Best antivirus for Android in 2023
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Miglė Vosyliūtė
Writer
Using a robust antivirus app on your Android smartphone or tablet not only can help you avoid various malware infections but also prevents other online threats. That includes securing your logins, encrypting online activity, and even preventing online identity thefts.
The best Android antivirus software delivers multipurpose security suites with features like real-time scans for viruses and firewalls, VPNs, anti-theft guards, and more. All of these features can help you avoid cyberattacks when you do online shopping, safeguard mobile banking transactions, and prevent identity theft, as we keep lots of personal data on Android devices.
We selected only the best Android antivirus providers, like top-rated Bitdefender or TotalAV. We tested these apps based on the following criteria: Android app compatibility, malware lab scores, features suite, customer support, value for money, and more. We looked into each provider in detail and ensured it has strong mobile antivirus traits based on your needs.
Top 5 best Android antiviruses in 2023
- Bitdefender Mobile Security – the best Android antivirus app in 2023
- TotalAV – top real-time antivirus for Android device protection
- Norton Mobile Security – Android antivirus app with the advisor feature
- Surfshark Antivirus – intuitive Android antivirus app for phones and tablets
- NordVPN Threat Protection – antivirus for smartphones with network protection
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How to choose the best Android antivirus
Antivirus for Android smartphones or tablets should offer a comprehensive security suite that’s able to protect you from various types of malware. However, having features is not all, there are more factors to consider before trusting the security app for Android.
| Security features: | Real-time protection, malware scans, wifi scanner |
| Extra features: | Anti-theft protection, VPN, password manager |
| Independent lab test results: | <96% |
| Customer support: | Email, live chat, guides |
- Virus protection. A robust Android antivirus should include all key protection features. Ensure you find real-time protection and device scans, the advisor to inspect apps before downloading them on Google Play Store, a wifiWi-Fi scanner that helps you find a secure network, and more security tools.
- Battery usage. Antivirus software can be heavy on your device and demand a lot of resources. So before picking the best provider for you, check how much battery power the software requires.
- Extras. You can live without extra features, but they never hurt. Some of the premium suites include a VPN, a password manager, ID theft protection, and web filters that might even justify getting a more expensive package.
- User-friendliness. Antivirus software can be difficult to navigate to first-time users, so you should pick a provider with a clear interface that’s easy to navigate and find all the needed features.
- Customer support. If you run into problems, it's always good to know that someone will help you out. 24/7 customer support guarantees that there's always someone to rely on.
- Price. It's easy to overpay if you're not sure what you're getting. Be smart about your purchases, and don't waste your money on poor antivirus services.
The best Android antivirus apps for 2023 – our detailed list:
The best antivirus apps for Android do bring a lot of additional value to the table. Aside from malware protection, they offer anti-theft tools, phone tracking, and VPN. Here are some of the best on the market:
1. Bitdefender Mobile Security – best security suite for Android in 2023
| In-app ads: | No |
| Maximum devices covered: | 1 |
| VPN included: | Yes |
| Current deal: | 🔥 Get Bitdefender for up to 67% OFF! 🔥 |
Bitdefender Mobile Security is the best app for Android smartphones and one of the best antivirus programs overall. It brings much more than malware scanning. This app gives you contextual recommendations based on your Android device usage and needs, providing excellent all-around protection.
During our in-house testing, Bitdefender caught 100% of the malware that we challenged it with; additionally, it didn’t require too many resources from our device. So, it’s both effective and mobile device friendly.
Bitdefender's scanner checks whether you have installed ransomware, adware, and other potentially unwanted apps. Then, there’s web protection that filters every website for malicious components.
Additional features are excellent, too. For example, you can protect your online accounts, and if any breach happens – the Bitdefender Anti-theft feature informs you. You can also remotely scan for malware, lock the device, or wipe all the data from it. And the App Lock feature lets you secure selected apps with a PIN code. This gives a pretty incredible level of control over your device.
The final addition is a VPN, which gives you up to 200 MB per day for safe browsing on your Android phone. It’s quite limited for a VPN. However, if you purchase it separately from the antivirus suite, there will be no data cap. This VPN is capable of unblocking streaming sites, has great security features, and additions like split tunneling, auto-connect feature, and more.
All of these perks cost from $19.99/year and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check out our full Bitdefender antivirus review to learn more about its features.
2. TotalAV – excellent Android device antivirus with real-time protection
| In-app ads: | Yes |
| Maximum devices covered: | 5 |
| VPN included: | Yes |
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If you want desktop-grade performance on your Android device, look no further than TotalAV Antivirus. It's an excellent option for those who want an all-in-one antivirus solution for a great price.
A lot of its value comes from security scans. During our tests, TotalAV managed to pick up malware types that even some other providers didn’t detect. Not to mention that independent lab tests also evaluated it 100% for malware detection rate, and our in-house testing confirmed these results
Then, there are additions, such as a VPN, that encrypts your connection and hides your real IP address to prevent online tracking. This alone is already well worth the subscription cost, making TotalAV excellent overall value for money. But what’s even better is that there is also the App Lock that enhances both your privacy and security.
You can also clear up junk files with the Device Tune-Up feature. Not only can this help you free up more space on your Android, but it can also help save battery life.
If you’re frequently connected to public hotspots, you can use TotalAV’s wifi security checker to make sure they’re safe. This will let you know if there are potentially dangerous perpetrators on the same networks.
The only drawback we have found with this provider, which could enhance online protection, is the lack of web filters so that you could filter out malicious links and sites.
You can get a TotalAV subscription from $19.00/year, which is a great price for an antivirus product. Additionally, unlike many other antivirus providers, TotalAV has a free version that helps you get the hang of the service, but there's also a 30-day money-back guarantee with paid plans if you change your mind.
Check out our TotalAV antivirus review to find out more about this provider.
3. Norton Mobile Security – solid premium Android antivirus with advisor feature
| In-app ads: | No |
| Maximum devices covered: | 1 |
| VPN included: | No (available on separate app) |
| Current deal: | 🔥 Get up to 66% OFF Norton Antivirus 🔥 |
Norton Mobile Security is another top-class antivirus for Android. It takes care of three key areas: security, identity protection, and privacy.
In terms of security, it scans your Android phone for malware, informs you when the OS has vulnerabilities, and notifies you when you join insecure networks. This will be the most useful when you’re connecting to public wifi hotspots.
Norton achieved top rates from both independent and in-house tests. This provider managed to catch 100% of the malware samples it was challenged with. However, during the full system scan, it did require quite some of our device resources.
The Web Protection feature prevents you from visiting malicious websites. Norton constantly updates the blacklist, and the marked pages won’t load. This ensures great online safety and reduces identity theft risks. But to secure your identity even more, you can get Norton LifeLock and use a fully-fledged ID theft guard.
The mobile app also has advisors that scan your Google Play installs and warn you about potentially dangerous apps. You can set up automatic scans that will be performed in the background. For example, when you sleep and leave your phone on the nightstand. And scans for apps aren’t all, as you can also scan your wifi network and get informed if anyone unauthorized tries accessing it.
Lastly, there’s privacy protection which is taken care of with the help of a VPN. It’s a separate but very intuitive app, keeping you protected; however, it might not be the best option for streaming since it has quite limited capabilities. To get Norton password manager or parental control feature, you'll also have to download separate apps.
If you’re keen to try Norton, its subscriptions cost from $19.99/year and include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check out our detailed Norton antivirus review.
4. Surfshark Antivirus – easy-to-use Android antivirus for mobile devices and tablets
| In-app ads: | No |
| Maximum devices covered: | 5 |
| VPN included: | Yes |
| Current deal: | 🔥 Get Surfshark Antivirus - 76% OFF! 🔥 |
Surfshark Antivirus is a great Android security solution with numerous useful features to fight malware and protect your personal data online. This Android antivirus offers real-time protection. Meaning it continuously scans your phone for suspicious activity to detect threats in real time.
The antivirus protection capabilities are reliable; based on independent testing labs, Surfshark antivirus can block 99% of malware attacks. Our in-house testing provides similar results.
In addition to solid antivirus features, one of the biggest draws here is the Surfshark VPN that you get together with the Surfshark One bundle. It’s included and directly integrated into the same Android application as the Surfshark Antivirus. You can use the VPN to establish an encrypted connection and prevent websites from tracking your data online. Additionally, this VPN is one of the best ones on this list, easily surpassing the likes of Norton VPN or Bitdefender VPN.
It’s also worth mentioning that you get a private search engine and ID data monitoring. It’s a great way to make sure that your email address, credit card details, and ID information are safe at all times.
The main drawback we have found about this antivirus is that it’s quite heavy on your device resources during scans, especially with full scan. However, it can be solved by simply not engaging with any other apps on your device in those couple of minutes the scan is running.
The pricing of Surfshark Antivirus starts from $41.88/year for 5 devices. Additionally, its subscription options come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund in case you change your mind – this definitely makes it one of the best Android antivirus apps.
Learn more about this provider in our detailed Surfshark Antivirus review.
5. NordVPN Threat Protection – top VPN with antivirus for Android smartphones
| In-app ads: | No |
| Maximum devices covered: | 6 |
| VPN included: | Yes |
| Current deal: | 🔥 Get NordVPN Threat Protection – 63% OFF + 3 months FREE! 🔥 |
The NordVPN Threat Protection is a feature that is designed to add an extra layer of security to your Android device. It ensures a secure browsing experience, preventing the infiltration of malware as well as intrusive and potentially dangerous ads.
This antivirus solution even scans your downloads for malicious components and blocks access to infected websites. It has solid malware detection rates and successfully blocks you from accessing various infected websites.
On top of that, it blocks various ads that can deteriorate your browsing experience on Android – as well as protect your device from spyware and malware.
What’s even better is that you don’t need to connect to a VPN server for it to work – as long as the NordVPN app with an enabled Threat Protection feature is on your Android, you’re silently protected in the background.
However, if you do connect to a secure VPN server, NordVPN provides top-class VPN services. From unblocking global streaming content to enjoying a secure browsing experience when using an unprotected public wifi network.
The possible drawback of this security tool might be that you can’t performa scans. However, NordVPN’s Threat Protection does scan your downloads, preventing you from downloading malicious items. This leads this tool to be better on mobile devices since it doesn’t require too much of your device’s resources.
Threat Protection comes free of charge with all NordVPN plans that start from only $3.29/month.
Read our NordVPN review to learn more about this product.
6. Avira Mobile Security – versatile and lightweight tool
| In-app ads: | Yes |
| Maximum devices covered: | 1 |
| VPN included: | Yes |
| Current deal: | 🔥 Get 1 year of Avira at 40% OFF! 🔥 |
Avira Mobile Security is lightweight virus protection for Android. It’s simple to use but still provides a lot of useful features and focuses on protection, privacy, and performance.
Avira keeps you safe with the Web Protection feature that keeps you off phishing and malware websites. Independent lab tests have awarded Avira with top scores for protection from malware, and our in-house tests confirm the high rating as well – Avira caught up to 90% of malware threats.
Additionally, Avira offers mobile anti-theft tools, which help you to locate your lost Android device. You can keep a backup of your contacts and easily retrieve them if your storage ever becomes compromised.
As for privacy, there’s a free VPN that will encrypt your online activity and the Network Scanner that shows you other devices on your network. This is a handy tool to discover who is leeching off your internet. You also get a call blocker and protection for the microphone and camera. And for your personal information, you can set up Identity Safeguard, which monitors your email-related data.
Finally, Avira offers a system optimizer to clean up junk or duplicate files. With it, you’ll easily get rid of the clutter and have more space on your Android.
One issue we have encountered with Avira is that it’s quite heavy on your device and requires a lot of resources, which might affect your user experience while the scans are running.
If you’re interested in trying Avira antivirus, its prices start from $30.99/year. If you’re not satisfied with the services, you can get a full refund within 30 days.
Read our comprehensive Avira antivirus review to find out more about its features.
7. Trend Micro Mobile Security – simple Android antivirus for guaranteed security
| In-app ads: | No |
| Maximum devices covered: | 10 |
| VPN included: | Yes |
| Current deal: | 🔥 Get Trend Micro, now 54% OFF! 🔥 |
One more antivirus application for Android we’re presenting – Trend Micro Mobile Security – offers you robust protection with a user-friendly interface. It does not only efficiently catch threats using AI technologies but also has a few extra features to maintain your everyday browsing as secure as possible.
Based on independent test results, Trend Micro is an excellent malware detection tool, it’s been rated 100% for malware detection. Our in-house testing provided a bit different results; we have found that Trend Micro detects around 80% of malware threats.
As Android OS has the most available apps to get among other operating systems, it’s important to add reliable security tools to your daily life. Trend Micro ensures you avoid sneaky intruders by implementing versatile features to its app, like Social Media Privacy Protection or PayGuard for secure online shopping. There’s also a dark web monitoring feature for times when you visit a suspiciously-looking site.
Next to antivirus essentialities, Trend Micro offers you to add a VPN proxy for an additional charge. With it, you can easily protect your IP address. And, to ensure the safety of your passwords, you can get either a free or a paid password manager to the bundle.
Trend Micro is a bit limited as an antivirus suite. It has no firewall, provides limited licensing choices, and the virus detection rates provide mixed results. Alternatively, you could pick Bitdefender, which has the highest virus detection rates and includes a firewall.
You can use a free version of the application to feel the hint of this antivirus. It’s limited but excellent for testing. As for the paid version, you can pay as low as $19.95/year and benefit from a 30-day money-back guarantee if needed.
Get to know the service better in our Trend Micro review.
8. ESET Mobile Security – most Advanced Android cybersecurity suite
| In-app ads: | No |
| Maximum devices covered: | 5 |
| VPN included: | No |
| Current deal: | 🔥 Get ESET, save up to 30% 🔥 |
As far as Android antiviruses go, ESET is certainly one of the most advanced suites available on the market today.
Naturally, the real-time scanning feature is a big part of its appeal. You can even schedule scans for later or automate them to be performed when you plug in your Android device, so you won’t have to deal with the antivirus interfering with your everyday tasks.
Independent tests provide the highest marks for Eset. It's a reliable protection tool to catch and remove malware threats. During our in-house testing, we also found this to be a great option. Eset caught almost all of the malware threats we challenged it with.
There’s also an anti-theft suite that allows you to check the location and the IP address of your device if it gets stolen or lost.
Additionally, it’s possible to enable web filters that help to steer clear of phishing and malware websites. This is very useful when you’re worried that you might be entering your credit card details into a spoofed website. There’s even a separate payment protection function, which kicks in when you’re using banking apps. It’s a simple but solid antivirus interface, perfect for everyday use.
Eset antivirus is more targeted to intermediate to experienced users, so beginners might find it difficult to navigate.
The prices of the ESET Mobile Security plan start from $14.99/year for 1 mobile device. If you want to have the option to cover both mobile and desktop gadgets, there's an ESET Internet Security plan starting from $34.99/year.
Learn more about this provider in our full ESET antivirus review.
Best Android antivirus apps compared
Are you in a rush? In this case, we have put all critical features of antivirus apps for Android devices in one place right below:
| Bitdefender | TotalAV | Norton | Surfshark Antivirus | NordVPN Threat Protection | Avira | Trend Micro | ESET | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Rating | ||||||||
| Free version | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes (Android and iOS) | No |
| Price | From $19.99/year | From $19.00/year | From $19.99/year | From $41.88/year | From $3.29/month | From $30.99/year | From $19.95/year | From $34.99/year |
| Device support | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Android | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS | Windows, Linux, Mac, Android |
| Advisor | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| ID theft guard | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| VPN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, VPN proxy | No |
| Review | Bitdefender review | TotalAV review | Norton 360 review | Surfshark AV review | NordVPN review | Avira review | Trend Micro review | ESET NOD32 review |
How we tested these best Android antivirus apps
Most malware labs report that Google's built-in Play Protect feature protects the device 90% of the time. However, false positives and infrequent updates from phone manufacturers mean that additional malware protection for your Android device is a good idea.
In addition to independent lab tests, we also tried all these antivirus software ourselves. For our in-house testing, we used the Virtualbox VM with Windows 11 installed on Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 device with AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U processor, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, with Windows 11 Pro operating system.
Here are some of the aspects we tested and selected virus protection for Android devices:
- Malware lab scores. The only way you can be safe from malicious software is if your antivirus recognizes most of its recent forms. If a service relies on outdated signature lists, your device can quickly be overrun with viruses.
- Additional features. Most antivirus nowadays double down on bonus benefits. If the service is putting in some serious work there, this means more value for the consumer. This can turn an otherwise mediocre service into a top contender.
- Reputation. It’s always worth looking into the company behind the service. Look for security or privacy incidents and scandals – it's probably best to avoid these services.
- Customer support. It’s important to be able to reach out to customer support agents when you’re in trouble. Some services go the extra mile to make themselves more available. Some even guarantee protection from viruses and vow to give you your money back if they don’t. All of this gets extra points.
- Price. The price that you pay for the service should adequately reflect what you’re getting. If you’re asked to pay top dollar for a mediocre suite, perhaps you should look elsewhere.
Other Android antivirus we tested
With so many antivirus software available on the market right now, we couldn’t mention all of them in our lists. For one, not all of them even met our criteria. However, there were a few antivirus providers that are great options to secure your Android devices, but there were a few small issues that kept them from our list:
- McAfee – this antivirus ensures solid protection for Android devices, confirmed by both independent lab tests and our in-house testing. It can catch around 80% of malware threats; however, it demands a lot of your device resources with both quick and full scans.
- Malwarebytes – Malwarebytes achieve high marks in device protection from new and already known malware threats from independent lab tests. Our in-house testing has found an 80% success rate. However, the CPU use is a bit unstable, fluctuating from barely affecting your device to demanding high levels of resources.
Do I need antivirus on my Android?
Yes, Android devices, including phones, need an antivirus, not only from malware threats but also to prevent identity theft. The truth is, current Android OS versions are pretty secure compared to how the landscape looked for first generations, but that is not enough. Here are some reasons why you should get an antivirus for your Android device:
- Some manufacturers take a long time to catch up with security updates. New types of malware are created every day, and security measures on all devices should be updated just as often. Antivirus can help with that.
- Google Play Protect is not able to catch all of the threats. There are types of malware that hide themselves from the user or are simply undetectable by usual methods. Only a quality antivirus can detect, notify about, and help remove any malicious apps from your device.
- Protect your data in case your Android is lost or stolen. Many premium Android antivirus solutions allow you to remotely locate your device, lock it, and even wipe out all sensitive information. This way, outsiders can’t compromise your privacy.
How to install an antivirus on Android device
Installing an antivirus on your phone is fairly straightforward. It boils down to finding an app on the Google Play Store and clicking the install button. If that doesn’t help you much, here’s how the general process should look like:
- Tap the Play Store shortcut on your Android
- Type the name of the service into the search bar. We recommend TotalAV, now 84% OFF!
- Make sure that you’ve found the correct app
- Tap Install and wait till the setup completes.
If you’ve chosen a premium antivirus service, you’ll most likely have to log in to unlock premium features. Once you’re logged in, you can now scan for malware or take advantage of other features.
Are free Android antivirus apps worth it?
Yes, using a free Android antivirus is useful if it comes from a reliable service provider. For example, TotalAV offers a great free version that includes a smart scan and Safe Site extension for browsers to protect you from harmful sites. Plus, it guarantees 100% malware detection rates.
However, keep in mind that numerous so-called security apps for Android are unreliable. Usually, they are designed to spread malware rather than remove it. So, make sure that you pick a trustworthy security tool, especially when it’s free. Here is a list of our best free antivirus apps for Android.
It’s also worth mentioning that even though certain free mobile security apps are worth it, with a premium antivirus, you’ll be getting a lot more features. Often, only the paid version will protect you against ransomware and other serious threats.
Video review: best antivirus apps for Android
Tired of reading? Check out the video where we cover the best Android antivirus apps:
Conclusion
Mobile Android antiviruses evolved enough to offer much more than simple malware cleanup. They are impressive cybersecurity suites that have numerous functions, including password managers and VPNs.
This makes antivirus for Android a handy investment. It pays off not only in terms of resilience against digital threats but also expands your functionality. Sometimes, it can even help you retrieve your lost device.
All in all, the best Android antivirus apps, like Bitdefender, are certainly worth the money.
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FAQ
Which antivirus is best for Android?
The best Android antivirus app we selected is Bitdefender Mobile Security, followed by Norton Mobile Security, and Avira Mobile Security. Bitdefender provides excellent all-around protection for Android devices – from filtering websites to malware protection, anti-theft tools, and more.
How do I check for viruses on my Android phone?
The easiest method would be to install a reliable antivirus app for Android and scan for malware. It’s also a good idea to check your apps list – look through it and check if there’s anything that you don’t recognize. If the app is by some unknown developer and asks for too many permissions, it might be an Android virus.
How do I scan my Android for viruses?
Launch your antivirus app of choice; we recommend Bitdefender or TotalAV. Then head to the Anti-Malware option from the dashboard and initiate a full scan. The results will be displayed after the setup finishes.
Do I need an antivirus for the Samsung tablet?
Yes, you do. Android phones and tablets run the same OS. This means that tips relevant to phones are also relevant to tablets. This means that it’s not a bad idea to use an antivirus on a tablet as well.
Does Android have a built-in antivirus?
Yes, most Android devices come with Google Play Protect already built in. It uses various machine-learning algorithms to detect malicious code. However, this isn’t a foolproof solution. So, using a third-party antivirus, like our top-rated Bitdefender, can provide you with better flexibility, features, and malware protection.
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