Antivirus comparison: Which option is best for your PC or Mac?

December 5, 2024

By Kim Komando

If you browse the internet regularly, you can’t get around the fact that you need antivirus software. Viruses can pop up in unexpected places, and you want your device to be able to fight one off if it appears.

Dangerous malware making the rounds is what makes having antivirus software protecting you so critical. But what’s the best antivirus software for a Mac or Windows computer? Keep reading to see the best options.

TotalAV

TotalAV works with Windows PCs, Macs, Android phones and iPhones. TotalAV is Kim’s pick and a sponsor of her national radio show. As far as features go, it stacks up compared to the other names on the market you already know. And you can get a killer discount using Kim’s special offer.

Here are the pros and cons.

The good

The bad

Get the best security suite and save 85% at TotalAV.com/Kim. That’s just $19 for a year of protection on up to five devices.

Bitdefender Antivirus

Bitdefender Antivirus can be used on Mac and Windows computers, and mobile versions for your smartphone also exist. A $39.99 subscription can cover five devices.

Let’s go over the highlights of the software:

The good

The bad

Microsoft Defender

Maybe you’re careful when using your computer or keep your browsing to a minimum. In that case, if you have a PC, you might be good with just Microsoft Defender.

Defender comes built into Windows and helps you manage privacy, keep files safe and gives you many parental control options. Since it’s built-in, Microsoft Defender is free, but you can get a premium version for an office too.

The good

The bad

Avast Free Mac Security

Don’t worry, Mac users. There’s antivirus software for your computer too. It’s not built-in like Defender, but Avast Free Mac Security is easy to download and has many features we’ll detail below.

The good

The bad

PC Matic

If you like American-made products, you might like PC Matic for your antivirus software. It advertises itself as the only software like this that is 100% developed in America and comes with some great features.

The good

The bad

Sophos Home Premium

For antivirus software as powerful as the one big businesses use, get Sophos Home Premium. You can get protection for up to 10 devices for one year for just $45.

The good

The bad

Malwarebytes

Formerly known as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Malwarebytes Free isn’t your traditional antivirus software. Rather than waiting for a threat to arrive, Malwarebytes blocks it before it even reaches your computer.

It primarily does this by going after malware before it infects your devices. There’s a premium version of Malwarebytes, but primarily, it’s free and pretty effective.

The good

The bad

Whatever antivirus software you get, you can have excellent protection on many devices for little money. Decide on your security needs, and get antivirus software today to ensure your safety.

https://www.komando.com/tips/cybersecurity/antivirus-comparison-which-is-best/