Trust is the most important currency we have. We do not accept payment to alter our reviews, scores, or rankings. Below are the 5 pillars of our editorial standards.
1. Editorial Independence
Our editorial team operates completely independently from our business and marketing teams.
- No Pay-for-Play: Software companies cannot pay to be included in our "Best of" lists or to receive a higher score.
- No Pre-Approvals: We never allow companies to read, edit, or approve our reviews before they are published.
2. Rigorous Testing Methodology
We do not write reviews based on press releases. We personally install and test every product we cover.
- Independent Labs: We cross-reference our findings with data from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
- Real-World Simulation: We test responsiveness, identifying false positives, and impact on system speed (gaming/streaming).
3. Affiliate Transparency
BestAntivirus2026 is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links.
The Bottom Line: This funding model allows us to keep our content free. It does NOT affect which products we recommend. If a product is bad, we will tell you, even if it pays a high commission.
4. Frequent Updates
Security software changes fast. A review from 2024 is useless in 2026. We commit to auditing our core "Best of" guides quarterly to ensure pricing, features, and scores reflect the current state of the market.
5. Corrections & Accountability
We are humans, and we make mistakes. If we get a fact wrong, we will fix it transparently.
See an error? Contact us immediately.