When it comes to choosing an antivirus with the best customer support, security remains the top priority. However, many antivirus solutions offer robust protection, so other factors like performance, advanced features, and customer support become crucial differentiators.
Customer support is vital for those new to antivirus software or seeking hassle-free setup and security. While most paid antivirus solutions offer some assistance, often limited to email, you might prefer faster live chat responses or more comprehensive phone support.
The best antivirus with customer support excels not only in protecting your devices but also in providing quick, efficient help when you need it. Top-notch support can make all the difference if you’re facing technical issues during setup or a real-time malware threat.
This guide explores the leading antivirus solutions that combine powerful protection with exceptional customer support. These tools ensure you can easily get help when needed, making your digital security experience as smooth as possible.
- Surfshark Antivirus: Top antivirus with the best customer support. Affordable antivirus tool with a top-rated VPN. Excellent 24/7 support and allows up to five devices.
- Norton 360: Customers have given it excellent online reviews. It offers 24/7 support and user-friendly apps. It also has an impressive protection score and extras, including a password manager and VPN.
- TotalAV: Real-time protection as well as 24/7 live chat and phone support. Rarely produces false positives. Some of the extra features include an ad blocker and VPN.
- Intego Antivirus: Positive online reviews for its 24/7 live chat support. Easy to set up and use and scores well for protection and performance in independent testing labs.
- VIPRE Antivirus: Very strong all-rounder with 24-hour US-based support. Cloud-based protection with a network firewall, webcam protection, and an unlimited data VPN.
- Bitdefender Internet Security: This provider provides live customer support even with its free tier. There are plenty of different plans to choose from, and it is packed with extras such as a VPN and password manager.
- ESET Home Security: Recognized by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives for its high level of protection. Live chat, phone, and email support. Data encryption, a VPN, and more.
Criteria for the best customer support antivirus
Although this guide focuses on antiviruses with quality customer support, other factors must be considered. After all, an antivirus is little good if its apps are too difficult to use or if scans significantly slow your device. With this in mind, here’s what we were looking for in the top antiviruses with the best customer support:
- Real-time protection from malware
- Lightweight with minimal system impact
- 24/7 support via multiple channels
- Easy-to-use desktop and mobile apps
- Money-back guarantee of at least 30 days
Top antivirus with the best customer support in 2025
Here’s our list of the top antivirus software with the best customer support:
Surfshark Antivirus is our top pick. It offers a top-tier VPN service as part of the Surfshark One security suite. Not only does this offer excellent value for money, but it also includes the best support of any antivirus on the market. Surfshark’s support is available 24 hours a day and can be contacted via live chat and email. There’s no shortage of setup guides, either, most of which feature step-by-step instructions along with annotated screenshots, making them even easier to follow.
You can use this antivirus on up to five devices, and the VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Surfshark Antivirus scored well across the board in our in-house testing. Most notably, we gave it a protection score of 99/100. AV-Test backed this, which awarded Surfshark Antivirus a perfect protection score. Surfshark Antivirus has lightweight, user-friendly apps, real-time protection, and a malware database that’s updated every three hours.
Surfshark Antivirus is available for Windows, Mac, and Android.
Buy this antivirus if:
- You value top-tier 24/7 support with detailed setup guides for self-help
- You want an affordable antivirus with a bundled VPN and unlimited connections
- You need a user-friendly interface that won’t overwhelm beginners
- You’re looking for high protection scores verified by both in-house and AV-Test results
Don’t buy this antivirus if:
- You need antivirus protection for iOS devices (currently not supported)
TOP ANTIVIRUS WITH BEST CUSTOMER SUPPORT:Surfshark Antivirus has excellent support available around the clock via live chat and email. Provides excellent, easy-to-follow setup guides and lightweight-user-friendly apps. Strong protection scores in testing. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try it risk-free.
Read our full Surfshark Antivirus review.
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Norton 360 is a great choice. It offers excellent customer support, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can choose from live chat, phone, or email. This antivirus provider has an excellent rating on Trustpilot, with many reviews praising the customer service offered. Norton 360’s apps are also neatly laid out, making them easy to navigate. There’s no shortage of packages, allowing you to find one that meets your security needs.
You can secure anything from one to 10 devices with Norton 360. Aside from Norton 360’s comprehensive protection from viruses, malware, and ransomware, all plans include a password manager and cloud backup. If you opt for the Standard tier, you’ll also have access to a VPN and dark web monitoring. Deluxe adds parental controls, and Select bundles in identity theft protection. With a 99.75 protection score, it’s as safe an antivirus as you can ask for.
Norton 360 has apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Buy this antivirus if:
- You want multiple support options (live chat, phone, email) available 24/7
- You need flexible subscription plans covering up to 10 devices
- You’re looking for extras like dark web monitoring and identity theft protection
- You want user-friendly apps that work across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
Don’t buy this antivirus if:
- You don’t need extras and prefer a leaner product
- You’re annoyed by hard-to-turn-off auto-renewal settings
PLENTY OF PLAN FLEXIBILITY:Norton 360 offers a high level of protection as well as 24/7 support. Wide range of plans with the option to secure up to 10 devices. Plenty of extras, too, including a VPN and password manager. It even comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Norton Antivirus review.
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TotalAV is one of only a few antivirus providers that offer 24/7 live chat support and phone support. You can also email them. For times when you’d rather find an answer yourself, there’s a knowledge base to help. We particularly recommend TotalAV for its web browsing protection and recognize its efforts to improve its billing transparency.
Depending on the TotalAV plan you choose, you’ll be able to protect four, six, or eight devices. You can expect real-time protection from threats and a lot of extra features. In particular, TotalAV plans include an ad blocker, VPN, and even system tune-up tools for optimizing the performance of your device. Our testing found that TotalAV is one of the most reliable antivirus tools and rarely flags false positives.
You’ll find easy-to-use TotalAV apps for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS.
Buy this antivirus if:
- You need 24/7 live chat and phone support (a rare combination with AV providers)
- You want an ad blocker and VPN as part of your antivirus package
- You appreciate easy-to-use apps with strong real-time threat protection
- You want billing transparency
Don’t buy this antivirus if:
- You only need protection for a single device and want a low-cost option
- You want more advanced tools, such as parental controls
PACKED WITH FEATURES:TotalAV offers very strong protection from viruses and malware. Take advantage of 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support. You’ll rarely receive false positives. It has many extras, including a VPN and ad blocker. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full TotalAV review.
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Intego Antivirus stands out for its excellent online reviews from customers, many of whom cite its customer support as a major plus. It has an average rating of 4.8 on Trustpilot and is known as one of the very few antivirus providers that focuses on Mac rather than Windows. Should you need it, live chat support is offered 24 hours a day. Regardless, setup and configuration are simple. It comes equipped with real-time protection and automatic scanning.
With the Mac Internet Security package, you’ll benefit from a firewall and anti-phishing protection. The Mac Premium Bundle comes with cleanup tools, parental controls, and the option to backup files. The other option includes a VPN. Intego Antivirus performs well in independent testing labs and our own in-house tests, providing strong protection without compromising performance.
Intego Antivirus is available for Mac but has a separate Windows antivirus.
Buy this antivirus if:
- You’re a Mac user looking for a solution specifically designed for macOS
- You want 24/7 live chat support and a beginner-friendly setup process
- You appreciate firewall protection, phishing filters, and simple backup features
Don’t buy this antivirus if:
- You’re a Windows user looking for a fully developed antivirus
- You require multi-device support across both mobile and desktop platforms
ANTIVIRUS FOR MAC:Intego Antivirus focuses on Mac computers, providing real-time protection and a selection of intriguing extras. Its live chat is available 24 hours a day. It has earned strong results in independent testing labs. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Intego Antivirus review.
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VIPRE Antivirus impressed across the board in our tests, earning a near-perfect protection score and full marks for false positives and transparency. It has 24/7 US-based support, which has received many positive reviews from customers online. Available on both Windows and Mac, VIPRE Antivirus performs real-time scans to make sure apps and files are safe to use. Its cloud-based security ensures it stays up-to-date at all times.
VIPRE Advanced Security plan of course includes protection from malware, spyware, and ransomware, but also safeguards you from phishing and spam emails. There’s even a firewall to prevent unauthorized network connections. However, the Ultimate Security Bundle offers all this as well as webcam and microphone protection, a dark web scanner, and unlimited data VPN. Despite the many extras, the price is affordable.
You can use VIPRE Antivirus on Windows, Mac, and Android.
Buy this antivirus if:
- You want 24/7 US-based customer support with a solid reputation
- You need a cloud-based antivirus that stays up to date in real time
- You want affordable plans that include a VPN and a dark web scanner
Don’t buy this antivirus if:
- You need protection for iOS devices
- You need a free trial to test features before committing to purchase
US-BASED SUPPORT:VIPRE Antivirus is a strong all-rounder. It has real-time protection from everything from spyware to malware. The many extras include webcam protection and a dark web scanner. Its support is US-based and available 24/7. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full VIPRE Antivirus review.
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Bitdefender is unique in that, not only does it provide 24/7 live chat, email, and telephone support, it even offers live customer support with its free antivirus. It has more subscription plans than most antivirus providers, so you can choose whatever meets your security requirements. There are also far more features than with most competitors. Its real-time protection from threats is so comprehensive that we gave it a 99.3 protection score.
AV-Test consistently awards Bitdefender the highest possible scores for performance, protection, and usability. It has also received numerous awards from AV-Comparatives. Some of the features included in Bitdefender’s more comprehensive plans include a VPN, webcam protection, and password manager. You can get Bitdefender as a standalone antivirus or as part of a vast security suite for even greater protection.
Bitdefender has desktop (Windows and Mac) and mobile (Android and iOS) apps.
Buy this antivirus if:
- You need feature-rich protection with options like a password manager
- You want to choose from a wide range of plans for different levels of protection
- You value high protection scores (99.3%) and excellent overall performance
Don’t buy this antivirus if:
- You need a free trial to explore premium features before purchasing
- You prefer an antivirus with simpler pricing and fewer bundled features
MORE EXTRAS THAN MOST:Bitdefender is recognized by the likes of AV-Test and AV-Comparatives for its blend of protection and performance. Its support is even available for free users. A huge number of plans and features are available. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus review.
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ESET Home Security is one of the most reliable antivirus tools around, as evidenced by its consistently high protection scores. It provides customers with access to live chat, email, and phone support, albeit only during business hours. AV-Test awarded ESET perfect scores for protection, performance, and usability. Furthermore, AV-Comparatives has recognized ESET’s malware protection, real-world protection, and performance.
All ESET Home Security subscription plans include real-time protection. On the Premium tier, you’ll also get access to a password manager and file encryption. With Ultimate, there’s even an unlimited VPN. We particularly appreciate ESET’s transparency with regard to billing and how easy it is to turn off auto-renewal. That’s not something you can expect from every antivirus provider.
ESET offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Buy this antivirus if:
- You want extras like a password manager and an unlimited VPN on higher tiers
- You favor a more minimalist antivirus that isn’t overloaded with unnecessary tools
Don’t buy this antivirus if:
- You need 24/7 customer support access, not just business hours
- You’re a beginner looking for more setup guidance
RELIABLE PROTECTION:ESET Home Security has some of the most consistently high protection scores. Provides quality support via live chat, phone, and email. Offers useful extras without trying to cram in too many features. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full ESET Home Security review.
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Testing methodology: How we found the top antivirus with the best customer support
Our analysis of antivirus software involves real-world tests using test malware from the EICAR and live malware samples. We also look at independent testing lab results to corroborate our findings. Of course, we also consider antivirus software’s performance, pricing, and advanced features.
Looking from your perspective, the consumer, this comprehensive approach helps us provide accurate and fair recommendations. Below, we provide some insight into our testing process:
- Real-time malware protection: An antivirus needs to have the ability to detect and block a wide range of threats in real time. This ensures you’re protected from viruses, ransomware, phishing attacks, and more because they’re stopped before they can do serious damage.
- Independent lab test scores: Besides our in-house testing, we compare independent lab test scores from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. Such tests further demonstrate each antivirus’s performance, protection, and usability, helping you make a more informed decision.
- Quality customer support: Customer support can make or break a service. A poor response or lack of an answer can encourage users to look for alternatives. We’ve found antivirus software with more than just a few FAQs. In all cases, you can expect a combination of live chat, email, or phone support.
- Lightweight performance: It’s frustrating when an antivirus significantly impacts your system during scans. This can prevent you from using your device as normal. That’s why we’ve prioritized antivirus tools that offer lightweight performance. A silent mode or gaming mode is another useful feature.
- Additional features: Your antivirus subscription includes many extras that can further improve your online security. These include a VPN, password manager, and ransomware protection. The best antivirus tools offer additional features like this without compromising in other key areas.
- Ease of use: Antivirus software should have an easy-to-use interface so that even if you’re not tech-savvy, you can set it up and use it without issue. An antivirus tool’s ease of use also depends on automatic updates and scans, so minimal input is required to stay protected.
If you’d like to know more about how we reached a decision on each antivirus, look no further than our antivirus software testing methodology post which further explains our process.
How to use antivirus software
Need a little help getting started? Here are some step-by-step instructions that take you from installing your new antivirus to making sure it stays up-to-date:
- Select the antivirus with customer support that best fits your needs. We particularly recommend Surfshark Antivirus.
- Download and install the antivirus on the device or devices you’re looking to protect.
- Open the antivirus app and run a scan to check for any existing threats.
- Follow the instructions provided by your antivirus if any malware is found.
- Perform regular scans and make sure your antivirus software is up to date.
Frequently asked questions
Does a free antivirus include customer support?
The vast majority of free antivirus software offers only limited customer support, usually in the form of a knowledge base, FAQs, or a community forum. More direct options such as live chat, email, and phone are usually only available with paid antivirus software.
One rare exception is Bitdefender Antivirus Free, which includes live customer support. If you do need an antivirus and place particular importance in quality customer support, a paid antivirus is the way to go.
How often should I run a virus scan on my PC?
It’s a good idea to run a full scan on your PC at least once a week. However, most paid antivirus programs offer real-time protection, which can negate most of the threats you’re likely to face.
By running a full scan each week and quick scans daily, you can keep your system protected. If you don’t want scans interrupting work, you can always schedule scans when they’re less likely to interrupt you.
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