Home antivirus software that protects family computers and phones against viruses, ransomware and phishing. The range runs from basic antivirus to full internet security suites, from Norton, Avast, ESET and Webroot. With more than 60 titles, a household with one laptop or a dozen devices can find a suitable licence.
How to choose home antivirus software
Number of devices. Licences are normally sold for a set number of devices, such as one, three, five or ten. Count every PC, Mac, tablet and phone that the household uses, then pick a licence with a little room to spare. A multi-device licence usually costs less per device than several single licences.
Licence length. Most home antivirus products are sold as a subscription of one or more years. Check the term before ordering, because protection and updates stop when the licence ends. A longer term saves you from renewing every year.
Operating systems. Windows, macOS, Android and iOS are not always covered by the same product. Read the product name and description to see which systems a licence supports, especially if the family mixes PCs, Macs and phones.
Extra features. Basic antivirus handles malware scanning and web protection. Internet security and all-in-one suites often add a firewall, a password manager, parental controls, a VPN or cloud backup. Choose a suite only if you will use those tools, and stay with plain antivirus if you already have them elsewhere.
Effect on performance. Antivirus runs in the background, so on an older laptop it matters how much it slows the machine down. Lightweight, cloud-based products suit older or low-spec computers. Newer machines cope easily with the heavier suites.
Brands we carry
- Norton: known for its 360 suites, which combine antivirus with a VPN, a password manager and dark web monitoring in a single subscription.
- Avast: widely recognised for its free antivirus, with paid editions that add features such as a firewall and extra privacy tools.
- ESET: a Slovak security company whose products are known for their light impact on system resources and strong malware detection.
- Webroot: relies on cloud-based scanning, so it needs very little installation space and runs scans quickly.
Also in our range: Symantec.
Home antivirus FAQ
Do I need a paid antivirus if Windows already has one?
Windows includes Microsoft Defender, which gives solid basic protection. A paid product adds features such as a VPN, a password manager, parental controls and protection across several devices and systems. If you only need basic protection on one PC, the built-in tool may be enough.
How many devices can one licence protect?
It depends on the product, as licences are sold for a fixed number of devices, commonly one, three, five or ten. The device count is part of the product name or description. Choose a licence that covers every computer and phone you want to protect.
What is the difference between antivirus and internet security?
Antivirus mainly scans for and removes malware, while internet security is a wider suite. Suites usually add a firewall, safe browsing and banking protection, and often parental controls. The exact extras vary by brand, so check the feature list before buying.
Will antivirus software slow down my computer?
Any antivirus uses some resources, but a modern product has a small effect on a recent computer. Cloud-based and lightweight products are the gentlest on older machines. Full scans can briefly slow things down, so schedule them for times when you are not using the device.
