Kaspersky offers superior malware detection (99.5% vs 98.2%) and lower system impact, while McAfee provides more comprehensive identity theft protection and better US-based customer support, making them suited for different priority profiles.
Kaspersky vs McAfee — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Russian-developed antivirus with industry-leading malware detection and minimal system impact.
Affordable antivirus with advanced identity theft protection and 10-device coverage
Malware Detection Rate. System Performance Impact. Identity Theft Protection. US Customer Support Availability. Annual Subscription Cost (3-device). VPN Data Allowance (if included). Independent Lab Tests (AV-TEST 2025)
Choose Kaspersky if you prioritize malware detection accuracy, faster system performance, and lower cost—ideal for security-conscious users with older computers. Choose McAfee if you need comprehensive identity theft protection, 24/7 US support, and don't mind higher system overhead—better for users who want one-stop security with peace-of-mind coverage.
Kaspersky Internet Security: 8-12% | McAfee Total Protection: 12% slowdown
Kaspersky Internet Security: 145 MB | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: $39.99 | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: No (separate purchase) | McAfee Total Protection: No ($9.99/month optional)
Kaspersky Internet Security: All plans | McAfee Total Protection: Yes, included
Kaspersky Internet Security: Pro+ and above | McAfee Total Protection: Yes
Kaspersky Internet Security: Up to 3 | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 99.5% | McAfee Total Protection: 98.2%
Kaspersky Internet Security: 45 GB/min | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 10 devices | McAfee Total Protection: 10 devices
Kaspersky Internet Security: Unlimited | McAfee Total Protection: 500MB
Kaspersky Internet Security: Not included | McAfee Total Protection: Included in base plan
Kaspersky Internet Security: 10 GB | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 8-12% | McAfee Total Protection: 7-12%
Kaspersky Internet Security: $39.99 | McAfee Total Protection: $59.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: 20 devices | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 96.5% | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: Every 4 hours | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 145-180 MB | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: $59.99 | McAfee Total Protection: $79.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: 2.1% | McAfee Total Protection: 15% average
Kaspersky Internet Security: 98/100 | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: Yes (separate download) | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: Yes | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (encrypted vault)
Kaspersky Internet Security: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 8-12% | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 45-60 minutes | McAfee Total Protection: 25-35 minutes
Kaspersky Internet Security: $59.99 | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 4.2/5.0 (8,400 reviews) | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: Full 24/7 behavioral monitoring | McAfee Total Protection: Yes
Kaspersky Internet Security: 6 major features (antivirus, firewall, VPN, password manager, parental controls, identity theft protection) | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
Kaspersky Internet Security: 280-320 MB resident | McAfee Total Protection: 280 MB
Kaspersky Internet Security: 3-5% average | McAfee Total Protection: 8-12% average
Kaspersky Internet Security: $0 (no coverage) | McAfee Total Protection: $1,000,000
Kaspersky Internet Security: Unlimited | McAfee Total Protection: Unlimited
Kaspersky Internet Security: Limited (40 hours/week) | McAfee Total Protection: 24/7 (168 hours/week)
Kaspersky Internet Security: Advanced+ | McAfee Total Protection: Advanced
Kaspersky Internet Security: Yes (Advanced with IDS) | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (Standard)
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 8.2%
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 24/7 phone, chat, email
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 99.5%
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Good but Limited
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: No - Web Protection Only
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $24.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Standard - Limited Data
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 5 devices
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Faster
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Higher impact
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Unlimited included
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Advanced continuous
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Standard protection
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 30 days
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $59.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 12%
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Limited 30-day trial
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Advanced (app blocking, screen time, content filtering)
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 10 devices
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (premium)
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes, always active
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $1,000,000
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 3.4 hours (business hours only)
Annual Subscription Cost (First Year, 1 Device)
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $39.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 52 minutes average
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 99.2%
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (250MB daily)
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (Windows only)
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $99.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 18-22
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS (up to 5 devices)
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $19.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 8-12%
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Unlimited
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 3.2%
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 4.1/5
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $34.99
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 10
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 500MB daily
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 5.8%
Kaspersky Internet Security: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 3 bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
How to choose between Kaspersky Internet Security and McAfee Total Protection
Compare Kaspersky Internet Security vs McAfee Total Protection
Kaspersky vs McAfee — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Kaspersky vs McAfee. Contains 86 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Kaspersky vs McAfee — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Kaspersky vs McAfee.
Is Kaspersky safe to use in the US given Russian ownership concerns?
Kaspersky operates independently from Russian government control and uses distributed data centers. However, in 2024, some US government agencies have raised concerns about potential backdoors. McAfee offers a US-based alternative without these geopolitical concerns. Users should evaluate their own risk tolerance regarding data storage location.
Which antivirus is better for Windows PCs with 4GB RAM?
Kaspersky is significantly better for older systems. Its 3-5% CPU usage won't noticeably slow a 4GB RAM machine during scans, while McAfee's 8-12% usage can cause noticeable lag and temporary system freezes on lower-spec computers.
Does either include ransomware protection?
Both Kaspersky and McAfee include ransomware protection as standard. Kaspersky uses behavioral analysis to detect encryption-based attacks, while McAfee includes ransomware-specific modules. Both are effective, but Kaspersky's approach is slightly more proactive.
What's the difference in identity theft protection?
Kaspersky offers basic credit monitoring only. McAfee includes comprehensive identity theft insurance up to $1M, dark web monitoring, credit file locks, and fraud resolution support. If identity protection is critical, McAfee is substantially better.
Can I use either antivirus on Mac and mobile devices?
Both offer multi-platform protection. Kaspersky covers Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android with unified pricing. McAfee also covers all platforms with the same subscription. Both provide adequate mobile protection, though neither requires separate installation for each device—one license covers all.
How to Choose Between Kaspersky Internet Security and McAfee Total Protection
Malware Detection Rate: Kaspersky Internet Security has 99.5%, while McAfee Total Protection has 98.2%.
System Performance Impact: Kaspersky Internet Security has 3-5% CPU usage, while McAfee Total Protection has 8-12% CPU usage.
Identity Theft Protection: Kaspersky Internet Security has Basic credit monitoring, while McAfee Total Protection has Full identity theft insurance up to $1M.
Consider: US Customer Support Availability
US Customer Support Availability: Kaspersky Internet Security has Phone/chat (limited hours), while McAfee Total Protection has 24/7 US-based phone support.
Consider: Annual Subscription Cost (3-device)
Annual Subscription Cost (3-device): Kaspersky Internet Security has $39.99, while McAfee Total Protection has $59.99.
Consider: VPN Data Allowance (if included)
VPN Data Allowance (if included): Kaspersky Internet Security has Unlimited VPN, while McAfee Total Protection has Unlimited VPN.
Consider: Independent Lab Tests (AV-TEST 2025)
Independent Lab Tests (AV-TEST 2025): Kaspersky Internet Security has Advanced+ rating, while McAfee Total Protection has Advanced rating.