Here are the 5 best Windows 10 antivirus software to protect your PC. Installing one of the finest antivirus software for Windows 10 (and Windows 11) on your PC will provide first-rate protection against malware, ransomware, phishing scams, and other assaults – all without breaking the bank.
Some of these products provide a two-way firewall in addition to the Windows firewall. Others include a safe browser for online banking and shopping, the ability to “rollback” ransomware-encrypted data, and improved security against phishing emails, malicious weblinks, fileless malware, and boot-sector infections. And they’re all compatible with both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
These low-cost, entry-level products, on the other hand, lack many of the added capabilities found in higher-priced internet security packages. Only a few of the finest antivirus products for Windows 10 include VPN or password managers, and none have parental controls.
We looked at the best antivirus apps for Windows 10 to evaluate how well they protect you from viruses, how much they slow down your system, and how much you should be spending. Because everyone’s demands are different, we’ve included some recommendations for the best Windows 10 antivirus software.
5 Best Windows 10 antivirus software that you can buy
1. Kaspersky Anti-Virus
Specifications-
Reasons to buy
- Excellent malware protection
- New stalkerware protection
- Light load during scans
Reasons to avoid
- Not many extra features
- VPN, password manager just teases
Kaspersky Anti-Virus should be your first pick if you want the greatest antivirus protection for Windows 10. No other antivirus software brand can match its near-perfect track record in third-party lab tests.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus, the company’s entry-level version, covers up to three Windows PCs for $60 a year, or up to five for $80, with discounts available for the first year.
Many of you won’t get the extra bells and whistles that come with more pricey protection suites with Kaspersky Anti-Virus. There are no parental restrictions, a password manager with only 15 entries, and a VPN service with a daily bandwidth cap of 300MB. (You may upgrade to get infinite versions of them for an additional fee.)
2. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
Very good protection with lots of useful extras
Specifications
Reasons to buy
- Very good malware protection
- Lots of useful extra features
- Light active scans
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy background system impact
- VPN service quite limited
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, one of the top Windows 10 antivirus apps, delivers a lot for its inexpensive price, which varies from $40 per year for a single PC to $80 per year for ten devices.
An infinite password manager (currently Windows-only), a secure browser with an onscreen keyboard for online banking and shopping, a file shredder, and new web-privacy tools are all included.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus also includes a VPN service, however it is limited to 200MB per day unless you upgrade. There are no parental controls, of course. The programme, on the other hand, is simple to use, has a malware detection rate that is nearly identical to Kaspersky’s, and can roll back ransomware as well as protect against fileless malware and rootkits.
3. Norton AntiVirus Plus
For those who deserve the very best
Specifications
Reasons to buy
- Excellent malware protection
- Backup software, online storage, password manager
- VPN if you’re willing to pay a bit more
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy slowdown during full scans
- Pretty pricey for a single PC
Norton offers nine antiviral programmes, but we’ll focus on the two most affordable here. For $60 per year, Norton AntiVirus Plus covers one PC or Mac, but it also includes a two-way firewall, an unlimited password manager, backup software, and 2GB of online storage.
Norton 360 Standard, the next rung up, adds an unlimited VPN, camera protection, dark-web scanning for your personal information, and 10GB of online storage, putting you in internet-security-suite territory. However, at $85 a year for a single PC, it may be prohibitively expensive for some users. For the same price, some companies cover up to ten PCs.
On the plus side, Norton’s malware detection and removal record is second only to Kaspersky’s. You could do a lot worse if you don’t mind paying a premium for an entry-level antivirus package, or if you were intending to pay for a VPN or password manager separately.
4. ESET NOD32 Antivirus
Very good and innovative protection, but rather spare otherwise
Specifications
Reasons to buy
- Very good protection
- Extremely light system-performance impact
- A la carte pricing
Reasons to avoid
- Few extra features
ESET NOD32 Antivirus is like a street-racing hot rod when compared to other best Windows 10 antivirus products – light, cheap, fast, and effective, but with few unnecessary frills.
It has the smallest impact on system performance of any paid antivirus programme we’ve tested, it zaps malware like no other, and it has a unique per-device pricing structure that assures you don’t overpay.
The other functions of ESET are hidden beneath the hood. It looks for hidden malware in a PC’s start-up sector, operating memory, and Registry, as well as blocking known harmful URLs. However, if you’re looking for something more user-friendly, such as a password manager, VPN, or firewall, you’ll have to go elsewhere.
5. McAfee AntiVirus Plus
10 devices at bargain rate, and fair number of useful extras
Specifications
Reasons to buy
- Protects lots of machines for cheap
- Decent array of extra features
- Good malware protection
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy system impact during scans
- Can’t opt out of data collection
If you have a lot of computers and cellphones to safeguard, McAfee AntiVirus Plus is a good deal among the top Windows 10 antivirus apps. You can protect up to ten devices running Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS for $60 per year, and McAfee doesn’t mind if you add a few more.
A file shredder, ransomware rollback, a firewall, and defensive browser extensions are included for Windows users. For $40 per year, McAfee AntiVirus without the “Plus” adds the same features to a single Windows PC.
In lab tests, McAfee’s malware protection hasn’t always been the best, but it’s come a long way in the last year. The only major drawbacks now are significant system delay during active malware scans and the inability to disable threat data collecting on your PC if you don’t want it.
