Best Antivirus Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Bitdefender Total Security is ranked #1 of 116 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and F-Secure Total. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ESET Mobile Security for Android. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Bitdefender Antivirus Plus at $2.08/mo.
Antivirus software is meant to protect the devices and platforms you use, but the coverage and extras differ. Compared on protection scope, ransomware protection, supported platforms, and device limit, these entries also let you weigh a free plan or paid-from price. Bitdefender Total Security, F-Secure Total, and Avira Prime are among the named options to compare. Check whether parental controls or a password manager matter for your needs, then compare which products list those features alongside the protection you want. Platform support and device limits can help you narrow the choices to options suited to your setup.
116 antivirus software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Antivirus software, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 14 of the 25 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 Bitdefender Total SecurityPaid from $5/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 2 Bitdefender Antivirus PlusPaid from $2.08/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 F-Secure TotalPaid from $5.83/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 4 Avira PrimePaid from $9.17/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 5 Seqrite Endpoint Protection Cloud
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 6 ESET Mobile Security for AndroidFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 7 Avast Free AntivirusFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 8 Avira Free SecurityFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 9 Avira Free AntivirusFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 10 Kaspersky AntivirusPaid from $4.58/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 11 Avast One
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 12 Norton 360Paid from $7.92/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 13 Malwarebytes Premium
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 14 Comodo Internet SecurityFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 15 PC MaticPaid from $2.50/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 16 Sophos Home
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 17 Kaspersky Plus Internet Security
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 18 Microsoft Defender Antivirus
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 19 ESET HOME Security
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 20 ESET Small Business Security
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 21 ThreatDown Endpoint Protection
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 22 AetherAVFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 23 IObit Malware FighterFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 24 Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 25 Avast Premium SecurityPaid from $6.50/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which antivirus software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Bitdefender Total Security is ranked #1 of 116 with a score of 8.9. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is second and F-Secure Total third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.08/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.