Reviewed by the Foxmole editorial team · 2026-07-29
On this page
Key takeaways
- For most people on an up-to-date device, the built-in protection is enough.
- Free third-party antivirus adds extra scanning; a browser safety layer covers online threats.
- Safe habits (updates, unique passwords, phishing awareness) matter more than any single app.
The honest answer to “which antivirus should I buy?” is often: you may not need to buy one. Here’s what actually protects you.
The most important thing first
Keep your operating system and browser updated, use unique passwords with a password manager, and learn to spot phishing. Those habits stop more real-world attacks than any antivirus setting.
At a glance
| Option | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender (built into Windows) | Free | Solid baseline for most people |
| Bitdefender Antivirus Free | Free | Light, well-rated on-demand scanning |
| Avast Free Antivirus | Free | Broad protection + extras |
| Malwarebytes Free | Free | On-demand malware clean-up (pairs with the above) |
Our take
For most people, Microsoft Defender plus a browser security extension is a genuinely good, free setup. If you want a second opinion scanner, Malwarebytes Free is a reasonable add-on. Paid suites add features (VPN, extra tuning), worth it for some, not essential for most.
What antivirus can’t do
- Stop you handing a password to a convincing fake site (that’s phishing awareness + 2FA).
- Replace backups against ransomware.
- Make you anonymous.