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Android is the world’s most-used mobile OS—and a major target for malware. These are the top Android antivirus apps we’ve tested to protect your phone or tablet.

Principal Writer, Security

OUR EXPERT

Neil has covered cybersecurity for decades, testing the latest security apps against real-world threats to help you find the best protection.

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Table of Contents

The original IBM PC came with 16KB of memory, expandable to 64KB. A modern high-end Android phone might have as much as 24GB of RAM, which is more than a million times the amount. And yet both can be plagued by malware. For that old PC, we recommended antivirus protection. Nowadays, though, you’re better served by a security suite that protects both PCs and Android phones and tablets. Our top recommendations for Android protection are Bitdefender Total Security and Norton 360 Deluxe, both of which hold our Editors’ Choice honor as cross-platform security suites. However, all the suites we’ve collected here are complete suites with robust Android apps, and most receive excellent lab scores. Read the summaries, delve into the full reviews, and discover how to select the right protection for your device.

Our Top Tested Picks

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• Surfshark One — Protect 5 Devices for $2.29 Per Month on 2 Years Plan + 3 Months Free and Includes VPN
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

EDITORS’ NOTE

December 26, 2025: With this update, our lineup of recommended Android antivirus apps remains unchanged. The existing picks have been vetted for currency and availability.

(Credit: Bitdefender)

• Award-winning antivirus

• Protects Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices

• Online management and remote control

• VPN, spam filter, and parental control

• Vast number of additional bonus features

• Full VPN access requires a separate subscription

• Parental content filter not fully effective

• Support for iOS is limited

Bitdefender Total Security’s Android edition achieved perfect scores in antivirus protection testing labs, earning top marks from AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, and MRG-Effitas. You can locate, lock, or wipe any protected Android device from the Bitdefender Central online console. This is also where you can extend protection to your other devices, running Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS. In addition to the expected protection against malicious and fraudulent websites, Bitdefender’s Scam Alert flags shady links in texts and other messaging apps, its Account Privacy system checks your emails against known data breaches, and its App Lock protection for sensitive apps is more flexible than most. Password management and VPN protection are available for your Android devices, although VPN features are limited unless you pay an additional fee.

Independent lab test scores: Three of the independent antivirus labs that I follow include Bitdefender in their Android testing. AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, and MRG-Effitas all gave it their highest possible score.

Price and pricing tiers: Like most Bitdefender applications, Total Security is available in two subscription types: Individual and Family. The former costs $109.99 per year and covers five devices (Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS). A Family subscription covers 25 devices for $139.99. That’s a per-device price of $5.60, a low price beaten only by Avira Prime’s $5.40 per device at its top subscription tier.

Antivirus and app protection: Bitdefender scans for malware on demand and checks each app before launch, though unlike the rest, it doesn’t offer scheduled scanning. Its Web Protection feature steers your browser away from dangerous and fraudulent websites, and Scam Alert warns you of dangerous links in messages. You can use it to check for apps that have unwarranted permissions, which could damage your privacy. Its unusually flexible App Lock feature lets you put sensitive apps behind a secondary PIN.

Anti-theft features: If your Android phone is stolen, you can log in to Bitdefender Central to locate, lock, or wipe it. There’s also a loud alarm option, handy if you’ve simply misplaced the phone. Bitdefender will also snap a photo of anyone trying to unlock your phone. If that thief swaps out the phone’s SIM card, Bitdefender disables the device and alerts you with the phone number of the new SIM card.

VPN included: Your phone connects to a lot of different networks as you roam about, and some of them may be shady. By running your traffic through a VPN, you ensure that nobody, not even the network owner, can view or modify your internet activities. Using a VPN can also spoof your location, potentially allowing your traffic to continue routing through your home country even when traveling abroad. Bitdefender Total Security comes with integrated VPN support as well as a separate VPN Android app. However, it’s limited to 200MB per day, and you can’t choose your server location. Removing those limitations costs extra.

Bonus features: If you have an Android watch, Bitdefender can pair with it. Now, your watch warns you if you leave your phone behind, and you can trigger a loud sound to help locate a misplaced phone. In addition to the expected Android security features, you get the Android version of Bitdefender’s password manager as well as the Account Privacy feature that warns if your email is exposed on the dark web. For those who choose a family subscription, Bitdefender’s parental control system is also available for Android.

Lab test believers: You’re bombarded daily by ads for products claiming to be the best in their class, but where’s the proof? You want to see some convincing figures. Figures like the three perfect scores that Bitdefender received from three independent testing labs.

Budget-conscious users: Yes, you grasp that all your devices need security protection, even your Androids, but you don’t want to break the bank protecting the gaggle of devices in your household. When you choose Bitdefender’s family plan, which covers 25 devices, you wind up with a per-device price of just $5.60. Such a deal!

Feature collectors: If you’re going to bother with installing security on your Android, you want to get all the security features you can. Although it doesn’t include scheduled scans, Bitdefender includes all the expected antivirus and application control features. Among its many features are password management, parental control, a VPN service, and full anti-theft protection. It will even pair with your Android watch. Features? Yep, Bitdefender has them.

Theft defenders: While you know that Android has some basic anti-theft features built in, you want more than just the minimum. Bitdefender goes beyond the expected locate, lock, and wipe. If someone tries to unlock your stolen phone, it sends you a snapshot of the thief. And if that thief attempts a SIM swap to claim the stolen phone, Bitdefender locks it down hard and alerts you with the new SIM card’s phone number.

Application Privacy Scan

Snaps Photo of Thief

Blocks Unwanted Calls

Warns of Insecure Wi-Fi

Pairs With Android Wear

Rates Apps in Play Store

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(Credit: ESET)

• Excellent antivirus lab scores

• Full-featured Android protection

• Small impact on performance tests

• Useful home network security scanner

• Anti-theft for laptops and Android

• Limited parental control

• Poor score in hands-on malware protection test

• Unusually annoying firewall pop-ups

• No enhancements for macOS

This cross-platform suite offers anti-theft protection for Android devices and extends that protection to Windows laptops. Unlike most competitors, ESET lets you send anti-theft commands using coded SMS messages. It can also automatically lock your phone if a thief tries to swap out the SIM card. In addition to the expected on-demand malware scan and real-time protection, ESET can schedule regular scans. Its numerous additional security features include: Payment Protection, which launches sensitive apps using enhanced security; App Lock, which puts your most important apps behind the protection of a secondary PIN; Security Audit, a scan that identifies apps with the most permissions, as well as security problems such as USB debugging enabled; Network Inspector, which both lists devices on your network and flags any with security problems; and Call Filter, to block unwanted calls and texts.

Independent lab test scores: Over the past year, ESET scored a perfect 18 points in AV-Test’s evaluation of Android antivirus apps several times. However, it doesn’t appear in the very latest report from that lab. The researchers at MRG-Effitas awarded ESET a perfect 100% score in their latest report. With AV-Comparatives, ESET didn’t quite reach perfection, but a score of 99.6% is still quite impressive.

Price and pricing tiers: Norton and Trend Micro charge a fixed price for five licenses, with no volume discount. Avast, Avira, and Bitdefender offer two subscription choices: five licenses or 25 to 30 licenses. With ESET, you can get the exact number of licenses you need, up to 10. It costs $44.99 plus $5 per license. For example, its five-license price is $69.99, which is by far the lowest in this group.

Antivirus and app protection: ESET handles all the expected antivirus tasks. It scans for malware on demand, and optionally on a schedule you set. Each app undergoes a thorough review before it’s allowed to launch. A web security add-on keeps your browsing away from dangerous websites and phishing scams. You can use its App Lock component to protect your most sensitive apps behind a secondary PIN. Additionally, the Security Audit reports on the permissions assigned to all your apps, with special attention paid to high-risk permissions, such as accessing your contacts or tracking your location.

Anti-theft features: With a portable device like a phone, you have to worry about loss or theft as much as you do about malware. If you’ve misplaced your phone, you can trigger a loud alarm to help find it. When it’s clearly gone, lost, or stolen, you can remotely locate, lock, or wipe the device. You can set it to automatically lock down after a certain number of failed login attempts, and to snap a photo of whoever is trying to unlock the phone.

VPN included: VPN is a common adjunct to antivirus protection. The antivirus keeps your data safe while it’s on your Android, while the VPN protects that data in transit. ESET clearly recognizes the value of that pairing, as it provides a full-powered VPN component. But there’s a catch. You only get that VPN component in the more expensive ESET Home Security Premium, not in the Essential suite discussed here.

Bonus features: You get the full power of ESET’s Network Inspector on your Android. If there’s a security problem with your Wi-Fi connection, it warns you. On your home network, you can expand the scan to identify all connected devices and flag any that have security issues. Its payment protection system adds an isolation layer to apps that you identify as financial. ESET’s Call Filter can block calls and texts from unwanted contacts, and you can block the most recent caller with one tap. You can also have it block calls from hidden numbers or calls from anyone not in your contacts list.

Thrifty users: Many security suites with Android support offer subscriptions for five or 10 devices. Some go as high as 25 or 30. Unless your needs precisely align with those numbers, you may end up paying for more licenses than you actually use. With ESET, you just pay for the number of licenses you need, from one to 10. And its pricing overall is the least expensive of this group.

Theft defenders: You’ve never suffered a malware attack on your Android, but you’ve misplaced it more than once. Yes, Android has some built-in anti-theft features, but you want a dedicated anti-theft system that does more than the minimum. ESET should be just right for you. In addition to letting you easily locate, lock, or wipe a missing phone, it can surreptitiously snap a pic of anyone trying to break into your phone. You can even have it lock up tight after a certain number of failed login attempts.

Application Privacy Scan

Snaps Photo of Thief

Blocks Unwanted Calls

Warns of Insecure Wi-Fi

Pairs With Android Wear

Rates Apps in Play Store

GET IT NOW

(Credit: Norton)

• Award-winning antivirus

• VPN with no bandwidth or server limits

• Hosted online storage for backups

• Effective protection against dangerous and fraudulent websites

• Powerful, self-sufficient firewall

• Parental control unavailable on macOS

• Online backup strictly for Windows

• Data-broker opt-out system limited

Independent antivirus labs consistently award Norton’s Android antivirus perfect or near-perfect scores. Currently, it is rated at 100% by MRG-Effitas and 99.9% by AV-Comparatives, and AV-Test awarded it a perfect 18 points. In an unusual twist, Norton’s real-time malware protection reaches all the way into the Android Play Store and warns you before you even download unsafe apps. This is a fully cross-platform suite that supports Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Norton’s full-powered, no-limits VPN works just fine on Android, as do its cross-platform password management and parental control apps. Other features include a detailed security scan of every Wi-Fi network you join, a check for insecure device settings, and a monitoring system that alerts you to potentially dangerous links in texts.

Independent lab test scores: The experts at AV-Test Institute rate Android antivirus apps on three criteria: protection, performance, and usability. With six points possible for each, the maximum score is 18 points, and that’s exactly what Norton received. MRG-Effitas also bestowed its highest possible score, 100% success. And Norton came very close to perfection in the latest test by AV-Comparatives, scoring 99.9%.

Price and pricing tiers: Pricing for Norton 360 Deluxe is straightforward. You pay $119.99 per year and receive five licenses to protect your devices running Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS. If you want more licenses, you must upgrade to Norton 360 With LifeLock and select one of the higher subscription tiers.

Antivirus and app protection: Norton scans for malware on demand, on app launch, and on schedule. When you view an app in the Play Store, Norton pops up to let you know whether the app is safe before you ever download it. The Safe Web component protects your browser from phishing scams and dangerous pages, while the AI-powered Norton Genie component identifies messages and emails that attempt to scam you. Norton doesn’t attempt to lock apps behind a secondary PIN the way its competitors do, but it does warn you about apps that may threaten your privacy.

Anti-theft features: Modern Android versions come equipped with a powerful set of theft protection features, including the ability to locate, lock, or wipe a stolen device. That being the case, Norton has opted out of providing anti-theft, leaving the operating system to handle it.

VPN included: An antivirus keeps the apps and data on your phone safe, but protecting your data as it traverses the internet requires help from a VPN (virtual private network). The VPN encrypts your web traffic and also hides your IP address and location. Your Norton subscription includes five licenses for Norton’s cross-platform VPN.

Bonus features: Having a VPN available is of no use unless you turn it on. Norton’s Wi-Fi Security warns when you connect to an insecure Wi-Fi hotspot, advising you to enable the VPN. Like many others, it scans the dark web for your personal information and alerts you to any breaches. Since Norton’s password manager and parental control features are cross-platform, you can take advantage of them on your Android devices.

Lab test believers: Before spending money on an app, you like to have some proof that it’s effective. You can’t easily test-drive Android security, but independent testing labs provide cold, hard results. Of the three labs that test Android antivirus, Norton took two perfect scores and missed a third perfect score by one-tenth of a percent.

Feature collectors: Norton scans your Android for malware on demand and on schedule, and checks each app that launches. It even reports on apps you view in the Play Store. Besides having all the expected antivirus and app control capabilities, it also includes significant bonuses, such as a VPN, password manager, and parental control. Other features include dark web monitoring and a Wi-Fi checker that warns you of insecure connections. Don’t even get me started on its wealth of features for Windows.

VPN users: As you roam with your phone, you connect to various Wi-Fi hotspots, not all of which are reliable. You want VPN protection for your internet traffic, and you love being able to connect as if from your home country, even when traveling abroad. A Norton subscription comes with five no-limits VPN licenses, just the thing you need.

Application Privacy Scan

Snaps Photo of Thief

Blocks Unwanted Calls

Warns of Insecure Wi-Fi

Pairs With Android Wear

Rates Apps in Play Store

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(Credit: Avast)

• Excellent antivirus lab scores

• No bandwidth or server limits for VPN

• Protection for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS

• Enhanced protection, privacy, and performance features

• Protection limited on Android, more so on iOS

• Most features available in free edition

Avast’s Smart Scan monitors for malware, alerts you to vulnerable Wi-Fi networks, and identifies unnecessary files for cleanup. VPN protection is now built into the main security app. As with Norton’s VPN, it comes without limits on bandwidth or server choices. Additionally, Avast includes several features to keep your phone running smoothly and safely. It can free up available RAM, reclaim storage space by deleting junk, and check both the safety and the speed of your Wi-Fi connection. The App Insights feature helps you manage app usage and privacy, while App Lock allows you to secure your most sensitive apps with a secondary PIN. Avast can check known data breaches to see if your email address appears, block unwanted calls and texts, adjust settings to reduce power consumption, and more.

Independent lab test scores: With 18 points in Android antivirus tests by AV-Test Institute, Avast has the highest possible score. From AV-Comparatives, it received a near-perfect 99.9% rating. As for London-based MRG-Effitas, Avast scored a respectable 99.24% in that lab’s latest test.

Price and pricing tiers: Avast One Gold’s entry-level pricing is $179.99 for five licenses, protecting up to five devices. In addition to Android, Avast covers devices running Windows, macOS, and iOS. You may well have more than five devices to protect, so Avast offers a volume discount, $279.99 for 30 devices. That works out to about $9.33 per device each year

Antivirus and app protection: As expected, Avast scans apps for malware when they’re installed and scans your whole Android on demand. You can also schedule regular scans, including antivirus, Wi-Fi security, and junk cleanup. The App Insight feature checks app permissions and flags anomalies, such as a flashlight app accessing Contacts, and even helps uninstall suspicious apps. For your most trusted and important apps, App Lock enables a secondary PIN. Now, when you give your phone to a crying baby, you don’t risk triggering unwanted actions. I expected the Scam Protection component to offer AI-based analysis of incoming messages, similar to the feature in other apps. However, it only checks for dangerous links in emails, texts, messaging apps, and social posts.

Anti-theft features: For many years, the two primary elements of Android security have been antivirus and anti-theft. Every Android security app needs both. Now, though, you can locate, lock, or wipe a stolen phone just using features built into Android. That being the case, Avast, like Norton and Avira, has dropped its own anti-theft features.

VPN included: Avast supplements its antivirus abilities with VPN Secure Connection. When the VPN is enabled, your web traffic is encrypted end-to-end from your Android to the VPN server. Nobody, not even the owner of the network you’re using, can interfere with that connection. As an added benefit, your connection seems to be coming from the VPN server’s IP address, while your actual IP address and location remain hidden. You can even spoof your location, so it seems you’re in another country.

Bonus features: Avast goes well beyond the basics to protect your Android. It warns if you connect to an insecure Wi-Fi hotspot and even includes a Wi-Fi speed checker. If you give Avast your email login credentials, its Email Guardian strips out malicious attachments and other dangers before they reach any of your devices. The Data Breach Monitoring system scans the dark web and reports if your email address appears in any data breaches; it also notifies you of any new breaches. Other bonus features include Photo Vault, which provides added security for your most sensitive photos, and Junk Cleaner, which finds and deletes useless files.

Feature collectors: Naturally, you want your Android security app to handle all the expected tasks associated with antivirus protection and application management, but why stop there? You’re happy to accept more security features and get more bang for your buck. Avast goes well beyond the essentials of antivirus protection. Email Guardian installs in your email account and removes all threats. Not only does it check your Wi-Fi connection for security, but it also checks speed. Other bonuses include data breach monitoring, a cleaner for useless files, and a secure vault for your most sensitive photos. It truly does a lot.

VPN users: You’ve learned that antivirus protection is only effective for on-device security, as it doesn’t help when your information is sent out into the internet. And you like the idea of controlling your apparent IP address and thereby controlling the geographic location websites see. With Avast, you get the full-powered VPN Secure Connection, so you can surf the web safely from your Android.

Application Privacy Scan

Snaps Photo of Thief

Blocks Unwanted Calls

Warns of Insecure Wi-Fi

Pairs With Android Wear

Rates Apps in Play Store

GET IT NOW

(Credit: Avira)

• Includes Pro editions of all current and future Avira tools

• Protection for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices

• No-limits VPN

• Cross-platform high scores from antivirus testing labs

• Lacks many expected suite features

• Dark Web Monitoring is available only in Germany

With most security suites, the feature set typically remains unchanged after purchase. But with Avira Prime, you get the Pro edition of every Avira product, including any apps Avira may add. Not all those Pro apps support Android, but you do get Antivirus Security Pro, Phantom VPN Pro, and Password Manager Pro. Like its counterparts on other platforms, Avira first wants to run a Smart Scan of your device’s security, privacy, and performance. As with many Android security apps, you can locate, lock, or wipe a lost or stolen device, though you perform these actions from another mobile device, not an online console. Avira offers typical Android security features, including App Lock to secure your most sensitive apps and Permissions Manager to identify apps that may have permissions that aren’t appropriate. Its Web Protection component aims to keep you from accidentally visiting dangerous sites. Going beyond standard features, the Optimizer feature helps you free up memory and reclaim storage space, Identity protection checks your email against known data breaches, and Microphone protection prevents eavesdropping. This Android security app is loaded with bonus features.

Independent lab test scores: In tests by three independent labs, Avira Prime’s Android component scored precisely the same as Avast’s. It took a perfect 18 points from AV-Test, a near-perfect 99.9% from AV-Comparatives, and a very good 99.24% from MRG-Effitas.

Price and pricing tiers: Like Bitdefender, Avira offers subscriptions covering either five or 25 devices, but it costs a bit less than Bitdefender at both levels. Avira’s five-pack runs $109.99, while Bitdefender charges $119.99. At the 25-device level, Avira costs $134.99, compared with Bitdefender’s $139.99.

Antivirus and app protection: You can launch a scan for malware at any time, and Avira checks apps before they launch, just in case. Scheduled scanning is available, and the web protection component aims to prevent accidental visits to malicious or fraudulent websites. At the app level, a permissions manager reports on all the permissions required by each app on your system and flags any that seem out of line. You can also use App Lock to put sensitive apps behind a secondary unlock pattern. Scam Guardian isn’t an AI chatbot like Norton Genie, but it does utilize AI to identify suspicious content in texts, messages, and emails, and warns you if you receive any potentially dangerous links.

Anti-theft features: With something small and portable like a phone, loss or theft is just as likely a problem as malware infection. For a long time, almost all Android security apps combined antivirus features with anti-theft capabilities. However, modern Android versions have the ability to locate, lock, or wipe a lost phone built in. That being the case, several companies, including Avira, have dropped their possibly redundant anti-theft systems.

VPN included: An antivirus can protect your Android and your data from local malware, but its protective capabilities don’t extend to the data you send and receive. By using a VPN, or virtual private network, you ensure that your internet traffic is encrypted from your phone to the VPN server. As a bonus, websites see your traffic as originating from that server, so they can’t geolocate you through your IP address. Avira offers a VPN integrated into its antivirus app, as well as a separate VPN app with additional features. There are no bandwidth limits here, and you can connect through servers in multiple countries.

Bonus features: One of Avira’s more unusual abilities involves controlling the use of your phone’s camera and microphone. Avira only allows approved apps to access the camera and microphone, so nobody can turn your phone into a listening device. The identity protection scan checks the dark web and reports any exposures of your email. In addition to the on-demand identity scan, it alerts you to any new breaches. You can use the call blocking feature to shut down calls and texts from unwanted numbers, and optionally have it block spam and scam calls. Other bonuses include a password manager that doubles as a fully functional authenticator app and a storage optimizer that identifies large files (typically images and videos) that you may want to delete or move to cloud storage.

Thrifty users: You know you need security for your Android device, but you also have a houseful of other devices running various operating systems. An Avira subscription covers devices running Android, iOS, Windows, or macOS. And if you choose the 25-device family subscription, you’re only paying $5.40 per device. If you need to protect a ton of devices, it’s a bargain.

VPN users: We at PCMag have convinced you that you need a VPN, but you’re not thrilled at the thought of buying yet another app. Avira has you covered, offering both an integrated VPN component and a separate VPN app with additional features.

Future-proofers: No need for FOMO when you engage Avira to protect your Android. Your subscription doesn’t just get you access to all Android-compatible Avira apps. It also includes any new apps that Avira may add in the future.

Application Privacy Scan

Snaps Photo of Thief

Blocks Unwanted Calls

Warns of Insecure Wi-Fi

Pairs With Android Wear

Rates Apps in Play Store

GET IT NOW

(Credit: Trend Micro)

• Excellent score in our phishing protection test

• Comprehensive Android security

• Unusually feature-rich iOS protection

• Protection for macOS beyond the basics

• Many useful security features

• Poor lab scores

• Substandard score in hands-on malware protection test

• Weak parental controls

• Upgrade doesn’t enhance Windows or macOS security

With Trend Micro, you activate protection on your Android device by scanning a QR code. A new installation guides you through the initial configuration process, which is made lengthy by the sheer number of features. Until recently, Lost Device Protection would help you recover a missing phone, but Trend Micro now advises using the anti-theft features built into Android instead. Pay Guard Mobile triple-checks your device’s security and connection when you log into a sensitive website. Wi-Fi Checker scans the hotspot you’re using for security problems. Like Norton, it checks apps you view in the Play Store and warns you so you don’t download any that are iffy.

Price and pricing tiers: Pricing for Trend Micro Maximum Security is simple. You pay $99.95 per year and receive protection for up to five devices, regardless of whether they are Android or otherwise. As with Norton, if you want more licenses, you must upgrade to a more powerful suite. In this case, that’s Trend Micro Premium Security, which runs $149.95 per year for 10 licenses and adds identity theft protection and a 24/7 helpdesk for all your technical questions.

Antivirus and app protection: When you first install Trend Micro, it provides a list of tasks, including enabling important features and granting necessary permissions. With that out of the way, the app provides comprehensive antivirus protection. You can launch a scan at any time or set it to run on a defined schedule. It checks apps before they launch, and it even reaches into the Play Store to rate apps before you even download them. Focusing on apps, the App Manager lists the resources used by each app, and the App Freeze feature allows you to limit the resources devoted to background processes. And when you protect your sensitive apps using App Lock, you can hand your phone to a friend without worrying about privacy. Fraud Buster scam protection flags dodgy texts or emails, and Web Guard steers your browser away from phishing frauds and from malware-hosting sites. You also get access to Trend Micro’s new ScamCheck app, an AI-based scam detection system that warns you of potential scams in emails and texts.

Anti-theft features: As of October 2025, Trend Micro no longer offers Lost Device Protection. When active, this system went beyond the basics. In addition to allowing you to locate, lock, or wipe a stolen device, it would automatically take photos of a phone thief and lock down the device if someone attempted to swap out the SIM card. Now, though, Trend Micro simply advises that you take advantage of Android’s built-in anti-theft capabilities.

VPN included: Many security apps include a VPN (virtual private network) component. The VPN encrypts your web traffic, preventing any snooping or tampering. It also hides your IP address, preventing the websites you visit from geolocating you. VPN and antivirus go well together in Trend Micro Premium Security, but the Maximum Security suite discussed here omits the VPN component.

Bonus features: Trend Micro treats the App Lock feature as a kind of parental control. When your sensitive apps are protected by a secondary PIN, you can use the phone to calm a fussy baby without worrying that the little tyke will accidentally send an email or order 100 toilet seats. A standard content filter rounds out the parental control features. The built-in Wi-Fi Checker assesses the security of the network you’re using and alerts you to any potential security issues. And Pay Guard lets you flag your sensitive financial apps to receive additional security and isolation from potential attacks.

Feature collectors: You won’t settle for an Android security app that doesn’t cover all antivirus bases, and you’re even happier to get security features above and beyond the basics. That’s Trend Micro. Besides the expected scanning on app launch, on demand, or on schedule, it rates the apps you’re viewing in the Play Store, before you download anything. It also manages security and permissions for your apps. Additionally, its content filter keeps your kids away from prurient sites, the Wi-Fi Checker warns of any network security issues, and Pay Guard provides extra protection for the apps you use for financial transactions.

Application Privacy Scan

Snaps Photo of Thief

Blocks Unwanted Calls

Warns of Insecure Wi-Fi

Pairs With Android Wear

Rates Apps in Play Store

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The Best Android Antivirus for 2026 Compare Specs

Buying Guide: The Best Android Antivirus for 2026

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Android Antivirus Testing Results From the Labs

Do these Android antivirus utilities work? We look to three independent testing labs to find out. All but one of the listed apps appear in results from at least two labs; four appear in reports from all of them.

Researchers at AV-Comparatives challenged each Android antivirus app to defend against over 3,000 prevalent Android malware samples that have been found in the wild. In the latest round of testing, Bitdefender scored a perfect 100%, while Avast, AVG, Avira, and Norton came extremely close with a score of 99.9%.

The latest test from AV-Test Institute hit more than a dozen Android antivirus solutions with thousands of malware samples. Researchers also installed thousands more non-malicious programs to ensure the antivirus didn’t wrongly identify them as malware. They assigned each antivirus up to six protection points for blocking malware, six points for minimal impact on performance and battery life, and six usability points for avoiding false positives that mistakenly block valid programs. All the Android antivirus apps that I follow earned a perfect 18 points in the latest round of testing.

London-based MRG-Effitas tested more than a dozen Android antivirus apps, reporting each app’s ability to detect and eliminate threats before launch, as well as its ability to detect and neutralize threats during installation. They checked more than 160 samples, ranging from Trojans to adware, with some known valid programs included to verify the absence of false positives. They noted whether an app caught samples early or waited until they were about to be installed. Avast and Avira reached 99.24%, while the other top Android antivirus apps earned a perfect 100% score, except Trend Micro, which didn’t participate.

Bitdefender stands out as the darling of the labs, with perfect scores from all three. Avast, Avira, and Norton also appear in all three reports, with some achieving perfect and some near-perfect scores.

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The Best Android Malware Protection (and More)

All the Android security apps mentioned here include an antivirus component that scans new apps and offers an on-demand scan. A few can also run scans on a schedule, a feature perhaps more useful on Windows than on Android. All of them also provide some form of safe browsing to keep you from surfing to URLs that might try to plant malware or fraudulent sites that might trick you into giving away your username and password for the login page they imitate.

Additionally, these security tools scan your installed apps for potential privacy issues. Typically, they flag programs that request permission to perform invasive actions, such as viewing your contacts, scanning your call logs, determining your location, or sending texts. If a communication app needs access to contacts, that makes sense. However, if a goofy game wants to paw through your private info, consider deleting it.

Anti-theft protection for a lost or stolen device has long been a mainstay of Android security apps. Still, with the growing strength of Android’s built-in protection, some companies are dropping this feature. Norton purged antitheft in 2019, and McAfee’s updated Android app also omits it. Trend Micro dropped anti-theft in October 2025. Both Avast and AVG now defer to Android’s built-in antitheft features, although Bitdefender and ESET continue to offer this feature.

You can locate your device on a map using solutions that offer anti-theft protection. If you’ve misplaced it around the house, you can trigger a loud alarm to help you locate it. You can lock the phone to keep a thief out of your apps and data. And if you determine that you’ll never get the device back, you can remotely wipe it. All apps with anti-theft features allow you to manage them using an online console. Some offer the option of triggering antitheft events using coded text messages, and many also surreptitiously snap a photo of whoever is using your device.

One of the first things a typical smartphone thief does is claim the device by swapping out the SIM card. Many of our recommended apps include some form of SIM card protection, and some of them lock the device when the SIM card changes.

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Android Security Beyond Antivirus and Antitheft

Antivirus and antitheft are typical components for any Android security app, but some go way beyond the basics. Common bonus features include backup for contacts and photos, a battery monitor to show which apps are draining your battery life, and a task killer to send those battery hogs packing. Several of the apps warn when you connect to an insecure Wi-Fi network.

Recommended by Our Editors

Blocking unwanted calls and texts used to be a common feature, but ongoing changes to the Android operating system have made it more difficult. Avira, ESET, and Panda still manage to offer call blocking.

As noted, almost all these security tools scan your installed apps and report on those that might be privacy risks. Avast, Norton, and Trend Micro take that skill to the next level, reporting on apps as you view them in the Play Store so you can avoid downloading anything that might be problematic.

VPN protection is more important on mobile devices than on desktops because mobile devices usually connect to many networks. Bitdefender and Panda include a bandwidth-limited Android VPN app, which is a nice feature, but Avast, Avira, and Norton offer VPN protection with no bandwidth limit.

A few of these apps feature less-common bonus features. ESET allows you to schedule your call blocking, potentially restricting calls to only family members at night. Trend Micro offers to scan your Facebook settings and alert you to any security issues it identifies. Panda’s theft protection extends to motion sensing, so nobody can grab your Android while you’re looking the other way.

Editors’ Note: Given that the US government has banned* new sales of Kaspersky security products, we no longer recommend** them.*

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

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Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

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