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Best Antivirus Software
Every company here was researched from its own pricing pages and terms. No paid rankings.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
How we researched this page: we read each company’s own pricing pages and terms, independent tests, and customer reviews. We did not use these products ourselves. Prices change often, so each one shows the date we checked it.
The short version
For most Windows and Mac households, Norton or Bitdefender. For a light, low-cost option, ESET or Avast. For removing malware that’s already there, Malwarebytes. Built-in Microsoft Defender is decent for many people. Always check the renewal price, which is often double the first year.
Quick comparison
| Company | Best for | Starting price | Trial / refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norton 360 | All-in-one security with VPN and identity extras | $39.99 first year, renews $94.99, checked October 25, 2026 | 60-day money-back |
| Bitdefender | Strong protection, light on the system | See the official site | 30-day trial and money-back |
| Malwarebytes | Cleaning up and blocking malware | See the official site | 60-day money-back |
| ESET | Light, low-fuss protection | See the official site | 30-day trial |
| Avast | Budget protection | $49.08 first year (Premium Security), renews $77.99, checked October 25, 2026 | 30-day money-back |
| TotalAV | Easy app with extras | $99/yr regular price (intro deals shown), checked October 25, 2026 | 30-day money-back on yearly plans |
Norton 360
Who it fits: Households that want antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and dark-web monitoring in one subscription.
What it costs (checked October 25, 2026): $39.99, $49.99 and $99.99 for the first year by plan, renewing at $94.99, $124.99 and $189.99. 60-day money-back guarantee.
Honest downsides: Big renewal jumps. Auto-renewal is on by default.
Visit Norton 360’s official site
Compare: Read our full Norton 360 review
Bitdefender
Who it fits: People who want strong independent-test results with little slowdown.
What it costs Check the official page for current prices. 30-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Honest downsides: Renewal prices are much higher than the first year. Many pop-ups for extra products.
Visit Bitdefender’s official site
Compare: Read our full Bitdefender review
Malwarebytes
Who it fits: People cleaning up an infected computer, or who want a simple extra layer of protection.
What it costs Check the official page for current prices. 60-day money-back guarantee.
Honest downsides: Fewer extras than Norton. Some readers use the free scanner and never need to pay.
Visit Malwarebytes’s official site
Compare: Read our full Malwarebytes review
ESET
Who it fits: People who want light, quiet protection without many extras.
What it costs Check the official page for current prices. 30-day free trial.
Honest downsides: The interface is more technical than Norton’s.
Compare: Read our full ESET review
Avast
Who it fits: Budget-minded households.
What it costs (checked October 25, 2026): Premium Security $49.08 for the first year (renews at $77.99). 10-device plan $69.48 for the first year (renews at $99.99). 30-day money-back guarantee.
Honest downsides: In 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission ordered Avast to pay $16.5 million and banned it from selling or licensing web-browsing data for advertising, over charges that it sold browsing data collected through its antivirus software and browser extensions after promising to protect users from online tracking (FTC, June 2024).
TotalAV
Who it fits: People who want an easy app with extras like a VPN and ad blocker.
What it costs (checked October 25, 2026): regular prices $99, $129 and $149 a year by plan; intro deals are lower. 30-day money-back on yearly plans.
Honest downsides: Heavy discounting and upsells, and renewal is far above the intro price.
Compare: Read our full TotalAV review
Also worth knowing
- Microsoft Defender is free and built into Windows. For many people it’s enough.
- McAfee is a big name; we couldn’t confirm its US prices on October 25, 2026.
- Kaspersky isn’t listed because it can no longer be sold in the US. In June 2024 the US Commerce Department banned Kaspersky from selling its antivirus software to US customers from July 20, 2024 and from providing updates after September 29, 2024 (Commerce Department, June 2024).
Sources
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