The Best Anti-Malware Software 2025

During our testing process, we discovered that McAfee Total Protection is good for compatibility with various operating systems and devices, offering features that work on Windows, macOS, and iOS. Bitdefender Total Security is best for Windows users, while Norton 360 is another great option for the unique features it offers.

It is estimated that millions of computers within the United States have been infected with malware or viruses, which potentially gives hackers a gateway to using your personal data.[1] Anti-malware software can prevent and remedy malicious viruses and other malware threats. We've researched the best malware removal services and have included our top three picks in this article for you.

The best anti-malware software for 2025

Antivirus	Best Overall
Best for	Overall	Windows	Unique features
Star rating	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.	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.	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.
Starting price	$24.99/first year	$39.99/first year	$19.99/first year
Max number of protected devices	Unlimited	25	Unlimited
EICAR test results	3/3	3/3	3/3
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Firewall
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Extras	Anti-fraud protection, VPN, and other bonus features	Parental controls, performance optimization, VPN, and more	SafeCam, parental controls, password manager, VPN, identity theft protection, and more
Compatibility	Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, ChromeOS	Windows Internet Security: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more	See McAfee Pricing	See Bitdefender Pricing	See Norton 360 Pricing

How we tested the best malware removal software

Before we selected our top six recommendations and narrowed that down to our top three best malware removal software, we reviewed the most recent performance results from AV-TEST. If a malware removal software received a top score of 6 out of 6, an outstanding score for malware removal and CPU functionality, we then took an in-depth look at the features of each platform.

Some of the most important features we looked for were:

• Scanning: Ideally, your software should have manual and automatic scanning features, as it is human nature to forget to consistently run scans.
• Malware detection: Per the AV-TEST, online reviews, and our own experience, how well did the software do at detecting and remedying viruses?
• CPU performance: If our device dramatically slowed down during testing, we know that it may not be the best antivirus protection software.
• Features and pricing: We want the most for our money and know you do as well. If the website stated it had a certain feature, we tried to test it on multiple operating systems to ensure it worked. If you can't use all the features promised on the website, it's likely not worth the cost.

McAfee Total Protection: Best overall

Who it’s best for

McAfee Total Protection is the best anti-malware tool for individuals who do not want to sacrifice features based on what operating system they are using. During our testing process, we discovered that many competitors claimed features on their websites that were not actually compatible with the Mac operating system.

McAfee’s offering is compatible with Windows, macOS, and iOS. It's also functional with Android devices. Furthermore, it works seamlessly with Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge browsers. You can rest assured that your preferred operating system, browser, and device may receive all of the features that are being advertised and that you're paying for.

What we liked

In-depth scanning features: We loved that the full scan of our system on over 400,000 files took less than 10 minutes, and we noticed that McAfee gave us the option to specify which files we wanted to be scanned if we needed to save time. The Total Virus Protection package ran phishing security, firewall protection, and real-time scanning protection in the background for us, which were safeguards we didn’t have to initiate or monitor. 

Browsing protection: In addition to these basic features, we appreciated the WebAdvisor feature, which blocks ransomware attacks and protects against harmful websites.

Performance: Moreover, we had no issues with our device slowing down during the scanning process, which is common with both paid and free malware removal software. Having the green checkmark light up on our main dashboard made us feel secure that the software was on and working while we were connected to the internet.

What we didn’t like

Hefty renewal price hike: The renewal price for McAfee Total Virus Protection seems to be twice as high as the original cost to get started with the platform. We noticed that multiple customers had commented on this issue on the McAfee website, with customers hoping that they could stay in the same cost bracket as first-year users.

Annoying pop-ups: Additionally, there are pop-ups from McAfee for both legitimate notifications and informative updates, but we found some of them to be annoying versus helpful.

Test results

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
AV-TEST Windows score	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	N/A
AV-TEST Android score	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.95%
SE Labs results	100%
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get McAfee Read Our McAfee Review

Bitdefender: Best for Windows

With a majority global market share within the realm of operating systems, software functionality for Windows matters to many customers like you. Bitdefender antivirus is truly the best total virus protection package for Windows that values consumer privacy, offers broad protection and bonus features, and does so without causing a lag in your personal computer’s overall performance.

If Bitdefender delivered the full functionality to macOS and iOS users as it did to Windows users, it would have been ranked the top choice for the best malware removal due to its robust features and privacy measures.

What we liked

In-depth scanning: Although our full scan took a bit longer to complete, we liked that we had the option to do a quick scan instead or choose files we could scan. We thought it was impressive that they insisted on doing a full scan right after setup to establish a safe environment for the software moving forward.

Rescue Mode: Bitdefender offers a “rescue environment” for Windows that will permit you to reboot your device in “rescue mode.” This mode allows the software to locate and neutralize any threats that could be hiding among legitimate-looking files.

Robust cybersecurity suite: Along with protection against phishing and ransomware, a firewall, and real-time scanning protection, Bitdefender also incorporates a Network Attack Defense module, which can detect network attacks like bots and trojans by analyzing incoming and outgoing network traffic.

Bonus features also include:

• Parental controls: This monitors your children’s safety remotely from Bitdefender Central Hub.
• File Shredder: This permanently deletes files.
• Vulnerability assessment: An additional scan to look for PC vulnerabilities.
• Premium VPN: Bitdefender VPN grants you online anonymity by encrypting all incoming and outgoing traffic on your device.

We also liked that Bitdefender’s headquarters are in Romania, as neither the malware nor Bitdefender VPN components are subject to the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or Fourteen Eyes Alliances. These alliances allow certain countries to collect and exchange their citizens’ data as a component of their national security.

What we didn’t like

Limited features for Apple devices: There were multiple features advertised as part of a full package, but some of these features were not accessible to Apple users on iOS or macOS. Different operating systems have no price differentiation, so you're getting less functionality but paying the same price as a Windows user.

Clunky customization: Customizing your settings can be a bit confusing as a new user because you may have to go back and forth between the Bitdefender Central Hub and the antivirus application that is always running in the background.

Test results

To get an accurate view of Bitdefender's malware detection abilities, we checked the scores from other independent antivirus testers. We checked scores from AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs.

	Bitdefender
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 Bitdefender Read Our Bitdefender Review

Norton 360 Antivirus: Best for unique features

Who it’s best for

Norton Antivirus first emerged in 1991 as the original antivirus software. The company has kept its foresight on emergent internet and privacy issues as time has gone on. Now, they are partnered with LifeLock identity theft protection, offering your personal protection plan an extra layer of safety.

If you want flexibility with pricing and features, Norton 360 has four separate price tiers for you. Maybe you just want a simple antivirus option for $19.99 per year and don’t want to pay for any extra features. Or maybe you've expanded your family and need parental controls or LifeLock identity theft protection. Regardless of your situation, it seems that Norton has unique features that can help keep you safe while you are roaming the internet.

What we liked

Cutting-edge software: We felt safe utilizing Norton’s virus protection, knowing that it is using emerging technology like machine learning to learn, remember, and scan which malware needed to be removed from our device. With machine learning, Norton’s artificial intelligence (AI) will keep learning about new threats over time. As viruses change and multiply, Norton’s technology will keep running in the background of your device and monitor threats.

Norton also uses AI to classify its interactions with internet applications based on their behavior, blocking applications that act suspiciously automatically for you. We also appreciated Norton's quick scanning of over 600,000 of our files within 10 minutes during our testing.

Robust cybersecurity suite: Norton comes with phishing protection and a smart firewall that prevents online threats before they reach your PC. Norton’s other unique features include:

• SafeCam: You will be alerted if someone attempts to access your webcam.
• Parental controls: This feature allows you to review your child’s online activities, including searches and video history.
• Password manager: This service manages your unique passwords in one safe location.
• VPN: Norton Secure VPN that encrypts your personal data on the internet.
• Dark web monitoring: You can receive a notice if your information is found on the dark web.
• Cloud Backup: This allows you to create a backup for only the files you choose in the cloud.
• LifeLock: This program will monitor the web for your personal information and assign a specialist to you to resolve any identity theft problems. Up to $1 million in coverage is available to assist you in restoring your identity.

What we didn’t like

No visibility into scanned files: After our Norton 360 download and initial scan were completed, our screen showed a prompt that the scan was finished as well as the number of files involved in the scan. There wasn’t a way to review the files in detail, however, because the prompt disappeared.

Doesn't work as well on macOS: Additionally, the macOS version had lighter features compared to the Windows version. For example, it was missing the proactive exploit protection feature.

Test results

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 360
AV-TEST Windows score	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18
AV-TEST Android score	17/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.96%
SE Labs results	100%
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get Norton 360 Read Our Norton 360 Review

Why we can’t recommend Kaspersky Antivirus

Per the most recent AV-TEST assessments, Kaspersky crushed perfect scores for protection, performance, and usability, across Windows, macOS, and Android devices. We found that it was an affordable solution that was easy to use and had nice reporting data. During our testing, the real-time protection features blocked sites that were full of cookies. It includes some interesting bonus features, such as Safe Money, a feature that safeguards your online banking or shopping transactions, and a URL advisor extension to check for phishing and malicious websites.

Although Kaspersky is a good antivirus, we can't recommend it. Some worrying data prompts from our most recent Kaspersky review, combined with the current geopolitical climate, arouse concerns about how secure our data privacy really is with this company. As of September 29, 2024, the U.S. has banned Kaspersky Lab's software and services. Learn more about why Kaspersky isn't safe.

FAQs

Bottom line: The best anti-malware programs

Overall, McAfee offers better compatibility with multiple operating systems, including iOS and macOS. If you're using a standard Windows program, then Bitdefender and Norton 360 are great security options with many features. 

You really have to think about your operating system and device before purchasing a malware removal program, as not every feature listed on a vendor’s website is available to various operating systems.

The best antivirus software for malware removal 2025

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	$24.99/first year	Best overall	See McAfee Pricing Read McAfee Review
	$39.99/first year	Best for Windows	See Bitdefender Pricing Read Bitdefender Review
	$19.99/first year	Best for unique features	See Norton 360 Pricing Read Norton 360 Review