Avast One Mobile is the best free mobile antivirus software for most Android users, because its free plan includes real-time scanning, Web Guard, Wi-Fi checks, and a cleaner, while Avira Free Security is the closest free alternative for readers who also want a small VPN allowance and a password manager. Bitdefender Mobile Security and Norton Mobile Security are the strongest choices when you are ready to move beyond a free plan, with Norton at $19.99 for the first year for 1 mobile device and Bitdefender listed here as quote only because its official Android page shows no price. A free plan rarely includes a full VPN, app locking, or scam call blocking, so check the daily or monthly VPN cap before you choose, since Bitdefender allows 200 MB per day and Avira allows 100 MB per day on Android.
Free mobile antivirus apps differ more in their limits than in their basic promise. Every app here scans for malware, yet the free plans differ on web protection, VPN data, app locking, scam call blocking, and device count. Prices below come from official vendor pages opened on 2026-11-12, and quote only means the official page shown did not list a price.
On this page
Best free mobile antivirus software: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avast One Mobile | Most Android users who want a full free plan | $0 per year | Yes | Visit |
| 2 | AVG AntiVirus | Android users who want free scans and junk cleaning | $0 per year | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | Bitdefender Mobile Security | Android users who want scam protection and App Lock | quote only | Free trial (7 days) | Visit |
| 4 | McAfee Mobile Security | Households that want unlimited devices on one plan | $39.99 per year | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | Norton Mobile Security | One Android phone that needs simple annual cover | $19.99 per year | No | Visit |
| 6 | Avira Free Security | Readers who want a free plan plus a small VPN allowance | $0 per year | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | Malwarebytes Mobile Security | Readers focused on scam texts and phishing links | $44.99 per year | Free trial (7 days) | Visit |
| 8 | Sophos Intercept X for Mobile | Readers who want a free app with no ads | $0 per year | Yes | Visit |
The 8 best best free mobile antivirus software tools, in detail
Avast One Mobile
Best for: Most Android users who want a full free plan
Avast One Mobile is the default pick for most Android users because its free plan covers the core work without a time limit. The official Avast page lists real-time scanning, Web Guard for scam websites, an Avast Assistant for advice on suspicious messages and links, Wi-Fi checks, and a cleaner. The free plan also alerts you if a password linked to your email account is leaked.
- One limit: the free plan locks away only 10 photos behind a PIN, code, or fingerprint, while unlimited photo hiding needs a higher plan.
- App Lock is also held back for a higher plan.
- The free plan is the right choice for a single Android phone used for browsing, messages, banking, and app downloads.
Pros
- Free real-time scanning and Web Guard
- Wi-Fi checks and a cleaner included
- Avast Assistant gives scam guidance
Cons
- App Lock and unlimited photo hiding sit in a higher plan
- free plan includes ads and upgrade prompts
AVG AntiVirus
Best for: Android users who want free scans and junk cleaning
AVG AntiVirus for Android gives you core protection at no cost, with virus scans, malware removal, Wi-Fi checks, and junk cleaning. The official AVG page states that AVG AntiVirus Free for Android is actually free, and that it covers Android 8.0 or above, with limited access to extra features in a higher plan. One limit: app locking is not in the free plan, and advanced scam protection for SMS messages and email is also held back.
- Automatic junk cleaning is another higher-plan feature.
- Pick AVG if you prefer its layout and cleaner, or Avast if you want the Avast Assistant and Web Guard.
Pros
- Free virus scans, malware removal, and Wi-Fi checks
- junk cleaning included
- app locking is available in a higher plan
Cons
- Advanced scam protection against SMS messages and email sits in a higher plan
- automatic junk cleaning needs a higher plan
Bitdefender Mobile Security
Best for: Android users who want scam protection and App Lock
Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android is built around scanning, web protection, and scam defence. The official page lists a Malware Scanner, on-demand and on-install scanning, Web Protection, Scam Protection across texts, calls, and chat apps, Call Blocking, App Anomaly Detection, Anti-Theft, and Account Privacy checks. That breadth makes it a strong pick for readers who get a lot of scam texts and calls.
- One limit: the VPN allows up to 200 MB per day, so it covers light browsing and public Wi-Fi checks but not heavy streaming.
- App Lock lets you lock sensitive apps with a PIN code.
- The official Android page opened on 2026-11-12 did not show a price, so the starting price here is quote only, and the iOS listing offers a 7-day free
- Check the price at checkout in your own store before you commit.
Pros
- On-demand and on-install scanning
- Scam Protection across texts, calls, and chat apps
- VPN allowance of 200 MB per day
Cons
- Official Android page shows no price, so starting price is quote only
- full VPN data needs a higher plan
McAfee Mobile Security
Best for: Households that want unlimited devices on one plan
McAfee Mobile Security for Android includes a free security scan, safe web browsing, and Wi-Fi privacy protection in its higher plans. The official McAfee page lists a free Starter plan for 1 device, a Standard plan, and a Plus plan, with Wi-Fi Guard VPN only in the Plus plan. The official US mobile page lists an unlimited-device plan at $39.99 per year for the first year, about $3.33 a month.
- One limit: the free Starter plan is limited to 1 device and does not include the full VPN, so a household with several phones and tablets needs the hi
- The first-year price is also an introductory price, so check the renewal price before the first year ends and set a reminder to review it.
- If you have only one phone, compare the $39.99 first-year unlimited-device price with Norton at $19.99 for 1 mobile device.
Pros
- Free Starter plan for 1 device
- unlimited-device plan at $39.99 for the first year
- VPN included in the Plus plan
Cons
- Wi-Fi Guard VPN is only in the Plus plan
- first-year price is lower than the renewal price
Norton Mobile Security
Best for: One Android phone that needs simple annual cover
Norton Mobile Security for Android is a simple annual plan for 1 mobile device. The official Norton page lists $19.99 for the first year, $1.67 a month, with a renewal price of $29.99 per year and a 60-day money-back guarantee. Norton 360 Deluxe plans also include Norton Mobile Security, so readers who already use Norton 360 do not need a separate mobile plan.
- One limit: there is no free plan, so this is not a free antivirus choice in the strict sense, even though it appears in this roundup as the low-cost a
- The renewal jump from $19.99 to $29.99 is a 50 percent rise in the second year, so the first-year price is not the long-term price.
- Choose Norton if you want a named annual plan for a single phone.
- If you want free cover, start with Avast, AVG, Avira, or Sophos instead.
Pros
- $19.99 for the first year for 1 mobile device
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- included in Norton 360 Deluxe plans
Cons
- No free plan
- renews at $29.99 per year, which is higher than the first-year price
Avira Free Security
Best for: Readers who want a free plan plus a small VPN allowance
Avira Free Security pairs cloud-based real-time antivirus with a password manager, a software updater on Windows, and a small VPN allowance. On Android, the VPN allowance is 100 MB per day, while the desktop allowance is 500 MB per month, so it covers short public Wi-Fi sessions, not full-day use. Avira also lists a 60-day money-back guarantee on its subscription plans.
- One limit: the renewal prices rise sharply after the first year.
- Antivirus Pro is $26.99 for the first year for 1 device and renews at $64.99 per year, while Prime is $59.99 for the first year for 5 devices and rene
- That means the first-year price is less than half the renewal price for Pro, so check the renewal figure at checkout.
- Pick Avira if you want a free plan with a VPN allowance and a password manager in the same app.
Pros
- Free cloud-based real-time antivirus
- VPN allowance of 100 MB per day on Android
- password manager included
Cons
- Antivirus Pro starts at $26.99 per year for 1 device and renews at $64.99
- support requests need a licence in some cases
Malwarebytes Mobile Security
Best for: Readers focused on scam texts and phishing links
Malwarebytes Mobile Security for Android and iOS focuses on scam texts, phishing links, malicious websites, and deceptive messages in notifications. The official page lists Standard at $59.99 per year for 3 devices, Plus at $79.99 per year for 3 devices with VPN, and Ultimate at $139.99 per year for 1 adult and 3 devices. A Standard plan for 1 device is listed at $44.99 per year, which is the starting price used here, and the iOS app offers a 7-day free trial.
- One limit: there is no ongoing free plan, so readers who want free cover for months need Avast, AVG, Avira, or Sophos instead.
- The Plus plan is the first tier that adds the VPN, so the $44.99 Standard plan does not include it.
- Choose Malwarebytes if scam messages and phishing links are your main worry and you are ready for an annual plan.
Pros
- Scam Guard for scam texts and phishing links
- safe web browsing with scam and ad blocking
- Standard plan covers 3 devices at $59.99 per year
Cons
- No ongoing free plan, only a 7-day free trial on iOS
- Plus at $79.99 per year is needed for VPN
Sophos Intercept X for Mobile
Best for: Readers who want a free app with no ads
Sophos Intercept X for Mobile is unusual, because the Google Play listing states that it offers full features, no advertising, and all free for individual use. The app includes malware protection, real-time scanning, a link scanner, a Wi-Fi security scanner, and privacy tools, without the upgrade prompts that most free antivirus apps show. It needs Android 9.0 or above.
- One limit: Sophos does not publish a subscription price for individual mobile use, so there is no higher plan to buy inside the app in the usual way.
- Organisations that manage phones through Sophos Central or Sophos Mobile license the app separately, which means a work phone may already be covered b
- Pick it if ads and upgrade prompts are your main frustration with free antivirus apps.
Pros
- Full features with no ads for individual use
- real-time scanning and link scanner
- Wi-Fi security scanner included
Cons
- No subscription price is published for individual use
- managed use needs Sophos Central or Sophos Mobile
How we chose
We chose apps with a real free plan or a real free trial, a named mobile app for Android or iOS, and an official vendor page that lists features and prices. Prices and plan limits come from official vendor pages opened on 2026-11-12. We did not test any tool hands-on. We did not install any app, run any scan, or claim any hands-on result. Where an official page showed no price, we wrote quote only. Avast locks away only 10 photos for free, while Bitdefender allows 200 MB of VPN data per day and Avira allows 100 MB per day on Android.
Pick by budget and device count
| Situation | Pick | Price to plan around |
|---|---|---|
| One Android phone, no cost | Avast One Mobile | $0 per year |
| One Android phone, no cost, plus a small VPN allowance | Avira Free Security | $0 per year, VPN 100 MB per day on Android |
| One Android phone, no ads | Sophos Intercept X for Mobile | $0 per year |
| One mobile device, annual plan | Norton Mobile Security | $19.99 first year, then $29.99 per year |
| Several devices under one plan | McAfee Mobile Security | $39.99 first year for unlimited devices |
| Scam texts and phishing links | Malwarebytes Mobile Security | $44.99 per year for 1 device |
| Scam protection and App Lock | Bitdefender Mobile Security | quote only, VPN 200 MB per day |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a truly free mobile antivirus app?
Yes. Avast One Mobile, AVG AntiVirus, Avira Free Security, and Sophos Intercept X for Mobile all offer a free plan at $0 per year, with real-time scanning and basic web protection. Check app locking, VPN data, and scam call blocking before you choose.
Which free mobile antivirus is best for Android?
Avast One Mobile is the best free choice for most Android users, because its free plan includes real-time scanning, Web Guard, Wi-Fi checks, a cleaner, and leak alerts. Avira is the closest alternative if you also want a password manager and a VPN allowance of 100 MB per day on Android.
Does Norton Mobile Security have a free plan?
No. Norton Mobile Security has no free plan. It costs $19.99 for the first year for 1 mobile device and renews at $29.99 per year, with a 60-day money-back guarantee. It is included in Norton 360 Deluxe plans, so check whether you already have it before you buy a separate plan.
How much does Malwarebytes Mobile Security cost?
Malwarebytes Mobile Security starts at $44.99 per year for 1 device on the Standard plan, or $59.99 per year for 3 devices. Plus is $79.99 per year for 3 devices and adds a VPN, while Ultimate is $139.99 per year for 1 adult and 3 devices. The iOS app offers a 7-day free trial, and there is no ongoing free plan.
Why does Bitdefender show quote only here?
Bitdefender Mobile Security shows quote only because the official Android page opened on 2026-11-12 did not list a price. The page lists Scam Protection, App Lock, and a VPN allowance of 200 MB per day, but no starting price. Check the price in your app store before you buy.
Do I need antivirus on a phone if I already have Play Protect?
Google Play Protect is built into Android and checks apps, but a free antivirus app adds real-time scanning, web protection, Wi-Fi checks, scam call blocking, and leak alerts in one place. Use a free app alongside the built-in protection, and keep your phone system and apps updated.
Sources
- https://www.avast.com/free-mobile-security
- https://www.avg.com/en-us/antivirus-for-android
- https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/mobile-security-android
- https://www.mcafee.com/
- https://us.norton.com/promo/affiliate/nms-android
- https://www.avira.com/
- https://www.malwarebytes.com/mobile
- https://www.malwarebytes.com/p/pricing
- https://www.sophos.com/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.