Software category
Anti-malware and endpoint protection for Windows and Mac
10 programs reviewed · Updated August 9, 2026
Antivirus software exists to catch malicious code before it runs, and to clean up if something slips through. On Windows 11, Microsoft Defender is already installed, enabled, and updated daily, which changes the real question from "which antivirus do I need" to "what does Defender not cover for me" — usually on-demand second-opinion scanning, ransomware rollback, or centralized management for a small fleet of machines.
macOS has its own built-in protections — Gatekeeper, XProtect, and notarization checks — that block a large share of known Mac malware before it launches. Third-party Mac antivirus tools mostly add value by scanning for cross-platform threats, such as malicious files a Mac user might forward to a Windows-using colleague.
We document each tool's publisher, official download location, and what independent testing labs have actually measured, rather than repeating marketing claims about detection rates.
Directory
On-demand and real-time anti-malware scanner commonly used as a second opinion alongside Microsoft Defender.
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Third-party antivirus suite known for high independent lab detection scores, layered ransomware protection, and a Windows tray icon that replaces Defender's real-time engine.
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Lightweight paid antivirus historically favored for low system impact, with a free trial and subscription tiers ranging from a basic scanner to a full internet security suite.
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Free real-time antivirus from Avast that replaces Microsoft Defender's real-time engine and upsells frequently toward paid Avast One and Premium Security tiers.
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Free real-time antivirus owned by Gen Digital that shares its core detection engine with Avast Free Antivirus, with similar upsell prompts toward AVG Internet Security.
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Paid Gen Digital security suite bundling antivirus, VPN, cloud backup, and dark web monitoring in tiered subscriptions, with no meaningful free tier.
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Paid antivirus and security suite frequently preinstalled by PC manufacturers as a trial, offering unlimited-device pricing tiers and VPN/identity add-ons.
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Russia-based antivirus vendor with historically strong lab detection scores, now subject to a US government sales and update ban that US buyers must understand before choosing it.
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Consumer version of Sophos's enterprise-grade endpoint engine, with a free tier for a limited number of devices and a paid Premium tier adding remote management and ransomware rollback.
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Free on-demand cleanup tool from Malwarebytes that targets adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars rather than acting as a full antivirus.
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For many people it is a reasonable baseline: it is enabled by default, updates automatically, and scores well in public comparative tests. Adding an on-demand scanner for second opinions is common; running two always-on real-time engines at once is not recommended.
macOS blocks a meaningful share of known threats on its own, but third-party protection can still help, particularly if you exchange files with Windows users or want centralized scanning across several machines.
Two real-time scanning engines can lock the same files or intercept the same system calls, causing slowdowns or false positives. Most vendors explicitly recommend against running two at once.