Best antivirus for gaming in 2026

Scammers often target gamers. You might see ads promising free in-game currency or speedy leveling up if you download a specific program. Sadly, these programs contain various types of malware, such as viruses, ransomware, or keyloggers, which can track your computer’s (PC) activity. In most cases, this results in the loss of your account. However, in the worst cases, cybercriminals could gain access to your private information, including bank details.

The good news is that a reliable antivirus for gaming can help prevent all kinds of cyberthreats. A quality antivirus scans all files, quarantines suspicious items, and eliminates harmful ones – without impacting your gaming experience.

With the help of the Cybernews research team, I reviewed 30 antivirus programs and chose the top 7 antiviruses for gaming. Some of my choices are gaming-focused, while others are excellent all-rounders. Read on to find out how each compares with regard to real-time protection, gaming and performance.

Our best antivirus apps for PC gaming

1. TotalAV – the best antivirus for gaming PC in 2026
2. Norton 360 – antivirus software with a gaming extension
3. Bitdefender – high-performing antivirus software for PC gamers
4. Surfshark AV – all-around antivirus program with a VPN
5. Avira Antivirus – antivirus with game-boosting features

📢 LIMITED OFFER: Get TotalAV, now 80% OFF

How to choose an antivirus for your gaming PC

To effectively choose the best antivirus, all you need to do is be mindful of a few factors and features that could make or break your gaming experience. Here are some of the main features that good antivirus software for gaming should have:

Gaming-focused functionalities:	Game mode, game boosters, and in-game threat detection
Malware detection rates:	100%
Other features:	Real-time protection, scanning options, firewall, parental controls, and bonus features
Operating system:	Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS

• Game mode or game boosters. While antivirus is necessary to protect you and your device, it can also negatively affect your gaming experience. In this case, you want to get an antivirus that has a game mode. Such a feature is designed to optimize CPU and GPU performance when gaming so the antivirus can still run in the background without affecting the gameplay.
• Malware detection rates. While gaming performance is important, make sure your selected antivirus software can detect malware effectively. You can check its performance in independent lab tests like AV-TEST or AV-comparatives.
• Device cleaning. Clearing cache and other files that take up space helps with overall device performance. An antivirus that does this without prompting is worth the consideration.
• In-game threat detection. In-game malware is no joke – there have been instances of malicious code, files, and links being distributed in various multiplayer servers. An antivirus that can detect and inform you about harmful data before it reaches your device is always highly valued.
• Additional features. Any extra features like antivirus with a VPN, cloud storage for your files, or a password manager just add to the best antivirus experience you could have.
• Price. Antivirus suites are known to be pretty expensive, so look for a service that comes at a reasonable price yet offers a good set of features.

The best antivirus for PC gaming: detailed list

The key aspects of a good gaming antivirus are its performance and resource usage. It should provide strong virus detection and removal rates while not affecting gaming performance. Therefore, I tested and ranked the top antiviruses for gaming PCs that tick all the boxes without compromising on any one of them.

1. TotalAV – the best antivirus for gaming overall in 2026

Real-time monitoring:	✅ Yes
Gaming mode:	❌ No
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Current deal:	Get TotalAV, now 80% OFF

Visit TotalAV

TotalAV is an excellent antivirus for PC gamers that excels at detecting and preventing malware and keeping CPU usage low for uninterrupted gaming. Its performance and robust security tools will surely make your gaming experience smooth and secure.

TotalAV has immaculate performance optimization tools. It offers a junk and duplicate file cleaner. It also helps identify areas where performance can be optimized to reduce CPU usage. These tools reduce lag in games and optimize overall device performance. During Cybernews' TotalAV PC performance test, the CPU usage remained fairly low.. However, occasional load spikes did cause a mere lag.

Additionally, it has a real-time protection feature that checks all your installs or downloads (including games) for viruses or other threats. During our tests, it identified 10 out of 10 malicious file samples and successfully removed them.

TotalAV also offers the Safe Browsing VPN to secure your identity while gaming and to keep your gaming logins and passwords safe, it provides a Secure Password Vault.

For only $19.00/year, you get performance optimization and virus protection for a seamless and secure gaming experience. You can also download the free version. However, it’s very limited and won’t offer an equally great gaming performance.

2. Norton – antivirus for gamers with gaming extension

Real-time monitoring:	✅ Yes
Gaming mode:	✅ Yes
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Current deal:	Get up to 60% OFF Norton Antivirus

Visit Norton Antivirus

Norton is the most feature-rich and gaming-focused antivirus on this list. It perfectly balances security, malware protection, and excellent gaming performance.

First and foremost, it’s a gamer-oriented antivirus that offers a Game Optimizer. It's an extension for fast and secure gaming performance, which focuses on eliminating lag and slowdowns while you’re gaming. When we tested the extension for the full Norton 360 review, the results presented low CPU usage and a great gaming experience.

This antivirus for gamers is also great due to its real-time protection. When I put it to the test, the feature instantly blocked all threats as soon as I released them. However, while this software efficiently detects and removes viruses, a full-system scan was slightly heavy on system resources.

Moreover, Norton comes with a full-fledged service for a secure, private, and risk-free gaming experience. It has a VPN for preventing DDoS and doxxing attacks, as well as a password manager in case you need to secure your logins to gaming platforms and launchers.

Overall, Norton is also an inexpensive antivirus as you can get all the features from just $29.99/year.

3. Bitdefender – performance-oriented gaming antivirus

Real-time monitoring:	✅ Yes
Gaming mode:	✅ Yes
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Current deal:	Get Bitdefender for up to 78% OFF

Visit Bitdefender

Bitdefender is well performing gaming PC antivirus software that offers an automatic gaming mode. It reduces antivirus software CPU usage while you’re gaming, and Bitdefender has proven to be one of the lowest CPU usage antivirus during my tests. Its feature-rich antivirus protection suite and excellent prices make this provider a well-rounded option for players.

Bitdefender doesn’t compromise security for performance, and it can detect and remove 100% of viruses and other malware. Moreover, this provider additionally offers an automatic gaming mode. Whenever you enter full-screen mode, Bitdefender minimizes the impact of antivirus on your PC's resources while gaming. Also, it postpones pop-ups and automatic updates so that you won't get distracted. When I tried it out, it activated smoothly, without any additional steps. As soon as I opened my game, I noticed that my CPU usage was significantly lower compared to other providers. Therefore, I didn't experience any performance issues caused by antivirus while gaming.

Bitdefender includes real-time monitoring, meaning it can scan your device while you’re gaming and keep your PC safe from viruses and other malware. On top of that, it has an integrated VPN and a password manager. A VPN can help protect your device and hide your IP address. Meanwhile, a password manager keeps your logins and sensitive info on various game launchers and websites safe.

One thing to note, the gaming profile does not limit the amount of CPU resources used by other apps. While not a huge oversight, this could be an interesting future implementation idea.

At just $12.99/year, Bitdefender is one of the most affordable gaming antiviruses. If you'd like to go for a more versatile option and secure more devices, I recommend opting for Bitdefender Total Security for $19.99/year – it covers up to 3 devices. On the other hand, you can also test its free version that offers functional malware detection software suitable for gaming.

4. Surfshark AV – top gaming VPN for DDoS protection

Real-time monitoring:	✅ Yes
Gaming mode:	❌ No
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, FireTV
Current deal:	Get Surfshark Antivirus - 85% OFF + 3 months FREE

Visit Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark Antivirus is one of the top choices for gamers considering you’re getting a well-rounded service. It’s included in the Surfshark One bundle and comes together with distinctive and useful extra features for gaming, such as a market-leading VPN.

Surfshark AV is excellent when it comes to malware detection. It detects and removes 100% of malicious threats. Moreover, you can game safely because the real-time protection monitors and removes malware in real time. With such strong performance, it's no wonder Surfshark earned the AV-TEST Top Product award.

This VPN stands out from its rivals due to useful extra features that enhance your safety while gaming. It includes one of the most advanced VPN solutions in the market. It’s blazing-fast, and if your internet service provider (ISP) throttles your bandwidth, Surfshark VPN can avoid performance issues.

Aside from the show's main stars, Surfshark Antivirus also comes with the Alert feature (scans the web for your leaked data) and a completely private ad-free search engine.

Surfshark One bundle starts at $37.66/year, and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can use to test the service out. If you already have Surfshark VPN, it'll additionally cost you around $1.49/month.

5. Avira – best free antivirus software for gaming

Real-time monitoring:	✅ Yes
Gaming mode:	✅ Yes
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Current deal:	Get 1 year of Avira at 65% OFF

Visit Avira

If you’re looking for a free gaming antivirus, Avira might be the ideal solution for you. It provides a game booster feature and can detect and remove malware effectively.

To begin with, an Avira Prime subscription has a game booster feature. The latter works by isolating background apps to a single CPU core, allowing for the rest to be available for the best gaming experience. It also has a Game mode that sets notifications for after you’re done gaming, so it doesn’t distract and worsen your gaming experience.

Like other top antivirus software for gaming PCs, Avira’s real-time protection monitors and scans all the files you access, informing whether they’re safe. It does all the scanning in the cloud, meaning the process won’t take up the memory or CPU power on your PC. This allows for a faster performance overall, not only while gaming.

On top of that, Avira also comes with a VPN that protects your data and identity while gaming – or simply browsing online. It also provides a password manager that allows you to securely keep all the game's credentials in a vault.

For just $22.99/year, you can get Avira’s premium plan that offers a better bundle of security features to keep you safe from viruses and cyberthreats while gaming. Avira also offers a great free version with top-notch protection from viruses.

6. Malwarebytes – antivirus gaming software with an ad blocker

Real-time monitoring:	✅ Yes
Gaming mode:	✅ Yes
Platforms:	Windows, Android, macOS, ChromeOS, iOS
Current deal:	Get Malwarebytes, now 50% OFF

Visit Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is one of the best antivirus gaming software I’ve tested. Its amazing malware detection rates make it suitable for all of your activities, including protection while gaming. The range of security features it includes helps you safely engage in video games.

Malwarebytes has a Play Mode, which hides notifications on Windows while you play, watch movies, or give presentations. This feature can be enabled on selected apps and managed according to your changing needs.

Malwarebytes also comes with a 99% zero-day rate, as well as superb malware prevention rates. One of its top-notch features is Exploit Protection, which protects all software vulnerabilities. It also has a built-in ad blocker (Browser Guard).

Malicious Website Protection that is included automatically checks and blocks malicious domains and IP addresses. In case you install a malicious file while gaming, Malwarebytes will put it in a quarantine section so that it doesn’t infect other files. There is also an included VPN for even better protection.

Malwarebytes supports PCs and laptops, meaning it is compatible with PC gaming. Due to its neat dashboard and straightforward installation process, you’ll configure it on your device in no time.

The best part is that Malwarebytes has a free limited subscription, supporting 1 device at a time. If you want to protect more devices simultaneously, you can get the Standard plan that costs $44.99/year and enjoy it on 20 devices with more features.

7. ESET – gaming antivirus with multiple-platform support

Real-time monitoring:	✅ Yes
Gaming mode:	✅ Yes
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Current deal:	Get ESET, save up to 30%

Visit ESET NOD32

ESET is an all-in-one gaming PC antivirus solution with excellent malware protection, a gaming mode, and additional features. It showed flawless performance, protection, and usability results during independent and in-house tests.

While ESET’s features may not be heavily gaming-focused, it's Gamer mode enhances your gaming experience by minimizing interruptions, and it offers multi-platform protection to secure multiple devices simultaneously. It means you can game on one PC and secure your other devices at the same time.

ESET also includes 24/7 real-time protection feature that ensures you’re safe from malware and ransomware attacks. ESET HOME Security packages additionally include the Safe Browsing feature to prevent harmful JavaScript injections and a network monitoring tool.

It’s also a full-fledged provider with Anti-Theft protection that includes your device’s location tracking, phantom account creation to mislead the intruder, and the ability to remotely lock or wipe your device. Plus, with the Premium Security plan, you gain a password manager that improves the safety of your passwords and eases their management. So you can stay safe at all times, even when you’re in the middle of a heated game.

ESET’s prices start at $34.99/year. If you have any doubts regarding committing to the subscription, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee applied to all plans.

Comparing the best antiviruses for gaming PC

If you're in a rush to find out which antivirus is the best for your gaming PC, here's a straightforward comparison:

Antivirus	Starting price	Game mode/booster	Increases CPU power	Device cleaning	Real-time monitoring	Free option
TotalAV	$19.00/year	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Norton 360	$29.99/year	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (7-day free trial)
Bitdefender	$12.99/year	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Surfshark Antivirus	$37.66/year	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (30-day money-back guarantee)
Avira	$22.99/year	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Malwarebytes	$44.99/year	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
ESET	$34.99/year	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (30-day free trial)

How we tested antivirus software for gaming

At Cybernews, we strictly test each recommended product according to our testing methodology. This time, to find the best antiviruses for gaming PCs, together with the Cybernews research team, I reviewed 30 antivirus providers. Then, I picked the top 7 antivirus services and ranked them based on the following criteria:

• PC performance optimization while gaming (20%). Antiviruses, like all software, consume CPU resources to perform basic functions, like running system scans, removing malware, and shielding your operating system from threats. During our tests, I looked into how much CPU power each antivirus consumes to find software that is the least heavy on your system resources while gaming.
• Malware detection rates (20%). Independent testing labs perform thorough malware detection tests with numerous antivirus software tools. I took the lab reports into consideration while ranking our antivirus recommendations.
• Real-time protection (20%). It is important to test how well antiviruses react to real-time threats and whether or not they can stop malware from being installed onto your device. In our case, I ensured that each provider on the list had a success rate as close to 100% as possible, with Bitdefender getting the perfect score.
• Ease of use (20%). Regardless if you’re a pro or a first-time user, it is important that the antivirus software is easy to download, install, and manage. I also considered whether the game mode is activated automatically or if it needs to be set up manually.
• Price (10%). As antivirus suites tend to be pretty expensive, I looked for the ones that can offer the best protection and features for the most affordable price.
• Customer support (10%). In case you experience any issues with the antivirus, qualified and quick customer support is crucial. I tested different antiviruses' support options to assess which ones assist users the best.

Other antivirus programs for gaming we tested

Not all antivirus software can offer an excellent performance while securing your device from malware and viruses simultaneously. Therefore, while I selected only the best antivirus for gaming PC for our list, there were a few other antivirus providers that didn’t make it.

One of those providers was McAfee. When I tested this provider, it protected gaming PCs excellently. However, it didn’t meet the performance versus security criteria. It detected and removed only around 80% of malware threats while demanding a significant amount of PC resources.

Due to independent and in-house testing, I identified that TotalAV is the best-performing antivirus software for gaming PCs. It can detect and remove malware with a 100% success rate without compromising your gaming performance.

Get TotalAV for gaming PC

Do I need antivirus on my gaming PC?

If you’re still not sure why you need an antivirus for a gaming PC, here are some reasons to consider:

• Protect your device from malware. In-game malware distribution is possible. Although malware is most common in games downloaded for free or from unofficial sources, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be present in officially safe games. Using a reliable antivirus that can detect malicious code or files will help you stay safe while playing on multiplayer servers and when downloading and purchasing any addons or the games themselves.
• Avoid phishing and scams. Scammers are prone to targeting gamers with promises of cheap skins, tools, or in-game currency, as well as by selling otherwise expensive games for almost nothing. The majority of the best antiviruses, however, have browser extensions that scan for phishing and malicious websites and disable suspicious links before you can click on them.
• Protect your privacy. Many of the best antivirus suites offer additional privacy protection features, such as VPNs and password managers. With these tools, you can hide your IP address and avoid DDoS attacks or generate strong passwords and protect your gaming platform accounts from being stolen and exploited.

Does antivirus affect gaming?

While it’s very uncommon, some users might face one or two issues while trying to figure out the best antivirus configuration for gaming. Some of the most frequent problems include:

• Complicated configuration processess and hidden functionalities. Some antivirus software might be a little confusing at first. However, in my list, we compiled the best options that won’t take up your time. Most of them have a gaming mode easily accessible, and the configuration is very straightforward.
• A game is not launching after installing an antivirus. This could be due to a certain configuration or parental control settings that do not allow playing at certain hours. Other than that, the antivirus might have detected a threat within the game.
• The antivirus is not allowing to download a specific game. If that’s the case, there’s a high chance that it’s a pirated game that is infected by malware and the antivirus is blocking it.

How to protect gaming computers from viruses

Protecting your gaming PC against viruses and other types of malware is very important. This is crucial for keeping your personal data safe, protecting financial security, and maintaining optimal PC performance. Here are a few basic steps you can take to increase gaming PC protection against malware:

• Install an antivirus. Your first line of defense against all kinds of malware is a reliable antivirus. This software is designed to protect your gaming PC and other devices against all kinds of threats, which is why installing it is strongly recommended.
• Perform regular system scans. It is not enough to just install an antivirus. You need to make sure that it performs regular system scans. It’s best to set up scheduled scans, but you can also run full scans when it’s convenient for you. Just make sure they are regular to keep your system’s security at optimal levels.
• Update your software. Updating your antivirus is very important, but do not neglect other applications and software on your devices. Regular updates ensure that vulnerabilities are patched in time so that cybercriminals cannot exploit them to spread malware.
• Set up backups. To ensure that your data can be restored in the event of malware attacks or security breaches, set up regular backups. They will help you recover quickly without compromising your gaming experience.
• Use strong passwords. Cybercriminals may attempt to brute-force their way into your accounts and gaming devices. To prevent that from happening, make sure you use strong and unique passwords for every account. To help you create and protect strong passwords, consider employing one of the top password managers of 2026.
• Download cautiously. Only download apps from trusted app stores and software and files from reliable sources. If you download carelessly, you could fall into a trap laid by cybercriminals. Remember that they can present very attractive offers to trick you into downloading malware.
• Use an ad-blocker. There are plenty of trustworthy ad-blockers to choose from, and they can protect you from potentially misleading ads. These ads could include links to malicious websites and be used for phishing scams. An effective ad-blocker will guard you against trackers, disruptive notifications, and all kinds of ads – from in-text to video ads.
• Avoid suspicious links. Whether links are introduced to you via emails, ads, online forums, direct messages on social media platforms, or seemingly harmless websites – be cautious. If you interact with random links carelessly, you might end up letting malware into your system yourself.

Video review

The antivirus software must be designed for gaming PCs to avoid performance slowdowns or lags. The following video discusses the risks associated with gaming and dives into each antivirus provider's suitability for gaming PCs, highlighting the value offered by each provider.

Can I use free antivirus for playing games?

Yes, you can, but that’s not recommended. Most free antiviruses are designed to do only the bare minimum, such as running scans and warning you of potential malware infections. They probably won’t have additional features such as a gaming mode, performance optimization, or device cleaning.

I advise selecting only the best free antivirus for gaming, and usually, the most reliable ones are freemium or free versions of premium providers. This way, you don’t risk your security with an unreliable provider, and you can use the software with peace of mind since it won’t carry malware or sell your data to third parties.

Best antivirus for gaming: bottom line

All in all, having an antivirus can greatly improve your gaming experience. Not only does it protect your PC from potential online threats, malicious attacks, and phishing, but it can also maintain your PC’s performance while gaming.

However, while the security benefits are undeniable, some players believe that antiviruses will slow down their gaming experience. Worry not, as most antiviruses on my list are either performance-oriented or have a gaming mode that limits background notifications and CPU usage. So you can rest assured that your gaming experience will be fast and secure.

Now, if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, check out TotalAV – the best antivirus software for gaming PCs.

FAQ