7 Best Antivirus Apps for Android Users
Antivirus Android apps stay one of the most famous kinds of applications on Android. Ideally, if you play it safe you don’t need an antivirus app, only install apps from the Play Store, and keep your security settings on. Although, some do not like to do such things. There are many really bad antivirus apps out there. Even though these apps aren’t necessary, it’s reassuring to know that the safe ones don’t suck. Below are the best antivirus apps and anti-malware apps for Android. All prices are the latest as of January 2021.
A lot of antivirus apps on Android do nothing or do a very bad job. This is a study that AV-Comparatives conducted with extra information about what antivirus apps are good and the ones that are bad.
1. AVG Antivirus Free
Price: Free / $19.99-$39.99 per year
AVG is another brand name in the antivirus apps category. It’s generally similar to AVAST. AVAST purchased AVG back in the year 2016. Hence, the experience is the same in both the antivirus apps. You can scan your phone and find viruses in much the same way. This one has anti-theft tracking through Google Maps, however, it doesn’t have the rooted firewall like how AVAST does. Hence, they are separate enough to be different products. Just make sure you ignore the trash features like the phone booster because they don’t work. The price tiers and premium features are similar to AVAST.
2. Avira
Price: Free / $$7.49-$26.99 per year
Avira is one of the most recent antivirus apps relatively speaking. It grew quickly over the last year. The app comes with the basics, containing external SD card scans, real-time protection, device scans, and a lot more. This one comes with a VPN for an additional layer of security. Other features contain anti-theft support, blacklisting, privacy scanning and even device admin features. It’s much lesser than apps such as Norton and others. The free version is fundamental for general things. The premium versions contain three-tiered prices that add things such as the mentioned VPN, virus database updates, password generation and much more.
3. Avast Antivirus
Price: Free / $19.99-$39.99 per year
Avast Mobile Security is one of the most famous antivirus apps on any kind of platform. It brags over 100 million downloads and many features. Some of the features contain the classic antivirus scanning, call blocker, an applock, anti-theft support, a firewall, and even a photo vault for rooted Android devices. That makes it an amazing tool even if you don’t require the antivirus part that often. There are also many booster features, but as usual, you should ignore them. The free version comes with a majority of the features and is sponsored by ads. The premium versions come with additional security features, and no ads, and the most costly version contains a VPN as well.
4. Bitdefender Free Antivirus
Price: Free
Bitdefender Antivirus is one of the few free antivirus apps. It hasn’t quite changed much over the past years. It provides a basic scanning features like quick performance, a simple interface, and no configuration. This is a good one for basic needs. All it does is scan your phone and then sit there and wait to scan stuff again. There is a bigger, more in-depth Bitdefender app. Although, we think that this one is better for the ones who just want something easygoing. It’s also free with no in-app purchases or subscriptions. Ads are unfortunately available.
5. Lookout Security & Antivirus
Price: Free / $4-$10 per month / $40-$100 per year
Another popular antivirus and anti-malware app, Lookout comes pre-installed on many devices, like on carrier T-Mobile. It does the basics quite well. That contains scans, malware protection, phishing protection, anti-theft features, and much more. It also comes with new and latest stuff such as identity insurance, identity protection, and WiFi scanning. That provides a somewhat different perspective than most antivirus apps. There are two tiers of security. The first is quite standard stuff for $4 per month. The higher ones are the $10 tier which adds $1 million in identity theft insurance, identity monitoring, and many other features. The only part that is somewhat annoying is that you require an account before the app does anything.
6. Dr. Web Security Space
Price: Free / $8 per year / $16 per 2 years / $89 lifetime
Dr. Web is one of the ancient antivirus apps and anti-malware apps. It has some good features, containing quick and full scans, security against ransomware, a quarantine area, and also stats. It also has good anti-theft features such as call and a firewall, SMS filtering, parental controls, URL filtering, and more. It’s also quite inexpensive. It goes for $8-$16 for one to two years. It also guarantees a lifetime license for $89. The lifetime license is somewhat pricey, but it is a chance to escape the monthly subscription if you want.
7. ESET Mobile Security and Antivirus
Price: Free trial / $1.99 per month / $14.99 per year
In the world of anti-virus and anti-malware world, ESET is another big name. It has somewhat good features that contain scans, a security auditor feature, anti-theft support, scan scheduling, and much more. The setup process is somewhat intrusive. It’s one of the few that need an email address. Otherwise, it functions pretty well. Upon installation, you get a free one-month trial. After this, it is $1.99 per month or $14.99 per year. It’s not remotely as heavy as AVAST or AVG, but it is more expensive than CM Security Lite or Bitdefender.
Read More – 7 Best Craft Apps for Android
Conclusion
Safeguarding your Android device from potential threats is crucial, and these seven best antivirus apps offer comprehensive protection and peace of mind. Whether you prioritize malware detection, anti-theft features, or browsing safety, each app excels in its unique way. From established names to emerging options, the diversity of these antivirus apps caters to various user preferences and needs.
So, don’t compromise on your device’s security – download one of these top-rated apps and ensure your Android stays safe from viruses, malware, and other digital dangers.
With real-time scanning, regular updates, and powerful features at your disposal, you can confidently navigate the digital landscape knowing your device is in good hands.