The best antivirus apps protect your Android device and personal privacy.

If you still don’t have an antivirus app installed on your Android phone or tablet, you are at more risk of getting threats and infection from malicious apps, file downloads, and other sources of malware.

There are several options available for Android users. The best apps on our list provide superb malware detection and prevention as well as a variety of anti-theft and privacy features. Most of the apps offer a free package, but others are completely available for free.

When it comes to Android antivirus apps, the best ones will allow you to back up for your contacts list, track the phone or tablet using GPS, take a picture of the thief with the phone camera if your phone gets stolen, and use a smartwatch to locate the device. As mentioned, there are a lot of Android antivirus apps that offer free packages, but the features they offer are not the same.

In this article, we picked out antivirus apps from some of the leading brands in mobile security including Avast, Norton, McAfee, 360 Security, Bitdefender, Lookout, Kaspersky, and even Google. We rated their mobile security apps based on interface, usability, setup, anti-malware capabilities, and extra features as well.

AV-Test, an independent German lab, provides ratings for many of the biggest names in mobile security based on the apps’ ability for zero-day malware detection and other novel threats. The Geekbench 4 app was also used to measure how security apps affect overall performance.

 

The best antivirus apps for Android devices

According to our tests, the best Android security app is Bitdefender Mobile Security. The annual subscription costs $15 which provides complete malware protection and a variety of other features.

Norton Mobile Security does provide better protection at $30 a year. However, starting December 2019, Norton stopped offering the free package for Norton Mobile Security which included anti-theft features. Thus, Norton Mobile Security is not as highly recommended as before.

The Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus free version doesn’t show ads, and its anti-theft and call-blocking tools have satisfactory performance. Malware protection is also quite good, but the free version doesn’t have a network security scanner.

McAfee Mobile Security and Avast Mobile Security both offer several free features and perform well enough in terms of malware detection. The downside with Avast is that their call-blocking and anti-theft features did not work as well as we wanted to. Both apps also show a ton of ads unless you get a paid subscription.

Lookout Security & Antivirus, one of the first antivirus apps for mobile devices, has a convincing identity protection feature. However, there is no sufficient data from third-party lab testing to evaluate how effectively the app can protect users from malware.

Qihoo 360 Security is not something we strongly recommend. Although it offers several features, the free version contains too many ads that you’d want to get the paid version instead. The app slowed down the test phone considerably more than any of the other Android antivirus apps tested, and there’s also little information on how effective it is in malware protection.

Lastly, every Android phone that has Google Play also has Google Play Protect installed. Unfortunately, Google Play Protect doesn’t do much in terms of protecting your device from malware so we suggest you use a different app.

The leading antivirus apps for Android have excellent malware detection and prevention capabilities plus a variety of anti-theft and privacy tools. The best Android antivirus apps should be able to track a phone or tablet with GPS, take photos of phone thieves using the phone’s camera, and allow smartwatch users to track and locate their phones.

Read on to find the top Android antivirus apps in the market.

 

1. Bitdefender Mobile Security

SPECS

• Best paid version
• Annual subscription fee: $15
• Anti-theft: Yes
• App lock: Yes
• Ads: No
• Minimum Android requirement: 4.1 Jelly Bean

PROS

• Excellent malware protection
• Affordable annual subscription
• Range of useful tools
• Small impact on system

CONS

• Unlimited VPN is pricey

The Bitdefender Mobile Security app provides excellent protection against malware with a very small impact on device performance. The app features a VPN client, compatibility with Android Wear watch, and a malicious website blocker applicable to many Android browsers. Bitdefender’s Mobile Security also includes powerful tools for privacy protection such as Wi-FI scanners, app lock, data breach alerts, and anti-theft features.

Since this is a premium version, Bitdefender offers a free trial period for 14 days. They do have a separate and completely free Android antivirus app, but it will only scan for malware. The VPN client included in the Bitdefender Mobile Security provides 200MB of free data which is sufficient for checking emails. If you need more data, you can pay $7 per month or $50 a year.

At $15 a year, we think Bitdefender Mobile Security is definitely worth your money and is our top choice among mobile security apps.

2. Norton Mobile Security

SPECS

• Annual subscription fee: $30
• Anti-theft: No
• App lock: No
• Ads: No
• Minimum Android requirement: 4.1 Jelly Bean

PROS

• Excellent malware protection
• Intuitive design
• Better App Advisor than competitors

CONS

• No free version
• Anti-theft function removed

Among the mobile security apps we tested, one of the best for malware protection is Norton Mobile Security. Sadly, Norton got rid of some amazing features in December 2019 including anti-theft function, contacts backup, and Link Guard for blocking malicious links. What’s worse is that Norton also got rid of the free version which was one of the top antivirus apps.

Norton’s Android antivirus app is now just a paid version. It’s also one of the more expensive antivirus apps although it doesn’t have some of the common functions like app lock.

One feature you might want to invest in is the unique App Advisor which monitors apps installed in your device for unusual behavior and heavy data usage. Norton’s App Advisor also checks apps from Google Play Store for any security and privacy risks before you even install them.

3. Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus

SPECS

• Annual subscription fee: Free; Premium version $20
• Anti-theft: Yes
• App lock: Premium version
• Ads: No
• Minimum Android requirement: 4.2 Jelly Bean

PROS

• Powerful malware protection
• Reliable call blocking
• No ads even in the free version

CONS

• Limited features in general
• New Apps auto-scan not included in free version

Kaspersky Internet Security for Android, also known as Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus, offers top-of-the-line malware protection with a small system impact and a proper call blocking function.

You won’t see ads even in the free version and you won’t get constant reminders to pay for a premium subscription. The free version provides Android Wear support, call filtering, and a robust set of anti-theft features, although you do have to manually scan new apps.

The premium version provides auto-scans for newly installed apps, a website blocker for known phishing sites, and an app lock. The premium version doesn’t have a Wi-Fi network scanner and lacks privacy features you would find in many other antivirus apps.

Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus’ free version is a great choice if you’re only interested in the malware scanner. The premium version is low-priced but it looks bare when you compare it to the competition. Its rival app from Bitdefender gives you more value for your money and costs $5 cheaper.

4. Lookout Security & Antivirus

SPECS

• Annual subscription fee: Free; Premium version $30/$100
• Anti-theft: Partially premium
• App lock: No
• Ads: No
• Minimum Android requirement: 4.4 Jelly Bean

PROS

• Solid identity protection service
• Well-designed user interface

CONS

• Limited free features
• Lacks data on malware protection ability
• Slow and heavy scan

Lookout Security & Antivirus, also known as Lookout Mobile Security or Lookout Personal, was among the first and best mobile antivirus apps. The clean interface makes it easy to navigate and the lack of ads makes it a popular choice for consumers. However, the cost of additional features can quickly accumulate since the free version only includes essentials such as malware scanners and lost phone trackers.

The premium version is quite pricey as $30 a year when some of its features including Wi-Fi network security scanning and malicious website blocking are included in free versions from other providers. But if you don’t have a VPN yet, the unlimited VPN included in the paid subscription plus the alert service for data breaches make it worth spending money.

Their Premium Plus plan, offered at $100 a year, is a relatively affordable service for identity protection. You get a lot of the benefits offered by IdentityForce or LifeLock, so the price might be worthwhile. The downside is the lack of data since Lookout doesn’t submit to third-party laboratory testing. We don’t have enough information to gauge how well its malware protection performs. Active scans are also heavy and slow.

5. Avast Mobile Security

SPECS

• Annual subscription fee: Free; Premium version $24/$40
• Anti-theft: Partially premium
• App lock: Premium version
• Ads: Free version
• Minimum Android requirement: 5.0 Lollipop

PROS

• Affordable premium version
• Feature-packed free version

CONS

• Faulty anti-theft tools
• Call-blocking feature does not work
• Free version has too many ads

One of the apps with the most complete list of tools and features is Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus. This mobile antivirus app offers almost everything you need including a privacy adviser, customizable blacklist, and system optimizer.

Although Avast does provide decent malware protection, there are some points for improvement in their antivirus app. Some of their anti-theft functions were unreliable, and the call-blocking feature just refused to work. The constant ads and upgrade pop-ups were also incredibly annoying and unpleasant.

You can get rid of the ads if you get any of the paid versions –the Premium tier for $2 a month or $24 a year and the Ultimate tier for $7 a month or $40 a year. Getting a paid version also entails more anti-theft tools, an app locker, and access to tech support.

If you want a VPN client, you can get the SecureLine VPN when you subscribe to the Ultimate tier. Buying the SecureLine as a separate item will cost you $48 a year while getting an Ultimate subscription means you only pay $16 for it.

6. McAfee Mobile Security

SPECS

• Annual subscription fee: Free; Premium version $30/$80
• Anti-theft: Yes
• App lock: Premium version
• Ads: Free version
• Minimum Android requirement: 4.2 Jelly Bean

PROS

• Packed with free features
• Guest mode

CONS

• Nonstop ads with the free version
• More expensive premium plans
• Mediocre malware protection

Similar to Avast, McAfee also has a lot of useful versions although the free version is filled with ads and offers to upgrade to the premium version. It has decent malware protection and a Guest feature that allows other people, for a limited time, to safely use your phone.

With the free version, you do get some nice features including a Wi-Fi network security scanner, anti-theft tools, and a tracker for your apps’ data usage. When you upgrade to the Standard level, you get access to a URL screener, app locker, 24/7 access to tech support, and ad-free use. The premium version is on the more expensive side especially when you compare it against apps from Kaspersky or Bitdefender that offer similar features for a lower price.

The highest paid level costs $80 a year providing all the features from the Standard tier with the addition of unlimited VPN access for one mobile device. There are cheaper options for VPN services that can cover more devices.

7. 360 Security / Safe Security

SPECS

• Annual subscription fee: Free; Premium version $12
• Anti-theft: No
• App lock: Yes
• Ads: Free version
• Minimum Android requirement: 4.1 Jelly Bean

PROS

• Free version has complete features
• Affordable premium version

CONS

• No tests on malware protection
• System slowdown
• Free version peppered with ads

360 Security or Safe Security offers all the features in the free version of their antivirus app. These include a performance booster, system cleaner, Wi-Fi scanner, anti-theft, photo locker, and app lock. Although you get all these tools for free, there are some things that bother us. A lot of the features either don’t perform well or fail to work at all. The interface is messy and the number of ads is just overwhelming with some even occupying the full screen.

Upgrading to the paid version doesn’t get rid of the clutter completely. You’ll still find tabs promoting news and games. The app would have been more convincing, even with all the ads, if there was available data on how well it performs in malware protection. Unfortunately for us, the app is not submitted for third-party testing. 360 Security also slowed down system functions heavily when running a scan. For now, neither the free nor premium versions are recommended.

8. Google Play Protect

SPECS

• Annual subscription fee: Free
• Anti-theft: Yes
• App lock: Yes
• Ads: No
• Minimum Android requirement: 4.1 Jelly Bean

PROS

• Built-into Android
• Reliable anti-theft features
• Small system impact

CONS

• Weak malware protection
• Limited features

Google Play Protect is built into all Android devices running Google Play and it would have been amazing if it performed well. The weak malware detection features were disappointing and are probably the best example of why you should use a third-party antivirus app for your Android.

We do appreciate Google Play Protect’s clean interface, light system impact, absence of ads. Some of the built-in features on Android devices such as Chrome Safe Browsing and Find My Device match the features from third-party antivirus apps.

The best thing about Google Play Protect is that it can be used to disable any dangerous app remotely whether you have third-party antivirus software running or not. It’s recommended to keep Google Play Protect enabled.

Still, the overall evaluation is that Google Play Protect is not the best in malware protection. For your safety, find another antivirus app you can use.

Comparison Chart for the Best Android Antivirus Apps

Why you need to get an antivirus app?

One of the best ways to protect your Android device is to always keep the software updated. Each new update for your phone makes it more secure compared to the previous one. Every security update you receive also fixes newly detected flaws.

These security updates are first made available to Google Pixel and Android One phones. If you don’t have one of those, you won’t get the security updates immediately. Most manufacturers would need time to ensure that the new changes will not disrupt the device or their software. Waiting for new security patches can take weeks or months. What’s worse is that a lot of Android phones only get the OS upgrades for two years while some never receive the regular security updates.

Now, this is where your anti-virus app will be tested. The Android antivirus app should be able to prevent attacks that try to penetrate Android’s security especially those that are recently patched but are not yet (or will never be) delivered to your phone. The antivirus app should also prevent attacks that Google Play Protect missed.

Choosing the best Mobile Antivirus App

Most Android antivirus apps are offered using three pricing structures – fully paid, fully free, and freemium.

Freemium antivirus apps are those that give you the option of getting limited features for free or paying for a premium version that includes the complete set of features just like other paid antivirus apps. Features often include app advisors to examine apps, anti-theft tools, Wi-Fi network security scanners, or app lock that secure specific apps with a password. Free versions of antivirus apps will also have several ads when you use them.

Fully paid apps and premium packages typically cost $15 to $30 per year. Some antivirus providers will limit the number of devices covered by your premium subscription. Some providers would offer a top-level tier which often includes identity protection tools and VPN service for a reasonable price.

You might get carried away by all these extra features. Remember that the most significant factor to consider is the antivirus app’s malware protection. Bitdefender and Norton are at the top in terms of malware protection with Kaspersky just a few steps behind. Avast has decent performance but it could better, and Google Play Protect is just awful. For 360 Security and Lookout, it’s difficult to evaluate since there are no recent data from independent lab testing.