How To Create & Develop an App in 2024
Top Mobile App Development Companies In India
If you've ever used a smartphone, you'll know that apps are crucial for online payments, booking hotels, chatting with friends, and ordering food delivery. This convenience is made possible by the expertise of mobile developers, who combine logical thinking with creative problem-solving. Mobile app development involves creating multimedia components like graphics, music, and videos, making it a complex yet essential service.
Businesses worldwide, both small and large, recognize the need for apps as a marketing channel. Indian app development agencies offer competitive pricing due to lower living costs while delivering high-quality results that rival top global services. We'll highlight the top mobile app development companies in India, covering cross-platform, Android, and iOS development. Stay tuned for insights on the latest trends and tips on choosing the best partner for your mobile development needs.
Top Mobile App Development Companies in IndiaSo, have you been wondering where to find the top mobile app development companies in India? We've done all the heavy lifting for you to determine the best app development agencies, highlighting their key services, location, and contact description. Let's dive right in!
1. EFlair WebTech
Key Services: native Android & iOS mobile development, UI/UX design, SaaS applications
Location: India
Contact email: info@eflairwebtech.Com
eFlair WebTech gracefully secures the top spot in our list of top mobile app development companies in India for its professional services with a personal approach that won't break the bank. With a tight-knit team, they excel in app development and UI/UX design, meticulously catering to your needs, no matter how specific they may be. Their skilled professionals master diverse web and app development skills, mastering technological solutions such as Flutter, React JS, and other modern frameworks. Beyond creation, eFlair aids in launch, handling hosting and marketing. With offices in the USA and India, they offer international support and smart workflows. At just $25 per hour, eFlair's overall quality, attentiveness, and an unbeatable price make their app development a clear go-to choice.
2. Appinventiv
Key Services: iOS app development, blockchain development, desktop software development, Android app development
Location: India
Contact email: fin@appinventiv.Com
Appinventiv, one of the leading Android app development companies, crafts exceptional mobile apps with intuitive interfaces to tackle business challenges and drive growth. Boasting a portfolio of 1000+ successful projects, they offer tailored solutions meeting diverse client needs. Since their establishment in 2014, Appinventiv's expert services, including iOS and Android app development, blockchain, and software solutions, have attracted major clients like IKEA, Adidas, and KPMG. With an average hourly rate of $25-$49, they cater to projects starting at $50,000+, operating across the US, India, UAE, UK, and Australia.
3. RipenApps
Key Services: MVP development, web development, mobile app development, UI/UX design, development consultation
Location: India
Contact email: info@ripenapps.Com
RipenApps Technologies stands as a premier web and mobile app development company, delivering cutting-edge digital solutions across diverse business sectors. With a team of 150+ certified developers adept in top technologies, they've successfully completed 1200+ projects for 850+ clients worldwide. Operating in the USA, UK, Europe, Australia, Germany, and India, RipenApps specializes in cost-effective, high-quality business solutions that empower startups and enterprises in a fiercely competitive market.
4. Peerbits
Key Services: mobile app development, DevOps, web development, software development
Location: India
Contact email: info@peerbits.Com
Peerbits, an Indian custom software development firm and one of the top Android app development companies, has pioneered innovative solutions for businesses and startups over a decade. Their web and mobile apps showcase top-tier quality and technological excellence, effectively meeting client needs. Boasting a team of 180+ skilled mobile app developers and IT experts, they've successfully completed 750+ premium projects, distinguishing themselves as one of the leading Indian app development agencies.
5. Intellectsoft
Key Services: mobile development, custom software development, QA & testing, web development, custom software development, product engineering
Location: India
Contact email: info@intellectsoft.Net
Intellectsoft stands out among the best app developers in India, offering high-quality solutions to diverse ventures. Their expertise spans sectors like healthcare, dental, insurance, banking, and fintech, showcasing their prowess in web and mobile app development. Dedicated to resolving complex enterprise challenges and accelerating tech adoption, they've earned accolades for their exceptional work in the industry.
6. MindInventory
Key Services: android app development, iOS app development, DevOps services, on-demand solutions
Location: India
Contact email: sales@mindinventory.Com
For top-tier custom web and mobile app development in India, MindInventory stands out. With proven methodologies, they've gained extensive expertise across various sectors, earning global recognition. Offering a range of services including iPhone, Android, Flutter, and React Native app development, their decade-long presence in the industry has led to 1600+ satisfied clients and 2500+ successful projects, solidifying their position as a premier mobile app development firm in India.
7. Chetu Inc.
Key Services: application maintenance, DevOps, implementation & deployment, API development, application development
Location: India
Contact email: sales@chetu.Com
Chetu Inc. Ranks among the top mobile app development companies in India, excelling in custom web and mobile solutions that accelerate business growth. Backed by a skilled team, they provide quality services to enhance businesses through feature-rich UI mobile apps. With a robust portfolio, they've delivered over 20,000 apps, solidifying their position as a premier mobile app development company in India.
8. MobileCoderz
Key Services: Android app development, blockchain app development, iPhone app development, Flutter app development, IoT app development
Location: India
Contact email: hello@mobilecoderz.Com
MobileCoderz stands out as one of the top mobile app development companies in India, swiftly rising through its provision of world-class solutions to businesses. Their accomplished team of dedicated tech professionals has successfully completed over 500 projects. With an experience exceeding 7 years, they offer a diverse range of native and cross-platform mobile development services in India, covering Android, iOS, and more. Bolstered by flexible hiring models, certified experts, and rigorously evaluated developers, they have firmly entrenched themselves among India's top mobile app development companies.
9. Hidden Brains Infotech
Key Services: mobile app development, open-source development, web application development, front-end development, UI/UX design, Microsoft development
Location: India
Contact email: contact@hiddenbrains.Com
Hidden Brains, a renowned Indian mobile app development company, specializes in creating robust and feature-rich mobile apps. With a track record spanning diverse sectors like Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Fintech, Banking, Logistics, Media, and Entertainment, they consistently deliver top-tier solutions. Their proficient experts and app developers prioritize client requirements, ensuring successful outcomes through meticulous measures.
10. Space-O Technologies
Key Services: web and mobile app development, software development
Location: India
Contact email: sales@spaceotechnologies.Com
Space-O Technologies stands as a premier mobile app development company in India, crafting engaging, high-quality apps that meet audience needs and business requirements. With a seasoned team of mobile app developers, they've successfully delivered 4400+ custom Android and iOS apps. Elevating client experience, they offer a range of services including iPhone, iPad, and Android app development.
Mobile App Development – An IntroductionAre you new to the world of mobile app development? Sit back and enjoy the ride as we take you from A to Z of both native and cross-platform mobile development alike.
Types of Mobile Applications
Based on OS compatibility, we can classify mobile apps into the following 3 categories:
Native apps: These types of apps were designed to run on the targeted platform only.
Web apps: These types of apps can generally be accessed from any device that has a modern browser installed.
Hybrid apps: Hybrid apps have a native app shell; the benefit is that you only have to code them once and you will have an app for both of the platforms you're targeting.
Popular Development PlatformsAt the moment, Android and iOS reign supreme as the most popular mobile operating systems. Whether it be native or Cross-platform mobile development, the following development platforms have been increasingly popular recently:
Most iOS and Android app development companies have a streamlined development process to maximize efficiency and save time. The development process phases can be described as follows:
1.Planning: This is where ideas are being discussed and put on the table.
2.Design: Once agreed on the direction to take, the developers will map out each section of the app and what it's supposed to accomplish.
3.Development: When the blueprint is ready, development can finally begin, essentially "filling in the holes" by crafting multimedia elements and code.
4.Testing: Since the initial version of the app is likely to have bugs, it's important to test it out thoroughly and thus identify and eliminate them prior to launch.
5.Deployment: The top mobile app development companies in India will only deploy the app once all the features have been implemented and all the bugs have been ironed out.
6.Maintenance: Launching your app is an essential milestone, but it's by no means the end of development. Over time, security vulnerabilities may emerge that need patching, or there may be compliance requirements to keep your app listed in the official marketplace.
Key factors affecting the choice of the development companyTo discover the top mobile app development companies in India, give each of them a thorough background check while focusing on the following:
Just like other forms of mobile development, working with Indian app development agencies comes with certain pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Initially, mobile apps were being developed for smartphones, but nowadays, smart wearables have joined the roster. These are the gizmos that measure your footsteps, blood pressure, and even give you custom-tailored health recommendations based on their readings. We've also seen an increase in popularity in mobile wallets, cloud-based apps, IoT apps, as well as apps that heavily utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Government support and regulatory compliance
For an app to be compliant with regulatory guidelines, it has to respect its users' privacy. As a general rule of thumb, asking for more access permissions than necessary should be avoided, and any security vulnerabilities should be addressed. If collecting sensitive personal data is required to provide essential functionality (such as credit card details to initiate a payment), it should be stored securely; moreover, encryption should be utilized. In addition, an app should have a privacy policy and terms of service section.
Market challenges and business strategies
Regulatory compliance is only one obstacle to overcome when launching an app - it should also be compliant with the guidelines of whatever app store you're going to be publishing it to. Note that these requirements may be amended over time, requiring the publisher to update their apps accordingly or face potential removal from the app store.
Future projections and growth potential
Until the year of 2027, the Indian mobile market is projected to grow at about 10% per year. This means that there is still time to capitalize on this great opportunity to tap into a blooming market, essentially putting your business on the map to be discovered through a potent marketing channel that is the online app marketplace, whether you're targeting the local keywords in your language or going after the global ones.
ConclusionWith all that being laid out in the open, the takeaway is that the app marketplace is in a state of bloom, whether it be on a local level or globally and it's not too late to grab your piece of the mobile app development pie. In fact, there's still so many opportunities that haven't been capitalized on, and by having your own custom-tailored app developed, this could be the difference you need to take your business to a whole new level and explode your traffic metrics.
FAQs1. What are the different types of mobile app development services offered by companies in India?
Native, hybrid, and web development if we were to categorize by OS compatibility alone. Then, there are other classifications that cater to different needs, such as game development, eCommerce development, and similar.
2. How do I choose the right mobile app development company in India for my project?
Follow the best practices outlined above. Give priority to those with experience, technological mastery, streamlined methodology, great reviews, affordable pricing, etc.
3. Is outsourcing mobile app development to India cost-effective?
Indeed! In fact, it's one of the most affordable ways to develop an app, bringing you the best combination of price and quality.
4. What are the latest trends in mobile app development in India?
The mobile app market is on a continuous upward trend, growing by more than 10% every year.
5. Are there any legal or compliance considerations when working with Indian mobile app development companies?
Make sure to sign a legally-binding contract that clearly outlines each contractual party's responsibilities and obligations. If handling sensitive personal data, the app should encrypt it safely and store it in-line with the latest industry best practices.
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Game Developers Caught In Apple-Tencent Crossfire
Tencent's WeChat is a mega app with 1 billion monthly active users
Photo by Adem AY on UnsplashOn its recent August 15 earnings call, Chinese tech giant Tencent acknowledged an issue facing gaming developers worldwide: Apple's demand to close all payment loopholes.
According to various reports in the media, Apple had been ramping up pressure on domestic companies like Tencent and Bytedance to shut down such means of evasion. According to sources close to the matter, these terms had been accepted but additional issues over in-game chat, which has also been used to provide alternate payment links, were still unresolved.
China is a mobile-first economy. In 2023, users spent 1.2 trillion hours on mobile apps. Conglomerates like Tencent and ByteDance dominate internet content, owning fashion favourites WeChat and Douyin respectively, as well as hosting thousands of gaming and app titles such as Ohhh! Sheep, Snake Endless Wars, and Catching Geese. Thanks to fashion content makers, Douyin has flourished while WeChat, a mega app with 1 billion monthly active users, is ingrained in the daily lives of Chinese consumers.
Brands rely heavily on WeChat's ecosystem especially for everything from marketing and customer engagement to sales and payments, says Arnold Ma, CEO of digital agency Qumin. A disruption of this magnitude could hamper their ability to reach and interact with consumers, eventually leading, presumably, to "a significant decline in sales and brand visibility." Private traffic and clienteling on these apps, as well as Xiaohongshu, generate substantial revenue for fashion and retail brands. While Apple hasn't explicitly targeted fashion and retail apps yet, the ongoing issue with gaming programs raises concerns. "The loss of WeChat's clienteling capabilities would further complicate matters, as brands would struggle to maintain personalized relationships with their high-value and VIP shoppers," he explains.
Player view of popular game Ohhh! Sheep
Ohhh! Sheep gameAccording to veteran games developer Kelly Vero, platform control has a substantial impact on developers. In a correspondence, she outlines that as a developer, navigating the complexities of this can be challenging. Vero, who works extensively with fashion and gaming companies in China and Europe, says that "the 30% commission imposed by Apple significantly reduces the margins" for developers, especially independent studios, forcing them to rethink their pricing models and revenue strategies "just to stay afloat."
Vero explains: "In regions like China, where alternative payment methods are more common, Apple's insistence on controlling all transactions not only stifles innovation but also limits our ability to connect directly with our player base."
The issue has other implications for fashion. As she points out, any in-game wearables must be purchased through Apple and Google. This means that up-and-coming brands—fashion or otherwise—who want exposure through certain outlets might lose revenue due to the fees.
Netizens are not happy, and online backlash in China may hinder Apple's strategy. Developers and users alike had been railing against the "Apple tax" monopoly (as it is known in the country). This refers to fees on developers and is different around the world. In China, it stands at 30%—much higher than the global average. The Weibo hashtag #AppleWeChatUpdate currently has 44.64 million views and 110,000 engagements.
Apple's sleek minimal design initially made a splash in Greater China when the company entered the market in 2008. At the time, products even became collectables sought by Chinese millennials, markers, even, of China's globalization. Since that time, R&D by domestic firms like Huawei, Vivo, and Xiaomi now means they can offer better-priced alternatives at a time when "national pride" is underpinning consumption prices.
Against such fierce local competition and innovation, Apple's China story makes for an interesting benchmark.
Despite fluctuating results over the last number of years, the country still accounts for 30% of its market share. Rich Bishop, the Beijing-based CEO of leading software publisher AppinChina, is bullish on Apple's appeal there—despite earning results showing sales have decreased even more than analysts predicted in the third quarter, at 6.5% to $14.73 billion, and Apple falling out of the country's top five smartphone sellers. On a call, he suggests that sales drops can be attributed to a "global downturn, people upgrading less frequently, and so on." Apple, as far as he's concerned, is still doing well in China and consumers will continue to spend "a good chunk of their monthly income on iPhones." Tim Cook called China "the most competitive market in the world" on the earnings call in May.
Still, in the same month, Apple won its legal battle in a Shanghai court over the issue of app store fees in a case dating to 2021.
But a decision by Apple to change its policy for EU developers earlier this month highlights the market disparity of these charges. In June, the Commission for the European Union charged Apple with breaching the bloc's tech rules. This has resulted in the introduction of a two-tier system: an initial 5% acquisition fee for new users and a 10 % store services fee for any sales made by consumers on any platform within 12 months of the app installation.
This begs the question as to why the percentage is substantially higher in China than elsewhere. Vero agrees the ongoing disputes between Apple and major companies (like Douyin and ByteDance) highlight a critical issue in the industry: the lack of a fair and universally accepted standard for app store fees. "As developers, we need a system that balances platform support with reasonable costs. A broader market consensus on this issue could lead to a more sustainable environment for developers worldwide, allowing us to focus on what truly matters—creating great games and apps for our consumers," she says.
According to the Business of Apps site, the Chinese app market made $52 billion in revenue in 2023—a decline from 2021 and 2022—with 113 billion downloads. Earlier this week, Tencent's fintech and business services division (which includes the WeChat Pay mobile payments feature) saw revenue rise 4% year-on-year to RMB 50.4 billion. It is, by all accounts, a substantial business.
Blocking app updates benefits neither party, Bishop agrees. That doesn't make it impossible; several apps have already been removed. In April, Apple had to take down both WhatsApp and Threads from the China app store over security concerns. Tencent's Chief Strategy Officer, James Mitchell, said on the earnings call it was a discussion that was underway and expressed the desire for this to lead to a "positive outcome."
Currently, Tencent and ByteDance, unlike Apple, do not charge developers fees. While both Apple and Tencent were unavailable for comment, Mitchell confirmed that "I think it would be in our interests and Apple's interests, but more so for the game developers' and users' interests if that monetization were made available." But he wants to make it available on terms that are "economically sustainable and that are also fair."
Shenzhen-based Tencent is a leading games producer in China
Photo by Donald Wu on UnsplashBest Free And Paid-for Mobile Antivirus Apps
Mobile antivirus can help protect you against phishing scams, where criminals trick you into clicking a dodgy link and revealing your personal details on a fake website. We checked its effectiveness when we put free and paid-for mobile antivirus apps through our lab tests and compared them against the built-in security that comes with Apple and Android phones.
We subject each mobile antivirus app to at least 200 of the most up-to-date known phishing sites on the internet. All the mobile antivirus apps we tested were better at detecting phishing sites than the built-in protection from Apple and Android. However, Apple wasn't far off our lowest-scoring app on test, F-Secure Total.
Below, we reveal the percentage detection rate of the best free, best paid-for and worst overall third-party mobile antivirus apps, compared with the basic built-in protection of iOS and Android.
Scroll down to discover which mobile antivirus was best.
Need antivirus for your laptop or desktop PC? Check out our pick of the best antivirus, including free antivirus.
Best free mobile antivirusEven though it will cost you nothing, the best free mobile antivirus app in our tests is really effective at flagging phishing sites and handling any malware before it causes damage.
Malware is less of an issue for phones than PCs, particularly for Apple iPhones, but that doesn't mean the threat won't increase. We tested all the mobile antivirus on Android phones, as they are more targeted by malware threats.
Based on the software we tested, you can save up to £40 annually by opting for a free antivirus app. The most expensive antivirus we tested was among the lowest-scoring. By contrast, the top-scoring free antivirus app was the second highest-scoring overall – a single percentage point behind the leader, which is a paid-for mobile antivirus app.
The main disadvantage of free antivirus apps is that they're typically littered with in-app ads, usually highlighting paid-for alternatives. This can make free software a chore to use. Our testing criteria take this into account, and we list the level of ads present and how intrusive they are. Our Best Buy free mobile antivirus app doesn't have this problem.
When compared with paid-for equivalents, free antivirus tends to lack additional features, such as a password manager or anti-theft functions. This shouldn't be a deal breaker as you can usually separately download similar features for free.
Scroll past our table to find out more about the software rated the best in our tests.
A note on our tests: We test all mobile antivirus on Android phones as they're more targeted by malware threats. Malware aimed at Apple iOS (the iPhone operating system) is exceptionally rare.
All the software we tested can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play store.
Our lab tests reveal your phone is a tempting targetCallum Pears, Which? Antivirus expert: 'We know that phones are a rich source of personal and private data, especially as more online tasks are migrated over to convenient and always on-hand mobile apps. Cyber criminals know this, too, and are likely expanding their attacks beyond computers to also target phones.
Our lab tests have shown that native built-in protections are far from flawless - see do mobile devices need antivirus. Preempting a potential rise in more sophisticated future attacks could save you from worrying later on. Selecting a quality mobile antivirus, even one of the top-notch free versions available, may be the best solution.
All of the mobile antivirus we've tested have been subjected to countless malware and phishing test pages in our lab, so we can assess their reaction and performance in tackling threats. We have granted free access to our lab results so you can prepare for a potential threat tomorrow, today.'
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Sophos Intercept X for Mobile, 87%, Best Buy, Great Value, freeSophos has produced a phenomenal free mobile antivirus app – it performed so well in our tests that it was just a single percentage point away from the best overall mobile antivirus we tested, a paid-for app.
Sophos Intercept X has superb and consistent anti-malware. It performs strongly against downloaded and installed threats, as well as those found on connected external devices, such as micro-SD cards. Its anti-malware is simple to understand, showing a simple dialog box with threat details and actions it has taken to handle or remove any malware.
Its anti-phishing capabilities are similarly strong. It successfully detected 84.5% of the phishing sites we threw at it. It acts by blocking and closing websites immediately and shows a warning dialog. It also only flagged two false positives.
The app is easy to use and navigate. The main screen shows your phone's security status and displays your options.
Despite being a free product, Intercept X has no ads and even includes a few extra features such as a password manager and a QR scanner. It also alerts you if any operating system update is available. This is often one of the best and easiest things to do to keep your device's native security up-to-date and ready to combat any threats.
If you're worried installing it will slow your phone down, don't be. All this has only a very minimal effect on your device's battery life.
Verdict: The best free mobile antivirus available
Our other free mobile antivirus results Avast Mobile Security for Android, 82%, freeAvast's free mobile antivirus impressed with excellent anti-malware, being more than 99% effective at countering downloaded and installed malware in our tests. It also performed capably with malware from externally connected devices, such as micro-SD cards – although this was slightly less effective.
The warning messages are detailed and provide various options for how to act. They are a tad small, however, and can be easily missed.
Phishing detection was similarly potent – it could successfully identify 78% of the phishing sites we subjected it to. The warning dialog box is descriptive and recommends leaving any suspect websites. But, crucially, it doesn't actively block it, leaving you with the choice on how to proceed.
It also came with one of the higher false positive rates we witnessed, with five wrongly flagged sites.
You will see ads, which isn't unexpected with a free mobile antivirus program. You see a promotion for paid-for equivalents during the initial download, plus some ads displayed in-app.
There are plenty of extra features, including a file scanner, photo vault, app manager, wi-fi speed tests and network inspector. You probably won't need these.
Avast's free mobile antivirus is quick and easy to install. The app's main menus and settings are easy to navigate and clear throughout. As with the other mobile antivirus we tested, it uses very little battery life.
Verdict: Excellent free protection
AVG Free Antivirus for Android, 82%, freeAVG's free software is another impressive antivirus. It deals with malware capably, combating more than 99% of downloaded and installed threats. It had a slightly weaker performance when scanning for malware from external devices, detecting just 94% of threats in our tests. Despite a slight drop in quality when it comes to external devices, the overall performance is still excellent, and it still works even when you aren't connected to the internet.
Its anti-phishing is great, although not as good as some other software on test. False positives were also on the high end - we recorded five false positives, which is among the most we saw.
It has a few extra features, notably a file scanner and photo vault to back up your personal pictures. Like most mobile antivirus we tested, its effect on your phone's battery life is minimal.
Some noticeable ads are peppered throughout, including promotions for AVG's paid-for antivirus. While these aren't too intrusive, they do set this AVG software apart from the higher-scoring Sophos Intercept X.
Verdict: Solid free mobile antivirus
Google Play Protect, 39%, built-in with AndroidThis is your base level of protection for Android devices. Unlike most free mobile antivirus, as it's built-in protection, there are no annoying ads.
Its anti-malware capabilities are limited compared with the mobile antivirus apps we tested. It can't scan and clean any external storage device that's connected and doesn't work if your phone isn't connected to the internet.
Anti-phishing is also fairly weak – it detected just over 30% of the phishing sites we threw at it. That's pretty poor and is easily beaten by all the third-party mobile antivirus we tested. It also flagged seven false positives, one of the highest rates we recorded in our tests.
Verdict: Base protection, nothing more
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Best antivirus for Android mobile paidAlthough excellent security isn't exclusive to paid-for antivirus, as seen with the best free mobile antivirus available – what sets them apart are the extra features they often come packaged with. These can include a VPN, password manager and a raft of anti-theft features. Although these are nice extra security goodies, they're not must-haves and are widely available for free elsewhere.
Make sure your mobile antivirus is worth your money by picking one of the best paid-for programs from our independent lab tests. Scroll past our table to find out more about the software we tested.
A note on our tests: We test all mobile antivirus on Android phones as they are more targeted by malware threats. Malware aimed at Apple iOS (the iPhone operating system) is exceptionally rare.
All prices listed are correct as of July 2024, based on the companies' own websites and rounded to the nearest 50p.
Need a new phone? See our expert pick of the best smartphones for all budgets
TrendMicro Mobile Security for Android, 88%, Best Buy, £20TrendMicro's Mobile Security is the best mobile antivirus we tested. It's a malware hunter, detecting and dealing with 100% of the malware we threw at it. That includes both downloaded/installed malware and those on infected external devices, such as SD cards.
This exceptional protection also doesn't require an internet connection, as it works even when your phone is offline.
Its phishing detection rate is also very strong, successfully recognising 82.5% of our phishing sites. It blocks malicious websites and shows a clear warning. This phenomenal protection also only resulted in a single false positive.
The app has a clear menu structure and intuitive navigation. You also get extra features, most notably, anti-theft features.
This mobile antivirus app uses more battery life than is typical for other mobile antivirus apps we tested, but it remains relatively minimal.
Verdict: The best mobile antivirus currently available
G Data Mobile Security for Android, 85%, Best Buy, £8This software performed exceptionally well with downloaded and installed software infected with malware, identifying 100% of the malicious software we used in our tests.
It also performed well with malware loaded to an external storage device, although in this instance, some small amounts of malware did hit the device.
It's excellent at spotting phishing sites, too, flagging an impressive 85.5% during our tests. That was the best phishing detection rate of any antivirus. And not a single false positive was flagged.
It's mainly easy to use, although some commands can be confusing. The warning messages could be clearer – especially for anti-malware, which could be easily missed and lacks in-depth details on any threats. Its phishing warning box is much clearer, however, and either blocks sites outright or requires you to respond if you want to continue to the suspect website.
The main disadvantage of this software's protection is that it's dependent on an internet connection. This means you may be susceptible to threats that initiate when your device isn't connected. However, potential malware threats will most likely come while surfing the internet, so this shouldn't be a major concern.
An array of extra features are included, such as anti-wipe counter measures, which prevent criminals wiping your personal data from your device. These extra features do mean this antivirus uses more battery life than is typical, although this remains relatively little.
Verdict: The best for anti-phishing
Other paid-for mobile antivirus app test results Eset Mobile Security, 82%, £9Eset Mobile Security only missed a tiny fraction of malware from external sources in our tests. This protection remains active even without an internet connection.
It proved more mediocre in our phishing detection tests, spotting just 68% of the sites we ran it through. This isn't terrible and is still more powerful than the best built-in protection, but it's easily eclipsed by other software on test, including our best free mobile antivirus.
Its a solid app to use, with the menus being clear and easy to navigate. The warnings it gives are expressive and provide a good level of detail. For phishing, it blocks the malicious sites and asks how you would like to proceed. It's sparse on features and also has no anti-theft abilities.
McAfee Mobile Security, 80%, £40 (rises after the first year)As one of the big antivirus names, expectations of McAfee will be high. Its mobile antivirus performed well in our malware tests, catching the vast majority of the malicious nasties we sent its way – although it wasn't flawless. This protection extends offline, too.
It sniffed out a respectable 79% of our phishing sites. This is good, although not as good as our best free mobile antivirus. It did have one false positive.
Its settings are easily accessible but could be clearer in places, especially with warning messages. While the phishing warnings are bold and clear, the malware warnings are notably less bold and can even be missed.
It's a bit lacking in extra features for a paid-for antivirus app, which is disappointing. You do get access to a VPN and safe browsing, though.
Norton Mobile Security for Android, 79%, £13 (rises after the first year)Norton, like McAfee, is another big player in the antivirus market. Its mobile antivirus is largely solid with strong anti-malware, being over 99% effective against the nasties we subjected it to in our tests.