What is the best balance of protection and performance: Defender vs paid AV?

[Amelia.C]

I'm finally upgrading my family's aging computers and need to choose a reliable antivirus solution that offers strong protection without slowing down performance or breaking the bank. With so many options promising different features like firewalls, VPNs, and parental controls, it's hard to know what's essential versus just marketing. For home users who have tested multiple services, what antivirus software have you found strikes the best balance between effective real-time protection and system resource usage? How do the mainstream paid options compare to built-in solutions like Windows Defender for everyday security, and is the added cost of a suite with extra features actually worthwhile for a typical household?