The Best Antivirus Software for Mac 2026

MacKeeper is the best antivirus for Mac, based on our hands-on testing. It’s built only for Mac and pairs malware protection with extras like a VPN and data breach monitoring. Avast is best for beginners, and AVG is best for customization. 

Macs can still get malware, even with Apple’s built-in protections. Read on for our test results and what we liked and didn’t like about each pick.

The best antivirus software for Macs

	Our Pick
Best for	Overall	Beginners	Software customization
Star rating	4.6 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at $71.40/first yr	Starts at $49.08/first yr	Starts at $31.20/first yr
Max number of devices	3	10	10
EICAR test results	2/3	3/3	3/3
AV-Test macOS score	18/18	18/18	18/18
Ransomware protection
Device cleaner
Extras	VPN, data breach monitoring, ad blocker	VPN, optimization tools	Wi-Fi scanner, ransomware protection, fake website protection, email shield
Learn more	Get MacKeeper Read MacKeeper Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review

MacKeeper: Best overall

Who it’s best for

We recommend MacKeeper for anyone who wants an antivirus app geared toward Mac users that includes performance and safety tools. Macs may be more secure than PCs, but that doesn’t mean they’re always immune to malware. There are Mac malware threats, too, so you still need antivirus protection while using them.

MacKeeper was developed with Apple users in mind. Its free version scans for malware, but real-time protection only lasts one month. Paid plans start at $71.40/first yr for one Mac. 

You get helpful features that not all antivirus products offer for Macs, like ID Theft Guard, which helps identify your personal data if it's leaked on the dark web, and Duplicates Finder, which helps you remove unwanted copies of files taking up space. 

If you don’t always remember to update your apps, MacKeeper’s Update Tracker scans for and installs software updates automatically.

What we liked

Made for Mac: We liked that MacKeeper is made for Mac users. Many antivirus programs are made for PCs and lack some options for Apple products, or they don’t work as seamlessly as they do on a PC. MacKeeper’s dashboard was easy to navigate, and the security features worked without fail. There was no browser lag time, even when we used its virtual private network (VPN) and its ad blocker.

Fast scans: The scans were fast and took only 30 to 45 seconds to check for duplicate files, adware, viruses, and our device memory. It also received perfect AV-TEST scores for malware protection, performance, and usability.

Optimization tools: Antivirus protects you from basic malware, but MacKeeper also comes with optimization tools that make it fun to use. The Update Tracker provides a handy reminder when you need to update those apps you’ve neglected for a while.

Useful features: The added VPN is also a nice touch and saves you some cash if you want more secure internet browsing. Some of the best VPNs for Mac can be a bit pricey, so not having to pay for one is cost-effective.

What we didn’t like

Remote support feels sketchy: Although MacKeeper’s customer support is fantastic, we aren’t crazy about using MacKeeper Remote Support to check our device for issues. Apple has verified MacKeeper, which means it’s deemed as authentic software. Still, the thought of a stranger accessing our private files doesn’t sit well.

VPN won't unblock streaming: MacKeeper's built-in VPN offers strong security, but it's not enough to unblock streaming services. If you're looking for a VPN that does more, you may have to purchase one.

Test results

	MacKeeper
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	N/A
SE Labs results	N/A
EICAR score	2/3
Learn more	Get MacKeeper Read MacKeeper Review

Avast: Best for beginners

Who it’s best for

Avast has plenty of features, but you won’t forget that it's primarily solid antivirus protection. It earned 18/18 macOS score from AV-TEST, and its free Mac app blocked 99.9% of Mac malware in AV-Comparatives’ 2026 Mac Security Test.

Consider how much you stand to lose if your personal data is exposed in a data breach, especially your online banking information. With Avast Premium Security, you can scan websites for legitimacy to avoid malicious ones. If you run a Deep Scan, you’ll be pleased with how quickly it checks hidden areas of your Mac.

What we liked

Additional features: We enjoyed some of Avast’s additional features, like website scanning and ransomware protection. With all the websites you access, it’s a good idea to use antivirus for malware scanning while you browse the internet. Most of us use some online accounts for convenience, so having tools that verify legitimacy is a cybersecurity feature we find most helpful.

Scan options: The manual and automatic scans allow you to choose the most convenient times to check for viral threats. Since scans can sometimes take hours to run, we were pleased to find that even the Deep Scan took only minutes to go through close to a million files. Targeted scanning is useful when you want to check specific files or folders only. It’s a huge plus to have an antivirus that won’t slow you down when working.

Additional device scanning: Avast also allows you to check external storage, which is a valuable feature since many viruses are spread through these devices. It will check your emails for phishing attacks, so you can communicate without worry.

What we didn’t like

Not equal to PC: Some functions aren’t available on Mac devices. For instance, the firewall works only for Windows users. The Webcam Shield also works only if you use a PC. That means no webcam protection for your Mac, which is a real bummer for Apple fans.

The customer support rep we spoke to regarding the firewall problem was friendly but ultimately didn’t know why the firewall wouldn’t work for our Mac. That was after he was unable to find access to the firewall.

Test results

	Avast
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.97%
SE Labs results	98%
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review

AVG: Best for software customization

Who it’s best for

With AVG, you get highly customizable scans and protection for your network and external drives. If you need a strong antivirus with top protection ratings for Mac, AVG offers a good package.

We also named its free version one of the best free antivirus options. It protects you against viruses, spyware, scam webpages, infected emails, and more. All paid versions of AVG include Wi-Fi security, so you can always travel with internet security, whether you’re going to your local coffee shop or taking a needed vacation.

What we liked

Ease of use: We liked how easy it was to install AVG. If you want to start with the free version, you can test the antivirus on your Mac to see if you like it, then move to a paid plan. We also liked that AVG offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try its paid Mac app without risk to determine if it’s worth your investment.

Variety: AVG gives you multiple virus scan options: Smart Scan, a Deep Scan, Targeted Scan, and USB/DVD Scans. With a Targeted Scan, you can check specific folders if you don’t have the time for a Deep Scan. You can also scan external storage for any issues.

Useful extras: Finally, we like that AVG checks many of the boxes we look for since the best anti-malware tools include anti-phishing and real-time protection options. It also has ransomware protection and scans Wi-Fi networks for weak spots. If you want software that comes with extras, like the ones we’ve mentioned, AVG is worth the price, even for Mac users.

What we didn’t like

Limited features: Unfortunately, AVG comes with some distinct issues we weren’t crazy about. Like other antivirus programs that aren’t designed for Macs, some features are available only for PCs. One such option is the firewall, which doesn’t work on a Mac.

Outdated support pages: AVG’s support pages were a little out of date. Since some of the instructions didn’t work, we had no other option but to go through the settings to learn how some of the features worked. That may be daunting for people who don’t have time to dig into the software. 

Test results

	AVG
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.97%
SE Labs results	99%
EICAR score	3/3
Learn more	Get AVG Read AVG Review

CleanMyMac: An optimization tool worth considering

Who it’s best for

CleanMyMac is for anyone who wants to optimize their Mac device without needing true antivirus. This isn't security software, but it does include helpful tools to clean and restore your Mac to like-new performance.

What we liked

Optimization: The optimization features are where this software truly shines. You get a junk cleaner that removes those cache files hiding in places you don’t think to check. Space Lens lets you see exactly what programs are taking up the most space with a detailed map of your files and folders.

Some security features: The DNS flush feature was also impressive, making security better as we cleared IP addresses that were still hanging around like unwanted party guests. Everything was easy to navigate and apply when we needed to use the tools.

What we didn’t like

No antivirus: As good as this software is, it does have some shortcomings. For one, when we ran an EICAR test to check whether CleanMyMac recognized a malicious file and blocked it, it didn’t recognize the file as a virus. That was disappointing and made us wonder if we could rely on it to prevent malware infections.

No scheduled scans: The other thing we noticed was that the software doesn’t have a scheduled scanning function. We don’t mind on-demand scanning, but when things get busy, it’s nice to have the software run scheduled scans to ensure our device security doesn’t fall by the wayside.

Bottom line: The best antivirus for Macs

MacKeeper is the best antivirus for Mac because it was built specifically with Mac in mind. A lot of Windows antivirus tools don't work nearly as well on Mac, but you won't have this problem here.

We also appreciate Avast's efficiency on Mac, and stellar test scores on Mac, AVG's customization options, and CleanMyMac's performance optimization tools. 

Macs aren't impervious to infection, so finding an antivirus solution worth your money and effort is essential. We've taken the guesswork out with our list of tested and trusted Mac-friendly security suites. 

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