antivirus comparisons

The two heavyweights of consumer security, both Advanced+ at AV-Comparatives in March 2026. The real differences are weight, extras, and what happens to the price in year two.

The question behind every antivirus purchase in 2026: is the free protection already inside Windows enough, or is a paid suite worth it?

The two oldest names in the business, both reborn as identity-plus-security subscriptions. One prices per five devices, the other covers unlimited devices.

A comparison with a twist: since 2016 these are two brands of the same company (Gen Digital) running the same detection engine. The lab scores are near-identical, on purpose.

Not really rivals, whatever the forums say: one is the baseline shield built into Windows, the other is the cleanup specialist technicians reach for.

The most advertised antivirus against the best tested one. The first-year prices look similar; the second-year prices do not.

The enthusiast favorite against the lab-test leader. Both are excellent; they are built for different personalities.

The two biggest names in US identity protection. One includes everything in every plan; the other sells the important parts tier by tier.

For years this was the closest fight in antivirus. Since the US ban on Kaspersky in September 2024, it is two different conversations depending on where you live.

Two bundles approaching from opposite directions: a top VPN that added antivirus versus a top antivirus that added a VPN.

The European duel: Finnish calm against Slovak precision. Both are favorites of people who distrust the loud US consumer brands.

Two veterans betting on different futures: Trend Micro on scam and web protection, McAfee on identity and unlimited devices.