4 alternatives comparedLast verified 2026-04-21 Live pricing
Looking for an alternative to McAfee Total Protection?
Whether you need better pricing, different features, or a tool that fits your workflow,
we've compared 4 verified cybersecurity software alternatives below.
Every price is checked daily against vendor pages — no stale data, no guesswork.
Prices in USD, verified from the United States. Regional pricing may vary.
Bitdefender has the strongest independent test scores in consumer AV (AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, SE Labs) year after year. Total Security at $39.99 first year / $99.99 renewal is the sweet spot — 5 devices, cross-platform, includes password manager. Upgrade to Premium Security ($89.99) only if you want unlimited VPN bundled.
Norton 360 is the most complete bundle in consumer cybersecurity. Deluxe at $119.99 first year covers 5 devices with 50GB cloud backup + VPN + password manager + dark web monitoring. LifeLock Select Plus at $189.99 adds identity theft protection — the most expensive consumer cybersecurity subscription but the only one with end-to-end ID protection from a trusted provider.
Most complete consumer cybersecurity bundle — AV + VPN + password manager + backup + ID protection
LifeLock integration on Select Plus is unique at this price point
60-day money-back guarantee is longest refund window in category
Malwarebytes has repositioned from 'cheap second-opinion scanner' ($40) to 'full antivirus competitor' ($80-120). The free tier remains useful for on-demand manual scans when you suspect infection. Standard at $44.99 for 1 device is the lightest real-time antivirus in category — smallest system footprint, minimal performance impact. Plus at $59.99 adds VPN.
Lightest system footprint in category — best for older machines
Free tier is genuinely useful — manual on-demand scans with no real-time penalty
Less aggressive renewal pricing than Norton/McAfee (+30% vs +100-200%)
Kaspersky has top-tier AV-Test scores year over year (competing with Bitdefender for #1), but the 2024 US federal ban on government use has created lingering brand concerns. Premium at $49.99 first year includes VPN + password manager + 24/7 remote IT support — cheapest 'everything bundle' in category if you're comfortable with Kaspersky as a vendor.
Top AV-Test scores consistently — ties Bitdefender for #1 detection rates
Premium at $49.99 is the cheapest 'everything bundle' in category
Unique Premium features: 24/7 Remote IT Support, Smart Home Monitor, Remote Access Detection