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Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top mac Security Software Compared
Macs can still get viruses. Our expert editors review and rank 14 top antivirus programs to protect your Mac or MacBook from viruses and malware.
Macs have long been less targeted by malware, which led some people to think they don’t need antivirus. But as Macs become more popular, they’re not safe from viruses and malware anymore – don’t learn this the hard way. While Windows computers often make the news for virus attacks, Macs can also be affected. In these antivirus reviews, tested by our expert editors, we recommend the best antivirus software to keep your Mac or MacBook safe from harmful software.
Not everyone is a security expert or knows how to check their Mac for viruses, but you don’t need to be one to keep your Mac safe. Apple includes some basic antivirus protection, but a good Mac antivirus program will handle everything. It protects against new and known malware, blocks ransomware, keeps older systems safe from outdated software issues, and prevents you from accidentally sharing Windows viruses with PC users.
The hardest choice for Mac users is picking which antivirus program offers the best protection and value for keeping you and your data safe.
Our Macworld experts are here to help you choose the right antivirus for your Mac. As specialists in Mac products, we thoroughly test each Mac antivirus for ease of use and performance, using both our own data and results from top labs like AV Comparatives and AV-Test. These are the products our editors use on their own machines, so you can trust our recommendations.
Our top pick is Intego Mac Internet Security, but depending on how many devices you need to protect and your budget, you might prefer one of the other options on our list. Some can also protect your iPhone, iPad, and other devices. We’ve only included the best antivirus programs, so you can be confident that any of them will keep your Mac safe. We’ve also added a few free options for those seeking the best free antivirus for Mac.
If you’re looking for great value, check out our roundup of the best Mac antivirus deals. And if you use both Windows and macOS, visit PC World for their top Windows antivirus advice.
1. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 – Best overall Mac antivirus
Pros
- Designed for Mac with helpful features and strong malware protection.
- Easy to install, with dependable virus and network scanning tools
- Includes a two-way firewall
- Offers file whitelists and customizable network settings
Cons
- not include a password manager
- AV-Comparatives, September 2024: 100% Mac Malware Protection, 97% Mac PUA Protection, 100% Windows Malware Detection.
We tested Intego and can confidently say it’s our top choice for Mac security in 2024. It caught all Mac-specific malware during our tests and performed better than Apple’s built-in security and competitors like MacKeeper.
We were especially impressed with the Mac Premium Bundle X9 plan, which offers more than just antivirus protection. It includes a firewall, backup tools, system cleaning utilities, and parental controls. It’s also more affordable than many other options.
Intego even offers a high-quality VPN, though it costs extra. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s a risk-free option to try.
Covers: macOS
Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9 combines two key tools: VirusBarrier for antivirus protection and NetBarrier for filtering network traffic.
The program is easy to download, install, and set up. It updates virus definitions and enables real-time scanning and intuitive network monitoring, letting users manage both incoming and outgoing connections on their Mac.
While it doesn’t have every feature, it offers excellent customization for VirusBarrier and NetBarrier. VirusBarrier effectively protects against viruses, and NetBarrier serves as a firewall that safeguards connections. Users can set different profiles for home, work, or public networks and control which connections are allowed.
Some issues include the scan tracker showing file counts during VirusBarrier scans and allowing traffic to suspicious websites linked to spam.
Despite these minor issues, Mac Security X9 doesn’t push users to buy more of Intego’s products, making it a solid choice. The included tools work well and are effective.
The Intego Internet Security bundle is priced at $24.99/$26.99/$39.99 for the first year. You can get Intego Mac Internet Security X9 here.
It also comes with a 30-day money back.
Bottom Line:Intego is the top antivirus for Macs available today. Finding a good Mac antivirus isn’t easy, but after testing almost all of them, I can say Intego is my favorite. While it’s not perfect, it excels with its two macOS protection tools — VirusBarrier and NetBarrier — both of which performed exceptionally well during my tests.
2. Avast Premium Security – Mac antivirus for malware protection
Pros
- Doesn’t usually affect performance
- Detected almost all problem test files
Cons
- Slow manual scans
- No option for a single-device license
- Tries to upsell additional features
- AV Test, September 2024: 98%
- AV Comparatives, June 2024: Approved, 98% Mac Malware Protection, 98% Mac PUA Protection, 100% Windows Malware Detection.
Covers: Mac, PC, iOS, and Android
Avast offers four antivirus options for Mac: Avast Premium Security, Avast One (both paid), and Avast Free Antivirus and Avast One Essential (both free). Avast Free Antivirus is a basic version of Avast Premium Security, while Avast One Essential adds features like ransomware protection, privacy safeguards, and data leak detection.
Avast Premium Security provides strong protection against various threats, such as browser script hacks, ransomware, and remote attacks. It includes features like Virus Scans, Core Shields, Traffic Monitor, Network Inspector, Email Guardian, Ransomware Shield, and Quarantine, all accessible from the main screen.
You can choose from Smart Scan, Deep Scan, Targeted Scan, or External Storage Scan. Traffic Monitor shows data and bandwidth usage, while Network Inspector checks for network safety and alerts you if unknown devices connect. Core Shields block fake websites from loading dangerous software.
The main downside of Avast Premium Security is its subscription model, which is common nowadays. Some features are only available with the Avast Ultimate subscription.
For those looking to save money, Avast offers two free options for Mac. Avast Free Antivirus performed well in a September 2024 AV-Comparatives test, detecting 90% of Mac malware, 89% of potentially unwanted programs, and 950% of Windows viruses. Avast also scored top marks in AV-Test’s March 2024 investigation for protection, performance, and ease of use.
You can get Avast Premium Security for Mac here, or consider Avast One, Avast Free Antivirus, and Avast One Essential.
3. Norton 360 – Best value Mac antivirus
Pros
- Easy to use and effective
- Covers multiple devices
- Minimal impact on performance
Cons
- No backup feature on macOS
- Missed threats in zip files
AV Test, September 2024: 97%
Covers: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Norton 360 is a security tool that protects your Mac from threats like browser hacks, search engine hijacking, intrusion attempts, and malware.
While its core protection features work well, the cloud backup option is missing from the Mac version. Advanced versions offer extras like Dark Web Monitoring, Parental Control, School Time, and licenses for up to five devices.
Norton 360 also includes a VPN to secure your data online, a password manager, and identity theft protection. Although the Cloud Backup doesn’t work on macOS, it’s not a critical part of the package.
There are some differences depending on the region. In the U.S., the entry-level version covers 5 devices, while in the UK, a cheaper version (Norton 360 Standard) covers just one device. The Advanced edition in the UK covers 10 devices, similar to the Select version in the U.S., which also includes LifeLock. Core protection is solid, but the cloud backup feature is missing on Macs.
The first year comes at a discounted price, with renewal at a higher rate. Norton 360 Standard is available in the UK and Canada, while in the U.S., Norton 360 Deluxe with LifeLock is the option.
4. AVG Antivirus Free for Mac – Best free Mac antivirus
Pros
- Good basic protection for a free product
- Quick and easy to install
- Simple and useful dashboard
Cons
- Occasional prompts to upgrade to the paid version
- Lacks ransomware, phishing, and fake website protection found in the paid version
AV Test, September 2024: 95%
AV-Comparatives, June 2024: 98% Mac Malware Protection, 98% Mac PUA Protection, 100% Windows Malware Detection.
Covers: macOS
AVG Antivirus for Mac is one of the few free antivirus programs available. While it is basic, it effectively protects against viruses, spyware, and malware.
Despite being free, AVG covers essential protection: it blocks viruses and malware from websites, downloads, and email attachments. It scans applications and files, removing threats from your Mac, and updates automatically to guard against the latest threats.
In AV-Test’s March 2024 review, AVG was praised for its protection, performance, and usability. According to AV-Comparatives’ June 2023 tests, AVG Antivirus Free for Mac scored 95% for Mac Malware Protection, 98% for Mac PUA Protection, and 100% for Windows malware detection—almost the same results as some paid options.
Although it lacks advanced features found in paid antivirus products, it handles core tasks effectively. For advanced issues, you would need to upgrade to the full version, which costs about $2/£2 per month for a one-year subscription. There’s also a 60-day free trial that might meet your needs.
Overall, AVG Antivirus for Mac is a solid choice despite its basic nature, offering much more than you might expect for a free product.
5. McAfee Total Protection
Pros
- Offers a good, customizable set of security tools for multiple devices
- The background scanning feature is useful
Cons
- The program feels slow when first launched
- McAfee requires a credit or debit card to create an account and download the software, even for a 30-day trial
Covers: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
McAfee Total Protection is regularly updated and provides a comprehensive suite of antivirus, anti-malware, identity protection, VPN, and scheduling tools. Prices start at $39.99/£34.99/CA$44.99 for the first year.
The software is easy to use; after going through the setup steps to allow it to run in the background, you can leave it to handle security on its own.
It performs full scans of your hard drive and custom locations like external drives, and you can schedule scans. You can choose what Total Protection does with suspicious files, including notifying you, quarantining them, or deleting them. In our tests, it identified and quarantined two suspicious files, proving its effectiveness.
Additional features include ID Protection that checks your email against known data breaches, a firewall, and a Secure VPN for setting up a Virtual Private Network.
McAfee Total Protection covers up to five devices on one account, making it easy to add to other Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. Note that the Windows version includes features not available in the Mac version.
We observed some occasional performance impact while it ran in the background, but it was mostly unobtrusive. The only downside is the somewhat complex process for ending the trial.
6. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac
Pros
- High malware detection rate
- Monitors for ransomware-style attacks from unknown software in specific folders
Cons
- Failed to detect some malware in real-time during our tests
- Fewer extra features compared to less-expensive or similarly priced higher-ranked competitors
- AV Test, September 2024: 97%
Covers: macOS
In March 2024, AV-Test awarded Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac a perfect score for protection, performance, and usability. This antivirus program is well-regarded for its straightforward interface and solid protection, making it a good choice for macOS users.
However, those seeking additional features might find it lacking. Despite this, it offers reliable protection at a reasonable price.
AV-Comparatives also rated it highly, giving it 100% for Mac malware protection, 99% for potentially unwanted applications (PUA) protection, and 100% for Windows malware detection.
In our own tests, Trend Micro performed well, detecting most threats in the Objective See malware library. It did miss some malware in a folder until a scan was run, but overall, it showed strong detection capabilities.
Trend Micro is ideal for users who want a simple and easy-to-use antivirus solution. While there are options with more comprehensive protection, Trend Micro still provides good security at a fair price, starting at $29.95/£19.94/CA$29.95 for the first year for one Mac, and then $39.95/£49.95/$39.95 annually.
How We Rated the Best Antiviruses for Mac in 2021
A Mac antivirus isn’t the same as a PC antivirus. Traditional “viruses” do not pose as much of a threat to Macs as they do to Windows, so a Mac antivirus must complement the built-in security capabilities of macOS and provide value by combating malware that is exclusive to Macs. The following are the criteria I used to compile this list:
- Malware protection in real-time. I ran a number of viruses, adware, ransomware, and other typical types of Mac-based malware through each program’s real-time engine to ensure that the suggested tools could handle even the most complex real-time threats.
- Scanning for viruses and malware. Before running each of these scans, I loaded some of the most hazardous malware on my Mac; only applications that could detect and remove these threats made the cut.
- The ease of use. I downloaded each software to make sure it had an easy installation, a user-friendly interface, and good customer service.
- Additional qualities. I evaluated each antivirus application for extra features such as garbage cleaners, VPNs (virtual private networks), and identity theft protection, making sure that all of the extras worked as advertised and added to the overall usefulness of the program.
- Value. Every piece of software on our list provides excellent features and performance at a reasonable cost.
Best Antiviruses for Mac — Frequently Asked Questions
Isn’t there an antivirus built into the Mac OS?
There are a few security features built into Macs, including:
App Review. Before downloading an app from the Apple Store, it is checked for validity.
Gatekeeper. Before running an app, it is scanned for dangerous code.
Web security. Safari blocks dangerous websites and tracking links.
Anti-theft tools. If your Mac or iOS device is lost or stolen, you can use this app to track it.
While these capabilities are helpful, they aren’t sufficient to protect Macs from ransomware, spyware, adware, and other complex malware used by criminals to spy on you and steal your data.
Real-time malware scanning, ransomware protection, Mac optimization tools, and advanced phishing protection aren’t included in even the most recent version of macOS. That’s why the ideal option is to install a comprehensive macOS-based antivirus suite like Intego – an antivirus designed to keep you 100 % safe against all cybersecurity threats.
Is antivirus software really necessary for Macs?
Yes, absolutely. Hackers have built (and are continuously developing) highly sophisticated Mac-based malware, making Macs increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. If you don’t have antivirus software installed on your Mac, you risk having all of your data taken and your system destroyed.
However, you must be cautious to only download reliable and legal antivirus software. If your antivirus is useless, you’ll be forced to trust a product that won’t protect you.
All of the antiviruses on this list offer decent protection for Mac computers, including effective malware scanners, a variety of internet security features, ease of use, and a reasonable price.
Is there a free antivirus program available for Mac?
Yes, there are a few good free antivirus programs for Mac, such as Avira and Sophos.
Keep in mind, however, that free antiviruses are only free because there is a “catch” – these companies usually want you to switch to a premium plan.
A free antivirus can suffice if you don’t have a lot of sensitive data on your Mac. However, if you’re like me and keep all of your credit card information, login information, work documents, images, and creative projects on your Mac, I strongly advise you to invest in a low-cost premium Mac antivirus like Intego.
protection. That’s why the ideal option is to install a comprehensive macOS-based antivirus suite like Intego – an antivirus designed to keep you 100 percent safe against all cybersecurity threats.
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