Best Antivirus Software Of 2024 For PC

Bitdefender is a strong option for those who want prevention-based security. It performs daily scans without slowing down your device and doesn’t interfere with other apps. This means you’ll get notified if there’s an issue, but it will stay out of sight until you want to see the notifications.

What set Bitdefender apart from the rest of the pack were its stellar results in independent testing, earning Top Product honors from AV-TEST and ranking near the top in Real-World Protection testing from AV-Comparatives. During our own test, we found Bitdefender’s UI easy to use, and its impact on performance minimal.

Bitdefender protects against adware, malware, web attacks and ransomware. Premium plans start at INR 5,817.77 per year for five devices and include parental controls, firewall, webcam and microphone protection, and protection for multiple operating systems. You can even add Premium VPN for an additional cost of INR 3,324.08 ($39.99) per year. Individual users should be wary of turning off auto-renewal with Bitdefender, however, as doing so removes access to a number of features, including password protection and access to its Premium VPN.

Who should use it

If you want prevention-based security that doesn’t slow down your device, choose Bitdefender.

Forbes Advisor’s pick for the best value in antivirus software is Avira. This program provides comprehensive protection against malware, including ransomware and phishing attacks. It also includes a firewall and email security to protect your devices from being hacked.

Avira also comes with a password manager, free VPN and tracker remover. This way, you can keep your devices and personal information as safe as possible. It offers a free version, as well as premium versions starting at INR 917 for the first year, and renews at INR 1,529 per year for up to five devices.

Who should use it

Avira is a great choice for those who are looking for comprehensive protection against malware without breaking the bank.

With nearly three decades of experience, AVG is one of the longest-tenured brands in the antivirus space. From its free plan to its more business-centric options, AVG offers a ton of features for interested users, including a file shredder, a built-in firewall and email security measures. Its myriad pricing plans and add-ons allow you to mix and match features and subscriptions to best fit your needs. This makes AVG an ideal choice for solo entrepreneurs and freelancers, whose unique work conditions might require certain features not found in the basic plans of other antivirus providers.

It should be mentioned that Avast and AVG use the exact same engine for their antivirus software. During independent reviews from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, both performed exceptionally well, scoring all 6s from AV-TEST and ranking near the top in Malware Protection from AV-Comparatives. During our own hands-on testing, AVG performed adequately well, offering a heavier performance impact than Avira but nothing spectacular, and a full scan took longer than other providers on this list. Its installation process was also on the slower side.

For those who worry about privacy, there are other causes for concern. Thanks to a 2020 joint investigation by PCMag  and Vice Motherboard, Avast and AVG were caught collecting user data via browser extensions and the free version of their antivirus software. This by itself is normal, as any antivirus provider with browser protections will do so as a matter of course. However, Avast and AVG were found to be monetizing user data via Avast subsidiary Jumpshot.

In the wake of the investigation, Avast terminated Jumpshot and has not made any moves to suggest it has returned to its data monetizing ways. However, the relative recency of the event coupled with how much sensitive data an antivirus can collect from users makes it worth mentioning for anyone who prioritizes privacy.

AVG’s Small Business Antivirus and Firewall is available for INR 2,119 per device per year. It comes with identity protection, file shredder and ransomware protection features. Its browser protection functionality works on Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

Who should use it

AVG is a solid option for freelancers and other solo entrepreneurs looking for a solid, feature-rich solution for one or more devices.

McAfee is a great option for those who don’t have a team of IT experts but want security like they have one. This program comes with a firewall, email security and ransomware protection. It also includes a password manager and parental controls.

For INR 799/- for the first year, you can protect up to one device. For INR 1,199/- for your first year, you can protect up to three devices at once with Total Protection. Or, for INR 1,399 for five devices, and INR 1,699 for your first year, you can get a plan that includes up to 10 devices, which works great for large teams. However, keep in mind that its plans double in price upon renewal, making it more expensive than many of its competitors after the introductory period is up.

Who should use it

McAfee is ideal for those who want comprehensive protection against malware but don’t want to deal with the hassle of managing it.

Malwarebytes is a comprehensive security solution that offers real-time protection against malware, spyware, ransomware and other online threats. It also includes a powerful malware removal tool that can get rid of tough threats that other antivirus software might miss.

Malwarebytes performed decently in independent tests, though AV-TEST marked it as slightly below the industry average when protecting against zero-day malware threats. During our own tests, it provided one of the most intuitive-to-use interfaces on the list with minimal impact on performance.

The software is easy to use and comes with a variety of features, making it a good choice for both home and business users. It’s on the high end of the price spectrum, but it’s worth the investment for the peace of mind it provides.

Who should use it

Business users who want comprehensive protection against malware, spyware and other online threats.

Avast is a great option for those who work remotely. This program comes with a firewall, email security, ransomware protection and real-time protection. It also includes protection from malware, phishing, ransomware and other cyberattacks.

It should be noted that Avast and AVG use the exact same engine for their antivirus software. As such, the two antivirus programs’ performance in independent testing was identical, earning high marks for both antiviruses. In our own testing, we found that Avast had some of the smallest performance impacts of any antivirus we tested, with a lightning-fast Smart Scan.

For those who worry about privacy, there are other causes for concern. Thanks to a 2020 joint investigation by PCMagPC Magazine and Vice Motherboard, Avast and AVG were caught collecting user data via browser extensions and the free version of their antivirus software. This by itself is normal, as any antivirus provider with browser protections will do so as a matter of course. However, Avast and AVG were found to be monetizing user data via Avast subsidiary Jumpshot.

In the wake of the investigation, Avast terminated Jumpshot and has not made any moves to suggest it has returned to its data monetizing ways. However, the relative recency of the event coupled with how much sensitive data an antivirus can collect from users makes it worth mentioning for anyone who prioritizes privacy.

With 24/7 IT support, your business can get help with any software issues within an hour. It does offer a free plan, but not for commercial purposes. For protection against more than ten devices, consider its Essential Business Security plan, which is ideal for growing businesses. This allows you to manage devices and subscriptions remotely.

Who should use it

Avast is a great option for businesses that have remote employees or are growing and need protection against more than ten devices.

F-Secure uses a cloud-native platform to protect different aspects of businesses. Endpoint protection reduces attack surfaces, identifies threats from community-sourced data and defends your data in the event a breach happens.

When we tested F-Secure, we were impressed with the low impact on overall performance but noted that our first attempt at running a scan resulted in the app crashing. However, subsequent scans proceeded with no issues.

Its standard plan costs INR 6361.18 (Euro 69.99) per year for a single device, INR 8178.92 (Euro 89.99) per year for three devices, and INR 9,089 (Euro 99.99) per year for five devices for the first year. However, there are many additional options available for small businesses, but you must contact its sales team to come up with a custom plan. This may not be ideal for startups that need a quick and easy solution.

Who should use it

If you’re looking for a lot of customization options and are willing to work with F-Secure’s sales team, this is some of the best antivirus software you can find.

With over 40 years of experience, German cybersecurity pioneer G DATA CyberDefense offers a host of antivirus software and solutions for both business and personal use, from ransomware protection to solid add-ons including a premium VPN and password manager. It also includes tools for scanning your PC for rootkits and for scanning removable devices such as USBs.

G DATA performed extremely well in independent testing, scoring all 6s from AV-TEST and placing sixth in Malware Protection for AV-Comparatives with few false positives. During our own testing, G DATA’s performance impact was noticeable. That said, its UI was easy to understand, and its scanning features were quick and informative. Many of the features one might expect from an antivirus, such as a file shredder or firewall, were either part of more expensive plans or not available at all in the standard G DATA Antivirus program we tested. However, premium plans such as Internet Security provide a wide range of excellent features at additional cost.

G DATA Antivirus costs INR 3,630.94 ($39.95) per year for one device. Three- and five-device plans are also available at discounted rates. The G DATA Internet Security plan offers expanded features, including an optional VPN add-on and is available for around INR 3,319 per year. Business-only solutions include endpoint security, virtual environment security and security awareness training courses, but you’ll need to contact its sales team for pricing and more information.

Who should use it

Small businesses looking for a feature-rich antivirus solution backed by decades of experience.

Japanese multinational Trend Micro’s cybersecurity technologies can be found throughout the business sector, from cloud data security to behavioral analytics to threat intelligence. In addition to its business offerings, Trend Micro provides home users with excellent phishing protection, ransomware protection and anti-spam capabilities.

In independent testing, Trend Micro scored either in the middle or near the bottom. During our testing, Trend Micro was a usable antivirus with minimal impact on system performance. However, the app also hit us with nonstop add-on offers and pop-ups when we opened the app for the first time. We were even smacked with an offer for its browser protection add-on when opening our browser, which seemed particularly egregious.

Trend Micro Antivirus is available for INR 675 per year for one device. Notably, there is no option to purchase licenses for multiple devices, meaning you’ll need to purchase individual licenses for each device you want to use the antivirus for. This makes it an unideal solution for small businesses with more than a handful of employees. For its business-focused cybersecurity options, you’ll need to contact Trend Micro directly for pricing.

Who should use it

Freelancers or solo entrepreneurs looking for an affordable antivirus with solid phishing protection

ESET has been protecting users’ PCs for over 30 years with solid cybersecurity solutions. From its ESET PROTECT line of business solutions to its ESET NOD home antivirus products, it has offered a wide range of features and controls for more technically minded users, including its own firewall and ransomware protection.

ESET performed well in independent testing, finding itself with solid scores from AV-TEST and ranking near the top for AV-Comparatives. Notably, ESET was one of only two providers to notch zero false positives from AV-Comparatives. During our testing, ESET’s impact on performance was extremely noticeable, especially during scanning. It also immediately required a lengthy update on install which, while not too egregious, is something to note.

Its Device Control system allows you to really customize the software to meet your cybersecurity needs, including setting up specific rules for specific devices. For example, you can use this system to block an external device’s access to your computer or heavily restrict its access privileges. This can help prevent, for example, someone using a Bluetooth device to hack your machine.

Who should use it

Technically proficient users looking for a highly configurable antivirus solution.

Norton antivirus software is one of the most famous software available in India. It’s the best choice for PC software. It has its all-inclusive  suite of security instruments that protect from all sorts of warnings that include malware, spyware and viruses. Although with its strong virus protection and accurate malware detection, it can get overly priced and requires you to pay more to enjoy other essential features. The other thing to worry about is its RAM usage.

Norton also provides some major security-related characteristics like parental controls and theft identification protection. With its excellent history of providing software service, it is one of the best options to consider as antivirus software.

Who should use it

Companies should use it as it is one of the best antivirus software for cybersecurity solutions.