In search of the perfect antivirus product for your Android phone or tablet? Look no further. This exhaustive article will guide you toward the best antivirus for Android that suits your needs. I've meticulously researched the most highly-rated antivirus apps you can easily access on the Google Play Store.
But this isn't just some basic list. This article reflects the outcome of my in-depth analysis of these antivirus solutions. I've based this ranking on crucial factors like advanced security features, efficiency with minimal impact on device performance or battery life, and cost-effectiveness.
To make things even better, I've included eight illustrative screenshots to show these antivirus apps in action. Also, I highlighted what makes each solution different so that you can have a better picture of each. Read on for a detailed analysis that ensures you get the best value for your money.
In a Hurry? Here’s a Quick Summary:
If you don’t have time to read this "best antivirus for Android" article, here’s a shorter version:
TotalAV — TotalAV is the #1 Android antivirus app. It's great because it spots harmful software effectively, thoroughly checks for security risks, and boosts the performance your system. It offers the best value for your money.
Bitdefender — Bitdefender is my next choice. It's a well-known antivirus solution with a lot of protective features like app locking, mobile theft protection, and security recommendations. It's a great option for any type of user.
Norton — Norton is just behind Bitdefender. Overall, Norton is an excellent antivirus app that takes care of your security and privacty, and comes with an award-winning antimalware engine.
McAfee — McAfee is another strong antivirus app that works on all devices, not just Android. You'll appreciate its excellent web protection, Wi-Fi checker, and ability to scan the dark web.
Kaspersky — Kaspersky managed to block all threats I tried to open during my tests. It's a light, regularly updated, and very user-friendly app.
Panda — Panda is a lesser-known antivirus app, but it’s efficient at stopping all kinds of threats on Android. You'll especially like its privacy auditor and VPN features.
ESET — ESET might be a bit more complex than others on this list, but it's still pretty easy to use. It's a wise choice if you need a versatile antivirus solution.
Avira — Avira is one of the best-rated antivirus apps on Google Play. It does a good job of detecting digital threats, cleaning junk, and protecting your privacy.
AVG — AVG ranks among the most popular antivirus apps for Android, but it includes several unnecessary features.
Avast — Avast is a popular antivirus app, but I don't recommend it due to a recent privacy scandal. Yet, its free version is still heavily downloaded.
Why Should You Trust Us?
Here’s the thing:
Online reviews for software, especially antivirus solutions, aren't always reliable. Often, the editors just copy product descriptions from the developer's website.
At AntivirusGuide, our tech and cybersecurity experts personally test all software before reviewing them. The list you see here contains summaries of these reviews, but we've also written full reviews. Links are added below each section.
We only suggest high-quality antivirus apps, even though we might get paid when a user purchases a product through our affiliate links. Our goal is to help users worldwide stay safe online with the best antivirus software and VPN.
Top 10 Best Antivirus for Android
Here are the best antivirus apps for Android, ranked from best to worst.
1. TotalAV
TotalAV Mobile Security is my top choice for Android antivirus in 2024 for several reasons. It excellently blocks harmful software in real-time, optimizes device memory efficiently, and provides a quick, secure VPN.
While testing TotalAV's Android app, I had a smooth and positive experience. The app successfully blocked and removed all threats I attempted to open. Automatic cleanups and system optimizations also improved the performance of my Samsung Galaxy phone.
TotalAV is one of the quickest antivirus apps I’ve used. Navigating through menus and accessing different features was seamless. Also, my phone never felt sluggish while TotalAV was scanning for harmful software or performing other intensive tasks.
Pro Tip
If you often shop online using your phone, consider enhancing the safety of your transactions with TotalAV’s Secure Browser. This browser is fortified with security filters to protect against phishing websites, harmful downloads, and other types of harmful software.
What You'll Like
Strong malware detection — TotalAV not only looks for malware like ransomware or viruses, but also checks installed apps for threats.
Quick and trustworthy VPN — TotalAV’s VPN has servers worldwide, offering fast connections.
Enhanced Wi-Fi security — Wi-Fi networks, especially public ones, can be easily hacked. TotalAV enhances Wi-Fi security to protect you from eavesdroppers.
Secure browser for safe purchases — TotalAV offers a dedicated secure browser for secure online shopping.
What You Won’t Like
No anti-theft feature — Unfortunately, TotalAV doesn’t offer an anti-theft feature, so you’ll need to use Android's built-in features.
No privacy auditor — Although TotalAV has many privacy-focused features, it doesn’t offer a tool for checking privacy issues like app permissions.
With its top-notch protection and privacy features, TotalAV earns the top spot in my list of the best antivirus for Android.
Check out my full review of TotalAV
2. Bitdefender
Bitdefender Mobile Security is a top-notch antivirus app for Android. It has nearly everything you need to keep your mobile phone data safe. Apart from an extensive cloud-based virus scanner, Bitdefender also offers a scam alert tool, app locker, and more.
Bitdefender also helps keep your Android device running smoothly with its thorough junk cleaner and system optimizer. The anti-theft tool is excellent, too — it helped me find and protect my device remotely in no time.
The user interface and the overall experience of using it are also top-notch. You can feel the years of experience and research that went into Bitdefender. It ran smoothly with almost no delay, and the scans didn't affect my phone's performance.
Pro Tip
For better privacy and security, particularly when using public Wi-Fi, connect to Bitdefender’s VPN (the premium, unlimited version) AND turn on the Kill Switch feature. This important feature stops all internet activity if the VPN connection is lost.
What You'll Like
Autopilot recommendations — Bitdefender offers tips on how you can enhance your phone's security based on your usage.
App lock — This feature lets you set passwords for your apps, stopping snoopers from opening them.
Anti-theft — Bitdefender Mobile Security’s anti-theft tool is one of the best I’ve used. It’s super accurate, quick, and dependable.
Scam alert — This added security tool warns you about possibly harmful links you receive via text or messaging apps.
What You Won’t Like
Limited VPN — The VPN is restricted to 200 MB per day, but you can get unlimited access by buying a VPN subscription.
No dark mode — Oddly, Bitdefender doesn’t offer a dark mode for its user interface. This could be bad for your eyes and your battery.
No privacy auditor — Usually, I expect security apps to have a tool to check privacy, but Bitdefender doesn’t.
Bitdefender is a high-quality Android antivirus app that boasts a strong scanner for harmful software.
Check out my full review of Bitdefender
3. Norton
Norton is an antivirus app for Android packed with great security features. The harmful software scanner did well in my tests, detecting and isolating all threats I tried to open. The app offers many types of scans: smart scan, SD card scan, app scan, and malware scan.
As a well-known antivirus solution, Norton consistently receives top product awards from antivirus testing firms like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. These firms benchmark the malware detection, performance, and ease of use of antivirus programs.
Other reasons Norton is a fantastic antivirus include its speed and user-friendliness. Installation is quick, navigating different menus in the interface is seamless, and learning the various features is easy.
Pro Tip
If you're ever hit by a ransomware attack, your chances of recovering your files are good with Norton for mobile. Norton includes a ransomware recovery process that you can set up via the security settings.
What You'll Like
Excellent web protection — Norton’s web protection stopped all suspicious websites I tried to open, including phishing sites.
Detailed risk checker — Android devices can have many vulnerabilities. Norton detects these risks and alerts you.
App advisor — Many harmful apps exist, especially on unofficial markets. Norton checks any app you install and warns you if it carries harmful software or other risks.
Dark web monitoring — Norton is the antivirus app that focuses the most on privacy. It watches your personal data and warns you if your information appears on the dark web.
What You Won’t Like
Some important features are installed separately — Key tools, like parental control and password manager, aren't included in the main antivirus app.
No anti-theft feature — Sadly, Norton does not include an anti-theft feature, but you can use a different tool for that purpose (like Android's native anti-theft feature).
Takes a long time to set up — In my tests, there were so many settings to find and turn on that I almost quit using a few of them.
Norton is a trustworthy antivirus app that provides the best privacy-focused features.
Check out my full review of Norton
4. McAfee
McAfee is among the top antivirus apps for Android in 2024. During my tests on my Samsung phone, McAfee successfully blocked all threats I tried to open, including web-based ones like phishing pages. Also, my phone continued to run smoothly even during malware scans.
In the main part of the user interface, McAfee offers a lot of security advice based on your phone usage. It also guides you through the steps to turn on certain security features.
Pro Tip
If you're concerned about online ads tracking you, just turn on McAfee’s ad tracker blocker. This will stop ads from knowing your location, browsing habits, and more. However, note that blocking ad trackers is not included in McAfee LiveSafe and McAfee Total Protection plans.
What You'll Like
Dark web checker — This tool allows you to see if your personal data is being used or sold on the dark web.
Solid online protection — McAfee's "Safe Browsing" feature stops you from visiting harmful websites on your mobile browser.
Comprehensive Wi-Fi scanner — This feature informs you about the security level of Wi-Fi networks you connect to.
What You Won’t Like
Limited VPN — Despite being fast and secure, McAfee's VPN only allows 500 MB of data per month, even with the paid Total Protection Ultimate plan.
No anti-theft — Unfortunately, McAfee does not offer a feature to find a lost or stolen device.
No privacy advisor — Unlike many other top antivirus apps, McAfee does not have a tool to check the permissions you've given to your apps and services.
Missing junk cleaner — McAfee has taken out the junk cleaner and memory booster features.
Despite the lack of some important features, McAfee remains one of the leading Android antivirus apps.
Check out my full review of McAfee
5. Kaspersky
Kaspersky's Premium Plan uses a malware scanner, web protection, and anti-phishing tools to shield your Android device from threats. However, some features like app management and home Wi-Fi monitoring, while reliable, aren't the best in the market.
Interestingly, Kaspersky is one of the few antivirus apps for Android that includes stalkerware detection, which alerts you if you have installed apps that might be spying on you.
On the downside, even with the most advanced version of Kaspersky for Android, you won't get parental controls or anti-theft features.
What You'll Like
Quick and dependable antivirus engine — Kaspersky scanned my Android device quickly and blocked all threats I tried to open.
Strong phishing protection — This crucial feature successfully prevented me from opening fraudulent sites and emails aimed at stealing my account details.
Safe online payments — This security measure protects your credit card and financial information from hackers during online transactions.
Stalkerware detection — In my testing, Kaspersky successfully identified stalkerware apps on my phone.
What You Won’t Like
Weak app management — Kaspersky's app management feature is not as effective as some other antivirus tools, which could make controlling app permissions difficult.
Mediocre Wi-Fi monitoring — Kaspersky's Wi-Fi monitoring might not always identify potential threats or suspicious activities on your network.
No parental controls — Kaspersky for Android doesn't provide parental control features, which could be an issue for parents wanting to supervise their child's device use and online activity.
Lacks an anti-theft option — The absence of an anti-theft feature is a negative, as these functions can help you locate, lock, or erase your device data if it's lost or stolen.
Despite some shortcomings, Kaspersky is a reliable antivirus app with a solid antimalware engine, although it could do with more features.
Check out my full review of Kaspersky
6. Panda
Panda for Android is a solid antivirus app that caught 99% of the malware and web threats I tried to open. It also comes with several unique features like the "Anchor to smartwatch" function, which notifies you when your device and smartphone are too far apart.
The privacy auditor stood out to me as one of the best I've ever used in an antivirus app. It showed me what services my apps could access, allowing me to adjust permissions accordingly.
Panda's anti-theft feature was quick and precise, although not as comprehensive as some top antivirus apps for Android. Other functions, like the call blocker, allowed me to block specific phone numbers easily.
What You'll Like
Detailed privacy auditor — Panda has a privacy auditor that shows which apps can access specific services on your phone.
Trustworthy app locker — You can lock your installed apps with a PIN if you're concerned someone might access them.
Quick and secure VPN — Panda's VPN, powered by Hotspot Shield, was fast and stable in my tests.
What You Won’t Like
Outdated user interface — The user interface is old and could benefit from an update.
Missing system optimizer — If you need an efficient tool to clean junk files or quickly boost RAM, you'll have to look elsewhere.
Very few settings — Panda offers limited options for customizing each feature, which might be too basic for some users.
Rare app updates — Panda updates its antivirus product less frequently than its competitors.
Panda is a reliable antivirus app, but it lacks the polish of the top ones.
Check out my full review of Panda
7. ESET
ESET Mobile Security is an impressive antivirus app that provides nearly everything you need to protect your phone. It boasts a sturdy antivirus engine, strong web protection, risk detection, and much more to keep malware at bay.
While testing ESET, my phone experienced almost no lag. The app felt lightweight, though not as much as its top competitors. The user interface was smooth, and using or finding features was mostly easy.
ESET has won multiple awards from independent antivirus testing labs like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. However, these companies haven't tested the Android version.
What You'll Like
Payment protection — ESET includes a separate app allowing you to choose your browser before making online transactions.
Highly customizable features — ESET offers many options for you to modify and tailor the security of your device.
Protection for online payments — Given the widespread nature of payment-related fraud, ESET's added security feature ensures safer online transactions.
Anti-phishing — ESET’s anti-phishing tool protects you from fraudsters looking to steal your data.
What You Won’t Like
No junk cleaner/system optimizer — ESET doesn't have a junk cleaner feature, so if you need one, look elsewhere.
No dark mode — ESET doesn't offer a dark mode option, which may drain your battery a bit more.
Slow customer support — I received a reply from customer service after about a week.
Manual input of license key required — To activate my ESET license on my Android phone, I had to enter the lengthy key into the app.
Overall, ESET is an impressive antivirus app, but it does have a few downsides.
Check out my full review of ESET
8. Avira
Avira for Android is a German-made antivirus app with few shortcomings. It sports a competent antivirus engine and robust web protection features, though its privacy features and VPN could use some refinement.
Avira is one of the few antivirus apps on this list that includes a system cleaner, which, although superficial, works well. The privacy advisor is also commendable as it gives a detailed account of which apps request to access sensitive data.
What You'll Like
Microphone protection — The concerns about apps and services eavesdropping on conversations are real. That’s why the microphone protection feature is a valuable addition.
Effective junk cleaner and system optimizer — Although not the best, Avira’s junk cleaner is fast and effective.
Detailed security, privacy, and performance analysis — The privacy advisor provides an in-depth view of which apps are accessing sensitive data.
What You Won’t Like
Identity protection is filler — While not terrible, the identity protection feature is just a shortcut to a free web service.
Limited VPN servers — The VPN service is stable but offers far fewer servers compared to top VPN providers.
Few configuration options — While Avira offers many features, there are limited options to customize those features.
Avira is a comprehensive antivirus app for Android, but some of its features could be better.
Check out my full review of Avira
9. AVG
AVG is one of the most downloaded antivirus apps for Android on Google Play. The free version of this app is well-made, and the developers release constant updates.
The AVG Android app sports an intuitive user interface that allows you to browse the essential features easily. I didn’t notice any lag in my testing when browsing through menus, and finding features was simple.
Besides the efficient malware protection and web shield, AVG adds rare features, such as hack alerts, Wi-Fi speed tests, and photo vaults. These features are good but aren’t completely necessary to keep your device safe.
What You'll Like
Unique features — AVG has various components, which you’ll rarely see in other antivirus apps, such as the speed test.
Good Wi-Fi scanner — AVG can analyze the Wi-Fi networks that your Android device connects to and lets you know of any security risks.
Detailed app insights — The app scanner feature displays which services your apps can access and their resource usage.
What You Won’t Like
Separate cleanup and VPN apps — The main antivirus app doesn’t include the cleaner and VPN. You need to install them separately.
Few VPN servers — Even though they have decent connection quality (speed and latency), they’re few compared to top VPN competitors.
Some tools are unnecessary — Some of the security features, such as the photo vault or hack alerts, are not very useful.
AVG comes with many utilities, but not all of them are very helpful.
Check out my full review of AVG
10. Avast
Avast is among the most popular antivirus apps on the Google Play store. Avast is well-made, well-maintained, and lightweight.
Avast has a nice-looking setup with different important parts. You can look at Avast in both light and dark colors. Also, the app works very well — I hardly noticed any slowdown when I was looking through the different options.
I should also mention that Avast has a few special things that other apps don't have, like a place to keep photos safe and a way to check how fast things are working. Also, I wasn't able to take pictures of the safe place for photos — this is a good way to keep them secure.
However, a recent privacy scandal has diminished my trust in Avast. The company faced controversy in December 2019 over the alleged selling of user behavior data.
What You'll Like
Unique features — Avast includes features not found in most antivirus apps, such as a speed test and photo vault.
Wi-Fi scanner and speed test — Avast automatically scans new networks you connect to and evaluates their safety.
Detailed app insights — The App Insights feature provides comprehensive information on app usage, data consumption, and app permissions.
What You Won’t Like
Separate installation for cleanup and VPN apps — Even if you've purchased Avast Ultimate, you still need to install the cleanup and VPN features separately.
Limited VPN servers — Avast’s VPN servers are fast and stable, but their quantity falls short compared to some top VPN providers.
Low trust in Avast/AVG — Following the revelation that the company had been selling user data for profit, I stopped recommending Avast.
Avast is a well-made app to protect Android phones, but I can't suggest using it right now because of the recent problem with privacy.
Check out my full review of Avast
Tips to Help You Choose the Best Antivirus for Android
Here are some things you might want to think about if you're not sure which antivirus app to pick:
Can I use it on different devices? If you're buying an antivirus for your mobile, it would be great if it can also protect your other devices like Windows PC or Mac.
Can I pay for it? If you're not ready to pay for a high-end antivirus, there are lots of more affordable options to choose from.
Is it easy to use? How easy an antivirus program is to use can be the difference between getting the most out of it or not.
Will it slow my phone down? A good antivirus shouldn't use too many resources. You should hardly notice any difference after you install the app.
Does it get updated regularly? An antivirus app that the developers don't take care of is a risky choice. It should receive updates often (at least once a month) and pay attention to any issues its users report.
How I Created this Best Android Antivirus List
First, I picked the ten best antivirus options from a list of over 50 antivirus apps. Then, I spent over a week looking into each antivirus app on the list. After that, I tested each one in the list and ranked them based on:
My Android phone is a Samsung S20 FE. I also tested them on my Windows PC, Mac, and iPhone to give you a complete picture of the antivirus options. Also, I took more than ten screenshots of each app but only picked the five most relevant.
Protect Your Android Device with a Reputed Antivirus
Antivirus solutions for Android do more than just detect and remove malware. They include extra features like anti-theft, checking the dark web, stopping phishing, and more, which are essential to keeping your personal data safe.
Don't wait until it's too late. Android’s basic security is good but not perfect. Install an antivirus app (TotalAV being my top suggestion) to get security features that you won't find by default on Android.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Antivirus for Android
Check out Google’s most commonly asked questions about Android security software and my answers to these queries.
Do you need an antivirus for Android?
Even though Android devices don't often get malware, there are other security issues that an antivirus can protect you from. These include downloading sketchy apps from unofficial sources, going to dangerous websites, or connecting to public Wi-Fi.
Visit TotalAV right now to find out more about the best Android antivirus.
Is a free Android antivirus app any good?
A free Android antivirus app gives you basic protection, and it should be able to stop most malware and web threats. But, a free antivirus won't let you use important features like a Wi-Fi scanner, anti-theft, app protection, and so on.
Alternatives like Norton or TotalAV include these extra features and a lot more.
Should I be worried that antivirus companies sell my data on Android?
The short answer is that you can't predict these things. But here's the good news: apart from the privacy issue with Avast in 2019, I haven't heard about any big misuse of data.
For example, I didn't find any privacy problems when using TotalAV or Bitdefender.
Will an antivirus slow down my Android phone?
Yes, but not by much. According to AV-Test, Android antivirus apps hardly slow down your device during everyday use and don't use much battery life.
The general rule is that the better the app, the less impact it has. For instance, I hardly noticed any difference before and after I installed TotalAV or Bitdefender on my phone.
Octav Fedor (Cybersecurity Editor)
Octav is a cybersecurity researcher and writer at AntivirusGuide. When he’s not publishing his honest opinions about security software online, he likes to learn about programming, watch astronomy documentaries, and participate in general knowledge competitions.