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Best Overall
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Slow scans compared to other options
Best for Beginners
Best Free Antivirus Software
Best for variety of features
Based on our testing, experience, and research, we recommend Bitdefender as the best antivirus for Windows. It’s a low-impact antivirus that’s easy to use and packed with useful features, including malware and ransomware protection and a firewall.
We picked McAfee, Norton 360 Antivirus, Panda Dome, and ESET as the runners-up to round out our list of the top five antivirus products for Windows. We tested these and other antivirus programs, ranking them according to their price, impact on PC performance, features, scanning speeds, customer support, and more.
Let’s see why these are the five best antiviruses for Windows.
| Antivirus | 
Best Overall
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| Star rating | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Starting price | Starts at $24.99/yr (first year only) | Starts at $39.99/first 2 yrs | Starts at $29.99/first yr | Starts at $25.50/yr (first year only) (for paid versions) | Starts at $59.99/first yr |
| Max number of protected devices | 10 | Unlimited |
Unlimited | 10 | 10 |
| Malware scans | |||||
| Free version | |||||
| Firewall | |||||
| Phishing protection | |||||
| Ransomware protection | |||||
| 24/7 customer support | |||||
| Extras | VPN, password manager, identity theft protection | Password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring | VPN, personal data cleanup, identity monitoring and alerts | Parental controls, identity theft protection, VPN | Password manager, VPN, identity theft protection, data and photo encryption, metadata cleanup |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, ChromeOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review |
Get McAfee Read McAfee Review |
Get Norton Read Norton Review |
Get Panda Dome Read Panda Dome Review |
Get ESET Read ESET Review |
We chose the best antivirus products for Windows by looking at a number of different factors, including:
We tested (where applicable) and looked at these features because they provide an overall sense of whether an antivirus product might be a good fit for the everyday antivirus user.
Super reliable antivirus software with a non-intrusive free version
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
Bitdefender is best for people who want an antivirus that outright functions as a total security product. It’s easy to use, barely impacts PC performance, and has perfect AV-TEST scores for protection.
This means it provided 100% malware protection against malware attacks (which can include spyware and adware). Bitdefender's performance and usability dipped from previous testing, as it did slow the launch of standard software apps more than the industry standard and had a few false detections of legitimate software as malware. Despite these dings, Bitdefender still stands as a top choice for antivirus protection.
It also doesn’t hurt that Bitdefender starts out at the very low price of $24.99/yr (first year only).
You can’t get much cheaper than $24.99/yr (first year only) for a well-known antivirus product. But this isn’t a budget antivirus, at least not in terms of what Bitdefender can provide.
This includes a Windows app that we found easy to navigate and use with fast manual scans (at least after the initial scan). Although this is a recommendation for Windows 10, it’s worth mentioning that Bitdefender also had perfect AV-TEST scores on macOS and Android devices.
One feature we liked about the Bitdefender Windows app was that it didn’t have much impact on our system performance. We could still browse the web and go about our everyday computer activities while Bitdefender was running without any performance issues.
For example, here you can see we’re running a quick scan while checking Windows Task Manager to see what kind of resources Bitdefender is using (bdservicehost and Bitdefender Main Interface). Overall, the memory usage wasn’t even close to what our millions of Chrome tabs use, and we experienced no significant impact on our PC performance.
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We also liked how you could customize the dashboard in Bitdefender. This makes it easier to quickly find the features and actions you access most often.
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The initial full system scan took about 25 minutes to complete, scanning a little over 1.8 million items. That’s not a terribly long time, especially for a first scan, but we’ve seen better results. (McAfee Total Protection only took about 10 minutes for its first full scan.)
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It should be noted that a follow-up full scan with Bitdefender only took about eight minutes, which is more in line with what we expect from a top antivirus product.
We don’t love that Bitdefender doesn't offer a plan for unlimited devices, which you can find with McAfee. Instead, you max out at 10 devices. This is common for antivirus products, but it could still be a hassle in certain situations where you might need or want antivirus software on a lot of different devices.
| Bitdefender | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 17/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.92% |
| SE Labs results | N/A |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review |
Premium antivirus, scam, and web protection, plus a VPN, identity monitoring, and secure password manager
Added peace of mind with 24/7 expert online support and McAfee’s Virus Protection Pledge
Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS on up to 5 devices
McAfee is best for people who want an all-around excellent product that can be used with an unlimited number of devices on certain subscription plans. It’s common for antivirus plans to max out at 10 devices (like Bitdefender), but you don’t have that limit with McAfee.
Additionally, McAfee is a reputable cybersecurity product that’s been around for more than 30 years, which is a long time in the antivirus space (considering the internet is barely older). If you want protection against computer viruses, there’s not much better than McAfee.
This is apparent if you consider McAfee has outstanding AV-TEST scores for protection, performance, and usability. McAfee had perfect test results across the board with no issues.
McAfee starts at $39.99/first 2 yrs, though the lowest-priced plan for unlimited devices is $49.99/first yr. That’s definitely a bit pricier, but still not unreasonable.
McAfee has spent years improving its products, and it shows in how easy the Windows app is to use. We were able to easily navigate between different features, including the area to schedule and run scans.
We were impressed with how quickly the initial scan was completed, only taking about 10 minutes. We know the scanning time frame can vary depending on your PC speed and the number of files being scanned, but it was still a quick scan. For reference, McAfee says its scans take about 5 to 15 minutes.
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The starting price for the first year ($39.99/first 2 yrs) is a bit higher compared with Bitdefender ($24.99/yr (first year only)) and Norton ($29.99/first yr). And we didn’t love the seemingly endless barrage of McAfee notifications that popped up after installing the program.
It wasn’t really an endless barrage, but it was a bit annoying, considering we generally try to keep our PC clear of unnecessary notifications. And maybe some of these notifications could be helpful, but we didn’t need to know about our PC memory usage or that we had turned off real-time scanning.
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We noticed we didn’t receive as many notifications after fiddling with some of the settings and using McAfee for a bit, so maybe the notification flood starts to subside as time goes on and you try to manually turn off some alerts.
There’s also no free version of McAfee Antivirus, though you can do a 30-day free trial. Bitdefender and Panda Dome both have free versions, which might be more useful for giving you time to see whether you like a product.
| McAfee | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | N/A |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.91% |
| SE Labs results | N/A |
| Learn more | Get McAfee Read McAfee Review |
4 plans available, all including antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, and a secure password manager
Option to add VPN connection, dark web monitoring, privacy monitoring, and more
Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS on up to 10 devices depending on plan
Norton is best for beginners to antivirus products who want an easy-to-use program packed with useful features.
Similar to McAfee, Norton Antivirus is internet security software that’s been around for a while (since 1990), which gives it ample time to develop and improve its product. This can be seen in its simple Windows interface that lays out everything you need to know on one screen.
For example, look at this clean layout with buttons for all the features and settings. You can access your scans, updates, VPN, cloud backup, and more, all from the same screen.
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And starting out at $29.99/first yr is an affordable option for most people.
The Norton Windows app guides you through different steps to help protect your computer. For example, it let us know we should activate the Cloud Backup feature because our plan had 10 GB of cloud storage.
But even better, Norton explained why we should activate Cloud Backup (in case of a hard drive crash or ransomware attack), what would be backed up (default selection or manual selection of files), and how to access backups (through our Norton account).
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These types of steps and tips are all over the place in the Norton app, which is great for beginners.
There’s no free version of Norton Antivirus, and the free trial only lasts seven days, which is quite short.
We also didn’t love that our first full scan took about 30 minutes, though this isn’t too uncommon. But it was strange that we had to keep track of the elapsed time ourselves because there didn’t seem to be any sort of timer in the Norton app.
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A follow-up system scan took about nine minutes to complete.
| Norton | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 16.5/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.97% |
| SE Labs results | 99% |
| Learn more | Get Norton Read Norton Review |
Lots of features for Windows
24/7 customer support
Panda Dome has a cute name, but it's proven to be a powerful antivirus. The Free Antivirus has a malware protection score of over 99% with AV-Comparatives and a 92% with SE Labs, which is impressive for a product you won't have to pay for.
We also love Panda for its free antivirus. You'll get antivirus protection around the clock and you'll be able to scan external devices like USBs and SD memory cards.
The Panda Free Antivirus will keep your Windows and Android devices protected without you paying a dime. You'll be able to run manual and scheduled scans to review your device for malware. You'll also be able to scan your external devices for threats.
To keep your data protected from ransomware attacks, Panda comes with the Rescue Kit. You'll be able to make a backup of your hard drive and use it to scan your device for and remove cyberthreats.
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Panda Dome also has some useful bonus features with its paid plans. For Windows, these include:
Panda Free Antivirus is limited to Windows and Android only. So if you want to cover your Apple devices, you'll need to find another free antivirus program.
Some of Panda Dome's extra features can be lacking. For instance, most plans come with the regular VPN, which has a daily bandwidth cap of 150 MB. Plus, it only has an automatic server option, so you won't get all the flexibility and functionaltiy of a premium VPN.
| Panda Dome | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | N/A |
| AV-TEST macOS score | N/A |
| AV-TEST Android score | N/A |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.57% |
| SE Labs results | 92% |
| Learn more | Get Panda Dome Read Panda Dome Review |
ESET uses machine learning coupled with its real-time protection to stop new and emerging threats. At the same time, it offers additional protective features like a password manager, VPN, identity theft protection, and more.
Lots of useful features
Offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required
ESET offers a variety of features for people looking to bundle their subscriptions. If you want a password manager, VPN, identity theft protection, and more, all protected by advanced machine learning, ESET may be your best choice.
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We appreciated how many features ESET offers customers. You can combine several services, like a password manager, VPN, and identity theft protection. Additional features like metadata cleanup, file and photo encryption, and notification blocking add to ESET's offerings, enhancing your security.
ESET uses machine learning alongside its real-time protection. This means that when you browse the web, you won't need to worry about picking up malware, viruses, or trojans. ESET is always scanning to ensure your security.
While ESET does offer 30 days free without needing to enter credit card information, it doesn't have a free product. With all the extras you get, we understand why, but we would love to see at least some essential protection for free. If you don't have a lot of wiggle room in your budget, ESET might not be the best choice.
| ESET | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | N/A |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.3% |
| SE Labs results | N/A |
| Learn more | Get ESET Read ESET Review |
We tested many antivirus programs to determine the best for Windows. These honorable mentions also had strong third-party testing scores, but they may lack the advanced security features of our top recs or have a higher price point than we'd prefer.
In general, you want an antivirus that hits these three factors:
For most people, computer programs are complex strings of code that don’t make sense. But if presented in a certain way, we can easily understand and use them. And that’s exactly what you want with an antivirus program — something that’s intuitive and straightforward for the average person.
You also don’t want your antivirus software to slow down your computer. After all, what good is real-time protection if you can’t surf the web or stream a show while it’s running? A good antivirus program should have little impact on your system performance.
And, of course, your antivirus should also protect your computer. This often means providing scheduled scans, a firewall, phishing protection, anti-ransomware features, and web or browser protection.
Windows 10 already includes Windows Security, but it doesn’t hurt to have a dedicated antivirus program that’s easier to use than Microsoft Defender. Most third-party antivirus apps, including McAfee and Norton, are easy to install and use. Microsoft Defender could require some customization to perform how you want it, whereas other apps are more straightforward.
Bitdefender is our top pick because it’s easy to use and affordable while also providing loads of useful features. This includes anti-phishing and anti-fraud protection, ransomware protection, and web attack prevention against online threats. You can also access a limited VPN.
Windows Security is free antivirus software included with Windows 10 and provides enough features for at least a basic level of protection. However, depending on your situation and preferences, you might want to consider these top-tested alternatives: Bitdefender, McAfee, Norton 360, Avast, AVG, and ESET.
We don’t recommend Kaspersky for Windows because AO Kaspersky Lab, the company that provides Kaspersky Antivirus, was deemed a potential threat to national security by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2022.
Bitdefender is the best overall antivirus for Windows according to our testing, research, and personal experience. Bitdefender is easy to use, provides top protection against malware, and has little impact on your PC performance.
Following Bitdefender, we also recommend McAfee, Norton, and Panda Dome. Although they provide high levels of malware protection and have little effect on Windows PC performance, but we generally had a better experience with Bitdefender.
One highlight of McAfee is that you can get a license to use it with an unlimited number of devices. This isn’t a common feature and could be useful in certain situations. With Norton, we found that it was very easy to use and would be a good fit for antivirus beginners. And Panda Dome provides one of the best free antivirus products.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
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$24.99/yr (first year only) | Best overall | Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review |
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$39.99/first 2 yrs | Best for unlimited devices | Get McAfee Read McAfee Review |
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$29.99/first yr | Best for beginners | Get Norton Read Norton Review |
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| $25.50/yr (first year only) | Best free software | Get Panda Dome Read Panda Dome Review |
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| $59.99/first yr | Best for variety of features | Get ESET Read ESET Review |
Super reliable antivirus software with a non-intrusive free version
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
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