To protect your devices, I tested various antiviruses and picked the best ones for securing Windows systems. They offer excellent malware detection scores and various advanced features for added protection. Every antivirus on this list is effective, but Norton stands out as the best antivirus for Windows. It has industry-leading 100% malware detection, advanced security features like a built-in VPN and dark web monitoring, and responsive customer support. Best of all, you can try Norton risk-free for 60 days with its generous money-back guarantee. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days
Quick Guide: 7 Best Antivirus Software for Windows
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Do I Need an Antivirus for Windows?
Yes, you need a high-quality antivirus for Windows. While Windows’ built-in Microsoft Defender provides good basic security, it isn’t comprehensive enough to provide airtight protection. Windows is the primary target for malware attacks because it has fewer built-in security measures than platforms like macOS. Also, it’s the most widely used operating system across the globe, thus making it an even bigger target. Whether browsing websites, downloading files, opening emails, or doing anything else online, you’re at risk if you’re using a Windows device. So, it’s critical to safeguard your system with a top antivirus. Besides blocking malware infections, the top antiviruses have features to guarantee the safety of your personal information and your home network.
The Best Antiviruses for Windows — Fully Tested in 2023
1. Norton — #1 Windows Antivirus With Flawless 100% Malware Detection
Key Features: Norton is the best antivirus for Windows because of its excellent malware detection, powerful security features, and responsive customer support. Also, its innovative SONAR protection provides effective real-time security by using machine learning to analyze behavior and check if a file is malicious. In my tests, Norton had a perfect 100% malware detection score. I tested its quick and full scans, which took 2 and 20 minutes, respectively, and found all threats. Also, the innovative Norton Insight feature makes subsequent scans even shorter by skipping files marked safe in previous scans. Besides its virus scans, Norton includes the following features for added security:
Encrypted Cloud Storage — offers up to 500GB (in the US) of secure cloud storage to safeguard sensitive files. PC SafeCam — blocks unauthorized attempts to access your system’s webcam. Password Manager — provides safe storage for passwords and other sensitive information. Built-in VPN — uses AES 256-bit encryption to keep you safe online. Dark Web Monitoring — lets you know if your logins were compromised in data breaches. Parental Controls — provide various tools to monitor, manage, and protect your kids’ online activity.
Norton also offers excellent web protection for security against malicious websites, unsafe downloads, and phishing scams. I tried opening unsafe websites and downloading malware samples with it enabled, and Norton blocked every malicious download and website. I was also pleased with Norton’s impressive customer support, which includes 24/7 live chat, phone support, and an online knowledge base. Norton’s live chat connected me to an agent within a minute whenever I needed help, and the agents provided helpful answers to my questions. Norton’s plans start at just $19.99/year and include the following:
Antivirus Plus — has Norton’s core antivirus, firewall, password manager, 2GB of cloud storage (in the US), and protects 1 device. 360 Standard — has all the above features, Norton’s VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, PC SafeCam, and protection for 3 devices. 360 Deluxe — provides Norton’s parental controls, Privacy Monitor, 50GB of cloud storage (in the US), protection for 5 devices, and everything in Standard. 360 Select — secures up to 10 devices with all the above features, 250GB of cloud storage, and Norton’s ID monitoring. 360 Advantage — has everything in 360 Select and includes Norton’s Identity Lock. 360 Ultimate Plus — offers all the above features, 500GB of cloud storage (in the US), Norton’s Home Title Monitoring, and protection for unlimited devices.
You’ll get the best value with Norton’s $49.99/year 360 Deluxe plan because it protects multiple devices, has a VPN, and provides lots of cloud storage. Also, you can try Norton risk-free on any plan thanks to its 60-day money-back guarantee. Claiming a refund via live chat is easy, and I had my money back in 5 days when I requested a refund. Secure your PC with Norton
2. McAfee — Reliable Antivirus With an Effective Firewall for Added Protection
Key Features: McAfee is an effective Windows antivirus because of its secure firewall and impressive malware detection scores. Its firewall also provides an intuitive interface and extensive customization options, thus letting you adjust its settings to your liking. After multiple tests, I learned that McAfee’s scans successfully find and remove 100% of malware. However, its scans are much slower than Norton’s, as the quick scan takes 5 minutes, and the full scan takes over an hour. You’ll also find various other features in McAfee that improve overall security. These include:
Web Protection — protects you from malicious websites and phishing attempts. Built-in VPN — uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your online activity. Tracker Remover — removes trackers and other files that can monitor your activity to serve targeted ads. Network Scanner — monitors your network and informs you about any intruders. ID Theft Protection — secures you against ID theft by monitoring your credentials (available in 32 countries, including the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, and various others). Parental Controls — manage and monitor your kids’ activity and location to keep them safe.
McAfee also provides ransomware protection and prevents ransomware attacks from encrypting your files. Plus, it offers a ransomware rollback feature that restores encrypted files if they become infected with ransomware. You can get McAfee for as low as $39.99/year, and its various plans include the following:
Total Protection Plus — includes McAfee’s antivirus features, web protection, password manager, firewall, ID monitoring, VPN, file shredder, and protection for up to 5 devices. McAfee+ Premium — has McAfee’s Personal Data Cleanup scans, everything in Total Protection Plus, and protection for up to 10 devices. McAfee+ Advanced — offers McAfee’s full-service Personal Data Cleanup, lost wallet protection, monthly credit reports, and $1M ID theft coverage, besides everything in McAfee+ Premium. McAfee+ Ultimate — provides McAfee’s credit lock, 25K ransomware coverage, daily credit reports, and everything in McAfee+ Advanced.
I advise getting McAfee’s $39.99/year Total Protection Plus plan because it offers the best value for money. Of course, you can try McAfee risk-free regardless of your plan, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. Claiming a refund requires a quick call to McAfee’s phone support, and I had my money back in 7 days when I requested mine. Secure your PC with McAfee
3. TotalAV — Improves Performance While Protecting Your Windows System Against Malware
Key Features: TotalAV is an excellent Windows antivirus because it helps optimize your system while securing it against malware. I was especially impressed with its Smart Scan, which removes junk files, disables startup programs, and deletes cookies to speed up your system. During my tests, TotalAV’s virus scans successfully found and removed 100% of the malware I hid on my system. Its scans are also reasonably fast, but its real-time security only blocks 99% of zero-day malware. In contrast, Norton’s protection is more effective as it detects 100% of real-time threats. You’ll also get other security features with this app, like the following:
WebShield — provides safety online by blocking malicious websites. Password Manager — secures your passwords and credentials (but doesn’t have features like vault auditing and automatic sync). Data Breach Test — checks if your passwords were leaked in past data breaches.
TotalAV’s plans are affordable, starting at just $19.00/year. It currently offers the following plans.
Antivirus Pro — has TotalAV’s antivirus, WebShield, optimization tools, and protection for 3 devices. Internet Security — includes TotalAV’s VPN, everything in Antivirus Pro, and protection for up to 5 devices. Total Security — offers TotalAV’s ad blocker, password manager, everything in Internet Security, and protection for up to 6 devices.
TotalAV also has a free plan with on-demand malware scans and basic web protection. However, it’s unreliable for comprehensive protection because it lacks real-time security and other useful features. I consider TotalAV’s $39.00/year Internet Security plan the best value because it offers the necessary security features and protects up to 5 devices. Also, thanks to its money-back guarantee, you can try TotalAV risk-free for 30 days regardless of your plan. I had my money back in just 2 days when I asked for a refund via phone support. Secure your PC with TotalAV
4. iolo — Highly Intuitive and Windows-Only Antivirus That Provides Effective Security
Key Features: iolo is a reliable Windows-only antivirus that’s easy to use and provides airtight security. It has effective virus scans that find and remove all malware, and its Windows-only focus means it comes with various useful features tailored to ensure your PC performs at its best.
Throughout my tests, iolo’s virus scans effectively found and removed 100% of the malware on my system. However, I noticed that iolo’s virus scans are a bit slow. Its full scan took over an hour to check my whole system, while Norton took roughly 20 minutes to finish the same scan. Also, I experienced noticeable slowdowns while iolo’s scans ran in the background. Besides the scans, iolo offers reliable real-time security and the following features to protect and optimize your system:
Drive Scrubber — securely wipes entire drives to ensure their data is no longer accessible. Deepclean — does an in-depth scan and finds multiple ways to optimize your system. Custom Privacy — lets you customize what information each app has access to. Startup Optimizer — improves boot time by helping you disable unnecessary apps at startup.
iolo’s plans start at just $23.99/year and include the following options:
Malware Killer — provides iolo’s on-demand virus scanning and removal. System Shield — offers iolo’s real-time protection and on-demand virus scans. System Mechanic — includes iolo’s optimization tools, security updates, and network protection. System Mechanic Pro — has iolo’s Drive Scrubber, Search and Recover, all the features in System Mechanic, and all the features in System Shield. System Mechanic Ultimate Defense — provides all the above features and includes iolo’s password manager.
iolo’s $25.09/year System Mechanic Ultimate Defense plan provides the best overall value. Plus, you can try iolo risk-free for 30 days regardless of your plan because it has a money-back guarantee. Claiming a refund is easy, and I got my money back in 3 days after requesting one via email. Secure your PC with iolo
5. Bitdefender — Feature-Rich Antivirus With Various Tools to Protect Your Windows Systems
Key Features: Bitdefender offers multiple virus scans and security features to protect Windows devices. During my tests, Bitdefender’s scans detected 100% of the malware on my system. Also, it has the following tools to improve your overall security:
Built-in VPN — provides online safety and fast connection speeds with AES 256-bit encryption and Hotspot Shield’s proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol. Password Manager — provides safe storage for passwords and other sensitive information. Customizable Firewall — acts as your system’s first line of defense and has many customization options. Ransomware Remediation — backs up important files and restores them in case of a ransomware attack. Parental Controls — protect your kids by monitoring their activity, filtering content, and using geofencing to track their location.
I also found that Bitdefender has effective real-time security that blocks 99.7% of zero-day threats, which is impressive. However, it isn’t as reliable as Norton’s flawless real-time protection, which blocks 100% of zero-day malware. While Bitdefender’s pricing is initially reasonable and starts at just $18.99/year, renewing it after the first year is significantly more expensive. Its price plans currently include the following:
Antivirus Plus — includes Bitdefender’s core antivirus features, 200MB/day VPN, and protection for 1 device (Windows only). Internet Security — has Bitdefender’s Privacy Firewall, parental controls, everything in Antivirus Plus, and protection for 3 devices (Windows only). Total Security — provides Bitdefender’s optimization tools, protection for up to 5 devices, and everything in Internet Security (all platforms). Premium Security — has Bitdefender’s password manager, unlimited VPN, all of Total Security’s features, and protection for up to 10 devices. Ultimate Security — offers Bitdefender’s ID monitoring and all of Premium Security’s features.
You’ll get the best value with Bitdefender’s $35.99/year Total Security plan because it protects 5 devices, and works on all platforms, thus letting you protect mobile devices alongside your Windows systems. Whichever plan you choose, you can try Bitdefender risk-free because it has a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can easily claim a refund by sending a request via email, and I got my money back within 5 days of my refund request. Secure your PC with Bitdefender
6. Panda — Well-Rounded Antivirus With a Unique Rescue Kit Feature
Key Features: Panda offers a well-rounded security suite to safeguard Windows systems. It offers reliable virus scans, effective real-time security, and various security features to protect your Windows devices from cyber threats. After tests, I learned that Panda reliably finds and removes 99.7% of malware via its scans. Of course, it’s not as effective as Norton, which eliminates 100%, but it still has an impressive detection score and is way above the industry average. Besides its malware scans and real-time security, Panda provides the following to protect your Windows system:
Web Protection — keeps you from opening unsafe websites that could infect your system. Built-in VPN — protects your online activity with industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption. File Shredder — securely deletes sensitive files you don’t want anyone else to access. File Encryption — encrypts and password-protects important files so no one but you can access them. Anti-theft — helps locate your device if it’s ever stolen. WiFi Protection — monitors your WiFi network so you know if any intruders connect to it.
Panda also offers parental controls, but they’re very basic and only include website filtering features. Unlike Norton’s parental controls, you can’t restrict screen time or properly monitor your kids’ app usage. You can get Panda for as low as $23.99/year and choose from the following plans:
Essential — provides Panda’s antivirus features, 150MB/day VPN, and WiFi protection. Advanced — has Panda’s parental controls, ID protection, and the features in Essential. Complete — includes Panda’s optimization tools, password, manager, and all of Advanced’s features. Premium — offers Panda’s unlimited VPN, priority customer support, and all the features in Complete.
I suggest you get Panda’s $42.99/year Premium plan if you want the best overall value. Also, all Panda plans can protect up to unlimited devices, but the price increases based on how many devices you want to protect. Thanks to its money-back guarantee, you can try Panda risk-free for 30 days. If unsatisfied, you can easily request a refund via web form. It took only 8 days to get my money back when I submitted a refund request after my tests. Secure your PC with Panda
7. Avira — Lightweight Antivirus That Protects Your PC Without Impacting Performance
Key Features: Avira provides excellent security on Windows devices without slowing down performance. It’s a lightweight cloud-based antivirus with various virus scans, and it offers helpful features to optimize system performance and improve security, including:
Built-in VPN — protects you online by encrypting your connection with AES 256-bit encryption. Password Manager — provides a way to store and use your passwords safely. Power Cleaner — removes junk files to free up space on your system. Software Updater — fixes vulnerabilities by ensuring you have up-to-date software. Hyper Boost — improves Windows startup time by making various optimizations.
You’ll also get effective virus scans with this security app. Avira’s virus scans detected 99.98% of malware in my tests, which is an impressive score. However, top choices like Norton outperform it with faster scans and a flawless 100% detection rate. Also, Avira offers excellent real-time security with a 99.98% detection rate. Among Avira’s biggest highlights is its excellent free plan, which includes its virus scans, real-time security, and 500MB/day VPN for 1 device. However, it also offers well-priced paid plans starting at just $26.99/year, which include the following:
Antivirus Pro — has Avira’s firewall, core antivirus features, 150MB/day VPN, and protection for 1 device. Internet Security — includes Avira’s password manager, software updater, and all the features in Antivirus Pro (Windows only). Prime — protects up to 5 devices and includes Avira’s unlimited VPN, optimization tools, and everything in Internet Security (all platforms).
Avira’s $59.99/year Prime plan delivers the best overall value, and you can try Avira risk-free for 60 days thanks to its money-back guarantee. Also, it’s easy to get a refund via email, and I had my money back in 24 hours when I requested a refund after my tests. Secure your PC with Avira
Warning! Avoid These 2 Antivirus Brands
Quick Comparison Table: 2023’s Best Antiviruses for Windows
6 Easy Steps: How to Install & Use an Antivirus for Windows
The following steps explain how to install and use an antivirus to secure your Windows system. I suggest you use Norton to protect your PC because of its flawless malware detection.
2. Avast
There are concerns surrounding Avast (and its subsidiary AVG) since its data-selling scandal, so it isn’t the best choice to guarantee your security and privacy. However, Avast has since dropped its data-selling subsidiary and was acquired by another company, meaning it’s much more trustworthy now.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best Antiviruses for Windows
I used the following criteria to rank the top antiviruses for Windows:
Malware detection — I chose antiviruses with perfect or near-perfect malware detection via scans and real-time security, especially on Windows. Extra features — I picked security apps with additional features like built-in VPNs, parental controls, customizable firewalls, and more. Ease of use — I selected antiviruses that are intuitive and easy to use. Customer support — I found apps with reliable customer support available to help anytime. Value for money — I picked antiviruses with various price plans that deliver excellent value for the price. Money-back guarantee — I only suggested antiviruses with money-back guarantees so you can try them risk-free.
Try Norton risk-free for 60 days So, while Microsoft Defender is good for basic security, it won’t secure you against advanced zero-day malware, encrypt your browsing activity, or protect your online identity. Best of all, you can try Norton completely risk-free for 60 days with its money-back guarantee. Claiming a refund is easy, and we’ve discussed the refund process in our in-depth Norton review.
Protect Your Windows PC With the Best Antivirus Software
Since most malware is designed to exploit Windows’ vulnerabilities, getting a reliable premium antivirus is crucial because the built-in Microsft Defender isn’t enough. After installing a top antivirus, you can stream your favorite shows, download files, and read emails on Windows devices without worrying about malware infections. The antiviruses listed above can secure your Windows PC with their reliable malware detection. Also, they include features like built-in VPNs, customizable firewalls, and dark web monitoring for added protection. Every app on this list is effective, but Norton is the best overall antivirus for Windows PCs, thanks to its comprehensive security. It has perfect 100% malware detection scores, effective security features, industry-leading customer support, and affordable pricing. Also, it provides a generous 60-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can try Norton completely risk-free.
