Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
By picking the best antivirus for Windows 10 you’ll ensure to protect your system against the many threats you may incur online, as well as improve your overall security, privacy, and anonymity well beyond locking malware out of your computer. Checking the best antivirus software on Windows 10, you’ll notice that they do not only provide the best virus protection, but also offer a full security suite to secure your password, monitor your children’s online (and offline) activities, keep your banking transactions safe, and much more.
But the best part of it is that if you’re planning to upgrade to Windows 11, you’ll not have a single issue in the transaction. Every piece of software in our list is 100% compatible with the latest Microsoft Operating System because they’re constantly updated and optimized for both Windows 10 and 11.
So you can consider this as a list of the best antivirus for PC, since there are no compatibility issues at all. One potential issue, however, is the compatibility with your budget: some of the best antivirus for Windows 10 (and 11) may get expensive, especially if you need to cover multiple devices and get more than 1 year of protection. Fortunately, there are some options out there for you to explore. One of the best, in our opinion, is Mr Key Shop. Keep on reading to figure it out.
How to buy the best antivirus deals
If you want to get the best antivirus deals, we recommend paying a visit to Mr Key Shop, a third-party e-commerce company that impressed us with its digital model, as you can read here: Going Digital – Mr Key Shop’s Model.
For over 18 years, Mr Key Shop has worked in the digital delivery sector offering customers a vast catalog of 100% legit licenses for the best software around, spanning from Microsoft Windows and Office to Antivirus Suites and professional-grade programs like Windows Server and SQL Server.
Their distinctive perks are timeliness and a professional approach to customers, with one of the best Technical Support teams around. Every purchase is secured by the best SSL-encrypted payment methods like PayPal, Stripe, and Pay services from Apple, Amazon, and Google, along with the traditional credit/debit card options. They also cover each order with a full money-back warranty, and their Customer Support is always there to help you before and after your transaction, even suggesting you the best version of Windows or Office to buy for your specific needs.
It must not surprise you that Mr Key Shop has an average rating of Excellent on TrustPilot, also due to their sensible approach to environmental issues, since they chose not to adopt the physical channel to help cut pollutants and waste, and, last but not least, their competitive prices – you can save up 70% over the MSRPs by shopping from their catalog.
Right now, for example, you can buy Windows 10 for a fraction of the official price and then upgrade to Windows 11 for free. Need a new productivity suite? Buy Microsoft Office 2021 or purchase Office for Mac and save money!
Did you buy Microsoft Office? Read our activation guide here: How to activate Microsoft Office?. Are you still shopping? Here’s our article for you: How to buy Microsoft Office at the best price. On the fence about Windows 11? Read our analysis: Is Windows 11 better than Windows 10?
The best Windows 10 antivirus software of 2022
Picking the best Windows 10 antivirus software is not an easy job. The market is filled with excellent Antivirus suites, and sometimes differences are very subtle in terms of accuracy, protection rates, and overall quality. There are other things to factor in, however: impact on the OS, for example, can be crucial if you’re using your computer for time-sensitive professional tasks. Furthermore, there are some antiviruses that shine for specific reasons, for example, ransomware protection, or anti-phishing capabilities. In our list of the best antivirus for Windows 10 (and Windows 11 as well), we tried to consider all these elements and rank them in a way that can make sense for many different needs.
Avast – Accurate and effective
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Key features
- Accurate antivirus engine
- Free VPN
- Ransomware Shield
Free edition: available
Overall, Avast is the most accurate and effective antivirus suite you can buy now. According to the latest AV-Comparative tests (March and April 2022), Avast ranks first both for performance and malware detection, with a 99,98% online protection rate. The suite includes a free VPN powered by HideMyAss, offering 5GB of weekly data, and an effective Ransomware Shield. Avast is well-known and respected for its free antivirus, and the paid version offers some useful extras that you may appreciate, including a good firewall, ad-block, webcam protection, and malicious URL protection.
Buy it if…
- You’re mainly focused on malware protection over the extras
Don’t buy it if…
- You feel the paid extras are not your cup of tea
Buy Avast 2022 for PC on discount from Mr Key Shop
Bitdefender – A versatile and complete suite
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Key features
- SafePay Banking Protection
- Free VPN
- Multi-layer Anti-Ransomware
Free edition: available (will be terminated soon)
Hands down, Bitdefender is one of the best antiviruses for PC, but also for mac and mobile platforms. It offers all the features you can expect from a premium antivirus, plus a <free VPN with an allowance of 200 MB per day, an excellent ransomware protection feature, and a ton of handy extras, like the SafePay protection for banking and payment protection. Even if the AV-Comparatives test for malware detection and performance it’s not in the top 3 ranks, Bitdefender is still one of the most complete suites, with the best value all considered. Scans are very quick, especially from the second run on, and the ransomware protections are very effective. Keep in mind that Bitdefender can slow down your system, especially if your computer is a bit old.
Buy it if…
- You need fast scans
- Look for the best value
Don’t buy it if…
- You have an outdated machine
Buy Bitdefender 2022 on sale from Mr Key Shop
ESET – Professional-grade tool rich with features
Platforms: Windows, Android, Mac
Key features
- Highly configurable
- UEFI Scanner
- Exploit Blocker
Free edition: only free trial
ESET NOD32 is one of the most popular and long-lived antivirus tools around. One of the main features of ESET products is the focus on expert and professional users, with a range of tools and configuration options that may keep the basic and casual users away. However, the advanced tools for UEFI scan, and the bootable malware remover are excellent extras you can use to remove even the most resilient piece of malware on your PC. Its highly configurability means that you can fine-tune your antivirus to best fit your needs, furthermore ESET has almost zero impact on the system performance, as proved by AV-Comparative in their April 2022 Performance test, with a score of 99,77% for online protection, according to March 2022 AV-Comparative Malware Detection test.
Buy it if…
- You want granular control over your security suite
- Enjoy fine-tuning your system configuration
Don’t buy it if…
- You’re a basic/casual user who’s not comfortable with complex advanced tool
Buy ESET for PC/Mac/Android on discount from Mr Key Shop
Norton – The best antivirus for Windows
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Key features
- Online backup
- Smart firewall
- Built-in VPN
Free edition: only free trial
Norton got 100% in the AV-Comparatives Malware Detection Test (March 2022) for Online Protection, and this alone is a great measure of how Norton can help you stay safe while surfing the web. Add a smart firewall (one of the best around), a built-in Secure VPN with a decent selection of locations, and other welcome extras like a very effective cloud backup tool, and you’ll see why Norton is one of the most appreciated security suites around.
If you choose Norton 360 Premium, you’ll be able to cover up to 10 devices and benefit from 75GB of cloud backup. Furthermore, you’ll be able to track your children and manage their screen time, digital media consumption and more.
Buy it if…
- You’re looking for a very complete suite with effective malware protection
Don’t buy it if…
- You’re on a very tight budget
Buy Norton 2022 for PC/Mac/Android/iOS from Mr Key Shop
McAfee Antivirus – Low-cost but effective suite
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Key features
- Unlimited VPN
- Anti-spam filter
- Effective Firewall
Free edition: only free trial
McAfee Antivirus offers great value with low-priced plans and some interesting extras, like the unlimited VPN, and an effective anti-spam filter. The smart firewall impressed us with its smart features, while we appreciated how lightweight it can be in terms of impact on performance.
The Safe Connect VPN is powered by TunelBear, and has no limits in terms of traffic. Plus, you can safely store your most important data in a secure vault and optimize your system thanks to some useful optimization tools.
Speaking of malware detection rates, according to March 2022 AV-Comparative Tests, McAfee Antivirus scored 99,97% in online protection. However, the most expert users may get disappointed by the low configurability and granular control over the antivirus tool.
Buy it if…
- You want a complete suite and save some cash
- Need an unlimited VPN
Don’t buy it if…
- You want some more advanced configuration options with your antivirus.
Buy McAfee 2022 for PC/Mac/iOS/Android cheap from Mr Key Shop
Kaspersky Antivirus – Your best choice against ransomware
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Key features
- Effective against crypto-miners
- The best ransomware protection in the industry
- Great antivirus engine
Free edition: available
Kaspersky Antivirus is one of the best antiviruses for PC in terms of ransomware protection. Their researchers did a great job in time, finding a lot of insight about most of the most dangerous and malicious malware, to the point that the brand offers a free decryption tool. Kaspersky offers a range of configuration tools, as well as fast and configurable scans. The antivirus got a score of 99,98% for online protection by AV-Comparatives (March 2022) and has an overall low impact on system performance according to the Performance Tests (April 2022) run by the same independent labs.
However, Kaspersky offers a very compact suite, with not many extras compared to other brands, however, if you’re focused on security and protection against ransomware and other threats, just go for it!
Buy it if…
- You want to trust one of the best Antivirus brands in the industry
Don’t buy it if…
- You feel uncomfortable about funding a company with Russian origins
Buy Kaspersky 2022 for PC/Mac/iOS/Android from Mr Key Shop
Is it worth buying a Premium Antivirus for PC?
If you’re wondering whether to buy a Premium Antivirus for PC or stick with one of the best free antivirus tools for Windows 10, like Avast, AVG, or Avira, well… the answer is not that obvious.
Although a good free antivirus can cover the basics (threat protection, real-time monitoring), sometimes the limitations are a deal-breaker, especially if you need to protect multiple devices running different platforms, or you just need some extra feature not offered in the free/basic plan.
Sometimes, buying a good suite with an unlimited VPN like McAfee Total Protection 2022, or a complete tool giving you 75GB of online backup and up to 10 devices protected like Norton 360 Premium, can make real sense. You won’t have to pay for an extra VPN subscription or a cloud backup plan, plus, if you go to Mr Key Shop’s, you’ll even save extra money that you can invest in other useful tools, like the latest Microsoft Office 2021 or a legit key for Windows 10 in order to upgrade to Windows 11 at a fraction of the official price. That’s what we call a smart move!
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