Bitdefender is my favorite cloud antivirusthanks to its flawless malware detection and comprehensive suite of extra security features.
That said, any of the antiviruses on my list offer significantly more protection than any built-in antivirus engines.
Whats more, each leverages cloud infrastructure to deliver efficient protection with added security.
Even after several tests, Bitdefender consistently scored a 100% malware detection rate.
This applied to both manual scans and real-time malware protection.
The notification screen can be used to manage blocked sites and offers a one-click whitelisting option.
I appreciated this after struggling with countless competitors who often bury this basic feature in complex controls.
Safepay, Bitdefenders secure web net net app, is an excellent tool.
It also has a virtual keyboard to stop keyloggers and includes built-in VPN protection.
I found it intuitive to use and a great way to safely manage my online transactions.
The VPN works great but it has a significant weakness.
Its also expanding its feature set with the introduction of double-hop servers.
Still, its limited to just 200 MB of data per day on all but the most expensive plan.
Bitdefender has several affordable plans, starting with the entry-levelAntivirus Plus.
Bottom Line:
Bitdefender offers a powerful cloud-based scanner with excellent detection rates.
you might try it out for yourself by making the most of the 30-day money-back guarantee.
TotalAVs features include:
WebShield is TotalAVs dedicated anti-phishing tool.
It combines a comprehensive list of websites known to be dangerous with AI-driven detection.
The VPN that TotalAV offers is thebest antivirus-bundled VPNon the market.
Im also a fan of TotalAVs system optimization tools.
I used it on my old laptop and noticed a decent boost to its performance.
TotalAVs premium plans start at IDR322,140 / year for thePremiumplan.
It covers 8 devices and includes all of TotalAVs features for IDR830,760 / year.
TotalAV is definitely the most intuitive cloud-based antivirus Ive tested.
Its simple layout is perfect for beginners who want an easy-to-use antivirus without sacrificing their security.
At 99.6%, its malware detection rate is among the best.
On top of that, the gadget optimization tools are effective, and the unlimited-data VPN is solid.
Its also great that it comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Its super easy and cost-effective to run scans and manage features across a large number of devices.
The malware scanner included with McAfee is top-tier, scoring a perfect 100% in my tests.
McAfees Safe Family app provides an array of useful parental control features.
The firewall provides a robust layer of web connection protection.
Essential,McAfees entry-level plan, offers basic protection on up to 5 devices for IDR678,000 / year.
Its a good start but thePremiumfamily package is my favorite.
All plans come with a helpful 30-day money-back guarantee.
Security-wise, its got flawless malware detection, anti-phishing protection, and a reliable firewall.
Aside from the scanner, Avira comes with:
Aviras system optimization tools were particularly impressive.
They performed well, cleaning up over 1 GB of junk files and helping manage my startup apps.
These tools were effective even on my older laptop.
While not quite at the same level asTotalAVs, Aviras VPN is still commendable.
It uses 256-bit AES encryption and has a secure no-logs policy to ensure your data truly stays private.
The top-tier plan, AviraPrime, offers a lot of value for IDR1,017,090 / year.
Theres also a solid entry-level plan,Antivirus Pro,for IDR457,600 / year.
All of Aviras plans come with a pretty generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
Avira is a solid antivirus that delivers excellent protection from the cloud.
The malware database expands as the AI learns more about how to detect zero-day threats.
Whats more, Avira has excellent optimization tools, a decent VPN, a password manager, and more.
Plans are affordable and come with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
Like most of my top picks, it had a perfect malware detection rate during my tests.
All this means that it can keep you safe from malware without slowing down your system.
Like other great cloud-based antiviruses, Kaspersky comes with a VPN.
Safe Money is Kasperskys secure web client.
Its designed for online transactions and works great for that purpose, adding extra security.
It scans for rootkits, untrusted modules, and invalid certificates when you visit banking or shopping sites.
Kaspersky has several plans, but I think KasperskyPremiumoffers the most value.
However, at the moment, customers in the US cant purchase Kaspersky due to regulatory restrictions.
Plans come backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
A cloud-based antivirus operates online to protect your devices from malware.
Rather than storing and running software locally on your gear, it operates from a remote server, i.e.
One significant advantage of cloud-based antiviruses is that theyre lightweight, meaning they barely use up any devices resources.
As a result, scans wont slow your gear down.
Another benefit is that you might manage your machine even if it isnt physically present.
This is great in the event of theft or loss.
They also update automatically, ensuring youre protected against the latest threats without having to manually refresh your software.
This means you cant accidentally forget to tune up your engine and become vulnerable because youre using outdated software.
There isnt much of a price difference between cloud-based and traditional antiviruses.
There used to be, but those days are in the past.
How Do Cloud-Based Antiviruses Work?
Cloud antiviruses take the strain off your unit while improving your security.
This is in contrast to traditional antiviruses which require your own machine to do all of this.
Afterward, the results are sent back to your rig.
On the surface, cloud-based antiviruses look like regular antiviruses.
You also interact with them in more or less the same way.
Cloud-Based Antivirus vs.
Traditional Antivirus: Which Is Better?
Generally, cloud-based antiviruses are better than traditional antiviruses.
The only real downside of cloud-based tools is the possibility that they may conflict with other cloud-based programs.
Its rare, but it happens.
However, the advantages very clearly outweigh this one minor downside.
For example,Bitdefenders cloud-based scanner starts as low as IDR593,230 / year.
On top of that, they offer better performance since they dont slow down your rig.
see to it to properly configure any cloud-based applications youre running simultaneously.
What is a cloud?
A cloud is a means of using services through the internet.
This means that services run through the clouddont slow down your PC very much at all.
Cloud-based antiviruses take advantage of cloud technology so that resource-heavy processes are handled online, without taxing your system.
Can a cloud be hacked?
Yes, but its nearly impossible if it has strong protection.
That said, the chances of your cloud-based antivirus being hacked are almost nonexistent.
Whats the best cloud-based antivirus?
Bitdefenderis my favorite cloud-based antivirus in 2025.
It has a lot more going for it, so its worthreading all about it here.