A reputable antivirus program is the first line of defense against cybercriminals who want to steal personal information and cause havoc to networks and computers, and much more. The best antivirus software, regardless of whether it’s free or paid, provides the highest-quality protection to keep these threats out of the computer. However, selecting the right software can be tricky.

There are a variety of antivirus tools available for Windows, Mac and Android devices. Some are targeted for businesses while others are designed to safeguard consumers. Certain antiviruses offer additional features, while others focus on a specific threat or type computing behavior, such as password management and encryption of files. It is crucial to choose the right antivirus and then compare it with other options.

To help, we’ve designed an antivirus comparison chart that will help you to select the right program for your needs. You can filter your search by protection (how well the software detects malicious software) as well as performance (how smoothly the tool runs on your PC) and false positives. You can filter by price, number you can find out more of devices installed and false positives to find the best price.

When you look through the chart of comparisons between antivirus programs take note that many of these tools are rated by multiple independent labs. Find a top rating for each category. You should also consider the number of licenses for your device that come with the price you pay as well as how easy it is to contact customer support and whether a no-cost trial or version is available.