The Best Anti-Malware Software Of 2024

Compare & Find The Best Malware Removal Solutions

Malware can cause severe damage to a computer without any sign of its presence. This is why you always need to have anti-malware software installed and running on all of your devices. There is certainly no shortage of such programs on the market. As such, you may find it difficult to choose one, but if you follow our professionally written guide, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision and enjoy an anti-malware system that fits your needs and budget.

What’s The Best Antivirus Solution?

Bitdefender, the antivirus brand trusted by 500 million-plus users across 150 countries, is one of the world's leading providers of consumer cybersecurity products and a pioneer in antivirus protection. This brand has won multiple antivirus awards from leading online test laboratories, including AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, PCMag, and The Anti-Malware Testing Standard Organization.

Updated on:

27 March 2024
1
Best Antivirus
Bitdefender
Detailed Information

Compatibility:

30 Days Money Back Guarantee

9.8

9.8

Best Antivirus

Visit Bitdefender

Website available in English

Rated #1 best antivirus software of 2024. Provides excellent virus protection, includes an extensive list of great features, and has minimal impact on system performance.

Price: 120$

Save 82%

2
Norton
Detailed Information

Compatibility:

9.2

9.2

Excellent

Visit Norton

Website available in English

High-accuracy, low-impact antivirus solution with online backup capabilities

Price: 120$

Save 82%

3
TotalAV
Detailed Information

Compatibility:

9.0

9.0

Very Good

Visit TotalAV

Website available in English

Award-winning antivirus solution featuring privacy & performance tools for all your devices

Price: 120$

Save 82%

4
McAfee
Detailed Information

Compatibility:

8.9

8.9

Very Good

Visit McAfee

Website available in English

Highly accurate security solution for computers and mobile devices

Price: 120$

Save 82%

5
Panda
Detailed Information

Compatibility:

8.5

8.5

Very Good

Visit Panda

Website available in English

Powerful security protects you from numerous forms of online and offline danger

Price: 120$

Save 82%

See All

Compare The Best Antivirus Software

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Rating

Detection Capabilities

System performance

Features

Value For The Money

Protection

Real-Time Protection

Removes Malware

Removes Spyware

Removes Adware

Dedicated Ransomware Protection

Anti-Phishing

Anti-Fraud

Rescue Mode

Features

VPN

Safe Online Banking

Webcam Protection

Parental Advisor

Vulnerability Scanner

Firewall

Quiet Mode

Social Network Protection

Password Manager

Anti-Theft

Data Shredder

Battery Mode

Support

Phone Support

Live Chat

Compatibility

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

iOS

9.8

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Visit Site

9.2

Excellent

Good

Excellent

Good

Visit Site

9.0

Excellent

Excellent

Good

Good

Visit Site

8.9

Good

Good

Good

Fair

Visit Site

8.5

Fair

Good

Good

Good

Visit Site

Why You Should Trust Us

One of the most critical factors when choosing the antivirus solution that’s right for you is who you should trust. With so many fly-by scams and fake review websites across the web, finding a trustworthy and reliable source can be difficult. Unfortunately, most of the teams behind the online antivirus review websites have never actually installed or tested any of the products they recommend. And who wants to purchase an antivirus solution from a Top 10 software list compiled by a team of fake researchers?

Keeping true to our original goal of becoming the most trusted and respected buyer’s guide for antivirus software, we wanted to do things differently right from the get-go. Rather than compiling a quick Top 10 list consisting of the latest best-paying antivirus affiliate programs, we began by researching the market and identifying the most reputable antivirus solution providers. We decided only to include established brands with proven track records in excellence combined with industry-wide recognition. After purchasing a premium package from each brand, we began researching online, benchmarking each product using a proprietary scoring system (more about this in our blog).

But who are we? We are a team of experts specializing in software testing and reviewing with a combined experience of over 30 years. We aim to take an entirely new approach to the world of antivirus software reviewing based on integrity, trust, and transparency.

Finding The Best Antivirus

We’ve spent hours researching the most reputable antivirus testing labs, compiling all the virus and malware detection data we could find.  AV Comparatives  and  AV Test  have proven to be reliable sources, but our research didn’t stop there. We’ve also studies countless white papers and articles published by groups and institutions like  The Anti-Malware Testing Standard Organization,  PcMag,  Google's Project Zero,  Ars Technica, to name just a few. This approach allowed us to identify the key technical components and requirements of antivirus software and attribute a detection score to each solution.

While a solution’s detection capability plays a significant role, there is still much more to consider when selecting the best antivirus solution. Other important factors that need to be considered include software features, ease of use, and system performance. We set out to test these factors on the various PCs and Macs located in our office. After settling on a list of features to analyze and agreeing on a scoring system for each function, we installed the individual antivirus solutions. The testing process proved to be more time-consuming than expected, but eventually, we could harvest some interesting insights when comparing products. (Some of these insights will be featured in our blog over the following weeks, so be sure to keep an eye out.) Eventually, our scoring table was ready. But we still needed to consider another factor — pricing.

The Right Price

It’s not uncommon for a fully-stocked antivirus solution with premium features to come with a hefty price tag. Some companies will even include “exotic features” in an attempt to justify a higher sales price. The question is, are all of those extra features even worth the extra cost? Along with highly sought-after detection capabilities, we’ve agreed to only consider the must-have features included in each package, including usability, system performance, and the total price. Throughout the research phase, we realized that a handful of virus protection packages that were swimming in exotic features were actually highly overpriced.

Most antivirus companies offer significant discounts, but unfortunately, they’re not visible when visiting the websites directly. As some prices may drop as low as 50% off (for various reasons), the dynamics of selecting the best antivirus solution constantly fluctuate. Who wouldn't want a solution with the same must-have features as a competing brand but for half the cost? By partnering with various affiliate programs, we can provide direct links to antivirus offers at discounted prices. We’ve taken these prices into account when compiling our antivirus software lists to help you make an informed decision when choosing the right solution to protect your digital footprint.

Why Should You Buy The Best Anti-Malware Software?

Free software is tempting, but when it comes to protecting your documents against malware and ensuring that your private information doesn’t get stolen, opting for a paid solution is always a smart move. This way, you can get superior anti-malware protection, as well as many other features that will make your life safer and more comfortable.

If you choose a paid anti-malware solution over a free one, you can benefit from a wide range of protection features. You’ll be able to secure all of the devices on your home network against malware, hackers, and other threats without sacrificing too much of your time. You also get access to support from professional technicians should you ever stumble into a problem that's challenging to fix, like hard-to-remove infections.

Without some form of anti-malware protection installed, your system is at risk of infection from all sorts of malicious code which can lead to corrupted data or even your private information getting stolen. The scariest part is that you often won't notice if something like this occurs, which is why it's better to rely on professional malware removal software instead of common sense. This software will allow you to focus on your work and enjoy some online entertainment without worrying that something insidious could be working against you.

The best malware removal solutions don't have to be expensive. Our guide is designed to teach you how to find adequate protection that fits your needs and budget. The first thing you need to know is that you don't have to spend a fortune, even if you're interested in more advanced solutions. Regardless of your budget, network security and diagnostics, online banking protection, and website advice are features everyone can enjoy.

With proper malware protection installed on your computer, you’ll never have to worry about an infection while browsing your favorite websites. You can be sure your online transactions remain secure and that no one is spying on you through your webcam or other means. Whenever you feel unsure about a website, you can be sure that your security system will prevent any questionable content from reaching your computer.

Choosing The Best Anti-Malware Software

An effective malware removal program doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. The best solution is the one that fits your particular needs. That said, there are a few must-have features to look out for. For example, you’ll want a security program with behavior analysis capabilities that protects your system in real-time against all of the latest threats, even undocumented ones. If an antivirus program doesn't come with such a feature, you’ll be better off looking for something else, even if it's a bit more expensive.

With essential protection out of the way, you’ll want to consider what additional features each anti-malware program has to offer. Ask yourself what it is you need to protect and what kind of threats you're worried about the most. From here, you can look for a program that addresses most of your needs, preferably without breaking your budget. For example, you will want parental controls if you have children that use your home computer or smart devices. Network diagnostics is also good to have if you wish to prevent everyone, from your neighbors to hackers, from connecting to your wireless network.

Antivirus programs come in all sorts of different packages, all with increasing amounts of unique features. To make the right decision, you have to spend some time comparing what each package has to offer. As a rule of thumb, you won’t need more than a basic package if you’re only interested in basic protection for a single device. However, you’ll want to go for a mid-range package if you live in a small or medium-sized household and wish to provide anti-malware protection for the entire family. Also, if you need to protect important files or you have data that's too sensitive for others to see, then a high-end antivirus package will help you prepare for any scenario.

Some features are worth having, regardless of your core needs. A web advisor will help you spot phishing websites and online scams, while safe online banking will eliminate that feeling of unease whenever you purchase something online. Also, suppose you’re in the habit of covering your webcam with tape. In this case, you’ll want to look for a package that includes webcam protection to prevent anyone from accessing your webcam without your expressed authorization.

Performance is another factor you need to consider in addition to protection features. Modern-day anti-malware programs are not the resource hogs they once had a reputation for being. Nowadays, there’s no need to worry about your system slowing down if you’ve installed an antivirus solution. The only factor left to consider is how fast a program can scan your computer. The top products offer a good balance between speed and performance, which means that it doesn't take long to complete an entire system scan while you work, play a game, or watch a movie.

From simple viruses to advanced malware, numerous threats on the Internet evolve constantly. Fortunately, the best malware removal programs always keep up with the latest threats, ensuring that nothing nefarious happens to your system or personal files. This is precisely why it’s so important to have an antivirus solution installed on your computer.

Transparency Disclosure

The reviews, classifications, and content presented on AntivirusGuide.com represent the informed opinions of our reviewers. Our mission is simple: to help our visitors choose the antivirus solution that’s right for them. Our company receives monetary compensation when users buy the products that we recommend by clicking the links featured on our website, AntivirusGuide. Our editorial team puts countless hours of effort into providing accurate information regardless of the amount of monetary compensation received from affiliate links.