It is possible to keep an Android phone secure without using security software, but it is simply dangerous for some people. That’s especially true if one opens many files from email or messaging platforms on their phone or is a little too liberal with the applications they are willing to install—even if they’re from the Play Store.
However, one can use the best antivirus for android software to protect Android phones from the threats these unwarranted applications pose.
Some best free antivirus for android smartphones are available on Google Play, but one needs to ensure they’re getting security from a well-known and reputable company. The only thing worse than being subjugated by a Google Play app is being quelled by an antivirus app for android.
Numerous options are available to suit one’s budget and the level of protection they’re looking for. The best antivirus for android includes privacy, anti-theft security features, and excellent malware detection and prevention measures. While most apps offer a free service product that allows users to try them before committing to a yearly subscription plan, others are the best free antivirus for android smartphones.
Some android antivirus applications on the list mentioned below can perform multiple security tasks such as back up contacts and essential data, track the phone or other mobile devices using GPS, capture a shot of anyone trying to access your phone utilizing the device’s camera, or even enable the user to find their phone using a smartwatch.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best antivirus for android, ranging from some of the most famous names in the android antivirus business. The android antivirus applications have been enumerated below based on their setup, usability, interface, additional features, and ability to keep the device secure. Read till the end to learn more!
List Of Antivirus For Android Phone
Below is the list of best antivirus apps for android that anyone can refer to for protecting their android smartphones and tablets against cyber threats.
1. Bitdefender Mobile Security
Bitdefender’s Android mobile security app provides nearly excellent malware protection, has a minimal performance impact, integrates with the Android watch, and has a malicious-website blocker with a VPN client that works with most Android browsers.
This Android antivirus app also includes powerful privacy-protection features such as a Wi-Fi scanner, an app lock, anti-theft security features, and notifications when data is breached. In addition, scam Alert is a new feature on the application that detects potentially cryptic links in text messages, social messaging applications, and screen alerts.
However, one would need to pay $15 annually to use all the features. In addition, the in-built VPN gives 200MB of free data protection, and if a user requires more data protection, they would have to pay $50 annually or $7 monthly.
A summary of the reasons one can consider Bitdefender antivirus for android is: the app has a small system impact, provides complete malware protection, and offers an affordable premium version.
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2. Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus
Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus is also famous for Kaspersky Internet Security for Android. It provides excellent malware protection, a compelling call blocker, and minimal system impact, making it the best antivirus for android.
The great thing is that the free version of the android antivirus app is ad-free. However, there is a little prompting to upgrade to a premium plan, but not in an irritating way. Features like call filtering, support for Android Wear, and robust provision of anti-theft measures are available to free users of this android antivirus app. Still, every new application must be manually scanned.
Paying users to receive automatic app scans, blocking known phishing websites, and an app lock. But unfortunately, there is no scanner for Wi-Fi networks or privacy tools, which are otherwise available in other antivirus apps for android phones.
Kaspersky Mobile Security is a good option if looking for the best free antivirus for android smartphones.
3. Trend Micro
Trend Micro is another antivirus for android phones that offers excellent antiphishing and malicious URL blocking services. In addition, the application provides utmost data safety by clearly mentioning what kind of data it might collect and for what purposes.
The Trend Micro antivirus app for android doesn’t share the data with third parties. Moreover, the data is encrypted in transit and transferred over a secure connection. Besides that, the application allows the users to request the deletion of their data.
It is the best antivirus for android tablets and smartphones since it provides a highly efficient AI scan that safeguards and protects from malicious apps, identity theft, viruses, crypto-miners, and ransomware. Besides that, the Local Web Guard of the android antivirus safeguards against phishing, fraud, and other dangerous websites, be it any web browser.
4. Avast Mobile Security
Avast Mobile Security and Antivirus is an antivirus app for android, with features ranging from offering the service of a privacy advisor and a system optimizer. In addition, it also provides the provision of a customizable blocklist.
Avast android antivirus application offers adequate protection from malware but is limited in other features. For example, some of the anti-theft features of this antivirus app for android didn’t function properly, and it couldn’t block spam calls, because of which the developers removed this feature from the app. In addition, the ads and nudge to upgrade to the premium version were annoying.
However, those advertisements are removed if you subscribe to Avast Mobile Security’s paid tiers. The premium subscription costs $20 or $2 monthly, and the ultimate subscription costs a total of $40 or $7 monthly.
The paid plans for this android antivirus application include extra anti-theft security features, technical customer support help, and an app locker.
The in-built SecureLine VPN client is available for the Ultimate version subscribers. In addition, because SecureLine costs $60 annually, paying an additional $20 over the premium tier for unlimited VPN data isn’t an unbeneficial deal for this android antivirus application.
5. Lookout Security And Antivirus
Lookout Mobile Security, now known as Lookout Security & Antivirus or Lookout Personal, was the best antivirus app for android launched in the market at one time. Its popularity can be attributed to its user-friendly configuration, clean interface, and lack of advertisements.
However, the costs of this android antivirus application can quickly add up. Therefore, the unpaid tier provides access to basic features such as locating misplaced phones and scanning for malware.
The premium version of the app costs $30 annually that offers to block malicious websites and scan the Wi-Fi networks, which are included with the other variety of Android antivirus apps for free. The premium price is justified by an unlimited VPN and a data-breach notification service.
Another tier of services, called the “premium plus” plan, which costs $100 annually, is a reasonably priced service for identity protection that provides primarily the same benefits as IdentityForce or LifeLock. So it might be worthwhile to spend the money.
However, a concern with this antivirus app for android is that it does not frequently submit its application performance data to third-party lab testing, so one can’t predict the efficiency of the protection it provides against malware without giving it a try individually. Moreover, its active security scans for mobile viruses are not very efficient and resource-intensive.
These are just a few minor drawbacks of the android antivirus application. But the Lookout Security And Antivirus app’s overall performance and features are pretty good.
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6. Avira Security Antivirus And VPN
The last android antivirus application on this list is Avira Security Antivirus & VPN. This antivirus app for android has received decent scores from various antivirus testing labs, making it a trustworthy and best antivirus for android smartphones.
It is the best android virus scanner that provides ultimate security and protection with a phone cleaner and booster. Moreover, it protects the privacy of the user with a free VPN.
Avira antivirus for phones is one of the most suitable antivirus apps that provide users with all the necessary tools required to keep one’s devices safe from unwarranted cyber security threats.
However, one must note that the Avira android antivirus might collect and share data with other organizations and companies. This data might include information like crash logs, diagnostics, app interactions, and other user-generated content.
At the same time, this antivirus for android phones also has certain security practices: the app encrypts users’ data and then transfers it over a secure network; it also allows users the provision to request the removal of their information from the server.
7. Norton Mobile Security
Norton Mobile Security, also known as Norton 360, provides excellent malware protection for any Android antivirus app tested. But unfortunately, the application no longer has anti-theft security capabilities, contact backups, or its unique Link Guard feature that blocks malicious links.
The company also eliminated the free tier of Norton Android Mobile Security, which made it a popular antivirus for android phones. However, it replaced the free tier product with a $15-per-year simple security application for a single device.
A tier priced at a medium range, called Norton 360, adds VPN services to an unlimited extent. In addition, it also offers to monitor the “dark web” of personal information for $50 per year.
Norton 360 Deluxe is the most expensive plan offered by the android antivirus app and costs $105 annually. It is part of Norton’s android antivirus lineup. Additionally, it allows the user to protect around five devices, whether iOS, Android, Windows, or Mac.
Anyone can purchase these subscriptions directly from the Norton app. The application also offers a free trial period which lasts for fourteen days. In addition, this antivirus app for android provides an App Advisor that checks the other applications on the device for unusual behavior or excessive data usage.
Moreover, Norton Mobile Security is the best android virus scanner as it scans applications in the Google Play store before downloading to check security and privacy flaws before allowing the user to install them.
8. McAfee Mobile Security
McAfee Mobile Security is another android antivirus application that offers many valuable features. However, its unpaid version is riddled with upsell suggestions and advertisements. But, this android malware protection application is adequate for basic requirements.
In 2021, the android antivirus app, McAfee Mobile Security, removed various features that otherwise added to the utility of the antivirus app for android. These included guest mode, app lock, anti-theft security measures, storage cleaner, and memory boosters.
The essential features that McAfee Mobile Security’s free version offers presently include tracking the data usage by other applications and a security scanner. With the premium tier of this antivirus for android, the user can enjoy more than the essential services, such as 24/7 tech support, a URL screener, and no ads, at a price of $30 per year.
Besides the standard premium version, the “Plus” version of this antivirus for android costs $80 annually. It includes all the classic characters and unlimited access to a VPN for a particular tablet or phone.
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Conclusion
While there are several options one can choose from when it comes to android antivirus applications, having some idea about the best antivirus apps for android to protect the smartphone helps in selecting one that would suit the users’ requirements device.
All the antivirus apps for android mentioned in the list above offer various features. Therefore, the users can look at them and decide which android antivirus app they want to use to protect their devices.
