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Best Overall
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Best for Unlimited Devices
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Best Windows Security Suite
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Best for Safe Shopping
Best Built-In Protection
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Confusing paid extras on top of the free built-in antivirus for Windows
Slow scan speeds
Based on our testing, experience, and research, we recommend Bitdefender as the best antivirus for Windows. It posted perfect AV-TEST protection scores on Windows, stayed out of our way while we worked, and packs malware and ransomware protection plus a firewall into a plan that starts at $34.99/first yr.
We picked McAfee for unlimited device coverage, Norton for the most complete Windows security suite, Avira for safe shopping, and the pre-included Microsoft Defender for built-in protection to round out our list of the top antivirus products for Windows. We tested these and other antivirus programs, ranking them according to their price, protection scores, features, scanning speeds, customer support, and more.
Let’s see why these are the best antiviruses for Windows.
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Best Overall
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| Best for | Windows protection | Unlimited devices | Windows security suite | Safe shopping | Built-in protection |
| Star rating | |||||
| Starting price | Free or $34.99/first yr | Starts at $29.99/first yr | Starts at $29.99/first yr | Free or $26.99/first yr | Free or $12.99/mo |
| Max number of protected devices | 10 | Unlimited |
Unlimited (highest tier only) | 25 | 30 |
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| Free version | |||||
| Firewall | |||||
| Phishing protection | |||||
| Ransomware protection | |||||
| 24/7 customer support | |||||
| Extras | VPN, password manager, identity theft protection | Password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring, Scam Detector | VPN, password manager, parental controls, dark web monitoring, cloud backup | Safe Shopping extension, password manager, VPN, software updater, PC cleaner | ID theft monitoring, VPN, cloud storage, Microsoft 365 apps |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review |
Get McAfee Read McAfee Review |
Get Norton Read Norton Review |
Get Avira Read Avira Review |
Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Review |
Our team has conducted hands-on testing on 30+ antivirus programs. Each product is tested by a dedicated reviewer on a rotating basis across Windows, macOS, and Android using a subscription purchased with our own money.
We evaluate each product across seven areas:
We retest all antivirus products at least once a year and update our reviews to reflect any changes. To learn more about how we test, read our full antivirus testing methodology here.
Top-rated antivirus that regularly earns top scores on AV-TEST across Windows, macOS, and Android
Passed every malware, drive-by download, and phishing detection test we ran, blocking threats instantly
Blocks and reverses ransomware attacks on Windows, restoring your files automatically
Bitdefender is best for Windows users who want the strongest tested protection they can get. It’s easy to use, it stayed unobtrusive throughout our testing, and it has perfect AV-TEST scores for protection.
This means it provided 100% malware protection against malware attacks (which can include spyware and adware). Bitdefender did flag a few pieces of legitimate software as malware during testing, but false positives are common across the category, and its protection record makes it our top choice for Windows.
It also doesn’t hurt that Bitdefender starts out at the very low price of $34.99/first yr.
Good price: You can’t get much cheaper than $34.99/first yr 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, it’s worth mentioning that Bitdefender also had perfect AV-TEST scores on macOS and Android devices.
Unobtrusive in daily use: Bitdefender ran quietly in the background while we worked. We could still browse the web and go about our everyday computer activities with scans running, without anything grinding to a halt.
Customizable: 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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Initial scan took a bit: The initial full system scan took about 20 minutes to complete, scanning a little over 1.5 million items. That’s not a terribly long time for a first scan, but we’ve seen faster.
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.
No unlimited devices: 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 | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.94% |
| SE Labs results | 100% |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review |
Premium antivirus software with perfect scores from AV-TEST and SE Labs in 2026
Bundles identity monitoring, credit monitoring, and ID restoration without needing a separate subscription
Plans above the entry tier cover unlimited devices, including phones, tablets, and computers
McAfee is best for households that need to cover every device they own. Starting with the McAfee+ Premium tier, coverage is unlimited — phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops all fall under one subscription, with no juggling device-specific plans.
That's a genuine gap in the market. Bitdefender maxes out at 10 devices, and Norton only reaches unlimited coverage on its highest-priced tier. McAfee also has outstanding AV-TEST scores for protection, performance, and usability, with perfect marks across the board on Windows.
McAfee starts at $29.99/first yr for a single device, and the lowest-priced plan with unlimited devices is McAfee+ Premium at $49.99/first yr. That’s a bit pricier, but still reasonable for whole-household coverage.
Unlimited device coverage: McAfee is one of the few major providers where unlimited really means unlimited, and it kicks in at the mid-tier plan rather than the top one. For a family with several phones and a couple of laptops, that's usually cheaper than a per-device plan elsewhere.
Easy to use: 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, and the app explains what each feature does rather than leaving you to work it out.
Quick scans are genuinely quick: McAfee's quick scan checked nearly 65,000 files in about a minute and 42 seconds and caught planted malware test files we'd hidden on the device beforehand. On mobile, the antivirus scan finished in 50 seconds and picked up test files that other apps we've tried missed entirely.
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Very slow full scans: McAfee's full scan on our Windows device ran for more than an hour with noticeable lag before we gave up and canceled it. If you rely on full scans rather than quick ones, that's a real cost.
No optimization tools: McAfee sells PC Optimizer as a separate app, so junk file cleanup and driver updates aren't part of the antivirus package the way they are with Avira or TotalAV.
Annoying notifications: We didn’t love the McAfee notifications that popped up after installing the program. 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.
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.
No free version: There’s also no free version of McAfee Antivirus, though you can do a 30-day free trial. Bitdefender, Avira, and Microsoft Defender all 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 | 99.97% |
| SE Labs results | 100% |
| Learn more | Get McAfee Read McAfee Review |
Our #1 rated antivirus that scores 18/18 on AV-TEST across Windows, macOS, and Android, verified across multiple test rounds
Passed every malware, drive-by download, and phishing detection test we ran, quarantining threats automatically
Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise: if Norton can't remove a virus, you get your money back
Norton is best for Windows users who want one product to handle everything, rather than stitching together an antivirus, a VPN, a password manager, and a backup service. Every Norton 360 plan includes Norton Secure VPN and Norton Password Manager, and higher tiers add parental controls, dark web monitoring, and cloud backup — all managed from a single dashboard.
Windows is also where Norton is at its most complete. SafeCam webcam protection, Exploit Prevention for zero-day attacks, and Norton Cloud Backup are Windows-only features you won't get on a Mac.
Similar to McAfee, Norton Antivirus has been around for a while (since 1990), which gives it ample time to develop and improve its product. This is reflected in its simple Windows interface, which lays out everything you need to know on one screen.
And starting out at $29.99/first yr is an affordable option for most people.
Everything in one dashboard: You can reach your scans, updates, VPN, password vault, and cloud backup from the same screen. For anyone who'd otherwise be paying separately for a VPN and a password manager, the bundle does real work.
Easy to set up: 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).
These types of steps and tips are all over the place in the Norton app, which makes a large security suite far less intimidating to actually use.
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Unlimited coverage is locked to the top tier: Most Norton 360 plans cap out well below unlimited — Antivirus Plus covers one device, Standard covers three, Deluxe covers five, and Premium covers 10. You'll need Norton's highest-priced tier for unlimited coverage, whereas McAfee includes it from McAfee+ Premium onward.
No free version: There’s no free version of Norton Antivirus, and the free trial only lasts seven days, which is quite short.
Long initial scan: 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.
A follow-up system scan took about nine minutes to complete.
| Norton | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.97% |
| SE Labs results | 100% |
| Learn more | Get Norton Read Norton Review |
Antivirus program with a Smart Scan that checks security, privacy, and performance issues in a single pass
Consistently earns high scores from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives across Windows, macOS, and Android
Avira Prime bundles antivirus, a VPN, password manager, and PC optimization tools under one subscription
Avira is best for people who do a lot of buying online — chasing promo links, clicking through deal emails, checking out on sites they've never used before. Most antivirus programs treat online shopping as ordinary browsing. Avira ships a dedicated Safe Shopping extension that blocks fake storefronts and phishing checkout pages, warns you about sketchy downloads, and compares prices across sellers it has vetted.
That focus holds up in testing. Avira passed all three of our in-house EICAR tests, including phishing page detection, and it earns strong marks from AV-Comparatives in real-world protection — the test that measures live, web-based threats rather than files sitting on a disk.
Avira has a free plan, and paid plans start at $26.99/first yr.
Safe Shopping extension: Avira Safe Shopping is a free browser add-on that blocks malicious and fake retail sites, stops browser hijacking, and flags potentially unwanted applications hiding in your downloads. It also blocks ads and trackers and shows a running count of what it stopped on each page. As a bonus, it compares prices across vetted sellers, so the deal you click comes from somewhere legitimate.
Browser Safety extension: Avira Browser Safety is the second half of the picture, blocking malicious websites, ads, and trackers. When we opened the EICAR phishing test link, the Browser Safety extension stopped the page from loading at all rather than warning us after the fact.
Genuinely easy to navigate: Avira earned a perfect 6/6 for usability in AV-TEST's Windows evaluation. Its one-click Smart Scan took about a minute for us and sorted results into Security, Privacy, and Performance, with a single Fix issues button to resolve what it found.
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Chrome users get less: This is the big caveat. On Chrome, Safe Shopping installs the price comparison feature only — the security half isn't included, and you have to install Avira Browser Safety separately to get it. The complete Safe Shopping experience runs on Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge. If you're a Chrome user, plan on installing both extensions.
Gets expensive for multiple devices: Avira's entry pricing covers a single device, and the jump to three- or five-device coverage adds meaningfully to the bill. If you need to protect a whole household, McAfee's unlimited plans work out better.
Support costs extra: Phone and email support are reserved for paying subscribers. Free users get the knowledge base only, and Avira's support hours run Monday through Friday rather than around the clock.
| Avira | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 17.5/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 15.5/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.98% |
| SE Labs results | 97% |
| Learn more | Get Avira Read Avira Review |
Brings the well-loved Microsoft antivirus to other devices
Includes dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance, and restoration services
Bundled with premium Microsoft 365 productivity apps and cloud storage
Microsoft Defender is best for Windows users who want solid protection without installing or configuring anything. It's already running on your machine, and it holds its own on the tests that matter — a perfect AV-TEST Windows score and a malware protection rate from AV-Comparatives that lands within a hair of products people pay for.
Already there and free: The Microsoft Defender antivirus will keep your Windows devices protected without you paying a dime or downloading a thing. If you want to add it to other devices or take advantage of extra features, like Microsoft Office apps, you can opt for the decently-priced bundle starting at $12.99/mo.
Still powerful: Just because it comes preinstalled doesn't mean it doesn't get the job done. 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.
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Free version only for Windows: The free version of the Microsoft Defender antivirus can only be used on Windows, so if you want to cover your Apple devices or your phone, you'll need to find another free antivirus program.
Lacking extra features: Some of Microsoft Defender's extra features can be lacking. For instance, it doesn't come with built-in web or mic protection. The VPN also leaves a lot to be desired.
| Microsoft Defender | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | N/A |
| AV-TEST Android score | N/A |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 100% |
| SE Labs results | 100% |
| Learn more | Get Microsoft Defender Read Microsoft Defender Review |
Bitdefender is the best antivirus for Windows according to our testing, research, and personal experience. Bitdefender is easy to use, earned perfect AV-TEST protection scores on Windows, and stayed out of the way during everyday use.
Following Bitdefender, we also recommend McAfee, Norton, Avira, and Microsoft Defender. McAfee is the one to pick if you need to cover every device in the house, Norton assembles the most complete Windows security suite, Avira does the most to keep your online shopping safe, and Microsoft Defender is already built into your PC. All of them provide high levels of malware protection, but we generally had a better all-around experience with Bitdefender.
While Windows 10 already includes the Windows Defender antivirus, it doesn’t hurt to have a dedicated antivirus program that has more security features than Microsoft Defender. With official support for Windows 10 ending in October 2025, users will be even more at risk since security issues are less likely to be patched. You'll want to make sure you have the best protection possible when this happens.
Update: Microsoft quietly extended free Windows 10 security updates through October 2027. Learn how to enroll and stay protected once support ends.
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.
Top-rated antivirus that regularly earns top scores on AV-TEST across Windows, macOS, and Android
Passed every malware, drive-by download, and phishing detection test we ran, blocking threats instantly
Blocks and reverses ransomware attacks on Windows, restoring your files automatically
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