Antivirus in India 2026: which one suits you, based on lab results and prices
No single antivirus suits everyone. The right choice depends on your devices, your budget, and whether you want extras. These picks come from AV-Comparatives' two main 2026 tests and official Indian prices. Whether a company pays us a commission plays no part in them.
Before you buy anything: on a Windows PC, the free Microsoft Defender earned the top Advanced+ award in both 2026 tests, beating several paid products sold in India. Many people don't need to pay at all. See is built-in protection enough?
Our picks at a glance
| If you want | Our pick | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| The top protection score | Kaspersky | Highest real-world protection of the 9 products compared (99.8%); 2–3 false alarms |
| Extras at a steady price | Norton 360 Deluxe | ₹1,199/yr for 3 devices, same price at renewal, VPN and backup included |
| Strong offline detection | Bitdefender Total Security | Highest offline detection of the 9 compared (97.6%); 4–5 false alarms |
| Cover for 10 devices | Avast Premium Security | ₹1,599 first year for 10 devices; Advanced+ |
| Free, Windows only | Microsoft Defender | Already installed; Advanced+; zero false alarms |
| Free, every device | Avast Free Antivirus | Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone at no cost |
Top protection score: Kaspersky
Kaspersky blocked 99.8% of attacks in AV-Comparatives' February–May 2026 real-world test (just 1 got through) and earned Advanced+ in both main tests with only 2 to 3 false alarms. It's banned in the US on national-security grounds, but not in India, where it's sold normally. Our full review explains the background so you can decide for yourself.
Where to get Kaspersky
Prices change often, and retail keys can cost very different amounts. On Amazon.in, check the "Sold by" seller and whether a key is for a new licence or a renewal. See how to buy antivirus keys safely.
Extras at a steady price: Norton 360 Deluxe
₹1,199 a year for 3 devices on Norton's Indian site, and the same ₹1,199 at renewal, which is rare. It includes a VPN, 50GB cloud backup, parental controls and dark web monitoring, with Advanced+ protection in both tests. Read the full review.
Where to get Norton 360 Deluxe
Prices change often, and retail keys can cost very different amounts. On Amazon.in, check the "Sold by" seller and whether a key is for a new licence or a renewal. See how to buy antivirus keys safely.
Strong offline detection: Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender had the highest offline detection of the nine products we compared (97.6%) with just 4 to 5 false alarms, and earned Advanced+ in both tests. That makes it a good fit if your PC is often offline or you regularly plug in USB drives. Read the full review.
Where to get Bitdefender Total Security
Prices change often, and retail keys can cost very different amounts. On Amazon.in, check the "Sold by" seller and whether a key is for a new licence or a renewal. See how to buy antivirus keys safely.
Cover for 10 devices: Avast Premium Security
₹1,599 for the first year covering 10 devices, with Advanced+ protection. Note that it renews at ₹3,099, and Avast's VPN is not available in India. Read the full review, which includes a note on Avast's 2024 FTC settlement in the US.
Where to get Avast Premium Security
Prices change often, and retail keys can cost very different amounts. On Amazon.in, check the "Sold by" seller and whether a key is for a new licence or a renewal. See how to buy antivirus keys safely.
Free options
Microsoft Defender is already on every Windows 10 and 11 PC and earned Advanced+ in both tests, with zero false alarms in real-world testing. Avast Free Antivirus covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone at no cost.
What about the Indian brands?
Quick Heal and K7 are long-established Indian brands, and both offer local-language support and cheap retail keys. But in 2026 testing, both finished below the products above:
- Quick Heal blocked 92.0% of real-world attacks, the lowest in our comparison, with 32 getting through.
- K7 blocked 98.5%, but was downgraded by AV-Comparatives for above-average false alarms.
Both were outscored by the free Microsoft Defender.
How we choose
Picks are based on AV-Comparatives' Real-World Protection Test (February–May 2026) and Malware Protection Test (March 2026), false-alarm counts, official Indian prices, and what each plan covers. Full figures are in our side-by-side comparison, and our disclosure page explains how ShieldScout is funded.