Antivirus
Top Companies in 2025
McAfee vs TotalAV
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- Real-time malware detection
- Strong anti-phishing and spam filters
- Multi-device compatibility
- Includes VPN and password manager
- 24/7 live chat and phone support
- Easy-to-use interface
- Multi-platform support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Quick and efficient scanning
- Disk cleanup and system optimization tools
- No free basic version
- Lacks file encryption & rescue tools
- Price rises after first year
- High resource usage during scans
- High renewal rates after the first year
- Limited features in free and basic plans
- No full two-way firewall
- Frequent upselling during setup
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in San Jose, California, McAfee is one of the most recognized names in cybersecurity. Over the years, they’ve expanded their services to offer comprehensive antivirus and digital protection solutions for both individuals and businesses. McAfee’s product lineup includes real-time malware detection, an advanced firewall, secure VPN, password manager, and identity theft protection tools, all designed to provide robust, multi-device security across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms. Notably, they offer flexible plans catering to single users, families, and enterprises alike. Independent labs like AV-Comparatives consistently rate McAfee highly for malware detection and system performance. While many customers praise its ease of use and wide range of features, some critiques focus on auto-renewal policies and pop-up notifications. Still, McAfee maintains a strong industry reputation, backed by decades of experience and numerous accolades. Keep reading to explore their plans, features, advantages, and potential drawbacks in detail.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in the United Kingdom, TotalAV has quickly established themselves as a reliable antivirus and security provider. The company has earned a reputation for offering effective, user-friendly solutions designed to protect devices from a wide range of online threats. TotalAV's services include real-time malware detection, ransomware protection, a built-in VPN for secure browsing, and system optimization tools like disk cleanup, junk file removal, and startup program management to improve device performance. These features help users keep their systems secure and running smoothly without complicating the user experience. TotalAV is compatible with a variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users. While TotalAV enjoys positive feedback for their comprehensive protection and ease of use, some customers have raised concerns about their pricing model, particularly regarding higher renewal rates after the first year. Despite these criticisms, TotalAV’s responsive customer support and proactive efforts to address issues demonstrate their commitment to improving the user experience. With a 30-day money-back guarantee and competitive pricing, TotalAV remains a solid contender in the ever-growing antivirus market.
- Security Rating : Good
- VPN : Yes
- Price : Starts at $34.99/year for 1 device
- Customer Experience : Fair
- Firewall : Available
- Free Trial : 30 days
- Trustpilot Score : 1.3 out of 5
- Security Rating : Good
- VPN : Included
- Price : Starts at $29/year
- Customer Experience : Good
- Firewall : Not included
- Free Trial : 7 days
- Trustpilot Score : 4.7 out of 5
- Dark web monitoring and identity alerts
- Parental controls with screen time limits
- Mobile anti-theft features
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS) included
- Smart Scan combines malware protection and optimization
- Integrated ad blocker for a cleaner browsing experience
- Dedicated ransomware protection with behavioral detection
- Multi-device protection under one subscription
- Adware Removal
- Anti-Phishing
- Anti-Spam
- Anti-Theft
- Anti-Tracking
- Behavior Analysis
- Cloud Scanning
- Dark Web Scanning
- Dedicated Ransomware Protection
- E-mail Scan
- File Encryption
- Free Version
- ID Protection
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- Malware Removal
- Mobile App
- On Demand Scan
- Real-Time Protection
- Spyware Removal
- Vulnerability Scanner
- Webcam Protection
- Adware Removal
- Anti-Phishing
- Anti-Spam
- Anti-Theft
- Anti-Tracking
- Behavior Analysis
- Cloud Scanning
- Dark Web Scanning
- Dedicated Ransomware Protection
- E-mail Scan
- File Encryption
- Free Version
- ID Protection
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- Malware Removal
- Mobile App
- On Demand Scan
- Real-Time Protection
- Spyware Removal
- Vulnerability Scanner
- Webcam Protection
- Boot Time Scans
- Browser Cleaner
- Disk Cleaner
- Junk Files Removal
- Software/Driver Updater
- Boot Time Scans
- Browser Cleaner
- Disk Cleaner
- Junk Files Removal
- Software/Driver Updater
- Cloud Storage Backup
- Live Updates
- Parental Control
- Password Manager
- Rescue Mode
- USB Rescue Toolkit
- USB Vaccination
- Cloud Storage Backup
- Live Updates
- Parental Control
- Password Manager
- Rescue Mode
- USB Rescue Toolkit
- USB Vaccination
- Android
- Browser Plugins
- ChromeOS
- Fire OS
- iOS
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
- Android
- Browser Plugins
- ChromeOS
- Fire OS
- iOS
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
- Community Forum
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Phone
- Social Media
- Ticket
- Community Forum
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Phone
- Social Media
- Ticket
McAfee vs. TotalAV
Choosing the right antivirus software is about more than just device protection; it’s about finding the right balance of features, ease of use, and device compatibility. If you're trying to decide between McAfee and TotalAV, this comparison highlights the key differences, from their feature sets to how they perform in real-world scenarios.
Service range and customization options
McAfee offers a robust, all-in-one security suite that includes antivirus protection, a firewall, identity theft monitoring, a password manager, and an unlimited VPN with many plans. They support a wide range of platforms—Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS—and allow unlimited device coverage with select subscriptions. Users can customize scan schedules, set real-time protection preferences, and manage features remotely via the cloud-based dashboard.
TotalAV focuses on providing a clean, lightweight antivirus experience that still includes essential tools like malware scanning, system tune-up utilities, a web shield, and a secure browsing VPN (with paid plans). While their feature list is narrower than McAfee’s, it’s streamlined for users who want simplicity without too many toggles. TotalAV supports all major operating systems and offers a solid range of performance-enhancing tools, though options for deep customization are more limited.
Ease of use and integration
McAfee’s interface has steadily improved over the years and now presents a modern, tile-based dashboard that clearly displays security status and available tools. Installation is quick, and managing multiple devices under one account is seamless. They also integrate well with browser extensions and mobile platforms, making cross-platform protection feel consistent.
TotalAV is widely praised for its clean and intuitive design. The dashboard prioritizes clarity and simplicity, with clearly marked features and a beginner-friendly layout. The installation process is fast, and scans are easy to initiate. However, while it works well on mobile, its mobile apps are more limited in scope compared to the desktop version and may not offer full parity in terms of features or settings.
Security and compliance
McAfee has a long-standing reputation in cybersecurity and regularly receives high marks in independent lab tests for both malware detection and real-time protection. Their engine uses heuristic analysis, machine learning, and cloud-based updates to stay ahead of threats. They also maintain transparency around data practices and comply with major privacy regulations, though users should still review data-sharing policies closely.
TotalAV, powered by the Avira engine, has also shown strong performance in third-party testing, particularly in detecting known threats and blocking phishing sites. While they don’t have quite the same legacy as McAfee, their security performance is solid. They also claim GDPR compliance and stress user privacy, though details around telemetry data may be less explicit than some competitors.
Pricing and value
McAfee’s pricing starts around $39.99/year for single-device coverage, but most users opt for multi-device plans such as McAfee Total Protection, which starts at $49.99/year (introductory rate). These plans include a VPN, identity monitoring, and parental controls. The value increases with the number of devices, but like many services, renewal costs jump after the first term.
TotalAV frequently runs deep discounts, offering their base antivirus plan for as low as $19/year for the first term. Their Internet Security and Total Security tiers, which include the VPN, password vault, and ad blocker, go up to $49–$59/year. Pricing is attractive up front, but renewal rates can be significantly higher, so it’s important to check the terms. Overall, TotalAV provides great value for users seeking essential protection and tune-up tools at a budget-friendly price.
Conclusion
McAfee is the better fit for users who want a full-featured suite with extensive coverage, multi-platform support, and extras like identity monitoring and parental controls. They’re a household name with proven security credentials and solid third-party testing results.
TotalAV, by contrast, is best for users who value simplicity, sleek design, and a low initial price. While it may not offer as many advanced features, it covers the basics well and provides good performance for those who want straightforward protection without the clutter.