Installing one of the top Android antivirus apps on your Android smartphone or tablet might aid in defending them from malware and Load info Hub
Installing one of the top Android antivirus apps on your Android smartphone or tablet might aid in defending them from malware and corrupted or dangerous apps.
There are several options available to fit both your budget and the level of security that you want. The top Android antivirus apps offer outstanding malware detection and prevention along with privacy and anti-theft capabilities. Some of these apps are completely free, while the majority of them provide a free service tier so you may try them out before committing to an annual subscription.
Some of the top Android antivirus applications on this list may help you discover your phone using your Wear OS smartwatch, backup your contacts and other vital data, track your phone or tablet using GPS, take a photo of a phone thief using the camera on your device, and more.
Avast, Bitdefender, Lookout, McAfee, Norton, and even Google themselves have all provided some of the best mobile antivirus solutions, and we've rated their Android apps based on setup, interface, usability, extra features, and, of course, their capacity to shield your devices from the most recent online threats.
We used information from the independent German testing lab AV-Test, which ranks the majority of popular security applications on their capacity to identify malware and other risks, to determine the level of protection provided by each app. The effect that each of these apps has on the overall performance of Android was also evaluated using the Geekbench 5 programme.
Which antivirus programmes for Android are the best?
According to our tests, Bitdefender Mobile Security ($15 annually), which provides nearly faultless malware protection and a wealth of features, is the top Android antivirus app available right now.
You'll need to pay something to protect your gadgets because Norton has withdrawn the great free tier of Norton Mobile Security and its anti-theft capabilities, even though Norton Mobile Security (beginning at $15 per year) has even stronger security.
Both McAfee Mobile Security and Avast Mobile Security provide a wealth of functions without cost and perform admirably in tests for malware detection. The call-blocking and anti-theft features of Avast, though, weren't very effective, and both programmes' free versions include a lot of advertisements.
One of the earliest mobile antivirus programmes was Lookout Security & Antivirus, which also offers a strong identity protection feature. However, there isn't much information from independent lab testing on the effectiveness of Lookout's antivirus, so we don't really know how well it defends against malware.
On the other side, every Android phone comes with Google Play Protect pre-installed. Although it has improved over the years, it is still not the greatest at preventing malware.
Visit our sections on the best antivirus software and the best Mac antivirus for malware protection on other platforms.
Note from the editor: Future, the parent company of Tom's Guide, has decided to stop working with Russian firms, including Kaspersky. We will continue to provide numerous alternatives in the impacted categories as part of our commitment to assisting our readers in locating and purchasing the best products.
Price each year: $15; a separate app is available for free.
Support for Android 5.0 Lollipop is required.
Ads: No
App lock: Yes
Anti-theft: Yes
Motives to buy :
Top-notch malware defence
inexpensive premium version
A lot of helpful features
System impact is minimal
Reasons to avoid :
Pricey limitless VPN choice
A VPN client, a malicious-website filter, and almost faultless malware protection are all features of Bitdefender's Android security app. It also integrates with Android Wear watches and has very little performance impact.
A Wi-Fi scanner, an app lock, anti-theft measures, and data breach notifications are just a few of the powerful privacy protection options it has to offer. Scam Alert, a recently added function, alerts users to potentially dangerous URLs in screen notifications, messaging apps, and SMS text messages.
Although Bitdefender Mobile Security is not a freemium app, it does provide a 14-day trial period. Only malware is scanned for with the separate Bitdefender Antivirus Free for Android app, which is completely free.
You are only given 200MB of free data per data by the built-in VPN client, which is barely enough to access your email while on the go. You must spend $7 monthly or $50 annually if you want additional data.
However, Bitdefender Mobile Security is a great value at $15 per year. It is our pick for the top antivirus app for Android.
$15, $50, or $105 a year; there is no longer a free version.
A minimum version of Android is 8.0 Oreo.
Ads: No
App lock: No
Anti-theft: No
Motives to buy :
Error-free Malware Detection
App Advisor outperforms the opposition.
logical design
Reasons to avoid :
Removed all anti-theft features
No longer a free tier
Out of all the Android antivirus apps we evaluated, Norton Mobile Security, also known as Norton 360, provides the greatest malware defence. Unfortunately, its anti-theft features, contact backups, and Link Guard bad link blocker are no longer functional.
Norton eliminated the free version of Norton Mobile Security as well, which was the top Android antivirus app we had just reviewed. A security-only app for one device that costs $15 annually has taken its place.
The middle-tier Norton 360 for Mobile adds limitless VPN service and "dark web" monitoring of your personal data for $50 per year. One of Norton's antivirus plans, Norton 360 Deluxe, which costs $105 a year, allows you to secure up to five Android, Windows, Mac, or iOS devices.
Through the Norton app, which offers a 14-day free trial, you can pay for any of these subscriptions.
The distinctive App Advisor, which scans apps on your device for excessive data usage and odd behaviour, is Norton's standout feature. Even before you install an app, it scans the Google Play store for privacy and security issues.
One of the best Android antivirus apps is Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus, which offers everything from a privacy consultant to a system optimizer to a configurable blacklist.
However, although being strong, Avast's virus protection is far from perfect. We experienced issues with Avast's anti-theft features, and its call-blocking functionality was completely ineffective. Additionally, the advertising in the free version and the persistent nags to upgrade are intrusive and obnoxious (they have subsequently been deleted).
If you purchase either the Premium ($2 monthly or $20 yearly) or Ultimate ($7 monthly or $40 yearly) paid tiers of Avast Mobile Security, the advertisements are removed. Additionally, users of either subscription plan receive tech assistance, an app locker, and additional anti-theft measures.
The built-in SecureLine VPN client from Avast is simply a tease, and the only way to utilise it is to upgrade to the Ultimate tier. Given that SecureLine costs $60 a year on its own, adding $20 to the cost of the top-tier Android antivirus service to get unlimited VPN data is not a bad value.
The practically flawless malware defence provided by Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus, also known as Kaspersky Internet Security for Android, is accompanied with minimal system impact and a call filter that genuinely works.
There are no advertisements in the free edition, and upgrading to the subscription plan is not constantly pestered. Call filtering, Android Wear support, and a robust set of anti-theft features are all available to free users, but you must manually scan each new app.
Users who pay for these services receive automatic app scans, an app lock, and the banning of known phishing websites. That's pretty much it. Other Android antivirus apps now provide privacy options and a Wi-Fi network scanner, but this one does not.
You simply can't go wrong with Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus's free tier if all you want is malware protection. Although the subscription version is affordable, it feels barebones, and Bitdefender's competitor's paid app offers more for $5 less.
One of the original and for a long time the best Android antivirus apps was Lookout Mobile Security, which has since changed its name to Lookout Security and Antivirus or Lookout Personal. Its simplicity, orderly interface, and lack of advertisements account for its enduring popularity.
However, Lookout's expenses can add up rapidly. The free tier is minimal; it only searches for malware and finds misplaced phones.
Even while some of its capabilities, including as dangerous website blocking and Wi-Fi network scanning, are included for free with other Android antivirus programmes, the premium version costs $30 per year. The additional pricing is justified by a data-breach notification service and an unrestricted VPN.
The "premium plus" plan, which costs $100 annually, is actually a reasonably priced identity-protection programme that provides many of the same advantages as LifeLock or IdentityForce. The cost could very well be justified.
We don't really know how well Lookout defends against malware because it rarely submits its programme for third-party lab assessments. Additionally, its active scans are hefty and slow.
Free; $30 and $80 for premium versions; cost per year.
Support for Android 7.0 Nougat is required.
Ads: Free version.
App lock: Discontinued.
Anti-theft: Discontinued.
Motives to Buy :
Several good free features.
VPN if you're willing to pay a lot of money.
Reasons to avoid :
The free version has too many advertising.
Expensive premium levels.
Mediocre malware defence.
Like Avast, McAfee has a tonne of helpful features, but its free version is also replete with advertisements and upsell proposals. The anti-virus protection is adequate, if not outstanding.
Many of McAfee Mobile Security's most practical features, including as App Lock, Guest Mode, Anti-Theft, Memory Booster, and Storage Cleaner features, were phased down in the summer of 2021 (opens in new tab). Other than "adjusting our product portfolio," it's not entirely obvious why this was done.
With McAfee Mobile Security's free edition, you can track each app's data usage and use a Wi-Fi security scanner, among other useful features.
With the "Standard" premium tier, you'll get even more benefits like a URL screener, round-the-clock technical assistance, and no advertisements. However, at $30 a year, it's a bit pricy when you consider that Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer the same functionality for less money.
For an additional $80 a year, you can upgrade to the "Plus" tier, which adds limitless VPN access to the Standard capabilities, but only for that specific phone or tablet. For less, you can cover all of your devices with one of the top VPN services.
Every Android device that runs Google Play includes Google Play Protect, and it would be fantastic if it performed effectively. Unfortunately, utilising a third-party Android antivirus programme is strongly recommended due to Google Play Protect's poor malware detection.
We liked that Google Play Protect has a simple UI, no adverts, and minimum system impact. Other built-in functions of Android, such as Find My Device and Chrome Safe Browsing, mimic what independent antivirus programmes do on the side.
The best feature of Google Play Protect is the ability to remotely disable harmful apps. Whether or whether you use third-party antivirus software, this remains the case. We advise against turning off Google Play Protect.
However, Google Play Protect does a terrible job overall of shielding you from harmful apps. Please use something else for yourself.
You should maintain the software on your Android smartphone or tablet updated to the most recent version to keep it secure. This is due to the fact that each new version of Android is safer than its forerunner and that monthly Android security updates patch any vulnerabilities that have been discovered.
However, you won't immediately receive these updates and enhancements if you don't own a Google Pixel or an Android One phone. The majority of device manufacturers require additional time to ensure that updates to Android won't disrupt their hardware or software.
The intervals between upgrades can range from a few weeks to several months. A few Android phones never receive monthly security fixes at all, which makes the situation worse. Some Android phones cease receiving Android OS upgrades after two years.
The top Android antivirus apps are useful in this situation. They thwart attempts to circumvent Android's built-in safeguards, particularly those that Google has fixed but your device does not yet (or will never have). Additionally, they thwart fresh attempts that Google Play Protect, even on Pixel devices, cannot detect.
