The Best Antivirus Software for Laptops 2024

The best antivirus software for laptops include Norton 360, Bitdefender, and AVG, which offers comprehensive device protection from online threats.
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Best for parental controls

4.3
Editorial Rating
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On Norton 360 Antivirus's website

Norton 360 Antivirus
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Best for Windows and Android

4.6
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Bitdefender's website

Bitdefender
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Best for real-time protection

4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On AVG's website

AVG
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We’ve determined that the best antivirus software for laptops is Norton 360, with Bitdefender and AVG finishes just behind. The right choice for you will depend on your operating system, individual needs, and budget.

Norton 360 may be most beneficial for families looking to manage their children's browsing experience. Bitdefender has all the right tools for Windows and Android. Meanwhile, AVG provides premium antivirus tools ideal for real-time protection.

In this article
The best antivirus software for laptops
Norton 360: Best for parental controls
Bitdefender: Best for Windows and Android
AVG: Best for real-time protection
Honorable mentions
How we tested the best antivirus software for laptops
FAQs
Bottom line

The best antivirus software for laptops

Laptops are essential for working, studying, and entertaining. They’re vulnerable to cyberthreats though, so it's necessary to protect laptops with antivirus software. Antivirus can protect your device and data from virus attacks, malicious websites, and other malware.

Top 3 antivirus products for laptops compared

Antivirus
Star rating
4.3
4.6
4.9
Starting price Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only) Free or $29.99/yr (first year only) Free or $46.68/yr (first year only)
Max number of protected devices Unlimited 10 10
EICAR test results 3/3 3/3 3/3
Malware scans Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Firewall
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Learn more Get Norton 360

Read Norton 360 Review

Get Bitdefender

Read Bitdefender Review

Get AVG

Read AVG Review

Norton 360: Best for parental controls

Enjoy Norton’s 100% Virus Protection Promise
4.3
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Norton 360 Antivirus's website
Antivirus Software
Norton 360 Antivirus
Save up to 58% your first year
  • 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

Who it’s best for

Norton 360 is a good choice if you're looking for an antivirus solution with all the premium security features, including a virtual private network (VPN) and password manager.

The Norton full scan took less than 10 minutes to analyze more than 600,000 files on our MacBook.
Norton Antivirus full scan

It's also a good option for families needing parental controls and wanting to set online boundaries for their children. Considering all of the additional security features, the price is surprisingly affordable for family plans.

What we liked

Beyond comprehensive antivirus protection, Norton 360 also offers several other tools to protect your online privacy. Some notable features include a password manager, Norton Secure VPN, and LifeLock identity theft protection.

A Norton security suite can help create a secure digital environment and protect you from cyberthreats. Even in the event of identity theft, LifeLock can help you recover quicker with financial reimbursements and lawyer coverage.

Families may be interested in Norton's extensive parental controls. It allows you to set online boundaries for children. You can:

  • Supervise web activity, including search results and YouTube history
  • View the 30-day location history of mobile devices
  • Set time limits
  • View app downloads and block them

As a bonus, Norton 360 offers a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. It gives you plenty of time to test and evaluate all of the features and make sure it's the right fit for you.

Norton 360 received perfect scores from the AV-TEST on macOS and Android.[1,2] It performed reliably for protection, performance, and usability. Although it scored a little lower on Windows with a 17/18 score,[3] Norton still earned the AV-TEST seal of approval.

What we didn’t like

While Norton antivirus was user friendly, we noticed during our testing that it doesn't have as many features for Mac users. For example, proactive exploit protection (PEP) and Power Eraser don't work on macOS.

If you’re using macOS, then you should take full advantage of the 60-day money-back guarantee to test Norton 360’s features and see if it meets your needs.

Norton 360 specs

Starting price Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only)
Free version No
Firewall Yes
Phishing protection Yes
Ransomware protection Yes
Webcam protection Yes
Network protection Yes
Parental controls Yes
Extras Password manager, cloud backup, VPN, dark web monitoring, privacy monitor, LifeLock identity theft protection
Learn more Get Norton 360

Read Norton 360 Review

Bitdefender: Best for Windows and Android

4.6
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Bitdefender's website
Antivirus Software
Bitdefender
  • Super reliable antivirus software with a non-intrusive free version
  • Simple yet powerful interface tools
  • Perfect protection score in third-party tests
  • Slow scans compared to other options

Who it’s best for

Bitdefender is best if you’re using Windows and Android operating systems. It offers a full antivirus suite of security features, including a VPN and anti-tracker, at an affordable price. While Bitdefender is available for macOS and iOS devices, it comes with significantly fewer security features.

Our initial Bitdefender scan took about 37 minutes to complete. This makes sense for a more thorough first scan, but Bitdefender didn't give us an time estimate ahead of time.

What we liked

Bitdefender has a high-performance rating. Recent AV-TEST results show that Bitdefender had a perfect score on Windows, Android, and macOS.[4,5,6] This means Bitdefender was reliable for performance, usability, and protection.

Independent testing labs evaluate antivirus solutions by testing for malware protection, speed impacts on devices, and looking for false positives. A perfect score indicates that Bitdefender can accurately detect malware and doesn't slow down your devices.

Bitdefender has all the features you expect from an antivirus program, including the ability to block computer viruses, phishing attempts, and ransomware in real time. It also has premium security features like device optimization, VPN, anti-tracker, and a file shredder. Bitdefender can provide multiple layers of cybersecurity for your home network.

What we didn’t like

Bitdefender antivirus isn't a great choice for macOS or iOS devices since it doesn't offer as many features compared to the Windows and Android versions. Beyond that, it's also disappointing that a firewall costs extra instead of being automatically included in the basic plan.

Bitdefender specs

Starting price Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only)
Free version Yes
Firewall Yes
Phishing protection Yes
Ransomware protection Yes
Webcam protection Yes
Network protection Yes
Parental controls Yes
Extras VPN, file shredder, device optimization
Learn more Get Bitdefender

Read Bitdefender Review

AVG: Best for real-time protection

Trusted Protection by 435 Million Users Worldwide
4.9
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On AVG's website
Antivirus Software
AVG
  • Award-winning antivirus, malware, and ransomware protection for up to 10 devices
  • Includes webcam protection, safe browsing and email, automatic updates, and 24/7 protection
  • Suite of protection benefits including a secure VPN, anti-tracking capabilities, safeguards against phishing sites, and more

Who it’s best for

AVG is best if you're looking for a reliable antivirus tool that works on all device operating systems. It's a great choice if you use both PC and Mac devices.

AVG also provides several premium security features that make it ideal for real-time protection against cyberattacks. Along with perfect AV-TEST results, AVG will work well on any device and detect malware and other threats.

We clicked on Run Other Scans in our AVG antivirus and it took us to a Scan Central dashboard where we could select the type of scan we wanted.
AVG antivirus scan central

What we liked

AVG has several advanced antivirus features that make it ideal for real-time scanning and protection. Some of the antivirus tools include:

  • Alerts for suspicious software behavior
  • AI to detect malware
  • Scans and identifies potentially unwanted apps
  • Automatic software updates
  • Scans links and downloaded files for malware
  • Blocks dangerous email attachments

Recent AV-TEST results show that AVG had a perfect score on Windows, macOS, and Android.[7,8,9] It tested flawlessly for performance, usability, and protection.

Unlike Norton and Bitdefender, AVG is a better choice if you use devices running macOS or iOS. It offers several premium features for Apple users like phishing protection and unsafe email attachment blocking.

AVG also offers free ransomware protection software for Windows. You can also get a 60-day free trial of the paid version.

What we didn’t like

AVG doesn't have any parental controls. Families looking for this feature will need to look elsewhere for antivirus software or will need to find a separate parental control app.

Another issue is that its most basic plan is far more expensive than Norton or Bitdefender's basic plan. AVG starts at $46.68/yr (first year only). Meanwhile, Norton is $29.99/yr (first year only) while Bitdefender costs $29.99/yr (first year only) as well. While AVG has a free antivirus program, it's not as comprehensive as its paid version.

AVG specs

Starting price Starts at Free
Free version Yes
Firewall Yes
Phishing protection Yes
Ransomware protection Yes
Webcam protection Yes
Network protection Yes
Parental controls No
Extras VPN, device optimization (TuneUp), anti-tracking (AntiTrack)
Learn more Get AVG

Read AVG Review

Honorable mentions

If you are still unsure if you've met your perfect match, there are other options. Here are a few antivirus programs that may fit your needs:

  • McAfee: McAfee topped our list for best anti-malware software. It has premium features like parental controls, VPN, and scam protection. However, you may end up paying a premium price tag after the first-year discount ends.

    Get McAfee | Read McAfee Review
  • TotalAV: TotalAV is a solid antivirus program and is easy to use. However, we were disappointed there wasn't a firewall included.

    Get TotalAV | Read TotalAV Review
  • Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes is a premium antivirus program with several security features included. Besides antivirus protection, you also get ad and track blockers and a VPN.

    Read Malwarebytes Review

How we tested the best antivirus software for laptops

When choosing the best antivirus software for your laptop, we researched and evaluated a few key features:

  • Additional features: A strong antivirus program is essential, but we also looked at additional features that added value to your security.
  • Multi-device capabilities: Not all antivirus software is compatible with all operating systems. We checked to see which features were accessible on various operating systems.
  • AV-TEST results: We also evaluated the performance and reliability of antivirus programs by reviewing third-party testing results.
  • Pricing: Budget tends to be an important factor, so we also evaluated if the price was worth the value.

FAQs


+

Do you really need antivirus for your laptop?

You need antivirus software for your laptop if you’re looking for advanced protection features. Some laptops don't offer antivirus features like real-time protection against threats like viruses, malware, phishing, or ransomware. Antivirus software adds an extra layer of security to your device, network, and privacy.


+

How do I choose an antivirus for my laptop?

Choosing an antivirus for your laptop will depend on several factors. First, you'll want to consider if the antivirus software is compatible with your operating system. Then you can dive into its features, AV-TEST results, and pricing to determine which best suits your needs. We chose Norton, Bitdefender, and AVG as top contenders for an antivirus program for your laptop.


+

Which is better, Norton or McAfee?

Norton and McAfee are top antivirus software programs but the best choice for you will depend on your needs. McAfee is a great option if you are looking for premium security features and device compatibility. You may prefer Norton if you are more budget conscious and don’t want to sacrifice quality.

You can compare more features by reading McAfee vs. Norton.

Bottom line: The best antivirus programs for laptops

The best antivirus program for your laptop will depend on your operating system and your individual security needs. For Windows and Android users, Bitdefender is a great choice for comprehensive protection. If you’re a macOS or iOS user, then AVG is more compatible with those devices. Meanwhile, Norton 360 is a great overall antivirus program with excellent parental controls.

3 best antivirus products for laptops 2024

Starting price Best for Learn more
Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only) Best for parental controls Get Norton 360

Read Norton 360 Review

Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only) Best for Windows and Android Get Bitdefender

Read Bitdefender Review

Starts at $46.68/yr (first year only) Best for real-time protection Get AVG

Read AVG Review


Enjoy Norton’s 100% Virus Protection Promise
4.3
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Norton 360 Antivirus's website
Antivirus Software
Norton 360 Antivirus
Save up to 58% your first year
  • 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
Author Details
Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.

Citations

[1] AV-TEST Norton 360 for macOS - December 2023

[2] AV-TEST Norton 360 for Android - January 2024

[3] AV-TEST Norton 360 for Windows - December 2023

[4] AV-TEST Bitdefender for Windows - December 2023

[5] AV-TEST Bitdefender for Android - November 2023

[6] AV-TEST Bitdefender for macOS - December 2023

[7] AV-TEST AVG for Windows - December 2023

[8] AV-TEST AVG for macOS - December 2023

[9] AV-TEST AVG for Android - November 2023