Best Antivirus Software We've Tested in 2025: This Security Service Just Dethroned a Top Competitor
From our phones to our laptops , we use many gadgets and increasingly store vital information on them. Malware can steal this data and lock you out of your devices, derailing your personal and professional life. High-quality antivirus software can prevent this by scanning files you attempt to download and attempting to block anything deemed suspicious or harmful. We've researched and tested the most popular antivirus tools -- along with the security suites they come bundled in -- to help you find the right antivirus software for your cybersecurity needs.
What's the best antivirus software overall?
Our hands-on antivirus testing showed that Bitdefender is the best antivirus software of 2025. Plans include a myriad of security tools capable of protecting most aspects of your online presence, plus identity monitoring and identity theft insurance for users with advanced assets. You'll also enjoy Bitdefender's user-friendly interface, resource-light yet highly effective performance and comprehensive privacy policies that keep your data safe. However, Bitdefender covers only up to five devices on individual plans.
For users with numerous gadgets, McAfee is the best antivirus software, because it offers a variety of cybersecurity and identity protection tools, with coverage for unlimited devices on most plans -- and for lower prices than Bitdefender's five-device plans. However, it'll use more of your device's resources.
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Best antivirus software of 2025
Norton 360 Deluxe
n/a
James Martin/CNET
Factors to consider when choosing antivirus software
Picking the best antivirus software means finding one that keeps your PC or mobile device safe, doesn't consume a lot of system resources, is easy to use and stays out of the way until you need it. Here's what to look for.
Effectiveness
Antivirus software runs scans for known malware and can offer real-time protection. It can watch for shady websites and suspicious links to keep you out of trouble. It can also offer ransomware protection and monitor unexpected behavior that may be a sign of new and not-yet-identified viruses and malware. You want antivirus software that can successfully identify these unknown online threats without flagging too many false positives.
You can determine an antivirus software's effectiveness by checking out its detection rate in tests performed by labs like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives . Look for software with high security rankings and an online detection rate of at least 90%.
Light on system resources
You don't want antivirus software that taxes your PC's resources, like CPU power. The antivirus shouldn't slow your computer down at all while running in the background or have a significant impact on your ability to perform everyday tasks when running active scans.
Scans also shouldn't take a long time (more than 10 minutes for a regular scan or one hour for a deep or full scan). Similarly, additional tools should have minimal impact on the performance of your device or the specific program (like a browser) those tools are connected to.
While we do consider performance in all of our antivirus reviews, a program's impact on your device may be different. The good news is that most antivirus programs offer either a free trial or a money-back guarantee, so you can test out how they work on your setup with minimal risk.
Cost and discounts
Don't just pay the sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check for discounts on a company's website. You can also trim your cost with smaller antivirus packages if you need to cover three or five devices rather than, say, 10. You may also find discounts on an app's Amazon page or at outlets like Best Buy .
Pay close attention to renewal costs. Most antivirus tools charge annual fees and only offer discounts for the first year, though you may be able to get a discount by paying for two years upfront. These promotional prices might lead to you paying as much as double the original amount for the following years.
Bundled services
Antivirus software may come bundled with other security tools like a password manager and a VPN . Buying a security suite with all of these tools lets you manage everything from one account, saving you hassle and money.
However, the VPNs in these security bundles aren't always the best tools available. You may want to purchase separate subscriptions or choose a VPN with antivirus if privacy is a major concern.
Privacy
To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor what's going on with your PC, check in with company servers about unusual behavior and provide sound banking protection. It's important to protect yourself by making sure the company you work with has protocols for pseudonymizing or anonymizing data so it's not connected to your identity and encrypting all information -- especially anything that can't be disconnected from your identity.
You'll also want to consider the number and types of disclosures the company's privacy policy allows, which dictate what third parties it may give your information to.
Protection for other platforms
Many of us have our important data spread across multiple devices with different operating systems. This makes it important to choose an antivirus that can protect all of these devices. Pay close attention to any features that are limited to a specific operating system.
Customer service
The best antivirus companies offer 24/7 customer service via live chat, phone and support ticket, with fast and helpful representatives. We test all of these methods of communication during our reviews to help you get a sense of the company's overall commitment to customer support.
Issues with Avast
In test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performed well for malware detection, with options ranging from Avast free antivirus software to Avast Premium Security. We've included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before.
However, early in 2024, the Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million to settle charges that claimed the company had sold customer browsing information to more than 100 third parties from 2014 to 2020. Avast allegedly collected the data through browser extensions and antivirus software and sold the data through its Jumpshot subsidiary, the FTC claims. As part of the settlement, Avast is prohibited from selling or licensing any web browsing data for advertising purposes.
In response to the initial reports in 2020, then-Avast CEO Ondřej Vlček said in a statement that he understood his company's actions raised questions of trust. To address that, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection in January 2020 and closed its operations.
We hope the FTC actions mean that there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities and that Avast returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software options. Until then, we recommend using one of the many other solid choices in this realm (listed above).
Issues with Kaspersky
Let's talk about Kaspersky Lab, specifically about the June 2024 federal ban prohibiting Kaspersky from directly or indirectly selling antivirus or cybersecurity software or services in the US or to US citizens. This sweeping ban follows a more limited one in 2017 that prohibited Kaspersky software and services on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.
Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the highest-rated antivirus software for business antivirus needs and home customers. Its software consistently earned top scores and awards for virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs.
"Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard US national security and the American people," Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the official announcement of the ban.
In a statement , Kaspersky said it "does not engage in activities which threaten US national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions with its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that targeted US interests and allies."
How we test antivirus software
Our research process starts with looking at each antivirus company's website to evaluate its features, additional security tools (like VPNs) and pricing to determine its overall value. We also consider the operating systems and number of devices each antivirus tool can protect, prioritizing tools that can protect all of your computers and mobile devices.
If our initial research shows that a company provides a broad range of high-value security tools, or an affordable antivirus with robust features, we move on to hands-on testing. This involves purchasing a plan, installing all of the suite's security tools, and testing each tool for performance (the percentage of resources used and speed of scans) and usability (ease of use).
Finally, we analyze the company's commitment to its customers. This begins with thoroughly reviewing the company's privacy policies to determine what user data it keeps, how it protects that data and what types/how many third parties it shares that data with, giving higher rankings to companies that minimize data collection and sharing. We then move on to testing the customer service by reaching out via live chat, phone and email (when available), using the experience to evaluate the speed and helpfulness of each company's customer support team.
Other antivirus software we've tested
In addition to the antivirus apps we recommend, a handful of other antimalware tools are worth considering among the best antivirus protection if you find them at a better price or just prefer to use one over our picks above.
Avira
Avira's antivirus technology consistently receives excellent AV-Test results and AV-Comparatives awards . I was also impressed by the antivirus's fast, efficient scans during my hands-on testing . I especially appreciate that you can get this antivirus, along with Avira's safe browsing tools, for free.
Unfortunately, Avira is also frustrating to set up. Plus, the company also has business practices -- like installing a secondary performance optimization program without permission or prompting -- and privacy policies that leave me very concerned about how much information it collects and what it does with this data. This includes a policy of tracking IP addresses of VPN users, which opens the door to reverse-engineering other VPN usage data the company claims it doesn't track, and a willingness to share that information with public authorities.
Moreover, Avira has some of the worst customer service I've experienced when testing antivirus software. Live chat was great, but phone service was unhelpful, and I didn't even receive a response from email support. Combined with the privacy policy issues, this makes it difficult to recommend Avira. All of this makes Avira's premium plan a poor choice -- but Avira can still be worth considering if you're looking for free antivirus software .
Trend Micro Maximum Security
This antivirus provider may not be as well known to consumers because of its focus on enterprise security, but Trend Micro antivirus security also brings its business expertise to the home with its Trend Micro Maximum Security tools.
Trend Micro's software earns high marks from AV-Test , consistently scoring well for detecting zero-day attacks and widespread viruses and malware. Trend Micro also does a good job of not taxing system resources. Trend Micro's antivirus for home users starts at $20 for the first year ($40 per year after).
ESET NOD32 Antivirus
If you're looking for something easy to set up and use, ESET NOD32 antivirus may meet your needs. It earns high scores for usability and offers solid virus protection. A five-device option is available for as little as $60 for a year on the base package, with a five-device, one-year plan on its midrange Essential tier running $70. ESET NOD32 has a 30-day free trial so you can try before you buy.
Best antivirus FAQ
Which software is best for antivirus?
The best antivirus software is Bitdefender. Our hands-on testing found that Bitdefender has a wide range of features, a user-friendly interface and excellent performance.
Which antivirus program is 100% effective?
Both Norton and McAfee have achieved 100% malware detection during third-party testing from AV-Test. However, new malware is created every day, and lab conditions can't perfectly replicate real-world conditions, so the same results are unlikely in real life. Following basic internet safety best practices is essential regardless of the antivirus software you're using.
Which is better, Norton or McAfee?
Norton is better if you're looking for a total security suite. The Norton 360 subscription includes high-quality antivirus software, a password manager and VPN, safe browsing tools, parental controls and 50GB of cloud storage. You can also get some identity theft protection features and 250GB of cloud storage if you get the most expensive Norton plan. Plus, Norton had better user-friendliness and performance in our hands-on testing.
However, McAfee can be more useful for users with significant assets, as it provides up to $2 million in identity theft insurance. McAfee's plans also cover unlimited devices, which makes it a good choice if you have more than 10 devices to protect.
Is Windows Defender better than Norton?
Microsoft Defender -- formerly Windows Defender -- provides good security for most users, but it only had a 98.8% malware detection rate in the most recent tests conducted by AV-Test. Norton had a 100% malware detection rate in its most recent tests, proving that Norton is better than Windows Defender.
Can antivirus protect against phishing?
To a degree, yes. Some antivirus programs can do things like warn you or block you from visiting a suspected phishing site. Others may automatically block suspicious emails that appear to come from a malicious sender or contain phrasing common in phishing emails.
However, you cannot count on an antivirus program to be a failsafe solution for phishing protection. You still need to be vigilant and know what to look out for on your own when it comes to phishing because an antivirus program won't be able to catch everything.
Will antivirus slow down my computer?
Any program running on your computer will require a certain amount of processing power to work, which can affect your computer's overall performance. If an antivirus program is just running in the background, it shouldn't affect your computer's performance.
When actively running a scan of your system, antivirus software can noticeably slow down your computer . If this is the case, try scheduling antivirus scans at night, or at a time when you're not using your computer.
Does my Mac need antivirus?
There is a common misconception that Macs are inherently immune to malware, but the truth is that most malware simply wasn't created to target Macs due to their limited market share. As Macs continue growing in popularity, they're increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals looking to deploy malware designed for the MacOS operating system.
MacOS has a built-in antivirus solution called XProtect that can detect and remove malware. It works in the background and updates automatically to keep up with the latest threats, but it still may not catch everything that a third-party antivirus program will. So if you want to play it safe and boost the malware protection on your Mac, it's a good idea to add a third-party antivirus solution.
Recent updates
In our July 2025 update, we:
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Moved Bitdefender to first place, replacing McAfee, due to hands-on testing results based on tests conducted in May 2025
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Added notes from hands-on CNET testing to listings for Bitdefender, McAfee, Norton, AVG and Malwarebytes
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Updated Factors to Consider and How We Test information to reflect new testing processes established in May 2025
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Moved Avira from the main best list to Other Antivirus Tools We've Tested due to concerns around user privacy and customer service
