McAfee Total Protection is one of the best antivirus software in the market, but it is not the only one. There are also a few other antivirus programs that offer similar features and compete with McAfee Total Protection that prove to be the best McAfee alternatives ⇣ in the market.
In this article, you will discover what are the best McAfee alternatives and how they stack up against each other.
Quick summary:
- Norton 360 Deluxe ⇣ – Best overall alternative – Norton 360 Deluxe has very similar features to McAfee Total Protection and has some advantages over McAfee as well.
- Bitdefender Total Security ⇣ – Runner-up – Bitdefender Total Security is one of the best antivirus programs in the market. It is able to defend, identify and remove any types of viruses and malware from your devices.
- Avira Prime ⇣ – Cheapest alternative – Although McAfee Total Protection is one of the cheapest antivirus software in the market with its unlimited devices plan, Avira Prime offers a very good deal with its 25 devices plan.
- Intego Mac Internet Security X9 ⇣ – The best antivirus software for Mac – Macs can get viruses, and they need Mac-specific antivirus software to avoid that. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is the best antivirus software in the market specifically developed for defending Macs against any type of viruses and malware.
TL;DR: McAfee is one of the most popular antivirus software on the market and is trusted by millions of users worldwide to protect their devices and personal information. McAfee Total Protection is one of its best plans that offers just about everything you could ask for from antivirus software. It offers incredible protection and a few important extra tools for an affordable price.
Best Alternatives to McAfee Antivirus in 2024
1. Norton 360 Deluxe (Best McAfee Total Protection alternative)
Norton 360 Deluxe features
- Official website: https://norton.com/
- Real-time threat protection for your devices
- VPN
- Dark web monitoring
- Password manager
- 50 GB cloud backup
Norton is a well-known brand in the antivirus industry that has provided some of the best protection in the market for over a decade.
Norton offers a wide range of antivirus software, but the Norton 360 Deluxe is feature-rich antivirus software that is well worth the investment. At $49.99 per year, it protects you from cyber crimes, the latest online threats, and monitors the dark web for your personal info.
Norton 360 Deluxe can be installed on up to 5 Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices on a single plan.
The value it provides for the price is what makes it worth it. Norton 360 Deluxe promises a 100% guarantee of malware protection, and it actually does that.
In addition to offering amazing security, it also has an unlimited VPN and password manager.
Pros
- Great malware protection
- Free 50GB online storage
- Unlimited Free VPN
- Parental Control
- It has dark web monitoring
Cons
- It costs more the second year of usage
Pricing plans
For $49.99 for the first year, Norton 360 Deluxe protects up to five devices. After that, the price rises to $104.99 per year.
Is Norton 360 Deluxe the best McAfee Total Protection alternative?
Norton 360 Deluxe is the closest antivirus software to McAfee Total Protection when it comes to features. They have very similar features, including dark web monitoring. However, Norton’s dark web monitoring is available in more countries other than the US.
Norton 360 Deluxe only supports five devices and is $10 more expensive than McAfee’s five devices plan for the first year. But their price for five devices is identical for the second year.
Visit the Norton website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
2. Bitdefender Total Security (Best all in one antivirus)
Bitdefender Total Security features
- Official website: https://www.bitdefender.com/
- VPN and Password manager
- Parental control
- Ransomware protection
- Webcam and microphone protection
- Protection against almost any type of viruses and malware
Bitdefender Total Security is one of the best antivirus programs in the market. It is able to defend, identify and remove any types of viruses and malware from your devices.
It provides advanced malware protection as well as a slew of other internet security features, all from a single program.
What most users appreciate about this antivirus software is that it allows them to regularly run pre-scheduled scans on their devices.
Bitdefender Total Security works flawlessly on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices and has no effect on their performance thanks to the Bitdefender Photon technology.
Bitdefender also has more extra features than almost any other antivirus program.
Pros
- It offers protection against most types of threats
- It is affordable
- It has pre-scheduled scans
- It does a great job protecting most operating systems
- It offers microphone and webcam protection
Cons
- Limited VPN with only 200 MB of data
- Mac version is not as advanced as the Windows version
- It’s not perfect, find good Bitdefender alternatives here
Pricing plans
Because of its accessible price, great protection, and extra features, Bitdefender Total Security is a very good choice for home users or families. If you are not satisfied with it, you will get your money back because they have a 30 days money-back guarantee.
| Plan | 5 devices | 10 devices |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $39.89 | $49.99 |
| 2 years | $97.49 | $110.49 |
| 3 years | $129.99 | $149.49 |
How does Bitdefender Total Security compare to McAfee?
The biggest difference most people will notice is that although their prices are very similar, McAfee is getting more expensive in the second year. In terms of protection, Bitdefender has an edge because it has ransomware protection.
Meanwhile, McAfee has dark web monitoring, but it is only available in the US. Another difference is that Bitdefender has a limited VPN, while McAfee offers an unlimited VPN. Finally, I consider Bitdefender Total Security is a better choice in terms of pricing and value.
Visit the Bitdefender website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
3. Avira Prime (Best alternative for offices)
Avira Prime features
- Official website: https://www.avira.com/
- Email protection
- Ransomware protection
- Web protection
- VPN and Password manager
- PC cleaner
Some years ago, Avira used to be the best antivirus software in the market, and this gained some popularity until today.
Nowadays, Avira is still considered one of the best and easiest-to-use antivirus software in the market today. Although Avira has more packages available, I consider that Avira Prime, which is its top version, is the only one that is worth your money.
Avira Prime includes all the features Avira has to offer, which are a password manager, a VPN, a PC cleaner, and a few other features. Avira Prime also has a safe browsing feature which is only available in the Opera browser.
One area where Avira Prime excels is system optimization. This means that it automatically fixes small issues like printer connection, WiFi connection, and some other network issues. It also comes with a webcam and microphone protection.
What Avira Prime also promises is to find money-saving deals and coupons when you’re shopping online.
Pros
- It has VPN and password manager
- It protects you against malicious links in emails attachments
Cons
- Its antivirus protection is not 100%
- It doesn’t have parental control
- Safe Browsing only in Opera
- Find out what the best Avira alternatives are
Pricing plans
| Plan | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 devices | $69.99 | $132.99 | $195.99 |
| 25 devices | $90.99 | $174.99 | $251.99 |
Avira Prime is recommended for people and offices that need easy-to-use antivirus software that can detect most viruses and malware and automatically fixes minor network problems.
Is Avira Prime better than McAfee Total Protection?
Avira and McAfee are the biggest antivirus software companies in the world. One of the primary distinctions between the two is that McAfee Total Security includes dark web monitoring, which is only available in the United States.
They both provide excellent antivirus protection and have similar features. The most significant distinction is the cost. McAfee Total Protection can be installed on an unlimited number of devices for the same price as Avira Prime for five devices.
Both McAfee Total Security and Avira Prime are excellent and reasonably priced antivirus software for offices.
Visit the Avira website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
4. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 (Best antivirus for Mac)
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 features
- https://www.intego.com
- Mac network protection
- Mac antivirus protection
- Easy to use
The common myth that “Macs can’t get viruses” and that antivirus software is useless has misinformed Mac users for decades. The truth is that all devices are vulnerable, and modern viruses and malware can infect any type of device. Worse than that, they don’t just want to sabotage your Mac; they want your sensitive personal information and money as well.
With Intego Mac Internet Security X9, both your Mac and sensitive information are secure.
Intego was one of the first companies to provide antivirus software for Mac computers. It has been doing so since 1997 and has grown to become one of the best providers of Mac antivirus software since then.
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 can detect and destroy any type of virus or malware that could attack your Mac without affecting its performance.
One thing worth mentioning about Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is that it doesn’t have any extra features such as a VPN or password manager. This means that you would have to pay separately for them if you choose this antivirus software.
- Easy to use
- 100% Mac antivirus protection
- Doesn’t affect the performance of Macs
Cons
- Although it could be used for Windows devices for a premium of $10/year, the Windows version is not as effective at combating viruses and malware
- It doesn’t have microphone and webcam protection
- It is just an antivirus program, and it doesn’t have VPN or password manager
Pricing plans
| Plan | 1 device | 3 devices | 5 devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $39.99 | $74.99 | $59.99 |
| 2 years | $74.99 | $99.99 | $124.99 |
| Dual Protection (Mac and Windows) | $10 extra | $10 extra | $10 extra |
Intego Mac Internet Security X9 is the best antivirus for Macs, and it’s very affordable. Of course, it doesn’t have many features, but it does an excellent job of defending Macs from viruses and malware.
What distinguishes Intego Mac Internet Security from McAfee Total Protection?
The only key distinction between Intego Mac Internet Security X9 and McAfee Total Protection is that Intego is better suited to Macs while McAfee is better suited to Windows.
It all depends on if you have a Mac or a PC. Intego might not have any major extra features, but its Mac protection is superior to any other antivirus software.
Visit the Intego website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
5. Kaspersky Internet Security (Best antivirus for online shopping and banking)
Kaspersky Internet Security features
- Official website: https://www.kaspersky.com/
- Secures your online payments and banking info
- Two-way firewall
- Webcam protection
- Protection against sophisticated online threats such as ransomware and data theft
- Adblocker
If protecting your online banking is one of your primary concerns, Kaspersky Internet Security seems to be the best antivirus software for you. You could make secure online purchases with Kaspersky Internet Security without fear of being scammed or having your banking information stolen.
Aside from excellent internet banking security, Kaspersky Internet Security safeguards your Windows, Mac, and Android devices against malware, ransomware, spyware, viruses, and even zero-day attacks.
Kaspersky Internet Security isn’t just a plain antivirus program. It also includes a password manager, parental control, and VPN.
What I also like about Kaspersky Internet Security is its safe browsing feature that highlights potentially dangerous links to inform you about sketchy websites while browsing.
Pros
- Amazing protection against all types of viruses and ransomware
- Webcam protection
- Protects your online banking information while doing online shopping
- Three layers defense engine
Cons
- Limited VPN which costs $30/year to be upgraded to Unlimited VPN
- It doesn’t have dark web monitoring
- It is not available for IOS devices
Pricing plans
| Plan | 1 device | 2 devices | 3 devices | 4 devices | 5 devices | 10 devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $44.49 | $52.49 | $59.99 | $67.49 | $74.99 | $112.49 |
| 2 years | $62.24 | $71.99 | $89.99 | $97.49 | $112.49 | $169.49 |
I consider Kaspersky Internet Security a solid choice for people who care about their online banking protection and want to be protected against any type of online threats.
Is Kaspersky Internet Security better than McAfee Total Protection?
At a quick glance, Kaspersky seems to be way more expensive than McAfee, but considering that McAfee is getting more expensive the second year, their pricing becomes very similar then.
A big advantage Kaspersky Internet Security has is its online banking protection because this is a very important feature today. Overall, Kaspersky offers protection against more types of online threats and has a very good value for the price.
Visit the Kaspersky website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
6. TotalAV Total Security (Easy to use antivirus software with extra tools)
TotalAV Total Security features
- Official website: https://www.totalav.com/
- Comes with both VPN and Password manager
- Phishing scam protection
- Ransomware protection
- Real-time protection
- Preset viruses and malware scans
- Total AdBlock
TotalAV Total Security is one of the most user-friendly antivirus programs in the market, and it works flawlessly on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices without slowing them down.
TotalAV Total Security’s mission is to protect your devices against the newest viruses, malware, ransomware, and spyware to ensure that they are 100% safe every day. With TotalAV Total Security, you don’t have to run each scan manually every time because it offers preset virus and malware scans.
TotalAV Total Security is more than just antivirus software. It also has a VPN, a password manager, an ad blocker, and a PC cleaner. TotalAV Total Security also includes a basic dark web monitoring feature.
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Includes a suite of tools that keep you safe online
- It is frequently updated to offer the best protection every day
- It has a 7-day free trial and a 30 days money-back guarantee
Cons
- It doesn’t have parental control
- There are a few upsell attempts while purchasing it
- Its price increases the second year
Pricing plans
TotalAV Total Security currently offers only one plan, which costs $59/year for the first year and protects up to six devices. It may appear to be a good deal, but it will cost more in the second year.
Should you choose TotalAV Total Security over McAfee Total Protection?
They are both great antivirus software that offers amazing protection, but they are different in many aspects. TotalAV is easier to use and doesn’t affect the device’s performance at all, while McAfee promises better protection.
However, TotalAV Total Security can protect you against ransomware and phishing scams and also has basic dark web monitoring. Overall, TotalAV Total Security is a very good choice for families or home users.
Visit the TotalAV website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
7. BullGuard Internet Security (Best antivirus for online gamers)
BullGuard Internet Security features
- Official website: https://www.bullguard.com/
- Game Booster
- Parental control
- Safe Browsing
- Real-time protection
For years, BullGuard has always been the best antivirus software option for online gamers. BullGuard Internet Security is also not an exception. The Game Booster feature, which allows gamers to automatically direct more CPU power to the game while playing, is what makes it so good for online gamers.
This feature also disables all notifications while you are playing games so that you are not distracted. Although this feature improves the smoothness and speed of your games, it does not impact your device’s virus and malware protection.
BullGuard Internet Security is a powerful antivirus program that secures Windows, Mac, and Android devices from viruses, malware, and even zero-day attacks.
Its Safe Browsing functionality scans every link and flags the dangerous ones, preventing you from visiting unsafe web pages or falling victim to phishing scams.
Pros
- Its price remains the same for the second year
- It has a 30 days money-back guarantee
- Detects zero-day attacks
Cons
- It doesn’t support IOS devices
- Some of its features don’t perform as well on Mac as they do on Windows devices
- VPN is not included and has to be purchased separately
Pricing plans
| Number of devices | 3 devices | 5 devices | 10 devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price for 1 year | $59.99 | $83.99 | $140.99 |
| Price for 2 years | $99.99 | $134.99 | $225.99 |
| Price for 3 years | $119.99 | $167.99 | $281.99 |
What is the difference between BullGuard Internet Security and McAfee Total Protection?
The Game Booster feature is BullGuard’s main selling point for online gamers. Those are the only people who find that feature useful, and they are the majority of BullGuard Internet Security users.
Of course, it has other features and great antivirus protection as well. You should choose BullGuard Internet Security if you enjoy playing video games, but McAfee Internet Security is a better choice for you if you don’t.
Visit the BullGuard website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
What is McAfee Total Protection?
McAfee Total Protection features
- Official website: https://www.mcafee.com/
- McAfee® Safe Connect VPN
- 24/7 chat support
- Password manager
- Identity Theft Protection
- Dark web monitoring
McAfee is an excellent antivirus program that is used by tens of millions of people worldwide. What makes it so great is its exceptional protection, which prevents almost any type of virus or malware from infecting your devices without slowing them down.
Another reason McAfee Total Protection is among the best antivirus software on the market is its Identity Theft Protection, which checks the dark web for your confidential information, like your SSN, address, and credit card information.
If it discovers any of that data on the dark web, it notifies you immediately. This feature, however, is only available in the United States.
Pros
- Amazing protection against viruses
- It has VPN and password manager
- It has dark web monitoring
- It has one of the lowest prices among antivirus software (at least for the first year)
Cons
- The dark web monitoring feature is only available in the US
- It doesn’t have microphone and webcam protection
- It is getting more expensive the second year
Pricing plans
| Number of devices | Price (First year) |
|---|---|
| 1 device | $34.99 |
| 5 devices | $39.99 |
| 10 devices | $44.99 |
| Unlimited devices | $69.99 |
McAfee Total Security is a good choice for everyone looking for great antivirus software that isn’t too expensive. Although McAfee Total Security appears to have a very low price the first year, the price increases in subsequent years.
McAfee Total Protection also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee for anyone interested to give it a try without risk.
Visit the McAfee website now to learn more + get all the latest deals
Questions & Answers
Our Verdict ⭐
I hope that you have found this article interesting and you have discovered the best antivirus software for you. But if you can’t decide between two or three antivirus software, you should try their free trials before deciding which one fits your needs better.
Don't miss out on this opportunity for comprehensive, all-in-one digital protection. With Bitdefender, you get top-notch security, a VPN, identity theft protection, device optimizer, parental control, and so much more. Act now and save 60% on your first year. Your digital life deserves premium protection.
In case a certain antivirus software doesn’t have a free trial, all the antivirus software included here have money-back guarantees, and you won’t lose your money if you are not satisfied. You have to know that all the antivirus software providers included in this article have other packages as well.
For this article, I have chosen the packages that offer the best features and value for your money. But you could consider other McAfee alternatives offered by the providers included here if they match your needs better.
How We Test Antivirus Software: Our Methodology
Our antivirus and antimalware recommendations are based on real testing of the protection, user-friendliness, and minimal system impact, providing clear, practical advice for choosing the right antivirus software.
- Purchasing and Installing: We start by buying the antivirus software, just like any customer would. We then install it on our systems to assess the ease of installation and initial setup. This real-world approach helps us understand the user experience from the get-go.
- Real-World Phishing Defense: Our evaluation includes testing each program’s ability to detect and block phishing attempts. We interact with suspicious emails and links to see how effectively the software protects against these common threats.
- Usability Assessment: An antivirus should be user-friendly. We rate each software based on its interface, ease of navigation, and the clarity of its alerts and instructions.
- Feature Examination: We scrutinize additional features offered, especially in paid versions. This includes analyzing the value of extras like parental controls and VPNs, comparing them against the utility of free versions.
- System Impact Analysis: We measure the impact of each antivirus on system performance. It’s crucial that the software runs smoothly and doesn’t noticeably slow down everyday computer operations.
Learn more about our review methodology.
