The Best Antivirus for Mac in 2024

• Real-Time Protection – TotalAV’s Smart Scan feature thoroughly probes your Mac, detecting and eliminating malware, viruses, and other threats. At the same time, its advanced Real-Time Protection feature continuously monitors your system, proactively identifying and neutralizing potential threats.
• Web Protection – When browsing the internet, TotalAV’s WebShield constantly monitors your online activity. The Safari browser extension intelligently blocks access to known phishing sites and malicious URLs. This makes a big difference, given that a staggering 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent every single day.
• VPN – TotalAV includes a VPN, which enables you to encrypt your internet connection. This is great for those concerned about privacy and security and is particularly useful when using public Wi-Fi networks. There’s also data breach monitoring to alert you if your logins have been compromised and leaked on the web.
• Drawbacks – If there’s one shortcoming, it’s TotalAV’s lack of a firewall – though you can, of course, use the built-in firewall with macOS.

TotalAV excelled in AV-Test’s assessment, earning perfect scores for Protection, Performance, and Usability, with 100% malware detection rates and no false positives.

Although TotalAV slightly impacted the speed of some tasks, it was still on par with or better than most competitors.

TotalAV’s basic plan starts at $19/year and protects five devices. The top-tier TotalAV Total Security plan supports eight devices and includes features like a VPN and password manager. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Given it’s affordability, I generally rate TotalAV as the best antivirus for Mac and Windows.

TotalAV is a great pick for Mac users looking for comprehensive security and is ideal for those who use online banking, shop online, or handle sensitive data. Many rate it as the best antivirus for macOS real-time protection.

The product offers a great family of antivirus apps. It’s known for being among the best Android antiviruses, and it also regularly tops the charts for catching Windows malware.

• Real-Time Protection – Norton offers real-time threat detection to stop malware before it can infect your Mac. Its heuristic analysis can detect novel Mac viruses and emerging malware, while the smart firewall monitors network traffic to block attacks and intrusions.
• Virus Protection Promise – The Virus Protection Promise is a standout feature. If Norton can’t remove a virus from your system, even with expert assistance, then the company commits to providing a full refund.
• Parental Controls – Norton’s parental control features are a major plus for families, and it qualifies the antivirus as one of the best parental control apps around. You can monitor and control your kids’ screen time, block inappropriate content, and even track their location via their devices.
• Cloud Backups and Identity Protection – Higher-tier plans offer up to 500GB of cloud storage to protect your family’s files and photos from ransomware and other threats and provide a personal backup. There’s also a range of excellent identity protection tools. With a new identity theft victim every 22 seconds, it’s a welcome addition.
• Norton Password Manager and VPN – The package also includes Norton Password Manager to securely store your logins and sync them across your devices. You can also use Norton’s VPN to encrypt your internet connection for privacy. While it’s not as fully featured as standalone VPNs like Surfshark, it’s a nice bonus.

In AV-Test’s Mac testing, Norton achieved perfect scores of 6/6 for protection, performance, and usability, demonstrating excellent malware detection and generating no false positives.

Norton did have some limited impact on installation times, but this minor drawback didn’t significantly impact its results.

Norton’s entry-level plan for Mac starts at $29.99/year and includes the Virus Protection Promise, the password manager, and 2GB of cloud backups.

The Norton 360 with LifeLock Select plan, at $99.99/year, is ideal for families. It covers ten devices and offers parental controls, 250GB of cloud backups, identity theft protection, and a VPN. All annual plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee and a free trial.

Norton is ideal for families with multiple Apple devices who are looking for a user-friendly security solution, and it’s certainly a match for its Windows version.

In addition, its protection guarantee and support for unlimited devices make it stand out from the crowd as a strong option.

• Web Protection – NordVPN Threat Protection safeguards your Mac by scanning downloads for malware and blocking ads, trackers, and malicious websites, offering thorough defenses against online threats.
• VPN – The integrated VPN is a standout feature. It uses military-grade AES-256 encryption to secure your internet connection and protect your privacy. With over 6,300+ servers in 111 countries and the high-speed, proprietary NordLynx protocol, you can enjoy fast, secure access to global content.
• Data Breach Scanner – NordVPN Threat Protection also includes a data breach scanner that monitors the dark web for leaked personal details associated with your email, passwords, and credit card details. If a breach is detected, you’ll receive notifications to take action and secure your accounts.
• NordPass and NordLocker – The Plus plan gives you access to NordPass, a secure cross-platform password manager, and upgrading your plan will get you 1TB of encrypted cloud storage with NordLocker.
• Drawbacks – It’s worth mentioning that NordVPN Threat Protection is geared toward web protection and lacks some features found in standalone antivirus products, such as a firewall and the ability to scan device drives.

NordVPN Threat Protection performed extremely well under my assessment. I found it consistently blocked risky sites, flagged dangerous downloads, and was able to identify vulnerabilities on my system. At the same time, it had minimal impact on my Mac’s performance. At present, there aren’t independent lab tests of NordVPN’s security tools, however.

NordVPN includes Nord Threat Protection for Mac and Windows with its Plus and Pro plans.

Plus costs $3.99/month with a two-year subscription and covers ten devices, including a data breach scanner and one of the best password managers around, while Pro is $5.99/month and adds identity theft protection and encrypted storage.

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, but the only free trial is for Android and lasts seven days.

NordVPN Threat Protection is a strong pick for Mac users seeking comprehensive web security combined with one of the best VPN services available.

• Real-Time Protection – In terms of antivirus protection, Surfshark offers real-time defenses and can protect you from threats, including malware, viruses, and ransomware. The CleanWeb feature, meanwhile, acts as a powerful web shield, blocking ads, trackers, and phishing attempts.
• Webcam Protection – Privacy-conscious users will appreciate the webcam protection feature, which prevents unauthorized access to Mac cameras.
• VPN – Surfshark’s VPN has an extensive network of over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, ensuring users can encrypt their internet traffic and mask their IP addresses. The implementation of the cutting-edge WireGuard protocol guarantees fast and secure connections, while a strict no-logs policy ensures user anonymity.
• VPN vs Antivirus Features – While the VPN has fewer servers than NordVPN, it’s a more comprehensive antivirus package, including real-time protection and the ability to scan your device.
• Security Features – Surfshark’s Alert system monitors for data breaches and notifies users if their personal information is compromised so action can be taken. There’s also a private Surfshark Search engine, which allows users to make anonymous web searches.
• Drawbacks – If there’s one drawback, it’s that Surfshark antivirus doesn’t provide functionality for iPhones, unlike many competitors, which may disappoint some Apple users.

Surfshark doesn’t have independent lab testing results for its Mac offering, but it has demonstrated strong performance on Windows.

In AV-Test’s latest assessments, Surfshark detected 100% of malware, including both widespread and novel samples, and generated zero false warnings with close to 1 million file scans. It fared slightly worse for performance but still earned a 5.5/6 score.

Surfshark Antivirus is available as part of the Surfshark One bundle, starting at $2.69/month with a two-year plan. This tier includes antivirus protection, the VPN, and privacy tools.

The premium Surfshark One+ plan, at $4.29/month, adds identity protection and data removal features. Both plans provide the antivirus app for five devices and the VPN for unlimited devices, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark Antivirus is ideal for Mac users who want a strong balance of security and privacy. If you use public Wi-Fi or need to protect sensitive online activities, it’s a great pick – and it’s considered one of the best mobile VPNs around.

• Malware Scanning and Real-Time Protection – Intego’s VirusBarrier tool provides malware scanning and real-time protection optimized for macOS. The advanced two-way NetBarrier firewall, meanwhile, monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and automatically adjusts settings to prevent data breaches.
• System Optimization – Mac users also benefit from the Mac Washing Machine system optimizer, which intelligently removes junk files and duplicates to free up storage.
• Parental Controls – Families will also appreciate the ContentBarrier parental control feature, which offers in-depth tools for setting usage limits and content filtering. In addition, you get bootable Mac backups to safeguard your files and simplify access and synchronization across devices.
• VPN – There’s also Intego’s Privacy Protection VPN add-on, which enables anonymous browsing with 35,000+ servers in 83 countries and is complete with a kill switch, split tunneling, and ad blocking.
• iPhone Scans – While the Mac antivirus doesn’t have full support for iOS, you can scan an attached iPhone as an external drive.

In independent assessments conducted by AV-Test, Intego’s VirusBarrier demonstrated strong performance, achieving a protection score of 5.5/6 and a perfect usability score of 6.0, indicating minimal false positives. It had a slightly lower score for performance, with a slight impact on system speeds.

In AV-Comparatives’ Mac malware protection review, Intego detected 99.1% of malware and over 9/10 Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs).

The entry-level Intego Mac Internet Security X9 plan starts at $39.99/year for a single device, but you can save money by opting for a three-device plan at $54.99/year ($18.33/device) or getting a two-year subscription for $37.50/year.

For comprehensive protection, I recommend the Mac Premium Bundle + VPN plan ($89.99/year), which includes the Privacy Protection VPN.

Intego is an excellent choice for macOS users looking for a tailored, comprehensive security solution that seamlessly integrates with their Apple devices.

• Free Plan – Avast Free Antivirus for Mac has the key tools needed to keep your Apple device secure. Its real-time protection feature monitors your device continuously, blocking malware and detecting abnormal behavior on your system.
• Smart Scans – Avast’s smart scan technology can perform in-depth system scans. It identifies viruses, outdated software, and performance issues, helping you keep your Mac working efficiently.
• Wi-Fi Inspector – Upgrading will get you a lot more, though. Avast’s Wi-Fi Inspector automatically checks for network vulnerabilities when you use your Mac at home or on public networks, providing an additional layer of safety.
• Web and Mail Shields – The web and mail shields provide additional defenses by blocking malicious links and attachments, safeguarding your Mac from phishing and other online threats. There’s also online shopping and banking protection.

In the latest AV-Test Mac testing, Avast demonstrated excellent performance. It achieved perfect scores for protection, performance, and usability, detecting 100% of threats with minimal system impact during everyday use and while running scans.

In AV-Comparatives’ testing, meanwhile, the Avast security tools detected 100% of Mac malware and 98% of PUAs, earning it approved certification.

While Avast offers a feature-rich free version for Mac and provides a more comprehensive set of tools than other free antivirus software for Mac, you can get plenty of benefits by upgrading.

Avast Premium Security for $49.99/year for one device or $69.99/year for ten is an excellent package and offers significantly better value for money than the Avast One Silver plan, which has a relatively limited offering.

Avast’s free Mac antivirus is an excellent choice for budget-conscious users looking for reliable online protection. For comparison with other free plans, check out our guide to the best free antivirus software.

• Malware Protection – McAfee includes robust core antivirus scanning features, while McAfee’s customizable firewall adds an essential layer of protection for Mac users, allowing precise control over network traffic.
• McAfee Protection Score – The McAfee Protection Score is a very useful indicator of the level of protection you have in place, meanwhile, and provides actionable recommendations on improving your security.
• Social Privacy Manager – For social media users, McAfee’s Social Privacy Manager stands out for providing personalized recommendations to enhance privacy settings on your accounts – a useful feature that isn’t provided by many competitors.
• VPN and Password Manager – There’s also a built-in VPN that enables secure and anonymous browsing and has a reported network of over 2,000 servers across 48 countries. The password manager further enhances security by generating and storing strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.
• System Optimization – The Personal Data Cleanup and Online Account Cleanup features, meanwhile, help you remove your data from unused online accounts and request data brokers delete your details – helping you reduce your digital footprint and potential exposure to fraud. There’s also a data breach monitoring feature, which checks the dark web for traces of your personal information.

Independent testing results aren’t available for McAfee on Mac, but it gets great results on Windows. In the latest AV-Test lab report, it identified 100% of malware files put to it and matched or beat industry performance averages in 11 of 12 categories.

This gave the provider the highest score possible for the test, with full marks for protection, performance, and usability. McAfee also earned a three-star testing score for real-world protection with AV-Comparatives.

McAfee’s plans start at $39.99/year for five device, including antivirus protection, a VPN, identity monitoring, and a password manager. Upgrading provides coverage for multiple devices and features like social privacy management and $1m identity theft coverage.

McAfee antivirus is ideal for Mac users looking for a comprehensive range of features with its security suites. It’s also a good option for individuals and families with numerous devices, as higher-tier plans offer coverage for unlimited devices. It’s also rated as one of the best Reddit antivirus recommendations.