Best antivirus software in 2024
The best antivirus software in 2023 for PC
We tested 25 leading antivirus services to find the absolute best in the industry. Throughout our evaluations, we discovered the strengths and weaknesses of the top 10 antivirus solutions that made the final cut. Learn more about our findings by reading the descriptions below.
1. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
The best overall antivirus protection software in 2023
| Max simultaneous connections: | 15 devices |
| Free version: | Yes |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
Bitdefender is the best antivirus software of 2023 because it offers flawless malware protection rates and security from all types of online threats. Depending on your plan, Bitdefender can become your all-in-one cybersecurity suite with a VPN and a password manager.
Test results. According to the 2023 July-August AV-TEST results, Bitdefender garnered maximum points in all categories (protection, performance, usability). Our in-house Bitdefender tests showed similarly impressive results, with the Whole System Scan finding all 10 malware-infected sample files we hid in the system. However, it’s vital to note that the Quick Scan failed to find these viruses.
Features. Besides the previously mentioned Quick Scan and System Scan, Bitdefender offers Advanced Threat Defense to monitor in real-time for suspicious behavior and prevent zero-day attacks. Another crucial perk is Online Threat Prevention, which ensures the web pages you visit are trustworthy and secure. You’ll also get a password manager and even a VPN with a daily data limit of 200 MB to keep you anonymous online.
Compatibility. You can get Bitdefender on various operating systems, including Windows and macOS computers or iOS and Android. Each app is neatly organized and beginner-friendly, ensuring you quickly adapt to it.
Pricing. With prices starting from $29.99/year, Bitdefender has budget-friendly subscription options for anyone. With Bitdefender's Family plan, you can connect up to 15 devices at once. There's even a Bitdefender antivirus free edition and a 30-day free trial for premium services that might help you make up your mind before committing.
2. Norton 360 Antivirus
Premium antivirus with top security features for all your devices
| Max simultaneous connections: | 10 devices |
| Free version: | No |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Another optimal antivirus pick is Norton 360 antivirus. Its malware detection rates are just as great as Bitdefender’s, while the apps are straightforward to get the hang of. Norton 360 is convenient for those who wish for a seamless antivirus experience.
Test results. As of August 2023, Norton Antivirus has near-perfect results according to AV-TEST, with slight setbacks in the performance category. Our Norton 360 Antivirus review showed similar results. The real-time protection feature instantly blocked all threats as soon as we released them. However, the full scan was quite heavy on system resources.
Features. Norton's additional security measures include a smart firewall, secure cloud backup, dark web monitoring, parental controls, a VPN, and a password manager. A strong contender to Bitdefender if you overlook test results.
Compatibility. We tried all available apps (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS) – the interface is organized and easy to navigate on all of them. However, some extra features open up in different tabs, which can be cumbersome. Another mild drawback is that some features, like the password manager, are browser extensions.
Pricing. With prices starting from $19.99/year, this antivirus is an excellent choice for robust malware protection. Plus, there’s a free 7-day trial even for Norton 360 Deluxe and Premium plans.
3. TotalAV
The essential free antivirus package and excellent premium software for multi-devices
| Max simultaneous connections: | 6 devices |
| Free version: | Yes |
| Platforms: | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
With excellent malware detection rates, TotalAV earns one of the top spots on our best antivirus list. It performs well in most areas and is intuitive enough to appeal to average users.
Test results. According to the 2023 August AV-TEST summary, TotalAV is excellent in the usability department but lacking in performance and protection. It successfully blocks 97% of zero-day and 100% of 4-week-old malware attacks, providing solid but not perfect protection against various cyber threats. When testing TotalAV in-house, the service found 7 out of 10 malicious files during the full scan.
Features. TotalAV stands out from most antivirus services with its robust free plan. Without spending a single dollar, you get a malware scanner and anti-phishing protection. If you get a paid subscription, your security coverage expands greatly with real-time protection and ransomware shields. On top of that, it also includes a Cloud Scanner, a Disk Cleaner, and other optimization tools. These will help free up some space in your hard drive and make your startup more efficient. TotalAV also offers a VPN with unlimited data, a password manager, and an ad blocker to ensure safe online browsing.
Compatibility. In terms of apps, the interface of mobile (Android and iOS) and desktop (Windows and macOS) apps is well-organized and straightforward, just like the installation process itself.
Pricing. Apart from the free plan, there are also three other plans with prices starting from $19.00/year. You’re also entitled to a full refund since each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Surfshark Antivirus
Great all-around antivirus protection with a top VPN for a budget-friendly price
| Max simultaneous connections: | 5 devices |
| Free version: | No |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Android |
Surfshark is primarily known as a leading VPN provider – but its excellent antivirus suite makes it so much more. It's a great internet security suite of features for all your online safety needs.
Test results. According to AV-TEST, Surfshark antivirus has room for improvement in the protection and performance departments. The software blocks 100% of prevalent malware but isn’t as effective against zero-day attacks. Meanwhile, In our in-house Surfshark Antivirus overview, the full scan was swift, covering over 100,000 files in 90 seconds and finding 7 out of 10 potentially malicious files.
Features. As expected, Surfshark AV grants real-time protection that always secures your system. There’s also Alert, which notifies you whenever your data leaks on various internet databases. Moreover, customers gain webcam protection and a secure search engine where their search queries are completely confidential. Finally, Surfshark has one of the best VPNs in the business, keeping your privacy intact when surfing online while offering some of the best speeds in the industry.
Compatibility. The antivirus is available on Windows, macOS, and Android devices. All apps are very neatly organized and simple to use. Note that the VPN app is available on other operating systems, such as Linux and iOS.
Pricing. You can get Surfshark antivirus on 5 devices for only $49.08/year. A standard 30-day money-back guarantee is included for risk-free testing.
5. NordVPN Threat Protection
Top real-time threat protection and an excellent VPN for mobile devices
| Max simultaneous connections: | 6 devices |
| Free version: | No |
| Platforms: | Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows |
NordVPN is one of the world’s most popular VPN providers. But in recent years, the company has been steadily moving towards becoming an all-in-one data privacy solution. Now, NordVPN is an excellent security package. It hides your IP address and offers real-time protection against various online threats.
Test results. Independent labs like AV-TEST haven’t thoroughly tested NordVPN Threat Protection. As such, we gave the service more attention in our NordVPN Threat Protection evaluation. To start, we tried the File Protection feature by attempting to download malware-laden files. Overall, the feature had a 90% success rate of detecting malicious files. Conversely, the web protection tool was also quite effective at blocking ads and trackers. However, sometimes, the user experience would suffer due to excessive Javascript blocking.
Features. NordVPN Threat Protection is split into Web protection and File protection. The first half eliminates ads, malware, web trackers, and trims URL tracking parameters. Meanwhile, the second half scans your downloaded files for malware, deletes suspicious ones, and sends executable files for cloud-based scanning if it requires further examination. Most importantly, NordVPN is the best VPN on the market, allowing you to easily mask your IP address and surf the web at blazing-fast speeds.
Compatibility. Threat Protection is included in almost all desktop and mobile NordVPN apps. As such, you’ll have no trouble securing your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. Each subscription supports 6 simultaneous connections per account.
Pricing. Threat Protection is available on almost all NordVPN applications and comes free with every NordVPN plan, making this antivirus a versatile internet security package. The plan prices start from $2.99/month.
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