The 5 Best Antivirus (2023): Comparison of May *

Summary

Norton has the best device, privacy, and identity protection. It has all the security features you need and a great price too.

• Malware protection: 100%. Norton averaged 6 out of 6 in the last 10 protection tests. It is excellent at detecting and removing malware.
• Speed impact: 100%. Norton averaged 6 out of 6 in the last 10 performance tests. It does not slow down your PC.
• Features: 100%. Norton offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, firewall, unlimited VPN, password manager, parental controls, and more.
• Price: 95%. Norton offers better value for money than all competitors, except for Kaspersky, which is slightly cheaper.

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Summary

Bitdefender offers excellent protection and bonus features. However, it's pricey if you want the VPN and password manager.

• Malware protection: 95%. Bitdefender averaged 5.95 out of 6 in the last 10 protection tests. It is excellent at removing malware.
• Speed impact: 100%. Bitdefender averaged 6 out of 6 in the last 10 performance tests. It does not slow down your PC.
• Features: 95%. It offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, firewall, parental controls, and more. But the VPN and password manager cost extra.
• Price: 75%. If you only want the antivirus, Bitdefender offers great value. But if you want all features, Norton offers a better deal.

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Summary

McAfee offers excellent device, privacy, and identity protection. However, some features are only available in the USA.

• Malware protection: 100%. McAfee averaged 6 out of 6 in the last 10 protection tests. It is excellent at detecting and removing malware.
• Speed impact: 85%. McAfee averaged 5.85 out of 6 in the last 10 performance tests. So it has a minimal impact on your PC's speed.
• Features: 100%. McAfee offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, firewall, unlimited VPN, password manager, parental controls, and more.
• Price: 95%. McAfee offers better value for money than most competitors, except Kaspersky, which is slightly cheaper.

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Summary

Panda offers excellent protection and has flexible pricing. However, it's expensive if you want the unlimited VPN.

• Malware protection: 99%. Panda averaged 99.9% in the malware protection tests. It is excellent at detecting and removing malware.
• Speed impact: 99%. Panda averaged 99% in the performance tests. So it has almost no impact on your PC's speed.
• Features: 100%. Panda offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, firewall, unlimited VPN, password manager, parental controls, and more.
• Price: 75%. Panda offers the most flexible pricing of all brands. But, if you want all the security features, Norton is more affordable.

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Summary

Kaspersky has excellent protection at a low price. But the war in Ukraine raises concerns about its ties to the Russian government.

• Malware protection: 100%. Kaspersky averaged 6 out of 6 in the last 10 protection tests. It is excellent at removing malware.
• Speed impact: 100%. Kasperksy averaged 6 out of 6 in the last 10 performance tests. So it does not slow down your PC.
• Features: 100%. Kaspersky has anti-malware, anti-phishing, firewall, unlimited VPN, password manager, parental controls, and more.
• Price: 100%. Kaspersky Plus is the most affordable way to protect a Windows PC with all essential features, including an unlimited VPN.

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Specification comparison

Below, we compare the following products:

• Norton 360 Standard
• Bitdefender Internet Security with the Premium VPN
• Panda Dome Premium
• McAfee Basic
• Kaspersky Plus

These are the most affordable products at each brand, which allow you to protect at least 1 PC with the most essential features: Anti-Malware, Anti-Phishing (Web Protection), Firewall, Password Manager and Unlimited VPN (no data limit).

Test score comparison

We've compared the 10 most recent test scores of all antivirus brands. The tests were performed by AV-Test, the German anti-malware test lab. They use three factors:

• Protection (1-6): Antivirus protection against malware attacks.
• Performance (1-6): System slowdown caused by the antivirus.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of false alarms and disruptions.

We used their results, and this formula, to calculate the final score:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

Brands not listed in the table haven't participated in the analysis by AV-Test. This is usually not a good sign. Because most reputable brands, except Panda, ESET, and Sophos, partake in the test.

Price comparison

We've compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a Windows PC with the following essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. However, take these results with a grain of salt, as some brands actively attempt to increase their ratings.

Personally, we are wary of exceptionally high scores. Especially those by brands such as TotalAV, known for aggressive marketing and sales tactics.

We consider scores between 4.0 and 4.5 good and realistic. Higher scores are dubious, and lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

How do we test the best antivirus of 2023?

In 2023, antivirus protection is about more than malware detection on Windows PCs. The best antivirus programs protect all major operating systems from a wide range of cyber threats, including data breaches, malware attacks, phishing attempts, privacy invasions, ransomware attacks, spyware infections, zero-day attacks, and more.

In short, the best antivirus software must offer you virus protection, identity theft protection, and privacy protection. And if that wasn’t enough, these security features must be presented in an easy-to-use interface and come at a reasonable price. To discover which antivirus provider is worth your money, we have put them through 15 tests:

> Test 1: Anti-malware protection test

Malware is malicious software and includes many online threats, such as adware, keyloggers, ransomware, spyware, trojans, viruses, worms, and more. Most of these threats are known malware, which means that cybersecurity companies have encountered them before. However, some are unknown malware, meaning they are new and have never been encountered before.

These latest malware threats pose a serious problem. Because the classic form of real-time protection uses virus definitions to detect threats. That means that the antivirus program scans the code of potential malware against a wide range of malicious code samples in its database. That way, it can differentiate between legitimate programs and malicious threats.

To discover new threats, the antivirus engine had to evolve. Therefore, the best anti-malware software developed heuristic analysis. This is a complex word for behavior monitoring, which enables the antivirus software to scan the behavior of apps for suspicious patterns. This behavior-based detection can discover malware before its code is added to the database.

To discover which antivirus packages have the best real-time malware protection, we run our own tests and analyze those by independent antivirus testing labs. In our tests, we infect a Windows PC with many viruses and malware via a USB stick. We then analyze the malware scanning capabilities to see whether the antivirus software removes all threats.

Independent testing labs, like AV-Test, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives, run similar analyses on a larger scale. Our preferred source is AV-Test, where we average Windows’s historical protection test results since 2016 to find the best malware removal software.

> Test 2: False positives test

A false positive happens when antivirus software mistakes legitimate software for malware, confuses a harmless file for malicious code or stops a safe website from opening. It happens to every antivirus program and isn’t a cause for concern.

But when it happens in large numbers, it can become quite annoying. AV-Test runs a large-scale analysis of false positives in its usability test. We use their findings to guide our writing.

> Test 3: System performance test

It’s important to surf the web safely. But it’s a problem if the antivirus software uses your PC’s resources entirely. That’s why we measure the CPU load while the antivirus software runs quick and complete system scans. If the security software requires fewer system resources, you will have more of your computer’s performance left for other tasks.

We also look at the results of AV-Test’s performance section, where they measure the slow-down caused by antivirus software on opening websites and downloading, installing, and launching software. These are the best proxies to measure the impact on a device’s performance.

> Test 4: Firewall test

A two-way firewall is the first line of defense against hackers and other cyber threats. A simple firewall filters incoming and outgoing data on both local networks and the internet. And advanced firewalls will allow you to set rules that regulate the data stream. On top of that, it will cloak or block open ports on your PC so that hackers can’t find them.

We use the ShieldsUP! test of the Gibson Research Corporation to find out whether the antivirus software successfully blocks all ports.

> Test 5: Password manager test

Password managers have two core functions. First, they should help you create and store highly unique and secure passwords. Second, they should automatically fill out online login forms, so you don’t have to.

On top of that, they should offer features such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and biometrics login via fingerprint or facial recognition. We test all these security features.

> Test 6: Virtual Private Network (VPN) test

When you use a VPN, your data is sent through an encrypted VPN tunnel to a VPN server before it reaches the web. This makes you anonymous online and safe from man-in-the-middle attacks on public wi-fi networks. The price you pay is a slightly slower internet connection (about 10%).

We test whether the built-in VPN is secure (encryption strength and VPN protocol), private (log policy), and fast (download speed). Whether it works with popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime. Whether it offers unlimited data (unlimited VPN access). And whether it allows downloading via peer-to-peer networks and torrent clients.

> Test 7: Parental control test

Parental controls allow parents to monitor their kids online and set protective boundaries. These include screentime rules and the blocking of specific websites and apps. Sometimes parental controls also offer the ability to see where the child is in the real world, usually on a map.

We test whether all these parental control features work. We do this by installing the boundaries on a test device. And then we attempt to circumvent them. Like an intelligent child would. We also examine whether our behavior on the test device is reported accurately and in real-time in the parental control admin.

> Test 8: Anti-phishing protection test

Malicious websites and phishing emails attempt to steal your sensitive data by tricking you into filling out fake forms. Many antivirus programs include a browser extension that blocks phishing sites before they can open. We test this web protection feature by installing the antivirus browser extensions and attempting to visit the dangerous URLs.

> Test 9: Ransomware protection test

Ransomware attacks encrypt the data on your hard drive and demand a ransom payment for the decryption key. The sad truth is that even if you pay, you often never receive the key. Advanced ransomware protection features prevent the data on your hard drive from being encrypted.

Multi-layer ransomware protection goes one step further. These advanced threat prevention systems detect ransomware attacks at both the delivery stage and the execution stage. In the first stage, the ransomware attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in the software on your device. In the second stage, behavioral detection reveals the malicious encryption patterns of the ransomware.

We test the security suite at both stages of the attack: It should be highly capable of both exploit prevention and behavioral detection.

> Test 10: Bonus features test

An antivirus program can include a wide range of additional features. These range from basic extra features, like spam filters, to more advanced features, like secure browsers, and premium features, like secure online storage. We can’t discuss all the features in detail, but consider the following cybersecurity tools valuable:

• Ad Blocker
• Anti-theft
• Dark web monitoring (identity protection)
• Email protection
• File encryption
• File shredder
• Gaming mode
• Microphone protection
• PC maintenance features
• Secure browser (hardened browser to protect your online banking)
• Secure cloud storage (cloud backup)
• Spam filter
• Startup optimizer
• Tune up tools
• Virtual keyboard
• Webcam protection

> Test 11: Operating system and multiple devices test

Antivirus software should protect multiple devices across various operating systems (at least Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS). For example, some entry-level security suites, like Norton Antivirus Plus, protect a single Mac or Windows PC but not mobile devices. Whereas high-end security suites, like Norton 360 Premium, protect up to 10 devices on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

This might sound straightforward, but you would be surprised how many antivirus software focus entirely on Windows computers. Their security software for Mac Computers and Android devices often takes a backseat, not to mention iOS devices. However, we test all antivirus software on every operating system.

If the antivirus software offers solid virus protection for unlimited devices, it gets bonus points.

> Test 12: Ownership and reputation test

Not all antivirus companies are trustworthy. For instance, Avast tracked and sold the browsing habits of millions of its users. It collected this data via its Online Security browser extension and sold it via its subsidiary, Jumpshot. Although it claims to have stopped these activities and has been sold to Norton, the reputation lingers.

We analyze whether the cybersecurity companies in our test have a poor reputation, especially concerning customer data. To find this out, we spend a fair amount of time reading press releases, news articles, and privacy policies (especially of browser extensions and VPN services).

> Test 13: Interface test

For many users, cybersecurity is not a fun subject. Therefore, antivirus software must be quick and easy to install, and intuitive to use. We test the installation speed of every program, their ease of use on default settings, and the complexity of adjusting the advanced settings.

> Test 14: Customer support test

In an ideal world, everything goes right. But, sadly, we don’t live in a perfect world. In the real world, things go wrong all the time. People click on dangerous links, open malicious files, fall for phishing scams or answer spam emails. In those moments, it’s essential to have good customer support on your side.

We check whether the antivirus companies have 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support. And we read through their knowledge base, forums, and FAQs. We also contact the support team by chat or email and ask them something complicated to check their support speed and capabilities.

> Test 15: Value for money test

Preferably we would all download the best free antivirus software and have perfect protection. But, sadly, that’s not how it works. Although some free antivirus programs offer basic antivirus protection, they never do more than that. That essentially makes them a free malware removal tool, which both Windows and Mac have already built in.

Therefore, we recommend staying away from the free version. If the product is free, you usually become the product. The company will analyze your behavior and sell that data to marketing firms. In essence, you would be protected from malware by installing spyware. So avoid free antivirus products, and opt for the paid version instead.

But cybersecurity shouldn’t cost you a fortune, either. So we compare the first-year prices and second-year renewal prices across the antivirus providers. And we look at what you get for your money. Ideally, we want top-tier anti-malware protection, an unlimited VPN, and a password manager.

How to choose the best antivirus in 2023?

When choosing the right antivirus software for you, there are three core questions to ask yourself:

• What operating software are you protecting?
• What security features will you need?
• Is it safe to use free antivirus programs? Spoiler Alert: No, it isn’t.

What operating software are you protecting?

Most antivirus programs work well on Windows. Far fewer offer the same level of protection on macOS, Android, and iOS. That’s a shame because malware for those operating systems are on the rise too. 

If you have multiple devices across various operating systems, then we recommend Norton as the best antivirus software of 2023.

Its malware detection rates are exceptional, and its security features are very complete. It includes one of the best VPN, a two-way firewall on Windows and macOS, and a password manager for every operating system.

However, if you only have a specific operating system to protect, you can have a look at our comparisons for each:

• The best antivirus for Windows 11. Windows has most competition, as many antivirus focus on Microsoft’s OS. We recommend Norton, but also really like Bitdefender.
• The best antivirus for Mac. There are far fewer good antivirus programs for macOS than for Windows. When you want to buy antivirus software for Apple’s OS, we recommend Norton or Intego.
• The best antivirus for Android Phones. Some people believe that installing free antivirus software on Android is sufficient. We don’t think so. Many free tools cause more harm than good. We recommend Norton or Kaspersky on Google’s mobile operating system.
• The best antivirus for iPhones and iPads. Apple’s mobile OS has the lowest malware threat of all operating software. However, privacy invasion and identity theft remain big threats, even on iPhones and iPads. So we always advise users to equip themselves with a security app.

What security features will you need?

The features that everyone needs:

• Anti-malware. It protects you from viruses, worms, and more.
• Anti-phishing. It protects you from malicious links and sites.
• Two-way firewall. It blocks dangerous in- and outgoing connections.
• Password manager. It creates unique passwords for all your accounts.

The features that you might need:

• VPN. A VPN is a must if you spend a lot of time on public Wi-Fi networks. It is the only way you can perform sensitive tasks like online shopping without your credit card details or bank account ending up on the dark web. Norton is the best antivirus with a VPN. Although McAfee offers an unlimited VPN too, it is not as good as Norton’s VPN.
• Ransomware protection. If you operate a small business, you have an increased risk of suffering a ransomware attack. Sadly, ransomware attacks are rising, and so is the requested ransom. Worse, a third of the companies that pay never get their data back. Bitdefender is well known to offer the best ransomware protection.
• Parental controls. Kids spend a lot of time on their mobile devices. But what they’re up to can be a mystery. Parental controls can help. They allow you to set screentime limitations (no more daily haggling). And they will enable you to monitor and protect your kids online discretely. We tested many parental controls and found Norton’s to be the most effective.

Is it safe to use free antivirus programs?

We only recommend paid antivirus programs. If a product is free, you often become the product. That means your data is tracked and sold, or that the app is full of ads and up-sell banners.

And even after stating that, we still often get the question: “What is the best free antivirus software?”

If you have no money to spend and want third-party software, get Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. It is the free version of Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and includes an on-demand antivirus scan and phishing protection (called web protection at Bitdefender).

But, in our opinion, you might as well stick with Windows Defender (also known as Microsoft Defender). The two aren’t so different. Our advice: Do yourself a favor, don’t take chances online. Pay a little for your cybersecurity to avoid trouble later on.

What antivirus software have we tested for 2023?

We have tested a wide range of products from 20 different antivirus companies. Where it made sense, we tested the free antivirus program, the paid antivirus software, the paid premium version, and the VPN service.

The free programs usually offered decent malware removal and protection, but not much more. The paid versions were always much better than the free trial and free software.

• Avast
• AVG
• Avira
• Bitdefender Antivirus
• Bitdefender Total Security
• ESET
• F-Secure
• Intego
• Kaspersky Antivirus
• Kaspersky Internet Security
• MacKeeper
• Malwarebytes
• McAfee Antivirus
• McAfee LiveSafe
• Microsoft Defender (Windows Defender)
• Norton Antivirus
• Norton 360 Deluxe
• Norton 360 Advanced
• Panda
• PC Matic
• Sophos
• TotalAV
• Trend Micro
• VIPRE
• Webroot

From all the software above, we believe that Norton, Bitdefender, and Panda are the best premium antivirus programs. Most other antivirus software offers solid protection for Windows devices but only basic protection on other operating systems.

If we had to choose a single brand, we would pick Norton as the best antivirus protection of 2023. Its excellent malware protection on multiple operating systems has been proven in independent lab results for many years. And its bonus features, which include a firewall, password manager, parental controls, and unlimited VPN, are unrivaled. On top of that, it has a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

Languages and sources

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Below are the sources and tools we’ve used to test the antivirus software:

• Apple Platform Security
• AV-Comparatives Consumer
• AV-Test Android
• AV-Test macOS
• AV-Test Windows
• GRC Firewall Test
• Microsoft Defender
• SpeedTest VPN
• Trustpilot Security Software