Is Third-Party Windows Antivirus Still Worth It in 2025?

Windows Defender is performing better and better, and its high score in antivirus software evaluation has made some people wonder: Is it still necessary to subscribe to third-party antivirus software?

What is a third-party antivirus software and how much is it?

Third-party antivirus software for Windows is a software product category that can be installed as an application on your PC and remains independent from the operating system itself. Third-party antivirus software is designed to protect your PC from external threats such as viruses, malware, and phishing through a combination of firewalls, file scanning, and proactive threat monitoring.

Now, you will also find antivirus software suites that pack many different products under one platform, including encrypted cloud storage, identity theft monitoring or recovery services, password managers, and more.

However, third-party antivirus packages are rarely available for free. On average, you may have to pay about $50 to subscribe to the first year of many of the most popular options, and once you plan to renew, your costs will usually double. This will also vary depending on the number of features you register for. For example, at the time of writing, Norton Antivirus Plus annual subscription starts at just $59.99, with the option to install antivirus on just one device, but up to $189.99 per year to add additional features such as stolen wallet insurance.

In contrast, the built-in antivirus software that comes with every Windows installation since Windows 8 is completely free for all Windows users. So, how does it compare with its competitors in overall antivirus testing?

How is the Windows Security Center effective in 2025?

Our best reference for the latest tests of Windows Security Center comes from AV-Test.org, one of the most respected antivirus benchmarking portals on the web today. Data recorded in December 2024 shows that the Windows Security Center received a perfect six-point full mark on its run. The test evaluates everything from Defender's ability to detect and block malware to its folder protection services, the number of false positives returned, and more. Six points were scored in all categories, putting Defender on the same level as antivirus industry giants like Norton, McAfee and AVG.

However, the protection benefits of Windows Security Center are limited to your Windows computer. As mentioned above, top antivirus companies have begun bundling many different services into a single product. While Windows Security Center may prevent your Edge browser from accessing websites that steal your information, third-party products such as McAfee protect any browser you use on your system. Additionally, if you include it in your plan, many antivirus software companies now offer services that provide you with up to $1 million in insurance in case of any fraudulent behavior that circumvents its detection tools and accesses your financial account. The Windows Security Center can act as the back of your PC, but if the opponent's offensive line breaks through the first line of defense, your quarterback will be self-reliant.

Antivirus software providers such as Norton, McAfee and AVG also offer product hierarchies that include access to their VPN networks, and we expect this trend to be in the coming years as the acquisition continues to merge antivirus and VPN companies across the industry Accelerate development. While $60 per year may seem overpriced for McAfee antivirus software that matches the free Windows Security Center’s protection score, the increase in added value in current antivirus packages such as VPNs, identity theft insurance, and password managers can be compensated Cost difference.

VPN is coming soon

Speaking of VPNs, a group of new antivirus software competitors have emerged recently. VPN providers such as Nord and Surfshark recently began offering a combination of VPN and antivirus software, such as Nord Threat Protection Pro, which promises access to the full network of core VPN products, as well as the same antivirus, antimalware and antiphishing capabilities as competitors.

For example, Surfshark One also scored a perfect six in its own AV-Test evaluation, beating some of the top antivirus vendors in the process. However, these results do not always hold. Nord TPP has just obtained its own antivirus certification from AV-Comparatives, with a score of 85%. By comparison, McAfee scored the highest in full protection, at 92%.

Overall, VPN companies still have some work to do in matching the protection capabilities of top antivirus software, but we may soon see their antivirus add-ons in the most stringent It can also be compared in antivirus software evaluation.

With this in mind, VPN products with additional antivirus solutions also struggle to match the price of competing antivirus suites with VPNs. While this may be confusing, there are differences. While you can expect NordVPN to pay only $29.99 for the first year of NordVPN (including VPN) and annual renewal costs $59.99, NordVPN's plan with Threat Protection Pro includes starts at $71.88 for the first year, renewal The order is $179.88. Things only get more stunning when you compare the full package: Norton 360 vs LifeLock Select Plus plans to renew $189.99 per year, while Nord costs $371.88, but with less overall functionality .

Do you really need third-party antivirus software?

Now, whether you finally decide to purchase a third-party antivirus software suite has little to do with the functions of its antivirus software itself. Instead, when viewed as a central hub, it can perform everything from connecting to monitoring your bank and credit card transactions over a VPN to prevent fraud, and it is the complete package, software and insurance plan that brings these products to ordinary User-related.

These platforms are also far beyond Windows, protecting everything from your Android device to your iPhone to Chromebooks. So while it’s not always wise to pay for your Windows device just to protect your Windows device, installing a Norton subscription on multiple platforms in your home ensures the best protection for all your connected devices.

If your only goal is to protect Windows itself, additional antivirus package features outside of the operating system, such as encrypted storage or identity theft insurance, may not be enough to justify an additional $189.99 per year. Ultimately, it depends on what you need most from your personal antivirus software and whether you want protection beyond your PC itself.

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