Buying guide · 4 picks
Best antivirus for gamers
For 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.
Ranked by the AVSO Editorial Desk
Prices and lab results verified How we scoreEditorial policy
Short answer:McAfee Total Protection Plus. Lowest impact score of all 20 products in September 2026.
View McAfee pricing (opens in a new tab)Best antivirus for gamers: our 4 picks, ranked
Top pick Lightest antivirus tested
Editorial score 8.5 out of 101. McAfee Total Protection Plus
Plan: Total Protection
Why it’s here: Lowest impact score of all 20 products in September 2026.
The evidence
Price
From $39.99 first year (secondary source)
Not verified on vendor siteView McAfee pricing (opens in a new tab)30-day money-back guarantee (secondary source)
Read review: McAfeeBest balance of speed and protection
Editorial score 8.8 out of 102. Norton 360 Deluxe
Plan: 360 Deluxe
Why it’s here: Second-lightest of our eight with ADVANCED+ Real-World protection.
The evidence
Price
$49.99 first year, renews $124.99
View Norton 360 pricing (opens in a new tab)60-day money-back guarantee (annual plans)
Read review: NortonBest free for gaming PCs
Editorial score 8.5 out of 103. Avast Premium Security (10 devices)
Plan: Free Antivirus
Why it’s here: 5.2 impact score and Gold for Performance in AV-Comparatives' 2025 summary.
The evidence
Price
Free
Most protection with gaming profiles
Editorial score 9.0 out of 104. Bitdefender Total Security
Plan: Total Security
Why it’s here: Heavier than the three above (8.7) but still ADVANCED+, with the best protection record.
The evidence
Price
$59.99 first year, 5 devices
Side by side
Lab results and prices for these picks. Product names open their reviews.
| Compare4 picks | McAfeeTop pick | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | Editorial score 8.5 out of 10 | Editorial score 8.8 out of 10 | Editorial score 8.5 out of 10 | Editorial score 9.0 out of 10 |
| First year | $39.99first yearUnverifiedLowest | $49.99first year | $69.48first year | $59.99first year |
| Renewal / year | Not stated | $124.99 | $99.99 | Not stated |
| Real-World protection | 98.5%ADVANCED | 99.3%ADVANCED+ | 99.3%ADVANCED+ | 99.5%ADVANCED+Highest |
| False positives | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Performance impact | 3.1 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 8.7 |
| VPN | 200 MB/day | |||
| iOS app | ||||
| Get it |
What to avoid
TotalAV had the heaviest footprint of our eight (30.5 impact score, STANDARD) and Malwarebytes the second heaviest (19.1). Both protect reasonably, but neither is ideal for a gaming PC.
Frequently asked questions
Does antivirus lower FPS?
The labs don't measure frame rates. AV-Comparatives measures slowdown on file copying, app launches, installs and browsing. Products with low impact scores, like McAfee (3.1) and Norton (4.9), are least likely to interfere.
Top pick · Best antivirus for gamers
Our pick: McAfee
The lightest on your PC, the noisiest in one test. Total Protection Plus: $39.99 first year (unverified) · 30-day money-back guarantee (secondary source).
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Sources
All accessed
- 1.AV-Comparatives Performance Test, September 2026. av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-september-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 2.AV-TEST Awards 2025 (consumer). av-test.org/en/news/av-test-awards-2025-celebrating-the-very-best-of-it-security-products/ (opens in a new tab)
- 3.AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February–May 2026. av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-may-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- 4.AV-Comparatives Consumer Summary Report 2025. av-comparatives.org/tests/summary-report-2025/ (opens in a new tab)