McAfee and Avast are two of the biggest names in cybersecurity, each offering compelling deals on antivirus software. They share similar pricing and features, making the choice between them a difficult one. To help you decide, I’ve conducted thorough reviews of both, including real-world testing. This head-to-head comparison of basic and advanced features, customer service, and usability will guide you towards the best antivirus for your Windows PC or Mac.
Pricing and Tiers
If you’re looking for a free antivirus option, Avast is the clear winner. McAfee does not offer a free plan. Avast One Basic, included in our guide to the best free antivirus software, provides antivirus protection for one device, protected folders to safeguard files against ransomware, and email scans for malware. It even includes a limited VPN with a 5GB weekly data cap. This free version might be all you need.
Both McAfee and Avast follow a common pattern of offering discounts on the first year of service, with significantly higher renewal prices. Malwarebytes stands out for its consistent annual pricing, which is quite rare. McAfee’s Basic antivirus app starts at $30 annually, renewing at $90. It’s a comprehensive solution for one device, offering real-time virus prevention and protection, an unlimited VPN, a password manager, and identity theft monitoring.
Avast One Silver adopts a different approach, offering protection for three devices for $28 in the first year, renewing at $80. It expands on the free app by adding an unlimited VPN with servers in over 50 locations.
For multi-device households, McAfee+ Premium is a good option. At $45/$150, you can install the app on all your devices without limits. This tier also bundles some PC cleanup apps. Avast One Gold, priced at $63/$180, protects five devices and includes a cybersecurity suite for PC cleanup, scam avoidance, and anonymous browsing with an unlimited VPN.
Both McAfee and Avast offer plans that include identity theft insurance and more. McAfee+ Ultimate, available for $200/$280 Platinum for one person or $250/$425 for two adults and parental controls. Avast One Platinum costs $120/$300 and covers six family members and 30 devices.
Features
The primary function of antivirus software is protecting your computer from malware. According to AV-Test, a third-party cybersecurity research firm, McAfee’s antivirus has earned a perfect score for the past four years. Avast also performs well, with only eight months showing minor weaknesses in the past eight years, the last occurrence being three years ago. I conducted spot-checks by visiting a website hosting harmless malware for testing. Both McAfee+ Premium and Avast One Gold successfully blocked the faux viruses and displayed warnings, alerting me to the potential threat. However, neither can match the near-perfect protection offered by Norton and Bitdefender.
Hackers employ various tactics beyond viruses. Email scams and trackers can gather enough personal information to build profiles for cyberattacks. McAfee includes text scam protection, while Avast warns you about email scams. These additions help you avoid sophisticated and subtle attacks.
A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your data and masks your location, safeguarding your online activity from prying eyes. McAfee Basic and Avast One Silver offer uncapped VPNs. Both successfully fooled Google, returning results for the server locations I selected in Peru and Italy.
McAfee includes a password manager that simplifies signing in across devices while keeping your credentials secure. Avast lacks this feature, so if you don’t have a better password manager, McAfee offers more value.
Avast and McAfee bundle additional services and utilities with their subscriptions. These include dark-web monitoring, which checks for leaks of your personal data, and PC cleanup tools that update outdated drivers which can have vulnerabilities. Many antivirus apps offer similar features.
Customer Support and Usability
To gauge customer sentiment, I checked ratings on the Microsoft Store and TrustPilot. While my McAfee support experience was slower than email, I received a satisfactory answer to my question. However, the consensus among customers is that Avast offers significantly better support. Avast One Gold provides 24/7 customer support via chat, considered among the best in the industry. McAfee+ Premium also provides round-the-clock assistance but can experience long queues. I waited 13 minutes for help from McAfee, while Avast responded within seconds.
Both apps are relatively easy to use, but Avast One offers a more user-friendly experience. The well-designed interface and helpful guides make getting started a breeze. I was surprised that most of McAfee’s extra features were crammed into a narrow panel, making them less accessible.
Protect Your PC and Mac
You’ll be in safe hands with either McAfee+ Premium or Avast One Gold antivirus protection. Both deliver reliable security for your computers and mobile devices at reasonable prices. Avast One Basic, the free option, gives Avast a significant edge in this comparison. Avast Silver also undercuts McAfee Basic’s price while offering most of its features. While McAfee protects an unlimited number of devices with its mid-tier McAfee+ Premium, Avast’s affordable family plans cover up to 30 devices.
There are better deals on antivirus software out there, and you don’t always need to pay more for good protection. Overall, I found Avast One’s app more user-friendly and recommend it over McAfee. If neither meets your needs, explore our guide to the best antivirus software for more options.
