Buying guides · 8 guides
The best antivirus depends on where you run it
Lab coverage differs by platform: Windows is tested every two months, Mac and Android a few times a year, iPhone not at all. Each shortlist uses only the evidence relevant to that platform.
Prices and lab results verified Editorial policy
By device
- Best antivirus for WindowsWindows is where the labs test most, so this is where the evidence is deepest. Every pick below scored 18 of 18 in AV-TEST's August 2026 Windows 11 round; what separates them is AV-Comparatives' harder tests and false-positive counts.
Top pickBitdefender Total Security - Best antivirus for MacFewer products are tested on macOS, so we only recommend those that appear in AV-TEST's macOS Tahoe test (June 2026) or AV-Comparatives' Mac Security Test 2026. McAfee, Malwarebytes and Surfshark were in neither.
Top pickNorton 360 Deluxe - Best antivirus for AndroidAndroid lets security apps scan installed apps and files, so antivirus is meaningful here, unlike on iPhone. Our picks come from AV-TEST's September 2026 Android test and AV-Comparatives' Mobile Security Review 2026.Top pickBitdefender Total Security
- Best security app for iPhoneStart with the honest answer: there is no traditional antivirus for iPhone. Apple doesn't let apps scan other apps or files, and Avast says so on its own iOS page. What iOS security apps do instead is filter scam texts, block malicious links, check Wi-Fi and monitor your accounts for breaches.Top pickNorton Mobile Security for iOS
By need
- Best free antivirusFree antivirus is better than its reputation, but each free edition makes a different trade-off. Here is what each one includes, what it leaves out, and which ones the labs actually tested.
Top pickAvast Free Antivirus - Best antivirus for familiesA family plan is mostly a question of device count and who manages it. We compared the plans that cover the most devices for the money, using prices read on vendor sites on 12 Nov 2026.Top pickNorton 360 Deluxe
- Best antivirus for gamersFor a gaming PC the question is simple: which antivirus protects well while getting out of the way? We used AV-Comparatives' September 2026 performance test, which measures slowdown on real tasks, and only included products with ADVANCED+ performance.
Top pickMcAfee Total Protection Plus - Best antivirus for small businessFor a small office (1–20 devices) the consumer-grade engines carry over, but you want central management, more seats and business licensing. These plans come from the same vendors whose consumer products lead the 2026 lab tests.Top pickNorton Small Business