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The best antivirus software in the UK will protect your device and personal information from malware and viruses.
To ensure advertisers and hackers can’t access your data, you need a secure, reliable antivirus solution. To help you make the right pick, we’ve identified the best antivirus software for the UK – and have reviewed and compared the top picks.
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- 1. TotalAV — Overall, the Best UK Antivirus
- 2. McAfee — Award-Winning Antivirus Software With a Built-in VPN
- 3. Norton — Cybersecurity Veteran That Offers Excellent Value for Money
- 4. Avast — Best Free Antivirus Software UK, Analysing Suspicious Apps and Files in the Cloud
- 5. Bitdefender — Popular Antivirus That Boasts Strong Third-Party Test Results
- 6. Nord Threat Protection — Popular Online Security Tool That Blocks Intrusive Ads and Tracking Attempts
- 7. Surfshark — Lightweight Antivirus Solution With Superb Zero-Day Threat Protection
- 8. Intego — Best Antivirus for Mac With Automatic Scans For External Drives
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- 1. TotalAV — Overall, the Best UK Antivirus
- 2. McAfee — Award-Winning Antivirus Software With a Built-in VPN
- 3. Norton — Cybersecurity Veteran That Offers Excellent Value for Money
- 4. Avast — Best Free Antivirus Software UK, Analysing Suspicious Apps and Files in the Cloud
- 5. Bitdefender — Popular Antivirus That Boasts Strong Third-Party Test Results
- 6. Nord Threat Protection — Popular Online Security Tool That Blocks Intrusive Ads and Tracking Attempts
- 7. Surfshark — Lightweight Antivirus Solution With Superb Zero-Day Threat Protection
- 8. Intego — Best Antivirus for Mac With Automatic Scans For External Drives
Show Full Guide
Best Antivirus Software UK – Top 8 Shortlist
If you’re looking for a quick overview, here are our rankings for the best antivirus software in the UK in 2023:
- TotalAV — The best antivirus software in the UK for total protection against malware and viruses, which disables tracking cookies and is compatible with every OS.
- McAfee — Top antivirus software for Windows. This virus protection tool has a built-in VPN and an advanced Identity Monitoring feature to prevent phishing, data leaks, and threats.
- Norton — Leading antivirus software offers 100% virus protection and real-time Dark Web monitoring. Its SafeCam protection prevents potential webcam threats.
- Avast — The best free antivirus software for individuals in the UK. It has a fast and secure VPN to help protect against malware, ransomware, and spyware.
- BitDefender — A popular antivirus for UK families and businesses, which boasts a VPN and password manager at a low price and has been independently tested, proving its effectiveness.
- Nord Threat Protection — An add-on for the excellent NordVPN, this affordable security software has a built-in ad blocker and offers a URL trimmer for added security.
- Surfshark — One of the more lightweight antiviruses, which is able to protect against same-day threats and to disable ads and trackers.
- Intego — The best antivirus software for Mac users in the UK. This antivirus software has a strong firewall, blocks phishing attempts, and offers 24/7 real-time scanning.
Best UK Antivirus Apps Compared
Here’s a quick comparison table of the best UK antivirus apps:
| Antivirus | Pricing | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| TotalAV | £25/year (£2.08/month) | N/A | 30 days | Protection: 5.5/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
6 |
| McAfee | £33/year (£2.75/month) | 30 days | 30 days | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
6 |
| Norton | £12.28/year (£1.02/month) | 7 days | 60 days | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
10 |
| Avast | Free | Free-forever plan | 30 days | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
30 |
| Bitdefender | £34.99/year (£2.91/month) | 30 days | 30 days | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
15 |
| Nord Threat Protection | £2/month | N/A | 30 days | Not Tested | 6 |
| Surfshark | £2.92/month | N/A | 30 days | Protection: 4.5/6.0 Performance: 4.5/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
Unlimited |
| Intego | £58/year for a Mac (£4.83/month) | N/A | 30 days | Protection: 5.5/6.0 Performance: 5.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
5 |
The Best UK Antivirus Software Reviewed
Here are our top antivirus reviews, so you can see exactly what the different providers offer and choose the one that’s best for you and which is the best antivirus software for UK users overall.
1. TotalAV — Overall, the Best UK Antivirus
| Cheapest Subscription Plan | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| £25 for first year (annual plan) | N/A | 30 days | Protection: 5.5/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
6 |
TotalAV is a robust online security tool that offers real-time protection, safeguards your device from malware and viruses, and helps you avoid online scams.
It proactively scans all downloads and executable files – .exes – before your device accesses them, making sure threats are detected and quarantined before they can infect your PC, laptop, or phone.
TotalAv can also detect and remove existing threats on your system, ensuring optimal performance and preventing unauthorised parties from accessing your data.
Another reason to opt for TotalAV over other antivirus software providers is that it automatically blocks all tracking cookies, so websites won’t be able to collect your data and sell it to advertisers. TotalAV also continuously monitors the web and will notify you if your details appear in a data breach.
This extra layer of security ensures you’ll have the chance to react and update your credentials before hackers can cause any harm.
Given this excellent range of features, we rate TotalAV as the best PC antivirus.
Pricing
TotalAV offers three subscription packages – Antivirus Pro, Internet Security, and Total Security. If you’re only interested in the antivirus, you can get it for just £25 for the first year, auto-renewing at £100/year thereafter.
The Internet Security software package also includes a VPN and starts at £32 for the first year, while the Total Security package adds an ad-blocker and a password vault into the mix for £40 for the first year.
Pros
- Scans all downloads and executables
- Disables tracking cookies
- Compatible with range of devices and operating systems
- Instant notifications of potential data breaches
- One of the best server antiviruses
Cons
- No browser extension for Edge or Firefox
2. McAfee — Award-Winning Antivirus Software With a Built-in VPN
| Cheapest Subscription Plan | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| £33 for first year (annual plan) | 30 days | 30 days | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
6 |
McAfee is an award-winning antivirus software product with a long history of premium cybersecurity delivery.
It’s a powerful antivirus that offers real-time threat protection, but the platform’s strong suit lies in its additional features, including the ability to monitor up to 60 different types of personal information and to safeguard your passwords.
If any of your data is detected on the Dark Web or as a part of a data breach, McAfee will immediately notify you, so you can take precautionary steps.
If you opt for the Premium or Advanced versions of the software, you’ll also be able to take advantage of financial transaction and credit monitoring, plus credit score reports.
This eliminates the chances of hackers stealing your banking information and draining your accounts, as you’ll know the second someone tries to make a purchase using your credit card or to transfer funds to a different account.
Another advantage of McAfee is that it comes with a built-in VPN – a Virtual Private Network connection – which protects your personal data, hides your IP, and wards off cyber-attacks. The VPN comes with all three pricing plans, so you’ll be protected while browsing the web regardless of which plan you pick.
With its comprehensive range of security tools, we rate McAfee as one of the best antivirus options for the UK.
Pricing
You can get the base McAfee antivirus package without any additional security features for £32.76/year for the first year. Afterward, the subscription plan will renew annually at £99.
If you want to take your online security to the next level, the Premium and the Advanced plans are available for £50/year and £73.73/year, respectively, for the first year.
Pros
- 24/7 real-time threat protection
- Powerful VPN included in all pricing plans
- Advanced identity protection features
- Proactive financial transaction monitoring
- One of the best Windows 10 antiviruses
Cons
- Relatively expensive to access all security features
3. Norton — Cybersecurity Veteran That Offers Excellent Value for Money
| Cheapest Subscription Plan | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| £12.28 for basic subscription (annual plan) | 7 days | 60 days on an annual plan | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
10 |
Norton is a well-known name in the cybersecurity sphere, and its antivirus is widely regarded as one of the best by millions of users. What’s more, the level of protection you get for your money with Norton is superb.
With the Norton Antivirus, you get complete protection from ever-evolving viruses, malware, ransomware, and spyware, as well as a secure firewall for your PC or Mac to prevent network attacks.
The company offers a 100% virus protection promise, offering a full refund if the antivirus is unable to detect or remove a threat from your device. This goes to show you just how confident Norton is in its security tools.
Additionally, you get from 2Gb to 75Gb of secure cloud storage, depending on your pricing plan, so you can safely store all of your critical data on the cloud.
The plans also include a password manager. This helps you generate uncrackable passwords and store them safely in an online vault, minimising the chances of having your credentials stolen by hackers.
Other notable features include a secure VPN and Safe Cam, which monitors your device’s camera and ensures hackers can’t access it remotely and use it without your knowledge.
All of these features and Norton’s virus protection guarantee make it an ideal choice if you’re looking for a tool that provides complete confidence.
Pricing
Norton’s pricing plans can be confusing as the company offers a range of products and subscription tiers. If you want to protect your PC or need an antivirus for a laptop, you can grab the standard Norton subscription package for as little as £12.28 for the first year.
Other plans give you access to advanced security features and range from £25 to £41 for the first year. If you’re looking for an iOS or Android antivirus, both versions of the app start at £25. They are standalone products, though, so you’ll have to buy them separately from the PC version of the antivirus.
Pros
- 100% virus protection promise
- Real-time Dark Web monitoring
- Secure VPN and a strong firewall for PC and Mac
- Online storage and password manager
- Best antivirus for Android
- Industry veteran trusted by millions of users
Cons
- Complex pricing structure
4. Avast — Best Free Antivirus Software UK, Analysing Suspicious Apps and Files in the Cloud
| Cheapest Subscription Plan | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| Free | Free-forever plan | 30 days | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
30 |
Avast is the best free antivirus software UK users can take advantage of, and it offers a free-forever plan that provides security on par with leading premium antivirus software solutions.
Another advantage of Avast over other antivirus solutions is that it analyses suspicious apps and files on the cloud. This sandbox testing method ensures your device stays 100% safe since malware, viruses, and other threats are detected in a safe environment and quarantined before they interact with your system.
The tool can also block compromised websites to protect you from online scams.
Avast also ensures WiFi network security by proactively scanning WiFi networks before your device connects to them and notifies you so you’re immediately aware of issues.
It will also alert you to devices connected to your home WiFi network, whether that might be individuals piggybacking on the connection or hackers looking to steal your data.
If you upgrade to a paid plan, you’ll also get access to a fast, secure VPN, and Avast will help you remove junk files and unwanted apps from your device, increasing speed and improving performance.
Avast is our pick for the best free antivirus software available today.
Pricing
You can use Avast for as long as you like without paying a penny. Avast’s free plan offers an excellent level of protection and will satisfy the needs of many average users.
If you want to increase your protection and take advantage of a secure VPN, block ads and trackers, and secure online purchases, you can get Avast Premium Security for £30 or Avast Ultimate for £41.
Pros
- Free antivirus, on par with premium solutions
- Analyzes suspicious files and apps on the cloud
- Protects you from ransomware and spyware
- Scans public WiFi networks for vulnerabilities
- Top Reddit-recommended antivirus
- Prevents unauthorised users from accessing your home WiFi
Cons
- May slow down lower-end PCs and phones
5. Bitdefender — Popular Antivirus That Boasts Strong Third-Party Test Results
| Cheapest Subscription Plan | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| £34.99/year | 30 days | 30 days | Protection: 6.0/6.0 Performance: 6.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
15 |
Multiple tests, including the most recent testing done by AV-Test, gave Bitdefender full marks for protection, performance, and usability – which is a clear testament to its effectiveness.
AV-Comparatives, another reputable antivirus tester, also reported strong results for Bitdefender. Our testing of the tool, supplemented with this third-party feedback, more than qualifies it for our list of the best antiviruses.
You can download Bitdefender on all your devices, including PC, mobile, and even smart home devices. If you’re after a business solution, then all common OS systems, as well as server protection, are on offer to protect your company’s physical, virtual, and cloud environments.
You can also get a VPN bundled in with the antivirus for additional online security and anonymity. Having tested numerous VPNs, Bitdefender’s offering isn’t a go-to recommendation for streaming, for example, but it’s a solid addition for airtight online security and anonymity.
And with 4,000+ servers in over 49+ countries, it’s a reasonably strong showing, especially as it costs the equivalent of just £2.91/month for both antivirus and VPN.
Bitdefender offers further protection with a password manager, which is ideal for businesses and home users to keep accounts secure and combat identity theft. All of this makes it a great option for both businesses and families.
Overall, there’s really little not to like, but our analysis of other user accounts does show some mixed feedback regarding the customer service experience.
Pricing
Bitdefender offers various plans, but the best for home use is the all-in-one package that includes the antivirus, the VPN, and a password manager for £49.99/year, which protects five devices.
You can get a more basic plan for £34.99. In terms of a business UK antivirus, Bitdefender’s cheapest plan will set you back £39.98/year for five devices.
Pros
- Offers identity theft insurance
- Independent tests confirm its effectiveness
- Top choice for families and businesses
- Light on resources
- Various plans for different needs and budgets
Cons
- Mixed feedback about customer support
6. Nord Threat Protection — Popular Online Security Tool That Blocks Intrusive Ads and Tracking Attempts
| Cheapest Subscription Plan | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| £2/month | N/A | 30 days | Not Tested | 6 |
Nord Threat Protection is an addition to the NordVPN security suite that protects you from malicious websites, blocks intrusive ads, and prevents websites from tracking you.
You can get Nord Threat Protection as a standalone product, and it doesn’t require a VPN connection to work. The app runs in the background, scanning sites for malicious code and blocking access if it detects unusual activity.
This ensures your device and data stay safe as the connection is blocked before malware and viruses can access your system.
In addition to protecting you from online threats, Nord Threat Protection will provide a detailed weekly summary of all activity and threats avoided. This can help you determine if you’re exposed to danger and identify areas where you can potential address vulnerabilities.
Nord Threat Protection also has a URL trimmer, which prevents URL tracking, ensuring your online activity is private. By shortening URLs, the app makes it harder to track your online activity, even if trackers manage to bypass your defences.
These features add up to a great package for ensuring online privacy as well as security.
Pricing
You can get Nord Threat Protection as a standalone product, without the VPN, for £2/month. For complete protection, though, it’s best to pair it up with the powerful NordVPN. You can get NordVPN, Nord Threat Protection, a data breach scanner, and 1 Terabyte of cloud storage for £6/month.
Pros
- Built-in ad blocker
- Proactive website scanning
- Analyzes suspicious files in the cloud
- Prevents tracking attempts
- Affordable
- One of the best VPN providers
Cons
- Primarily a VPN add-on, which works best with NordVPN
7. Surfshark — Lightweight Antivirus Solution With Superb Zero-Day Threat Protection
| Pricing | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| £2.92/month for first year (annual plan) | N/A | 30 days | Protection: 4.5/6.0 Performance: 4.5/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
Unlimited |
Surfshark antivirus is a lightweight app that protects you from malware, viruses, ransomware, and other cyber threats, without hogging your device’s resources.
The antivirus features the proprietary Surfshark Cloud Protect system, which analyses same-day threats on the cloud to ensure malicious files never reach your device. It also protects your camera from unauthorised access by blocking third-party attempts to access it.
Another advantage of Surfshark is that it comes with built-in online protection, so you don’t have to worry about ads, invasive cookies, trackers, malware, or phishing sites when browsing the web.
Surfshark also has VPN capabilities and hides your IP and physical location, making it impossible for anyone to monitor your online activities. You’ll also get an instant notification if any of your email addresses, passwords, or bank account details appear in a data breach.
Surfshark has a wide range of features available – but it stands out most as an impressively lightweight and highly intuitive option.
Pricing
You can get Surfshark for less than £3/month on a two-year plan, or you can choose the annual plan at £4.49/month, or the standard monthly plan at £11.83/month.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Protects you from same-day threats
- Analyzes suspicious files in the cloud
- Disables ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups
- Notifies you if your information appears in a data breach
Cons
- Not available for iPhone
8. Intego — Best Antivirus for Mac With Automatic Scans For External Drives
| Pricing | Free Trial | Money-Back Guarantee | Antivirus Testing Results | Max Devices Supported |
| £58 (one Mac, annual plan) | N/A | 30 days | Protection: 5.5/6.0 Performance: 5.0/6.0 Usability: 6.0/6.0 |
5 |
Intego is a Mac antivirus that’s designed to combat threats specific to macOS. With the vast majority of antivirus solutions being created primarily for Windows, Intego is a great option for Mac users.
Intego offers a security suite that includes an antivirus, a network security tool, a parental control solution, and a privacy protection tool.
The antivirus offers 24/7 real-time scanning, helping protect your Mac device from malware, viruses, spyware, and ransomware. It also safeguards your data by blocking phishing attempts and malicious websites.
Intego automatically scans external drives and USB devices as soon as they’re mounted, ensuring infected files and executables are quarantined, so they can’t damage your device. This means you can extend Intego’s excellent Mac protection to cover your iPhone as well.
Pricing
You can get an annual Mac Premium Bundle X9 license for £58 for a single Mac. Other products in Intego’s suite include Mac Internet Security X9, the Mac Washing Machine X9 file cleaner, and ContentBarrier parental controls, which cost £32/year individually.
Pros
- Best Mac antivirus
- Provides a strong firewall for your Mac laptop
- Protects your system, device, and data
- Automatically scans external drives
Cons
- Not available for iPhone
Why You Need Antivirus Software in 2023
On top of that, online scams are running rampant. From phishing attempts where individuals pose as banks or other institutions to malicious links in emails and website banners, a single wrong click can mean you’re exposing your system and personal data.
Since the internet has become such an integral part of our lives, it only makes sense to stay protected while you’re browsing the web and downloading movies, TV shows, and games.
If you want to ensure that nobody can track your online activity, steal your personal and banking information, or infect your device with viruses, malware, ransomware, and other threats, you absolutely need a reliable, strong antivirus solution.
Best Free Antivirus Software UK
That said, if you’re regularly downloading files from the web, making online purchases, or visiting new websites, it’s best to upgrade the level of protection and opt for a premium antivirus like TotalAV. Antivirus software that’s free offers only a basic level of protection.
To ensure complete online safety and security of your data, whether you want the best free antivirus for Android or the best free antivirus for Windows 10, you really need a tool that offers consistently reliable malware detection and advanced security features like ad blocking, data breach monitoring, and a password manager.
TotalAV provides all this, plus a secure, high-speed VPN to ensure nobody can track your online activity, hack into your network, or see what websites you visit.
How We Ranked the Best UK Antiviruses
When comparing and ranking the best UK antivirus solutions, it’s only natural to look at the level of security each of the providers offers.
The ones that provide advanced security features on top of real-time threat protection, such as data breach monitoring and a VPN, rank higher on our list − and you can also see our guide on the best antiviruses with VPN software for more details on their capabilities.
Other criteria that contributed to our final decisions include:
- Malware scan detection results and firewall protection rates
- System performance impact
- User feedback, usability, and customer support
- Data breach monitoring, ad-blocking capabilities, and VPN features
- Value for money – price vs functionality
The best antivirus solutions must excel in all of these areas without slowing down your device or hogging your CPU and RAM resources . After we compared the top eight providers head-to-head, TotalAV came out on top as the clear winner.
For more information by region, check out our guide to the best antivirus software for Canada and the best antivirus software in India.
More Antivirus Software Resources
Going beyond this guide, we’ve create a range of additional cybersecurity guides and resources for different use cases, devices, and regions.
How to Use Antivirus Computer Security Software
Here’s a step-by-step guide for setting up an antivirus and running your first scan, using TotalAV as an example:
Step 1 — Get TotalAV
Visit the official TotaAV website and click/tap on the Protect Your PC Now button. Choose one of three available pricing plans and press BUY NOW.
Step 2 — Complete the Purchase
Check the box at the bottom of the screen to accept the Terms of Service. Press the Checkout With PayPal Now button to proceed. A new window will pop up. Enter your PayPal account information to log in and authorise the purchase.
Step 3 — Download and Install TotalAV
Download TotalAV from the official website and follow the simple installation instructions. Once the installation is complete, use the login credentials provided to you by the company via email.
Step 4 — Initiate Your First Virus Scan
From the dashboard, click Enable Protection to allow TotalAV to protect you against malware, viruses, and other cyber threats.
If you have reason to believe your device is already infected, start a Smart Scan to have the TotalAV antivirus scan the critical files and folders on your device. If it detects any issues, you can quarantine the threats and remove them from your system.
We also recommend running a full scan in this case. Otherwise, just leave TotalAV on, and you’ll be 100% protected while browsing the web, reading your emails, and downloading files from the internet.
Conclusion – What’s the Best Antivirus Software in the UK in 2023? TotalAV
In this guide, we’ve looked at the market’s best antivirus software solutions, including the best antivirus for Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, and mobile platforms.
After testing and comparing them, we’ve concluded that TotalAV offers the most value for money, providing comprehensive virus protection and protecting you from all manner of cyber threats and attacks.
You can take advantage of TotalAV’s 30-day money-back guarantee and see first-hand why millions of users choose this antivirus to protect their systems and data.
