Best Antivirus Software for Windows 10: Top 10 Free and Paid Tools

The best antivirus software for Windows 10 will protect your system from unwanted spyware, malware, and ransomware attacks, along with other online security threats.

With trusted Windows security and virus protection by your side, you can browse the internet without worrying about anyone spying on you or digging into your private data.

But, with a truckload of options, finding the best antivirus software for Windows 10 is an uphill task. In this article, we review the best Windows 10 antivirus software after testing the tools on criteria like ease of use, price, compatibility, malware detection rates, customer support, and more.

Read on to learn what top providers like TotalAV, McAfee, and Norton have to offer you and how they compare.

Shortlist: The Best Antivirus Software for Windows 10 & 11 in 2024

1. TotalAV — Overall, the Best Antivirus for Windows 10 for Real-Time Protection
2. Nord Threat Protection — The Best Combo of Antivirus And VPN without Any Renewal Hikes
3. Norton — Quality Antivirus With the Longest Money-Back Guarantee of 60 Days
4. Surfshark — Lightweight Antivirus Program with Identity Theft Protection
5. Trend Micro –– Free Antivirus for Malware Detection on All Home Devices.
6. ESET Smart Security — The Best Anti-Device Theft Features for Windows 10
7. Avast — Excellent Free Antivirus for Windows 10
8. Intego — Popular Windows Antivirus with Leading Protection for MacOS.
9. Avira — Free Windows 10 Antivirus with a Special Spyware and Malware Cleaner
10. Panda Dome – One of the Most User-Friendly Antivirus Solutions for Windows 10 Devices.

The Top 10 Antivirus Tools for Windows 10 & 11 Reviewed

Here, we delve into the details of the best antivirus software for Windows 10. This includes in-depth discussions of their best features, pricing, pros, and cons to give you a better idea of what these tools can do for you. Ready?

1. TotalAV — The Best Overall Antivirus for Windows 10, with Real-Time Protection

TotalAV is an award-winning Windows antivirus with over 30 million users worldwide — but it’ll take more than that to earn the top spot on our list. Thankfully, its high-scoring virus detection rates and intuitive interface make it the perfect option for every Windows user, and is, therefore, our go-to for the top Antivirus for Windows 10.

TotalAV’s top feature is its real-time scanning and protection, which blocks and removes viruses and malware as soon as they’re detected on a new file on your system or on a website you’ve opened.

TotalAV’s quick action ensures that the virus will have no time to damage any part of your system or steal any data. You can either choose to quarantine the virus or destroy it immediately, and we found both to be equally effective in securing our devices.

TotalAV’s Real-Time Protection features the excellent Web Shield feature that protects your device from shady websites, emails, and ads instantly. We were really impressed with this feature and found that it could recognize suspicious websites and alert us without any hiccups.

Here’s how it works: anytime you click on a suspicious website, TotalAV warns you and asks if you still wish to continue. Even if you do, it’ll do its best to ward off viruses and malware from entering your system.

On top of all this, you also get three other scanning options — Smart Scan, Full Scan, and Custom Scan.

Depending on how much time you have, you can either go for a Smart Scan to quickly check common virus hideouts such as new downloads or emails or a thorough full scan to look for viruses that might have slipped past the first two scans. If you’re suspicious of any folder, use the custom scan for the fastest results.

Pricing

TotalAV’s Antivirus Pro plan, at just $29 for the first year, is a reasonably priced package offering enough features for a small family. It’ll cover 3 devices and it comes with real-time protection and ‘Rare File Alert’.

However, if you’d also like a VPN and more security features, go with the Antivirus + Internet Security plan.

Although renewal costs are high, TotalAV has a lot to offer — it topped our research for a boatload of reasons. Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee in place — try it completely risk-free today.

2. Nord Threat Protection — The Best Combo of Antivirus And VPN without Any Renewal Hikes

Nord is a powerhouse in the online security industry, made famous for its market-leading VPN service. They’ve also dipped a toe into the world of antivirus software with Nord Threat Protection – an excellent antivirus solution for Windows 10 and other devices.

You should be aware that it’s not currently possible to use Nord’s Threat Protection feature without also using their VPN service. However, the combination of their VPN and Threat Protection can effectively secure your device from a variety of digital threats, including advanced ones.

Nord’s security features allow you to browse the internet confidently without fear of losing your personal data or financial details to snoopers. Additionally, their VPN allows you to change your virtual location to improve ping and access better online deals from services like YouTube Premium or Netflix.

Nord’s Threat Protection feature will block you from accessing malicious websites, but if you visit them anyway, the built-in Adblock will provide a smooth, ad-free experience.

In addition to its other security features, Nord also offers a URL trimmer to protect your device from tracking. This feature shortens URLs to remove any tracking parameters which contain information about the websites you visit.

As you spend more time online, you leave behind more digital footprints that can be used by tracking companies and hackers to locate you. However, Nord’s URL trimmer can prevent this.

Moreover, it includes a tracker blocker, which is designed to prevent third parties from tracking your online activities and collecting data about your device and browsing habits.

Pricing

If you’re looking for the best value for your money, Nord’s 2-year plan is a great option. Among the available plans, the Standard plan is especially good value, starting at just $4.19/month. It includes a high-quality VPN service, malware protection, and an ad blocker.

For even more security features, consider upgrading to Nord’s Complete plan. In addition to the features in the Standard plan, it also offers a data breach scanner, a cross-platform password manager, and around 1 TB of cloud storage. The best part is that there are no renewal price hikes.

3. Norton — Quality Antivirus With The Longest Money-Back Guarantee of 60 Days

Norton is a powerful antivirus with a strong legacy of the highest threat detection rate and timely remediation on Windows devices and others.

Just like most other reliable antivirus solutions, it offers a variety of scans, including a Quick Scan, Smart Scan, Full Scan, and Custom Scan. What sets it apart from the other tools is the special ‘Norton Insights that marks up suspicious files for custom scans.

When testing it, this feature saved us a lot of time. Instead of cluelessly scanning the whole system, you simply run custom scans on the most suspicious parts of your device, helping you locate infected files much easier.

To keep your important documents safe from malware, Norton offers secure cloud storage. Although the storage limit will depend on your plan, it’s quite generous and easy to access, no matter what device you’re on.

With the cloud backup feature, your confidential data will remain unharmed, even if a virus infiltration does happen.

One of Norton’s most impressive offerings is the ‘Dark Web Alerts’. Let’s say a virus crept into your system, and Norton removed it on time — how do you find out whether any of your data has been compromised?

The dark web monitoring feature will notify you if any of your personal data (banking credentials, emails, social account logins, and more) were leaked into the dark web so that you can take timely action to retrieve it.

Pricing

Norton starts at just $19.99 for the first year (renews at $59.99/year). This is its Antivirus Plus plan that comes with a password manager, virus protection promise, PC cloud backup of 2GB, and ample more.

With the premium plans, you can cover up to 5 devices and unlock parental control features, a VPN, and features like dark web monitoring and ‘SafeCam’. We recommend the Select + LifeLock plan, costing $99.99 for the first year or $9.99 for the first month.

With a 7-day trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee, you can check whether Norton is for you, and get a full refund if you don’t like it.

4. Surfshark — Leading Lightweight Antivirus Program with Identity Theft Protection

Surfshark is another solid option as a top Windows 10 antivirus solution, especially if you’re looking for a combined package with VPN protection. With real-time protection and one of the best VPN services, your device is safe from even the most advanced digital threats.

One of Surfshark’s most recognized features is the highly flexible Custom Scan that lets you select a whole folder at once or manually drag and drop individual suspicious files to narrow down the search radar and neutralize threats quicker.

In addition to this, you also get the basic Quick Scan and Full Scan, like most other antivirus solutions. You can selectively search the most vulnerable areas, like suspicious emails and new downloads, or run a full-fledged checkup on the whole system — the choice is yours.

During our testing, we found that the scans take slightly longer to finish. For example, the Full Scan takes about 25 to 30 minutes, but on the brighter side, it successfully identified the threats. So, even if you might have to spend a little more time scanning, your device security remains uncompromised at all times.

Better still, Surfshark can scan up to 5 devices at the same time. Whether it’s Windows, Android, or iOS, Surfshark’s multiple device compatibility and simultaneous scanning service make it a perfect tool for big families and one of the best UK antivirus software.

Pricing

At just $2.05/month, Surfshark’s 24 + 2 free months plan is a steal. Getting the most robust security features and a VPN at that price point is an absolute bargain — plus, there are no renewal hikes, either.

The best part is that Surfshark doesn’t reserve its premium features for a pricey plan — all its plans come with everything the provider has to offer.

Get Surfshark today and try it for a full 30 days without worrying about losing any money. If you don’t like it, get a full refund.

5. TrendMicro — A Free Antivirus for Malware Detection on All Devices On Your Home Network

TrendMicro has a free antivirus service on offer called HouseCall. If there’s any tool that can protect your system from viruses and malware without damaging your files in the process, it’s TrendMicro.

Its standout feature, ‘Folder Shield’, lets you select important files, folders, and images that you want unscathed, no matter what. Once the shield is on, no unauthorized program can make any changes to your selected protected files.

The shield also extends to files on your Google Drive, Dropbox, and USB — and you can add as many important files as you want. This way, even if a virus attack does happen, your files will be safely quarantined until TrendMicro finds a way to remove the virus, meaning you won’t lose a single file in the process.

One of the other exciting additions to TrendMicro’s list of features is ‘Real-World Protection’. While traditional antiviruses only recognize a threat once it has entered your device, TrendMicro will recognize and block the threat at its source.

Viruses can damage your device or corrupt files even when they’re removed. Real-World Protection removes the threat at its source, which spares you a lot of time, trouble, and emotional distress.

The only downside to using TrendMicro is that it doesn’t offer simultaneous scans, which we find a little frustrating, but it won’t be a big problem for many. However, it makes up for it with faster scans compared to the industry average.

Pricing

HouseCall is a completely free product by TrendMicro and comes with a lot of features for a free service. Although it’ll cover just a single Windows or Mac device, you’ll enjoy features such as threat reports and custom scan options.

If you’d also like advanced AI learning and protection from internet and email scams, sign up for TrendMicro’s most affordable paid Windows plan — the Antivirus+ Security plan, at just $19.95 for the first year.

For coverage for up to 5 devices, get either the Maximum Security or the Premium Security plan. Put TrendMicro to the test risk-free with a 30-day free trial.

6. ESET Smart Security –– The Best Anti-Theft Features on Windows

ESET Smart Security is a popular but lesser-known antivirus provider that currently boasts a user base of over 100 million people across 200+ countries. It’s clearly earned a name for itself due to its impressive customer figures, and it showed us enough to find itself in our top 10 list.

Part of the reason why we rate it so highly is the excellent anti-theft features you get with your subscription. It offers location tracking, one-way messaging, a phantom account, and much more to help you keep your device away from physical threats, as well as online ones.

But you’re also kept secure on your Windows 10 device thanks to regular scans, and ESET scored a perfect 6/6 on the AV-Test Institute. This makes it one of the best antivirus solutions for detecting malware and other harmful viruses.

Alongside this, Windows 10 users who opt for the expensive but excellent Ultimate Protection plan can benefit from a password manager bundled in, as well as a feature for encrypting photos. Both are useful quirks that go a long way to earning ESET a place on this list.

The icing on the cake is the brilliant ransomware you get, with ESET encrypting all of your files to help protect you from financial losses.

For more financial security, there’s also a secure browser that will pop up on websites you’ve selected a need to make payments on, ensuring your bank details are never compromised.

Pricing

There is one catch with ESET that meant it didn’t place higher on the list, and that’s pricing. For multi-device coverage, this provider sits comfortably on top of the most expensive antivirus solutions.

Prices start from $23.80/year for one device, so if you have several Windows devices in your household, the cost can get out of hand.

When compared with other feature-heavy antivirus solutions for Windows 10, like TotalAV, it’s hard to argue the case for such high prices.

7. Avast — The Best Antivirus for Windows 10 Free

Avast is one of the biggest names in the antivirus industry and stands out with its generous free plan and rich suite of features.

While other antiviruses only offer quick scans, full scans, and custom scans, Avast goes a step ahead with a few extra tools:

With such detailed scans, it’s very difficult for malware to slip into your system without being detected, and if it does, Avast has the features to swiftly remove it.

Besides the scans, Avast’s finest feature is its powerful firewall — available to both free and paid users, that lets you block connections to specific apps that you deem suspicious.

Paid users get even more advanced features, such as identifying open ports and ARP spoofing attacks, some of which allow you to hide your confidential data from other networks.

On the whole, Avast is a champion of security against ransomware. Although this feature is only available with its premium plans, once the ‘Ransomware Shield’ is turned on, it won’t let any unauthorized application access your sensitive data.

If you’re concerned about your device’s security, Avast will provide you with detailed security updates every 30 days to put your mind at ease and scan external devices such as CDs, DVDs, and USBs, too.

Pricing

As a free service, the Avast One Essential sells itself. Despite being free, it tags along with a truckload of features, including an advanced firewall, data leak alerts, ransomware protection, and more.

Avast also has a VPN to offer, which you’ll get with one of its premium plans. Overall, we like the Premium Security plan the best. It costs a mere $3.33/month and covers 10 devices — perfect for your whole family.

With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try Avast Premium Security without any risk of losing any money. If you don’t like it, get a full refund. No hassle.

8. Intego — Popular Windows Antivirus with Specialized Solutions for Windows and Mac

Although Intego is recognized as one of the best Mac antiviruses, its Windows security service is also pretty commendable.

One of our favorite features of Intego is that it automatically quarantines suspicious files and sends you a notification about them.

As one of the best spyware removal tools, Intego offers a separate Quarantine section where you’ll get all the details about the file (name and location) and threat name. From there on, you can either choose to delete the quarantined file or restore it in case it was a false positive.

Acting on threats immediately prevents the suspected file from infecting other important files with the same virus until the problem is fixed. If it was a false positive, you can exclude the file from future scans to save time.

Plus, Intego’s ‘Prevention Engine’ feature uses behavior analysis technology to detect and prevent zero-day attacks from unknown threats that are extremely hard to catch on standard scans.

This way, if your system security gets compromised, Intego can at least avert or quarantine it until a solution comes around.

Like TrendMicro, Intego has lengthy scan durations, which can last up to 3 hours or more. But there’s no denying that it’s a well-rounded antivirus solution for those looking for an affordable, reliable, and user-friendly tool, especially for macOS devices.

Pricing

Since Intego has two completely different solutions for its Windows and Mac users, the pricing is different as well.

The most affordable plan for a Mac user is the Mac Internet Security X9 plan, costing just $19.99/year. However, if you’d also like parental controls and improved system performance, bump your plan up to the Mac Premium Bundle.

Oddly enough, Intego doesn’t extend its services to multiple Mac devices on a single plan. That said, Windows users can cover up to 5 devices simultaneously if they choose either the Family or Extended plan at $39.99/year and $79.98/year, respectively.

You can try Intego risk-free, thanks to its 30-day free trial + 30-day money-back guarantee combo.

9. Avira — A Free Windows 10 Antivirus with a Special Spyware and Malware Cleaner

Avira has over 500 million users worldwide who swear by its simple interface, powerful security features, and, more importantly, its generous free version.

While most antiviruses only protect your system from potentially dangerous websites, Avira goes a step ahead and scans your emails, too. Thanks to this feature, if you get a malicious email or even if a friend accidentally sends a virus-infected email, you’ll be notified and shielded before any damage can happen.

We ran this through a few tests in-house and were suitably impressed with how accurate and responsive Avira was, as it quickly identified and removed the emails with no input from us.

Along with the basic quick, full, and custom scans, Avira offers a unique feature called ‘Manage Scans’.

Here, you can check the record of all your previous scans and identify the common sources of attack or the most vulnerable areas of your system.

Besides all this, Avira has consistently proved itself as one of the best antiviruses to fight ransomware — a deadly software that hijacks your confidential data and blackmails you for ransom to release it.

With Avira constantly updating its virus database and intuitive scanners, any ransomware in your system will be caught and quarantined even before it can make its first move.

Although every Avira plan comes with firewall protection, unfortunately, it’s not an extra layer of security. All it does is simply let you manage the Windows firewall.

Even then, this feature is pretty useful, considering Avira’s interface is much simpler than the Windows security tab. You can easily enable/disable or change the firewall settings without having to go through multiple steps and tabs.

Pricing

Without paying a cent, you’ll get a 500MB/month VPN and an ‘Update Scanner’, thanks to Avira’s free antivirus plan.

For more features, such as real-time data breach alerts and automatic cleaning and updates, upgrade to Avira Antivirus Pro. It’ll cost you a mere $26.99 for the first year (renews at $44.99/year).

You can try Avira for a full 60 days without risking any money, and if you don’t like it, return it and get a full refund.

10. Panda Dome –– User-Friendly Antivirus for Windows 10

Panda Dome secures the last spot on our list, mainly thanks to its highly user-friendly interface and solid malware detection rates. Whilst it doesn’t come close to competing with the likes of TotalAV and Nord Threat Protection, there is definitely a market for a beginner-friendly antivirus

By ‘beginner-friendly’, we’re referring to the aesthetically pleasing interface Panda Dome offers across all of its apps, with the Windows 10 client no different. The cute bear animations and easy-to-navigate dashboard make keeping your laptop safe a pleasant experience.

But it isn’t all just sunshine and rainbows, there are actually some decent features here, like safe browsing for secure online payments and an update manager that can mass update apps to remove the chance of dodgy bugs and security issues.

There’s also the excellent USB Protection feature – a useful tool for businesses who share USBs to import or export files, as it reduces the risk of malware being spread.

Additionally, there’s a feature called Data Shield, a helpful anti-ransomware feature that allows you to defend against ransomware and viruses. It functions by allowing you to choose a specific application or folder, which prevents any unauthorized access.

Let’s say that malware does wind up on your device. Other programs, including ransomware, won’t be able to access that specific encrypted file. This means that you wouldn’t need to pay hackers if you were to just disconnect your hard drive, plug it into another computer, and copy the files.

However, the biggest downside to Panda Dome is its lackluster performance in its overall detection scores, so we simply cannot put it higher on this list. In March, AV-Comparatives thoroughly tested Panda Dome and found it to have a 99.9% detection rate, which sounds great on paper.

Sadly, on average, the number of false positives fell on the high side (65 cases in total). Most antivirus providers that score the highest find up to 10 false positives, which leaves Panda Dome on the poorer side of the scale.

Pricing

Panda Dome does offer a wide variety of plans for everyone to sink their teeth into, and the prices are pretty reasonable. But no free plan is another big mark against the provider.

There is currently a deal that offers you the first month free, so if you’re looking to try the service out before you buy. This might be your best bet.

The Best Antivirus Programs for Windows 10 Compared

If you’re pressed for time, here’s a summarized view of all the main differences between the best antivirus programs for Windows 10 in the form of a crisp, easy-to-read table:

Why You Need an Antivirus for Windows in 2024

Virus attacks are no joke. Here are four reasons why you need an antivirus and how it’ll benefit your device:

Better PC Performance 

If your PC is under a virus attack, its performance would most likely suffer. Your device will drastically slow down to the extent that the screen might frequently be freezing.

System crashes will become daily trouble, and your files are likely to be deleted or damaged. Without an antivirus, your device will be in ruins following a virus attack.

Personal Data Protection 

Viruses don’t only damage your device. Their bigger aim is to steal your personal information like name, contact details, government IDs, banking details, etc.

Sometimes, they even break into your email or other social media accounts and take complete control over them to run their illegal businesses.

Once they gain access to your device, there’s not much you can do to reverse the damage. So, best to be safe rather than sorry and get an antivirus installed right away.

Anti Spyware Protection

Our PCs get to see the most confidential side of our lives. Whether it’s your personal search history, a confidential work document that can’t be compromised, or your financial records, these you don’t want anyone to see, especially hackers.

But without an antivirus, a malicious third party won’t take long to plant spyware in your device and record everything you do. Whatever you type or see on the screen will immediately go to them, leaving you with no privacy.

Minimal Virus Transmission

Even if you aren’t worried about your own device, you certainly don’t want to be that person who is known for transmitting viruses to other devices.

Whether through your emails or shared USBs, if you don’t want to risk damaging the devices of your friends, family, or at work, get an antivirus as soon as possible.

Free Antivirus VS Paid Antivirus Services

Services like TotalAV, Avira, and Avast offer totally free antivirus solutions. You get all the basic features, such as real-time virus scans and protection against multiple types of security threats like ransomware, malware, spyware, etc.

In addition, this software is lightweight, easy to set up, and compatible with multiple device types — yet, despite all these benefits, paid antivirus solutions will always stay ahead, and we’d recommend opting for one of these plans.

For example, services like Norton and TotalAV offer additional features like a file shredder, webcam protection, a VPN, and a protection score for premium security, features you won’t find on most free antivirus plans.

Also, with paid plans, you get multiple simultaneous connections, whereas free plans usually cover 1-2 devices simultaneously — and all come with solid, lengthy money-back guarantees, so you can try them risk-free.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Antivirus Security Software for Windows 

You must have a checklist of essential features before heading out for some antivirus shopping. Here’s a list of four things you need to look for in every antivirus software:

Malware Protection

Hackers are coming up with newer attack strategies every single day. So you need an antivirus that can keep up with protection and immunization at the same pace.

Basic virus detection and remediation won’t do. Whatever service you pick should protect your device from all types of threats, including malware, ransomware, spyware, and Trojans.

It should also cover all points of invasion, like emails, ad pop-ups, shady websites, and USBs. Only a comprehensive security shield can give your device the protection it deserves.

Device Compatibility

Even if your primary concern at the moment is to protect your Windows device, it’s likely that you or someone in your family will need protection for other devices like Androids or iOS in the future.

If you don’t want to find another service that caters to those operating systems, pick any antivirus with multiple device compatibility.

For example, TotalAV, although an excellent antivirus for Windows, is also compatible with Android, Mac, and iOS. So, even if your device changes, your antivirus can remain the same.

Pricing and Plans  

Antivirus protection is necessary, but it shouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket. To make digital protection accessible, we’ve selected software with multiple plans ranging from affordable to premium. No matter what your needs and limitations are, you’ll surely find software to match it.

If you’re not ready to invest yet, tools like TotalAV, Avira, and Avast offer free plans, whereas McAfee and Norton have free trials.There are plenty of pocket-friendly options for everyone.

Customer Support

Not everyone is used to setting up their own antivirus software, and turning on real-time protection and running scans can be difficult. That’s why we’ve only picked tools with a beginner-friendly installation and setup process.

Along with that, always look for tools that offer customer support. Whether through email, phone, or live chat, you should always have the team within your reach.

How to Get Started with the Best Windows Antivirus Tool

Installing an antivirus tool is a piece of cake. Here’s a quick example with TotalAV:

That’s all you had to do. TotalAV will now automatically scan your device for viruses and alert you whenever it detects a threat.

What’s the Best Antivirus Software for Windows in 2024?

Our comprehensive guide includes Windows antiviruses for all needs. Be it for a few home devices or multiple professional devices, be it free or premium, there’s an option on our list that’s just right for you. Let’s take a quick look at all the tools we discussed today:

We have no hesitation in crowning TotalAV as the best antivirus software for Windows 10. With top features like system optimization, real-time protection, ease of use, an intuitive dashboard, and much more, TotalAV is well-equipped to keep your device safe.

Enjoy all that TotalAV has to offer with the 30-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t match your needs, you can get a full refund by contacting their support team.

Windows Antivirus FAQs