The Best Antivirus for iPads 2025

We hands-on tested the best antivirus apps for iPad to see which ones actually offer real protection. While iOS doesn’t allow traditional antivirus scanning like on Windows or Android, these apps are still essential for guarding against phishing, unsafe Wi-Fi networks, scam websites, and other online threats.

After comparing real-world performance, features, and usability, our top picks are Norton, McAfee, and Avast. Norton stood out with its well-rounded security tools, including a VPN and password manager. McAfee impressed us with its identity monitoring and smooth setup, while Avast offers dependable free protection for basic needs.

We’ll also highlight a few other options and explain how to secure your iPad from malicious websites, sketchy networks, and social engineering attacks.

The best antivirus software for iPads

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

Antivirus
Star rating	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at $29.99/first yr	Starts at $39.99/first yr	Free or starts at $35.88/first yr
Max number of covered devices	Unlimited	Unlimited	30
Real-time protection
Network protection
Phishing protection
Scam protection
24-7 customer support
Extras	Secure calendar, scam text detector	Scam detector, identity monitoring, online account cleanup, personal data cleanup, system scan for updates	Web guard, data breach monitoring, secure photos
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

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.

What we liked

Comprehensive cybersecurity suite: 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. For families, Norton has plans to protect multiple members, including 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.

Performance: We also liked that Norton drain our battery or get in the way of our day-to-day phone usage. There were no noticeable lag times, even with numerous apps open. 

Robust customer support: 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

Not all features work on iOS: 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–$299.99/first yr
Free version	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Windows only
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	Windows only
Extras	Secure calendar, scam text detector
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, including a VPN and Identity monitoring.

What we liked

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

Web protection: The Safe Browsing 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

Renewal price: 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. 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	Scam detector, identity monitoring, online account cleanup, personal data cleanup, system scan for updates
Learn more	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

Avast: Best free antivirus

Who it’s best for

Avast may be the antivirus for you if you’re looking for a free option or don’t need some extras like parental control features. 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 to work and browse 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

Good free antivirus: 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.

Robust scanning: 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.

Premium features: 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

Automatic renewal: 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.

Firewall didn't work on macOS: 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	$35.88-$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	Web guard, data breach monitoring, secure photos
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review

How to get rid of a virus on iPad

Although iPads are designed with strong built-in security, they can still be affected by malicious pop-ups, adware, or phishing attempts — especially after visiting unsafe websites or installing sketchy apps. If your iPad is acting unusually slow, showing unwanted ads, or redirecting your browser, it’s time to take action.

• Install a trusted antivirus app: The most effective first step is to download a reliable antivirus. These will automatically detect threats, block malicious activity, and protect against scams and phishing. 

• Delete suspicious apps: Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage and remove any apps you don’t recognize or didn’t intentionally install.
• Clear Safari data: Head to Settings > Safari and tap Clear History and Website Data to remove any harmful scripts or pop-ups tied to browsing activity.
• Restart your device: A quick reboot can help flush out temporary files or lingering issues.

Using an antivirus like Norton not only helps remove existing threats. It keeps your iPad protected going forward.

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. 

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 gives 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
	Starts at $39.99/first yr	Best for identity protection features	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review
	Free or starts at $35.88/first yr	Best free antivirus	Get Avast Read Avast Review