Best Mac Protection Software

Norton is a consumer cybersecurity brand owned by Gen Digital, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. Its flagship product, Norton 360, bundles antivirus and malware protection with a secure VPN, password manager, cloud backup, and dark web monitoring in a single subscription. Plans range from the single-device Norton AntiVirus Plus up to Norton 360 Premium for 10 devices, with higher tiers adding parental controls, privacy monitoring, and webcam protection. Norton also sells identity theft protection bundles under the Norton 360 with LifeLock name, which add credit monitoring and stolen fund reimbursement.

Software runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, with browser extensions for Safe Web scam blocking and password autofill. Norton Genie, an AI assistant, screens texts, emails, and calls for scams. Subscriptions renew yearly, and Norton offers free trials on most plans; there is no permanent free tier.

Intego is a cybersecurity company founded in 1997 in Paris, France, that specializes in security software for macOS, with additional products for Windows. The company is now headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has been a subsidiary of Kape Technologies since 2018. Its flagship product, Intego ONE, is an all-in-one Mac security app sold in three tiers: Essential (antivirus and firewall), Advanced (adds SmartClean optimization), and Complete (adds Intego VPN).

Intego's antivirus engine detects Mac, Windows, and Unix malware, including trojans, worms, spyware, adware, macro malware, and keyloggers. Its custom Firewall gives users detailed control over incoming and outgoing network connections, improving on macOS's built-in firewall. SmartClean identifies disk space consumed by unwanted files, and Intego VPN encrypts traffic through a global server network. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee and phone, chat, and email support.

Sophos Home is the consumer antivirus product from Sophos, a cybersecurity company headquartered in Abingdon, United Kingdom. It offers a free plan covering up to 3 devices with core antivirus and web protection, plus a paid Premium plan that extends coverage to 10 Windows and Mac computers and an unlimited number of iOS and Android devices, all managed from a central online dashboard.

Sophos Home Premium adds ransomware protection, webcam and microphone access alerts, keylogger protection, exploit defense, and parental web filtering, using the same AI-based threat detection engine found in Sophos business products. A 30-day free trial of Premium is available without a credit card, and paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Avast is an antivirus and online security company based in Prague, Czech Republic, and owned by Gen Digital. It offers a free antivirus product alongside paid Premium Security and Ultimate plans that add ransomware protection, a firewall, webcam protection, and scam detection for email, SMS, and phone calls. The software runs on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, with plans covering a single device or up to ten devices under one subscription.

Premium Security includes real-time threat detection, a sandbox for testing suspicious files, file shredding, and Wi-Fi network scanning. The Ultimate bundle adds Avast SecureLine VPN, Cleanup Premium performance tools, and AntiTrack anti-tracking software. Avast provides browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and paid subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Malwarebytes is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, founded in 2008. It offers a permanently free version that scans for and removes viruses, spyware, adware, and other malware on demand. Paid Premium plans add continuous real-time protection against malware, ransomware, exploits, and malicious websites, along with the Browser Guard extension that blocks scams, ads, and trackers while browsing.

The Plus plan adds Malwarebytes Privacy VPN, a no-log VPN service with a kill switch, and the Ultimate plan layers on identity theft protection with dark web monitoring and credit monitoring through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Malwarebytes software runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chromebook, and subscriptions include 24/7 support and a 60 day money back guarantee.

Bitdefender is a cybersecurity company with its global headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, founded in 2001. Its consumer lineup starts with a free antivirus scanner and scales up through Total Security, Premium Security, and Ultimate Security, adding a VPN, password manager, anti-tracker, webcam protection, and parental controls at higher tiers. All paid plans defend against viruses, ransomware, and network attacks using the same detection engine used in Bitdefender's business products.

Bitdefender's higher tiers add AI powered scam detection across email, chat, and SMS, plus identity protection with credit monitoring through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion on the Ultimate Security Plus plan. The software runs on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and subscribers manage devices through the Bitdefender Central web portal. A 30 day trial and money back guarantee are available on paid plans.

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.