Best Kaspersky alternatives in 2026
Backed by leading cybersecurity experts and investigative journalists, we deliver independent, real-world antivirus testing and analysis, guaranteeing objective evaluations without undue influence or bias from outside parties.
Our transparent and consistent methodologies ensure objective, up-to-date reviews, empowering readers to make well-informed decisions.
Learn more
If you’re thinking about switching from Kaspersky to a different antivirus, you’re not alone. Users have started looking for alternatives due to concerns about Kaspersky’s ties to the Russian government and the safety of their data. Additionally, since the US banned the sale of Kaspersky products on July 20th, 2024, Kaspersky antivirus no longer receives updates in the US, and its protection capabilities are becoming ineffective.
Despite the controversy, we continued to test Kaspersky and compare it to other top antivirus solutions. In this article, I’ll review the best Kaspersky alternatives that offer similar or better protection but without the security risks.
What's the best alternative to Kaspersky?
- TotalAV – overall best Kaspersky alternative in 2026
- Norton Antivirus – secure replacement for Kaspersky antivirus
- Bitdefender – budget-friendly substitute to Kaspersky
Our team of researchers thoroughly tests antivirus software following a well-established testing process. In unison, our experts combine in-house and independent testing lab findings with first-hand experience to help you make informed decisions about each product. Learn how we test antivirus software.
Why you need to replace Kaspersky’s antivirus ASAP
You should consider replacing Kaspersky antivirus for security and performance reasons. In July, 2024, the US government banned the sale of Kaspersky software over national security concerns. This is because Kaspersky is based in Russia and could be required by the government to help with spying and cyberattacks.
After the ban, some users also reported that Kaspersky was replaced with UltraAV, an unknown and untested antivirus program, on their devices without their permission. This raised further concerns about privacy and data safety.
Additionally, if you still have Kaspersky software after the US ban, it probably isn’t getting updates anymore, which means it can no longer protect your devices. And even if you’re not based in the US, Kaspersky’s close ties to the Russian government mean that it may leak your sensitive data or install malicious software if required to.
Finally, you should consider replacing Kaspersky simply to improve your antivirus performance. Top antiviruses with a clean track record, such as TotalAV and Norton, will provide you with effective protection and a wider range of features.
Kaspersky alternatives compared
| Antivirus provider | Rating | Starting price | Maximum devices | Firewall | Platforms | Money-back guarantee |
| 1. TotalAV | $19.00/year | 8 | ❌ No | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | 30 days | |
| 2. Norton Antivirus | $29.99/year | 10 | ✅ Yes | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | 60 days | |
| 3. Bitdefender | $12.99/year | 10 | ✅ Yes (select plans) | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | 30 days |
Best alternatives to Kaspersky in 2026 – detailed reviews
Here’s a list of the best options to replace Kaspersky. If you’re thinking about moving on from this Russia-based antivirus, any of these choices will make a solid alternative.
1. TotalAV – the best Kaspersky alternative overall
| Rating: | |
| Based in: | The UK |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 8 |
| Free version: | ✅ Yes |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Current deal: | Get TotalAV, now 80% OFF |
Why TotalAV is the best alternative to Kaspersky
TotalAV is a trustworthy alternative to Kaspersky, offering similar malware protection. It’s available in the US and is more budget-friendly, with plans starting at $19.00/year. TotalAV also offers a free version with a basic anti-malware scanner. Plus, the app is more user-friendly and easier to navigate than Kaspersky.
In-house performance testing
During our in-house TotalAV tests, its full scan caught 103 malware samples out of 150, which is a decent 69% success rate but lower than Kaspersky’s 100% rate.
However, TotalAV only used 60-75% of the CPU and completed the scan in 6 minutes, making it faster and less resource-intensive than Kaspersky.
| TotalAV | Kaspersky | |
| Malware caught | 69% | 100% |
| Full scan duration | 6min | 53min |
| CPU usage | 60-75% | 80-100% |
TotalAV evaluation by AV-TEST gave the product a perfect 6/6 score in the protection, usability, and performance categories. AV-Comparatives performed malware protection tests in March 2025, and the results were mostly favorable for TotalAV. It had an incredible online protection rate of 99.97%.
TotalAV has great features that make it a robust antivirus. It offers real-time protection, next-gen Cloud Scanning for zero-day threats, ransomware prevention, and extra tools like a VPN, password manager, and system optimizer to remove junk files and unused programs.
Reputation
Based in the UK, TotalAV adheres to strict privacy laws and is trusted by millions of users globally. Plus, the service has never been breached. It consistently received great reviews from independent testers like AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, and our in-house tests confirm that it's a reputable, safe antivirus solution.
2. Norton Antivirus – Kaspersky alternative with advanced security
| Rating: | |
| Based in: | US and Czech Republic |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 10 |
| Free version: | ❌ No, but a free trial available |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Current deal: | Get up to 60% OFF Norton Antivirus |
Why Norton Antivirus is the best alternative to Kaspersky
Norton Antivirus is a more reliable and affordable option than Kaspersky, offering excellent virus detection rates. Plans start at $29.99/year and come with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. Norton also includes extra features like Dark Web Monitoring and Cloud Backup.
In-house performance testing
During our Norton Antivirus testing, it caught all 10 malware samples, completing a full scan in 11 minutes with high CPU usage (70–100%).
Similarly, Kaspersky’s full scan caught all 10 malware samples with high CPU usage (80-100%). However, it took a surprising 53 minutes – it was stuck on 99% completion for over 20 minutes.
| Norton Antivirus | Kaspersky | |
| Malware caught | 100% | 100% |
| Full scan duration | 11min | 53min |
| CPU usage | 70-100% | 80-100% |
As for independent testing, AV-TEST gave a perfect 6/6 score across all categories, while AV-Comparatives’ March 2025 Norton testing reported a 99.96% malware protection rate.
As highlighted in our Norton vs Kaspersky comparison, Norton has lots of extra features that won’t let you miss your old antivirus. You’ll get Norton VPN, a Password Manager, Cloud Backup, Dark Web Monitoring, SafeCam, and Parental Controls.
Reputation
Norton is a highly trusted American company known for its strong reviews from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives. Its comprehensive feature set and excellent virus detection rates make it one of the most reliable antivirus providers on the market.
3. Bitdefender – wallet-friendly Kaspersky alternative
| Rating: | |
| Based in: | Romania |
| Simultaneous connections: | Up to 10 |
| Free version: | ✅ Yes |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Get Bitdefender for up to 78% OFF |
Why Bitdefender is the best alternative to Kaspersky
Bitdefender outperforms Kaspersky in virus detection and offers higher protection rates, according to our in-house tests. It’s also cheaper than Kaspersky, with prices starting at just $12.99/year for a single device.
In-house performance testing
In our Bitdefender review, the full system scan caught 137 out of 150 malware samples, which is a 91% success rate, almost as good as Kaspersky’s. However, it took 1h 46min to complete – longer compared to Kaspersky.
Additionally, Bitdefender had a moderate impact on the system resources, with 75% CPU usage.
| Bitdefender | Kaspersky | |
| Malware caught | 91% | 100% |
| Full scan duration | 1h 46min | 53min |
| CPU usage | 75% | 80-100% |
In AV-TEST Bitdefender evaluations, it received perfect 6/6 ratings in the protection, performance, and usability categories. It also showed a 99.97% malware protection rate according to AV-Comparatives tests.
Bitdefender provides all the essential features Kaspersky is known for, plus additional tools. Along with Wi-Fi and ransomware protection, you’ll get safe browsing, a robust firewall, and webcam/microphone protection. It also comes with Bitdefender VPN, a file shredder for secure data removal, and a password manager to keep your credentials safe.
Reputation
Bitdefender is a Romanian-based company that recovered from a data breach in 2015 and is now a highly trusted antivirus provider. It consistently earns great reviews from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, and our in-house tests confirm its strong malware protection.
Which Kaspersky alternative should I pick?
The Kaspersky alternative you should pick depends on your needs and wants. The good thing is that all the antivirus programs mentioned on this page are equally good in terms of quality, with only minor differences in features and virus detection rates.
However, if you’re still unsure about which Kaspersky competitor to pick, here are the three best alternatives for Kaspersky antivirus:
- TotalAV is a great choice if you want a more user-friendly experience and solid protection, with a free version available
- Norton Antivirus is a perfect alternative for those who are looking for a more feature-rich antivirus
- Bitdefender is ideal for those looking for a wallet-friendly Kaspersky alternative
Your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, like budget, the number of devices you need to protect, or whether you need extra features like a VPN or password manager.
How I selected and tested these Kaspersky alternatives
With the help of the Cybernews research team, I tested 30 different antivirus programs, so choosing the best antivirus software for this list was quite a task. After all, these are the tools that will be responsible for protecting your device from malware and viruses.
In order to ensure thorough and reliable results, our research team ran antivirus software tests on a VirtualBox virtual machine running Windows 11, set up on a powerful Lenovo ThinkStation with an AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX processor (12 cores, 3.99GHz), 64GB of RAM, and a 3TB SSD. For Mac tests, we used a VMware setup with macOS 12.0.1 Monterey, packing 16GB of RAM and 4 CPU cores running at 3.81GHz.
Working alongside the Cybernews research team, I tested various popular malware samples. This included testing for ransomware, keyloggers, spyware, adware, and other threats to see how well the antivirus software held up in real-world scenarios.
Following the antivirus testing methodology we use at Cybernews, I ranked each provider based on the following criteria:
- Virus protection capabilities (30%). First and foremost, a good anti-malware tool replacing Kaspersky should provide excellent virus detection in real-time and during scans. Thus, I researched tests performed by independent antivirus testing labs and compared them to our in-house test results.
- False positives (25%). It’s annoying when an antivirus tool keeps showing you scary notifications that turn out to be false. Thus, I aimed for antivirus apps with the lowest rates of false positives.
- Reputation (25%). This is a crucial aspect and the main reason we eliminated Kaspersky from our suggested antivirus lists. A service involved in a scandal or data breach shouldn’t be considered.
- Extra features (20%). Although an antivirus’ main job is to protect your device from viruses, having some useful extra features is an advantage. Thus, a good Kaspersky alternative will give you many extras, like parental controls, a system booster, a password manager, and even a VPN.
Why did the US ban Kaspersky?
The US banned Kaspersky Labs' antivirus software from being sold in the United States on July 20th, 2024. The US is worried about national security, especially since Kaspersky has ties to Russia and could potentially spy on American computer systems. The US was particularly concerned because government agencies and key infrastructure providers used Kaspersky’s software.
Based in Russia, Kaspersky argues that it's more about politics than its product security. Still, the US government isn't taking any chances, especially after banning Kaspersky from being used by federal agencies in 2017.
The Commerce Department's investigation found some serious reasons behind the ban:
- Kaspersky's relationship with the Russian government raises red flags about data security
- Kaspersky's software may be used to deliver malware or block updates, exposing US users to cyberattacks
- Integrating Kaspersky into other products adds more uncertainty about data protection
To ease the transition, Kaspersky was able to send updates until September 29th, 2024, giving everyone time to find a new alternative antivirus.
Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized that this move was about protecting Americans and their information. She pointed to past incidents where Russia might've used Kaspersky for its gain instead of US security interests.
This decision shows how seriously the US takes its digital defenses and the ongoing battle against threats that could threaten the country's safety.
Final verdict
While Kaspersky antivirus has shown consistently high performance over the years, its close ties to the Russian government and the recent US ban have ruined its reputation. Users started questioning its trustworthiness and looking for a more secure alternative.
While high malware detection rates are a sign of a powerful antivirus, it’s features like ease of use and additional security tools that make some antivirus programs stand out from the crowd. TotalAV is one such provider, offering not only good malware detection rates but also a user-friendly app, a free version, and a full suite of additional security products.
FAQ
What is the best replacement for Kaspersky?
The best replacement for Kaspersky is TotalAV. It offers effective malware protection with faster and less resource-intensive system scans. Plus, unlike Kaspersky, it has never had a security scandal.
What company is replacing Kaspersky?
Kaspersky has been replaced by UltraAV in the US. On July 20th, 2024, the US banned the sale of Kaspersky products. In response, Kaspersky automatically deleted its software and installed UltraAV on its users’ devices, which raised privacy concerns.
Why did Google remove Kaspersky?
Google removed Kaspersky from the Google Play Store to comply with the US Kaspersky ban. In 2024, the US banned the company from selling and distributing its products within the country due to concerns over its close ties to the Russian government.
