When it comes to antivirus software, small business’ needs often fall in an in-between space: Personal antivirus tools such as McAfee or Kaspersky may not be robust enough, while enterprise solutions are too complicated and expensive. Fortunately, there are antivirus solutions tailored to the needs of smaller companies, so we’ve rounded up our six top choices of the best antivirus software for small businesses.
Besides price, there are many other factors to consider when choosing the best small business antivirus software. A few of them are summarized in the table below:
| Starting price | Free trial | Devices covered | VPN included | Password manager included | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender | $104.99 for 5 devices for 1 year | Yes | macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Windows Server | Yes | Yes |
| Norton | $59.99 a year for 6 devices for 1 year | Yes | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Premium plan only | Yes |
| Trend Micro | Contact for pricing | Yes | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | No | No |
| ESET | $179.99 for 5 devices for 1 year | Yes | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux | Certain plans only | Certain plans only |
| Avira | $59.99 for 5 devices for 1 year | Yes | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender | $33.75 per user per month | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | No | No |
Bitdefender is known for its consumer-facing antivirus software, but it also offers excellent antivirus solutions for small businesses. Bitdefender can protect macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Windows Server systems, making it a good choice for SMBs that use multiple types of devices. The dashboard makes it easy to manage your security even if you don’t have advanced IT training. Some plans also offer unlimited VPN traffic and account breach monitoring for everyone on the plan.
SEE: How to Create an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program (TechRepublic Premium)
I chose Bitdefender GravityZone because of its ease of use and excellent reputation. I also appreciate the many pricing options it offers. You can opt to pay per the number of devices or the number of users, so that you aren’t paying for extra slots you’re not using. If and when you’re ready to scale, Bitdefender also offers security solutions and managed services for mid-sized businesses, so you might not even have to switch providers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Centralized security dashboard. | Price plans can be confusing to navigate. |
| Scores well in independent testing. | Monthly payment option not available for all plans. |
| User interface is intuitive and relatively easy to navigate. | |
| Scales with businesses as they grow. |
At a small business, you rarely work defined hours, which is why it’s important to choose antivirus software that offers extensive support options. Fortunately, Norton offers online chat support 24/7 for English-speaking customers. There’s also a large knowledge base that you can consult for self-help before reaching out to customer service. Norton’s small business plans bundle together many features, including password management and cloud backup.
I chose Norton because it offers 24/7 customer support in addition to an all-in-one security platform. It’s not big enough to scale with your business the way some other options on the list can, but it’s a great option if you’re a true small business that needs to protect 20 devices and under.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable promotional pricing for the first years. | Must upgrade to a more expensive plan to get a VPN. |
| Can monitor up to 5 contacts for identity theft and breaches. | Cloud storage is limited on both plans. |
| Automatically backs up crucial business data. | 24/7 chat support is available in English only. |
| Includes Windows PC cleaning, updating, and optimizing. |
Trend Micro is excellent at detecting and defending against cyberattacks, which is why I named it one of the best antivirus software for Windows. Trend Micro offers two tiers of software: Trend Vision One for Small Businesses, and Trend Vision One for larger companies. The small business version can protect not just endpoints but also workloads and cloud apps as well with both endpoint detection response and extended detection response.
I selected Trend Micro because of its multiple cyber threat tools that promote early detection and elimination. I also appreciate that its many plans can scale with a small business as it becomes a midsize business or even a large enterprise. It also offers managed services through partnerships with third-party providers if you’re interested in outsourcing your IT work.
Trend Micro does not disclose the pricing information for Trend Vision One for Small Businesses or Trend Vision One. Contact the sales team to get a customized quote.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wide variety of apps for threat detection and prevention. | Pricing is not transparent. |
| Educational tutorials are available. | Number of features can be overwhelming to navigate. |
| Can scale with your business as it grows. | |
| Ability to run simulated attacks on endpoints. |
ESET is antivirus software for small businesses that offers five different pricing plans to choose from. This gives growing businesses a lot of runway to upgrade as their cybersecurity needs grow. A handful of add-ons increases the flexibility of the pricing tiers even further. Even the entry-level plan covers all types of endpoints and device control, while upper tier plans have additional features such as full disk encryption and patch management.
I picked ESET because the platform offers four pricing plans and three add-ons for small and medium-sized businesses, giving companies lots of flexibility to scale as they grow. It’s also relatively easy to manage — though you’ll want a dedicated IT administrator to fully take advantage of the cybersecurity features offered by the more expensive plans.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Includes an unlimited VPN and a password manager. | Small business plan limited to 25 devices. |
| Multilingual customer support available. | Certain features like MFA require an additional paid add-on. |
| Many pricing plans means the software can scale as your business grows. |
If you’re a small business owner who needs to cover lots of devices at a reasonable cost, check out Avira Prime. This small business antivirus software only charges $134.99 per year for up to 25 devices, which costs about the same (or less!) than what many competitors charge for 5-10 devices. The bundle also includes an unlimited VPN, a password manager, and a device cleaner, so you’re getting more than just antivirus software at that price. If you need an even lower cost option, then check out our list of the best free endpoint detection software.
I opted for Avira because it offers one of the most affordable pricing plans, allowing small businesses owners to protect up to 25 devices at a decent cost. I also like that it bundles additional features into its plan, like a VPN, instead of breaking them off into separate paid add-ons like some competitors.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offers tools to improve security, privacy, and performance. | Only two pricing tiers to choose from. |
| Unlimited VPN included. | Jump from 5 to 25 devices may not work for all SMBs. |
| Device cleaner gets rid of junk files on PCs. | |
| Block trackers and adware while internet browsing. |
If your small business only uses Windows devices, then Microsoft Defender may be sufficient for your basic antivirus needs. In fact, Defender already comes built into Windows 11 and 12, and you can even get it bundled in with other Microsoft apps like Word and Excel through the 365 E3 and E5 software packages. While you can use Defender on other types of operating systems and devices, such as Macs and iPhones, you’ll probably find it easier to set up other options on this list on non-Windows endpoints.
I chose Microsoft Defender because it’s often the most seamless option for small businesses that only use the Windows operating system. If you opt for one of the 365 E5 software bundles, you’ll get Defender alongside your other Microsoft apps, so you don’t even have to set up a separate subscription.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built into Windows 10 and 11. | Pricing plans are difficult to navigate. |
| Often bundled together with other Microsoft tools. | Lacks advanced protection and features of competitors. |
| Integrates with other security solutions from Microsoft. |
To choose the best small business antivirus software, first consider your needs as well as your budget. Bear in mind that bundled plans that include additional features (such as a VPN and password manager) may save you more money in the long run than purchasing each tool à la carte. Use your budget and must-have features to narrow down your options to a shortlist, or start with the six platforms listed here.
Then it’s time to take advantage of free trials so that you can test the software for yourself. I always strongly recommend hands-on testing of the software before committing to an annual contract. You should also schedule demo calls with the sales team if you have additional questions during or after the trial.
If you still aren’t certain about your choice of antivirus software, then you might want to try a platform that offers a month-to-month option, such as Avira and Bitdefender. That way, you aren’t locked into a year-long contract if you ultimately decide to change your mind.
To choose the best small business antivirus software, I consulted product documentation and users reviews. I considered features such as endpoint protection options, phishing and anti-malware measures, included VPNs and password managers, and automatic software updates. I also weighed other factors such as price plans, scalability, free trials, customer service available, ease of use, and user interface design.
