Top 7 Antivirus Software for Windows 10 in 2024

Do I really need antivirus for Windows 10?

Whether you have recently upgraded to Windows 10 or are considering it, a good question to ask is, “Do I need antivirus software?”. Well, technically, no.
It is no secret that Windows PC comes with its own form of antivirus software, called Windows Defender or Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
However, is it really enough to use Windows Defender to resist viruses and malware?
Windows Defender will only scan the user's email, Internet browser, cloud, and applications to find the aforementioned cyber threats. However, because they oversee large infrastructures, they may not respond as quickly to malware threats as professionals working strictly in the same field. Windows Defender lacks endpoint protection and response, as well as automatic investigation and repair, and therefore, potentially using a third-party antivirus might give you better results. This is why we recommend the use of professional antivirus software today!

What’s the best antivirus for Windows 10?

We recently tested 20+ very popular antivirus software on the market on Windows 10 computers, and rated them based on malware detection, Internet security, and overall value. In the end, we listed the 7 best free or paid antivirus software for Windows.
But it was not easy. In the process, we found a lot of junk software. Even some well-known brands did not provide a satisfactory level of protection, and some had good malware detection rates, but they either slowed down the PC speed, were too clumsy, or were too expensive, and these cannot be recommended products!

Here's our list of the Best Antivirus Software for Windows 2024: (Also works on Android and Mac)

#1. Avast Free Antivirus - Best Free

#2. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free 

#3. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus - Best Paid

#4. Norton 360

#5. Kaspersky Internet Security

#6. ESET NOD32 Antivirus

#7. McAfee Total Protection

Top 7 Best Antivirus Software for Windows 10 in 2024

#1. Avast Free Antivirus

When you are looking for free antivirus software to maintain the integrity of your computer and protect you from all kinds of malicious software and hacker attacks, Avast turns out to be a worthy leader among all solutions.

This is because compared with other antivirus software (including the famous Bitdefender and Avira Free Antivirus), Avast Free Antivirus is one of the most comprehensive security suites, offering full-scale protection and a ton of extra features.

First of all, the protection of Avast Free Antivirus is very powerful. In various tests, it consistently ranks extremely high for its core virus protection engine and malware removal tools.

In addition to basic protection, Avast will also protect you from malware, ransomware, and phishing, which are often only found in other competitive commercial products.

We also love its Behavior Shield, which keeps an eye on the apps and their behavior, and offers defence from unknown threats. It can even prevent previously well-behaved software from suddenly performing dodgy operations that could endanger your identity and data.

Avast took full marks for usability, meaning it didn't erroneously flag valid programs or websites as malicious.

Professionals praise its "Do Not Disturb" mode, which blocks pop-ups while you watch movies or play games.

You also get a free password manager named Avast Passwords as well. It even includes a secure VPN module to protect your identity and online activities.

Avast has a simple and intuitive interface and is very easy to use. If you want to scan occasionally, just click a big button called Run Smart Scan. It will quickly check your Win10 computer and will make no impact on the performance.

Although all-encompassing, Avast is actually a lightweight program that can never jeopardize the functioning of your system or slow down your computer.

Although the free version is sufficient for most users, the paid Avast edition offers some advanced security features such as sandbox environment for running suspicious apps, advanced host-based firewall, anti-spam and anti-phishing protection on emails etc.

These features are great for any small startup or home users that wish to ensure all-around protection. It comes with a 30-day free trial, so there’s no harm in giving it a try if you wish to go for extra security layers.

Avast has more than 5 million user reviews in the Google Play Store, giving it an average score of 9.1.

Why Should You Pick Avast Free Antivirus?

Avast Free Antivirus provides you with more than the basic functions of many free antivirus products. In addition to excellent anti-virus protection, it also adds network security scanners, browser protection, and more. This is an impressive collection of security tools-especially considering that it is free.

Avast has become one of the most popular free antivirus programs today, as evidenced by its millions of users and global presence.

Even in the test lab, it scores high, making it a free option to protect you from malware. It is available for Windows, Windows Server, macOS and Android devices.

#2. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free

Kaspersky is consistently a top-rated antivirus product. Whether you get Kaspersky Security Cloud Free or pay for Kaspersky software, you get the same excellent protection against malware.

Kaspersky’s malware scanner has been tested as recently as fall of 2020 by major testing labs. It performed extremely well, capturing 100% of zero-day malware and 100% of widespread malware, with fewer false positives than closest competitor Norton.

Kaspersky's cheapest paid antivirus program is Kaspersky Anti-Virus. But Kaspersky Security Cloud Free is not based on commercial Kaspersky Anti-Virus software. Instead, it is a streamlined version of the high-end Kaspersky Security Cloud Suite. Its main window has eight button panels, titled "Scan", "Database Update", "PC Cleaner", "Password Manager", "Privacy Protection", "Safe Money", "My Kaspersky" And "Secure Connection". PC Cleaner and Safe Money have a shield-shaped overlay icon, which means they are not available in the free version. The password manager has no shield, but you get a free limited edition - you’re limited to only storing 15 sets of login credentials.

You get the usual features like system scans, but there are additional bonuses. There’s a System Watcher feature, which uses machine learning to identify malware that it has had no prior knowledge of. And there’s also the Network Attack Blocker, which alerts you when it detects suspicious connections on your LAN.

Not all threats will come in malicious software, sometimes leaving an unpatched software component that can be exploited by hackers. For that, Kaspersky offers a vulnerability scan that analyses programs that need security patches.

It also comes with the same feature-limited Secure Connection VPN that Kaspersky distributes with the paid suite and antivirus products. The free service includes up to 200MB a day of VPN communications.
The free plan also comes file shredder, which is useful if you deal with sensitive data or plan to sell your device (or hard drive).

The program has such a light system impact that it sped up our machine a bit after installation.

In short, Kaspersky’s free software provides good real-time malware protection and also has additional features, but it does not have as many additional features as some competitors. Also, with Security Cloud Personal plan, you get premium features. These include password manager, secure VPN, and data leak alerts.

Why Should You Pick Kaspersky Security Cloud Free?

When you consider Kaspersky's unbeatable malware-detection engine, opting for Kaspersky Security Cloud Free over other free antivirus packages, even the built-in Windows Defender, is a no-brainer.
Kaspersky Security Cloud Free takes a different tack by protecting computers from above, combines excellent malware protection, some extra features like password manager and VPN and a very light system-performance impact. Its free protection covers PCs, Androids and iOS devices.

#3. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus

If you ask what is the best Windows 10 antivirus tool, we will tell you without hesitation that it is Bitdefender Antivirus Plus.

It has many advantages:

Bitdefender Antivirus is particularly well received by independent antivirus testing laboratories. Its key real-time antivirus tools provide a near-perfect level of protection that can detect various forms of malicious software.

The tool has little impact on your system, allowing it to run scans in the background, and you will not notice any performance loss when you are engaged in most activities.

It contains a series of functions, and these functions are very useful.

It is cheap and best for users with limited budgets.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is the first-tier commercial product, and as you might guess from the name, it's crammed with useful security and privacy extras: an additional layer of ransomware protection, Wi-Fi security scanning to detect network problems, banking protection via a secure browser, secure file deletion, a vulnerability scanner and a password manager.

Antivirus Plus also gets you the free version of Bitdefender VPN.

Free VPN limited to 200MB per day. The unlimited VPN will cost extra. However, the upgrade is worth it. Bitdefender VPN gains the most new functionality in the 2024 edition, too. OpenVPN is out, Hotspot Shield's Catapult Hydra protocol is in, significantly boosting speeds; a kill switch protects you if the VPN drops; there are apps for mobile and desktop, and the service now unblocks US Netflix.

With outstanding antivirus lab results and a collection of features that puts many security suites to shame, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is an excellent choice for protecting your PC.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is cheaper than most competitors’ entry-level plans, and it also has an excellent discount for the first year. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Antivirus Plus Pricing starts at $19.99 for a one year, one device license ($39.99 on renewal), and there are significant discounts if you extend your subscription. A three device, one-year license is $29.99 in year one, for instance, $59.99 on renewal; a five device, two-year license is priced at $109.99, and a ten device, three-year license is $179.99, or just $6 per device per year.

Why Should You Pick Bitdefender Antivirus Plus?

Bitdefender has more additional features than almost any other antivirus (and all of the extras work really well) at lower prices. Bitdefender is a solid choice that is easy to use and scores top marks in each category. No false-positives during tests.

We recommend any Windows 10 users who do not need parental control to use this paid entry-level Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. It's one of the best Windows 10 antivirus programs, hands-down.

#4. Norton 360

Norton 360 Security Suite is known as one of the best antivirus programs, and we highly recommend it.
It has excellent malware detection rates, offers good real-time protection, and is possibly the most feature-rich antivirus application.
Not only Norton 360 is safe, but it also has a long history of perfect (or near-perfect) virus detection results. Even during the most recent testing period, it also managed to get full marks in terms of protection, performance and usability.
In other words, Norton security suite caught 100% of zero-day malware, detected no false positives, and had less impact on computer speed than many other antivirus programs.
With features such as a password manager, backup software, online storage, parental controls, unlimited VPN service and three different levels of identity protection along with excellent malware protection, the Norton 360 offers some of the most complete security (and privacy) suites around. None of its competitors offer as comprehensive an approach to security. Kaspersky offers similarly excellent malware protection and a full range of extra features, but its product lacks identity-protection options. McAfee does offer identity protection, but it lets more malware through.
The Norton 360 security plans are tailored into three different categories to cater to different users’ requirements.
Hence, precisely, you can go for the Norton 360 Standard plan that over protection for one device only. Alongside a mere virus scan, the plan also offers no-log VPN, password manager, webcam security, smart firewall, dark web monitoring, and secure 10GB cloud backup to provide ransomware protection.
Though, if you pay higher, you can extend the same security coverage to five devices with Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton 360 Lifelock Select.
These plans come with greater cloud storage capacity and additional features such as parental controls, identity protection, theft protection, credit monitoring, and more.
Norton 360 offers a risk-free 30-day trial to all first-time users.
Besides everything, Norton also takes care of the security of the gamers’ community. Hence, it offers a dedicated Norton 360 for Gamers plan that also repels DDoS, doxing, webcam takeovers, and other threats.

Why Should You Pick Bitdefender Norton 360?
While Norton antivirus has already gained immense fame for its robust security, Norton 360 is an even advanced plan.
With Norton 360, the vendor assures 360-degree online protection against all major cyber threats. The service also offers additional features such as cloud backup, smart firewall, and password manager, from fending off the usual malware attacks to ransomware protection.
Overall, Norton 360 includes the most complete antivirus-software and identity-protection-service combinations you’ll find 2024 — it’s got a powerful anti-malware engine, a wide range of internet security tools, an intuitive online dashboard, and good customer support, all for a better price than most competitors.

#5. Kaspersky Internet Security

Over the years, Kaspersky has won a lot of praise, and Kaspersky Internet Security is one of the most popular security suites on the market. For a mid-level suite, it offers a great deal of value.
We’re well accustomed to seeing this security suite get the highest score in anti-malware tests, and in the latest independent tests it once again did just that. Combined with plentiful features and a level of control that enthusiasts will love, this is a package you will not regret installing.
It comes with everything you'd expect in a suite, along with plenty of extras, and its components are consistently effective. Kaspersky Internet Security covers three devices for $80 per year or five for $90.
It adds a two-way firewall, anti-tracking defenses, webcam protection and the Safe Money hardened browser.
Kaspersky Internet Security comes with a free, bandwidth-limited version of Secure Connection VPN. You can use 200MB of bandwidth per day on each device, and if you log in to "My Kaspersky", you can use 300MB. Bitdefender also provides a very similar limited VPN. No wonder, because both are supported by Hotspot Shield, which is very fast. If you want to increase the bandwidth limit and control the VPN server you use, you must pay Kaspersky an additional $4.99 per month.
Other bonus features include an on-screen keyboard to foil keyloggers and a markup system to flag dangerous links in search results. Among the tools that don't require a premium purchase are a file shredder, a rescue disk, a simple vulnerability scan, and several tools designed to clean and optimize your PC.
The “Safe Money” function cleverly takes the friction out of secure browsing by automatically detecting when you click on a shopping or banking site and opening the link in a specially sandboxed browser window.
Kaspersky’s Total Security offers file protection that allows users to secure their photos and sensitive documents. The high-level encryption helps address many privacy and security concerns on both personal and business computers.
An automatic software updater tool finds and flags any outdated applications that might lack the latest security patches, while the vulnerability scanner takes a different tack and hunts through your programs and OS specifically looking for exploitable flaws.

Kaspersky Internet Security includes the same virus, malware, and ransomware blockers, but adds more features. Available for Windows, macOS, or Android, Kaspersky Internet Security has an annual base price of $39.99 for up to three devices, $79.99 for two years, and $119.99 for three years. For up to five devices, you will have to spend $44.99 for one year, $89.99 for two years, or $134.99 for three years.

#6. ESET NOD32 Antivirus

ESET Antivirus may not be pre-packaged like some household brands such as Norton and McAfee, but it has more than 100 million users in the highly competitive Windows antivirus protection market, and it controls more than 11% of the AV tool market share, so it surpasses McAfee Antivirus.
There are a variety of ESET software packages to choose from, all of which provide the same simple and intuitive antivirus engine, good customer support, and some very good features. Although I think there are better antivirus software packages, ESET is not a bad choice, especially if you only need a high-performance antivirus engine.

NOD32 Antivirus is ESET’s most basic antivirus package, offering anti-malware scanning, ransomware detection, anti-phishing protections, and a gaming mode. It works for Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux devices.
Secondly, the 100% free SMS (Social Media Scanning) tool is an excellent feature and serves as an extra layer of defense.
You won’t get a VPN, Tune-up tools, or optimization for your Smartphone, but there are a firewall and parental controls.

Furthermore, while most products are cheaper when you buy protection for several connections, the ESET multi-device packages are unreasonably expensive. There’s no free version available, but, the entry-level package is relatively affordable.

NOD32 Antivirus is good for individual users looking for a very simple, low-cost antivirus, but there are competitors that provide more in their basic packages, like Avira.

But if you’re looking for a lightweight antivirus scanner that will provide 100% protection for your device without slowing your system down, NOD32 Antivirus is a great choice. And it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it for yourself and decide if it’s right for you.

Why Should You Pick ESET NOD32 Antivirus?

ESET NOD32 Antivirus offers basic protection for PCs against common threats like spyware without taking a ton of space on your computer. So you can keep gaming, surfing the web, shopping online, and working without any hiccups.

#7. McAfee Total Protection

McAfee’s security software didn’t always surprise us in the past, but since it parted ways with Intel in 2017, it has become a convincing competitor.

McAfee will enter 2024 with a new finish. This antivirus company has just launched the latest version of McAfee Total Protection, which has completely redesigned Windows with some new features.

This version of McAfee pays special attention to protecting the privacy and security of personal data, especially in the context of increasing scams and threats related to Covid-19.

McAfee also performs well in anti-virus capabilities and has consistent effects on all kinds of malware-the only other brands that can compete with McAfee include Norton, Bitdefender, TotalAV and Avira, which have been successfully identified and deleted in all our tests 100% of malware samples.

McAfee Total Protection provides security and password management for all your devices, and parental control for all devices except Macs. The unlimited VPN of the kit is an attractive additional feature.

The open interface of Total Protection is designed for ordinary consumers rather than technology types. Clicking on any panel will display more options for its related tools. For example, the identity panel can choose to set up a password manager, safely delete confidential files, or safely store important files in an encrypted vault.

Our favorite feature is McAfee Shredder. Just like a paper shredder, this tool will erase your sensitive digital data. You can shred any folder, but by default, McAfee will point to your recycle bin.
The only thing we don't like about the McAfee scanner is that it does cause the system to run slowly.

Why Should You Pick McAfee Total Protection?

McAfee’s antivirus scanner is among the very best on the market. If you’re looking for reliable protection against both known and zero-day threats, McAfee is a really good choice, with perfect malware detection rates, fast scans, and simple scan scheduling. My only complaint is that the antivirus scanner slowed down my PC during a full system scan, but you can easily schedule full scans during the night or when you’re not using your PC.

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