The Best Antivirus Software for iPads 2024

If you want an extra layer of security protection for your iPad, we recommend Norton, McAfee, and Avast. Norton has lots of extras in its cybersecurity suite, like a virtual private network (VPN) and password manager, with prices starting at $29.99/first yr. If you like McAfee, you can get the antivirus starting with the Plus Plan at $39.99/first 2 yrs, and it’ll include a range of identity protection features. And Avast provides a solid free antivirus if you're on a budget.

There are other antivirus apps you might also consider, and we’ll include those options so you can decide which one is the best for you. We will also explain how to protect your iPad from malicious websites and other cyberthreats.

The best antivirus software for iPads

We know finding the best antivirus software for an iPad is not a one-size-fits-all approach. There are multiple considerations, like budget, family size, number of iPads to protect, and more. That’s why we’ve selected three top antivirus apps so you can choose based on your needs:

• Norton: Best security suite
• McAfee: Best for identity protection features
• Avast: Best free antivirus

Top 3 antivirus products for iPads compared

Antivirus
Starting price	Starts at $29.99/first yr	Starts at $39.99/first 2 yrs	Starts at $35.88/yr (first year only)
Free version
iOS app
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Learn more	Get Norton	Get McAfee	Get Avast

Norton: Best security suite

Who it’s best for

Norton is best for people who want a cybersecurity suite with different price options. It offers security features like a password manager, dark web monitoring, and webcam protection. All Norton 360 plans come with a VPN, and they start at $39.99/first yr Norton has so many features to choose from that it’s hard not to find a plan, no matter what kind of coverage you need.

For families, Norton has plans to protect multiple members and includes parental controls, more cloud backup storage, and identity theft protection. Norton 360 with LifeLock Select works with almost any operating system and protects up to 10 devices. So, if you need more than one iPad protected or have additional devices, Norton may be the antivirus for you.

What we liked

There’s a lot to like about Norton. If you’re concerned about computer viruses and want to level up your security game, Norton has plenty of features you might want.

We also liked that Norton didn’t disrupt our processing time while scanning. There were no noticeable lag times, even with numerous browser tabs open. The scanning was fast, taking less than 10 minutes to check over 600,000 files. The junk cleaner was a nice plus and removed some old files we didn’t know were still hanging around.

We love that Norton gives you so many ways to get customer support. Not only is there a knowledge base and a community forum, but you have 24/7 chat, phone support, plus you can message them via social media.

What we didn’t like

If we had to nitpick Norton for anything, it would be that some features won’t work on macOS or iOS. You won’t have the Smart Firewall, SafeCam utility, cloud backup, or parental controls for your iPad, but you’ll still have other features that might make it worth your while.

Norton specs

Price range	$29.99–$99.99/first yr
Free version	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes, for Windows
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	Yes , for Windows
Extras	Junk cleaner, password manager, identity theft protection, VPN
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review

McAfee: Best for identity protection

Who it’s best for

McAfee is recommended for people who are serious about antivirus protection and like more features than your basic antivirus might offer.

There are several pricing levels but these start with introductory prices, so be aware that they will go up after the first year. You will have to renew at a significantly higher cost. For instance, McAfee+ Premium is $49.99/first yr and will cost you about $149.99 each year after that.

If you like to bank or shop online, McAfee+ includes identity theft protection to keep you more secure. You’ll get coverage for up to $2,000,000 in identity theft coverage, identity restoration, and wallet protection.

What we liked

We liked how fast the scanning process was with McAfee. It seemed to zip through the files without any disruptions to our device’s speed.

The WebAdvisor feature, which is available on Chrome and Safari, sorts and blocks websites by rating and category. We also like the Social Privacy Manager, which scans your privacy settings on your social media accounts and makes suggestions so you can improve your privacy. It even updates those privacy settings for you.

What we didn’t like

While testing McAfee, we noticed that if we wanted to check out all of the identity features, we had to switch browsers, which was a bit frustrating.

The other issue is the cost after the first year. Other antivirus programs will be much cheaper than renewing McAfee, which is something to consider if you need software that is better for your budget.

McAfee specs

Price range	$29.99–$249.99/yr
Free version	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	No
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	Yes
Extras	Privacy data cleanup, VPN, lost wallet protection, password manager
Learn more	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

Avast: Best free antivirus

Who it’s best for

If you’re looking for a free option, or you simply don’t need some extras like parental control features, Avast may be the antivirus for you. Avast provides good protection for people who shop or bank online and need solid security features for those times. Avast has real-time and ransomware protection, making your security a priority. Some plans also come with data breach alerts, so you know right away if your information has been shared without your permission.

Avast received high test scores from AV-TEST, and provides ransomware and phishing protection, so this software has the features you need for working and browsing on the internet. Depending on the plan you choose, you could also get data breach alerts to monitor your private information for leaks so you can stay on top of your privacy.

What we liked

If you download the free version of Avast, you'll get the antivirus that blocks malware in real time and can scan for any Wi-Fi vulnerabilities in your network. It also includes the Ransomware Shield, which will give you another security layer to keep your files and personal photos safe from hackers.

We also liked Avast’s Smart Scan and Deep Scan features. There were no issues when running these scans and we noticed no lag times, even with multiple browser tabs open. The interface was easy to navigate, and features like the Ransomware Shield and Network Inspector were simple to find and helped us make our device more secure.

The Personal Privacy features put more control in your hands. You decide if or how you share your data with Avast, to help with analytics usage and interpretation. If you want to share less, you can uncheck the boxes, and you’re set.

What we didn’t like

To get Avast’s Stay Safe Virus Guarantee, you must select the auto-renew option when paying for a plan. Although we like that you can get a refund if Avast cannot remove a virus, we also figure many customers won’t be comfortable committing to an automatic renewal.

We also noted that Avast’s firewall didn’t work with our MacBook Air. We reached out to support, but the rep was not able to tell us why it wasn’t working with our machine.

Avast specs

Price range	Free-$119.88/yr (first year only)
Free version	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	No
Extras	Stay Safe Virus Guarantee, data shredder, Network Inspector
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review

Honorable mentions

Some antivirus apps didn’t make it into our top three list, but they still offer some good features. If you don’t feel the three antivirus products we chose are right for you, you might consider one of these as an alternative:

• Bitdefender: Bitdefender is recommended for Windows and Android users who want reliable antivirus software with some premium features included.

  Get Bitdefender | Read Bitdefender Review

• Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes offers good protection at a reasonable price and includes a free version if you need fewer features.

  Read Malwarebytes Review

• Avira: Avira offers a free version, which includes features like cleanup tools, real-time protection, and online threat blocking.

  Read Avira Review

How we tested the best antivirus software for iPads

To find the best antivirus apps for iPads, we put these programs to the test. We also checked the prices and what kind of coverage is offered for various situations, with our readers in mind. We know that every user is unique, and that means needing access to multiple options, depending on the circumstances.

Here are some of the items we look at when testing antivirus software:

• Price: What you pay for antivirus can vary, so you should know what you get for your money.
• Number of devices covered: Antivirus plans can protect one device or up to an unlimited number of devices, so you should consider how much coverage you need.
• Third-party test scores: Third-party test scores can be a good gauge of how well an antivirus will perform in real-world environments.
• Parental controls: If you have a family, parental control features that help monitor your children’s online activity and location can be crucial.
• Extras: Most antivirus software have bonus features that come with the plans, and some may appeal to you more than others.
• VPN: A VPN is good for protecting your IP address, especially when you travel or use public Wi-Fi.

Best antivirus for iPads FAQs

Bottom line: The best antivirus programs for iPads

After extensive testing and research, we feel that the best antivirus programs for iPads are Norton, McAfee, and Avast. For additional options, Malwarebytes, Avira, and Bitdefender are also solid security apps that offer an antivirus app for your iPad.

When looking for the best antivirus software for iPads, we wanted to find options to fit different budgets, and to make sure the programs provided optimization features, family coverage options like parental controls, and a secure VPN for online safety when traveling. The antivirus software in this article give you the options to get what you need, and we think you’ll be happy no matter which one you choose.

3 best antivirus products for iPads

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	Starts at $29.99/first yr	Best security suite	Get Norton Read Norton Review
	$39.99/first 2 yrs	Best for identity protection features	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review
	$35.88/yr (first year only)	Best free antivirus	Get Avast Read Avast Review