8 Best Antivirus for Android of 2026

Bitdefender Mobile Security puts the widest set of Android tools into the cheapest paid subscription we found. Malware detection runs mostly in Bitdefender's cloud, and every new app is scanned as it installs, with on-demand scans whenever you want them. The extras are the reason it ranks first. Scam protection checks the web pages you open for phishing and fraud, smart call filtering stops scam and spam calls, and Anti-Theft lets you locate, lock or send a message to a lost phone from Bitdefender Central. App Lock puts a PIN or fingerprint in front of sensitive apps, Account Privacy checks whether your email has been in a breach, and WearON extends alerts to a smartwatch. The included VPN is limited to 200 MB a day, which is fine for public Wi-Fi logins but not for streaming. The first year costs $17.99 and renewal is $29.99, still below most rivals. It needs Android 7.0 or later.

Norton Mobile Security for Android is built around scams more than viruses. Its AI Scam Protection checks text messages and flags deepfake videos, Safe SMS filters spam texts that may hide phishing links, and Norton Genie, an AI assistant, gives real-time tips when something looks off. Wi-Fi Security warns you when a network you join is dangerous or under attack, and Safe Web blocks fraudulent sites opened from your browser, apps, email or social networks. App Advisor, powered by Norton Mobile Insight, checks Google Play apps for malware, intrusive adware and privacy leaks before you install them, and the Device Report Card summarizes 30 days of scanned networks, sites and apps. Real-time protection against ransomware, spyware and other malware sits underneath. The price is $19.99 for the first year on one device, renewing at $29.99, and there is no free tier. It requires Android 10 or later, so older phones are out.

Avast One Mobile is the best free option for Android users who still want always-on protection. The free app scans in real time for viruses, spyware and other malware, Web Guard uses AI to block phishing links and unsafe websites, and Avast Assistant answers questions about a suspicious message or link in seconds. It also checks how secure a Wi-Fi network is before you connect and frees up storage space. The paid tier is where scam blocking gets automatic: Premium Security stops scam SMS messages and fraudulent calls before they reach you, and adds App Locking, a VPN and unlimited hidden photos behind a PIN or fingerprint. The catch is pricing. The cheapest paid plan we found on the US store is Premium Security at $49.08 for the first year, sold as a one computer plus one mobile bundle that renews at $77.99, so it costs more than the phone-only plans from Bitdefender and Norton.

ESET Mobile Security splits cleanly into a free scanner and a paid toolkit. The free version gives you antivirus and real-time scanning, built on ESET's NOD32 engine and its LiveGrid cloud system, which checks every app and file as it arrives. That covers viruses, trojans, ransomware and spyware without paying. Premium adds the scam layer that most Android attacks now target: Anti-Phishing blocks fake websites, Anti-Smishing catches scam text messages, and Payment Protection stops malicious apps from reading or replacing what you see in banking apps. Anti-Theft, App Lock and call blocking round it out. You can switch on all Premium features free for 30 days from inside the app, which is a fair way to test them. The weak points are transparency and requirements: the US page does not list a USD price because Premium is bought in the app, and the app needs Android 9.0 or later on a non-rooted phone.

AVG AntiVirus for Android is a capable free app with more privacy tools than most. The free version scans for viruses, spyware and other threats, removes stubborn malware that resists uninstalling, and blocks links to scam websites and dangerous downloads. It checks Wi-Fi networks for security issues, warns you if one of your email accounts is compromised, hides photos in a password-protected vault, and shows which apps hold which permissions and how much data they use. A junk cleaner frees up storage. AVG keeps several features behind its upgrade: locking apps with a PIN, pattern or fingerprint, alerts for scam texts and chat messages, the VPN, and automatic scheduled scans. The Android page does not publish a USD upgrade price, so you see it only in the app. AVG shares an owner and much of its scam technology with Avast, but Avast's free tier states real-time scanning more clearly, which is why AVG ranks lower here.

Malwarebytes Mobile Security brings the company's well-known malware cleanup to Android. Malwarebytes says its real-time protection can catch trojans, spyware and ransomware before they install, and scans remove threats that are already on the phone, which is why the app has a following among people fighting home screen adware. Scam Guard is an AI chat companion: upload a suspicious text, link or screenshot and it tells you whether it looks like a scam. SMS and web protection add automatic checks on top, and a junk cleaner tidies storage. Higher plans add a WireGuard VPN with a no-log policy, a Digital Footprint Scan and identity theft protection. Pricing is the drawback for a single phone. The Standard plan starts at $59.99 a year and covers three devices, and the VPN needs Plus at $79.99. That is good value for a family with a laptop and two phones, but expensive if you only want to protect one Android handset.

Avira Security for Android packs a lot of free utilities around its antivirus. The scanner checks apps and files for threats, and Avira says its protection blocks over 350,000 threats per month, including ransomware. The free app also includes a VPN with a 100 MB daily limit, a Network Scanner that finds smart devices on your home network and checks them for weaknesses, Identity Safeguard alerts when your email turns up in a data breach, and AppLock to put a PIN on chat or calling apps. Permissions Manager rates apps by how much data they collect, and cleanup tools clear cache, junk and duplicate files. The gaps matter for scam protection: blocking infected and phishing websites is part of Antivirus Security Pro, as are camera and microphone protection, and Pro is bought in the app with no USD price on the page. Avira needs Android 9 or later. It suits people who like an all-in-one free app more than people focused on scam links.

Trend Micro Mobile Security for Android covers the core threats: malicious apps, ransomware, dangerous websites, unsafe Wi-Fi networks and unwanted access to the device. It leans on Trend Micro's cloud-based Smart Protection Network and Mobile App Reputation technology to judge apps and sites before they reach you, stops apps from loading risky websites, and flags phishing emails and scam sites. Optimization tools help keep the phone running smoothly. Its widest advantage is compatibility, since it runs on Android 5.0 or later, so it fits older handsets the Norton and ESET apps no longer support. The product page does not list a phone-only USD price, so the clearest way to buy it is Maximum Security, which covers up to five devices across Android, iOS, Windows and Mac for $74.95 in the first year and renews at $104.95. That is reasonable for a household, but it is the most expensive starting point here, and the mobile feature list is thinner on scam calls and texts than the top picks.