- Mar 24, 2011
- 15,785
- 1,813
by Joe Hindy on January 8, 2014 3:52 am
Protection for Android devices has become a high priority over the last year or so. Malware is more rampant than ever and although being careful usually avoids the problem, sometimes people want more. A good antivirus or anti-malware app can not only bring peace of mind, but also protect your Android device from threats you may accidentally stumble upon. So in this list well show you the 15 best antivirus and anti-malware apps for Android.
#10 Norton Security Antivirus
[Price: Free or $29.99/year subscription]
First on our list is Norton Security Antivirus. Norton is already a trusted brand in security and millions use Norton on their PC. It comes in both a lite and paid flavor. The light version offers some peripheral protection, including scanning the SD card and apps for threats. With the free variant, you can also lock the phone via SMS if it is lost or stolen.
With the $29.99/year subscription, you get all the features. Unfortunately, some of them probably shouldve been included in the free version, like locating a lost or stolen phone. It doesnt help that $29.99/year is very steep for mobile protection. Bad free/paid decisions aside, Norton is a solid antivirus app from a name that people know.
http://goo.gl/pRnkba
Hornet AntiVirus Free
[Price: Free]
Next up is Hornet AntiVirus and its one of the few truly free apps on the list. It includes a number of standard features, like scanning apps for malware and scanning your storage for threats. It also includes a number of unique features, like detection of apps that use offensive advertising.
The interface is easy to use even if it isnt much to look at. Really, we werent able to find anything bad about this app. Hornet is free, it works fairly well, and it updates frequently to add new definitions and features. Its a win-win. We wouldve liked to have seen some anti-theft features, though. Use the button below to check it out.
http://goo.gl/M1QP9l
BitDefender AntiVirus Free
[Price: Free]
Number 8 on our list is BitDefender AntiVirus Free. As the name implies, it is completely free. What this app has that the others dont is simplicity. It performs exactly one action and thats a comprehensive scan of your device to see if its safe. You can do this manually or enable the auto-pilot feature which does it for you.
BitDefenders claim to fame is the light usage. The app doesnt have all the bulky features of most of these other apps. It simply scans your device to keep it safe. Thats it. If you need something with more features like anti-theft, youll need to look elsewhere. This is for people who just want something that scans for safety, then goes away. It doesnt hurt that BitDefender is also a well known PC antivirus app. To check it out, use the button below.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.antivirus
Zoner AntiVirus Free
[Price: Free / $4.99]
Zoner is another free antivirus app. This one carries a much larger set of features than most of the other free offerings on this list. This includes your standard virus and malware protection, anti-theft features, and the ability to block calls from unfamiliar phone numbers. There is even a task manager built in.
The interface is sleek and the features work well. When its all said and done you really cant ask for much more than that out of an antivirus app. There is also a version that was specifically developed for tablets should you need protection there. At $4.99, its one of the more reasonably priced options.
http://goo.gl/4LZQ57
Mobile Security and AntiVirus by Avast
[Price: Free / $1.99 per month / $14.99 per year]
Next up is Avast, which is another well known name in the PC antivirus space. Avast is one of the more highly rated PC antivirus apps and theyve translated well to mobile. The mobile app is truly impressive and is packed with features. This includes your standard anti-virus and anti-malware along with one of the highest rated anti-theft systems out there.
Aside from the standards, Avast puts a lot more into the app. There is a network monitor, SMS and call filtering, and even backups. There is a free and premium version. The free version gives you pretty much everything but the paid version makes them better. For instance, you get backups with the free version but when you pay for it, it extends to music, video, and applications. To give this truly impressive app a shot, use the button.
http://goo.gl/L1iM9X
AntiVirus Security Free by AVG
[Price: Free]
AVG already has one of the most popular free PC antivirus apps out there. Their mobile app is no different as AVG boasts over 70 million users to date. It comes with your standard features and a few extra perks to make this powerful antivirus app even better.
You get the standard malware and antivirus protection. Along with that you get web security, anti-theft using Google Maps, a task manager, and a battery monitor to help manage your battery life. It covers all the bases and a couple of bases the others dont cover. That makes it a great option for mobile security. To try it out, use the button.
http://goo.gl/2mfcI6
Armor for Android
[Price: $29.95]
Up next is not only one of the highest rated antivirus apps for Android, but also one of the most expensive. When it first came out, Armor for Android was on sale for $1. It now costs around $75. That doesnt prevent it from being a great app, but we understand if thats a little too expensive for your tastes. For the $75 price tag you do get lifetime support for the app as opposed to 1 or 2 year licenses you get from others.
In terms of features, it comes with everything youd need to keep your Android device secure. Armor for Android has one of the most comprehensive malware databases for Android as well as other helpful features like their Memory Booster. If you can foot the bill, its an amazing application to have on your device. Our advice, keep an eye out for any sales because if you can pick it up for cheaper, its that much better of a deal. Use the button to give it a look.
Note: Armor for Android recently dropped their prices to a much more reasonable $29.95. At this price, it is a substantially better deal than it was at $75!
http://goo.gl/i7V4sn
Mobile Security and Antivirus by ESET
[Price: Free / $15.97/year subscription]
The first in our top 3 is ESETs offering, called Mobile Security and AntiVirus. Like many others on this list, ESET is known for its PC antivirus, called Nod32. It also follows the free-paid paradigm, where you get more features if you pay for it.
The features come packed into a pleasant interface. Other than the standard, you get access to the ESET Live Grid which offers great updates on the latest malware threats and anti-theft. If you pay for it, you get even more unique features like SIM Guard, where you can control the phone even if another SIM card is installed. Its great for protection and you can check it out by using the button.
http://goo.gl/xZLyUy
Antivirus and Mobile Security
[Price: Free]
Number 2 on our list is Antivirus and Mobile Security by TrustGo Inc. This is the highest rated free app on the list. It is 100% free with no pay options. Aside from being free, it has also won awards for its protection and security.
Aside from the standard features, you also get others like data backups and anti-theft. The anti-theft includes a feature that will snap a picture of the thief if they enter your password wrong 3 times. It then emails you the picture. If you want to try it out, use the button below.
http://goo.gl/pb8Et8
Dr. Web Antivirus
[Price: Free / $75]
Here it is, the one of the highest rated app in the antivirus space on Android. Its called Dr Web Antivirus and it comes in the classic free-paid paradigm. The three versions give you the basics including antivirus and anti-malware. Its geared toward people who have Android devices with lower specs, limited data plans, and those who are battery savvy.
The paid version includes anti-theft and anti-spyware protection. So if you want complete protection youll have to pay for it. It all comes packed in an easy-to-use interface and people genuinely seem to enjoy it. $75 is insanely expensive for what you get, but in its defense the payment is a one time thing and youll end up paying more than that to apps that require monthly or yearly subscriptions. To see more, use the button.
http://goo.gl/OFbwXk
Lookout Security & Antivirus
[Price: Free]
Lookout is one of the most popular and successful antivirus and anti-malware apps out there. It has a ton of features including security and antivirus features, lost and stolen phone features, and even a backup function. Its totally free to use which makes it even better. The only knock against Lookout is that its included as bloatware on some devices and that may sour the taste of this app for some.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lookout
360 Mobile Security
[Price: Free]
360 Mobile Security is another fairly popular choice with over 5 million downloads to date. It also has a number of features like antivirus, privacy adviser, a floating window feature, and even a call blocker. Its totally free to use which is great and its been certified by all the people it needs to be certified by. Its a great app at a great price (free) and some of the features are quite useful.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qihoo.security
NQ Mobile Security & Antivirus
[Price: Free / $19.99/year]
NQ Mobile Security & Antivirus has one of the most impressive feature sets of anything on the list. It has mobile security, anti-spam, app management, system optimization features, backup & restore features, and advanced tools to help you see whats using your resources and data. Its $19.99 per year which is kind of steep but if you dont mind footing the bill, theres a good antivirus app there.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nqmobile.antivirus20
Mobile Security Antivirus FREE
[Price: Free]
Mobile Security Antivirus by Wolfguard is an up and coming antivirus app that is not only completely free, but also has some nice features. It comes with the standard antivirus stuff along with anti-theft, privacy controls, battery saver features, daily virus definition updates, and a lot more. Its a very solid option that people have been embracing so far. The only real knock against this app are the full page ads but considering what youre getting for free, its worth seeing an ad or two.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wolfguard.freeversion
Antivirus Mobile Security
[Price: $19.90/year, $99.99 lifetime license]
Last on the list is Antivirus Mobile Security by AndroHelm. It carries a $100 price tag for a lifetime license which makes it the most expensive on the list. If you dont mind picking up the tab, there are some nice features in this app, including some of the better anti-theft features on the list, frequent virus definition updates, and many, many more. Theres a free version to check out to see if you like it but this is another up and comer that people seem to like so far.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androhelm.antivirus.free
Antivirus Wrap-up
Antivirus apps are truly one of the most controversial genres in all of Android. With all the stock protection, getting malware is all but impossible so many pundits will say that you dont even need one of these. Even though that is true, there are people who feel safer with third party protection and dont mind paying for it. Really, its a toss up. If theres a great antivirus or anti-malware app that you think should be on this list, let us know about it int he comments!
Protection for Android devices has become a high priority over the last year or so. Malware is more rampant than ever and although being careful usually avoids the problem, sometimes people want more. A good antivirus or anti-malware app can not only bring peace of mind, but also protect your Android device from threats you may accidentally stumble upon. So in this list well show you the 15 best antivirus and anti-malware apps for Android.
#10 Norton Security Antivirus
[Price: Free or $29.99/year subscription]
First on our list is Norton Security Antivirus. Norton is already a trusted brand in security and millions use Norton on their PC. It comes in both a lite and paid flavor. The light version offers some peripheral protection, including scanning the SD card and apps for threats. With the free variant, you can also lock the phone via SMS if it is lost or stolen.
With the $29.99/year subscription, you get all the features. Unfortunately, some of them probably shouldve been included in the free version, like locating a lost or stolen phone. It doesnt help that $29.99/year is very steep for mobile protection. Bad free/paid decisions aside, Norton is a solid antivirus app from a name that people know.
http://goo.gl/pRnkba
Hornet AntiVirus Free
[Price: Free]
Next up is Hornet AntiVirus and its one of the few truly free apps on the list. It includes a number of standard features, like scanning apps for malware and scanning your storage for threats. It also includes a number of unique features, like detection of apps that use offensive advertising.
The interface is easy to use even if it isnt much to look at. Really, we werent able to find anything bad about this app. Hornet is free, it works fairly well, and it updates frequently to add new definitions and features. Its a win-win. We wouldve liked to have seen some anti-theft features, though. Use the button below to check it out.
http://goo.gl/M1QP9l
BitDefender AntiVirus Free
[Price: Free]
Number 8 on our list is BitDefender AntiVirus Free. As the name implies, it is completely free. What this app has that the others dont is simplicity. It performs exactly one action and thats a comprehensive scan of your device to see if its safe. You can do this manually or enable the auto-pilot feature which does it for you.
BitDefenders claim to fame is the light usage. The app doesnt have all the bulky features of most of these other apps. It simply scans your device to keep it safe. Thats it. If you need something with more features like anti-theft, youll need to look elsewhere. This is for people who just want something that scans for safety, then goes away. It doesnt hurt that BitDefender is also a well known PC antivirus app. To check it out, use the button below.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.antivirus
Zoner AntiVirus Free
[Price: Free / $4.99]
Zoner is another free antivirus app. This one carries a much larger set of features than most of the other free offerings on this list. This includes your standard virus and malware protection, anti-theft features, and the ability to block calls from unfamiliar phone numbers. There is even a task manager built in.
The interface is sleek and the features work well. When its all said and done you really cant ask for much more than that out of an antivirus app. There is also a version that was specifically developed for tablets should you need protection there. At $4.99, its one of the more reasonably priced options.
http://goo.gl/4LZQ57
Mobile Security and AntiVirus by Avast
[Price: Free / $1.99 per month / $14.99 per year]
Next up is Avast, which is another well known name in the PC antivirus space. Avast is one of the more highly rated PC antivirus apps and theyve translated well to mobile. The mobile app is truly impressive and is packed with features. This includes your standard anti-virus and anti-malware along with one of the highest rated anti-theft systems out there.
Aside from the standards, Avast puts a lot more into the app. There is a network monitor, SMS and call filtering, and even backups. There is a free and premium version. The free version gives you pretty much everything but the paid version makes them better. For instance, you get backups with the free version but when you pay for it, it extends to music, video, and applications. To give this truly impressive app a shot, use the button.
http://goo.gl/L1iM9X
AntiVirus Security Free by AVG
[Price: Free]
AVG already has one of the most popular free PC antivirus apps out there. Their mobile app is no different as AVG boasts over 70 million users to date. It comes with your standard features and a few extra perks to make this powerful antivirus app even better.
You get the standard malware and antivirus protection. Along with that you get web security, anti-theft using Google Maps, a task manager, and a battery monitor to help manage your battery life. It covers all the bases and a couple of bases the others dont cover. That makes it a great option for mobile security. To try it out, use the button.
http://goo.gl/2mfcI6
Armor for Android
[Price: $29.95]
Up next is not only one of the highest rated antivirus apps for Android, but also one of the most expensive. When it first came out, Armor for Android was on sale for $1. It now costs around $75. That doesnt prevent it from being a great app, but we understand if thats a little too expensive for your tastes. For the $75 price tag you do get lifetime support for the app as opposed to 1 or 2 year licenses you get from others.
In terms of features, it comes with everything youd need to keep your Android device secure. Armor for Android has one of the most comprehensive malware databases for Android as well as other helpful features like their Memory Booster. If you can foot the bill, its an amazing application to have on your device. Our advice, keep an eye out for any sales because if you can pick it up for cheaper, its that much better of a deal. Use the button to give it a look.
Note: Armor for Android recently dropped their prices to a much more reasonable $29.95. At this price, it is a substantially better deal than it was at $75!
http://goo.gl/i7V4sn
Mobile Security and Antivirus by ESET
[Price: Free / $15.97/year subscription]
The first in our top 3 is ESETs offering, called Mobile Security and AntiVirus. Like many others on this list, ESET is known for its PC antivirus, called Nod32. It also follows the free-paid paradigm, where you get more features if you pay for it.
The features come packed into a pleasant interface. Other than the standard, you get access to the ESET Live Grid which offers great updates on the latest malware threats and anti-theft. If you pay for it, you get even more unique features like SIM Guard, where you can control the phone even if another SIM card is installed. Its great for protection and you can check it out by using the button.
http://goo.gl/xZLyUy
Antivirus and Mobile Security
[Price: Free]
Number 2 on our list is Antivirus and Mobile Security by TrustGo Inc. This is the highest rated free app on the list. It is 100% free with no pay options. Aside from being free, it has also won awards for its protection and security.
Aside from the standard features, you also get others like data backups and anti-theft. The anti-theft includes a feature that will snap a picture of the thief if they enter your password wrong 3 times. It then emails you the picture. If you want to try it out, use the button below.
http://goo.gl/pb8Et8
Dr. Web Antivirus
[Price: Free / $75]
Here it is, the one of the highest rated app in the antivirus space on Android. Its called Dr Web Antivirus and it comes in the classic free-paid paradigm. The three versions give you the basics including antivirus and anti-malware. Its geared toward people who have Android devices with lower specs, limited data plans, and those who are battery savvy.
The paid version includes anti-theft and anti-spyware protection. So if you want complete protection youll have to pay for it. It all comes packed in an easy-to-use interface and people genuinely seem to enjoy it. $75 is insanely expensive for what you get, but in its defense the payment is a one time thing and youll end up paying more than that to apps that require monthly or yearly subscriptions. To see more, use the button.
http://goo.gl/OFbwXk
Lookout Security & Antivirus
[Price: Free]
Lookout is one of the most popular and successful antivirus and anti-malware apps out there. It has a ton of features including security and antivirus features, lost and stolen phone features, and even a backup function. Its totally free to use which makes it even better. The only knock against Lookout is that its included as bloatware on some devices and that may sour the taste of this app for some.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lookout
360 Mobile Security
[Price: Free]
360 Mobile Security is another fairly popular choice with over 5 million downloads to date. It also has a number of features like antivirus, privacy adviser, a floating window feature, and even a call blocker. Its totally free to use which is great and its been certified by all the people it needs to be certified by. Its a great app at a great price (free) and some of the features are quite useful.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qihoo.security
NQ Mobile Security & Antivirus
[Price: Free / $19.99/year]
NQ Mobile Security & Antivirus has one of the most impressive feature sets of anything on the list. It has mobile security, anti-spam, app management, system optimization features, backup & restore features, and advanced tools to help you see whats using your resources and data. Its $19.99 per year which is kind of steep but if you dont mind footing the bill, theres a good antivirus app there.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nqmobile.antivirus20
Mobile Security Antivirus FREE
[Price: Free]
Mobile Security Antivirus by Wolfguard is an up and coming antivirus app that is not only completely free, but also has some nice features. It comes with the standard antivirus stuff along with anti-theft, privacy controls, battery saver features, daily virus definition updates, and a lot more. Its a very solid option that people have been embracing so far. The only real knock against this app are the full page ads but considering what youre getting for free, its worth seeing an ad or two.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wolfguard.freeversion
Antivirus Mobile Security
[Price: $19.90/year, $99.99 lifetime license]
Last on the list is Antivirus Mobile Security by AndroHelm. It carries a $100 price tag for a lifetime license which makes it the most expensive on the list. If you dont mind picking up the tab, there are some nice features in this app, including some of the better anti-theft features on the list, frequent virus definition updates, and many, many more. Theres a free version to check out to see if you like it but this is another up and comer that people seem to like so far.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androhelm.antivirus.free
Antivirus Wrap-up
Antivirus apps are truly one of the most controversial genres in all of Android. With all the stock protection, getting malware is all but impossible so many pundits will say that you dont even need one of these. Even though that is true, there are people who feel safer with third party protection and dont mind paying for it. Really, its a toss up. If theres a great antivirus or anti-malware app that you think should be on this list, let us know about it int he comments!
