Best Antivirus for Small Business in 2026

Why Your Antivirus Choice Matters

For a small business, antivirus is no longer just a program that scans files. A modern business product stops ransomware, blocks phishing sites, shows you every protected device in one console, and, on the higher tiers, has people watching for attacks around the clock. The products in this guide all do the basics well enough. The real differences are in four places:

Who manages it. Some products are built for an owner who installs an app on each laptop and never logs in again. Others assume someone will check a web console, read alerts and change policies. If nobody at your company will do that, you either need a product that runs itself or a managed service (MDR) where the vendor's analysts respond for you.

What happens after ransomware gets in. Several products here can roll back files that ransomware encrypted. Others block the attack but leave recovery to your backups. That difference matters a lot when there is no IT person to rebuild a laptop at 9 pm.

Servers and mixed devices. A five-person office with laptops only has an easy choice. Once you have a Windows file server, a Linux box or a few Macs, coverage starts to differ, and some vendors charge more for servers.

How the price grows. Consumer-style products price by bundle with a cheap first year and a higher renewal. Business products price per device or per user per year. At 10 devices the gap is small. At 25 it can be several hundred dollars a year.

This guide compares seven business antivirus products for companies with roughly 5 to 50 devices:

• Bitdefender GravityZone (Small Business Security, Business Security and Premium plans)
• Microsoft Defender for Business
• ThreatDown, the business brand of Malwarebytes
• ESET PROTECT and ESET Small Office Protection
• Sophos Endpoint
• Webroot, now sold as OpenText Core Endpoint Protection
• Norton Small Business

Two name changes are worth knowing before you shop. Malwarebytes sells its business products under the ThreatDown name; its own "Malwarebytes for Teams" page sends anyone with more than 20 devices to ThreatDown. And Webroot's business endpoint page now redirects to OpenText, which sells the product as OpenText Core Endpoint Protection. We kept both brands in the list under their current product names.

We did not run these tools ourselves. This is a researched comparison based on each vendor's own pricing pages, online stores and documentation, checked on October 17, 2026. All prices are in USD.

Comparison Table

Prices were checked on October 17, 2026 on each vendor's own site or store. Bitdefender, Norton and Webroot showed discounted prices; we list the regular price next to them where the vendor showed one. Prices change often, so confirm before you buy.

Bitdefender GravityZone Review

Bitdefender sells its business antivirus under the GravityZone name. Small businesses can buy three plans online for 1 to 100 devices: Small Business Security, Business Security and Business Security Premium. A fourth plan, Business Security Enterprise, adds EDR and is sold through partners.

Key features

• Machine learning, behavior analysis and continuous process monitoring, with process termination, quarantine and rollback of malicious changes
• Ransomware Mitigation that blocks abnormal encryption and restores files from backup copies
• Network Attack Defense and Risk Management in Business Security
• Attack forensics and a cloud sandbox (Sandbox Analyzer) in Premium
• Add-ons for patch management, full disk encryption, email security and mobile (iOS, Android, ChromeOS)

Pricing

These are one-year prices from Bitdefender's online calculator on October 17, 2026. All showed "30% OFF", and the regular price is in brackets.

• Small Business Security: $227.49 for 10 devices ($324.99), $514.49 for 25 devices ($734.99). Includes Advanced Threat, Ransomware Mitigation and Fileless Attack Protection. Web Access and Device Control, and Network Attack Defense and Risk Management, are add-ons ($41.99 each at 10 devices). Online purchase only.
• Business Security: $269.49 for 10 devices ($384.99), $598.49 for 25 devices ($854.99). Adds Modern Endpoint Protection, Network Attack Defense and Risk Management, plus web content control.
• Business Security Premium: $615.99 for 10 devices ($879.99), $1,308.99 for 25 devices ($1,869.99). Adds attack forensics, Sandbox Analyzer and tamperproof backups of user files.
• Business Security Enterprise: includes EDR. After a demo, you get a license through a Bitdefender partner. No online price.

Subscriptions renew automatically. Bitdefender's page does not say whether the 30% discount also applies at renewal, so budget for the regular price in year two.

Pros

• Low price per device for a full business console
• Servers count as ordinary devices on the online plans
• Ransomware file restore on every plan
• Cloud or on-premise management on Business Security

Cons

• EDR needs the Enterprise plan and a partner
• Three similar plan names make it easy to buy the wrong one
• Discount and renewal price not spelled out on the page

Who it's for

Small businesses that want proper central management, ransomware recovery and server coverage at a low per-device price, and have at least one person who will open the console now and then.

Who should skip it

Companies that want a human team watching alerts 24/7 without talking to a partner. Bitdefender offers MDR, but not as a simple online plan for small offices.

Microsoft Defender for Business Review

Microsoft Defender for Business is Microsoft's endpoint security product for companies with up to 300 users. It is built on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and includes the features of Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 plus some from Plan 2, such as EDR and automated investigation.

Key features

• Next-generation antivirus and attack surface reduction
• EDR with automatic attack disruption, plus automated investigation and remediation
• Vulnerability management
• Wizard-based onboarding, default policies and monthly security summary reports
• Windows, macOS, iOS and Android

Pricing

• Standalone: $3.00 per user/month, paid yearly on an auto-renewing annual subscription. Up to 300 users, up to five devices per user, no minimum device count. That is $360 a year for 10 users and $900 a year for 25 users.
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium: includes Defender for Business and Intune Plan 1. $22.00 per user/month with Teams or $18.79 without, billed yearly.
• Servers: Windows and Linux servers need the separate Defender for Business servers add-on. Microsoft's product page does not list its price.
• Trial: one month, credit card required, converts to paid unless you cancel.

Pros

• Very low price per user, and each user can cover five devices
• EDR and automated remediation included at the base price
• Already included if you have Microsoft 365 Business Premium
• Works alongside Intune and Microsoft 365 admin tools

Cons

• Servers cost extra through an add-on
• No managed detection service in the plan
• Credit card needed for the trial

Who it's for

Businesses that already run on Microsoft 365, especially those on Business Premium, where it costs nothing extra. It is also a strong low-cost choice for any company that bills per person rather than per device.

Who should skip it

Companies with Linux desktops, or owners who want someone else to respond to alerts. Microsoft's page does not describe file rollback after ransomware either, so if that matters, look at Bitdefender, ThreatDown, Sophos or Webroot.

ThreatDown (Malwarebytes) Review

ThreatDown is the business brand of Malwarebytes. It sells four bundles managed from one console (Nebula), and MSPs can use OneView. Malwarebytes still sells "Malwarebytes for Teams" for very small offices, but its page points anyone with more than 20 endpoints to ThreatDown.

Key features

• Next-gen antivirus, device control, application blocking, vulnerability assessment and browser phishing protection (Core)
• EDR, patch management, firewall management, drive encryption (Windows) and managed threat hunting (Advanced)
• Ransomware rollback that restores files up to 7 days after an attack (Advanced and up)
• 24/7 MDR (Elite) and MDR Plus with identity threat detection (Ultimate)
• Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS and Android

Pricing

Per device per year in ThreatDown's online store on October 17, 2026:

• Core: $69 per device ($690 for 10 devices)
• Advanced: $79 per device ($790 for 10 devices)
• Elite: $99 per device ($990 for 10 devices)
• Ultimate: $149 per device ($745 for 5 devices on the pricing page)
• Servers: Core for Servers $129, Advanced for Servers $149 and Elite for Servers $159 per server per year
• Multi-year: the pricing page says "Save 20% for 3 years"

At the same per-device rate, 25 devices would be $1,725 (Core), $1,975 (Advanced) or $2,475 (Elite). When we asked the online store for 25 devices, the cart stopped at 20, so larger orders may need sales or a partner. Malwarebytes for Teams starts at $399.99 a year for 10 devices and $519.99 for 20, with a 60-day money-back guarantee, but it has no EDR or rollback listed.

Pros

• Clear, public per-device pricing for every tier
• Ransomware rollback from the Advanced tier
• 24/7 MDR for $99 per device per year
• Broad platform list, including Linux and ChromeOS

Cons

• Servers are priced separately and cost more than workstations
• Core has no EDR or rollback
• Online cart stopped at 20 devices in our check

Who it's for

Small businesses that want EDR and ransomware rollback without a long sales process, and especially those that want MDR at a published price.

Who should skip it

Very price-sensitive offices that only need basic antivirus. At $69 per device, Core costs more than Bitdefender or Webroot for similar basic protection.

ESET PROTECT and ESET Small Office Protection Review

ESET offers two very different paths. ESET Small Office Protection is a simple bundle for 5 to 25 devices with no IT admin, managed from the ESET HOME app or portal. ESET PROTECT is the business platform, delivered as a cloud service with a web console, in Core, Premium and Ultimate tiers.

Key features

• Next-gen antivirus for computers, servers, mobiles and cloud VMs (Core)
• Firewall, web and device control, cloud sandbox analysis and full disk encryption (Core)
• Detection & Response module and ESET MDR with 24/7 monitoring by ESET staff (Premium)
• Plus package: email, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace protection, vulnerability and patch management, MFA
• Windows, macOS and Linux endpoints and servers; iOS, iPadOS and Android; Azure, AWS and GCP VMs

Pricing

One-year prices from ESET's US plan page on October 17, 2026:

• Small Office Protection: $179.99 for 5 devices, $204.99 for 10, $512.50 for 25. Includes ransomware protection and file recovery.
• PROTECT Core: $549.00 for 10 devices, $1,167.50 for 25 (5 to 99 devices). With the Plus package: $713.00 for 10, $1,515.00 for 25.
• PROTECT Premium: $1,030.00 for 10 devices, $2,332.50 for 25 (10 to 99 devices). Optional guided onboarding is $216. With the Plus package: $1,590.00 for 10, $3,615.00 for 25. Plus adds a cyber warranty.
• PROTECT Ultimate: introductory offer of $9,999.00 for 99 devices (regular $16,360.00).
• More than 99 devices: contact sales.

Pros

• Small Office Protection is cheap and needs no admin skills
• MDR is built into Premium at about $103 per device per year at 10 devices
• Broad coverage, including Linux, mobile and cloud VMs
• Public prices for every tier below Ultimate

Cons

• Core has no EDR module
• Premium has a 10-device minimum
• Small Office Protection stops at 25 devices, so a growing team has to move to PROTECT

Who it's for

Small Office Protection fits an owner-run office with up to 25 devices. PROTECT Premium fits a 10 to 50 device company that wants detection and response handled by ESET's staff.

Who should skip it

Teams that need ransomware rollback on the PROTECT tiers. ESET's plan and product pages list file recovery only for Small Office Protection.

Sophos Endpoint Review

Sophos Endpoint is a single agent for Windows, macOS and Linux endpoints and servers, managed from the Sophos Fusion cloud console. Sophos sells it by quote, usually through partners and MSPs.

Key features

• CryptoGuard, which blocks malicious encryption and automatically reverts encrypted files, including attacks against file shares
• More than 60 exploit mitigations enabled by default
• Adaptive Attack Protection and Critical Attack Warning
• Sophos EDR and Sophos XDR tiers for investigation and response
• Sophos MDR, a 24/7 managed service that includes Sophos XDR

Pricing

Sophos does not publish prices. Its how-to-buy page offers a quote form and says Sophos uses "simple, per-user pricing with no hidden extras". It can also be bought through AWS Marketplace. A free 30-day trial is available.

Pros

• Strong ransomware rollback with CryptoGuard
• Protection works without tuning
• One agent for Windows, macOS, Linux and servers
• Clear upgrade path to EDR, XDR and MDR

Cons

• No public price, so you have to ask for a quote
• Built around partners, which adds a step for a self-managed office
• More features than a 5-person company may use

Who it's for

Small businesses that already work with an IT partner or MSP, and companies that want a single vendor for endpoint, firewall and MDR.

Who should skip it

Owners who want to buy online in five minutes and see the price first.

Webroot (OpenText Core Endpoint Protection) Review

Webroot's business endpoint product is now sold by OpenText as OpenText Core Endpoint Protection. The old Webroot business page redirects to OpenText, and the Webroot online store still sells the product. It is a lightweight, cloud-managed agent, and OpenText markets it to MSPs as well as to businesses directly.

Key features

• Real-time machine learning and OpenText threat intelligence
• Journaling of unknown files, with automatic rollback of changes on local drives if a file turns out to be malicious
• Cloud console with prebuilt policy templates and integrations with more than 40 tools, including RMM platforms
• Some EDR features, such as device isolation and process visualization
• Add-ons for full EDR, MDR, DNS protection and security awareness training

Pricing

From the Webroot store on October 17, 2026, one-year subscription:

• 10 devices: $276.00 sale price (regular $300.00)
• 25 devices: $690.00 sale price (regular $750.00)
• Extra devices: $2.30 per device per month above your licensed count (excess usage)
• Trial: 30 days, unlimited, no credit card, works on servers

Supported systems: Windows 8.1, 10 and 11, macOS 15, 26 and 27, and Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025. Linux is not listed.

Pros

• Lowest per-device price in this comparison
• Local-drive rollback after an infection
• Trial with no credit card
• Built for MSP and RMM workflows

Cons

• No Linux support listed
• Full EDR and MDR cost extra
• Rebrand to OpenText makes documentation harder to find

Who it's for

Small businesses that want a low-cost, low-maintenance business console on Windows and Mac, and MSPs that already use RMM tools.

Who should skip it

Companies with Linux servers, or those that want MDR included in one price.

Norton Small Business Review

Norton Small Business is closer to a consumer security suite licensed for business use. It is sold by number of employees, with two devices per employee, and is designed for businesses with up to 10 employees.

Key features

• Real-time antivirus with a firewall on Windows and Mac
• 250 GB cloud backup on Windows (500 GB on Premium)
• Password manager, secure browser and software updater
• Dark web monitoring for up to five company contacts
• Premium adds VPN, 24/7 Business Tech Support, financial monitoring and social media monitoring

Pricing

From Norton's US page on October 17, 2026. All are first-year prices, and the plans renew at the higher price:

• 3 employees (6 devices): $59.99 first year, then $119.99 a year
• 5 employees (10 devices): $99.99 first year, then $179.99 a year
• 10 employees (20 devices): $149.99 first year, then $249.99 a year
• Premium, 5 employees: $199.99 first year, then $299.99 a year
• Premium, 10 employees: $249.99 first year, then $399.99 a year
• Trial: 30 days, payment method required. 60-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

• Cheapest option for 10 devices in the first year
• Includes cloud backup, password manager and VPN (Premium)
• 24/7 tech support on Premium
• Nothing to manage

Cons

• No business dashboard or remote management, as Norton itself says
• Maximum of 10 employees (20 devices), so no 25-device option
• Renewal prices are much higher than the first year

Who it's for

Sole traders and micro businesses that want consumer-style protection plus backup and support, with no admin work.

Who should skip it

Anyone with servers, more than 10 employees, or a need to see the security status of every device in one place.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Cost at 10 and 25 devices

Microsoft's price is per user, not per device. If each person has a laptop and a phone, 10 users can cover 20 devices for the same $360.

Management and who does the work

Norton and ESET Small Office Protection are managed from consumer-style apps and portals and suit offices with no IT person. Bitdefender, ESET PROTECT, ThreatDown, Webroot and Microsoft all give you a cloud console to see every device and set policies. Bitdefender Business Security can also run on-premise. Sophos is managed from Sophos Fusion and is usually run by a partner.

EDR and MDR

EDR helps someone investigate what an attacker did. MDR means the vendor's analysts do that for you, 24/7. Microsoft includes EDR at the base price. ThreatDown adds EDR in Advanced and MDR in Elite. ESET adds both in PROTECT Premium. Bitdefender puts EDR in Enterprise, sold through partners, and offers MDR separately. Sophos and OpenText sell EDR, XDR and MDR as higher tiers or add-ons. Norton has neither.

Servers

Bitdefender counts file servers as ordinary devices on its online plans, which is the simplest model. ESET PROTECT and Sophos cover servers in the same product. ThreatDown and Microsoft charge for servers separately. Webroot supports Windows Server only. Norton does not list servers.

Ransomware rollback

Bitdefender (file restore from backup copies), ThreatDown Advanced and up (up to 7 days), Sophos (CryptoGuard) and Webroot (local drives) all describe automatic recovery of encrypted or changed files. ESET lists file recovery on Small Office Protection. Microsoft's product page talks about ransomware protection but does not describe rollback. Norton relies on cloud backup. Whatever you pick, keep a separate backup.

Platforms

Linux support is the main divider. Bitdefender, ThreatDown, ESET and Sophos list Linux. Microsoft covers Linux servers only through its servers add-on. Webroot lists Windows and macOS. Norton covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with some features on Windows only.

How to Choose

1. Count devices, not people, unless you pick Microsoft. Most vendors here price per device. Microsoft prices per user with up to five devices each.
2. Decide who will watch alerts. If nobody will, pick a product that runs itself (Norton, ESET Small Office Protection) or pay for MDR (ThreatDown Elite, ESET PROTECT Premium, Sophos MDR).
3. Check your servers and Linux machines. If you have a Linux server, Webroot and Norton drop out. If you have Windows servers, compare the server add-on costs from ThreatDown and Microsoft.
4. Ask about rollback. If ransomware recovery matters, favor Bitdefender, ThreatDown Advanced, Sophos or Webroot, and keep backups anyway.
5. Look at the year-two price. Norton shows its renewal price clearly. Bitdefender and Webroot showed discounts without saying whether they renew at the same rate.
6. Use the trial. Webroot needs no card. Microsoft and Norton need a card. Sophos and Bitdefender Premium offer a month.

Red flags

• A plan that tops out below your planned headcount (Norton at 10 employees, ESET Small Office Protection at 25 devices)
• "First year" prices compared against another vendor's regular price
• Servers priced at nearly twice the workstation rate
• Buying EDR with no one to read the alerts

Final Recommendations

1) Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security: best for most small businesses

Low price per device, servers included, ransomware file restore and a proper console. Start with Business Security and move to Premium if you want forensics and sandboxing.

2) Microsoft Defender for Business: best for Microsoft 365 companies

$3 per user/month with EDR, or free inside Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Hard to beat if you already live in Microsoft 365.

3) ThreatDown Elite: best published price for 24/7 MDR

$99 per device per year buys EDR, ransomware rollback and human monitoring, all bought online.

4) ESET: best for no-IT offices and for MDR included

Small Office Protection for up to 25 devices with no admin, or PROTECT Premium for MDR at a public price.

5) Sophos Endpoint: best with an IT partner

Strong rollback and an easy path to MDR, but you need a quote.

6) Webroot (OpenText Core Endpoint Protection): best low-cost console

Lowest per-device price with rollback on local drives, for Windows and Mac fleets.

7) Norton Small Business: best for micro businesses

Cheap first year, backup and tech support, but no dashboard and a 10-employee limit.

Conclusion

For a small business with 5 to 50 devices, the decision usually comes down to two questions: do you already pay for Microsoft 365, and will anyone look at alerts? Microsoft 365 shops should start with Defender for Business. Everyone else should compare Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security for low cost and ThreatDown Elite or ESET PROTECT Premium if they want a vendor team watching around the clock. Check the renewal price and your server count before you buy, and keep a backup that no antivirus can replace.