The 5 Best Antivirus Apps for iPhone and iPad in 2023

Ali Qamar  - Cybersecurity Analyst
Last updated: October 15, 2023
Read time: 20 minutes
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Apple has got the iOS system security basics covered. But you still need to protect your iPhone and iPad with the best antivirus solutions. Check our list and pick the right antivirus app for you.

While antivirus solutions are a must-have for every device, having one on an iPhone or iPad is difficult because of iOS’s app sandboxing. Yet, you cannot ignore the antivirus because an iPhone is as vulnerable to malware infections as an Android or any other device. Thankfully, some antivirus solutions are still available that support iOS protection, like Norton 360 and Bitdefender. This article lists five different choices to protect your iPhones and iPads.

Let us tell you something the antivirus software industry doesn’t want you to know: you can’t scan an iOS device for viruses. No, you can’t, honestly. You see, iPads and iPhones have a security feature known as “sandboxing.” It’s called that because it allows every app to play only within its “sandbox.”

Everything is categorized that way, so no app on your device can change any other app, file, or process. And that’s why viruses can’t infect an iOS system. Even if they get inside, they can do nothing once they’re there.

So what is the authentic meaning of a phrase like “iOS antivirus”? What it means is “internet security for iOS.” This notion refers to various features that keep iOS devices safe. That is necessary because, out of the box, this hardware is not protected against many online security threats. Those include:

  • Device theft
  • Browser trackers
  • Data-stealing apps
  • Unsafe public WiFi hotspots
  • Phishing links

We swept the so-called “security” iOS universe. It took us dozens of hours to go through scam apps, useless apps (free and otherwise), and security apps in the App Store that won’t do the job. We sought software to deliver protection without hidden fees or fishy trial periods. Thankfully, we found five such apps – that’s the good news.