Contents
- Why business antivirus differs from consumer antivirus
- Best antivirus for small business compared
- Microsoft Defender for Business
- CrowdStrike Falcon Go
- Bitdefender GravityZone
- ESET PROTECT
- ThreatDown
- What it costs
- How to choose
- FAQ
Why the best antivirus for small business differs from consumer antivirus
Consumer suites protect one household. The best antivirus for small business adds central management, so one person can see every device, push policies, and respond when something is detected. Business products also cover mixed fleets (Windows, Mac, mobile) and increasingly bundle endpoint detection and response (EDR). If you are comparing consumer products, our Norton vs Bitdefender guide covers those, but a team with employees should use a managed business product.
- Central console to deploy, monitor and enforce policy.
- Ransomware protection including behavior-based detection and rollback.
- Device and web controls to limit risky USB or sites.
- Support for your operating systems and mobile devices.
- Clear per-device or per-user cost, and a trial.
If you want detection and response rather than basic antivirus, see our guide to the best EDR solutions.
Best antivirus for small business compared (as of October 2026)
| Product | Best for | Published price | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Business | Microsoft 365 shops, tight budgets | $3.00 per user per month, billed yearly | Up to 300 users, five devices per user |
| CrowdStrike Falcon Go | Dedicated NGAV and EDR | $59.99 per device per year ($7.99 monthly) | Capped at 100 devices |
| Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security | Small teams wanting a simple console | Not shown on the page; priced by number of endpoints | 1 to 100 devices, laptops, desktops, file servers |
| ESET PROTECT | Tiered protection with optional MDR | Core and Ultimate: no price shown; Premium shows one $216 figure without a unit | Core 5 to 99 devices; Premium 10 to 99 |
| ThreatDown (formerly Malwarebytes business) | Ransomware rollback, MDR options | Placeholders only on the page; 20% off for a 3-year term | Bundles: Core, Advanced, Elite MDR, Ultimate MDR Plus |
1. Microsoft Defender for Business: best antivirus for small business on a budget
Microsoft Defender for Business costs $3.00 per user per month billed yearly, covers up to five devices per user with no minimum, and supports up to 300 users on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. It includes next-generation antivirus, AI-powered endpoint detection and response with automatic attack disruption, vulnerability management and wizard-based onboarding with monthly security summary reports. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes it, listed at $22.00 and $18.79 per user per month billed yearly (the page does not map each price to a tab). A one-month free trial requires a credit card and converts to a paid annual plan unless you cancel, with a 7-day cancellation window for a prorated refund after a paid subscription starts.
Pros
- Lowest published price, with per-user coverage of several devices.
- EDR and automated investigation included.
Cons
- Best inside a Microsoft environment; not a managed service.
- Trial needs a card and auto-converts.
Choose it if you use Microsoft 365. Skip it if you want a vendor-run 24/7 service.
2. CrowdStrike Falcon Go: best antivirus for small business with a security-first platform
CrowdStrike Falcon Go is $59.99 per device per year ($7.99 monthly), with Pro at $99.99 and Enterprise at $184.99. The bundles include next-gen antivirus, device control, EDR and threat intelligence and hunting. Falcon Go purchases are capped at 100 devices, and the managed Falcon Complete service is quote-only. See our best EDR solutions guide for the full comparison.
Choose it if you want a dedicated security platform. Skip it if you only need baseline protection at the lowest cost.
3. Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security: best antivirus for small business with a simple console
Bitdefender’s page covers laptops, desktops and file servers from 1 to 100 devices with extra licenses addable any time. Included features: advanced threat protection, ransomware mitigation that blocks abnormal encryption and restores files from backups, fileless attack protection, anti-phishing, advanced anti-exploit protection and centralized single-console management. Web Access and Device Control and Network Attack Defense with Risk Management are optional add-ons. The page showed only a price placeholder, so buy through the online checkout to see current pricing. A free trial is offered, and the subscription renews automatically unless you cancel.
Choose it if you want a simple console for a small team. Skip it if you need a published price before contacting anyone.
4. ESET PROTECT: best antivirus for small business with tiers up to MDR
ESET’s small business page lists PROTECT Core (5 to 99 devices; next-gen antivirus, firewall, web and device control, sandboxing, full disk encryption), PROTECT Premium (10 to 99 devices; adds 24/7 MDR with expert monitoring and a cybersecurity AI assistant), Ultimate (fixed at 99 devices; adds full incident remediation, a dedicated security expert and priority support with SLAs) and Small Office Protection (5 to 25 devices, managed through the ESET HOME app, for offices with no IT admin). No prices were shown, except a single $216.00 figure on Premium whose unit was unclear. A no-card trial is offered.
Choose it if you may grow into managed detection. Skip it if you want a published per-device price today.
5. ThreatDown: best antivirus for small business with ransomware rollback
Malwarebytes’ business pricing page now redirects to ThreatDown. Its bundles are Core (AI-powered prevention), Advanced (advanced detection and built-in ransomware rollback), Elite MDR (24/7 human-led monitoring and response, marked most popular) and Ultimate MDR Plus (managed protection across devices and identities). Add-ons include DNS filtering, email security, server protection, mobile security and premium support. The page showed price placeholders and a 20% discount for a three-year term, and the text read did not state a trial or minimum.
Choose it if rollback and managed response matter. Skip it if you cannot request a quote.
What does the best antivirus for small business cost?
Illustrative annual maths from the prices that are published (taxes excluded):
| Option | 10 users | 25 users | 50 users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defender for Business ($3 x 12) | $360 | $900 | $1,800 |
| CrowdStrike Falcon Go ($59.99, one device each) | $599.90 | $1,499.75 | $2,999.50 |
Defender is priced per user and covers up to five devices each, while Falcon Go is per device, so compare cost per protected device. Bitdefender, ESET and ThreatDown need quotes.
How to choose the best antivirus for small business
- Check what you already own. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Defender for Business.
- Count devices and users separately, since pricing models differ.
- Decide who responds to alerts. If nobody, consider MDR tiers.
- Cover your operating systems including Mac and mobile.
- Trial two products on a few real machines.
- Remove old antivirus first to avoid conflicts, and document a response plan.
Common mistakes when buying antivirus for a business
- Using consumer antivirus on staff devices with no central visibility.
- Running two full antivirus products on one device.
- Letting a trial auto-convert without a decision.
- Buying protection but having nobody assigned to act on alerts.
Related guides: Best EDR solutions · Norton vs Bitdefender · Best endpoint management software
Sources, as read in October 2026: Microsoft Defender for Business, CrowdStrike pricing, Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security, ESET small business and ThreatDown pricing.
Best antivirus for small business: frequently asked questions
What is the best antivirus for small business?
Microsoft Defender for Business is the best-value choice with published pricing at $3.00 per user per month. CrowdStrike Falcon Go, Bitdefender GravityZone, ESET PROTECT and ThreatDown are strong alternatives.
Is Microsoft Defender enough for a small business?
Defender for Business includes next-gen antivirus and EDR, which suits many small businesses, especially in Microsoft 365. Someone still needs to review alerts.
How much does business antivirus cost?
Published examples include $3.00 per user per month (Defender) and $59.99 per device per year (Falcon Go). Others need a quote.
Can I use consumer antivirus for my employees?
It is possible but not ideal because you lose central management, reporting and policy control.
Do I need EDR or just antivirus?
Antivirus blocks known threats, while EDR adds monitoring and response. Several business products now include both.
How many devices does Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security cover?
Its page lists 1 to 100 devices, covering laptops, desktops and file servers.
Does Defender for Business have a free trial?
Yes, one month, but it requires a credit card and converts to an annual plan unless cancelled.
Why don’t some vendors show prices?
Many sell by quote or by device count at checkout. Request written quotes and compare per-device cost.
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