Best antivirus for Mac: 10 top solutions | Tips and Tricks

The Mac, and more generally Apple products, have always been considered less vulnerable to viruses and web threats than the competition, see Windows and Android. So why bother installing a good antivirus? Mainly for two reasons: checking for program downloads outside the Mac App Store, the digital store for macOS apps, and checking files shared with Windows PCs.

Now follows a list with 10 best antivirus for Mac, free and with payment.

Note: for the realization of the article we based on the most recent ranking of AV-Comparatives, an independent Austrian company that is a point of reference for antivirus software tests, and the ranking of the online editorial staff of PCMag, a well-known US computer magazine.

1. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

The Mac antivirus solution from Bitdefender offers real-time protection from ransomware, adware and viruses, ensuring a safe online browsing experience. It also includes a VPN service: users can connect to a virtual private network with 200 MB per day per device available.

Bitdefender also guarantees the Time Machine protection, the Mac’s automatic backup program, in the event of a ransomware attack.

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is available in three different subscriptions:

• 1 year plan: 19.99 euros
• 2-year plan: 41.99 euros
• 3-year plan: € 62.99

Note: The prices above refer to the protection of a single device. All three plans include a subscription for 3 devices, at a cost of 29.99 euros, 62.99 euros, 90.99 euros respectively.

Read also: The best antivirus

2. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac

Kaspersky, a Russian company specializing in the production of computer security software, defines the Internet Security for Mac product as an “advanced protection from fraudsters and identity thieves”. Its main strengths are the defense against hackers and the safeguarding of privacy and personal information.

Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac is theantivirus Macbook which for years has achieved excellent results in the level of protection tests conducted by independent companies, for this reason we could not miss it on our list.

The licensed annual plan for a Mac costs 39.99 euros. Kaspersky also offers 12-month plans for 3 and 5 Macs, at a cost of € 69.99 and € 99.99.

3. Norton 360 Deluxe

In a single solution Norton 360 Deluxe offers real-time protection against spyware, viruses, ransomware and malware, a Password Manager with which to store your login credentials in a secure and encrypted way, and a VPN service.

The product in question of the US company Nortonlifelock protects up to 5 devices at the same time, including Macs, iOS, Android devices, and Windows PCs. Regarding this, we point out that some features included in Norton 360 Deluxe are not available on Mac, including backing up files on your computer.

How much does the annual subscription cost? For the first 12 months it can be purchased at a price of 34.99 euros.

4. Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus for Mac

Webroot, a US company specializing in computer security software, has SecureAnywhere Antivirus as its flagship product for Mac users.

Between pro include:

• full system scan quickly
• protection from phishing attacks
• possibility to extend the license up to a maximum of 3 devices

Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus for Mac is on sale for 29.99 euros per year, a price that refers to the standard license for a single computer; the cost rises to € 37.49 to extend the protection to 3 devices.

5. Avira Free Antivirus per Mac

In the list of free Mac antivirus Avira Free Antivirus for Mac occupies a prominent position, free antivirus for Mac, specially designed for Apple devices by Avira, the famous German IT company.

Avira Free Antivirus protects in real time the Mac from ransomware, adware and spyware, deletes unwanted files, and offers a VPN service limited to 500MB per month.

In Pro version, at a cost of € 34.95 per year, you add premium customer service and an even more powerful anti-ransomware system than that available in Avira Free Antivirus.

Read also: The best free antivirus

6. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac

Advanced Defense Against Ransomware, excellent phishing protection and a quick full computer scan: these are the three main reasons why Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac appears in both the AV-Comparatives and PCMag rankings, along with other top Mac antiviruses.

To work Trend Micro Antivirus requires an operating system updated to at least macOS Mojave (version 10.14).

The standard license costs € 37.46 per year, with protection for a single Mac. If you need to protect multiple devices, you can opt for the full license at a price of € 45.57 every twelve months.

7. Intego Mac Internet Security X9

In the latest test from independent company AV-Comparatives, Intego Mac Internet Security X9 hit 100% in reports Mac malware protection and Windows malware detection, confirming its great reliability. That’s why, despite not being much advertised in Italy, we have selected it for our ranking.

Intego’s Mac antivirus consists of two applications:

• VirusBarrierX9– Offers real-time protection from any type of malware.
• NetBarrierX9: signals and blocks unauthorized access to the computer network by malicious people.

One year of protection for one device costs 39.99 euros, the two-year plan has a price of 74.99 euros instead.

On the same topic: The best portable malware scanners for Windows

8. F-Secure Safe

Together with Bitdefender, Avira and Avast, the Finnish company F-Secure is part of the small circle of European companies that offer a Mac antivirus service that can make online browsing safer. The reference product is F-Secure Safe, which includes real-time protection against viruses and malware, ransomware and trojans, a convenient parental control, and an easy-to-use interface.

Here are the annual subscription plans of F-Secure Safe:

• 59.90 euros for 3 devices
• € 79.90 for 5 devices
• 99.90 euros for 7 devices

In addition, the possibility of requesting a refund within the first 30 days of use is offered.

9. Malwarebytes for Mac

Malwarebytes is a well-known anti-malware program in the Windows environment, but less so among Mac users. Malwarebytes for Mac, the solution for devices with macOS on board, presents a free version and a paid one: the first is useful for removing malware already present on your computer, the second offers real-time scanning and protection from adware and applications downloaded from outside the Mac App Store.

The premium version it is granted as a trial for the first 14 days of use, after which the user can decide to upgrade through the subscription of an annual subscription, or settle for Malwarebytes for Mac for free.

Malwarebytes’ paid plan, valid for one device, costs 39.96 euros (3.33 euros per month, billed annually).

10. Avast Security for Mac

Avast Security for Mac, in Italian Avast Protection for Mac, is part of the list of best Mac antivirus for free. The free version offers anti-malware, web protection (type of threat from websites) and email protection, in addition to scanning the Wi-Fi networks your computer connects to, in order to detect any vulnerabilities.

The upgrade to the paid version, Avast Premium Security, completes Avast’s antivirus suite with protection from ransomware attacks and real-time reporting of unauthorized access to the Wi-Fi network.

The annual subscription to Avast Premium Security costs 29.99 euros, with a 30-day money back guarantee.

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