Best Antivirus for Windows 10 in 2024

The best antivirus software for Windows is a hotly debated topic. Considering most AV is built for Windows, you won’t lack options. Our top picks, Bitdefender, McAfee, and Norton, all protect you against viruses and malware, but they have different features and functionalities.

Bitdefender starts at a lower price point, McAfee offers unlimited devices, and Norton has a variety of extra features like identity theft protection, parental controls, and cloud storage.

Choosing the right antivirus usually comes down to how you’ll use it. Below, we give you what we liked, what features were lacking, and who would benefit most from each of our favorites.

The best antivirus software for Windows 10

Bitdefender has a low starting cost of $29.99 for the first year, which makes it great for tight budgets. There’s also the option to upgrade if you need more than what the basic plan has to offer.

McAfee is an OG antivirus that uses AI-powered protection to keep you safe from viruses and malware. It extends this protection to an unlimited amount of devices, which makes it great for families and anyone with a lot of devices to cover.

Finally, Norton comes equipped with a lot of features. If you’re looking for parental controls, identity theft protection, a virtual private network (VPN), and cloud storage all in one, this may be the choice for you.

• Bitdefender: Best for budgets
• McAfee: Best for unlimited connections
• Norton: Best for additional features

Top 3 antivirus products for Windows 10 compared

Star rating	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	$24.99/yr (first year only)	$39.99/first 2 yrs	$29.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	Up to 10	Unlimited	Up to 10
EICAR test results	3/3	3/3	3/3
Malware scans	Manual and real-time	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Firewall	Yes, exclusive to Windows
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Extras	Social Network Protection, File Shredder, and more	VPN, password manager, Identity theft, data removal	Parental controls, dark web monitoring, and more
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, ChromeOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review	Get Norton Read Norton Review

Bitdefender: Best for budgets

Who it’s best for

Bitdefender is best for anyone who wants basic protection with a few little extras, like a file shredder and a VPN.

What we liked

Bitdefender passed our EICAR testing and received great scores from the independent third-party tester AV-TEST. If you want a lower-cost, basic protection antivirus, Bitdefender may be for you.

While the basic plan offers some features to go with its solid protection, you can always upgrade if you want more extras and additional devices covered. The all-in-one plans offer an unlimited VPN, password manager, and other features that cost a little more but are still reasonably priced.

What we didn’t like

We didn’t like the reduced features on Mac products. While this shouldn’t matter to Windows users, some people have more than one operating system on various devices. If you want to use Bitdefender to cover all of them, you’ll see a difference in your Windows vs. Mac devices.

We also wish Bitdefender’s third-party testing scores had remained perfect. During this round of testing, the software suffered from a slight dip in performance and usability.

That doesn’t mean it didn’t provide exceptional protection, but it was just a hair slower than before and had a few more false positives.

Test results

Third-party testing ensures that an antivirus works as claimed. AV-TEST is one of the most respected third-party testing sites around. We also tested using EICAR, which allows us to download mock malware and viruses while running our antivirus software. This allows us to evaluate an antivirus’s effectiveness for ourselves.

AV-TEST Windows score	17/18
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get Bitdefender

Based on April 2024 testing

McAfee: Best for unlimited connections

Who it’s best for

McAfee is best for anyone who has a lot of devices to cover. If you have a large family or a lot of computers, McAfee has a tier that includes unlimited devices so you can keep everything protected.

What we liked

We like that McAfee offers users the ability to cover an unlimited number of devices, which isn’t something we normally see in security products.

Additionally, we liked the amount of options offered for McAfee products. The company understands that different people have different needs and tries to offer products that fit everyone.

You have a higher chance of finding a plan that works for you with all the options available — we love having options.

What we didn’t like

We didn’t like that the included VPN has a data cap. In fact, the included VPN wouldn’t work as a sole VPN for anyone who values privacy or loves streaming. We love a good bundled product, but each piece has to hold its own. We don’t think McAfee’s VPN does.

We also found that McAfee sends a few too many text notifications. If you enable that feature, you might disable it pretty quickly. It was almost spammy — not our favorite.

Test results

AV-TEST Windows score	18/18
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get McAfee

Based on April 2024 testing

Norton: Best for additional features

Who it’s best for

Norton is best for anyone who wants a lot of additional features. Norton 360 plans include a lot of extras like a VPN, cloud storage, parental controls, identity theft protection, lost wallet protection, and identity theft insurance. It’s a great security stack.

What we liked

We like that Norton covers it all. You really can purchase it as a single product and get pretty much everything you want. Parents will appreciate the safety controls while everyone benefits from the identity theft protection.

We’re also impressed by Norton’s comprehensive security coverage, which includes protection against viruses, malware, phishing, and even hacking. Norton has been in the security industry for a long time and uses its knowledge to its advantage.

What we didn’t like

We don’t like Norton’s renewal pricing. No matter what plan you get, it’s guaranteed to go up upon renewal. Norton is one of the pricier antivirus companies, so there’s always a little bit of sticker shock when we see the plans.

We’re also not thrilled with how much navigation you have to do. All the extra features are great, but the dashboard includes a host of tabs that may feel overwhelming to some users. We love a good user experience, but Norton may offer too much.

Test results

AV-TEST Windows score	16.5/18
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get Norton

Based on April 2024 testing

Free antivirus for Windows 10

If you’re looking for protection without a lot of frills, some free antivirus providers can offer solid security. We usually discourage free software because it’s often untrustworthy, but we’ve tested the solutions we’ve included below and found them reliable.

• AVG: It’s secure, robust, and user-friendly, not to mention the upgraded paid plans are still priced reasonably and offer a lot. We’re big fans of AVG.

  Get AVG | Read Our AVG Review

• Avast: Even its paid plans are reasonable, but Avast offers comprehensive, truly impressive free security. We recommend Avast to friends and family.

  Get Avast | Read Our Avast Review

• Avira: We think Avira is very impressive. For those who love features, Avira’s free plan includes a free VPN in addition to its winning security protection.

  Get Avira | Read Our Avira Review

FAQs

Bottom line: The best antivirus programs for Windows 10

The best antivirus programs for Windows 10 are Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender, depending on your needs.

We love the low cost of Bitdefender, the unlimited access with McAfee, and the added features of Norton.

3 best antivirus products for Windows 10 2024

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	$24.99/yr (first year only)	Best for budgets	Get Bitdefender
	$39.99/first 2 yrs	Best for unlimited connections	Get McAfee
	$29.99/first yr	Best for additional features	Get Norton