CompareFairlyBest Antivirus Software 2026
Our pick : Norton 360 Deluxe (93/100) · Cheapest : ESET NOD32 Antivirus · Best value : Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
In short
This comparison covers 8 antivirus across 12 criteria: Protection Score, Malware Detection Rate, Ransomware Protection, Performance Impact, Price / Year, Device Limit. Norton 360 Deluxe comes first with 93/100, driven by Customer Support (100/100) and Ease of Use (100/100). McAfee Total Protection follows at 88/100 and beats it on Device Limit. The cheapest option is ESET NOD32 Antivirus. Sourced data: 5/8 options; the remaining values are estimates, flagged as such.
Comparison table
| Criterion | Norton 360 Deluxe | McAfee Total Protection | Bitdefender Antivirus Plus | Kaspersky Standard | Avast Premium Security | Trend Micro Maximum Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protection Score (/10) | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.2 |
| Malware Detection Rate (%) | 99.8 | 99.6 | 99.9 | 99.7 | 99.5 | 99.3 |
| Ransomware Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Performance Impact (/10) | 9.0 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Price / Year (GBP) | 29.99 | 39.99 | 24.99 | 29.99 | 33.0 | 49.95 |
| Device Limit (devices) | 5 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 5 |
| Features Score (/10) | 9.0 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Firewall | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VPN Included | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Parental Controls | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Customer Support | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good |
| Ease of Use (/10) | 9.2 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 8.8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best antivirus software in 2026?
In 2026, Norton 360 Deluxe is rated as the best antivirus software with a score of 93/100, followed closely by McAfee Total Protection.
How do you rank antivirus programs on your site?
Our rankings are based on objective data across key criteria like Protection Score and Malware Detection Rate; we do not accept payment for placement, ensuring a neutral and trustworthy comparison.
What factors are considered when comparing antivirus software?
We evaluate antivirus software based on Protection Score, Malware Detection Rate, Ransomware Protection, Performance Impact, Price per Year, and the number of devices covered.
Is Norton 360 Deluxe worth the price compared to other antiviruses?
Norton 360 Deluxe leads our comparison with a high Protection Score, making it a strong contender, though McAfee Total Protection also offers excellent features.
Methodology and transparency
Ranking: options are sorted on measured, sourced criteria. No position is ever sold, and no advertiser pays to appear here.
Scope: this comparison is not exhaustive. It presents the options our sources document, not every offer on the market.
Earnings: some outbound links may be affiliate links that earn us a commission. This never affects the ranking, the scores or the data.
Data: every value is linked to its source and refreshed automatically; the collection date is shown.