Installing an Android antivirus app on your smartphone or tablet is a no-brainer. We use our Android devices to do everything from mobile banking to online shopping—which means trusting them with some seriously sensitive personal information. So, ensuring that your device, and your identity, stays safe from malware should be a top priority.
Android is the most common operating system in the world, but it pays a heavy price for the privilege—a massive user base is a tempting target for cybercriminals. Fortunately, over the last 15 years, TechRadar experts have put countless antivirus solutions to the test to see which services are proactive about stopping malware in its tracks.
So, in this article, we'll take a look at ten of the best Android antivirus apps around, comparing their security measures, extra features, and that all-important price tag. The good news is that the majority of our Android antivirus picks are free to use—so let's dive right in.
The two best Android antivirus at a glance
Need a quick answer? Here are the two best antivirus apps for Android right now:
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The best Android antivirus apps for 2023
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Take a look at our top picks, complete with reviews and analysis that digs into why you should subscribe, any reasons to avoid, our test results, and how each antivirus solution stacks up with the competition.
The best Android antivirus overall
✔️ Privacy is your priority: Bitdefender is jam-packed with security tools. Choose which apps you want to protect with passwords and get warned about potential data breaches.
✔️ You want to browse the web securely: steer clear of malicious links and phishing scams with built-in web protection that blocks access to threats in your inbox, social media feed, and search results.
✔️ You don't want to be slowed down: the lightweight app doesn't gobble up your device's resources, meaning you won't have to sacrifice performance for privacy.
❌ You want some plan variety: currently, there's only one Bitdefender Mobile Security plan on offer, meaning you'll be locked into a year-long commitment—and miss out on multi-year savings.
❌ You want an unlimited VPN: access to the Hotspot Shield VPN is handy in a pinch, but customization and settings are limited, and users are limited to 200 Mb per day.
🔒 Bitdefender Mobile Security is the total package, with everything you need to keep your Android device secure from malware, phishing, and even theft. Check it out for yourself, and see why it earned the top spot on our list, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Visit our detailed Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android review for the full story.
Bitdefender Mobile Security packs a lot into one subscription. You'll get a raft of features, including anti-theft measures, and top-notch antivirus capabilities that'll work hard to keep your Android device safe. In fact, Bitdefender scored top marks in the latest AV-Test roundup, and AV-Comparatives (the other major independent antivirus test lab) observed a protection rate of 99.9%—which is seriously impressive.
A mobile security plan gives you real-time Chrome browser protection, complete with anti-phishing system scans, so you'll be forewarned about any dodgy links or pages. Bitdefender can also take the reins with its Autopilot feature, which is capable of making intelligent recommendations for security actions depending on your system and typical usage pattern. Simply put, Bitdefender can help you avoid threats and make proactive choices about your security
▶Try Bitdefender with a 30-day money-back guarantee
If you're into your gadgets and have a smartwatch, you might be interested in the privacy advisor tool. It's a nifty feature that'll help you find your phone if you happen to misplace it or leave it behind—which happens to the best of us.
Users also get a bundled VPN, but don't get too excited—the version included in the Mobile Security subscription has its limitations. You'll be restricted to extremely light use, at just 200 Mb a day, which could still be useful in a pinch. If you really need a VPN, however, there are plenty of free VPNs out there—and some, like Proton VPN, have no data limits at all.
Bitdefender's theft prevention measures are pretty nifty, too. You'll be able to locate your device remotely, or send a message directly to it, which can be a lifesaver if you happen to lose it while traveling. Alternatively, you can lock and even wipe your Android, and Bitdefender will snap a picture of any would-be thieves if they try and access the phone.
There are a lot of features to play with here, the 1-year plan is available at a bargain price, and a 14-day free trial means you can take the app for a test drive before committing to something more long-term.
The best privacy focused antivirus
✔️ You want a proactive copilot: Norton does the hard work for you by scanning apps, incoming messages, and websites for potential threats to your security.
✔️ You're always on the go: traveling involves relying on, frankly, shady public Wi-Fi hotspots. With Norton, you'll be able to avoid unsecured networks and the cybercriminals lurking on them.
✔️ You're looking for a tried and tested service: Norton is a titan of the antivirus world and proves its reputation is well-earned with excellent test results from AV-Test.
❌ You're looking for a bargain: while the initial 1-year sign-up price is relatively fair, it almost triples upon renewal.
❌ You have a lot of devices to cover: you can cover one device with Norton Mobile Security. If you have more than one mobile, or want to protect your PC, you're better off with the Norton 360 Deluxe plan.
🔒 Norton Mobile Security makes the internet a safer place to be—it can put a stop to malware, alert you about phishing attempts, and even help you steer clear of shady sites and scams. Plus, with a 60-day money-back guarantee, you can try it without risking a penny.
Check out our Norton Mobile Security review for a more in-depth look at its features—and how it compares to other Norton plans.
If you're looking for an antivirus suite that doesn't skimp on features, you'll want to check out Norton Mobile Security for Android. It's jam-packed with tools designed to keep malware and scams at bay—without being overly taxing on your battery.
Powered by Norton Mobile Insight, the antivirus does a great job of giving you a heads-up about anything suspicious. For example, you'll be warned about any vulnerabilities in your operating system, giving you time to take a proactive approach and resolve them before cybercriminals exploit them.
▶ Try Norton Mobile Security with a 60-day money-back guarantee
Norton also helps you vet apps on the Google Play Store. There are so many apps available to download and not all of them will be trustworthy—sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. Norton scans apps before you download them, checking for privacy risks like intrusive adware and malware, so you don't have to find out the hard way whether your newest app is trustworthy or not.
AV-Test gave Norton top marks for its antivirus engine, and I'm impressed that the suite can block cyber threats from every angle. In addition to scanning apps and websites, Norton also filters out spam SMS messages that could be hiding phishing attempts, meaning you're less likely to get wrapped up in a scam.
This peace of mind extends to your browsing, too, thanks to Norton's Wi-Fi security tools. You'll be alerted if you happen to join a dodgy network—one that's unsecured or under attack—which means you won't be placing your sensitive information within the reach of cybercriminals counting on you using these dangerous networks to steal your most sensitive information: passwords, logins, and financial details. Once you're online, Norton will even block fraudulent websites for you and help you pinpoint potential scams with a handy threat report card.
The innovation doesn't stop there, either, as Norton recently announced that an AI-powered chatbot designed to spot scams is in the works. So, with all of this functionality (and new features on the horizon), you might be wondering where the downsides are. Well, Norton apps are pricey, but you can take the tools for a test drive with a pretty generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
The best free Android antivirus
✔️ You need an antivirus and VPN combo: Avast Mobile Security's premium plan comes with a VPN that'll help you unblock sites and protect your privacy when using public Wi-Fi hotspots.
✔️ You want quick solutions to malware: with one click, Avast's scans can pinpoint malware infections in real-time and help you remove them.
✔️ You don't want to be slowed down: installing Avast Mobile Security on your device won't cause a ton of slowdown—meaning you'll still be able to browse, stream, and game without interruptions.
❌ You want speedy scans: while effective, Avast Mobile Security's scans are much slower than the likes of McAfee.
❌ Ads are a deal breaker: Avast uses sponsored ads to keep its mobile product free, which is great for accessibility, but can be frustrating.
🔒 Avast Mobile Security is a fantastic free option that covers all of the basics—and then some. You'll get great malware protection, anti-theft features, and alerts about dodgy sites, with the option to upgrade to go ad-free.
Check out our Avast One review for all the details on the provider's consumer solution.
Avast is a giant in the world of antivirus, with products that typically go above and beyond mundane scanners—and Avast Mobile Security is no different. The service picks up threats quickly, is highly rated by independent test labs, and comes with a great roster of features for free—although you will need to deal with its ads.
With Avast, you'll be able to catch viruses and malware in real-time with nifty scans. So, if you have an existing infection, one tap of the 'Scan' button will prompt Avast to comb through your device (and any microSD cards). You'll be alerted if the scan picks up on a threat, making it incredibly easy to detect vulnerabilities and resolve them before they do major damage.
▶ Try Avast Mobile Security for free
As you'd expect from an Avast product, Avast Mobile Security also excels at combating malware—and aced two back-to-back AV-Test evaluations. The solution came top of the class in January 2022 without delivering false positives or misidentifying safe software as a threat. Some of the biggest names in the industry can't say the same, so you can rest assured that Avast Mobile Security is thorough and accurate, and won't have to second-guess its alerts.
I particularly like that Avast Mobile Security can help you sniff out untrustworthy apps. It only takes a minute to grab something from the Google Play store, after all, and convenience can make us more susceptible to threats lurking in these dodgy apps—but Avast Mobile Security will let you know if you're about to download a threat before. Plus, if you have any unwanted or unsecure apps already on your device, the solution can help you get rid of them. Other useful features include an anti-theft system, which allows you to track and remotely lock (or wipe) your Android device if it’s stolen, or if you lose it.
Upgrading from the free plan grants access to a VPN—which is a useful tool to have in your pocket. The VPN does a decent job of hopping across digital borders, thanks to servers in 34 countries, and should help you unblock streaming services, social media platforms, and news outlets that might be currently inaccessible thanks to your work, ISP, or even your government.
The benefits of upgrading to a monthly or yearly premium plan are pretty tempting—namely, getting rid of ads. Avast Mobile Security's free subscription is supported by them, and while it's great that the solution doesn't cost a penny, the ads can get annoying very quickly.
The best Android antivirus for removing malware
AVG AntiVirus Free is another high-quality app for your Android device, and it delivers an impressive level of protection at no cost whatsoever. In fact, it uses the same well-liked antivirus engine as Avast above (remember that Avast bought AVG back in 2016).
This isn’t the same product, though, and it doesn’t have some of the features you’ll find in Avast’s freebie offering. It is, however, still built around very robust core antivirus protection, plus anti-theft features that allow you to locate, lock, or wipe a stolen (or lost) phone—which could prevent you from losing your credentials as well as your device. Also like Avast, this app is ad-supported, but by upgrading to the premium version you can get rid of them in short order.
Like our other top picks, the AVG scan capabilities can check for hidden threats on your phone and help you resolve them. If anything is lurking, the Malware Force Uninstaller makes sure it's removed from your device—no matter how persistent it migt be—so you can reclaim your peace of mind.
The paid Pro version of AVG comes with a whole load of extra features, including extended anti-theft capabilities (such as the device locking itself if the SIM card is replaced, and sounding an alarm) and a Photo Vault to secure your photos and keep all of your memories out of the clutches of cybercriminals. I like how proactive AVG is about alerting you to potential threats—the solution can even help you block callers and steer clear of unsecured Wi-Fi networks, helping you avoid threats before they impact you.
There are also a host of other features such as performance enhancement measures, which aim to kill unnecessary processes, turn off battery-draining settings, as well as deleting junk files such as those commonly found in temp and cache folders. These tools can come in handy if you feel as though your phone has been running slowly, recently, and get rid of potential vulnerabilities that a hacker could exploit.
Note that you can try out all these Pro features for free, at least for the first two weeks when using AVG AntiVirus Free; but after that, you have to pay. With so many features bundled in the Pro version, it’s no wonder this app is the most popular antivirus when you search for one in the Google Play store.
The best of the rest
The Trend Micro Mobile Security app not only scans new apps for malware before they are downloaded and installed, it prevents newly installed apps from accessing other applications, which can be useful for device admins and parents.
There’s also a built-in privacy scanner for Facebook which warns you if your profile settings are displaying sensitive personal information. Indeed, there are a huge number of features here, which include web protection, anti-theft, a Wi-Fi checker for making sure any wireless networks you connect to are safe, plus system tuning utilities, a full suite of parental controls, and Pay Guard ensures that any online banking or shopping transactions are fully secure.
Furthermore, both independent testing labs rated Trend Micro Mobile Security as protecting against 100% of threats, making it top of the tree in this respect at the time of writing.
There’s a lot to like here, then, but the downside is that the asking price is rather steep compared to many of the alternatives on this page. That said, you’re getting a lot for your money, and there’s a free version of the app which allows you to have the full run of all features for seven days, so you can try it all out before having to purchase a license.