Buying guide · 3 picks
Best security app for iPhone
Start 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.
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Short answer:Norton Mobile Security for iOS. Scam protection, Wi-Fi security and web protection, and it's included in every Norton 360 plan.
View Norton for iOS pricing (opens in a new tab)Best security app for iPhone: our 3 picks, ranked
Top pick Best iPhone security app
1. Norton Mobile Security for iOS
Mobile Security for iOS, or any Norton 360 plan
Why it’s here: Scam protection, Wi-Fi security and web protection, and it's included in every Norton 360 plan.
The evidence
Price
$19.99 first year (stand-alone)
View Norton for iOS pricing (opens in a new tab)60-day money-back guarantee (annual plans)
Best web filtering
2. Bitdefender Mobile Security for iOS
Mobile Security for iOS
Why it’s here: Web Protection filters malicious links across all apps, plus account breach checks.
The evidence
- Vendor page · $17.99/year stand-alone; VPN capped at 200 MB/day2
Price
$17.99 per year (stand-alone)
View Bitdefender for iOS pricing (opens in a new tab)30-day money-back guarantee
Best free iPhone app
3. Avast Security for iOS
Free iOS app
Why it’s here: Free Wi-Fi checks, Web Guard and password-leak alerts; Premium adds scam SMS and call blocking.
The evidence
- Vendor page · Avast states Apple doesn't allow third-party antivirus on iOS3
Price
Free; Premium price not listed
View Avast pricing (opens in a new tab)30-day money-back guarantee
Keeping iOS updated matters more than any app
Apple's sandbox stops apps reading each other's data, and most iPhone attacks rely on unpatched iOS versions or tricking you into handing over credentials. Turn on automatic updates first; a security app is a second layer against scams.
Frequently asked questions
Does an iPhone need antivirus?
Not in the traditional sense. iOS doesn't allow apps to scan the device for malware. iPhone security apps protect against phishing, scam texts and risky Wi-Fi, and monitor breaches.
Does Surfshark Antivirus work on iPhone?
No. Surfshark's antivirus runs on Windows, macOS and Android; on iPhone you get the VPN and its privacy tools.
Top pick · Best security app for iPhone
Our pick: Norton Mobile Security for iOS
Scam protection, Wi-Fi security and web protection, and it's included in every Norton 360 plan. $19.99 first year (stand-alone).
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Sources
All accessed
- 1.us.norton.com/products. us.norton.com/products (opens in a new tab)
- 2.bitdefender.com. bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/mobile-security-ios (opens in a new tab)
- 3.avast.com. avast.com/en-us/free-ios-security (opens in a new tab)