Best Antivirus Software in 2026

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 Avast Free Antivirus. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Bitdefender Antivirus Plus at $2.08/mo.

Choosing antivirus software means checking the protections and features against the devices you need to cover. Compared on protection scope, ransomware protection, supported platforms and device limit, these entries also let you assess parental controls and password managers. Bitdefender Total Security, F-Secure Total and Norton 360 are among the products covered. Check platform support and device limits alongside the listed protection details, then consider whether the additional features matter for your use. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing give you cost points to compare.

116 antivirus software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.

116ranked
5free plans on this page
$2.08/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Antivirus software 25 channels on this page · 152 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromProtection scopeDevice limitSupported platformsRansomware protectionParental controlsPassword manager Spec sheet Score
01 Bitdefender Total Security Free planNoPaid from$59.99/yrProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit25 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsYesPassword managerYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.9
02 Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Free planYesPaid from$24.99/yrProtection scopeinternet securityDevice limit3 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, iOS, AndroidRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managerNo 7/8spec lines stated 8.6
03 F-Secure Total Free planNoPaid fromFreeProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit5 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, iOS, AndroidRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managerYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.6
04 Norton 360 Free planNoPaid from$94.99/yrProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit10 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsYesPassword managerYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.3
05 Kaspersky Antivirus Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit3 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOS, LinuxRansomware protectionYesParental controlsYesPassword managerYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.2
06 Avast One Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit30 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 5/8spec lines stated 8.2
07 Malwarebytes Premium Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit20 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 5/8spec lines stated 8.2
08 Avira Prime Free planNoPaid from$109.99/yrProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit25 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managerYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.2
09 Seqrite Endpoint Protection Cloud Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limitnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 3/8spec lines stated 8.2
10 Kaspersky Plus Internet Security Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit10 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsYesPassword managerYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.0
11 Avast Free Antivirus Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtection scopeantivirusDevice limit1 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 5/8spec lines stated 8.0
12 Avira Free Security Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtection scopeinternet securityDevice limitnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsNoPassword managerYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.0
13 PC Matic Free planYesPaid from$60/yrProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit5 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 6/8spec lines stated 8.0
14 Avira Free Antivirus Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtection scopeinternet securityDevice limitnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managerYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.9
15 ESET HOME Security Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit15 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, AndroidRansomware protectionYesParental controlsYesPassword managerNo 7/8spec lines stated 7.8
16 ESET Small Business Security Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit25 devicesSupported platformsWindows, Windows Server, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsNoPassword managerYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.8
17 Sophos Home Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit10 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsYesPassword managerNo 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
18 Avast Premium Security Free planNoPaid from$77.99/yrProtection scopeinternet securityDevice limit10 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.7
19 Norton AntiVirus Plus Free planNoPaid from$59.99/yrProtection scopeantivirusDevice limit1 devicesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsNoPassword managerYes 8/8spec lines stated 7.7
20 ThreatDown Endpoint Protection Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedProtection scopeinternet securityDevice limitnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.7
21 Comodo Internet Security Free planYesPaid from$29.99/yrProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limitnot statedSupported platformsWindowsRansomware protectionnot statedParental controlsYesPassword managernot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.7
22 ESET Mobile Security for Android Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit25 devicesSupported platformsAndroidRansomware protectionYesParental controlsNoPassword managerYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
23 Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limit100 devicesSupported platformsWindows, Linux, macOSRansomware protectionYesParental controlsnot statedPassword managernot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.6
24 Microsoft Defender Antivirus Free planYesPaid fromnot statedProtection scopeantivirusDevice limitnot statedSupported platformsWindows 10, Windows 11Ransomware protectionYesParental controlsNoPassword managerNo 6/8spec lines stated 7.6
25 Trend Micro Worry-Free Services Free planNoPaid fromnot statedProtection scopecomplete securityDevice limitnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, iOS, AndroidRansomware protectionYesParental controlsNoPassword managerNo 6/8spec lines stated 7.6

Is your tool 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 Specifiction?

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?

5 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 what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.

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