An antivirus lab’s “Top Product” award means a product met that lab’s scoring threshold in a defined set of tests. It is useful evidence about the tested product, platform and period—not a universal ranking, a guarantee of future protection or proof that it is the right choice for every person.
What AV-TEST’s “TOP PRODUCT” badge measures
For its current Windows home-user results, AV-TEST scores products in three categories: Protection, Performance and Usability. Each category contributes up to 6 points, for a maximum of 18. A product earns the AV-TEST seal of approval at 10 points or more; “TOP PRODUCT” requires at least 17.5 points. AV-TEST’s Windows results and its certification criteria describe those thresholds.
The badge is therefore a high-total award across those categories in a particular test cycle. It is not necessarily a first-place medal: multiple products can reach the same threshold. Read it alongside the result’s cycle, product name and tested version. AV-TEST says it tests the most current publicly available version of each product in the reported test; a result does not automatically describe every release or platform.
AV-TEST lists Windows testing as monthly, with results published every two months. It also says certificate-use rights expire no later than one year after the testing contract ends. A badge seen on a product page is best understood by checking the corresponding current result, rather than assuming it represents a perpetual or platform-wide endorsement.
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Why another lab’s award may mean something different
“Top Product” is not a shared standard across antivirus labs. The lab name and exact award title matter, because each organization defines its own tests, scoring and awards.
AV-Comparatives’ Product of the Year
In its 2024 consumer annual report, AV-Comparatives says its individual-test Gold, Silver and Bronze awards go to the first-, second- and third-highest-scoring products in each test type. Its Product of the Year award instead goes to the product with the highest overall scores across the Public Consumer Main-Test Series. The overall winner need not have the highest score in any single test. The lab cautions that this award does not mean a product is best for everyone or in every case. AV-Comparatives’ 2024 Summary Report explains the distinctions.
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AV-Comparatives’ Top-Rated Product
AV-Comparatives used a separate accumulated-points system for its 2025 Top-Rated Product award, described in its 2025 Summary Report, published in 2026. In that report, Tested earns 0 points, Standard 5, Advanced 10 and Advanced+ 15; products with 90 points or more receive Top-Rated status. Those figures belong to AV-Comparatives’ 2025 scoring rules, not AV-TEST’s 17.5-out-of-18 threshold. The 2025 Summary Report sets out the system.
For that reason, do not compare score totals from different labs as if they were on one scale. Name the lab, award and report year when interpreting a badge.
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What an award does—and does not—cover
Every result has a scope. For example, AV-Comparatives’ February–March 2026 consumer Real-World Protection factsheet describes a Windows test with 200 cases, online/cloud connectivity, updates allowed and a false-alarm test. It gives a release date of 15 April 2026 and a revision date of 7 April 2026. Those details illustrate why a result should be read with its platform, test period and setup in view; they do not establish performance on other platforms or future product versions. The February–March 2026 factsheet states the test scope.
A strong lab result is evidence of measured performance under the lab’s stated conditions. It cannot establish that a product will prevent every threat, keep performing the same way in future tests, or suit a particular user’s needs. AV-Comparatives also says its awards are based on test results and do not assess factors such as interface languages, price or support options. Those practical considerations require separate evaluation, including whether the product works for the reader’s own needs.
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How to use a “Top Product” award when comparing antivirus
Treat the badge as a reason to inspect a result, not as a shortcut to a purchase decision. For each candidate, check these details:
- Lab and award: identify the testing organization, exact award name and report year.
- Tested product and version: confirm the product named in the results and the version tested.
- Platform and period: check the operating system and test cycle; do not transfer a result to an untested platform or later release without evidence.
- What was measured: review the relevant protection, performance, usability or false-alarm results rather than relying only on the badge.
- Your practical requirements: assess price, language availability, support and fit separately, since the award may not measure them.
Two award-winning products can both have passed their respective labs’ criteria while having been tested on different scales or under different conditions. Their badges alone cannot tell you which one is better for your situation.
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