Top 8 Antivirus Apps for Android Phones - SlashGear (2023)

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DoorKendra Bruning/May 13, 2023, 10:30 AM EST

Android smartphones are the most popular on the market right now, making them a target for malware and identity theft. Therefore, the number of antivirus apps for Android has increased, all of which promise to protect users' devices from malicious attacks.

Most people are well protected and don't even know it. This is partly due to the strict security measures of the Google Play store. If you only download apps from the official Play Store, chances of getting a virus or downloading malware are slim. Google Play Protect, which is enabled by default on all Android devices, regularly scans the apps installed on your device to identify potential threats such as viruses, spyware, and other potentially malicious apps.

However, there are many reasonswhy you should use an antivirus app on your android phoneexcept Google Play Protect. Data thieves are sneaky and can try to hijack your data through suspicious links, text messages, websites, and phone calls. That's why some antivirus apps provide an important layer of additional security features, such as anti-phishing, VPN protection, and anti-theft protection.

Below you'll find eight of the best antivirus apps for Android phones, including free and paid options, with a comprehensive coverage of each app's features and benefits to help you make an informed decision about which one is right for you.

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Bitdefender mobile securityIt is one of the best antivirus apps in the Play Store for value, protection, features, and impact on phone performance.

When registering with Bitdefender, users are required to create an account and accept terms and conditions similar to a purchase agreement. While this can be intimidating, you're really just setting users up for a 14-day trial. Bitdefender virus scanning is fast and efficient, instantly detecting various issues on a test phone and providing recommended settings to improve security. In addition to scanning, there is also an option to automatically scan new apps for malware.

Bitdefender tackles fraudulent calls by automatically blocking numbers known to be illegal, and can help users by dialing new numbers. For safer browsing, the app has a built-in service that automatically blocks and warns sites with malicious links, and offers strong parental controls to keep your kids safe. A 200MB per day VPN is included in the plan to further mask your privacy and browsing data. If users have sensitive information about certain apps, Bitdefender can lock them with a strong password, adding an extra layer of protection to the standard phone lock.

Subscription costs may vary per subscription. For a single device, the annual cost is $14.99, but a multi-device plan costs $94.99 per year, which includes support for PCs, Macs, and iOS devices, making it a good choice as a family plan.

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Norton has been a big name in antivirus software since the 90s, which is pretty impressive in a fast-paced industry.norton360offers a wide range of security features that are among the best on the market, but unlike other antivirus apps, there is no free version of Norton. All of their services are paid, with the basic plan costing $14.99 for the first year and protecting one phone with apps, data, phone, text, browser, and web scanning. Norton360 quickly scanned and identified all threats on the tested phone during the test.

In addition to scanning, the average Norton360 subscription also checks information brokers and known dark websites for stolen information, providing users with instant notifications. This ensures that if your data is stolen, you are notified immediately to limit the damage as much as possible. Norton360 also includes its own VPN service to keep your data hidden from hackers.

At $104.99 per year, Norton's largest and most expensive suite offers protection for multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, and phones. Whatever device you have, you can use their services. There is also a safe browsing mode that can restrict access to websites and set study hours to allow students to block websites completely or during school hours. Overall, Norton is one of the best antivirus apps on the market, but it comes with a subscription fee.

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McAfeeis a major brand in the antivirus market, offering a comprehensive feature set with a focus on family protection. McAfee's free features include a comprehensive virus scanner, a Wi-Fi security scanner, and a dark web identity scanner that already detects data breaches. These three features are essential in any solid antivirus software, and they all work well in the free version.

Premium features require a $99.99/year subscription after a 7-day trial and include scheduled automatic scans, advanced identity theft protection, VPN service, and browser protection. Advanced Identity Theft Protection is identical to the free version, but allows you to monitor multiple accounts and email addresses at once, while the free version only monitors one email address for data breaches.

McAfee Security is a great option for families, especially with a premium plan. One subscription covers up to 5 different devices with the same level of protection, and most importantly, it also includes safe browsing mode. This feature automatically blocks malicious sites and links and allows parents to monitor the content of their children's phones to prevent unwanted users from accessing inappropriate sites.

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AVG antivirus and securityis an all-in-one app that offers various features for protecting your data, Wi-Fi and identity. You have free access to a virus scanner, wifi speed test, password leak detector, junk data cleaner and customizable web filter. Virus scanning can isolate andremove malware from your phone, and a web filter is useful for parents, although it does require you to manually block websites.

Included in the free version of AVG AntiVirus, it monitors data breaches and can warn users if they are at risk of data breaches. Users can also move files and images to a secure vault that can only be accessed with a strong password, independent of phone lock. Premium features allow users to access AVG VPN services and remove ads throughout the app.

It should be noted that the AVG and Avast apps on this list have an identical user interface, and that's because they both belong to the same parent company. AVG is slightly cheaper than its Avast counterpart at $39.99/year for full access to all features. While both apps are powerful, AVG uses AI to detect new viruses and malware, which sets it apart.

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Founded in 2008,malwarebytesis a well-known company that produces antivirus software. The free version of Malwarebytes offers two main functions: virus scanning and application management.

During testing, Malwarebytes took nine minutes to complete its first full scan, which is significantly slower than some of the other antivirus apps on this list. Subsequent scans were much faster and took about a minute. While the Malwarebytes app was able to spot some potential threats on a test phone and provide automatic fixes, the scan time is much longer than other apps on this list and you'll need to run it manually.

Application Manager is a useful tool for those who like to delve into behind-the-scenes data and numbers. The administrator provides information about the application version, memory usage, time used, and download source. It can be useful if you have to manually search through apps to find the ones that might be harming you or your phone. The rest of the features are tied up behind Malwarebytes' premium plan, which costs $19.99 per year. With a subscription, users have access to automatic scanning and advanced detection of ransomware and spyware.

Its most notable feature is Browser Protection, which acts as an ad blocker and protects againstidentity fraud, trackers and exploit attacks. It is a minimalistic and user-friendly application that works best in combination with other security applications.

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Lookout security and antivirusit offers the standard features you'd find in security apps, but the anti-theft features really stand out. The free version of the app has a GPS tracker that can locate a lost phone, and a shouting feature that sounds a siren alarm even when the phone is in silent or do not disturb mode. The premium version offers additional features such as remotely locking and wiping all data on your phone, as well as keeping track of your phone even when it is in airplane mode, the SIM card is removed, the device is turned off or when the Lookout app is uninstalled. . These are typical tactics used by phone thieves to cover their tracks.

While scanning apps and files, Lookout found some security flaws in the test phone and also recommended updates for several outdated apps. For $59.99/year, Lookout Premium members can access additional identity theft protection, such as spending monitoring and social media accounts. The premium plan also includes a million-dollar identity theft insurance backed by a third-party insurer.

The free version of Lookout provides users with an easy-to-use and ad-free virus scanner. Lookout also has one of the best phone recovery toolkits offered for free. Users who choose to purchase a premium membership can access more phone recovery options, data monitoring, and a million dollar insurance policy.

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Avast is a general name for antivirus software andAvast antivirus and securityoffers several features to ensure a simple and safe internet experience. The scanning of applications and files is efficient, accurately detects problems and presents them in clear and concise language. Avast also offers a handy Wi-Fi speed checker and junk data cleanup in the free version to improve phone performance.

This security app offers two options to upgrade to a premium subscription: $47.99 per year for additional security and VPN features or $19.99 per year only for additional security features, such as automatic scans, dangerous link alerts, and additional technical support.

Avast VPN has not been tested as it is not part of the Avast security app. If you want to use a VPN, you'll need to download a separate app, as there's no all-in-one solution.

While Avast is a good option for those looking for a simple security scan, it is heavily ad-supported, forcing users to display an ad every time they scan or clear their data cache, often pushing them to upgrade to a premium package . This is a great free app with a user-friendly UI, but users will face the onslaught of ads while the app is in use.

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Avira Security Antivirus and VPNis a highly rated antivirus app on the Google Play Store for Android users. While most features and services are free, some enhanced features are only available if users purchase a subscription. The app is extremely easy to use and comes with a menu divided into user-friendly categories such as security, privacy, and performance.

The main feature of Avira is the smart scan that checks all your apps, files and account security. Account Security checks usernames and compares them to data breaches to warn users of possible identity theft. Users can also set up a password app lock to restrict access to specific apps. That way, even if someone manages to unlock your phone, they still need an extra password for those apps.

If you opt for the annual plan, you get access to web security, password management, and microphone security, while the VPN feature is updated to accommodate location changes. Without a subscription, VPN functionality is limited to 100 MB of data per day and limited to the user's region. The plan is available for $22.99/year or $104.99/year for the multi-device plan.

While there were no ads during testing, the app prompted users for reviews and subscription updates. Overall, Avira offers great value and protection for the free app, with additional features available with a subscription.