Antivirus compared for 2026: lab results and real prices side by side
This page puts two things next to each other that most comparisons keep apart: how well each product actually performed in independent lab tests, and what it really costs, including the renewal price. Products are listed alphabetically. Nobody paid to be included or for their position.
The headline finding: every product here blocked roughly 99% or more of threats in independent testing, including the free ones. The meaningful differences are price, false alarms, which devices are covered, and what extras are included, not whether they "work".
Lab results
AV-TEST scores protection out of 6, or gives a combined score out of 18 across protection, performance and usability. AV-Comparatives reports the percentage of real-world attacks blocked. "False alarms" means safe files wrongly flagged as dangerous. Fewer is better.
| Product | AV-TEST (Windows) | AV-Comparatives | False alarms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avast One (free) | 18/18, Top Product (May–Jun 2026) | 99.3% blocked | 5 |
| Bitdefender Total Security | 6/6 protection (2026) | 99.97% (Mar 2026) | Very low |
| ESET HOME Security Premium | High scores across 2026 | 99.95% (Mar 2026) | Low |
| Malwarebytes Premium | Not regularly in AV-TEST's home charts | 100% blocked (Feb–Mar 2026) | 20, among the highest |
| McAfee Total Protection | 18/18 (Jan–Feb and Jun 2026) | 99.97% (Mar 2026) | Low |
| Microsoft Defender | 6/6 protection (Feb 2026) | 99.0% blocked | 0, the best recorded |
| Norton 360 Deluxe | 18/18, Top Product (2026) | Advanced+ award | Very low |
| TotalAV | 18/18 (Jan–Feb 2026) | 99.98%, Advanced+ | 19, on the high side |
Prices and coverage
| Product | First year | Renewal | Devices covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avast One | Free tier; paid plans around $100/yr | n/a (free) | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Bitdefender Total Security | $19.99 (3 devices) | $109.99/yr | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| ESET HOME Security Premium | About $49–56 | Closer to first-year price than most | Windows, Mac, Android (no iOS antivirus) |
| Malwarebytes Premium | $44.99 (1 device) | Standard annual price | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| McAfee Total Protection | $29.99 | $84.99/yr | All four; unlimited-device plans available |
| Microsoft Defender | Free | Free | Windows only |
| Norton 360 Deluxe | $49.99 (5 devices) | Higher; shown at checkout | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| TotalAV Plus | $19 | $99/yr | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
Prices are those publicly listed during mid-2026 and change often. Always confirm on the company's own website, and read why renewal prices are so much higher before signing up.
Who each one suits
Avast One
The strongest free option if you need protection across Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. One thing you should know first: in 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million and banned it from selling browsing data for advertising, after finding it had sold users' browsing information to more than 100 companies through a subsidiary called Jumpshot. That practice has ended and Avast now operates under an FTC order, but for software that sees everything you do online, it's worth weighing.
Bitdefender Total Security
Consistently at or near the top of both labs' results, with very few false alarms and a full set of features: firewall, ransomware file recovery and webcam protection. The cheapest first year here, but one of the largest renewal jumps, so turn off auto-renewal if you want to decide later.
ESET HOME Security Premium
Known for being unusually light on computer resources, which suits older laptops and gaming PCs. Includes a network scanner that checks your home Wi-Fi and smart devices for weak settings. No antivirus for iPhone.
Malwarebytes Premium
Blocked every threat in its recent test, but also produced 20 false alarms, many more than most products here. Long respected as a clean-up tool for a computer that's already infected. Many people keep the free version as an occasional second-opinion scanner alongside their main protection.
McAfee Total Protection
Perfect AV-TEST scores in multiple 2026 rounds. Its standout feature is unlimited-device plans, which can make it the cheapest option per device for a large household. Identity monitoring is included even on the entry plan.
Microsoft Defender
Free, already installed on every Windows PC, and recorded zero false alarms. For a Windows-only household with good habits, it's a sound choice on its own. It doesn't cover Macs or phones and has no extras. See is built-in protection enough?
Norton 360 Deluxe
Top Product award from AV-TEST, plus the broadest bundle of extras: VPN, cloud backup, password manager and dark web monitoring. Worth it mainly if you'd use those extras. Offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, longer than most.
TotalAV
Strong detection scores and a simple interface that suits beginners. However, it recorded 19 false alarms, has no firewall on any plan, and renews at roughly five times its first-term price.
A note on Kaspersky
Kaspersky isn't included because, since 2024, it has been prohibited from selling antivirus to US customers and from providing them with updates. See what the Kaspersky ban means for you.
Still deciding?
Start with what you already have for free, then use this six-step checklist to narrow it down.