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Best Overall
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Best Fast Scans
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Our top choice for the best lightweight antivirus is Norton, which offers many features and strong protection scores without slowing your device down. In third-party testing, it had the lowest impact score of all tested antivirus software available in the U.S.
Avast scores well in our star ratings and had good impact scores, but not as low as McAfee. Other choices include McAfee and Guardio — both of which focus on keeping your browser safe from malicious extensions, notifications, and websites.
Being lightweight is important because it limits how much the antivirus slows down your computer while still protecting you. No matter how good a product is, if it makes your computer unusable while scans are running, you're less likely to use it more often. Read on to see what we liked, what we didn’t, and which of these lightweight software providers is right for you.
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Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise
Tested protection against hackers, viruses, malware, and ransomware
Includes VPN, parental controls, and more
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Consistently perfect third-party test results, verifying comprehensive antivirus, ransomware, and malware protection
Includes advanced security features like a VPN, firewall, data breach alerts, privacy tools, device optimization, and more
Maintains a full suite of features for Mac users, unlike many other antivirus options
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Easy-to-use online security tool that cleans up your browser, removes malicious extensions, and checks for privacy violations
Blocks harmful emails, texts, and webpages
Stops invasive notifications and monitors data breaches for your information
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Premium antivirus, scam, and web protection, plus a VPN, identity monitoring, and secure password manager
Extremely low performance impact on devices in third-party tests
Top plans include protection for unlimited devices, a very rare perk
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| Best for | Overall score | Fast scans | Browser-level protection | Unlimited devices |
| Star rating | Not yet rated | |||
| Starting price | Free or $29.99/first yr | $49.08/first yr | Free or $9.99/mo | $39.99/first yr |
| Max number of protected devices | Unlimited | 10 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Performance impact score* | 3.8 | 3.9 | N/A | 7.6 |
| EICAR test results | 3/3 | 3/3 | 0/3 | 3/3 |
| Firewall | ||||
| VPN | ||||
| Parental controls | ||||
| Password manager | ||||
| Extras | Dark web monitoring, performance optimization tools, webcam protection | Data breach monitoring | ID theft protection, data breach monitoring, dark web monitoring | ID theft protection, data removal |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Learn more | Get Norton | Get Avast | Get Guardio | Get McAfee |
Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise
Tested protection against hackers, viruses, malware, and ransomware
Includes VPN, parental controls, and more
Norton 360 is great for anyone who wants a lightweight antivirus with plenty of additional features. Usually, features have to be sacrificed for processing power, but Norton’s features are light enough not to affect your system. You’ll find extras like Norton’s VPN, identity theft protection, and cloud storage.
No matter if you’re an individual with a single computer or in a large family with a laptop for each person, Norton antivirus can cover your devices, as its Ultimate Plus plan protects unlimited devices.
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Lowest performance impact: In the AV-Comparatives performance impact test, McAfee scored the lowest impact score at 3.8. The worst product had a score of 31.2, so Norton was way lighter.
Top-rated bundled security: Users looking for an all-in-one solution will enjoy Norton 360’s features, such as cloud storage, a password manager, credit monitoring, parental controls, and more. If you have a lower-end device with limited processing power, Norton offers protection features such as cloud storage and a password manager that have minimal CPU or RAM impact.
Usability: We found Norton intuitive and helpful during testing. Sometimes, security products are difficult to navigate, but Norton makes using its product easy for anyone. The language is clear and geared toward non-technical users, and anyone should be able to open the dashboard and use the program.
Cost: Norton is a great product, but our biggest complaint is always its price. While Norton offers reasonably priced tiers across its products, if you need broad family coverage, other antivirus programs will be more affordable.
Even when you consider the savings you’ll get from bundling Norton’s antivirus, a virtual private network (VPN), and identity theft protection into one package, you’re still likely to pay a lot.
To see if Norton 360 is really as good as it claims, we also looked at test results from other independent testers. This gave us a better idea of how well Norton detects malware. We checked with AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs.
Norton received perfect scores across almost all of the third-party tests and with our in-house tests as well. It only received a less-than-perfect score in the AV-Comparatives malware protection test.
| Norton 360 | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.98% |
| SE Labs results | 100% |
| EICAR score | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get Norton 360 |
It's no question that Norton is one of the best antivirus software on the market, so its perfect scores across all categories are no surprise. With Norton, you'll receive a user-friendly dashboard, a wide range of pricing for any budget, and comprehensive features for antivirus and other cybersecurity needs.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 20% | 5.0 |
| Prices & value | 3% | 5.0 |
| Features | 22% | 5.0 |
| Test results | 40% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 3% | 5.0 |
Consistently perfect third-party test results, verifying comprehensive antivirus, ransomware, and malware protection
Includes advanced security features like a VPN, firewall, data breach alerts, privacy tools, device optimization, and more
Maintains a full suite of features for Mac users, unlike many other antivirus options
Avast is good for users looking for an antivirus that offers faster scans. In our testing, a smart scan took 40 seconds, while a deep scan ran just over 5 minutes. This means that even if your device is older and has performance limitations, the disruption to your work won’t be as long. Given that some antivirus products can take hours to run, Avast offers top-rated protection with minimal impact on system performance.
Don’t assume that Avast’s speed makes it unsafe. It earns excellent protection scores from third-party testers and passes our internal tests with flying colors.
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Performance: There’s a lot we like about Avast. Its free tier provides top-notch antivirus protection that’s accessible to everyone. It’s a perfect product for anyone on a tight budget. Even though there are many free antivirus products, Avast stands out to us for its performance.
Low cost: Not only is the impact score the lowest on our list, but it’s also one of the most robust, free products available. For anyone wanting more, Avast and Avast One’s upgraded versions are still budget-friendly and include so many features. We’re always pleasantly surprised by all that Avast can do.
No parental controls: Despite all of the great things we love about Avast, it doesn’t offer parental controls. That may or may not be a deal breaker for you, but we were hoping for something, even if it’s only in the Family plan.
We analyzed Avast’s malware detection performance by referencing independent testing scores from AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs. We also put Avast to the test against dummy files from EICAR.
Avast consistently scores high with third-party testers and passes all of our in-house EICAR testing.
| Avast | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 17.5/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 99.98% |
| SE Labs results | 99% |
| EICAR score | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get Avast |
We've deemed Avast as the best antivirus for beginners, which is reflected in its star rating. Avast provided a stellar testing experience, offers a wide range of affordable plans and an effective free antivirus, as well helpful customer support via email, live chat, and phone.
Avast only received lower scores in the features and test results categories. Avast doesn't include bonus features like a password manager or parental controls. It was also docked some points in recent third-party tests.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 20% | 5.0 |
| Prices & value | 3% | 5.0 |
| Features | 22% | 4.8 |
| Test results | 49% | 4.7 |
| Compatibility | 3% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 3% | 5.0 |
Easy-to-use online security tool that cleans up your browser, removes malicious extensions, and checks for privacy violations
Blocks harmful emails, texts, and webpages
Stops invasive notifications and monitors data breaches for your information
Guardio is a unique option ideal for someone who wants to ensure all their web browsing stays safe. Instead of being a standalone app that scans all your files, Guardio lives in your browser and makes sure malicious extensions, files, and notifications don't get on your computer in the first place. This makes it incredibly lightweight while still keeping you safe.
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Easy to use: While some antivirus programs are incredibly robust, they can also be extremely confusing and clunky. Guardio's unique features make it user-friendly right from the start. You just need to add the extension to your browser of choice, and you're protected. No confusing settings to play with.
Extra identity and data protection features: In addition to ensuring no malicious software gets on your computer, Guardio also includes $1 million in identity theft insurance and regular monitoring for data breaches or dark web leaks. Since Guardio's price is reasonable, this is a lot of extra features to pile on.
No way to scan your device: Guardio offers real-time protection that stops malicious files in their tracks, but it doesn't let you scan your device on demand.
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| AV-TEST Windows score | N/A |
| AV-TEST macOS score | N/A |
| AV-TEST Android score | N/A |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | N/A |
| SE Labs results | N/A |
| EICAR score | 0/3 |
| Learn more | Get Guardio |
Premium antivirus, scam, and web protection, plus a VPN, identity monitoring, and secure password manager
Extremely low performance impact on devices in third-party tests
Top plans include protection for unlimited devices, a very rare perk
McAfee is one of the most recognizable antivirus names out there, and for good reason. It delivers a whole suite of antivirus features, plus a boatload of extras, all without slowing down your computer.
So if you want an incredibly lightweight antivirus that doesn't skimp out on any of the extras, McAfee is best for you.
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Unlimited device protection: McAfee stands out as the only major antivirus provider to include unlimited device coverage across all premium plans with its special deal. This makes it ideal for households with multiple phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, while eliminating the hassle of choosing separate or device-specific subscriptions. One plan protects everything.
Good protection scores: But just because this antivirus is lightweight doesn't mean it doesn't do its job. McAfee also consistently scores high on all third-party testing.
Lots of bonus features: If you like to bundle your software, McAfee has you covered with a VPN, password manager, identity theft protection, and more.
Features limited on macOS: While McAfee impressed us in our Windows testing, we were disappointed by the lack of certain features on macOS, including a file shredder and a tracker blocker.
When we tested McAfee, we also looked at test results from other independent antivirus testers. This gives us a better idea of how the antivirus copes with malware detection and prevention. We looked at test scores from AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs.
McAfee received perfect scores from third-party testers and from our in-house testing.
| McAfee | |
| AV-TEST Windows score | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | N/A |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 |
| AV-Comparatives malware protection score | 100% |
| SE Labs results | 100% |
| EICAR score | 3/3 |
| Learn more | Get McAfee |
During our testing, it was no surprise that McAfee came out with almost perfect scores across the board. The only thing that held it back was its long scan times, which made it a less convenient choice over other available options. But McAfee did its job, so that wait may be worth it for you.
| 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 |
When we reviewed lightweight antivirus software, important aspects we looked for included:
Fast scans that let you use your device unencumbered are the hallmark of a lightweight antivirus. Most of our choices take less than 5 minutes, and none take more than 30 minutes for a full scan. This means that even if the scan does slow down your device, it will only be for a short time and cause minimal disruption.
You’ll also want an AV with great third-party testing scores. Our choices passed our internal tests and were highly rated on AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs, whenever applicable.
Useful features can reduce overall monthly security costs by combining antivirus with a password manager, a VPN, cloud storage, device optimization tools, and more. Of course, you’ll want antivirus software that fits your monthly budget. While many of our choices here have a free tier, options with reasonable pricing are also available for anyone who wants a little more.
If you want something lightweight and easy, avoid a bulky antivirus with high CPU usage, buggy or long scans, and so-so protection scores. We’ve listed some of the ones we found to perform poorly, especially with scans, protection scores, or generally difficult or outdated interfaces.
Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise
Tested protection against hackers, viruses, malware, and ransomware
Includes VPN, parental controls, and more
Norton is the best overall lightweight antivirus. It balances protection, performance, and usability. Avast, McAfee, and Guardio are alternative lightweight antivirus solutions with excellent performance and protection.
Whether you’re using a computer with limited processing power or don’t want a heavy antivirus bogging down your CPU usage, you can still get top-tier protection without sacrificing memory space.
We use our proprietary grading rubric in all of our testing, which considers ease of use, third-party testing scores, internal testing scores, price, compatibility, and features offered, among other metrics.
This means that our testing process is designed to ensure that the product isn't too confusing, protects as it claims, and offers you a lot for a reasonable price. We download and run each program on our own computers on home networks, just like you would. Our ratings reflect the real-world performance of the antivirus product. This ensures that we can recreate a similar experience for you and give our best advice on whether or not it's worthwhile.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full antivirus testing methodology here.
Third-party testing is an important evaluation tool that can help you decide which antivirus program is right for you. AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs charge companies to submit their products for rigorous testing.
The results are published without the antivirus company having any say in their presentation. This allows you, the consumer, to see how the software copes with computer viruses and malware.
We also evaluate antivirus software ourselves using third-party test scores and the EICAR test, which allows us to test against malware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and phishing attempts. EICAR testing provides a deeper understanding of a product’s effectiveness by demonstrating how it works against threats beyond malware.
We retest products frequently to ensure that our information is correct. If a product improves or worsens, we let you know.
Norton is the most lightweight antivirus. It offers the lowest impact score, which means it can run smoothly in the background while you continue to work on your computer.
Norton, Guardio, and Avast all have low-impact scores and free tiers. Microsoft Defender’s most significant appeal is that it's free, so why not replace it with a quality free antivirus that offers additional protection and features? Plus, you can use third-party antivirus software concurrently with Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
While opinions might be mixed about using additional antivirus protection on a low-end device, you can as long as the software is lightweight and you aren’t trying to do more processing than the device can handle. If you use Windows 10, keep in mind that Microsoft ended support for that OS effective October 14, 2025. This means you'll definitely need antivirus protection.
When protecting low-end devices, or devices with lower processing power, you’ll want to make sure your antivirus software isn’t too elaborate. Some features you’ll want to consider:
Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise
Tested protection against hackers, viruses, malware, and ransomware
Includes VPN, parental controls, and more
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