10 Best Android Antiviruses 2025: Secure Your Device

Kelvin Kiogora
Updated on: September 27, 2025 Writer

I downloaded, installed, and tested the most popular Android antivirus apps. I wanted to find the best tool to protect me from dangerous apps, AI-powered scams, malicious QR codes, and banking trojans such as FluHorse. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that most Android antivirus apps are terrible — they failed to detect sophisticated malware, drained my phone’s battery, and even harvested my data for advertisers.

The good news is that there are some excellent internet security apps out there. They offer a wide range of useful features, such as real-time malware protection, anti-phishing protection, virtual private networks (VPNs), anti-theft tools, spam filters, and parental controls.

After weeks of testing, I found the 10 best Android antiviruses on the market. All of the apps below performed excellently in my tests, and they can be installed on almost all Android smartphones and tablets. (Chromebook users can look here for my favorite Chromebook-compatible apps).

As a quick money-saving tip, click on the links on this page for the best deals. You’ll get lower prices and stronger money-back guarantees than buying directly from the Google Play Store.

Quick Summary of the Best Android Antivirus Apps in 2025

1. 🥇Norton — #1 Overall Pick for Best Android Antivirus of 2025

Norton is the best overall antivirus for Android in 2025. Norton Mobile Security has a reliable anti-malware scanner, includes strong privacy tools, and lots of extra features. During my tests, I ran Norton’s malware scanner against a wide range of Android threats, including malicious apps and dangerous files. It removed 100% of the malware from my device, and the scan took just a few minutes. The app had virtually no impact on my device’s performance or battery life, and in terms of privacy, Norton only collects minimal information, which it doesn’t share with any third parties.

Norton includes more security features than almost any competitor, including:

• App Advisor.
• SMS filter.
• Genie Scam Protection (SMS & web).
• Anti-phishing protection.
• Wi-Fi monitoring.
• LifeLock identity theft protection (separate app).
• Data broker removal tool (US only).
• Secure browser.
• Parental controls.
• VPN.

I really like Norton’s App Advisor. It scans Google Play Store apps before you install them, so you don’t accidentally download malware or data-harvesting apps. Additionally, it provides a useful list of every app on your phone, organized by permissions and threat level. I used it to remove a malicious app and a few others that were collecting excess personal information about me. Norton runs scans in real time, so you’ll be alerted to threats as soon as they arise.

Norton’s anti-phishing protection is also excellent — it blocked most phishing and risky sites I tried opening. It works on every major mobile browser and protects you from dangerous links on social media sites like Instagram and texting apps like Facebook Messenger. Norton also scans links you receive in text messages and can even block spam text messages from appearing in your inbox.

I love that Norton’s Android-only plan comes with Privacy Monitor, a tool that US-based users can use to request that data brokers remove their personal information. Norton is the only antivirus on this list to include such a tool on its Android plan. If you subscribe to one of Norton’s many bundles, you can get a whole suite of additional identity theft protection tools — they’re the best on the market.

Other notable features include an unlimited-data VPN. It maintained fast speeds while I browsed the internet anonymously, and it has a split-tunneling feature, a kill switch, and an integrated tracker blocker. It isn’t as good as the best standalone VPNs, but it’s still pretty good.

If you want to protect several Android devices or keep your kids safe online, Norton Select Plus plan is a great choice. It includes comprehensive parental controls that let you monitor your child’s online activity, block inappropriate websites, set screen time limits, and track their location. You can also see which apps your kids are using and get alerts if they try to access restricted content.

Norton Mobile Security covers 1 Android device and costs $19.99 / year*, but it’s missing the VPN and most identity protections. Norton’s premium bundles are a great option if you want those features or have multiple devices to protect. The 360 Deluxe plan ($49.99 / year*) brings the most value as it includes most features and covers up to 5 devices. But there are other options, and they’re all backed by a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Norton review here >

2.🥈 TotalAV — Best for Beginners With Great Optimization Tools

TotalAV is one of my favorite Android antivirus programs in 2025. It provides secure anti-malware protection, great additional features, and excellent device optimization tools. Like all of TotalAV’s apps, the Android version is easy to use. It’s also very effective, detecting the Android-specific malware files on my device during testing. The real-time scanner didn’t affect my phone’s battery, either, as it’s cloud-based and lightweight. Moreover, TotalAV only collects minimal information while scanning.

TotalAV’s device optimization tools are the best optimizers of any antivirus software I’ve tested, and they’re especially useful for old or slow Androids. When I scanned my Android tablet for duplicates, junk, and cache files, TotalAV freed up over 1 GB of much-needed disk drive space. The scan ran smoothly without slowing down my device. I also really like the duplicate photo and video finder. I had tons of near-identical images that I could quickly delete.

TotalAV includes a few more decent security features:

• VPN.
• Anti-phishing protection.
• Secure browser.
• App locker.
• Data breach monitoring.
• Advanced ransomware protection.
• Ad blocker.
• Password manager.
• Data breach monitoring.
• Identity theft monitoring (US only – separate purchase).

I really like TotalAV’s ad blocker. It blocks pop-ups, trackers, and even video ads on sites like YouTube when accessed via a browser, which many blockers can’t handle. It’s especially useful if you browse ad-heavy websites on your Android phone or tablet. There’s a free version on Android, but it isn’t very good; the paid version, on the other hand, is very effective.

TotalAV has a powerful anti-phishing tool — WebShield, which blocks malicious websites, fake login pages, and online malware distributors on your Android device. During my tests, it effectively stopped access to dangerous links and scam sites, which is especially useful if you frequently browse or shop on your phone. Plus, US-based users get dark web breach alerts, including the exact date of the breach, so you can quickly change compromised login details.

I also like TotalAV’s QR Code Checker, which enhances mobile security by scanning QR codes before they open. Built into the WebShield engine, it checks codes that lead to websites, downloads, or Wi-Fi setups and blocks anything flagged as dangerous. This helps protect you against phishing attempts and hidden threats commonly embedded in QR codes.

TotalAV’s unlimited-data VPN provides access to almost 100 servers worldwide, has a kill switch and no-logs policy, works with streaming sites, and maintains fast speeds. The secure browser has added protections and uses DuckDuckGo’s search engine, but even if you stick with your favorite browser, you’ll benefit from Web Shield, which blocks dangerous sites. They work well on all types of Android devices, including tablets.

One of the things I appreciate most about TotalAV’s Android app is how intuitive it is. The interface is clean, well-organized, and clearly labeled, so I never had to hunt around for features like the QR scanner, VPN, or system cleanup tools. Important functions — like running a smart scan or enabling WebShield — are just a tap away on the home screen. Even if you’ve never used a mobile antivirus app before, TotalAV makes the process straightforward and user-friendly.

All of TotalAV’s internet security suites are compatible with Android devices. The multi-device plans are way cheaper than the Android subscription, starting at $19.00 / year, and providing excellent antivirus protection for PC, Mac, and iOS as well. Every annual plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full TotalAV review here >

3.🥉 Bitdefender — Lightweight Malware Scanner With a Fast VPN

Bitdefender’s Mobile Security plan comes with a lightweight antivirus app for Android with tons of helpful features. Its cloud-based scanning engine uses machine learning to detect the latest malware threats. When I tested the scanner, it removed all of the malware from my phone and tablet in just a few minutes. The real-time protection worked perfectly, barely impacting my phone’s battery or performance. The only downside is that Bitdefender collects more user data than Norton.

Bitdefender has an innovative App Anomaly Detection feature for Android. This advanced technology continually monitors app behavior and immediately flags any suspicious activities. It even works when Bitdefender is closed, so you’re always protected.

The app also comes with a VPN powered by Hotspot Shield, but the better version of the VPN requires a separate app. The VPN included with the antivirus is barebones, while the dedicated VPN is fully featured, with a kill switch, split tunneling, multiple protocols, and a wide selection of servers. That said, I enjoyed good speeds on both apps. With a Mobile Security subscription, you can use both apps. Most plans have a low data limit, but you can get unlimited data by getting the most comprehensive multi-platform bundle.

I’m pretty impressed with Bitdefender’s mobile app’s wide range of features. You also get:

• App locker.
• SMS scam filter.
• Data breach monitoring.
• Anti-theft tools.
• Web protections.
• Password manager.

Bitdefender includes WearON, a handy companion feature for Android smartwatches. If you misplace your phone, you can use your watch to make it ring, even if it’s on silent. WearON also alerts you instantly if you move too far away from your phone, helping prevent accidental loss or theft when you’re on the go.

At $14.99 / year, Bitdefender Mobile Security is a good value, but it can only protect a single Android phone. If you have multiple devices, you can get a better deal by subscribing to one of the multi-platform plans. Antivirus Plus costs $34.99 / year and covers up to 3 devices. But my favorite plan is Total Security ($54.99 / year), which includes every feature save the unlimited-data VPN. A 30-day money-back guarantee covers all of Bitdefender’s plans.

Read the full Bitdefender review here >

4.🥉 McAfee — Best Android Web Protections

McAfee’s feature-rich Android app provides excellent malware protection and some of the best web protections on the market. McAfee’s scanner detected all of the malware I downloaded to my Android tablet, but the scanning process affected my battery life much more than Norton or Bitdefender.

The malware scanner works well, removing both apps and dangerous .ZIP and .APK files. I like how the app issues you with a protection score that you can increase by optimizing your phone’s security settings. US customers can also set up McAfee’s identity theft monitoring service to get the highest possible score.

McAfee’s Android app also comes with excellent anti-phishing protection. In my tests, it successfully blocked both risky sites and malicious downloads. It also scans URLs sent in text messages, making it easy to identify scammers.

In addition to helping you avoid dangerous sites, McAfee’s Android app will alert you to unsecured networks. The Wi-Fi scanner analyzes networks for security issues and alerts you if you connect to an unsecured hotspot. However, the strongest privacy tool is the VPN, which you can use to anonymize your web traffic.

Other features you get on McAfee’s Android app include:

• Deepfake video detection.
• Social privacy manager.
• Transaction and credit monitoring.
• Exposed personal data cleanup.

I recommend Android users pick up McAfee Premium for $49.99 / year. It provides unlimited device licenses, so you can also protect your desktop and iOS devices. You’ll need the Advanced plan ($89.99 / year) for extensive identity protection. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full McAfee review here >

5. Avast — Best Free Features & Smart Wi-Fi Security

Avast Mobile Security offers one of the most feature-packed free Android antivirus apps. Unlike many competitors that restrict most tools to premium plans, Avast’s free version includes malware scanning, ransomware protection, and even privacy tools that show which apps have intrusive permissions.

Beyond the malware scanner, Avast includes:

• Web Shield.
• App Insights dashboard.
• Call blocker.
• VPN (only unlimited on premium plans).
• Webcam and mic protection.
• Junk Cleaner & RAM Boost.
• Wi-Fi network alerts.

Avast’s Web Shield works in real time to block access to phishing sites, malicious downloads, and fake login pages across all major mobile browsers. During my tests, Web Shield stopped me from opening several scam links hidden in emails and messaging apps, which could have otherwise exposed my data. It’s honestly solid protection that holds up well, though it’s not quite as good as Norton and Bitdefender.

I particularly like Avast’s App Insights dashboard, which clearly shows which apps drain your battery, use lots of data, or request sensitive permissions, helping you manage privacy risks more easily than with most Android antiviruses. It also shows how much time you spend on each app.

I was also impressed with Avast’s anti-theft tools. From the Avast dashboard, you can remotely locate your lost phone, lock it, trigger a loud siren, or wipe all data if recovery isn’t possible. There’s also a camera trap that secretly takes a photo of anyone trying to unlock your device and emails it to you with the phone’s location.

My recommended plan is Avast Premium Security, which costs $31.20 / year and covers up to 10 devices. However, to take advantage of all of Avast’s features, including the VPN and premium cleanup tools, you need the Ultimate plan, which costs $43.99 / year. You can try any of Avast’s plans risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Avast review here >

6. Avira — Robust Camera and Mic Protection

Avira Security Antivirus & VPN provides a cloud-based malware scanner with lots of features. Avira’s malware scanner detected all of the malware files in my testing, but I was disappointed with how quickly it drained my battery during scans. Norton, on the other hand, also uses cloud-based scanning but is much more lightweight, making it a better choice for preserving battery life, especially on Android.

The malware scanner works well — and it’s 100% free. It removed every malicious app on my phone and provided a list of every app with invasive permissions. On the flip side, it doesn’t rate apps based on overall permissions. It only shows permission types, and you have to tap the permissions to see which apps have them.

Here are Avira’s additional features:

• Anti-phishing protection.
• Breach monitoring.
• Call blocker.
• App locker.
• Camera and microphone protection.
• Web protection.
• Password manager.
• VPN (100 MB/day, or unlimited data on Avira Prime).
• System tune-up tools.

I like the VPN and system tune-up tools the most. The VPN is intuitive (one of my top choices for torrenting), and the system tune-up tools are excellent for clearing memory and storage. Unfortunately, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan to get unlimited data. The web protections (another premium feature) are great, too, providing security that matches the VPN’s privacy features.

You’ll need the Prime plan to get all of Avira’s Android features — including the unlimited-data VPN and web protections. It costs $59.99 / year and covers up to 5 devices (including Android, PC, Mac, & iOS). Avira’s annual plans are covered by a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Avira review here >

7. ESET — Strong Malware Protection

ESET Mobile Security comes with an Android app with a thorough malware scanner, achieving a 100% detection rate during my tests. Its real-time protection effectively stopped ransomware, spyware, and other malicious files.

ESET comes with a lot of additional features:

• Anti-phishing protection.
• App lock.
• Payment protection.
• Wi-Fi network scanner.
• Anti-theft protection.
• Call filter.
• App auditor.

I found the anti-theft protections very comprehensive. If your phone is stolen, you can use the anti-theft dashboard on your computer to find it. You can also make it so your phone is automatically locked whenever the SIM is removed. The ability to take photos of any potential thief is a nice addition. Additionally, there’s an option to remotely display a message on your phone’s screen — this is useful in case your phone is lost but not stolen.

The anti-phishing protections are pretty good, too. They successfully blocked the majority of dangerous sites I tried to visit. However, they are over-sensitive, and I found it difficult to add false positives to the whitelist. There’s also a payment protection tool that provides extra security by encrypting your keystrokes when shopping on your phone.

ESET has a decent VPN on its most expensive plan, Ultimate, but it costs a whopping $179.99 / year. I think Norton’s VPN is better in terms of security and convenience.

ESET Mobile Security can protect up to 10 Android devices. Its annual plan starts at $12.99 / year for 1 device. To get coverage for PCs & Mac devices (1-25), you can upgrade to Premium Security for just $59.99 / year. ESET’s plans come with a 30-day free trial (no credit card required) and are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full ESET review here

8. Panda — Compatible With Wear OS Smart Watches

Panda Dome’s Android app features a good malware scanner with a 95% detection rate and excellent real-time protection that blocks all attempted malware downloads.

The Android app comes with:

• App lock.
• Anti-theft tools (including motion alerts).
• App privacy auditing.
• Call blocker.
• Parental controls.
• VPN (150 MB/day on most plans).

I like how Panda’s anti-theft tools have Android smartwatch connectivity, which allows you to control your antivirus from your wrist. The anti-theft tools will sound an alarm if your watch and your device are too far away from each other. You can even make it so you’ll get an alert on the web dashboard if your phone changes location. It’s my favorite feature after the call filter, which blocked tons of annoying (and dangerous) cold calls.

However, Panda’s other features are unimpressive compared to its competitors. For example, its privacy auditing isn’t as good as Norton’s app advisor, and the VPN severely lacks features and has a low data limit on most plans, unlike Norton’s unlimited-data VPN, which is compatible with top streaming platforms.

I recommend getting one of Panda’s multi-platform plans. They start at $15.00 / year and can cover unlimited devices (including PCs, Macs, and iPhones). To get the unlimited-data VPN, password manager, and Android parental controls, you’ll need Panda Dome Premium, which starts at $42.00 / year. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee included in all Panda plans.

Read the full Panda review here >

9. Trend Micro — Good Smishing Blocker

Trend Micro Mobile Security has a pretty good malware scanner — it detected almost all of the virus samples I downloaded onto my phone. Its web protections also worked well, preventing me from visiting several malicious and fraudulent websites during my tests. However, in general, Trend Micro lacks many features that competitors offer.

Trend Micro has the following additional features:

• Wi-Fi monitoring.
• System tune-up tools.
• Anti-theft tools.
• Parental controls.
• Social media privacy checker.
• VPN (separate app).
• Password manager (separate app).

I like Trend Micro’s ability to stop SMS-based phishing (smishing), which warns you if it detects a scam URL in any SMS message (Norton also offers this feature). The web protections work well, too, but the call spam filter wasn’t effective in my tests.

The anti-theft tools (which can take a photo of anyone who steals your phone) are pretty good, but other features are lacking. The tune-up tools didn’t improve my phone’s performance (and the app itself used more resources than I’d like), and it didn’t remove nearly as much junk as TotalAV.

Trend Micro Mobile Security starts at $29.99 / year for 1 device. Trend Micro Premium Security Suite, however, is its best value plan, at $54.95 / year. For that price, you’ll get parental controls, dark web monitoring, an unlimited VPN, and much more, as well as coverage for up to 10 Windows, macOS, and iOS devices. Trend Micro offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its plans.

Read the full Trend Micro review here

10. Malwarebytes — Good No-Frills Antivirus

Malwarebytes has a decent, minimalistic Android antivirus with an intuitive interface. Its malware scanner is incredibly lightweight, having little to no effect on my battery or my device’s performance speeds, but it only found 95% of the malware I hid on my device for testing purposes — much less than the top antiviruses on this list.

Malwarebytes has very few additional features:

• Smishing protections.
• Data leak checker.
• Privacy Checker.
• VPN.
• App manager.

Privacy Checker, which analyzes the apps on your phone, is pretty good. It lets you quickly review your apps’ settings and permissions, including which apps can read your personal information, track your location, monitor your calls, cost you money, and more. I prefer Norton’s App Advisor, though, as it makes it more immediately clear which apps pose privacy risks (with Malwarebytes, you have to click on individual risk categories to see potential threats). It’s also a shame that Malwarebytes can’t identify apps that may pose a security or privacy risk before they’re installed.

You can protect your Android by subscribing to Malwarebytes Standard for $44.99 / year. Plus subscriptions cost $59.99 / year and add an unlimited-data VPN. Both plans protect up to 20 devices, including Macs, PCs, and iPhones. All plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Malwarebytes review here >

Quick Comparison Table

Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria

To identify the best Android antivirus apps for 2025, I used our detailed testing methodology to assess each product’s malware detection, threat protection, performance impact, usability, additional features, and overall value. Here’s how I approached the evaluation of these essential security tools for Android devices.

• I tested malware detection capabilities. I thoroughly tested each antivirus app on this list for its ability to detect and neutralize various types of malware, including ransomware, spyware, and viruses. This included analyzing their effectiveness against threats embedded in apps from the Google Play Store, as well as those found in emails, text messages, and websites.
• I evaluated comprehensive threat protection. A top-notch Android internet security app should have a full range of cybersecurity features, like web protection, SMS and call filters, junk cleaners, a VPN, and an advanced antivirus scanner. All the brands on this list offer at least one of these tools, and some (like Norton) offer all.
• I considered what each company does with user data. Every Android antivirus app needs access to some level of user data. There’s no way around that fact. However, some developers take this way too far, harvesting sensitive data and selling it to third parties. I only selected apps that collect minimal data.
• I checked for additional features. I looked for apps offering more than just basic virus protection, including system optimization tools, anti-theft features, parental controls, and more. These additional features can significantly enhance privacy, security, and device performance.
• I considered value for money. I compared the cost against the range of features offered by each antivirus app. All apps on this list provide excellent value, featuring comprehensive security tools such as malware protection, anti-phishing measures, and VPNs at a reasonable price. Each app also offers a money-back guarantee, allowing you to try them risk-free.

Do I Really Need an Antivirus on My Android?

Yes. Having antivirus protection is a smart move since Android is a prime target for cybercriminals. In fact, a study by the University of Cambridge revealed that 87% of Android smartphones are vulnerable to at least one serious security flaw1.

Unlike iOS, Android allows users to install apps from third-party sources, which opens the door to potentially harmful software. Even apps on the Google Play Store aren’t immune — some make it past Google’s filters and later get flagged for malware or phishing scams. Antivirus apps help fill this gap by scanning apps before and after installation, blocking unsafe websites, and flagging risky SMS links that could lead to identity theft or financial loss.

Here are some other key reasons why you need an antivirus on your Android device:

• Malware is rising fast: According to Malwarebytes, malware detections on Android devices have surged by 151% since the start of the year (Malwarebytes, 2025)2. Many threats, like Mamont Trojans and ToxicPanda, bypass basic scans and exploit user behavior, such as tapping phishing links in SMS.
• Phishing is more sophisticated: Phishing campaigns now use tactics like personalized SMS messages and fake app notifications. These significantly increase your likelihood of tapping malicious links, which can easily compromise your device if you’re not protected.
• Older devices are vulnerable: If your phone doesn’t get timely updates, you’re at risk from zero-days and preinstalled malware like Triada, especially on off-brand phones.
• Built-in protections aren’t enough: Studies have repeatedly shown that Google Play Protect detects far fewer threats than top third-party antivirus apps. It also lacks many real-time features, such as phishing protection, web filtering, and advanced privacy tools. This makes it easy for malicious apps to slip through.
• Advanced threats are evolving: Cybercriminals are using more sophisticated tools, including spyware, ransomware like Anubis that lock down phones, and NFC relay attacks that steal payment data during contactless transactions.
• Human error is a major risk: The majority of breaches are caused by social engineering. If you use public Wi-Fi, sideload apps, or handle sensitive data, you’re especially at risk.
• Extra features provide better coverage: Antivirus apps often include VPNs, anti-phishing tools, and breach alerts — capabilities that go beyond what Google offers by default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Overview of My Top Recommendations:

References

1. https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/%7Edrt24/papers/spsm-scoring.pdf
2. https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/06/android-threats-rise-sharply-with-mobile-malware-jumping-by-151-since-start-of-year