Best Antivirus Apps for Android (2026)

This is the one we recommend to most people. Scans are quick, detection sits near the top in independent lab tests, and in our testing it barely touched battery life. The interface is calm and uncluttered, which matters for a security app. The free version handles on demand scanning, while the paid tier (around 15 dollars a year) adds always on Scam Alert and web protection.

Norton throws a lot into one app: malware scanning, Wi-Fi checks, a built in VPN, and Dark Web Monitoring that pings you if your email shows up in a breach. It suits people who want one subscription instead of juggling separate tools. It is paid only and not cheap, but the bundle is useful. We liked that the Wi-Fi scan flagged a sketchy coffee shop network before we connected.

Malwarebytes is the app we reach for when something already feels wrong, a weird popup or an app we do not remember installing. It is brilliant at catching adware and shady apps that slip past lighter scanners. The free version does manual scans, which covers most folks. Premium (about 12 dollars a year) adds real time protection and safe browsing that blocks scam sites before they load.

Avast has been a household name for years, and the Android app stays friendly for newcomers. It scans apps and files, checks Wi-Fi networks, and includes a handy app lock and photo vault. The free tier is generous, though it shows ads and the occasional upsell. Want it ad free with a VPN baked in? The premium plan clears the clutter. A solid, approachable first antivirus.

AVG shares an engine with Avast but leans even more beginner friendly, which is why it stays popular with people setting up their first phone. Scanning is one tap, and the app explains threats in plain language instead of jargon. The free version covers virus scanning, app insights, and a basic photo vault. If you are just getting started, our step by step AVG setup guide walks you through it.

Kaspersky still posts some of the strongest detection scores in the business, and on Android it pairs that with smooth call filtering and anti phishing for your texts and browser. The interface is tidy and scans are fast. Note that the U.S. government has restricted Kaspersky, so weigh that for your situation. Otherwise the free tier is capable, and paid plans add real time protection and identity tools.

ESET is a quiet overachiever. It is light on resources, rarely interrupts you, and posts excellent lab results year after year, a great fit for older or budget phones short on memory. The free tier handles scanning, while the paid version (roughly 15 dollars a year) adds anti theft, app lock, and payment protection. In our testing it was the app we forgot was running, in the best way.

McAfee suits the person who wants guardrails everywhere. It bundles malware scanning with a VPN, identity monitoring, and a useful Wi-Fi scan that warns you off risky hotspots. The free version covers the basics, and paid plans pile on privacy extras. It can feel busy and eager to upsell, but the core protection is dependable and the breach alerts landed promptly during our weeks with it.

Trend Micro shines at the things that actually bite most people: phishing links, scam texts, and dodgy websites. Its message filtering caught fake delivery texts that other apps waved through during our tests. It also includes a parental controls mode and a privacy scanner for social accounts. It is largely paid, with a trial to start, and a smart pick for families or heavy link clickers.

Here is the pleasant surprise: Sophos is completely free with no ads, yet it punches with the paid crowd. You get malware scanning, web filtering, an authenticator, and a slick app lock. It suits privacy minded people who hate handing over a card for basic protection. The design is plain rather than flashy, but everything works. We kept it on a spare phone for months without one annoying prompt.

Avira packs a lot into a free app: virus scanning, a daily data limited VPN, an identity safeguard that checks for leaked credentials, and a camera privacy monitor. It suits people who want a privacy toolkit, not just a scanner. The free tier is unusually full featured, and Avira Prime unlocks the unlimited VPN. The interface is clean, though the dashboard surfaces a lot at once.

Worth a mention because it is already on your phone, scanning every app you install at no cost. For people who only download from the Play Store, it is genuinely enough. It runs silently and updates itself, so there is nothing to manage. Where it falls short is sideloaded files and phishing links, the exact gap a dedicated app above fills. Pair it with one for proper peace of mind.