The 5 Best Antivirus for Laptops (2023 Update)

Antivirus Ranking and Reviews of 2023

We have tested and reviewed security software since 2014. Below, we have selected the top 5 from 20 paid and free antivirus software.

• 1. 🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best antivirus software of 2023.
• 2. 🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus - Excellent protection at a low price.
• 3. 🥉 Panda Antivirus - Most flexible pricing.
• 4. Kaspersky Antivirus
• 5. McAfee Antivirus
• Comparison table
• How we test
• How to choose
• Antivirus tested
• Frequently asked questions

Click the links or scroll down for more.

Norton 360 Antivirus Review

Norton offers the best antivirus protection on all operating systems.

Anti-Malware

Norton antivirus is the only brand with a 100% malware protection score. No other brand has achieved this. Its real-time malware protection tool, called SONAR, is the best.

To get to this score, we averaged all test scores since 2016 by AV-Test, an independent test lab. We also ran our own tests, during which Norton was able to detect malware attacks and phishing attempts in real-time. 

Norton SONAR applies heuristic analysis and machine learning to spot known and unknown security risks. This means it identifies new threats through suspicious behavior rather than malicious computer code.

Firewall

Norton's Smart Firewall checks incoming and outgoing connections for suspicious behavior. It stops any attack before it becomes a problem.

By contrast, Windows' firewall only checks incoming connections. It does not monitor whether software on your computer makes suspicious outgoing connections to other devices.

And that's not all. Norton's firewall also cloaks your inactive ports, so that hackers can't find them through hacking techniques like port scanning.

VPN

Norton's unlimited VPN (Virtual Private Network) is outstanding. It is fast, secure (AES-256 & OpenVPN), private (no logs), allows torrenting (P2P), and features auto-connect, a kill switch, ad tracker blocking, and a split tunnel.

Most VPN services, like those by Bitdefender, have a daily data limit of 200 MB. To remove the data limit, you'll have to pay extra. Norton, however, includes its unlimited VPN for free.

Password Manager

Norton's password manager is excellent. Creating passwords is easy. Auto-filling them is accurate. And you can access your password vault using biometrics scanners (fingerprint or facial recognition).

Prices & Packages

• Norton Antivirus Plus starts at € 15 and offers basic protection: Anti-malware, firewall, and password manager. It protects 1 PC or Mac.
• Norton 360 Standard starts at € 20 and adds the unlimited VPN and webcam protection. It protects 1 device.
• Norton 360 Deluxe starts at € 25 and adds dark web monitoring. It protects 5 devices.
• Norton 360 Premium starts at € 30. It protects 10 devices.

Bonus Features

• Web protection: Block malicious websites via the Safe Web extension.
• Cloud backup: Back up important files in secure cloud storage.
• Parental controls: Monitor and protect your kids online.
• Privacy monitor: Scan data brokers for your personal information.
• Webcam protection: Prevent unauthorized access to your webcam.
• Dark web monitoring: Scan the dark web for your personal information.
• LifeLock identity theft protection: Discover and restore identity theft.

Note: Norton's identity protection features are only available in the USA.

Is Norton the best antivirus software of 2023?

Yes, Norton is the best antivirus program in our test.

Modern security software need to offer far more than just anti-malware protection. By combining device security, online privacy, and identity theft protection, is Norton the best internet security suite you can buy.

You can try Norton risk-free, thanks to its 60-day return policy.

Bitdefender Antivirus Review

Bitdefender's antivirus engine is famous for its outstanding protection, many security features, and multi-layer ransomware protection, while being light on system resources.

Anti-Malware

Bitdefender antivirus has a 99% malware protection score. This was its average of all independent tests by AV-Test since October 2016. It puts Bitdefender ahead of all competitors, except Norton.

Bitdefender's real-time protection feature, Advanced Threat Defense, offers solid virus protection and advanced ransomware protection.

It does not rely on traditional malware detection methods, which use virus signatures. Instead, it continuously monitors the behavior of apps. The apps are blocked if Bitdefender spots an anomaly, such as code injection.

This method offers excellent malware detection rates while having a low number of false positives. During our own tests, Bitdefender detected the latest malware types instantly.

Firewall

Bitdefender's firewall can block inbound and outbound connections on local networks and the internet. On top of that, Bitdefender detects and blocks port scans that hackers use to find open ports on your device.

VPN

Bitdefender's free VPN has a data limit of 200 MB / day. That equals 5 minutes of streaming at 720p or the opening of 100 websites.

Bitdefender uses Aura's VPN tech but has built its own apps. The VPN is fast, secure (AES-256 & HydraVPN), private (no logs), allows torrenting, and has a few extra features: start-up, auto-connect, kill switch, and split tunneling.

You will have to buy Bitdefender Premium VPN or Bitdefender Premium Security, for unlimited data transmission.

Password Manager

Bitdefender's password manager is a bit useless, because it only supports Windows. And not macOS, Android, or iOS.

Prices & Packages

• Bitdefender Antivirus Plus starts at € 16 and offers basic antivirus protection: Anti-malware, VPN, and password manager. It protects 3 PCs.
• Bitdefender Internet Security starts at € 24 and adds the firewall and several extra features. It protects 3 PCs.
• Bitdefender Total Security starts at € 32 and adds several extra features. It protects up to 5 devices.

Note: There is also Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition, the free version of Antivirus Plus. This is the best free antivirus software. But honestly, it's very basic and not much better than the built-in Microsoft Defender. So instead, we recommend Bitdefender's paid antivirus software. It's worth it.

Bonus Features

• Online threat prevention: Anti-phishing protection for malicious sites.
• Vulnerability scan: Scan the operating system, apps, and network.
• Ransomware remediation: Restore files encrypted by ransomware.
• Anti-spam: Customize anti-spam for Outlook and Thunderbird.
• Safepay: Open a secure browser for online banking protection.
• Video and audio protection: Webcam and microphone protection.
• Anti-tracker: Remove tracking cookies via this browser extension.
• Parental advisor: Monitor the digital activities of your kids.
• Anti-theft: Locate and wipe your devices remotely.
• One-click optimizer: Clean up your hard drive and browsers.
• Data protection / file shredder: Permanently remove files.

Is Bitdefender the best antivirus software of 2023?

Bitdefender is one of the best antivirus programs in our test. Its anti-malware is exceptional, and the firewall and VPN are highly advanced. On top of that, its extra features are excellent.

We prefer Norton slightly, because its password manager works on all operating software (Bitdefender's only on Windows), and its free VPN is unlimited (Bitdefender's is limited to 200 MB / day).

However, we're also big fans of Bitdefender's internet security software. And as its renewal price is lower than Norton's, it's one of the best antivirus deals.

You can try Bitdefender risk-free, thanks to its 30-day return policy.

Panda Dome Antivirus Review

Panda offers excellent virus protection on Windows. And it has the most flexible pricing for its antivirus packages.

Anti-Malware

Panda antivirus scores 99.9% in the real-world protection tests. This is the average of all tests by AV-Comparatives since 2020. The score puts Panda ahead of all competitors, including Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and Norton.

Note that there are two independent testing labs: AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. Both test the malware scanning capabilities of free and premium antivirus programs. Usually, we quote AV-Test. However, Panda only takes part in the independent lab tests of AV-Comparatives.

Panda combines big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to scan all apps on your device. This allows it to counter known malware and advanced emerging threats like zero-day malware, ransomware, and API's.

Firewall

Panda's firewall filters incoming and outgoing connections on local networks and the internet. It automatically assigns permissions to each application based on its risk level. But you can edit the rules per app.

VPN

Panda includes a free VPN with its antivirus products. However, this built-in VPN is limited to 150 MB / day, which isn't a lot. That equals about 4 minutes of streaming at 720p or the opening of 75 websites.

Like Bitdefender, Panda's VPN uses Aura's technology. This means that the VPN is fast, secure (AES-256 & HydraVPN), private (no logs), and allows torrenting. However, it lacks extra features like a kill switch, making its € 50.00 price expensive.

Password Manager

Panda's password manager is excellent. Generating and storing passwords is easy. Auto-filling them is accurate. And both two-factor authentification and biometrics login is supported.

The design of the browser extension for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox is identical to the apps on Android and iOS, which gives it a seamless experience across all major operating systems.

Prices & Packages

• Panda Dome Essential starts at € 17 and offers entry-level antivirus protection: Anti-malware, VPN, and a firewall.
• Panda Dome Advanced starts at € 23 and adds several extra features.
• Panda Dome Complete starts at € 35 and adds the password manager and several extra features.
• Panda Dome Premium starts at € 35 and adds the unlimited VPN and several extra features.

Bonus Features

• Safe browsing: Block malicious URLs and phishing sites.
• Dark web scanner: Search the dark web for your email address.
• PC cleanup: Delete cookies or files with the system optimization tools.
• Wi-Fi protection: Check and improve the security of your Wi-Fi network.
• Anti-theft: Locate your PC if it is lost or stolen.
• File encryptor: Encrypt sensitive files with a password.
• File shredder: Securely and permanently delete files.
• USB protection: Scan a USB drive for malware.

Is Panda the best antivirus software of 2023?

Panda is one of the best antivirus software in our test. We really like the password manager and flexible pricing.

But we prefer Norton, because it includes an unlimited VPN at a lower price. And because it offers better protection for Macs and mobile devices.

However, if you only have a Windows PC to protect, Panda's excellent internet security suites are a great choice.

You can try Panda risk-free, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Review

Kaspersky offers exceptional online security for Windows PCs, Mac computers, and Android devices. And the introduction of Kaspersky Security Cloud brings protection to iOS too.

Anti-Malware

Kaspersky antivirus has a 99% malware protection score. This was its average in the independent tests by AV-Test since October 2016. This puts it ahead of all other antivirus companies, except Norton.

It can offer such excellent malware protection through its triple-layer protection system:

• Locate vulnerabilities and threats pro-actively via heuristic analysis.
• Block cyber threats in real-time.
• Instantly isolate and remove dangers.

Firewall

Kaspersky has one of the most advanced firewalls in the industry. It will filter incoming and outgoing network activity on local networks and the internet. And although it works perfectly on the default settings, there are plenty of customization options too.

VPN

Kaspersky's free VPN has a data limit of 300 MB / day and a poor privacy policy. So we don't recommend it.

Like Bitdefender's VPN, it uses Aura's technology. Therefore, the VPN is fast, secure (AES-256 & HydraVPN), and allows torrenting (P2P). It also features several extra features: Auto-connect, kill switch, smart protection, and website protection.

However, by default, Kaspersky will collect information on your device, location, VPN server, and WiFI network (including IP and DNS settings). It does this to improve product quality, send ads and create marketing offers.

Password Manager

Kaspersky's password manager is excellent. Creating and storing passwords is easy, and auto-filling them is accurate. Unlike Norton and McAfee, Kaspersky's password manager is a desktop app rather than a web app. But that doesn't get in the way of a great user experience.

Prices & Packages

• Kaspersky Anti-Virus starts at € 20 and offers only antivirus protection. It protects 3 Windows computers.
• Kaspersky Internet Security starts at € 26 and adds the VPN, firewall, and several extra features. It protects 3 devices.
• Kaspersky Total Security starts at € 32 and adds the password manager and several extra features. It protects 5 devices.

Bonus Features

• Internal scan: Scan for worms, spyware, rootkits, and other malware.
• External scan: Scan external drives, like a hard disk or USB drive.
• Vulnerability scan: Scan your device for security risks.
• Kaspersky protection: A hardened browser extension for secure banking.
• Parental controls: Monitor and protect your children online.
• Webcam protection: Block programs from accessing your webcam.
• Private browsing: Block and remove tracking cookies in your browser.
• Backup and restore: Backup files to cloud backup storage.
• File encryption: Lock sensitive files in a secure vault.
• File shredder: Permanently delete files via advanced protocols.

Is Kaspersky the best antivirus software of 2023?

Kaspersky offers excellent antivirus protection. Its anti-malware is industry-leading, its firewall and password manager are excellent, and it provides a wide range of extra features.

However, its VPN privacy policy is disappointing. A VPN is a privacy product and shouldn't be used for marketing.

Therefore, we prefer Norton, which includes an unlimited VPN for free in its antivirus suite. And it doesn't track what you do online.

You can try Kaspersky risk-free, thanks to its 30-day return policy.

McAfee Antivirus Review

McAfee Total Protection, McAfee's main antivirus product, is excellent. And its interface is one of the very best on all popular operating systems.

Anti-Malware

McAfee antivirus has a 96% malware protection score. Unfortunately, that puts it behind the top performers: Norton, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky. We got this score by averaging all test scores by AV-Test since 2016.

Luckily, McAfee has improved its cybersecurity tools a lot in recent years. Since April 2020, it has achieved a perfect 100% score in every test.

In our tests, McAfee offered reliable protection against malicious software and cyber threats. Which means that it successfully detected and removed all offline and online threats.

McAfee can reach these results because of its Scan Engine:

• It runs antivirus scans and matches files with malware samples.
• It executes malicious code in a safe environment, called a sandbox.
• It applies heuristic techniques to recognize new malicious threats.
• It removes dangerous code from corrupted files.

Firewall

McAfee's excellent firewall filters both in- and outgoing traffic. On top of that, McAfee hides open ports so that hackers can't identify unused ones with their port scanning techniques.

VPN

McAfee's VPN had some errors in our test. Although we had bought the unlimited VPN, we got a 500 MB / day limit on Android and iOS. And on macOS, the VPN didn't work at all. Only on Windows, it worked.

That said, the VPN is fast, secure (AES-256 & HydraVPN), and allows torrenting (P2P). But there are no extra features.

Password Manager

McAfee's cross-platform password manager is one of the best.

Creating and storing passwords is easy. Auto-filling them is accurate. And you can use biometrics (facial recognition and fingerprint scanner) to log in. As a result, it can compete with the best password managers, like Dashlane. 

Prices & Packages

• Mcafee Total Protection Basic starts at € 30. It protects 1 device.
• Mcafee Total Protection Standard starts at € 35. It protects 3 devices.
• Mcafee Total Protection Plus starts at € 40. It protects 5 devices.
• Mcafee Total Protection Premium starts at € 45. It protects 10 devices.

Bonus Features

• Secure Apps: A vulnerability scanner for security updates.
• App Boost: A performance boost for apps you frequently use.
• Browser Security: An anti-phishing browser extension.
• Web Boost: A browser extension that stops videos from auto-playing.
• Tracker Remover: A feature that deletes tracking cookies.
• ID Protection: A dark web scanner for your personal data.
• File Shredder: A shredder that can delete files securely.
• File Lock: An app that creates password-protected file vaults.
• Anti-Spam: An anti-spam feature for Outlook and Thunderbird.
• Safe Family: A parental control feature to monitor and protect kids online.

Is McAfee the best antivirus software of 2023?

McAfee has improved its virus protection significantly in recent years. On top of that, its password manager is one of the best, and its design is both user-friendly and beautiful. So it's a good antivirus program.

However, if we look at the long-term anti-malware performance since 2016, it is tied with Windows Defender, and behind Norton and Bitdefender. And its VPN still had some errors during our tests. So we prefer Norton.

You can try McAfee risk-free, thanks to its 30-day return policy.

Comparison table of the best antivirus software