Best antivirus software in Australia

These days, antivirus software for one PC, Mac, iOS, and Android device can be bought for as low as $20. If you're looking to protect multiple devices, antivirus software can set you back as much as $300 a year.

For us, Bitdefender Premium Security is a clear winner, thanks to its fantastic threat protection, security for multiple devices, and great advanced features like an unlimited virtual private network (VPN).

Bitdefender Premium Security builds on top of the top-tier threat protection with peace-of-mind features like microphone and webcam protection. It’s also great to see the low impact on device performance is also paired with an optimiser to clean and speed up compatible devices.

It's elevated even further by the inclusion of anti-phishing protection, an unlimited VPN feature, and a password manager. Alternatively, save money with the competitively priced Bitdefender Total Security ($99.99) or tap into family-specific features with the Bitdefender Family Pack ($104.98). You can also try before you buy with a free version of Bitdefender PC, MacOS, and Android.

Kaspersky Premium is the most fully featured plan, compatible with Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS devices. It boasts near-perfect threat protection in real-world testing conditions as well as neat additional security features like anti-phishing, payment protection, private browsing, and an ad blocker.

There are also more advanced features for those seeking even better internet security. Make use of the Kaspersky VPN, protect your webcam, manage passwords, or protect younger device users with parental controls. Alternatively, if you don’t mind missing out on some features, there’s even cheaper pricing for Kaspersky Standard and Kaspersky Plus.

Beyond this, there are also great family-focused features beyond the near-perfect real-time threat protection. For example, it’s great to see the inclusion of webcam protection, dangerous website blocking, and an extra layer of protection for sensitive data stored on your family’s devices.

Additionally, Avast One includes device cleaning and automatic driver updates for computers (driver vulnerabilities can be a security risk). If you want to make Avast One more affordable and don’t have so many devices to protect, save $60 a year on the typical fee with the five-device plan.

The impressive real-time threat protection is bolstered by Norton’s 100% virus-protection pledge, improving PC and Mac security with a smart firewall. We also like that Norton 360 Deluxe comes with a password manager, secure VPN, and 50GB of cloud backup.

Better still, Norton 360 Deluxe also bundles great parental controls, dark web monitoring, and webcam protection for PC users. 

AVG Internet Security also includes additional features over the free version, like WiFi network security, unsafe website blocking, and phishing protection. Start with the free version, though, for a shot at being offered a 60-day trial.

To add even more features, consider the 10-device protection of AVG Ultimate, which has everything that AVG Internet Security offers, plus performance and storage tuning, as well as a VPN.

All of the antivirus software services featured on this page are worth considering, as well as McAfee Plus antivirus. For ultimate peace of mind, it’s tough to go past the impressive security offered by Bitdefender and Norton’s real-time threat protection. Bitdefender remains our top pick, though, and you can try it for yourself for free on three compatible devices.

Before categorising the best antivirus software picks on this page, we reviewed six of the most popular services available in Australia: Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Avast, Norton, AVG, and McAfee. Then ahead of compiling this premium list, we focused on the best free antivirus software options to get a feel for the distinction between free and premium plans.

Our antivirus analysis starts with pricing and the inherent value relative to the number of supported devices offered by various plans, as antivirus providers tend to offer at least a few options. That overall value was of particular importance for our ‘best cheap antivirus software’ category. Afterwards, we look at installation and how easy it is to use an antivirus service, as well as how many features it has compared to its closest peers.

After putting antivirus services through their usability paces, we deferred to a few expert sources in the antivirus space. AV-Test, AV Comparatives, and The PC Security Channel are the three main outlets we relied on for expert analysis of antivirus effectiveness in real-world threat tests. Finally, we also considered additional services that each antivirus software provider includes with its plans, such as parental controls and VPNs, to help evaluate the overall value proposition.