Premium uses the same enterprise Intercept X engine that earned 2026 Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Endpoint Protection at 4.9/5.0 (5th consecutive year). CryptoGuard ransomware rollback + r | 8.0/10 |
| #11 | Zemana AntiMalwareIf you’re conscious about your safety, you should add Zemana to your security suite. | 8.0/10 |
| Middle of the Pack | ||
| #12 | AviraBottom line: Avira is safe and competent — AV-TEST April 2026 shows perfect protection and usability with a 5.5/6 performance score — but Prime is hard to recommend to new buyers at its $109.99 renewal. Exist | 7.5/10 |
| #13 | Emsisoft Anti-MalwarePerfect for detecting such online threats as trojans, malware, or viruses and then blocking the threats. With the help of the surf protection element, you will not open an unsafe application or access a potentially malic | 7.5/10 |
| #14 | MalwarebytesMalwarebytes is the best second-layer protection tool. AVLab Product of the Year 2026. Standard plan covers 3 devices at $59.99 per year with 60-day money-back guarantee. | 7.5/10 |
| #15 | PC MaticPCMatic is the protective necessity which will defy all well-known viruses. | 7.5/10 |
| #16 | Spybot Search & DestroyThis player has a long list of additional features for your safety. | 7.5/10 |
| #17 | VIPRE AntivirusBottom line: a quiet, lightweight, US-owned suite with near-spotless false-positive discipline (3 FPs in AV-Comparatives Feb–May 2026) — but 96.0% protection in the same test is bottom-third blocking. Fine fo | 7.5/10 |
| #18 | ScanguardRound-the-clock malware protection along with some extras like free VPN at a very cometitive price. | 7.1/10 |
| #19 | HitmanProHitmanPro is an antivirus program aimed for the detection and removal of malware from your computer and supporting the security of your devices. | 7.0/10 |
| #20 | MacKeeperMacKeeper might have earnerd a rather negative reputation through the years. But it proved to be quite effective lately. | 7.0/10 |
| #21 | TotalAVThis new player on the market has solutions for all the major platforms and offers great deals for the new users. | 7.0/10 |
| #22 | Trend MicroBottom line: a legitimate family-focused suite — strong parental controls, Pay Guard banking browser, light day-to-day feel — but not the 2026 pick for detection-first buyers: 4.5/6 AV-TEST Protection (Feb) a | 7.0/10 |
| #23 | ZoneAlarmEffective for the protection from new types of malware: ZoneAlarm is excellent for detection of the unknown viruses. | 7.0/10 |
| Weak / Proceed With Caution | ||
| #24 | McAfee+ PremiumMcAfee Total Protection scores 18/18 at AV-TEST with 31 consecutive TOP PRODUCT certifications since June 2020. Only antivirus with unlimited device coverage on Premium plans. | 6.5/10 |
| #25 | Webroot SecureAnywhereBottom line: still the lightest paid antivirus you can buy — 5 MB agent, 7–12 MB idle RAM in our hands-on test — but it sits outside AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives in 2026, so its detection case rests on S | 6.5/10 |
| #26 | Comodo Internet SecurityEffective virus protection provided by the Comodo antivirus is reliable even with the free version. | 6.0/10 |
| #27 | PC ProtectPCProtect is a decent solution for the people who need effective antivirus for a good price. | 6.0/10 |
| #28 | 360 Total SecurityThis antivirus is a low-price product with a decent set of features for all devices protection. | 5.0/10 |
| #29 | Adaware Antivirus | 4.0/10 |
| #30 | ClamWinSolution that offers a decent protection of entry level. | 4.0/10 |
Looking for a specific use case? See our ranked guides: Windows 11 · Mac · Free antivirus · Gaming PCs · Internet security suites · Head-to-head comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Antivirus-Review score products?
Every review runs the same 6-factor methodology: 40% independent lab results (AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, SE Labs), 20% pricing transparency including renewal, 15% hands-on performance, 10% feature depth, 10% platform coverage, and 5% community & support signal. The full breakdown is on our how we test page.
Which antivirus is the best overall in 2026?
For most Windows users, Bitdefender is our top overall pick on the balance of detection, price and features. Microsoft Defender is the best free option, and Norton 360 is the strongest all-in-one bundle.
How often are these reviews updated?
We re-check ratings whenever a new AV-TEST or AV-Comparatives cycle publishes, when a vendor changes pricing, or when a product ships a major release. Each review shows its own last-checked date.
New to antivirus? Start with our best antivirus for Windows 11 guide, or see real RAM and scan-time numbers in the Antivirus Performance Impact Report 2026.