How the ranking of our antivirus software comparison is created
To provide our visitors with a transparent and comprehensible evaluation, the ranking of antivirus software providers is based on a wide range of objective criteria. Each provider is regularly reviewed and evaluated according to the following factors:
1. Market presence & company history
How long a provider has been active in the market says a lot about stability, experience, and ongoing development. Established companies usually have more mature protection mechanisms, a larger customer base, and continuous software maintenance.
2. Feature set & security performance
- Real-time antivirus protection, firewall, ransomware protection
- VPN, password manager, parental controls, system optimization
- Results from independent testing labs (e.g., AV-Test)
3. Analysis of competing comparison portals
To ensure the most neutral evaluation possible, we compare our assessments with the results of other major antivirus comparison portals. This provides us with a broader spectrum of opinions.
4. In-house feature and real-world testing
- Usability & user-friendliness
- System load and performance
- Test scans using standard test files (e.g., EICAR)
- VPN performance, installation & device compatibility
5. User feedback & community ratings
- Ratings on independent platforms
- Experience reports from our own readers
- Responsiveness and quality of customer support
6. Reliability of affiliate payouts
- Reliability of payouts to partners
- Transparency of affiliate programs
- Company communication with publishers
7. Provider location (country & regulation)
We assess which country the company is based in and how strict data protection and security regulations are there. Providers from regions with high data protection standards have an advantage here.
8. Popularity: clicks & conversion rate
The actual demand from our users provides valuable insights. Products that are frequently clicked, installed, or purchased demonstrate high satisfaction and relevance — we incorporate this data in the form of a popularity indicator.
9. Value for money
- Scope of features relative to price
- Number of devices included in the selected plan
- Transparent renewal pricing & discounts
10. Customer support & availability
- Available support channels (chat, email, phone)
- Response speed
- Quality of issue resolution
11. Update frequency & ongoing development
- Regularity of software updates
- Response to new threats
- Development of new features and technologies
12. Data protection & company policies
- How the provider handles user data
- Transparent privacy policy
- Past data protection incidents
13. Compatibility & device support
- Compatibility with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Browser extensions
- Multi-device licenses
All of the above criteria are continuously updated to provide users with a transparent, up-to-date, and practical ranking of the best antivirus software at all times.
Conclusion: The ranking is created from a combination of technical analyses, external data sources, transparent partner criteria, and the behavior of our own users. This ensures that our recommendations are both objective and practical — helping every visitor find the antivirus solution that best suits their needs.
