Short On Time? Here's The Best Antivirus Software For 2021
| TotalAV - a great antivirus choice with some admirable features and add-ons. TotalAV provides reliable protection at a decent price. Check out TotalAV's latest promo here. |
Today, there are multiple competing antivirus providers and it can be difficult for some users to make the right choice on what software to purchase in 2021. If you are not tech-savvy, we know it can be a frustrating decision.
| TotalAV - a great antivirus choice with some admirable features and add-ons. TotalAV provides reliable protection at a decent price. Check out TotalAV's latest promo here. |
Antivirus software providers are becoming increasingly necessary. Especially now, it's more important than ever to constantly update your internet security program to protect yourself against the ever-increasing threats of the online and digital world. Antivirus programs are becoming increasingly better with their virus protection and features.
As an internet user, you may be looking for an all-round protection software that can protect you against the latest cyber threats. We have the latest information on the best antivirus solutions you can hope for.
You don't have to spend big money on software when not necessary. Our guide provides you with all the available prices for the best antivirus solutions.
Some people talk about antivirus software and expect you to know everything about it. Well, we are aware that not everyone might be as clued up with computer software. So, what is antivirus software, and what does it do? Antivirus software protects your computer against malware and cybercriminals.
What the program does is it looks at your web pages, files, software, applications and constantly searches for any suspicious data, for threats on your computer or online environment.
Computer viruses can infect your computer or device. They are designed to go from one computer to the next, spreading malicious codes and programs. While computer viruses are spreading through the cyber world, it can be so damaging as it keeps on copying itself. This can damage any operating system and device.
This is where antivirus software comes in, your computer and online behavior gets tracked constantly. As soon as the software finds any suspicious behavior, it blocks or removes the virus and malware as quickly as possible without leaving any damage behind.
A device that does not have antivirus software has a lot of risks. You are running the risk of losing a lot of files and data that might be important to you. Without an antivirus, your device is unprotected against computer viruses. An unprotected device will attract unwanted malicious viruses to your computer and online devices.
The best antivirus software offers protection features that go far beyond basic malicious malware protection. You can get protection against ransomware and webcam hijacking, and extra functions such as file shredding or system optimization. Some antivirus software even includes features that compete with stand-alone services like password managers, cloud-backup solutions, VPNs, or identity-theft protection.
So, how important is your computer data and information to you? Wouldn't you want your personal information protected against scammers and computer bullies?
Using antivirus software is easy, but selecting the perfect software that caters to your needs, can be hard. There are a lot of important factors to consider while searching for the best antivirus software for your device.
Your antivirus software needs to protect your data and system from data thieves. It is easy for a user to click on the wrong button, unaware that they may download malware to their computer. Having protection in place to catch these mistakes is critical for anyone. When choosing antivirus software, you must consider all your devices being used. Even a USB drive should be considered as a vulnerable device that can be infected.
The most significant exposure to computer viruses occurs when you are connected to the Internet. Most companies, especially these days, are constantly online. Antivirus programs should offer realistic, real-world solutions to their users. When choosing the best antivirus program for 2021, look at what the software offers, the price, and the reliability.
To find the best antivirus software that matches your needs, you need to evaluate the following factors:
The most important aspect of any antivirus program is the fact that it needs to protect your system. This is why antivirus programs were created in the first place. The question is, how well does the software protect your device? Nobody wants a substandard product, especially when most products out there provide more than 95 % protection.
Interested to know how we test and rate the best antivirus solutions? Read more to find out
Our team of experts conducted hundreds of tests over several months to find which antivirus solutions offered the best level of security, protection and reliability. We browsed, downloaded, streamed, and tested for weeks on end to bring you these confirmed results.
TotalAV is an excellent antivirus program. The software has an antivirus scanner and a couple of great extra features. TotalAV is a great choice for beginner and non-technical users.
TotalAV’s antivirus scanner is powered by Avira’s antivirus protection technology. The scanner is fast, reliable, and has near-perfect malware detection rates.
Top Features
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | 3-6 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | $99 - $149 |
| Subscription Options | 1- year protection |
The software demonstrates average results in virus detection, and the anti-phishing module is not the most effective. But for the cost of TotalAV, you get more pros than cons.
Want to know more? Explore our TotalAv Review to see the full results of our research and testing.
Bitdefender is an advanced antivirus software system. It uses a big malware database that uses machine learning to detect the malware on your computer more effectively than its competitors. Bitdefender’s engine is cloud-based, so your device will not be slowed down during scans.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | 3-5 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | $39.99 - $79.99 |
| Subscription Options | 1- year protection |
Bitdefender provides all of the antivirus protection features that most users need. It is also one of the most affordable internet security solutions on the market.
Want to know more? Check out our Bitdefender Review and find out how we reviewed and rated this software.
MacKeeper is an antivirus protection program that was created for Mac users, specifically. Installing antivirus software on your Mac is important, not a lot of Mac users realize this, but your Mac is not protected without protection software.
It will be even better when your security software protects you beyond only malware. MacKeeper includes features related to security, privacy, and performance.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Mac |
| Supported Devices | Mac |
| Amount of Devices Covered | 1-3 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | $14.95 - $119.40 |
| Subscription Options | 1- year or 1-month subscription |
MacKeeper offers security, privacy, and tune-up features, but it lacks protection against malicious and fraudulent URLs. Its price is also nothing in comparison with its competitors.
Need more info? Read our MacKeeper Review and get a full overview of features, pricing and test results.
McAfee is a good and well-known antivirus program. It is mostly known for being a mid-range, but effective protection solution. This antivirus software is packed with many features and extra add-ons.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | up to 10 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | $34.99 - $119.99 |
| Subscription Options | 1-year or 2-years |
McAfee is a good antivirus program that offers the necessary protection solution to its users. It is a familiar name and is quite popular with its competitors. It's an effective protection solution that is not that expensive.
More info needed? Take a look at our expert McAfee Review including info on features, lab test results and extensive research on this software.
Sophos is a basic antivirus program with high malware detection rates, an intuitive dashboard, and excellent features. It is an easy-to-use antivirus solution.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | 3-10 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | Sophos offers a FREE trial plan for 30-days, without any credit card details needed. Starting at $24.95. |
| Subscription Options | 1- year, 2-years, 3-years |
Sophos Home Premium is an excellent choice for users looking for affordable and effective antivirus solutions. Sophos protects against a range of malware and internet security threats. It’s the perfect option for people to remotely manage their devices.
Want to learn more? Visit our Sophos Review and get insights on what we have found out during our extensive research on this software.
Norton is a great antivirus solution offering 100% protection from malware, spyware, phishing threats, digital surveillance, and identity theft. While it's known for its malware protection capabilities, it also manages cybersecurity with integrated features like a password manager, cloud backup, and a VPN. Norton is the antivirus solution that has some of the best parental controls on the market.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | from 3 to unlimited amount of devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | $39.99 - $349.99 |
| Subscription Options | 1- year or 1-month subscription |
Norton consistently ranks among the top-performing antivirus programs on the market. There’s no doubt that it’s a powerful and popular antivirus solution that will work for anyone.
Need to know more? Check out our Norton Review and find out how we tested, reviewed and rated this software provider.
Avira offers quite a wide range of features, including privacy tools and device optimization features like a game booster, advanced browser extensions, and a startup optimizer. It is a very lightweight antivirus solution. Included in your plan is a selection of easy-to-use tools for all major devices.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | up to 25 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | FREE - $49.99 |
| Subscription Options | 1- month, 1-year, 2-years, 3-years subscription |
Avira has all of the essential security tools that you expect to see from an antivirus in 2021. It is an effective antivirus program for everyone.
Want to get more details? Check out our Avira Review for full research and lab tests results of this provider.
ESET is a powerful antivirus program, offering an anti-malware scanner, several additional security features, and an intuitive user interface. It also offers great extra features, like device encryption, advanced diagnostic tools, and anti-theft protection.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, Android, Linux |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | up to 10 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | From $450 (1-user, 1-year) to $1569 (10-users, 2-years) |
| Subscription Options | 1- year or 2-year subscription |
Eset offers superior protection against all types of malware, using advanced technology to effectively remove threats from your computer without slowing it down.
Still not sure if to choose ESET? Take a look at our ESET Review and make a decision based on our extensive research, testing and rating.
PC Protect is a fast, simple, and effective program that offers digital protection. This software is especially well suited for people who don’t have the time and skill to tweak settings or learn complicated computer knowledge. Instead, PC Protect builds its reputation on its simplicity.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | PC, Mac, Mobile, Tablet |
| Amount of Devices Covered | up to 3 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | From $24.95 to $149.95 |
| Subscription Options | 1- year or 1-month subscription |
PC Protect looks and works really well and is easy to use, which is a big plus point for users of all skill levels. Boosting and optimization tools are great and 24/7 chat and email support is available, too!
Want to know more? Explore our PC Protect Review and find out how we tested and rated this software provider.
Intego has been protecting systems with leading antivirus tools for more than 20 years. Not only is it simple to use but it’s proven effective at thwarting the ever-developing malicious programs that are on the web.
Top Features:
| Pros | Cons |
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| Operating Systems | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Supported Devices | Mac, PC |
| Amount of Devices Covered | 1-5 devices |
| User Type | Home, Office |
| Pricing Plan | $39.99 Per month for 1 year |
| Subscription Options | 1- year subscription |
With its enhanced firewall, anti-spyware, and anti-phishing features, Intego offers a solution that keeps its customers safe online. Just set it up and the software will operate in the background without any troubles, so you needn’t worry about anything. For just $39.99 a year, Intego customers can feel safe online.
Need more info? Visit our Intego Review and learn more about the features and level of protection guaranteed by this provider.
There you have it! We’ve made it easy to find all the information you need about the top ten best antivirus programs on the market in 2021. Easily compare features and choose the right software for you!
Whatever antivirus you decide to use to protect your devices, you will be guaranteed to have a great protection experience as software becomes better with each year. We encourage you to compare features, pros and cons, and price points to determine the absolute best antivirus solution for your situation, as each user’s needs will be different.
To sum up, our overall #1 recommended antivirus software provider is TotalAV.
1. Which antivirus and internet security is the best? |
It’s hard to determine one single antivirus software as being the best in the business. Top names come with competitive features and different price points depending on the software. It’s up to you as the user to choose the very best software for your unique setup. |
2. What is the difference between antivirus and internet security? |
| Antivirus software protects a computer from viruses and is the actual safeguard measure in place that keeps your computer free of threats in general. Internet security, on the other hand, is an extension of your browsing experience that protects your computer against spyware, hacking, spam, phishing, viruses, worms, and any other internet threats. |
3. Is it worth paying for an antivirus software? |
| In short, yes! Antivirus software offers unmatched protection against threats to your computer and keeps your files safe. While free versions of antivirus protection are available, you won’t get the full protection experience and you run the risk of allowing malware attacks to slip through the cracks. Purchasing a complete antivirus solution means your data is 100% safe. |
4. How to buy antivirus software? |
Virtually every antivirus software is available for purchase from their website. While you can buy it from techn shops, it’s safe and easy to access software from home and install it yourself. Simply go to the website of the software you choose to use and go to their purchase links! |
5. How does antivirus software work? |
Antivirus software works by scanning through every file and line of code that your computer processes. Each move that is made on your network is tracked and scanned for traces of foreign data which could impose potential risks on your computer, tablet, or phone. Antivirus software companies are also able to engineer software tailored to flag and remove threats automatically and efficiently. |
6. What should I look for in antivirus software? |
Some things to look at include detection rates, which is how quickly a threat is found and eliminated, layered protection, which is necessary to detect very deeply hidden and complex malware, SSL (end-to-end encryption) or at least DNS-based filtering, and a behaviour blocker (usually a browser extension) that keeps unwanted ads and other spam and potential malware from plaguing your device. |
