Department

Software & Digital Services

The Institute’s third department. Software is scored on performance and security evidence — and on the companies behind it: where they are based, how they handle your data, and whether their renewal pricing is honest.

The Software Top 30

How the Top 30 works: every product below is first ranked inside its own subcategory (Top 10 maximum). The department’s flagship list then takes the strongest products across all five subcategories — 30 maximum, ranked on the same published ARI Score, so a VPN and a hosting plan can fairly share one list.

The VPNs winners together: the number one pick and the ARI Top Pick

★ #1 · NordVPNTop Pick · Proton VPN

Live · Top 10 published

VPNs

Virtual private networks ranked on speed, privacy practice, audits and the companies behind them.

Read the Top 10 →

The Password Managers winners together: the number one pick and the ARI Top Pick

★ #1 · 1PasswordTop Pick · Bitwarden

Live · Top 10 published

Password Managers

Password vaults ranked on security architecture, family plans and support.

Read the Top 10 →

The Antivirus Software winners together: the number one pick and the ARI Top Pick

★ #1 · Bitdefender Total SecurityTop Pick · Norton 360 Deluxe

Live · Top 10 published

Antivirus Software

Antivirus and internet security suites ranked on independent lab results and value.

Read the Top 10 →

The Web Hosting winners together: the number one pick and the ARI Top Pick

★ #1 · Hostinger PremiumTop Pick · SiteGround StartUp

Live · Top 10 published

Web Hosting

Shared, cloud and managed hosting ranked on uptime, speed, renewal honesty and support.

Read the Top 10 →

The Identity Theft Protection winners together: the number one pick and the ARI Top Pick

★ #1 · AuraTop Pick · LifeLock Total

Live · Top 10 published

Identity Theft Protection

Identity monitoring and restoration services ranked on coverage and the companies standing behind them.

Read the Top 10 →