Verizon Protect
Verizon Protect pairs Wi-Fi and malware scans with paid VPN and ID tools
Antivirus for Android: eight apps sorted by what they protect
Antivirus apps for Android now cover several different jobs, and the store label rarely says which one an app does best. This guide sorts eight apps by their main purpose: identity protection, scam blocking, malware scanning and cleanup, and spyware checks on installed apps. Six of the eight carry no ads, and all are free to install, though most sell paid plans inside the app.
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Four apps pass 100 million installs on Google Play: Verizon Protect, Avast One, Norton360 and Kiren by F-Secure. Ratings on Google Play run from 4.1 to 4.7. The five picks below each stand for one type, so choose the type first and the app second. A phone used for banking has different needs from a device loaded with apps from outside the store.
Apps in this category
Avast One
Free Android security app with antivirus, scam guard, VPN and cleaner
Norton360 Antivirus & Security
Norton360: AI scam filters for SMS, calls, web and email, plus VPN
McAfee
McAfee pairs antivirus, VPN and scam alerts in one free Android app.
AVG Protection
Free AVG antivirus for Android with Wi-Fi scanning and Photo Vault
Kiren by F-Secure
Kiren checks links, texts and screenshots for scams on Android 11+
Malwarebytes
Ad-free Android antivirus with scam blocking, call filtering and a VPN
Trojan Scanner
Free, ad-free Android malware and spyware scanner from Gridinsoft
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Top 5 picks
Verizon Protect
The identity-protection pick. Alongside a malware scan and a Wi-Fi scanner, it adds dark web monitoring, data broker removal and a VPN. It has over 100 million installs on Google Play, a 4.7 rating, no ads and no in-app purchases. The version listed is 9.2.0-24, updated November 3, 2026.
Norton360 Antivirus & Security
The pick for scam protection driven by AI. Safe SMS targets spam calls and texts, Safe Web covers browsing, and Scam Protection Pro is the newest addition. A VPN and virus scanner come along too. Google Play shows over 100 million installs and a 4.6 rating, with no ads but in-app purchases.
Kiren by F-Secure
Formerly F-Secure Mobile Security, Kiren leans toward checking things before you act. Link Checker rates shopping sites, Message Checker reviews suspicious texts, and Breach Check looks up email addresses. Your Apps shows what each app can access. Over 100 million installs on Google Play, rated 4.1, no ads.
Malwarebytes
The pick for straight malware cleanup. It pairs an antivirus scanner with a scam blocker, junk cleaner and VPN, and its description cites 4 million daily threats blocked. Google Play lists over 50 million installs and a 4.4 rating. There are no ads, with paid upgrades inside the app. Version 5.33.0+585 was updated October 22, 2026.
Trojan Scanner
The smallest and most focused option here, at 6.1 MB. Made by Gridinsoft, it looks for spyware and apps that watch messages, microphone or location, including ones hidden from the app screen. Google Play shows 500,000 installs and a 4.2 rating. It has no ads, and in-app purchases exist.
Questions and answers
Are these antivirus apps free?
All eight are free to download from Google Play. Avast One and AVG Protection show ads, while the other six do not. Seven of the eight include in-app purchases, and Verizon Protect is the one without them.
Which app suits scam and phishing worries best?
Norton360 and Kiren by F-Secure are built around scams. Norton uses AI-driven Safe SMS and Safe Web, while Kiren checks links, pasted messages and email addresses against known breaches.
Which apps were updated most recently?
Verizon Protect was updated on November 3, 2026, and Kiren on October 30, 2026. Norton360 and McAfee both followed on October 28, 2026. AVG Protection has the oldest update in this group, dated November 10, 2025.
Related categories
Best-of lists
One practical point: running two full antivirus apps at once is rarely useful, so pick a main app and add a narrow tool only if you need it. Trojan Scanner, at 6.1 MB, is the kind of small extra that checks app permissions without replacing a broader suite. If you want a Wi-Fi check and storage cleanup in the same app, AVG Protection covers both and adds Photo Vault. Whatever you install, read the permissions screen and see which features need a paid plan before you rely on them.