PCMag’s 2026 Antivirus Awards: The Best Security Products Tested

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PCMag’s independent testing lab evaluated 45 antivirus and security suite products throughout 2025, and our comprehensive analysis of their results reveals the security products that truly excel in real-world protection. Norton 360 Deluxe earned our Editors’ Choice for Best Overall Security Suite with exceptional malware protection, minimal performance impact, and an unmatched feature set including VPN, password manager, and parental controls. Bitdefender Premium Security took the award for Best Premium Security with advanced features, perfect malware detection scores, and a polished user experience. Kaspersky Plus earned recognition for Best Value, delivering premium features at mid-range pricing. For free antivirus, Avast One Free earned our recommendation for its excellent baseline protection and useful additional features. The standalone antivirus category was won by G Data Total Security, which delivered the best malware detection rates in our lab tests. CrowdStrike Falcon Protect earned the award for best business endpoint protection for small businesses, while SentinelOne Singularity took the enterprise category. ESET NOD32 earned recognition as the Best for Power Users thanks to its deep customization options and excellent Linux support. Our analysis includes detailed lab test results, feature comparisons, and pricing breakdowns for all award winners to help you choose the right security solution for your needs.

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