Best Antivirus Without Auto-Renewal

Like many programs, most antiviruses are subscription-based and come with auto-renewal enabled by default. Although it means uninterrupted protection for your devices, it comes with disadvantages. For example, some providers have hidden additional costs for renewal, and if you forget to remember the renewal date, you may be charged without prior notice.

Luckily, you can opt for antivirus services that offer freemium plans or easy auto-renewal turn-off methods. That’s why my team and I reviewed the antivirus market, found options that offer free plans or easy auto-renewal opt-out, and tested their efficiency and features. Read further to find my list of the best antiviruses without auto-renewal.

Top 5 antiviruses without auto-renewal: our shortlist

1. 1. TotalAV – best antivirus without auto-renewal in 2025
2. 2. Bitdefender – effective antivirus with flexible subscription options
3. 3. Norton 360 – top-rated renewal-free antivirus with many features
4. 4. NordVPN Threat Protection – antivirus without auto-renewal for browsing
5. 5. Surfshark Antivirus – highly-recommended renewal-free antivirus and VPN

 

The best antivirus without auto-renewal for 2025

I tested dozens of the best antivirus software on the market, reviewing and testing their features, security, efficiency, and user-friendliness. Read to learn about all of my top picks in detail:

1. TotalAV – best overall antivirus without auto-renewal

TotalAV

1

9.7

/10

Visit TotalAV

Pros & cons

• Offers a free version
• Includes an ad-blocker
• Protects you from phishing scams

• Free version doesn’t have a lot of features

TotalAV is the best antivirus provider in 2025, mainly because it has a simple opt-out policy for disabling auto-renewals and a free version. Additionally, it comes with excellent premium features, like a password manager and an ad blocker for comprehensive protection.

I found that TotalAV offers comprehensive protection against malware. Based on the latest independent AV-TEST laboratory December 2024 tests, it received perfect 100% protection, performance, and usability scores.

Meanwhile, during my own tests, it blocked all 5 of the malicious files I tried to download and flagged 11 out of 13 total threats that were already present on my test computer. No wonder it’s an often Reddit recommended antivirus.

I liked that TotalAV includes ransomware protection, a firewall, and performance optimization tools to enhance your device’s security and performance. With web protection and safe browsing features, you can stay safe online by blocking dangerous websites and preventing phishing attempts.

TotalAV offers a free plan, but the paid plans start from $19.00/year, and you can easily opt out of auto-renewal by signing into your account on the site and going to Account > My Billing > Manage > Manage Billing Preferences > Disable auto-renewal.

Get to know more in our TotalAV review.

2. Bitdefender – powerful renewal-free antivirus with multiple plans

Bitdefender

1

9.6

/10

Visit Bitdefender

Pros & cons

• Turn off auto-renewal after buying the antivirus
• Has a free version
• Offers an extensive list of features

• Free version lacks key antivirus features (virus scanner only)

Bitdefender is a great antivirus without auto-renewal because it offers long-term subscriptions that you can easily disable renewal for as soon as you purchase it.

When I checked the latest AV-TEST results and performed my own malware protection tests, I found that Bitdefender is very similar to TotalAV in this area. It received perfect 100% scores in independent lab tests and managed to block 8 out of 10 threats I tested.

As for features, I liked that Bitdefender offers almost all features with the Antivirus Plus plan. You get a VPN, a password manager, ransomware and real-time protection, and more. Not to mention the interface made me realize that this antivirus is created with beginners in mind. I didn’t see a noticeable impact on system performance either.

The reason I placed it after TotalAV was mainly the price point, which is more expensive for the same number of devices.

You can disable auto-renewal for Bitdefender by logging into your Bitdefender account, go to My Subscriptions > My Payments > View details > Manage your subscription renewal options > End Auto-Renewal.

Get to know more from our Bitdefender review.

3. Norton 360 – renewal-free antivirus with advanced features

Norton 360

1

9.5

/10

Visit Norton 360

Pros & cons

• Easy to opt-out of auto-renewal
• Includes VPN and tracker protection
• Includes a password manager and a firewall

• There’s no free version

Norton 360 is a well-known name in the antivirus software market and for good reason. It is considered one of the best due to its comprehensive protection against malware, viruses, ransomware, and other cyber threats.

What I noticed throughout my research is that Norton continuously gets the highest results on independent lab tests like AV-TEST. Meanwhile, throughout my own tests, I was able to verify its effectiveness and found a success rate of all 10 malicious files being blocked.

The antivirus offers many advanced features such as real-time threat detection, proactive malware scanning, and a powerful firewall to safeguard your devices and personal information.

What caught my eye was how well-rounded the security and privacy tool suite was, including such features as a secure VPN, password manager, and cloud backup.

You can get the antivirus starting from $29.99/year per year with a money-back guarantee of 60 days.

The reason Norton stood out for me was that you can disable auto-renewal as soon as you add the product to the shopping cart. Alternatively, you can sign into your account and go to My Account > My Subscriptions > Cancel Subscription Renewal or Manage Renewal.

Get to know more from our Norton antivirus review.

4. NordVPN Threat Protection Pro – renewal-free secure browsing antivirus

NordVPN Threat Protection

1

9.6

/10

Visit NordVPN Threat Protection

Pros & cons

• You can easily disable auto-renewal
• Doubles as a VPN application
• Keeps you safe from trackers

• No real-time protection
• No free version

NordVPN has built a reputation as a powerful VPN, but it also offers the NordVPN Threat Protection Pro feature. It’s often endorsed by content creators due to its simple and easy method of disabling auto-renewal subscriptions and security features.

While NordVPN Threat Protection Pro isn’t a full-fledged antivirus, the AV-TEST 2024 report shows an 83.42% threat protection rate. My tests showed even better results, blocking 9 out of 10 threats I tested it with.

The antivirus/VPN stands out for its user-friendly interface – users are met with a simple “Quick Connect” button upon launch, and the service maintains a strict no-log policy, ensuring that your browsing history and personal information are not stored.

As it's primarily a VPN, NordVPN doesn’t have a lot of the antivirus features that you’d expect from other top applications. However, with plans starting from $2.99/month, it’s a really good value option on a budget.

To opt out of auto-renewal, all you have to do is open your account, go to Billing > Subscriptions, and click Cancel by Auto-renewal.

Learn more in our in-depth review of NordVPN.

5. Surfshark Antivirus – antivirus without auto-renewal that sends reminders to prevent automatic subscription

Surfshark Antivirus

1

9.5

/10

Visit Surfshark Antivirus

Pros & cons

• Sends reminders before auto-renewal date
• Includes a VPN
• Offers many different features for protection against cybersecurity threats

• Doesn’t have a trial version on Windows
• No firewall protection

Surfshark is another antivirus with a VPN that has one of the best auto-renewal opt-out policies of any service out there. You get a reminder before your billing date to make sure there are no accidental charges on your account. But if you still want to stop renewals earlier, contact the support team and they’ll provide you with a unique link.

I checked the latest independent lab tests of Surfshark Antivirus, and AV-TEST showed a nearly perfect score of 96%. While the security and usability areas were perfect, the usability part was what received lower points.

My own tests showed a 90% success rate. I downloaded 10 threats to test Surfshark Antivirus and it managed to block all of them.

This antivirus also comes with additional features, like ad-blocking, malware protection, phishing protection, and a built-in kill switch for enhanced security. Then, there’s also the Surfshark VPN. With a vast network of servers spread across numerous countries, it allows users to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from around the world with just one click.

The most basic plan offered by Surfshark Antivirus starts from $2.69/month, making it an excellent value option.

Read more in our Surfshark VPN review.

Comparison of best antiviruses without auto-renewal

How we tested these antiviruses

I researched the antivirus market and performed meticulous testing on each service to find the best options without auto-renewal. Here are the selection criteria I took into consideration based on their importance:

• Renewal terms – 30%. I installed each antivirus and checked the subscription terms to see if it had auto-renewal enabled by default. My list includes antiviruses that allow easily disabling renewals.
• Independent testing – 30%. I reviewed the independent laboratory, such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, test results. Only antiviruses with at least 80% protection scores made the final list.
• Malware detection – 20%. To test the platform’s efficiency, I didn’t just rely on independent testing. I also ran my own in-house malware removal tests, downloading test malware and running them through each antivirus to measure their security.
• Features – 20% . Whatever antivirus you’re looking for subscription-wise, it should still have the essential features to protect your devices. So, I looked for additional perks, such as VPNs, ad blockers, secure online banking, and others.

Is it necessary to renew your antivirus subscription?

Auto-renewal is helpful to maintain uninterrupted protection for your devices. So, here are the main reasons you should consider renewing your antivirus subscription:

• Antivirus access cutoff. If you’re using an antivirus that doesn’t offer a free version, you’ll instantly lose access to its functionalities.
• No more threat protection. Once your antivirus subscription expires, you’re no longer protected from malware, such as viruses, adware, browser hijackers, and ransomware.
• Feature downgrade. If the antivirus you’re using offers a free plan, you’ll be able to use the basic antivirus version. It means you’ll lose access to additional features, usually the VPN, password manager, or other perks the service offers.
• Lack of updates. When the antivirus expires, it won’t get updated even if access isn’t cut off. Without updates, the software can quickly become outdated and fail to protect from the latest threats.
• No support. Most antivirus services will only provide you with support if you have an active subscription.

How can I turn off antivirus auto-renewal?

If you’re using reliable antivirus software, opting out of auto-renewal should be easy to do. The process differs based on the service, so if you can’t locate it, reach out to the customer support team or search for the specific guide in their knowledge base.

Let’s take a look at how to disable auto-renewal on TotalAV as an example:

1. Log into your account on the TotalAV website.
2. Go to Account > My Billing.
3. Click on Manage > Manage Billing Preferences.
4. Click on Disable to turn off auto-renewal.

Should I get an antivirus without auto-renewal?

Getting an antivirus without auto-renewal can be beneficial if you want to manage your subscription and avoid unexpected charges. Not to mention that some providers aren’t always clear and transparent with the higher prices after renewal.

However, auto-renewal has many benefits, including uninterrupted threat protection and continuous access to comprehensive protection features. This includes such functionalities as a VPN, password manager, or dark web monitoring.

My best recommendation is TotalAV. It offers flexible subscription options with easy auto-renewal opt-out methods and showed remarkable results in independent lab tests. That being said, all of the antiviruses in my list are some of the best services the market has to offer, and the right one for you will depend on the features you need.