Best optimization tools for Mac

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On MacKeeper's website

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• ID Theft Guard feature scans your emails
• Easy, fast, knowledgeable customer support
• Customer support requires a tech to access your device

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Best for software customization

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On AVG's website

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• Free version comes with malware, spyware, and ransomware protection
• Includes unsafe email attachment blocking
• May detect .exe files as malware, causing software issues

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Best for ease of use

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On Avast's website

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• High antivirus test scores
• Ransomware protection
• No parental controls

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When searching for the best antivirus programs for your Mac, you may be looking for a program built just for macOS, like MacKeeper. Maybe you’re looking for a product that’s been around a long time, like AVG, and includes a free antivirus to get your feet wet. Or maybe you want software that has received high antivirus test scores, like Avast.

If you’re looking for the best in Mac security, then we’ll guide you to the products that should meet your needs. Let’s look at the antivirus programs with the best virus protection for your Mac: MacKeeper, AVG, and Avast.

The best antivirus software for Macs

Sometimes it can be hard to narrow the search when looking for something as crucial as the best antivirus software. You want to be thorough but don’t want to get bogged down in an endless sea of technical details. Here are some real-life scenarios that will help you choose the best antivirus software for your Mac.

• MacKeeper: Best optimization tools for Mac
• AVG: Best for software customization
• Avast: Best for ease of use

Top 3 antivirus products for Macs compared

Antivirus	MacKeeper	AVG	Avast
Starting price	Starts at $71.40/yr	Starts at $46.68/first yr for 1 device	Starts at $69.48/first yr
Free version
Firewall
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Parental controls
Learn more	Get MacKeeper Read MacKeeper Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review	Get Avast Read Avast Review

Other popular antivirus programs that work with Mac

• CleanMyMac X
• Norton 360 Antivirus
• TotalAV
• McAfee
• SurfShark Antivirus
• Bitdefender

MacKeeper: Best optimization tools for Mac

As a Mac user, sometimes it’s hard to find software programs designed specifically for Apple products. You won’t have that problem with MacKeeper.

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On MacKeeper's website

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• ID Theft Guard feature scans your emails
• Easy, fast, knowledgeable customer support
• Customer support requires a tech to access your device

Who it’s best for

We recommend MacKeeper for anyone who has wanted an antivirus app geared toward Mac users that also 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 macOS security threats, too, so you still need antivirus protection while using them.

MacKeeper was developed with Apple users in mind and it’s reasonably priced at $63.92/yr. You get helpful features that not all antivirus products offer for Macs, like ID Theft Guard, which protects your private information while you’re online, 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 new software updates and installs them for you.

MacKeeper also looks for the usual viral suspects, like email threats and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), which might contain ransomware. You don’t have to worry about turning the feature on either; it’s active by default and runs in the background while you’re online.

What we liked

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.

The scans were fast and took only 30 to 45 seconds to check for duplicate files, adware, viruses, and our device memory. 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.

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 appealing to the wallet.

What we didn’t like

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 taking a gander at our private files doesn’t sit well.

It also doesn’t come with a firewall, which we find a bit odd since the product is made for Mac users. It seems the company would want to add that for more security.

MacKeeper specs

AVG: Best for software customization

AVG is strong antivirus software that offers easy installation and is highly customizable.

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On AVG's website

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• Free version comes with malware, spyware, and ransomware protection
• Includes unsafe email attachment blocking
• May detect .exe files as malware, causing software issues

Who it’s best for

AVG is best suited for users wanting that platinum-level feel. You get highly customizable products with scheduled scanning and protection for your network and external drives. If you need a strong antivirus with almost perfect protection ratings, AVG offers a good package.

We listed the free version as one of our best free antivirus software. It comes with spyware, ransomware, and malware protection. 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

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 Mac app without risk, to determine if it’s worth your investment.

AVG gives you multiple virus scan options: a Smart Scan, a Deep Scan, or a Targeted Scan. 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.

Finally, we like that AVG checks many of the boxes we look for since the best malware removal tools include anti-phishing and real-time protection options. It even has webcam and ransomware protection. 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

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.

You may also need time to adjust the settings. If you just want a simple interface, it can get overwhelming with so many options.

Also, 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. You can send an email through the support page, but to get AVG’s premium support, you’ll have to make an extra purchase. The Tech Support plans will cost you anywhere from $79 per call to $199 per year for the Total Care option.

AVG: specs

Avast: Best for ease of use

Some antivirus programs have so many features that it can be confusing. Avast is straightforward and gives you fundamental device and web protection to protect you from trojans, hackers, and other cyberthreats.

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On Avast's website

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• High antivirus test scores
• Ransomware protection
• No parental controls

Who it’s best for

Avast has plenty of features, but you won’t forget that you have it for solid antivirus protection. You can use scheduled or manual scans and additional features like website scanning and ransomware protection if you’re looking for a higher level of security.

Think how much you stand to risk if your personal data is found 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 want to run a Deep Scan to check all those hidden crevices in your Mac, you’ll be pleased with how fast this process works.

What we liked

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.

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.

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

As with AVG, 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.

Avast specs

Antivirus programs that didn’t make the cut

Some top antivirus programs we like didn’t make the cut for the best Mac antivirus software. Although Bitdefender and Avira didn’t make the top three, that doesn’t mean they don’t work well with other operating systems. Some features may not be quite what we were looking for in regard to Mac protection, and some products don’t offer budget-friendly pricing for what’s included in the package.

Bitdefender

Bitdefender has been around for a while and offers reliable antivirus software. It has lots of compatibility across multiple operating systems, and it comes with some powerful interface tools that are easy to use.

Bitdefender antivirus protects up to 10 devices, allows you to run manual and real-time scans, and its comprehensive security suites come with extra features like parental controls and a password manager. With all these optimal features, you may wonder why it wasn’t included in our top three.

Bitdefender Total Security is a good program if you’re using Windows PCs or Android devices. Since options like scheduled scans aren’t available for macOS, this could leave much to be desired when you can run only a quick or full scan manually. Other features, like the privacy firewall and Advanced Threat Defense, also won’t work on your Macbook.

Read Our Bitdefender Review

Avira

Avira is premium security software that can cover up to 25 devices and offers manual and scheduled scanning. You also get a firewall and numerous features like knowledgeable customer service and cleanup tools.

As with Bitdefender, you won’t get the firewall for Mac; it’s only for Windows users. Also, to get all the premium features, you’ll need to pay a premium price, which can be high for some. For Avira Prime, the most premium bundle, you’ll pay anywhere from $59.99-$129.99 for the first year. You can opt for the basic antivirus support with the free version, which comes with online threat blocking, secure internet activities, and real-time antivirus protection.

Since there are comparable antivirus programs for Macs that come in at lower costs, we didn’t include Avira in our top three list.

Read Our Avira Review

Best antivirus for Mac FAQ

Bottom line: The best antivirus for Macs

All the antivirus programs we’ve researched and tested for this article are the best ones we’ve found for each use case. MacKeeper is designed with Apple users in mind, so the product is highly geared toward optimization tools for Macs. When you want a customizable product that offers scheduled scans and features like phishing and ransomware protection, AVG will scratch that technical itch. Finally, Avast is good when you want a user-friendly experience with extras like the Stay Safe Virus Guarantee and remote tech support.

Our two honorable mentions, Bitdefender and Avira, come with extras that might interest you, or you may be considering an antivirus program for Windows instead. There’s something to like about all five antivirus programs, so we think you’ll be happy with your choice.

3 best antivirus products for Mac in 2023

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
MacKeeper	Starts at $71.40/yr	Best optimization tools for Mac	Get MacKeeper Read MacKeeper Review
AVG	Starts at $46.68/first yr for 1 device	Best for software customization	Get AVG Read AVG Review
Avast	Starts at $69.48/first yr	Best for ease of use	Get Avast Read Avast Review

How we tested the best antivirus software for Mac

When testing the best antivirus software for Mac, we wanted to look for products that contained features consumers would prioritize most and cast a wide enough net that would cover most users. To do this, we searched for Apple-specific software, programs that allow more customization, and software that’s easy to use, among other options. Here are some of the features we tested for:

• Ease of use: Some users are less concerned with lots of extras and want a product that’s simple to use across numerous devices.
• Includes optimization tools: Some antivirus software will include features that help clean up your devices, like file shredders.
• Customizable settings: Not all products offer these, but some users like to run manual and scheduled scans and set their antivirus to check for whitelisted items.
• Apple design in mind: Although there are lots of products on the market, there aren’t that many that are designed for Apple devices. We wanted to find software that worked seamlessly for these as well.
• Extra features included: Some antivirus programs offer more options, like a VPN that may appeal to people who travel or need extra privacy.

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On MacKeeper's website

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• ID Theft Guard feature scans your emails
• Easy, fast, knowledgeable customer support
• Customer support requires a tech to access your device

Author Details

Patti Croft

About the Author

Patti Croft is a freelance writer who specializes in all things technology. Her expertise includes antivirus software, online security strategies, and safety practices. She has a degree in Computer Information Systems and extensive experience working in the IT field. In her spare time, Patti is an avid reader and researcher, and loves spending time with her pets. She currently shares an office with her cat, Beau.