It is extra essential now than ever to be sure you’re utilizing the perfect Android antivirus apps to guard your self from hackers attempting to get their arms in your information. from banking to purchasing, our telephones retailer an increasing number of of our each day lives, so protecting them safe is essential.
The Cellular Risk Panorama report underlines simply how essential cellular security is: “The cellular menace panorama is the quickest rising threat. With extra internet visitors now going down on cellular than desktop, scammers are taking be aware by hitting victims with common device-centric scams that leverage SMS and standard apps like WhatsApp and Fb Messenger.”
That is the place the perfect antivirus is available in. Android is the most well-liked working system on the planet, so the marketplace for particularly designed antiviruses is aggressive.
We spent numerous hours rigorously testing all of those apps, alongside the perfect antivirus and the perfect antivirus software program for Mac, in case you’re on the lookout for one thing barely completely different. To e thought of how rapidly these apps determine and quarantine viruses, and explored how they dealt with malware stuffed web sites, in addition to worth for cash, and any helpful additional options the apps might provide. If you’d like one thing extra particular, like password managers or web safety suites, then we have examined these too.
So have a look under at our suggestions for the perfect Android antivirus, in addition to our useful Q&A piece additional down.
The 2 finest Android antivirus at a look
In search of a fast reply? Listed below are the 2 finest antivirus apps for Android proper now:
This replace noticed no vital variations between our prime picks, and no new occasions within the business for us to report on. As such, we double-checked the pricing, offers, server places, and unblocking capabilities to ensure the data on this web page was as correct and up-to-date as potential.
The most effective Android antivirus apps for 2025
Why you’ll be able to belief TechRadar We spend hours testing each services or products we evaluate, so that you may be positive you’re shopping for the perfect. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
Check out our prime picks, full with evaluations and evaluation that digs into why you must subscribe, any causes to keep away from, our take a look at outcomes, and the way every antivirus answer stacks up with the competitors.
The most effective Android antivirus general
Subscribe if:
✔️ Privateness is your precedence: Bitdefender is jam-packed with safety instruments. Select which apps you wish to shield with passwords and get warned about potential information breaches.
✔️ You wish to browse the net securely: Bitdefender’s built-in internet safety will provide help to avoid malicious hyperlinks and phishing scams by blocking entry to threats in your inbox, social media feed, and search outcomes.
✔️ You do not wish to be slowed down: this light-weight app will not gobble up your system’s sources, which means you do not have to sacrifice efficiency for privateness.
Do not subscribe if:
❌ You need some plan selection: at the moment, there’s just one Bitdefender Cellular Safety plan on provide, which means you may be locked right into a year-long dedication—and miss out on multi-year financial savings.
❌ You need a vast VPN: entry to the Hotspot Protect VPN is useful in a pinch, however customization and settings are restricted, and customers are restricted to 200 Mb per day.
Backside line: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔒 Bitdefender Cellular Safety is the entire package deal, with every thing it is advisable maintain your Android system safe from malware, phishing, and even theft. Test it out for your self, and see why it earned the highest spot on our checklist, with a 30-day money-back assure.
Bitdefender Cellular Safety packs a severe punch with a single subscription. You may get an entire host of options, together with anti-theft measures, and top-notch antivirus capabilities that’ll work exhausting to maintain your Android system secure. In truth, Bitdefender scored prime marks within the newest AV-Take a look at roundup, and AV-Comparatives (the opposite main impartial antivirus take a look at lab) noticed a safety charge of 99.9%, which is severely spectacular.
This cellular safety plan provides you real-time Chrome browser safety, full with anti-phishing system scans, so you may be forewarned about any dodgy hyperlinks or pages. Bitdefender additionally has an Autopilot function, which is able to making clever suggestions for safety actions relying in your system and typical utilization sample. Merely put, Bitdefender will help you keep away from threats and make proactive selections about your safety
▶Attempt Bitdefender with a 30-day money-back assure
If you happen to’re into your devices and have a smartwatch, you could be within the privateness advisor software. It is a nifty function that’ll provide help to discover your telephone in case you occur to misplace it or go away it behind—which occurs to the perfect of us.
Customers additionally get a bundled VPN, however do not get too excited—the model included within the Cellular Safety subscription has its limitations. You may be restricted to extraordinarily gentle use, at simply 200 Mb a day, which might nonetheless be helpful in a pinch. If you actually need a VPN, nevertheless, there are many free VPNs on the market—and a few, like Proton VPN, don’t have any information limits in any respect.
Bitdefender’s theft prevention measures are fairly nifty, too. It means that you can find your system remotely, or ship a message on to it, which generally is a lifesaver in case you occur to lose it whereas touring. Alternatively, in case your system is stolen, Bitdefender means that you can not solely lock and even wipe your Android, however it is going to additionally take an image of those that have taken it in the event that they attempt to entry your telephone.
With lots of options, a cut price 1-year plan and even a 14-day free path which lets you attempt before you purchase and actually check it out earlier than committing to Bitdefender long-term.
The most effective privateness targeted antivirus
Subscribe if:
✔️ You need a proactive copilot: Norton does the exhausting give you the results you want by scanning apps, incoming messages, and web sites for potential threats to your safety.
✔️ You are at all times on the go: touring typically includes counting on shady (and probably harmful) public Wi-Fi hotspots. With Norton, you’ll keep away from unsecured networks and the cybercriminals lurking on them.
✔️ You are on the lookout for a tried and examined service: Norton is a titan of the antivirus world and proves its fame is well-earned with glorious take a look at outcomes from AV-Take a look at.
Do not subscribe if:
❌ You are on the lookout for a cut price: whereas the preliminary 1-year sign-up value is comparatively honest, it nearly triples upon renewal.
❌ You may have lots of gadgets to cowl: you’ll be able to solely cowl one system with Norton Cellular Safety. In case you have a couple of cellular, or wish to shield your PC, you are higher off with the Norton 360 Deluxe plan.
Backside line: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔒 Norton Cellular Safety makes the web a safer place to be—it might put a cease to malware, warn you about phishing makes an attempt, and even provide help to avoid shady websites and scams. Plus, with a 60-day money-back assure, you’ll be able to attempt it with out risking a penny.
Need to know extra?
Try our Norton Cellular Safety evaluate for a extra in-depth have a look at its options—and the way it compares to different Norton plans.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for an antivirus suite that does not skimp on options, you may wish to take a look at Norton Cellular Safety for Android. It is jam-packed with instruments designed to maintain malware and scams at bay—with out being overly taxing in your battery.
Powered by Norton Cellular Perception, the antivirus alerts you about something suspicious earlier than it has an opportunity to show into an issue. For instance, you may be warned about any vulnerabilities in your working system, supplying you with time to take a proactive method and resolve them earlier than they are often exploited by cybercriminals.
▶ Attempt Norton Cellular Safety with a 60-day money-back assure
Norton additionally retains you secure by vetting apps on the Google Play Retailer. There are such a lot of apps obtainable to obtain and never all of them shall be reliable—typically on objective, typically not. Norton helps fight these dodgy apps by scanning them earlier than you obtain them, checking for privateness dangers like intrusive adware and malware, which means you do not have to seek out out the exhausting manner whether or not your latest app is reliable or not.
AV-Take a look at gave Norton prime marks for its antivirus engine, and I am impressed that the suite can block cyber threats from each angle. Along with scanning apps and web sites, Norton additionally filters out spam SMS messages that may very well be hiding phishing makes an attempt, which means you are much less more likely to get wrapped up in a rip-off.
This peace of thoughts extends to your searching, too, because of Norton’s Wi-Fi safety instruments. You may be alerted in case you occur to hitch a probably dangerous community—one which’s unsecured or below assault—which implies you will not be putting your delicate info inside the attain of cybercriminals. This additionally retains you secure from the potential harms of utilizing these harmful networks, like having your delicate info (e.g. passwords, logins, and monetary particulars) stolen. When you’re on-line, Norton will even block fraudulent web sites for you and provide help to pinpoint potential scams with a useful menace report card.
The innovation does not cease there, both, as Norton lately introduced that an AI-powered chatbot designed to identify scams is within the works. So, with all of this performance (and new options on the horizon), you could be questioning the place the downsides are. Nicely, Norton apps are dear, however you’ll be able to take the instruments for a take a look at drive with a reasonably beneficiant 60-day money-back assure.
The most effective free Android antivirus
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want an antivirus and VPN combo: Avast Cellular Safety’s premium plan comes with a VPN that’ll provide help to unblock websites and shield your privateness when utilizing public Wi-Fi hotspots.
✔️ You need fast options to malware: with one click on, Avast’s scans can pinpoint malware infections in real-time and provide help to take away them.
✔️ You do not wish to be slowed down: putting in Avast Cellular Safety in your system will not eat into its sources—which means you may nonetheless be capable of browse, stream, and recreation with out interruptions.
Do not subscribe if:
❌ You need speedy scans: whereas efficient, Avast Cellular Safety’s scans are a lot slower than others on this checklist, like McAfee.
❌ Advertisements are a deal breaker: Avast makes use of sponsored advertisements to maintain its cellular product free, which is nice for accessibility, however may be irritating.
Backside line:
🔒 Avast Cellular Safety is a unbelievable free possibility that covers all the fundamentals—after which some. You may get nice malware safety, anti-theft options, and alerts about dodgy websites, with the choice to improve to go ad-free.
Need to know extra?
Try our Avast One evaluate for all the main points on the supplier’s client answer.
Avast is well-known on the earth of antivirus and for good motive—its merchandise sometimes go above and past mundane scanners, and Avast Cellular Safety is not any completely different. The service picks up threats rapidly, is very rated by impartial take a look at labs, and comes with an incredible roster of options totally free. The one draw back is that though you will have to cope with its advertisements.
With Avast, its scans catch viruses and malware in real-time, so when you’ve got an current an infection, one faucet of the ‘Scan’ button will immediate Avast to comb via your system (and any microSD playing cards), choosing up on any nasties that could be affecting your system. You may be alerted if the scan picks up on a menace, making it extremely simple to detect vulnerabilities and resolve them earlier than they do main harm.
▶ Attempt Avast Cellular Safety totally free
As you’d anticipate from an Avast product, Avast Cellular Safety additionally excels at combating malware—and aced two back-to-back AV-Take a look at evaluations. The answer got here prime of the category in January 2022 with out delivering false positives or misidentifying secure software program as a menace. A few of the largest names within the business cannot say the identical, so you’ll be able to relaxation assured that Avast Cellular Safety is thorough and correct, and will not must second-guess its alerts.
I notably like that Avast Cellular Safety will help you sniff out untrustworthy apps. It solely takes a minute to seize one thing from the Google Play retailer, which means it solely takes a minite for a dodgy app to contaminate your system and permit the hackers that put it there to achieve entry to your delicate info. Fortunately, Avast Cellular Safety will let you recognize in case you’re about to obtain a menace earlier than. Plus, when you’ve got any undesirable or unsecure apps already in your system, the answer will help you eliminate them. Different helpful options embrace an anti-theft system, which lets you observe and remotely lock (or wipe) your Android system if it’s stolen, or in case you lose it.
Upgrading from the free plan grants entry to a VPN—which is a useful gizmo to have in your pocket. The VPN does a good job of hopping throughout digital borders, because of servers in 34 international locations, and may provide help to unblock streaming providers, social media platforms, and information retailers that could be at the moment inaccessible because of your work, ISP, and even your authorities.
The advantages of upgrading to a month-to-month or yearly premium plan are fairly tempting—specifically, eliminating advertisements. Avast Cellular Safety’s free subscription is supported by them, and whereas it is nice that the answer does not price a penny, the advertisements can get annoying in a short time.
The most effective Android antivirus for eradicating malware
AVG AntiVirus Free is one other high-quality app on your Android system, and it delivers a formidable stage of safety for gratis by any means. In truth, it makes use of the identical well-liked antivirus engine as Avast above (do not forget that Avast purchased AVG again in 2016).
This isn’t the identical product, although, and it doesn’t have a number of the options you’ll discover in Avast’s freebie providing. It’s, nevertheless, nonetheless constructed round very strong core antivirus safety, plus anti-theft options that mean you can find, lock, or wipe a stolen (or misplaced) telephone—which might forestall you from shedding your credentials in addition to your system. Additionally like Avast, this app is ad-supported, however by upgrading to the premium model you’ll be able to eliminate them briefly order.
Like our different prime picks, the AVG scan capabilities can examine for hidden threats in your telephone and provide help to resolve them. If any threats are lurking, the Malware Pressure Uninstaller makes positive it is eliminated out of your system—regardless of how persistent it could be—so you’ll be able to reclaim your peace of thoughts.
The paid Professional model of AVG comes with an entire load of additional options, together with prolonged anti-theft capabilities (such because the system locking itself if the SIM card is changed, in addition to sounding an alarm) and a Picture Vault to safe your pictures and maintain your entire reminiscences out of the clutches of cybercriminals. I like how proactive AVG is about alerting you to potential threats—the answer may even provide help to block callers and avoid unsecured Wi-Fi networks, serving to you keep away from threats earlier than they affect you.
There are additionally a number of different options reminiscent of efficiency enhancement measures, which goal to kill pointless processes, flip off battery-draining settings, in addition to deleting junk information reminiscent of these generally present in temp and cache folders. These instruments can come in useful in case you really feel as if your telephone has been operating slowly, lately, and eliminate potential vulnerabilities {that a} hacker might exploit.
Notice that you may check out all these Professional options totally free, at the very least for the primary two weeks when utilizing AVG AntiVirus Free; however after that, you need to pay. With so many options bundled within the Professional model, it’s no surprise this app is the most well-liked antivirus within the Google Play retailer.
Honorable mentions
The Pattern Micro Cellular Safety app not solely scans new apps for malware earlier than they’re downloaded and put in, it prevents newly put in apps from accessing different purposes, which may be helpful for system admins and oldsters.
There’s additionally a built-in privateness scanner for Fb which warns you in case your profile settings are displaying delicate private info. Certainly, there are an enormous variety of options right here, which embrace internet safety, anti-theft, a Wi-Fi checker for ensuring any wi-fi networks you hook up with are secure, plus system tuning utilities, a full suite of parental controls, and Pay Guard ensures that any on-line banking or purchasing transactions are totally safe.
Moreover, each impartial testing labs rated Pattern Micro Cellular Safety as defending in opposition to 100% of threats, making it prime of the tree on this respect on the time of writing.
There’s lots to love right here, then, however the draw back is that the asking value is slightly steep in comparison with most of the options on this web page. That stated, you’re getting lots on your cash, and there’s a free model of the app which lets you have the complete run of all options for seven days, so you’ll be able to attempt all of it out earlier than having to buy a license.
McAfee is one other well-known identify with regards to antivirus software program, and this Android app—McAfee Cellular Safety for Android—doesn’t disappoint. In addition to the Android antivirus scanner itself, the free model provides you rather a lot, together with anti-theft options and the power to trace a misplaced system, or lock it (or wipe your information) remotely.
Different highlights embrace the power to scan apps to examine in the event that they leak delicate info, and lock them if needed. McAfee additionally evaluates the safety of any Wi-Fi networks you hook up with, and comes with a number of options to assist your telephone run higher, together with a storage cleaner, plus a reminiscence and battery booster.
Notice that the free app, as with many, reveals the person adverts, however you’ll be able to eliminate these by upgrading to the premium model. That additionally provides you telephone assist, plus some additional options like Secure Internet safety for added safety when browsing the net. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the paid app is a comparatively dear proposition.
Sophos Intercept X for Cellular antivirus app is totally free, but it doesn’t include any adverts, in contrast to many freebie apps. So whereas Sophos Intercept X is actually spectacular in that respect, there’s a slight query mark over its malware safety chops in that the app hasn’t been examined by the most important impartial labs this yr. That stated, it scored full marks for antivirus safety all through AV-Take a look at’s experiences in 2019.
Sophos scans apps for malware or in any other case dangerous content material as they’re put in and additional alerts you if they may leak any delicate info. The antivirus scanner may be scheduled to scan information and folders periodically, too.
One other nifty function is the Safe QR Code Scanner, which because the identify suggests will examine any goal URL for potential threats while you scan a QR code, making certain that you should utilize these safely. Intercept X additionally advantages from an authenticator which you should utilize for multi-factor authentication with any app that helps Google Authenticator, and you may handle all these 2FA accounts from this central hub.
In addition to a few of these extra uncommon options, the usual anti-theft performance is current right here, so it is a well-featured effort general. It isn’t essentially the most intuitive or user-friendly app, thoughts, and the truth that it hasn’t been lately evaluated by both of the primary impartial take a look at labs could be a slight concern for some (and we hope that state of affairs modifications quickly).
AhnLab V3 Cellular Safety, from South Korean AhnLab, may not be essentially the most well-known app on my shortlist, however that does not imply it isn’t spectacular. AhnLab boasts very excessive Android malware detection charges, based on AV-Take a look at, and managed to pinpoint 100% of threats. These outcomes put the app on par with a number of the finest performers available on the market—although it is price noting that AV-Comparatives hasn’t checked out AhnLab since 2015.
Some antivirus options wrestle on older Android gadgets – however not AhnLab. I discovered that the app is fairly undemanding with regards to system useful resource utilization, and even has a built-in booster that may pace up your telephone’s efficiency.
Different useful options embrace a privateness cleaner to securely clear your searching historical past, and a privateness advisor that vets the apps put in in your system, making certain they aren’t compromising any of your delicate particulars. AhnLab additionally affords a hidden gallery for private pictures, making it clear that safety is a precedence.
All this provides as much as a strong providing for a free app, for positive, though I would prefer to see AhnLab roll out some anti-theft capabilities within the close to future.
Avira Antivirus Safety is one other safety app that will get a giant thumbs-up from impartial testing labs with regards to the standard of its antivirus engine. The free model is ad-supported, however has loads of options, together with a Permissions Supervisor which charges purposes based mostly on their privateness, so you’ll be able to resolve whether or not or to not belief them along with your information. This is useful in case you obtain lots of apps from the Google Play retailer.
The app goes the additional mile for you in different areas, too, and I like that the built-in Identification Safeguard function will examine to see in case your electronic mail tackle has been concerned in any main information breaches. These scans occur commonly, and you will be promptly knowledgeable in case you’ve been caught up in a leak, permitting you to take motion immediately.
The raft of anti-theft capabilities are equally spectacular, and you’ll find your telephone, remotely set off an alarm, or remotely lock or wipe your Android system.
Avira’s App Lock is one other fascinating additional, and may shield your apps (and the delicate info saved in them) by securing them with a PIN. The built-in VPN provides one other layer of safety to your information and searching habits, nevertheless it’s price noting that you just solely get a tiny quantity of knowledge per day.
You may get all types of perks in case you go for the ad-free premium model of Avira Antivirus Safety – like higher buyer assist, computerized malicious area blocking, hourly updates, and microphone and digital camera safety that may put a cease to any makes an attempt to make use of the {hardware} to spy on you.
Editors’ be aware: Kaspersky Anti-Virus used to look on this checklist. Nevertheless, contemplating the present local weather, we have made the choice to take away the supplier. Though a lot of the corporate’s core processes now happen in Switzerland, the truth that its headquarters stay in Moscow, and that there are prior allegations round authorities coercion, it feels prudent to induce warning when contemplating the supplier. What’s extra, with so many glorious options to select from, it is not possible to wholeheartedly suggest Kaspersky at the moment.
How we take a look at
To check for the perfect Android antivirus apps, we downloaded and put in plenty of antivirus apps on cellular gadgets operating the Android working system, assessing them on price, ease of use, and the presence of further options like VPNs.
A few of the applications present a report card that outlines the kind and variety of threats it has blocked, which supplied a useful comparability for us once we figuring out simply hw efficient the apps had been at stopping cyberattacks.
To get a transparent and correct image of every antivirus program, I take a multi-faceted method to my testing—and I ensure I get hands-on expertise with every product/ A few of my assessments contain trying to entry web sites recognized to harbor threats and even by attempting to obtain malware immediately within the hope that the antivirus software will acknowledge, and resolve the cyberthreat.
We do not rely solely on our findings, nevertheless. There are all types of the way to check antivirus and a few unbelievable labs on the market that do it much more continuously than we do. That is why we check with outcomes from AV-Comparatives and AV-Exams to color a broader image of the antivirus software program’s capabilities and assign a good safety rating.
How to decide on the perfect Android antivirus apps for you
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | No. of gadgets lined | Free or paid | Further options |
| Bitdefender Cellular Safety | 1 | Paid | Anti-theft, privateness advisor, rip-off alert, distant lock and wipe |
| Norton Cellular Safety | 1 | Paid | App Advisor, anti-theft options, name blocking |
| Avast Cellular Safety | Limitless | Free | Anti-theft, Wi-Fi safety, junk cleaner |
| AVG AntiVirus Free | Limitless | Free | Anti-theft |
| Pattern Micro Cellular Safety | 1 | Paid | Pay Guard, social community privateness, parental controls |
| McAfee Cellular Safety for Android | Limitless | Free | Anti-theft, privateness checker |
| Sophos Intercept X for Cellular | Limitless | Free | QR Code Scanner, authenticator, anti-theft |
| AhnLab V3 Cellular Safety | Limitless | Free | Privateness advisor, efficiency booster |
| Avira Antivirus Safety | Limitless | Free | Identification Safeguard, permissions supervisor, anti-theft |
The most effective Android antivirus FAQs
What’s the finest antivirus of 2023
The software program is extremely feature-rich—which is not at all times the case with Android antivirus packages. You may have every thing it is advisable maintain your cellular safe from malware and information breaches and, as an additional cherry on prime, Bitdefender will not have a large affect on efficiency.
What does antivirus do? How does virus safety work?
Antivirus purposes use virus ‘definitions’ to catch intruders within the act. Consider these because the fingerprints of malware, and when one thing tries to creep onto your system that has an identical fingerprint, your antivirus will nab it and put it in quarantine. ‘Heuristics’ are one other software utilized by antivirus applications to search for information and processes appearing suspiciously. Consequently, it is simpler to catch new strains of malware that may not be recorded within the definitions database.
If you happen to’re desirous about studying extra, go to our full breakdown of precisely how antivirus software program works.
Is free antivirus sufficient?
A free antivirus can do a good job of defending your Android system, overlaying the fundamentals, however premium antivirus applications pack much more punch. You are extra more likely to have entry to superior instruments, like parental controls and anti-ransomware, that may be utilized to all types of use instances.
A few of the finest antivirus apps are extremely low-cost—particularly when you think about the assorted offers on provide—so it is price testing an affordable premium plan to see what options you may be lacking out on in any other case.
For extra info, head over to our in-depth dialogue on whether or not free antivirus is sufficient to shield you.