Best Antivirus for Android in 2026

Android allows installing apps from outside the Play Store, which remains the most common way malware reaches phones. A dedicated antivirus app closes a real gap Google Play Protect doesn't fully cover.

What to look for in an Android antivirus

Real-time scanning, Wi-Fi network security checks, and anti-theft tools (remote lock, locate, wipe) matter more on mobile than a long feature list.

Our top picks

• Bitdefender — top-tier detection with a light battery footprint.
• Norton — strong anti-theft tools plus Wi-Fi security scanning.
• Kaspersky — excellent detection with call-blocking and app-lock.

See the full ranked list with justifications on Best Antivirus for Android.

Does it drain your battery?

We specifically measure background battery and data impact — the picks above were chosen partly because they stay light during normal phone use, not just during active scans.