Antivirus
Top Companies in 2025
McAfee vs ZoneAlarm
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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
- Includes both free and premium plan options
- Built-in phishing protection via browser extension
- Real-time malware detection with cloud scanning
- Anti-bot tools
- No free basic version
- Lacks file encryption & rescue tools
- Price rises after first year
- High resource usage during scans
- Desktop protection only available for Windows
- Essential features locked behind top-tier plan
- Lacks recent evaluations from independent testing labs
- Features like VPN and password manager not available
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.
ZoneAlarm is a long-standing name in personal cybersecurity, founded in 1997 and now operating under the umbrella of Check Point Software Technologies. Headquartered in San Francisco, they’ve built their reputation on firewall technology and have since expanded into complete antivirus and internet security solutions. Their services are geared toward individuals and small-scale users looking for a mix of automatic protection and manual control, particularly Windows users who want more say in what their systems allow and block. They offer a free antivirus plan with core malware defense and a personal firewall, and their paid plans add features like anti-ransomware, advanced phishing protection, and mobile security tools. Their standout features include a two-way firewall, real-time cloud-based scanning, and application-level controls, giving users a clearer window into their device’s behavior. Customer feedback is mixed. Some users praise the software’s reliability, ease of use, and long-term consistency, while others cite concerns around billing practices, support responsiveness, and occasional system slowdowns. ZoneAlarm has received recognition in the past, though they haven’t participated in recent third-party testing—something potential users may want to weigh. So what does all this mean for your device? Read on to explore whether their tools match your security needs.
- 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 : Fair
- VPN : Unvailable
- Price : Starts at $35.95 per year
- Customer Experience : Fair
- Firewall : Available
- Free Trial : Unavailable
- Trustpilot Score : 1.6 out of 5
- Dark web monitoring and identity alerts
- Parental controls with screen time limits
- Mobile anti-theft features
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS) included
- Two-way firewall
- Application controls
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Real-time security updates
- 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—Undisclosed
- 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—Undisclosed
- Password Manager
- Rescue Mode
- USB Rescue Toolkit
- USB Vaccination
- Android
- Browser Plugins
- ChromeOS
- Fire OS
- iOS
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
- Android
- Browser Plugins
- ChromeOS—Undisclosed
- 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