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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Last updated Mar 8, 2024
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Best for parental controls
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Editorial Rating
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On Norton 360 Antivirus's website
Norton 360 Antivirus
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Multi-tab navigation may be overwhelming at first
4 plans available, all including antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, and a secure password manager
Multi-tab navigation may be overwhelming at first
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Best for Windows and Android
/images/2023/03/03/logo-bitdefender_large.png){kind=logo}
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On Bitdefender's website
Bitdefender
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Premium features incur additional subscription fees
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Best for real-time protection
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On AVG's website
AVG
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Various scanning options may be confusing to some people
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We’ve determined that the best antivirus software for laptops is Norton 360, Bitdefender, and AVG. 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 laptopsNorton 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
Best antivirus for laptops FAQs
Bottom line: The best antivirus programs for laptops
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.
- Norton 360: Best for parental controls
- Bitdefender: Best for Windows and Android
- AVG: Best for real-time protection
Top 3 antivirus products for laptops compared
| Antivirus | 
|
|
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| Starting price | Starts at $29.99/first yr | Starts at $29.99/first yr | Starts at $46.68/first yr for 1 device |
| Free version | |||
| Firewall | |||
| Phishing protection | |||
| Ransomware protection | |||
| Parental controls | |||
| Learn more | Get Norton 360 | Get Bitdefender | Get AVG |
Norton 360: Best for parental controls
Norton 360 Antivirus
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4 plans available, all including antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, and a secure password manager
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Option to add VPN connection, dark web monitoring, privacy monitoring, and more
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Available for up to 10 devices depending on plan
- Multi-tab navigation may be overwhelming at first
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.
Norton antivirus full scan /images/2023/01/27/norton-antivirus_reviews6.png)
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/first yr |
| 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 |
Bitdefender: Best for Windows and Android
Bitdefender
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Antivirus software offering reliable security
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Simple yet powerful interface tools
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Perfect protection score in third-party tests
- Premium features incur additional subscription fees
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.
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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/first yr |
| 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 |
AVG: Best for real-time protection
AVG
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Award-winning antivirus, malware, and ransomware protection for up to 10 devices
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Includes webcam protection, safe browsing and email, automatic updates, and 24/7 protection
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Suite of protection benefits including a secure VPN, anti-tracking capabilities, safeguards against phishing sites, and more
- Various scanning options may be confusing to some people
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.
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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/first yr for 1 device. Meanwhile, Norton is $29.99/first yr while Bitdefender costs $29.99/first yr 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 |
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.
Best antivirus for laptops FAQs
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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.
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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.
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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/first yr | Best for parental controls | Get Norton 360 |
|
|
Starts at $29.99/first yr | Best for Windows and Android | Get Bitdefender |
|
|
Starts at $46.68/first yr for 1 device | Best for real-time protection | Get AVG |
Norton 360 Antivirus
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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
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Available for up to 10 devices depending on plan
- Multi-tab navigation may be overwhelming at first
Author Details
/authors/sara-nguyen-allaboutcookies-author.jpg)
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 2023Related Articles
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