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In this TotalAV review, we’ll explore its plans, features, and functionality, which have made it the choice of more than 30 million customers today.
With protection for up to eight devices and a wide range of cybersecurity features beyond its core antivirus tools, TotalAV is a great choice for anyone looking to keep their devices safe from cyber threats.
Read our TotalAV review to learn about what its features can do for you, how its plans work, how it performs, and how it compares to the best antivirus software on the market.
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What is TotalAV?
TotalAV’s software is known for its excellent malware detection rates, which ensure the highest levels of protection, and it’s able to tackle ransomware and phishing attacks, which is critical given the increasing incidence of attacks, growing 55% year on year.
Its plans also include performance optimization tools, an ad blocker, and a VPN to speed up your device and ensure fast, secure connections.
Is TotalAV Safe?
The antivirus has consistently performed well in independent assessments from AV-Test, blocking 100% of zero-day threats and prevalent malware and with zero false flags – so it won’t accidentally delete important documents, which can happen when antivirus software flags the wrong files.
In addition, I found the software had less impact on device resources than most of its competitors, so it won’t shorten the battery life of your devices.
TotalAV Plans & Pricing
Total AV splits its services into three main tiers. The plans offer all the antivirus features you need to keep your devices safe from malware threats, as well as a range of extra security tools.
The table below breaks down TotalAV’s plans and lists their features and pricing.
| TotalAV Plans | Starting Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| TotalAV Antivirus Pro | $19/yr | Malware Protection, System Tune-Up Tools, Browser Protection, Total Adblock (4 devices) |
| TotalAV Internet Security | $39/yr | + Safe Browsing VPN (6 devices) |
| TotalAV Total Security | $49/yr | + Total Password (8 devices) |
Can I Get TotalAV for Free?
This means you won’t have real-time protection, system tune-up tools, or browser protection. Because of this, opting for a premium plan and getting multi-layered security protection is a much better choice. You can also try out TotalAV’s premium plans with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
TotalAV Security Features
From real-time antivirus protection to automatically detecting data breaches, TotalAV offers an impressive lineup of security features.
TotalAV updates its virus definitions on a daily basis, ensuring you’re always protected against new and emerging threats. In this section of our TotalAV app review, I’ll break down each feature and its capabilities.
Virus Scans
TotalAV offers four types of virus scans to help protect your devices from malware. These include:
- Quick Scan – Takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete and checks the most vulnerable parts of your devices, where malware is most likely to be found.
- System Scan – In-depth scan of your entire device. Takes longer, especially if your device’s storage is full.
- Smart Scan – Searches for viruses and malware and addresses junk and duplicate files, browser tracking cookies, and performance issues.
- Custom Scan – You can also schedule scans, scan specific files and folders or exclude them, and specify what type of scan you want to use. For example, you can schedule a full system scan to run while you’re away from your devices.
Real-Time Antivirus Protection
TotalAV’s real-time antivirus protection monitors your devices for the ever-increasing range of cyber threats on the internet today.
You can toggle this off if you’re concerned about performance, but I found TotalAV to be light on resources while working in the background, so it shouldn’t significantly impact your device.
Some free solutions, like Microsoft Defender Antivirus, also offer this type of protection. Although Defender will protect you from most viruses, it lacks TotalAV’s tools for removing zero-day threats, which will protect your devices from novel attacks and emerging malware.
WebShield Extension
TotalAV’s WebShield extension for Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Safari is a helpful tool that blocks intrusive ads and notifications. Powered by artificial intelligence and cloud-based technology, the feature includes:
- Online Threat Protection – Provides anti-phishing protection and blocks scams and fake websites that could lead to identity theft, malware downloads, and fraud attempts.
- Suspicious Website Warnings – Alerts you when you connect to a site that shows suspicious behavior or has suffered a data breach before.
- Data Breach Monitoring – Lets you know if your details have appeared in leaks on the dark web.
- Third-Party Tracker Blocking – Prevents third-party trackers from collecting your information and blocks pop-ups.
Total Adblock
Total Adblock blocks ads, pop-ups, and notifications from loading when you browse the web. One of the best Total Adblock features I found during testing was its ability to block push notifications on iOS and Android.
It’s extremely easy to add the extension to your browser, and I liked that it lets you support preferred websites by allowing them to display safe ads on your devices.
Safe Browsing VPN
TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN can help you stay anonymous online and unblock foreign streaming services – and you can connect with just a single click.
Although it doesn’t offer a large server network – with 50+ servers across 35+ countries – it’s perfectly serviceable and sits alongside the best antiviruses with a VPN.
This is particularly worth highlighting, given that an average Virtual Private Network will set you back more than $30/yr on its own. See our guide to the fastest VPNs for more alternatives.
System Tune-Up Tools, Disk Cleaner, and Browser Manager & Cleaner
TotalAV offers a suite of tools designed to help you improve your device’s performance and keep it clean and secure. Here’s what each tool can do for your device:
- System Tune-Up Tools – Allows you to add and remove startup launch programs and helps you uninstall unused applications.
- Disk Cleaner – A duplicate file finder that can identify unused and junk files and delete them.
- Browser Manager & Cleaner – Helps you manage and clean your web browser data and remove adware.
Reducing the number of programs running on your system can result in faster boot times and speed up your computer. The app also comes with a Silent Mode, which qualifies it as one of the best antiviruses for gaming PCs.
TotalAV Antivirus Software Performance
To support my results, I’ve also cited data from AV-Test, a leading independent IT security institute. In its latest assessment, AV-Test gave TotalAV a “certified” rating.
AV-Test gave TotalAV 6/6 for protection, 5.5/6 for performance, and 6/6 for usability. The antivirus was able to detect 100% of zero-day and prevalent malware attacks and didn’t issue any false warnings.
In terms of usability, TotalAV had some impact on launching popular websites, the installation of frequently used applications, and copying files, but it was otherwise on par with or better than industry averages.
TotalAV Compatibility and Ease of Use
Is TotalAV compatible with my operating system? Almost certainly. TotalAV is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems, with dedicated apps for each device. I tested the TotalAV mobile apps and desktop tools and found them to be consistently easy to use.
Here’s how TotalAV’s clients rate on each platform:
TotalAV for Windows
To install TotalAV on Windows, you’ll need Microsoft Windows 7 or higher installed. During my tests, the app never made major memory demands, and I found it easy to use and navigate.
It offers its full feature set for Windows users, separating out the malware protection features, the system tune-up tools, and the internet security settings, which makes them accessible and simple to find and manage.
It’s also very easy to navigate the advanced settings and configure the platform to your needs.
TotalAV for macOS
TotalAV’s Mac client is similar to the Windows UI and offers plenty of features to keep your Apple device safe. It works with macOS X 10.9 Mavericks and higher and doesn’t significantly affect performance.
As with the Windows app, you’ll find all the TotalAV features in the left menu. Macs can get viruses, despite any lingering myths, and TotalAV includes its entire malware-detecting toolkit to help you combat online threats.
You’ll also find its VPN, password manager, data breach monitoring tools, and other extra features available. See our guide to the best antiviruses for Mac for more recommendations.
TotalAV for Android
You can download TotalAV on smartphones running Android 5.0 or higher, and it’s one of the best antiviruses for Android that I’ve tested. It’s feature-rich, easy to install, and runs well with minimal battery drain for Android mobile devices.
The real-time protection button stands out on the home page of the Android app screen, and below it are two rows of features for security and privacy. Swiping lets you scroll between the features, making the app very easy to navigate.
In the bottom menu, you can find optimization features to declutter your Android device, profile management features, and app settings. On the whole, the TotalAV mobile app provides a very positive experience.
TotalAV for iOS
TotalAV is compatible with iOS 9.0 or later. The TotalAV antivirus app for iOS doesn’t offer as many features as are provided on other platforms, primarily because iOS devices don’t support full-system scans by third parties.
However, you’ll still find a Smart Scan in the iOS app, which can detect whether your phone or tablet requires updates and if its security measures are active and in place. In addition, you’ll have access to its QR Code Check feature, data breach check, and the VPN.
One of my favorite things about the iOS app is its ability to find duplicate and junk files, including those in your gallery. It can remove blurry photos you may have forgotten to delete to free up your device’s space, for example, which worked well for us.
Browsers and Chromebook
TotalAV provides its WebShield extension for Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Safari, which offers an additional layer of protection when browsing the internet.
TotalAV antivirus is also available for Chromebook via its Android antivirus app. For further information, see our guide to the best antivirus for Chromebook.
How Does TotalAV Compare Against Other Antiviruses for Malware Protection?
TotalAV is one of the best antivirus solutions around, but it faces tough competition. To help you compare it to its closest competitors, here’s an overview of their key features. So, what are the best alternatives to TotalAV?
| Antivirus | Starting Price | Max Devices | Real-Time Protection | Firewall | Scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TotalAV | $19/yr | 8 | ✅ | ❌ | Quick, System, Smart, Custom |
| Bitdefender | $23.99/yr | 10 | ✅ | ✅ | Quick, Full, Custom, Vulnerability |
| Norton | $29.99/yr | Unlimited | ✅ | ✅ | Quick, Full, Smart, Custom |
| McAfee | $39.99/yr | Unlimited | ✅ | ✅ | Quick, Full, Scheduled, On-Demand, Real-Time, Individual Files |
TotalAV vs Bitdefender
Both providers offer similar features, but TotalAV will be a better choice for many as it comes in slightly cheaper. You’ll also need to pay a fair bit more with Bitdefender to get a password manager or unlimited VPN bundled in. However, Bitdefender offers a firewall and parental control features, which TotalAV lacks.
TotalAV vs Norton
Norton’s cheapest plan has similar pricing to TotalAV’s Antivirus Pro package, but it includes a password manager, which is only available with TotalAV’s top tier.
Norton has a lot of other extra features, as well, including encrypted cloud storage, parental controls, and extensive identity protection tools with higher-tier plans, as well as support for unlimited devices. I found TotalAV to be more user-friendly, though, so it’s likely a better choice for inexperienced users.
TotalAV vs McAfee
Like Norton, McAfee shines with its most expensive plans, which cover an unlimited number of devices and offer its full range of features. While McAfee’s Basic plan supports only one device, it includes a VPN and password manager with the platform’s cheapest subscription tier, which will be attractive for many.
For more TotalAV alternatives see our guides to the best business antivirus software and the best malware removal solutions.
TotalAV’s Customer Support And User Reviews
TotalAV offers comprehensive customer support, and you can contact the support team via email and live chat channels. These contact channels are available 24/7, and the provider has a separate telephone support channel for identity theft protection.
Besides offering direct contact with its customer support team, TotalAV provides a knowledge base on its website that can resolve many technical queries with straightforward, step-by-step guides. The TotalAV Help Center has separate tabs for each feature and its components.
I tested all of TotalAV’s features, including its performance, security, usability, and customer support. It’s also important to us to incorporate the opinions of the service’s long-term users in order to provide a comprehensive TotalAV antivirus review, so I researched feedback on platforms like Trustpilot and looked for Total AV complaints.
The service has an overwhelmingly positive rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, with more than 100,000 Total AV reviews. Of these, 86% of reviewers gave the platform the highest score, while another 10% gave it 4/5.
User review from Trustpilot
Most of the users described an experience that matched my observations of TotalAV’s apps across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
Customers describe TotalAV as providing a lightweight and reliable service, and it gets praised for its lack of aggressive ads and interruptive messaging. It’s also often named as one of the best spyware remover products. TotalAV reviews for Android, meanwhile, praise the functionality of the mobile app.
Trustpilot user review
What is Total AV known for? For many, it’s the affordable introductory pricing. Users also appreciate its transparent pricing structure.
It isn’t a flawless service, though – some TotalAV complaints I found describe it as a service that’s tough to cancel, for example, as the cancelation process takes several steps on the website.
It’s frustrated some users enough that they’ve asked, “Is TotalAV a scam?” If you engage with customer support, though, you should be able to resolve any issues, though.
How to Set Up TotalAV
Setting up TotalAV on your devices takes just a few minutes, once you’ve subscribed to the service. Here, I’ll walk you through setup on Windows with a quick step-by-step guide.
Subscribe to TotalAV
First, head to TotalAV and sign up for one of its plans. You can then download the antivirus software from the site and proceed.
Install TotalAV on Your Computer
Once the download has finished, run the TotalAV installer to install the program on your computer. During the installation process, follow the on-screen instructions until the process is complete. The installation itself won’t take more than two minutes on most devices.
Run Your First Full System Scan
Once installed, you can immediately use the TotalAV client to scan your device and quarantine and eliminate any malicious files. In addition, the Total AV antivirus software enables real-time antivirus protection by default, which means you can use your computer with confidence that you’re secure.
How We Review And Test Antivirus Software
15 Antiviruses Tested
20 Datapoints Measured
300+ Hours Testing
500+ User Reviews Read
We base our recommendations on first-hand experience and in-depth testing. All the Antivirus products we suggest, have been tested based on the following criteria:
- Core Security Features: We make sure that the antivirus software is fully equipped with features like real-time protection, scanning, a firewall, web protection, and more.
- Malware Detection Rates: We test malware detection rates ourselves by running both in-depth and quick scans on our devices. Additionally, we check independent lab tests.
- Compatibility: We check which devices and operating systems the antivirus software is compatible with. Often, different-looking dashboards and slightly different packages of features may be available.
- Performance Impact: A reliable and functional antivirus should not slow down your device significantly. So, we examine our device performance with and without the antivirus running.
- Customer Experience: Alongside our own experience, we are curious to know what real users have to say regarding the services. So, we’ve scoured the web for feedback on each of our tested antiviruses.
- Value for Money: We always consider value for money and how much each product is offering for the set price point.
FAQs
Is TotalAV legit?
How much is TotalAV?
TotalAV vs Norton – which is better?
Does TotalAV slow down your computer?
How do I cancel TotalAV?
Is there a TotalAV free trial?
References
- Total AV tests (AV-Tests)
- Cyber Crime & Security (Statista)
- Ransomware Attacks Surge in 2023; Attacks on Healthcare Sector Nearly Double (CTIIC)
- Malware Protection Test March 2024 (AV-Comparatives)
- Real-World Protection Test February-May 2024 (AV-Comparatives)
- There were over 4,000 ransomware victims in 2023 (Security Magazine)
