Antivirus Protection Software in AI answers

Data as of Oct 21, 2026Based on 230 AI responsesReviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky

AI summary

Bitdefender and Microsoft Defender are nearly even in recommendations for choosing antivirus software. For free antivirus, answers also point to Microsoft, AVG and Avast.

What’s changing · since July

Since July, Avirafalling is mentioned less across the market. Malwarebytes is mentioned less in free-antivirus answers but more often in app recommendations.

Most-mentioned brands

Rank and Mentioned in · since Jul 5

#	Brand	Recommended for	Mentioned in
1	Microsoft DefenderMicrosoft product line 72% Free antivirus protection for buyers who want fewer upgrade prompts.	Free antivirus protection for buyers who want fewer upgrade prompts.	72%
1	Bitdefender 68% Paid protection for home users seeking malware and phishing coverage.	Paid protection for home users seeking malware and phishing coverage.	68%
3	Malwarebytes 43% Additional scans for finding and removing existing malware.	Additional scans for finding and removing existing malware.	43%
4	ESET 35% Lightweight protection for buyers who want configurable scans.	Lightweight protection for buyers who want configurable scans.	35%
4	Avast 34% Free alternatives and a companion scanner for layered security.	Free alternatives and a companion scanner for layered security.	34%
4	Norton 30% Multi-device protection with privacy and security features.	Multi-device protection with privacy and security features.	30%
7	Bitdefender Total SecurityBitdefender product line 27% Multi-device protection with malware defense and privacy features.	Multi-device protection with malware defense and privacy features.	27%
7	Bitdefender AntivirusBitdefender product line 26% Free real-time protection for buyers seeking a lightweight option.	Free real-time protection for buyers seeking a lightweight option.	26%
7	Norton 360 DeluxeNorton product line 25%		25%
7	AVG 24% Free protection for buyers comparing complimentary antivirus options.	Free protection for buyers comparing complimentary antivirus options.	24%
7	Microsoft 23% Genuinely free protection for buyers avoiding subscription fees.	Genuinely free protection for buyers avoiding subscription fees.	23%
12	Malwarebytes for TeamsMalwarebytes product line 17%		17%
12	McAfee 13%		13%
12	Intego 13%		13%
12	TotalAV 13%		13%
16	Avira 11%		11%
16	Microsoft Defender for IndividualsMicrosoft product line 10%		10%
16	Norton VPNNorton product line 9%		9%
16	ESET AntivirusESET product line 8%		8%
20	uBlock Origin 6%		6%
20	Avast OneAvast product line 5%		5%
20	Webroot 4%		4%
20	Apple 3%		3%
24	Windows SecurityMicrosoft product line 3%		3%
24	Google Play ProtectAndroid product line 3%		3%
24	Bitdefender Mobile SecurityBitdefender product line 3%		3%
24	McAfee Total ProtectionMcAfee product line 3%		3%
24	MacKeeper 3%		3%
24	Kaspersky · kaspersky.com 2%		2%
24	Surfshark AntivirusSurfshark product line 2%		2%
24	F-Secure 2%		2%
24	Surfshark OneSurfshark product line 2%		2%
24	AVG AntiVirusAVG product line 2%		2%
24	DefenderUI 1%		1%
24	Milestone Systems 1%		1%
24	Macworld 1%		1%
24	Kaspersky · kaspersky.com.tr 1%		1%
24	Norton LifeLockNorton product line 1%		1%
39	ClamAV 1%		1%
39	Microsoft SmartScreen 1%		1%
39	Surfshark 1%		1%
39	Norton Mobile SecurityNorton product line 1%		1%
39	Windows Firewall Control <1%		<1%
39	Sophos HomeSophos product line <1%		<1%
39	Trend Micro <1%		<1%
39	AVG Secure Browser <1%		<1%
39	Total Security <1%		<1%
39	Microsoft 365 AppsMicrosoft product line <1%		<1%
39	Microsoft EdgeMicrosoft product line <1%		<1%
39	Google Chrome <1%		<1%
39	Android <1%		<1%
39	Mozilla <1%		<1%
39	Kaspersky Total SecurityKaspersky product line <1%		<1%
39	Malwarebytes Browser GuardMalwarebytes product line <1%		<1%
39	Brave <1%		<1%

Who leads each AI engine

ChatGPT SearchChatGPT Search: =1Microsoft Defender Bitdefender
Google AI ModeGoogle AI Mode: =1Microsoft Defender Malwarebytes Bitdefender

Mentioned in on each engineChatGPT SearchGoogle AI Mode

Widest split: Bitdefender Antivirus, 4% on ChatGPT Search and 48% on Google AI Mode.

Mentioned in on each AI engine, by brand
Brand	ChatGPT Search	Google AI Mode
Microsoft Defender	76%	67%
Bitdefender	72%	64%
Malwarebytes	23%	65%
ESET	52%	18%
Norton	35%	26%
Avast	34%	35%
Bitdefender Total Security	39%	14%
Bitdefender Antivirus	4%	48%
Norton 360 Deluxe	18%	33%
Microsoft	27%	19%

Latest insights

Weeks of Jul 27 – Aug 30, 2026 · Since Jul 5

Microsoft Defender Gaining: Microsoft Defender now leads Antivirus Protection Software, ahead of Bitdefender
Microsoft Defender Gaining: Microsoft DefenderMalwarebytes now trails Microsoft Defender in Antivirus Protection Software
Microsoft Defender Slipping: Microsoft DefenderESET moved ahead of Microsoft Defender in Antivirus Protection Software
Malwarebytes Gap between platforms: Google AI Mode now mentions Malwarebytes 43 points more often than ChatGPT Search in Antivirus Protection Software, a widened gap
ESET Gap between platforms: The platform gap for ESET in Antivirus Protection Software narrowed to 34.4 points, ChatGPT Search ahead

and 1 more insightsee the ranking

Market map

Mentioned in · since Jul 5

Leading brands by topic

Free antivirus softwareTied:BitdefenderAvast
Antivirus software selectionLed byBitdefender

Questions by topic1

Free antivirus software
- Are there any truly free antivirus programs left, or do they all try to upsell you?
- Can you recommend any security software for malware and threat protection that is actually free and doesn't rely on upselling features?
- Can you recommend any antivirus software that is genuinely free and doesn't push paid upgrades or subscriptions?

Which antivirus software should I use?
What is the best antivirus software?
What antivirus protection app should I use?
which antivirus should I use today?

Sources AI cites99

14% of citations point at the ranked brands’ own sites. techradar.com, tomsguide.com, reddit.com are the most-cited sites outside the ranked brands’ own domains.