Antivirus reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 1231 Reddit reviews across 37 subreddits and 143 posts to rank the best Antivirus brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/malwares, r/antivirus, r/computers, r/Windows11, r/pcmasterrace. Top-rated brands include Bitdefender (4.3/5), ESET (4.2/5), Malwarebytes (4.1/5).

Stats

Reviews1231

Subreddits37

Posts143

Brands72

Products31

Top communities

r/malwares619 r/antivirus278 r/computers47 r/Windows1132 r/pcmasterrace28

1231 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Bitdefender

4.3

(180)

"+1 for BitDefender. I purchase an annual subscription for 3 computers."

"Kasper and bit defender are the best free AVs out there"

"Bitdefender: Excellent real-time protection, light on system resources, minimal pop-ups."

"Bitdefender (known for real-time protection and minimal system impact)"

"You should aim for a TOP antivirus like ESET or Bitdefender"

"If you really want to pay for an antivirus then either BitDefender, Kaspersky (even though you refuse to use it for whatever reason), or ESET."

"Big fan of ESET my whole life, BitDefender is a great option as well."

"Bitdefender too just pick what you like"

"Bitdefender"

"Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Malwarebytes are all strong."

ESET

4.2

(179)

"I have and love eset"

"You should aim for a TOP antivirus like ESET or Bitdefender"

"If you really want to pay for an antivirus then either BitDefender, Kaspersky (even though you refuse to use it for whatever reason), or ESET."

"Big fan of ESET my whole life, BitDefender is a great option as well."

"Eset, the best !"

"ESET! Battle tested"

"ESET. The best antivirus in my opinion. Fucking good. I love it so much! 😎"

"ESET/Kaspersky/BitDefender are top rated"

"ESET has practically everything."

"ESET or Bitdefender would be best."

Malwarebytes

4.1

(122)

"Malwarebytes or hitmanpro"

"I highly recommend Malwarebytes. It works very well, not heavy on resources and not invasive with hundreds of pop-ups"

"I use Malwarebytes Premium, cuz it is the only AV that saved my ass a lot of times."

"They're a solid pair for keeping your system clean."

"It's straightforward and works well for keeping your system safe."

"Malwarebytes"

"Look into Malwarebytes."

"It’s a solid combo and keeps things clean."

"It’s light and just focuses on threats without all the extra stuff."

"Give Malwarebytes a shot."

Kaspersky

4.3

(96)

"Kasper and bit defender are the best free AVs out there"

"Kaspersky. Best so far."

"Kaspersky is pretty much the undefeated champion when it come"

"I would suggest you to keep using Kaspersky as it has the best detection ratio along with minimal system resource hogging."

"Kaspersky is probably the best one."

"+1 Kaspersky"

"Best to worse my top 3: Kaspersky, Bitdefender, ESET."

"Kaspersky or Bitdefender."

"Kaspersky is definitely better at detecting and blocking threats..."

"Oh well, kaspersky is better, and lighter..."

Windows Defender

3.9

(83)

"Free built-in Windows Defender + Free OpenDNS account using their DNS servers in my network configuration."

"Previously used Sophos moved to Defender."

"The best antivirus ever today is a combination of two: Windows defender and common sense."

"I would say just use Windows Defender."

"Windows defender, bitdefender, or eset."

"I use Windows Defender for real-time protection, and Malwarebytes free version when I want to run a deep scan."

"From what I have been recommended, windows defender or malwarebytes"

"+1 for Windows Defender and common sense."

"Windows defender. You'll be fine."

"If you're worried about malware, don't overthink it. Just stick to Windows Defender."

Sophos

4.1

(51)

"I second Sophos Intercept X for Mobile. It is actually free, no Ads, full features, good ratings on AVTEST."

"If you want something that works without a bunch of fluff, try out Sophos."

"Look into using Sophos. It's got a good reputation for blocking threats effectively."

"You should definitely check out Sophos. It’s been solid for me in blocking threats without slowing down my machine."

"It's cheap, separates settings from the security."

"If it's good enough for Giant servers. It's good enough for me."

"If you want something that really gets the job done without fuss, look at Sophos."

"Check out Sophos for Mac."

"Sophos"

"Outside that, the top ones are typically BitDefender and Sophos."

Microsoft

4.2

(44)

"You should definitely consider using Windows Defender."

"Windows defender. Get rid of mcrapafe."

"Windows Defender is more than enough."

"The built-in Windows Defender is equivalent to or better than nearly every other anti-virus software."

"The newest version is better than most of the options you can buy."

"Nothing wrong with built-in Windows Defender."

"Defender is enough"

"Windows Defender is really all you need"

"Windows defender unless you want something for a company."

"Windows Defender by far! Atleast today."

Norton

3.9

(44)

"Your best choice would be Norton (1st choice)..."

"Only 1 answer to this question…. Norton"

"I would recommend prioritizing Norton or Bitdefender."

"Norton: Also solid in terms of detection,"

"Norton (includes a VPN and dark web monitoring)"

"Norton Is good McAfee is decent Eset is good bitdefender too just pick what you like"

"Honestly, if you want something that actually works without being a hassle, try out Norton."

"If you are like some of my clients who want an extra level of security and like to stick with Norton."

"Norton is solid for both."

"If you're looking for something solid, just go with Norton."

Avira

4.0

(40)

"Look, if you want something that just works without all the fuss, consider using Avira."

"Try using Avira. It’s lightweight and does a solid job."

"Avira is also a decent option for me, as it have lots of functions with different categories."

"Avira - Am using past 1 decade."

"Look into using Aviras Free."

"Consider trying Avira. It's free and doesn't bog down older systems."

"If you want something that won’t make your PC crawl, give Avira a shot."

"Check out Avira. It's light on resources and has good malware detection."

"It's got a free version that's pretty decent."

"It’s lightweight and doesn’t mess with your PC’s speed."

#10

Emsisoft

4.2

(30)

"It's light and does its job without any fuss."

"It’s not heavy on resources and does a solid job of catching threats."

"No install needed, just download and run when you want a quick check."

"It’s effective for malware, doesn’t eat up system resources, and is simple to set up."

"Try out Emsisoft if you want solid ransomware protection."

"Go for Emsisoft if you want solid protection."

"Look into using Emsisoft for solid ransomware defense."

"One of these if you want to use a paid option Emsisoft."

"Kaspersky or Emsisoft is lightweight but if you live in America than choose Emsisoft."

"Honestly, ditch the big names. I’ve had good luck with Emsisoft."

#11

F-Secure

4.1

(28)

"It’s lightweight and does its job without being a pain."

"It runs light and keeps the system responsive."

"Consider giving F-Secure a shot."

"If you want something effective but not a hassle, try F-Secure."

"If you want something that actually works, look into using F-Secure."

"Try out F-Secure for basic protection."

"Try using F-Secure. Lightweight and reliable."

"F-secure."

"Look for F-Secure. It’s a simple app that runs well on older Androids."

"It's pretty efficient and doesn't hog your CPU like others do."

#12

Webroot

4.2

(25)

"Look at Webroot Spysweeper. It doesn't bog down your PC."

"For a no-nonsense approach, consider using Webroot."

"It’s super quick and doesn’t slow down your machine at all."

"If you're really looking for solid antivirus for your Mac, give Webroot a shot."

"It’s super fast and doesn’t slow down my machine at all."

"I been using Webroot for decades."

"Along with Windows defender, I use webroot’s package because it has many useful tools"

"For a solid antivirus, I suggest checking out Webroot."

"Consider trying out Webroot. It's lightweight and doesn't hog resources."

"Check out Webroot. It's super light and doesn't slow things down."

#13

Avast

3.8

(28)

"I am on avast, consumes less resources then defender, has better scores and doesn't sam notifications or features to buy."

"The best free versions are usually Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky"

"The top ones are usually Avast (not Avast One), AVG, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky."

"Avast is always been good and was the go to before Defender upped their game."

"Recommend Avast free antivirus."

"I think Avast free is fine for casual users and is the most complete in terms of needed features."

"I use Avast because my mother pays for it and for domestic use I am more than happy."

"Avast (free, of course)"

"Look into using Avast Free Antivirus."

"It's lightweight and works fine on older Android versions."

#14

Microsoft Defender

4.3

(23)

"The built-in Windows Security is more than adequate for most normal purposes."

"Purge McAfee from your system and stick with the built-in Windows Security."

"Defender all the way."

"Windows Defender + free malwarebytes is a perfectly fine combo."

"Windows defender is the best one for that."

"Windows Defender. Norton is like one of the worst AVs out there."

"Windows Defender is the best free solution."

"Windows Defender and an adblocker."

"Defender. You don't need anything else."

"The built in windows defender."

#15

AVG

3.7

(26)

"AVG is the best just like Avast, all the others arent as good"

"The best free versions are usually Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky"

"The top ones are usually Avast (not Avast One), AVG, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky."

"If you want something free - AVG is leading in many charts."

"You might want to consider using AVG. It's simple, runs smoothly, and has good basic features."

"Try out AVG Free. It’s simple and keeps your system running fast."

"It's pretty effective and has a no-cost option that covers basics."

"Give AVG Free a shot. It's lightweight and doesn’t drag your system down."

"It’s pretty decent for free and doesn’t hog your system."

"Keep using Malwarebytes for those random scans."

#16

Comodo

4.1

(19)

"Comodo has the BEST zero day detection."

"Try using Comodo Free Antivirus."

"Try using Comodo. It's free and does a decent job."

"Look into using Comodo. It's free, has decent protection."

"It’s free and does the job pretty well."

"Forget the usual options. Check out Comodo."

"Check out Comodo Free."

"It's free and does a solid job."

"Comodo for paranoids."

"It's lightweight and doesn't interfere with your system."

#17

TotalAV

4.0

(18)

"It's a perfect option if you want a clean, user-friendly experience with reliable protection."

"Weird that TotalAV doesn’t get more attention."

"Look into using TotalAV Free."

"Look into TotalAV. It's got a solid interface, does well with malware."

"It's free for basic use on both Windows and Android."

"You could check out TotalAV. It’s got a solid free version."

"It has great malware protection and some unique privacy features."

"It's an underrated option that packs a solid punch in terms of security."

"TotalAV would be my choice."

"Personally, I’d vouch for TotalAV. It’s super easy to use, solid on security."

#18

ClamAV

3.7

(19)

"ClamAV also has active protection."

"If your running windows programs through wine or bottles I would recommend clam av or Malwarebytes"

"Install clamAV and then install nextdns.io and then add some lists to it like trackers, ads, etc. and you'll be fine"

"Install ClamAV and run weekly scans."

"For servers I always install clam AV likewise for desktop as well if I download some windows stuff I scan it with that"

"I have ClamAV set up with on-access scanning of my home directories."

"ClamAV is a good open source AV for Linux, I’ve used it"

"Check out ClamAV. It's free and open-source."

"Try using ClamAV if you want a free antivirus that's pretty solid."

"Try using ClamAV."

#19

ZoneAlarm

4.0

(13)

"Look into using ZoneAlarm. It's decent and doesn’t bog down your system too much."

"It’s straightforward and keeps things running smooth."

"Both work well and are easy to set up."

"I’ve had a good run with ZoneAlarm Free. It’s light on resources."

"It’s light and has good protection without slowing your system down."

"It’s free and provides decent protection."

"Try using ZoneAlarm. It's got a good firewall and doesn't slow your PC down too much."

"Try out ZoneAlarm Free."

"Look into using ZoneAlarm for free."

"It’s free and does a solid job at keeping threats away."

#20

Panda

3.8

(13)

"If you want more peace of mind, grab a lightweight antivirus like Panda."

"It’s lightweight and pretty effective."

"It won't slow you down and gives decent protection."

"Check out Panda Free Antivirus. It's easy to use and doesn't bog down your machine."

"Panda, but you need .net Framework 4 to use it."

"It's light and effective."

"Give Panda Free Antivirus a shot."

"It’s got a cool interface and doesn’t make my laptop crawl."

"It's lightweight and effective."

"Try Panda Security or Comodo."

#21

AhnLab V3

4.0

(12)

"Check out the free version of AhnLab V3."

"Look into AhnLab V3."

"Check out AhnLab V3 Mobile Security. It's free and works great on older Android devices."

"It does a solid job and stays out of your way."

"Forget Kaspersky. Try AhnLab V3."

"It's light and effective for keeping your system smooth."

"It's effective and doesn't hog resources at all."

"It won’t slow down your system at all, and it does a solid job."

"Check out AhnLab V3 Free."

"It's free and does a solid job keeping malware away."

#22

McAfee

3.6

(13)

"Next to it is McAfee (2nd choice)..."

"Go with mcafee. it is the earliest av program in the world..."

"McAfee."

"Try using McAfee. It’s got a free version that’s pretty decent on older devices."

"Try using McAfee. It has solid features like anti-theft and web protection."

"It’s user-friendly and keeps things running smoothly."

"It’s free and does a decent job keeping your phone safe."

"You should check out McAfee. It has a free version that works well."

"It has a solid reputation and covers multiple devices."

"McAfee is decent"

#23

Trend Micro

4.0

(8)

"If you want something reliable, Trend Micro is worth a shot."

"Try using Trend Micro. It’s got a solid mix of features."

"It's really good at blocking threats and doesn’t slow down your system much."

"It's user-friendly and doesn’t slow down your Mac."

"If you're serious about protecting your Mac, don't overlook Trend Micro."

"Viper and trend micro work well"

"It's got solid protection and has been reliable for me without causing much slowdown."

"For mobile I would recommend Bitdefender, Trend Micro or Malwarebytes."

#24

Microsoft Security Essentials

3.9

(7)

"Microsoft security essentials still updates to the windows 10 patches."

"I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials."

"Bitdefender, AVG, Avast, Kaspersky, Microsoft Security Essentials..."

"I'm still using Microsoft Security Essentials."

"MSE is fine, and what I personally use."

"You can use Microsoft Security Essentials just fine."

"My personal choice is Microsoft Security Essentials."

#25

SentinelOne

4.3

(6)

"Sentinel One is my favourite investment that costs me about 100$ a year and protects me and my clients data"

"It works really well and a lot of actions are automated."

"Look into using SentinelOne. It's pretty effective and doesn't mess with your phone's performance."

"SentinelOne is pretty good."

"SentinelOne next tier up."

"We use sentinel one for edr and so far so good."

#26

CrowdStrike

4.2

(6)

"Crowdstrike is still my best pick. Get the Crowdstrike complete with their 24x7 monitoring"

"I recommend these - Crowdstrike Falcon"

"Crowdstrike was seen as the gold standard."

"Bitdefender/crowdstrike"

"Crowdstrike next tier up."

"You got what I mean."

#27

Acronis

4.2

(6)

"It's not just an antivirus but also backs up your files. Great for peace of mind without spending money."

"It protects well without messing with your PC's performance."

"It's not the most common choice, but it does a solid job without taking a toll on your system."

"It has some solid features for mobile security."

"Acronis provides a lot of protection for the budget."

"It has solid features and won’t slow down your laptop."

#28

BullGuard

4.0

(5)

"It does a great job on Macs."

"If you're looking for something reliable, try out BullGuard."

"It packs a punch without demanding too much from your system."

"If you’re looking for something that just works without a ton of fuss, you might want to consider BullGuard."

"It's got a solid mix of protection and speed."

#29

Lookout

3.8

(5)

"If you're looking for a solid antivirus for Android, you might want to check out Lookout."

"Try Lookout. It's user-friendly and works well on older devices."

"It’s free and does a solid job."

"It’s free and does a decent job at keeping your device safe."

"Try Lookout. It's pretty decent for a free option."

#30

ClamWin

3.6

(5)

"It's open-source and won't bog down your system."

"It's open-source and works well for quick scans without slowing down your machine."

"I use ClamWin. It gets regular updates."

"ClamWin is decent."

"Open source AV clamwin which is based on Linux clamAV."

#31

Panda Dome

4.0

(4)

"You should definitely check out Panda Dome. It's not just lightweight but also has a decent set of features for free."

"It’s got a solid suite of features and runs smoothly on Macs."

"You should give Panda Dome Free a shot."

"It's free and works well on both Windows and Android."

#32

GData

4.7

(3)

"I use GData for a year now with no problems on win 11."

"G-Data. It’s German and I’ve used it for years."

"I will try out GData, Bitdefender and maybe F-security."

#33

Huntress

4.7

(3)

"Been using Huntress (Defender) + Threatlocker combo for quite some time with good results."

"Huntress and defender works great for us even auto remediates a lot of the lower level stuff."

"I'd take a good look at Huntress."

#34

HitmanPro.Alert

4.3

(3)

"Definitely HitmanPro.Alert. It’s integrated into Sophos Home as Sophos purchased SurfRight, the developer of HitmanPro.Alert."

"Yes, I was thinking of Hitman Pro Alert."

"Hitmanpro Alert has realtime protection, especially for ramsonware. it can work with other AVs."

#35

Heimdal

4.0

(3)

"Consider using Heimdal. It's often overlooked but offers solid protection."

"Try using Heimdal. It's got a unique approach with proactive protection."

"They have an a la carte selection of modules."

4.0

4.0

(1)

"I've been using the free version of malwarebytes."

#72

Orbot

3.0

(1)

"It's an open-source tool that helps anonymize your internet traffic."

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