What is McAfee?

McAfee is an American cybersecurity company headquartered in San Jose, California, that has built consumer antivirus software since 1987. Its flagship consumer suite, McAfee Total Protection, provides real-time virus and ransomware scanning, a two-way firewall, a password manager, web protection against phishing sites, and a secure VPN. Coverage ranges from a single device up to unlimited devices depending on the plan.

Higher tiers, sold under the McAfee+ name, add identity monitoring, credit monitoring through TransUnion, and identity theft insurance. McAfee applications run on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, with a web portal for managing devices and subscriptions. McAfee offers a 30 day free trial and a money back guarantee, though it does not sell a permanent free antivirus plan the way some competitors do.

Key Features of McAfee

Here are the powerful features that make McAfee stand out from the competition. Packed with innovative tools and advanced functionalities, this software offers a range of benefits.

  • Real-time antivirus and anti-malware scanning
  • Ransomware protection with behavior-based detection
  • Two-way firewall
  • Secure VPN (unlimited on Plus tier and above)
  • Password manager
  • Web protection and anti-phishing browser extension (WebAdvisor)
  • Identity monitoring and dark web alerts (McAfee+ tiers)
  • Credit monitoring and identity theft insurance (Advanced tier)
  • PC performance optimization and file shredder
  • Parental controls (Premium tier and above)

McAfee Pricing

Here are the pricing plans for McAfee. Choose the plan that best fits your requirements and budget.

Basic

$84.99/year

1 device

Standard renewal rate; commonly sold with a discounted first-year promotional price of $29.99. Includes antivirus, firewall, and password manager.

Plus

$39.99/year (first year)

5 devices

Introductory first-year price; McAfee states renewal pricing is higher. Adds secure VPN.

Premium

$49.99/year (first year)

Unlimited devices

Introductory first-year price; renews at a higher standard rate. Adds parental controls and data broker removal guidance.

Advanced

$89.99/year (first year)

Unlimited devices

Introductory first-year price; renews at a higher standard rate. Adds $1 million identity theft insurance and full-service data removal.

McAfee Specifications

Get a closer look at the technical specifications and system requirements for McAfee. Find out if it's compatible with your operating system and other software.

Software Tagline :
AI-driven antivirus, VPN, and identity protection for computers and mobile devices
Deployment :
  • hybrid
Subscription Plan :
yearly
Desktop Platforms :
  • web app
  • windows
  • macos
Mobile Platforms :
  • ios
  • android
Language Support :
en
Target Audience :
  • freelancers
  • startups
  • smes
Available Support :
  • email
  • phone
  • live support
  • tickets
Integrations :
TransUnion (credit monitoring on McAfee+ Advanced plan)
Product Url :
API Available :
No
Free Trial Available :
Yes
Run On Mobile Browser :
No
Free Plan Available :
No
Customization Available :
Yes

McAfee Videos

McAfee Screenshots

Alternatives

Explore alternative software options that can fulfill similar requirements as McAfee. Evaluate their features, pricing, and user feedback to find the perfect fit for your needs.

McAfee Comparisons

Compare McAfee with other similar options available. Explore the key differences to see why it's the top choice for businesses and individuals.

Overall McAfee Reviews

Here's our unbiased review of McAfee. Discover how our team of experts rates its features, ease of use, customer support, and other aspects that contribute to its overall appeal.

0/5

Based on 0 Reviews

0

Feature

Out of 5

0

Ease of use

Out of 5

0

Value for money

Out of 5

0

Customer support

Out of 5

0

Overall Rating

Out of 5

McAfee Pros and Cons

McAfee FAQs

McAfee does not sell a permanent free antivirus suite. It offers a 30 day free trial of Total Protection and free standalone tools such as the McAfee WebAdvisor browser extension.

It depends on the plan. Basic covers one device, Plus covers five, and Premium and Advanced cover an unlimited number of devices in one household.

Total Protection is McAfee's traditional antivirus and VPN suite. McAfee+ is a related line that layers identity monitoring, credit monitoring, and identity theft insurance on top of the same device protection.

Yes. McAfee markets discounted introductory pricing for the first term, and subscriptions renew automatically at a higher standard rate unless canceled.

Yes, McAfee offers a 30 day free trial plus a 30 day money back guarantee after purchase.