Mcafee
3 comparisons available
About Mcafee
McAfee is a global cybersecurity company founded by John McAfee in 1987, headquartered in San Jose, California. It is one of the longest-standing antivirus brands in the industry. After being acquired and divested by Intel (2011–2017), McAfee became an independent company again and went public in 2020 before being taken private by Advent International in 2022. McAfee's flagship consumer product is McAfee Total Protection, which includes antivirus, malware protection, identity monitoring, VPN (Secure VPN), password manager, and a file shredder. A key differentiator is its unlimited device coverage — the Premium and Ultimate plans protect an unlimited number of Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices under a single subscription, making it attractive for large households. McAfee Total Protection plans start at $39.99/year (1 device) and scale to $89.99/year for unlimited devices. McAfee+ Ultimate adds $1M identity theft coverage, credit monitoring, and credit freeze capabilities. Independent testing by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives consistently rates McAfee above 99% for malware detection. The company has over 600 million devices under protection worldwide through consumer and enterprise products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McAfee a good antivirus in 2026?
Yes — McAfee consistently scores 99%+ in independent malware detection tests and has rebuilt its reputation after earlier bloatware criticisms. The Total Protection suite is a solid all-in-one: antivirus, VPN, identity monitoring, and password manager at a competitive price. The unlimited-device plan is particularly good value for families. The main criticisms are: renewal prices are higher than promotional rates, and the VPN has lower speeds than dedicated VPN providers.
How much does McAfee cost?
McAfee Total Protection Basic costs $39.99/year (1 device), Plus $49.99/year (5 devices), and Premium $89.99/year (unlimited devices). McAfee+ Essential with identity monitoring is $89.99/year; Advanced $179.99/year; Ultimate $199.99/year with $1M identity theft coverage. These are first-year promotional rates — renewals are typically 40–60% higher. Annual billing only; no monthly option.
McAfee vs Bitdefender: which is better?
Both score near-identically on malware detection (99%+). McAfee wins on device coverage — the unlimited-device plan is unmatched for families — and identity protection breadth. Bitdefender wins on system performance (lighter impact), feature depth for power users (advanced firewall, ransomware remediation), and more transparent pricing with less aggressive upselling. For a household with many devices, McAfee. For performance-sensitive users who want more technical control, Bitdefender.
Top Alternatives to Mcafee
Norton
Better identity restoration via LifeLock with dedicated specialists
Bitdefender
Lighter system footprint with excellent detection rates
Kaspersky
Strong detection rates, though US government has raised security concerns
Malwarebytes
Lightweight, no-frills malware scanner with free tier
Avast
Free antivirus option with paid premium upgrade path
Windows Defender
Built-in free protection adequate for cautious users