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Best for features
Best for bundled services
Multi-tab navigation may be overwhelming at first
Best free antivirus
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, selecting the best virus removal software is necessary to safeguard your digital assets against viruses and malware, including ransomware, spyware, and adware. McAfee, Norton, and AVG are each unique in their strengths and features. With standards like real-time protection, malware detection, and a malware removal tool included with the other antivirus tools, we felt these three protected well against all forms of malicious software.
Whether you’re interested in a product that includes a variety of robust features, one that bundles services together, or a free product that actually works, we have three recommendations and some honorable mentions that can meet your digital needs.
McAfee, Norton, and AVG are three of the best antivirus software offerings on the market. We chose them for their features, pricing, and thoughtfulness to the consumer.
Antivirus protects you from viruses, various types of malware, and Trojans, but there are so many options it may be difficult to decide. Ultimately, choosing between these internet security solutions depends on specific user preferences, system requirements, and the desired balance between features and ease of use.
| Antivirus |  McAfee |
 Norton |
 AVG |
| Starting price | $39.99/first yr | $14.99/first yr | $46.68/first yr for 1 device |
| Free version | |||
| Firewall | |||
| Phishing protection | |||
| Ransomware protection | |||
| Parental controls | |||
| Learn more | Get McAfee | Get Norton | Get AVG |
All-in-one protection for your personal info and privacy
Excellent antivirus protection
Additional features like a file shredder and parental controls
Multiple pop-ups for text notifications can be annoying
McAfee is best for anyone who’s looking for a lot of features included with your antivirus. McAfee combines its decades of cybersecurity expertise in fighting viruses with modern solutions like a password manager, virtual private network (VPN), and protection from data brokers and identity thieves. You can even add family protection for a well-rounded security suite.
That’s not to say you have to have all of those items together. McAfee offers a variety of plans and price points so that anyone can enjoy its services depending on budget. If you want an antivirus solution that’s seen it all but also needs a reasonable price, McAfee can do that.
We like the extras that McAfee includes in its antivirus software. A lot of antivirus services offer additional features, but McAfee really runs the gamut on what’s included.
We were also thrilled with the efficacy of McAfee’s product. The protection score on AV-TEST for Windows and Android protection was great. This means that AV-TEST threw everything it had at McAfee, and it came back with perfect scores for both products in the last several rounds of testing.
Overall, the longstanding reputation of a company like McAfee means we can trust it to offer a quality product. There’s a reason it’s been around a while, and we appreciate that commitment to security. McAfee embraces emerging technologies and how they can solve modern problems.
We found the Mac protection to be good but, like most security products, severely lacking in bonus features like identity protection and the VPN for macOS. It was frustrating for us, especially since the product is sold at the same price as the Windows and Android versions. If a product is sold at the same price for Macs as for Windows machines, it should offer the same features. If that’s not feasible because of how the different operating systems work, then the price should be changed.
We also found that McAfee likes to send notifications to users. The pop-ups and alerts could be considered distracting. If you’re used to browsing the internet without a lot of commotion from your computer, this could be a frustrating experience.
| Starting price | $39.99/first yr |
| Free version | No |
| Firewall | Yes |
| Phishing protection | Yes |
| Ransomware protection | Yes |
| Webcam protection | No |
| Network protection | No |
| Parental controls | Yes |
| Extras | Password manager, VPN, identity theft protection, parental controls, personal identity cleanup, file shredder |
| Learn more | Get McAfee |
Easy-to-install antivirus protection
Secure VPN and password manager included
Parental control features
Multi-tab navigation may be overwhelming at first
Norton is for anyone looking for a bundle for their special interest. Do you want quality identity theft protection rolled into your antivirus dashboard? Norton 360 with LifeLock has all the bells and whistles (as well as up to $3 million in insurance for identity theft). If you’re a gamer who needs performance enhancement tools as well as security features, Norton has a plan for that. If you need an intuitive antivirus solution that can also provide online safety for your family, Norton Family has you covered.
There’s a lot of thoughtfulness behind the bundles Norton offers to consumers. Sometimes antivirus software can feel like an impersonal experience, but Norton has taken users’ needs into account. Anyone looking for something tailored to their needs will likely find a Norton plan they can use.
The VPN and password manager offered by Norton come with all of the bundled plans, no matter which one you choose. The installation and configuration were very easy for us to set up, and the dashboard contained all the information we needed to use the product immediately. We found Norton itself to be user-friendly. We were able to do all of this without slowing down our computer.
From the perspective of choice, we were impressed with the thoughtfulness behind the bundles offered on Norton’s site. It felt like the company actually thought about the needs of its consumers and tried to anticipate our individual pain points. Whether you’re a parent, gamer, single, mobile-app-only user, or any other combination, Norton has a bundle that fits your needs.
Norton is so expensive, and it only gets more expensive as you use it long-term. That seems counterintuitive, but renewal pricing on Norton can be more than 50% of what you paid for the first year for some plans. If you need to add additional features to the plan you purchase, like Norton Family, then the price can go up even more. We would think long-term loyalty would be rewarded with discounts and lower prices, but according to the metrics on the website, that’s not the case.
We also think that all the options Norton gives you, while good, could be confusing if you’re bundling a lot at once. There are multiple tabs where your services are located within the dashboard, and we think that could be confusing at first while you get used to the product. That’s a good problem to have, but also may mean spending more time with customer service or sorting through online guides. Who has time for that?
| Starting price | $14.99/first yr |
| Free version | No |
| Firewall | Yes |
| Phishing protection | Yes |
| Ransomware protection | Yes |
| Webcam protection | Yes |
| Network protection | Yes |
| Parental controls | Yes |
| Extras | Password manager, VPN, identity theft protection, cloud storage |
| Learn more | Get Norton |
Free version comes with malware, spyware, and ransomware protection
Includes unsafe email attachment blocking
Various scanning options may be confusing to some people
AVG is best for anyone looking for a free antivirus and anti-malware product that can give reliable protection. If you aren’t into a slew of extras and features, the free version of AVG is a great choice. If you’re interested in a little more, AVG has very cost-effective options.
If you want to upgrade to a paid plan, you have the option of a 30-day free trial and, after that, a 30-day money-back guarantee. Between its low pricing and generous trial and refund policies, AVG is truly trying to make sure you love its product, or it costs you nothing. This is one of the reasons we keep going back to AVG.
For a free product, AVG offers a lot. We were impressed that it includes malware protection, including ransomware protection, as well as the option to upgrade for more features. AVG even has a feature that will analyze your email and let you know if it thinks the email is legit, spam, or contains potential malware.
AVG works quickly. We were able to run a full disk virus scan on our Windows PC in under five minutes without a significant slowdown to our normal computer usage. Since there are a variety of scanning options, you won’t always need to run a full scan, but you have the option to do so quickly. For a lightweight and free antivirus product, it works remarkably well.
Our biggest complaint about AVG is that it’s a teach-yourself kind of product. There’s a lot of customization and a lot of options, but you’ll also spend some time playing with the product to figure out all it has to offer. A big part of this is due to the somewhat outdated support pages AVG offers.
AVG offers support pages you can peruse yourself, as well as a ticket system for support. There’s a phone number for premium support, but that will cost extra. The good news is the premium support can help you troubleshoot more than just your AVG product, as long as you don’t mind a bill afterward.
| Starting price | $46.68/first yr for 1 device |
| Free version | Yes |
| Firewall | Yes |
| Phishing protection | Yes |
| Ransomware protection | Yes |
| Webcam protection | Yes |
| Network protection | Yes |
| Parental controls | No |
| Extras | VPN, optimization tools, tracker blockers |
| Learn more | Get AVG |
If McAfee, Norton, or AVG aren’t what you’ve been looking for in an antivirus product, check out one of our honorable mentions. These three antivirus solutions collectively contribute to a safer digital landscape, each bringing unique strengths to the table. Whatever you decide, make sure you use antivirus software whenever you’re online to keep your device and your personal information safe.
Any antivirus software will help to remove viruses. There are a lot of different antivirus software options available, so checking a third-party testing site like AV-TEST or AV-Comparatives will give you an idea of how well each product performs.
You can also see the rate of false positives and usability scores. We’ve found AV-TEST to be a little easier to understand. If you want to double-check a product before downloading or buying it, this is definitely the way to go.
The best antivirus to remove malware is one that’s been run through independent testing labs that present all kinds of online threats. McAfee, Norton, and AVG are among our top favorite malware removal software products. If you want to see how well each product performs, check out AV-TEST, which rates and reviews a variety of antivirus products.
We feel that AVG is the best free virus removal app, with Avast coming in a close second. Both of these products are proven effective against viruses and malware. If you’re not looking for additional features, one of these will keep you protected online for free without any additional stuff you don’t want.
We chose McAfee, Norton, and AVG for their features, functionality, and, in some cases, pricing structure. We feel these three antivirus products are fantastic choices to protect you and your devices.
McAfee stands out for its comprehensive security suite, providing robust features that offer protection against a wide range of threats. Norton excels in real-time defense as well as thoughtful consideration of the needs of its consumers. AVG is an efficient and lightweight antivirus that offers strong protection without draining your wallet.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
| McAfee |
$39.99/first yr | Best for features | Get McAfee |
| Norton |
$14.99/first yr | Best for bundled services | Get Norton |
| McAfee |
$46.68/first yr for 1 device | Best free antivirus | Get AVG |
We tested all of our antivirus products on both Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows computers to find the best malware removal tool. We looked for performance issues, customer service woes, and unavailable features to weed out different products.
Each of these products has stood up to rigorous third-party testing as well as our own methods of evaluation. We would feel comfortable using these ourselves and recommending them to friends and family. We can’t think of a better endorsement than that for security software.
All-in-one protection for your personal info and privacy
Excellent antivirus protection
Additional features like a file shredder and parental controls
Multiple pop-ups for text notifications can be annoying
