4 Best Antivirus Apps for Android and Why You (Don’t) Want Them (2022)

Antivirus apps can give you extra protection against malware and identity theft. In addition, many apps come with useful extras such as a VPN, protection of your PC, protection against unwanted callers and theft. We discuss the best apps

Do you need antivirus?

“No”, we think is still the answer that suits most Android users. If you only install apps from the Play Store, use common sense when receiving emails and texts, and limit yourself to trustworthy websites, you’re at little risk.

You are automatically protected by Google Play Protect that daily scans all apps in the Play Store for threats. Play Protect doesn’t work flawlessly like any security, but it keeps most threats out of the Play Store neatly. According to the tests performed by the security researchers at AV Comparatives, Google Play Protect can already detect 87.9 percent of the threats. The vast majority of our readers have never fallen victim to malware on their phones.

Pros and Cons of Antivirus Apps

And yet there are still benefits associated with certain antivirus apps. If you do go to the depths of the world wide web and look for the untrustworthy websites and forums, they can protect you against multiple types of threats. On the other hand, most functions require a subscription, and the apps weigh on the performance and energy consumption of your phone.

Still, many of the best antivirus apps offer plenty of other useful tools as well. Some apps take a picture of the thief if your phone is stolen. Sometimes you can also combine a subscription with protection for your PC, and they often come with a VPN service and protection against unwanted callers.

To select the best antivirus apps, you should look at these additional features, as well as protection. The researchers at MRG Effitas test antivirus apps for various types of threats. You can read their report here with their test conducted in the second quarter of 2022. Below you will discover the best antivirus apps for your phone.

ESET Mobile Security

Price: free, 9.99 euros per year

ESET has one of the apps that got a perfect report from MRG Effitas. The app weighs slightly more on the performance of your system than other apps. In addition, the app includes: Anti-theft protection, protection against untrustworthy websites, app lock, router security check, extra check for banking apps, protection against unwanted callers.

ESET has a free version of its app that only includes an antivirus scanner. To unlock all features, there is the paid variant. In addition to the antivirus app, ESET has separate password manager and parental controls apps for kids, which set the service apart from some of its competitors. ESET does lack a VPN function.

Bitdefender

Price: 9.99 euros per year, separate VPN subscription costs 5.99 euros per year

Bitdefender is one of the most popular antivirus apps for a number of reasons. The app combines excellent protection with a low impact on the performance and battery life of your phone. Furthermore, Bitdefender protects against theft, SMS scams, malware and untrustworthy websites.

One drawback of Bitdefender is that the app does not have a free version with limited features, and only a 14-day trial period. If you take the paid version, you still need a second subscription to unlock the full functionalities of the separate vpn app.

Avira

Price: free, 7.95 euros per year, 24.99 euros per year (with password manager and all vpn functions)

Avira is a more recent player than the other apps on this list, but it managed to gain popularity in recent years. Not only does Avira offer good security on smartphones according to tests, but it also comes with a complete package of functions: warning against untrustworthy websites, blocking unwanted callers, control over the use of your phone’s microphone, and tools such as protection against theft.

Avira comes with different plans, but the free version already scans your apps and it comes with a simple vpn. For the more advanced functions you need the subscriptions. The $24.99 per year subscription unlocks all of the VPN’s features, and it also includes a password manager. Finally, there is also a pricey bundle that also protects your PC.

GDPR

Price: free, 11.99 euros per year, 23.99 euros (with VPN)

AVG successfully passed all tests of MRG Effitas, and a strong point is that the app detects dangers faster than most of its competitors. There’s something in return, because AVG’s protection puts a little more strain on your phone than the other security apps. In addition, the app sometimes also gives false positive results according to AV Comparatives.

With AVG, you also get anti-theft protection that takes a photo of the thief, a photo vault, app lock, password leak warnings, Wi-Fi security check, junk file cleaner and Wi-Fi speed test.

AVG has a free version with just the antivirus. In addition, there is a subscription with even more protection and a second formula with VPN. After checking out the subscription options and then ignoring them, AVG comes knocking at your door with a great deal. You then pay 9.99 euros for the first year and after that period the price goes up.

A recent AW Poll shows that antivirus apps are very popular with Androidworld readers, and more than half has such an app on their phone. Which one do you use? Let us know in the comments.

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