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Best security suite
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Best for scam protection
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Choosing the right antivirus for iPad comes down to what you need most. Norton stands out with a full security suite, including a VPN and password manager.
Bitdefender's web protection checks links across your apps, not just Safari, and it flags scam links hidden in calendar invites.Avira is the best free antivirus for iPad, with a free VPN and paid upgrades that add phishing protection. McAfee's plans above the entry tier cover unlimited devices, so one plan can protect every iPad, phone, and computer in your home.
Our picks are based on our hands-on testing on Windows, macOS, and Android, independent lab scores, and each company's iPad app details.
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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
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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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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
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Premium antivirus software with perfect scores from AV-TEST 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
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| Star rating | ||||
| Best for | Security suite | Scam protection | Free antivirus | Multi-device households |
| Starting price | Starts at $29.99/first yr | Starts at $34.99/first yr | Starts at $26.99/first yr | Starts at $39.99/yr |
| Free version | ||||
| Money-back guarantee | 60 days | 30 days | 60 days | 30 days |
| Max number of covered devices | Up to 10 or Unlimited on Norton 360 with LifeLock plans | Up to 5 or 25 on Bitdefender Family plans | Up to 5 or 25 on Avira Prime plans | Unlimited on plans above McAfee Basic |
| Phishing protection | Yes (paid plans only) | |||
| Wi-Fi security | ||||
| Scam protection | ||||
| Extras | Safe SMS, suspicious network detection, secure calendar | Security scan, account privacy, VPN | Smart scan, VPN, identity protection, privacy manager, anti-theft protection, photo cleaner | Smart scan, VPN, identity protection, social privacy manager, personal data cleanup, online account cleanup |
| Learn more | Get Norton | Get Bitdefender | Get Avira | Get McAfee |
Our team has conducted hands-on tests of more than 30 antivirus programs. A dedicated reviewer tests each product on a rotating basis across Windows, macOS, and Android with a subscription we purchase ourselves.
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.
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
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 unlimited devices. So, if you need more than one iPad protected or have additional devices, Norton may be the antivirus for you.
Tailored features for iPad and mobile: Norton Mobile Security has unique features to protect you from mobile-specific threats. It filters SMS texts that may contain phishing links and it flags any iOS calendar invites with suspicious links as well.
Performance: We also liked that Norton didn't drain our battery or get in the way of our day-to-day mobile use. There were no noticeable lag times, even with numerous apps open.
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Not all features work on iPadOS: If we had to nitpick Norton for anything, it would be that some features won’t work on Apple devices like iPad. 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.
| Price | Starts at $29.99/first yr |
| Free version | No |
| Phishing protection | Yes |
| Scam protection | Yes |
| Wi-Fi security | Yes |
| Extras | Safe SMS, suspicious network detection, secure calendar |
| Learn more | Get Norton |
To evaluate Norton’s malware protection, we reviewed independent lab results alongside our own hands-on testing. This gives a more complete picture of how well the software performs in everyday use and under controlled test conditions.
Norton received perfect scores across almost all third-party tests and in our in-house tests as well. It only fell short of perfect in the AV-Comparatives and SE Labs tests.
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| 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 | 99% |
| Latest EICAR score | 3/3 |
| EICAR historical average | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get Norton 360 |
Norton is best for users who want an all-in-one security and privacy package and are comfortable paying more for its broad feature set. It earned one of the strongest overall scores in our review because it pairs excellent protection results with those features.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 20% | 5.0 |
| Prices & value | 3% | 5.0 |
| Features | 22% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 49% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 3% | 5.0 |
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
Web protection that covers your apps: Bitdefender's Web Protection blocks phishing and malicious sites in real time. According to Bitdefender, it filters traffic from all your apps, not just Safari. That matters on an iPad, where a scam link can come through email, social media, or a messaging app.
Top third-party scores: Bitdefender earned perfect 18/18 scores from AV-TEST on Windows, macOS, and Android. It also passed all three of our in-house EICAR tests for malware, drive-by downloads, and phishing pages on a Windows device.
Calendar scam alerts: Bitdefender's Scam Protection flags phishing links hidden in calendar invites. It also runs a Security Scan that checks your iPad for risky settings and suggests fixes.
Text scam filtering doesn't work on iPad: Bitdefender's SMS scam filter is an iPhone-only feature. iPads can't receive regular text messages, so this part of Scam Protection won't do anything on your iPad.
No free version: Bitdefender offers a free trial on iOS but no free plan for mobile.
| Price | Starts at $34.99/first yr |
| Free version | No |
| Phishing protection | Yes |
| Scam protection | Yes |
| Wi-Fi security | Yes |
| Extras | Security scan, account privacy, VPN |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender |
To get an accurate view of Bitdefender's malware detection abilities, we reviewed results from independent testing organizations, including AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs.
Bitdefender earns perfect or high scores with AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs. It also routinely passes our in-house EICAR tests.
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| 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% |
| Latest EICAR score | 3/3 |
| EICAR historical average | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender |
Bitdefender earned its top rating through consistently strong lab results, excellent hands-on performance, and a well-rounded feature set. It delivered some of the most complete protection in this comparison while still remaining practical for everyday use.
Its tools go well beyond basic antivirus, with features such as ransomware protection, a firewall, parental controls, VPN access, and privacy protections that help justify its position as the best option here for advanced users.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 20% | 5.0 |
| Prices & value | 3% | 5.0 |
| Features | 22% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 49% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 3% | 5.0 |
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
Free iPad app: Avira Mobile Security is free to download and designed for iPad. The free version includes a VPN with up to 100 MB of data a day, enough for light browsing on public Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi network scanner: Avira scans your Wi-Fi network and shows every device connected to it. That makes it easy to spot a device that doesn't belong on your home network.
Anti-theft protection: If your iPad is lost or stolen, Avira lets you control it remotely to protect your data.
Web protection costs extra: The free app doesn't block phishing sites or malicious links. For that, you'll need to upgrade to Avira Security Pro or Prime Mobile.
Limited support for free users: Phone and email support are only for paid subscribers. Free users only have access to the online knowledge base.
| Price | Starts at $26.99/first yr |
| Free version | Yes |
| Phishing protection | Yes (paid plans only) |
| Scam protection | No |
| Wi-Fi security | Yes |
| Extras | Smart scan, VPN, identity protection, privacy manager, anti-theft protection, photo cleaner |
| Learn more | Get Avira |
To get a full picture of Avira's malware detection abilities, we reviewed the scores from independent antivirus testers AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs. We also tested Avira against EICAR test files.
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| AV-TEST Windows score | 16.5/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.98% |
| SE Labs results | 97% |
| Latest EICAR score | 3/3 |
| EICAR historical average | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get Avira |
Avira Antivirus has a stellar star rating of 4.8 due to its perfect scores in the experience, prices & value, features, compatibility, and customer service categories.
Avira Antivirus was only docked in the test results category. It received lower AV-TEST scores, but still aced our in-house testing.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 20% | 5.0 |
| Prices & value | 3% | 5.0 |
| Features | 22% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 49% | 4.7 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 3% | 5.0 |
Premium antivirus software with perfect scores from AV-TEST 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
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.
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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.
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.
| Price range | Starts at $39.99/yr |
| Free version | No |
| Phishing protection | Yes |
| Scam protection | Yes |
| Wi-Fi security | Yes |
| Extras | Smart scan, VPN, identity protection, social privacy manager, personal data cleanup, online account cleanup |
| Learn more | Get McAfee |
To judge McAfee’s protection quality, we compared our hands-on findings with scores from well-known independent testing labs. This helps confirm whether strong in-house performance also holds up in broader third-party testing.
McAfee received perfect scores in both third-party and in-house testing.
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| 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 | 99% |
| Latest EICAR score | 3/3 |
| EICAR historical average | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get McAfee |
McAfee scored well by combining strong malware protection with generous, family-focused coverage. Its slower scan performance kept it from taking the top spot, but it remains a strong option for multi-device households.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 20% | 4.5 |
| Prices & value | 3% | 5.0 |
| Features | 22% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 49% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 3% | 5.0 |
Although iPads are designed with strong built-in security, they can still be affected by malicious pop-ups, adware, or phishing attempts. That's especially true 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.
A security app like Norton won't remove existing problems on its own, but it helps block the scam sites and risky links that often cause them.
The best antivirus programs for iPad are Norton, Bitdefender, Avira, and McAfee. Norton is our top pick if you want one app that covers everything. Choose Bitdefender if scams and phishing worry you most. Choose Avira if you want solid protection for free. And choose McAfee if you want to cover all of your devices.
When looking for the best antivirus software for iPads we wanted options for different budgets and needs. If you also use an iPhone, see our picks for the best antivirus for iPhone.
Many people think that using an Apple product with a closed ecosystem means they don’t need antivirus protection. Unfortunately, iPads are not immune from all cybersecurity threats, so having antivirus coverage for your iPad is a good idea.
Antivirus software is necessary on iPads for protection against phishing, scam links, and unsafe Wi-Fi.
Not the way you can on a computer. iPad security apps can't scan other apps or system files for viruses, because Apple keeps each app walled off. Instead, they check your device settings, block phishing sites, and flag scam links. Only download security apps from the App Store.
Using apps from third-party app stores (like if you've jailbroken your Apple device) to access other programs is not the best solution. Jailbreaking an iPad or other iOS device is not recommended because it will leave your device vulnerable to hackers and malware.
Start by deleting apps you don't recognize and clearing Safari's history and website data. Then get rid of a virus for good by installing a security app like Norton, Bitdefender, Avira, or McAfee. These apps can't scan other apps for malware, but they block the phishing sites and scam links that often cause problems in the first place.
iPads are less vulnerable to traditional malware than PCs because iOS keeps every app, including Safari, sandboxed from the rest of the system. But Safari can still expose you to phishing pages, malicious redirects, and scareware pop-ups that try to trick you into entering personal information or installing a fake "update."
If you've been redirected to suspicious sites or see unexpected pop-ups, clearing Safari's history and website data (Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data) removes the scripts causing it.
Not in the traditional sense. iPads don't come with an antivirus app, but iPadOS has built-in protections.
Apple reviews apps before they reach the App Store, and each app runs in its own walled-off space, so it can't reach other apps or system files. That same design means no iPad security app can scan for viruses the way a computer app can.
Instead, these apps focus on the threats that do reach iPads, like phishing sites, scam links, and unsafe public Wi-Fi. Safari also warns you about suspected phishing sites, and automatic updates patch security holes.
Yes. Avira is our top free antivirus for iPad. Its free app includes a VPN with up to 100 MB of data a day. For phishing and malicious site blocking, you'll need to upgrade to Avira Security Pro.
Norton and Bitdefender don't have free plans, but Bitdefender offers a seven-day free trial.
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
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