Its active scans don't add much to the background system impact, but that background load is a bit heavy. It has very good, if not perfect, malware-detection scores. Yet every other digital-protection service you could possibly ask for is included with at least some of its bundles.īitdefender Antivirus Plus is our top choice among entry-level antivirus products. Unlike some of the other best antivirus software makers, Norton doesn't offer a file shredder, file encryption or secure web browser with any of its products. Their subscription prices run well into the triple digits, but still cost less than if you were to buy the identity protection, password manager, cloud-backup storage and antivirus software separately. If you want full-on identity protection, Norton offers three bundles with varying degrees of LifeLock service and even more online storage. Two other offerings, Norton 360 Premium and Norton 360 Platinum, give you more online storage and expand the antivirus and VPN coverage to 10 and 20 devices, respectively. It includes a password manager that works on all major platforms, unlimited VPN service, dark-web personal-data monitoring, parental controls and up to 50GB of online storage space. The number of extra features each program has varies, but the sweet spot in the lineup is Norton 360 Deluxe. The best antivirus software you can buy todayĪll of Norton's antivirus products offer excellent malware protection, and the once-heavy system-performance load is much lighter. Our free rankings immediately follow our paid rankings below. See our section on how to choose the best antivirus software below, or our stand-alone antivirus buying guide. You can still download and use Kaspersky software if you choose.Īny of these three would serve you well, but the ideal choice depends on your circumstances. But given the war in Ukraine, we've stopped doing business with Russian companies. Kaspersky Total Security also offers top-notch malware protection, a full complement of extra features and an easy-to-use interface. Right behind that is the entry-level Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the best bargain in antivirus software.

Our top choice is Norton 360 Deluxe, which offers excellent malware protection and a ton of extra features, including unlimited VPN service and LifeLock identity protection.

Top 10 best free antivirus 2018