Best Antivirus Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Avast Free Antivirus is ranked #1 of 116 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Avira Free Security and Avira Free Antivirus. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Avira Free Security. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SUPERAntiSpyware at $1.67/mo.
When comparing antivirus software, look at the protection and features listed as well as the devices and platforms you need to cover. The entries are compared on device limits, free plans, paid-from pricing, parental controls, password managers, protection scope, ransomware protection and supported platforms. Avast Free Antivirus, Avira Free Security and Bitdefender Total Security are among the options shown. Consider whether the listed platforms and device limits match your needs, then weigh protection scope and ransomware protection. Parental controls and a password manager may be useful criteria if you want those capabilities included. Free-plan availability and paid-from prices add cost information to the comparison.
116 antivirus software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avast Free AntivirusWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 7.6 | |
| 2 | Avira Free SecurityWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 7.6 | |
| 3 | Avira Free AntivirusWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 4 | Comodo Internet SecurityWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.3 | |
| 5 | Bitdefender Total SecurityWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $5/mo | 7.2 |
| 6 | Kaspersky AntivirusWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | $4.58/mo | 7.1 |
| 7 | AetherAVWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.1 | |
| 8 | Avast OneWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 7.0 |
| 9 | Bitdefender Antivirus PlusWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $2.08/mo | 7.0 |
| 10 | Malwarebytes PremiumWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 7.0 |
| 11 | IObit Malware FighterWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.0 | |
| 12 | ESET Mobile Security for AndroidAndroid | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.9 | |
| 13 | Kaspersky Plus Internet SecurityWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 14 | Norton 360Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $7.92/mo | 6.7 |
| 15 | Microsoft Defender AntivirusWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 16 | AVG Internet SecurityWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $8.33/mo | 6.7 |
| 17 | Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business SecurityWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 18 | ESET HOME SecurityWindows · Mac · Android | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 19 | F-Secure TotalWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $5.83/mo | 6.6 |
| 20 | Windows SecurityWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 21 | Seqrite Endpoint Protection CloudWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 22 | SUPERAntiSpywareWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $1.67/mo | 6.6 | |
| 23 | Dr.Web CureIt!Windows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 24 | ESET Small Business SecurityWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 25 | ThreatDown Endpoint ProtectionWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Protection scope | Device limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avast Free Antivirus | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | antivirus | 1 devices |
| 2 | Avira Free Security | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | internet security | — |
| 3 | Avira Free Antivirus | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | internet security | — |
| 4 | Comodo Internet Security | 7.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | $29.99/yr | complete security | — |
| 5 | Bitdefender Total Security | 7.2 | No | $5/mo | No | $59.99/yr | complete security | 25 devices |
| 6 | Kaspersky Antivirus | 7.1 | No | $4.58/mo | — | — | complete security | 3 devices |
| 7 | AetherAV | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | complete security | — |
| 8 | Avast One | 7.0 | No | — | Yes | — | complete security | 30 devices |
| 9 | Bitdefender Antivirus Plus | 7.0 | No | $2.08/mo | Yes | $24.99/yr | internet security | 3 devices |
| 10 | Malwarebytes Premium | 7.0 | No | — | Yes | — | complete security | 20 devices |
| 11 | IObit Malware Fighter | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | complete security | 3 devices |
| 12 | ESET Mobile Security for Android | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | complete security | 25 devices |
| 13 | Kaspersky Plus Internet Security | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | complete security | 10 devices |
| 14 | Norton 360 | 6.7 | No | $7.92/mo | No | $94.99/yr | complete security | 10 devices |
| 15 | Microsoft Defender Antivirus | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | antivirus | — |
| 16 | AVG Internet Security | 6.7 | No | $8.33/mo | Yes | $99.99/yr | complete security | — |
| 17 | Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security | 6.6 | No | — | No | — | complete security | 100 devices |
| 18 | ESET HOME Security | 6.6 | No | — | No | — | complete security | 15 devices |
| 19 | F-Secure Total | 6.6 | No | $5.83/mo | No | Free | complete security | 5 devices |
| 20 | Windows Security | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | complete security | — |
| 21 | Seqrite Endpoint Protection Cloud | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | complete security | — |
| 22 | SUPERAntiSpyware | 6.6 | Free plan | $1.67/mo | Yes | $19.99/yr | antivirus | 3 devices |
| 23 | Dr.Web CureIt! | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 24 | ESET Small Business Security | 6.5 | No | — | No | — | complete security | 25 devices |
| 25 | ThreatDown Endpoint Protection | 6.5 | No | — | — | — | internet security | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which antivirus software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Avast Free Antivirus is ranked #1 of 116 with a score of 7.6. Avira Free Security is second and Avira Free Antivirus third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SUPERAntiSpyware has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.67/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.