The last thing anyone wants to deal with is a virus. All of your information can get stolen, and all of your passwords, and everything on the device can be lost forever. What some people don’t realize is that computers are not the only thing that can get a virus, your phone can too. Clicking on one wrong link, even by accident, can cause you a whole world of trouble. Unless you have a antivirus software on your phone, that is. Below, you will find some of the best antivirus software options for your Android phone.
Top 6 Antivirus Software for Android
- Bitdefender Mobile – Best for All Devices
- Norton Mobile Security – Best for App Checking
- Avira Prime Mobile – Best for a Low Budget
- Avast Mobile Security – Best for Short-term Usage
- Trend Micro Mobile Security – Best for Device Performance
- AhnLab V3 Mobile Security – Best for Older Devices
1. Bitdefender Mobile – Best for All Devices
Pricing: $14.99 per year
Bitdefender is a well-known antivirus software for computers, but they also have a software to protect Android phones and tablets. It will instantly get to work when it detects a virus or any kind of malware and gives you reports on everything that it is protecting you from. It will also automatically scan every app that you download to make sure that your phone or tablet is protected. Bitdefender also extends to your smartwatch. It will even send you alerts when you are far away from your phone to remind you to not forget it.
Key Features:
- Extends to your smartwatch
- Barely affects your battery life
- Scans all downloaded apps
Reasons to Buy:
- Protects your phone and smartwatch
- Tells you what it is protecting you from
Reasons to Avoid:
- Have to pay for it every year
2. Norton Mobile Security – Best for App Checking
Pricing: $14.99 first year
If you are a person who downloads a ton of apps, then Norton Mobile Security is the best Android antivirus software for you. They have an App Advisor that will tell you if any of the apps that you download have any viruses or malware in them. It also tells you all of the risks involved with downloading the app, including any online privacy risks. Norton Mobile Security also makes sure that all of the Wifi networks that you join are one hundred percent safe before you connect. It will also notify you if any of the sites you are on have any malware or if they are trying to steal your information.
Key Features:
- App Advisor
- Wifi Security
- Safe Browsing
Reasons to Buy:
- Protects you from downloading harmful apps onto your mobile device
- Makes sure every Wifi network is safe before you connect
Reasons to Avoid:
- The price goes up after the first year
- Only works for one device
3. Avira Prime Mobile – Best for a Low Budget
Pricing: $3.99 per month
Having a antivirus software on your mobile device does not have to cost a ton of money. Avira Prime Mobile, although it costs more per year than some other softwares, is subscription-based. This means that you can have it for a few months and cancel it anytime without feeling like you are losing money. Avira Prime Mobile has many features to help protect your mobile device. It will automatically block spam calls, it will keep you safe when you are searching the web, makes sure that all of your passwords are strong and protected, and so much more.
Key Features:
- Robocall (spam) Protection
- Web Protection
- Password Manager Pro
Reasons to Buy:
- You can pay per month or by the year
- Can cancel any time
- Can work on multiple devices
Reasons to Avoid:
- Only works for one device unless you want to pay more per month
4. Avast Mobile Security – Best for Short-term Solution
Pricing: Free
If you have no idea which antivirus software you want to get but want your phone to be protected while you figure it out, then Avast Mobile Security is for you. It is a free app that can protect your phone until you figure out which antivirus software is the absolute best option for you. It will perform scans of your phone regularly and make sure that all of the apps you download are safe. All of your personal information will be secured with a pin that you set. It will also show you which apps you use the most and check app permissions.
Key Features:
- Performs regular scans
- Pin code to unlock photos and apps
- Shows you which apps you use the most
Reasons to Buy:
- It is free to download
- Lots of privacy protection features
Reasons to Avoid:
- You have to see a lot of adds
- Can only remove ads by paying a small fee
5. Trend Micro Mobile Security – Best for Device Performance
Pricing: $29.99 per year
Nobody wants to pay for a new antivirus software only for it to make your device slow. With Trend Micro Mobile Security, you will not have to deal with your device slowing down at all. It will actually make your phone faster with their app manager. You will be able to see which apps you use and delete the ones you do not use, freeing up room on your device and helping it run that much faster. It will also make sure you don’t open any harmful emails or go on websites that could harm your device.
Key Features:
- App Manager
- Avoid scams from emails, texts, and websites
- Checks Wifi before letting you connect
Reasons to Buy:
- Helps free up space on your phone
- It will make your phone run faster
Reasons to Avoid:
- A high price point
6. AhnLab V3 Mobile Security – Best for Older Devices
Pricing: Free
A lot of anitvius software requires you to have the latest technology for you to be able to use them at all. But AhnLab V3 Mobile Security works with older Android devices as well as newer ones. And there are no ads, which is a huge plus for a free app. This antivirus software has a ton of privacy features to keep all of your personal information and passwords safe and secure. It will also make sure that any QR codes that you scan don’t send you to a harmful website or put a virus onto your device.
Key Features:
- Hide photos and videos in a gallery
- Tells you which apps have location tracking
- Scans QR codes
Reasons to Buy:
- It is free to download
- Keeps personal information and passwords safe
- Barely touches your battery life
Reasons to Avoid:
- The user interface can be hard to understand/navigate
- There is no antitheft feature
References and Links:
- https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-android-antivirus-apps
- https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/mobile-security-android.html
- https://www.techradar.com/best/best-android-antivirus-app
- https://us.norton.com/products/mobile-security-for-android
- https://www.avira.com/en/prime-mobile-android
- https://www.avast.com/en-us/free-mobile-security
- https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/forHome/products/mobile-security.html
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ahnlab.v3mobilesecurity.soda