Best Antivirus for Windows 10

Bitdefender is, without a doubt, the best antivirus for Windows 10 currently available on the market. Due to its outstanding protective capabilities, it has won several awards from independent testing labs such as AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and MRG Effitas. Aside from its excellent antivirus engine, it offers an extensive collection of additional features as well.

Every Bitdefender iteration uses the same malware prevention technology, meaning that even non-paying customers are well-guarded. Aside from that, the Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition will stop you from stumbling onto dangerous websites, as well as keep you safe from any phishing and online fraud attempts. However, to get the very best virus protection and the superb extra features that Bitdefender is known for, you’ll have to set aside at least $29.99 per year for the Antivirus Plus package.

As is the case with any pricing scheme, the higher your financial commitment, the more perks you’ll get to enjoy. For example, the top-tier plan, Bitdefender Premium Security, covers all your online security needs on 10 devices for $64.99 per year. Not only does it detect even the most advanced cyber threats, it provides you with unlimited VPN access and a proactive vulnerability assessment that uncovers any outdated software, unsafe system settings, or missing security patches that could potentially undermine the work of your chosen Windows 10 antivirus.

Other noteworthy benefits of Bitdefender’s premium pricing plans include a firewall, a password manager, and profiles for specific activities. The firewall adapts to the type of network you’re connected to at the moment and adjusts the network settings for optimal protection. Bitdefender’s built-in password-saving tool can rival the best password manager solutions out there: Aside from securing your sensitive data, it also automatically fills out forms and suggests safe passcodes. Lastly, Bitdefender can detect when you’re gaming, watching a movie, or working, and tailor your PC’s safety environment to suit the specific activity.

Although its initial scan can take quite a bit of time, Bitdefender is still among the fastest antivirus programs we’ve encountered and, even with its many functionalities, remains extremely easy to use.

Much like Bitdefender, Avira is highly dependable, which is clear from its excellent threat-detection scores. But what really sets it apart from its competitors is the fact that it’s a very lightweight antivirus that will provide you with all the essential forms of protection without slowing down your device.

Avira offers four subscription options. The first one is free and, aside from virus protection and a few other useful features, such as PC optimization, harmful website blocking, and a VPN, it doesn’t include much else. Moreover, even though there’s a VPN available, it has a data cap of just 500 MB per month.

To truly comprehend why we consider Avira to be among the best security software for Windows 10, we recommend that you get either Internet Security or Avira Prime, since the Antivirus Pro package, which is $44.99 per year, doesn’t differ much from the free option. Purchasing Internet Security, on the other hand, will put email protection, a password manager, and an automatic software updater at your disposal.

If, in addition to an antivirus and other tools we’ve already mentioned, you’d also like to have PC-speed and tune-up features, you might want to take a look at the Avira Prime pricing plan. It’s also the only subscription with which you receive unlimited VPN access.

The technology that makes Avira one of the top antivirus scanners on this list is called Protection Cloud. It’s integrated into the program’s real-time scans, thus enabling Avira to immediately send any suspicious activity it detects to the cloud for analysis. The cloud database is updated with 10,000 new strains of viruses on a daily basis.

Another perk of cloud scanning is that it puts very little strain on your computer’s CPU. Unlike McAfee, which tends to take up more than 50% of your CPU’s power, Avira won’t need more than 20 to 25%.

The user interface of this Windows antivirus is exceptionally intuitive. You’ll be able to execute complex commands to keep your computer safe even if you’re not the most tech-savvy.

On the downside, while an extra firewall isn’t always necessary, it’s definitely helpful in limiting the chances of a network breach. Unfortunately, Avira has no firewall of its own; instead, you can only manage the Windows firewall from Avira’s app. If its developers were to add this feature, Avira would easily compete with Bitdefender for the number one spot on our “Best Antivirus for Windows 10” list.

Another top-notch program that’s sure to protect your Windows devices from any and all cyber-related misdeeds is Norton. PCMag labeled this antivirus guard the Most Awarded Consumer Brand Ever an incredible 46 times.

Aside from performing remarkably well during our in-house examinations, Norton’s quality is also demonstrated by the level of certainty with which its protection software is offered – if a virus somehow passes through the many Norton LifeLock layers protecting your devices, you’ll get your money back. However, this brings us to a downside – unlike with some other protection software programs featured in our antivirus comparison article, Norton’s antivirus has no permanently free version. The only way to test things out is by getting a seven-day free trial or purchasing one of the subscriptions.

Several features are guaranteed with every pricing plan, and the two most impressive ones are Smart Firewall and Cloud Backup. The Smart Firewall is the first point of contact that any traffic has with your device. Once the Smart Firewall sifts through it and waves through the parts registered as safe, Intrusion Prevention takes over and inspects the remaining traffic.

Numerous Norton antivirus software reviews praise its Cloud Backup option, with good reason. It’s a great selling point for this program, as not many of its competitors offer something like it. With the first-tier plan, which costs $9.99 for the first year and $59.99 afterward, you’ll get 2 GB of storage room, while the top-tier package, which can be bought for $299.98 and renews for $349.99, includes 500 GB.

Dark web monitoring, webcam protection, and VPN are available on the three more expensive plans, and parental controls are reserved for the top two. Most financial assistance tools, such as credit, bank, and credit card activity tracking, as well as 401(k) and investment activity alerts, are reserved for the most costly Windows virus protection package, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus.

Although an average family may not need the huge assortment of functionalities that, for example, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus provides, it’s the perfect solution for a small business, especially because it allows you to use Norton on an unlimited number of devices. The package can also be customized to fit your firm’s needs.

Norton is surprisingly fast, considering everything that can be accomplished with it. But as is the case with the majority of feature-filled antivirus software for Windows, learning how to use it might take a while.

Even those unfamiliar with the world of cybersecurity know about Kaspersky. Ever since the company was founded in 1997, its products have been among the most downloaded computer antivirus solutions on the market.

Kaspersky offers three traditional pricing programs – Anti-Virus, Internet Security, and Total Security – as well as three Security Cloud services – Free, Personal, and Family. All of them come with Kaspersky’s core virus-fighting technology but differ in terms of extra features.

As you’d expect, out of the six, the free cloud-based software is the most stripped-down. If you want anything more than antivirus protection, you’ll need to set aside at least $29.99 per year for the Kaspersky Anti-Virus suite. Those who want the most bang for their buck should take a look at the Security Cloud Family bundle. As its name implies, it’s the best antivirus software for families.

As an owner of the final-tier Security Cloud subscription, you can protect up to 10 people, while the Kaspersky Safe Kids tools can only be accessed by you. These tools allow you to pinpoint your childrens’ exact location, control their screen time, filter the websites and apps they can use, and monitor their YouTube searches. Also, if there’s a specific area your kids aren’t allowed to leave, Kaspersky can send you notifications if they do.

With a price of $89.99 per year, Security Cloud Family may not seem like the most affordable antivirus package. Still, when you take into account everything it encompasses, you can see that it actually provides decent value. In addition to the parental controls, your family will be able to use online shopping protection, home Wi-Fi monitoring, a VPN, and a password manager (for up to 10 people).

If you’re looking for a less expensive antivirus solution that offers almost the same features as the previously described product, Kaspersky Total Security might be your best bet, at $49.99 for five devices for the first year.

This top-rated antivirus will have a low-to-moderate performance impact on your system, which is very good for a program as powerful as this one. However, although Kaspersky’s user interface is very clean, some of its tools can be hard to find. That being said, once you get used to the program, you shouldn’t have any issues.

Compared to our above-listed top antivirus software picks, McAfee is slightly less reliable when it comes to scanning for malware. However, it keeps improving year after year and will likely be able to rival Norton’s and Avira’s virus-detection scores soon. At a budget-friendly price point, too!

All McAfee plans are a variation of a single product called Total Protection, and its most inexpensive subscription is intended for a single device. The Individual/Couples cost kit lets you protect up to five devices, the Family plan covers 10 devices, and, as you can probably guess, the Unlimited package has no restrictions of that kind.

Relatively large companies looking for the best low-cost antivirus can end their search with McAfee’s Unlimited subscription. For just $69.99 for the first year and $159.99 for renewals, both you and your employees can have an extra layer of firewall protection, a password manager, and a file shredder. To make Unlimited even more tempting, McAfee enhanced its identity theft protection tools in this package, and included credit monitoring, 24/7 assistance from experts, and insurance for lost funds up to $1 million.

VPN services, which are powered by TunnelBear and are a part of every product bundle, require a commitment to automatic billing as well. Another important detail you should know about this cheap antivirus is that it enables every one of its subscribers to securely store sensitive files on their computers through its use of 256-bit AES encryption.

After you install McAfee, you’ll probably forget that it’s running in the background – until you realize it’s hogging quite a bit of your CPU’s resources. Although being able to adjust your software’s performance to prevent it from slowing down your device can come in handy, not everyone wants to spend their time dealing with it. McAfee is a good antivirus for those that fall into that category. What’s more, notifications are rare, but will be clearly displayed when you need to take specific action.

Trend Micro has a strong malware detection engine, but it tends to put a heavy strain on a system’s performance. It’s also been known to register a number of false positives. Despite this, it’s still an excellent piece of antivirus and security software.

This program’s main strength lies in its browsing protection. Thanks to Pay Guard, which is essentially a secure version of your default browser, it protects you from dangerous websites while you’re conducting transactions online. It also monitors your emails for potential scams.

Trend Micro’s price ranges between $29.95 and $69.95 for the first year of protection. There may not be a free version available, but you can test out every one of its plans –  Antivirus+ Security, Internet Security, Maximum Security, and Premium Security Suite – with a 30-day free trial.

As is the case with all antivirus deals, the higher the price, the more features you’ll obtain. Among Trend Micro’s most noteworthy functionalities, you’ll find social media protection tools and a password manager. The Premium Security Suite is the only subscription with dark web monitoring and a VPN.

Trend Micro’s VPN is reliable, but it doesn’t provide a high-speed connection. For a better antivirus-VPN combination, we’d suggest Bitdefender or Norton. Unlike those two antiviruses, Trend Micro doesn’t have a firewall, instead providing its users with the next best thing: A firewall booster. The booster works together with Windows Firewall to prevent botnet attacks and other cyber threats.

Even with its shortcomings, Trend Micro is still a great antivirus program. For instance, although it may take up a lot of your CPU’s power, it makes up for it in speed. All three scans – quick, full, and custom – can be exceptionally fast. Unfortunately, as was the case with McAfee, configurability is limited.

On the plus side, Trend Micro’s user interface is exceptionally well-organized. There’s no clutter, and every command is where you’d expect it to be – perfect for beginners who want to rely on their antivirus without constant tweaking.

Currently, Trend Micro may not be the most sought-after virus detector, but if its developers decide to add a few more features, it’s sure to surpass many rivals.