McAfee Safe Connect VPN Review 2024: Is It Safe to Use?

McAfee is a name we trust, so imagine our surprise when we tested the Safe Connect VPN and didn’t get the results we expected.
We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.
4.1
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On McAfee Safe Connect VPN's website

VPN
McAfee Safe Connect VPN
  • Easy to use
  • Bundled into McAfee security suite

While the McAfee brand is well-known and trusted as an antivirus product, we thought McAfee Safe Connect fell a bit flat. 

On top of not including some features we expect, like split tunneling and the ability to unblock streaming services, the virtual private network (VPN) was also buggy and crashed on us multiple times during testing. Despite using TunnelBear technology, McAfee's VPN functioned noticeably worse.

We did find some positives to McAfee Safe Connect, like passing its leak tests and an option to bundle with McAfee security. We'll break down the pros and cons in this McAfee Safe Connect VPN review. 

Pros
  • Bundled into McAfee security suite
  • Easy to use
  • Works on major operating systems
Cons
  • Not many features
  • Struggled to unblock Netflix
  • Tendency to crash
In this article
At a glance
Our experience
Who is it best for?
Prices and subscriptions
Features
Test results
Compatibility
Customer support
Alternatives
FAQs
Bottom line

McAfee Safe Connect VPN review at a glance

Price $35.99–$79.99/yr (first year only)
Free version Yes
Max # of connected devices 5
# of servers Unlisted in 47 countries
VPN protocol WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv22, IPSec
Encryption AES-256
No-logs policy No logs
Headquarters United States
Netflix access Limited
Learn more Get McAfee Safe Connect VPN

How we test and rate VPNs

We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.

Once we’ve completed the testing, our editorial rating is calculated by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each VPN in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, server count, speed, security, and features.

To learn more about how we test, check out our full VPN methodology here.

We last tested McAfee Safe Connect VPN on October 21, 2024.

Our experience

Overall, testing McAfee Safe Connect has been an incredibly buggy and frustrating experience, thanks to numerous crashes and the dreaded "Oops! Something went wrong!" message that plagued us. But when it did work, it worked fine.

The initial installation was smooth and we were happy with how quick and easy connecting to servers was. It even recommends a server that would give you the fastest connection, which made it easy to get started.

McAfee Safe Connect Connection Screen

The software was doing decently in our speed tests...until we hit Australia. Connecting to this server actually caused the program to break, and it took several restarts to be able to get any kind of connection going again. The worst part is this had actually happened to us last time we tested it too, which was almost a year ago now.

McAfee Safe Connect Error When On Australia Server

Once we got the connection working again, we were able to move on to our Netflix tests. While connecting to U.S. Netflix from Canada worked, every other server we tried was blocked by Netflix. We couldn't access the site at all while connected to the Australian server.

McAfee Safe Connect Netflix error when connected to Australia

Disappointed with those results, we moved on to testing the kill switch...which actually ended up freezing the program completely.

McAfee Safe Connect not responding

Between the connection issues, the bugginess, and the failure to unblock streaming services, we decided we just couldn’t use this VPN service.

If you’re getting the McAfee security suite (McAfee Total Protection) anyway, you might as well benefit from the VPN when you can. You’ll receive some encryption, so it could be fine for low-risk situations like checking directions on public Wi-Fi or reading a news site in a cafe. 

We wouldn’t use it for anything serious, like masking your identity or logging into your financial accounts. It comes with too many security risks and red flags for any real protection.

Who is McAfee Safe Connect VPN best for?

  • Recommended for someone who wants a light VPN bundled into their security software.

McAfee Safe Connect isn’t the most robust or reliable VPN available. However, it was able to encrypt our web traffic.

This is definitely not a great option if you’re looking for real security. If you’re on public Wi-Fi and want something light to encrypt your traffic, you may be ok using this VPN.

McAfee Safe Connect VPN prices and subscriptions

McAfee VPN's payment options are pretty straightforward: you'll pay anywhere from $35.99–$79.99/yr (first year only). It only offers annual plans, there's no way to pay per month. 

You can purchase the VPN alone, with McAfee security, or in the full bundle (McAfee Total Protection), including McAfee security and identity theft protection. You won’t get any extra VPN features by including security or identity protection, but you will expand the features available to you in the McAfee dashboard.

Because the VPN is meant as an addition to McAfee security, there aren’t any additional features as you move up in price. Your best value would be the Privacy + Security plan because it’s the same price as the Privacy plan and adds antivirus.

We don’t suggest purchasing the VPN as a standalone product, as there are other VPN services with more features and better security.

If you're looking for identity theft protection services, bundling all three of these together in the Privacy + Security + Identity plan for an additional $30 a year is definitely an option. You’ll receive identity theft protection insurance, personal data cleanup, and a password manager, which will help you reduce your online presence. The other two services are great, but we wish the VPN option was better.

Plan Annual price
Privacy $39.99/yr (first year only)
Privacy + Security $35.99/yr (first year only)
Privacy + Security + Identity $79.99/yr (first year only)
Learn more View plan

You can try McAfee Safe Connect for free, but will be limited to 250 MB per month and only one server. If you want to try out the premium version, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.

McAfee Safe Connect VPN features

As far as VPNs go, McAfee Safe Connect’s features offering is fairly conservative. If you’re looking for a VPN with a lot of robust and interesting add-ons, this is likely not it. But if you’re looking for a security bundle that includes a way to encrypt your traffic, this could be what you’re looking for in a VPN.

Server count and countries

  • Unlisted in 47 countries

McAfee won’t give you an exact total on how many servers it offers, but it tells you that you can choose from 47 countries. When you connect to the VPN, the fastest VPN server is recommended. You can, however, use the drop-down menu to choose another location if you want to be specific.

You won’t be able to get really granular with your server location with McAfee. There aren’t a ton of options, including no way to filter or search the server locations that are available.

What you can do, however, is use it to appear like you’re in a general location. This will suffice for geo-specific content, like checking the price of a new VPN in the country where you’re headed next.

McAfee Safe Connect virtual location list

No-logs policy and headquarters

  • McAfee Safe Connect VPN logs policy: No logs
  • McAfee Safe Connect VPN headquarters: San Jose, California, United States

McAfee Safe Connect seems almost like an afterthought for the security giant. There’s a single line in the privacy policy stating, “Note that if you use our VPN services, our VPN servers do not look at or log any information that you send or receive on the internet.” Ok. That’s great and all, but there isn’t much more information than that. Even that line is a little unclear. If there are truly “no logs,” then just outright state, “We log nothing.”

Also, the Safe Connect website claims its VPN has been independently audited, but the provided link takes you to a TunnelBear webpage. Apparently, the McAfee VPN uses TunnelBear’s technology. So do the logs follow McAfee’s privacy policy or TunnelBear’s policy? It’s unclear, and we couldn’t get more answers from customer support either.

McAfee's headquarters are located in the U.S., which also gives us pause. The U.S. is part of the Five Eyes alliance, which is a grouping of countries that have entered into intelligence sharing agreements. That means McAfee VPN could be legally required to hand over your internet activity if requested. This, combined with the unclear logs policy, is dissuading. 

Kill switch

  • Kill switch: Yes, it’s called safe reconnect instead of a kill switch

Safe Connect is a fairly bare-bones product, but it does include a kill switch. But don’t go looking for the phrase “kill switch” because it’s marketed as “safe reconnect.”

It does the same thing: interrupting your internet connection in the event the VPN disconnects. This security feature is meant to keep your IP address safe if your VPN connection fails.

McAfee Safe Connect VPN settings

Split tunneling

  • Split tunneling: No

If you’re looking for a VPN that offers split tunneling, we weren’t able to find the option within the Safe Connect VPN.

If you want to use a VPN for most of your online activities while using some sites or apps (like Netflix) that block VPNs, you’ll want to get a VPN that offers split tunneling. It’s helpful to keep most of your activity private while still allowing you access to sites you want.

VPN protocols

  • VPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv22, IPSec

While we found a support page that stated you can choose from a variety of VPN protocols, we were unable to find that option on the Windows app.

After asking customer support, it was determined that you can only choose which protocol you want to use when using the Android or iOS app. The Windows version connects to WireGuard by default and you can't change it manually.

McAfee Safe Connect agent confirms you can't choose protocol on Windows

McAfee Safe Connect VPN test results

Considering we already had issues with connection, we weren’t optimistic about completing our tests with this VPN. Here's what happened for each feature we tested.

Speed tests

  • Speed test results: It lowered our upload speed by an average of 16%, which wasn't too noticeable. 

When we test VPNs, we compare how the different servers available with the software differ in terms of impact on your internet speeds. Even the best VPNs will likely slow down your speeds a little bit, but it's not usually noticeable.

Connecting from the U.S. to Canadian, U.S., U.K., and Australian servers was actually pretty unremarkable. It didn’t slow that much, and we didn’t notice a difference. 

Speed test results for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN while connected to a server in the U.K.

During past tests, Safe Connect has taken a long time to connect to faraway servers and it crashed often. If we had to use Safe Connect, we would choose only the fastest connection option so we knew we wouldn’t have to wait longer than it takes Starbucks to make a cup of coffee.

Test type No VPN US to US US to CA US to EU US to AU
Download speed 289.24 Mbps 262.84 Mbps 214.86 Mbps 271.38 Mbps 223.81 Mbps
Upload speed 355.40 Mbps 231.34 Mbps 139.26 Mbps 89.72 Mbps 143.07 Mbps
Latency (ping) 12 ms 8 ms 43 ms 132 ms 191 ms
Download speed % difference N/A -9.13% -25.72% -6.17% -22.62%
Upload speed % difference N/A -34.91% -60.82% -75.76% -54.74%
Latency % difference N/A -33% +258% +1,000% +1,492%
Test results as of 10/21/2024.

Netflix tests

  • Netflix test results: McAfee Safe Connect struggled with U.S. and U.K. servers, but unblocked Canada and Australia. 

We started off the test by accessing Netflix without a VPN turned on. We were able to navigate our library the same as any other time, so we knew Netflix wasn’t having issues.

We then connected McAfee Safe Connect VPN to a U.S. server, but Netflix immediately detected the VPN. The same error appeared when we connected to a U.K. server.

A Netflix error page flagging a VPN with McAfee Safe Connect VPN in the foreground

Surprisingly, the Canadian and Australian servers worked, but McAfee Safe Connect has proven to be inconsistent with unblocking Netflix libraries.

A Netflix stream of Friends with McAfee Safe Connect VPN in the foreground

Suffice it to say McAfee doesn’t have the technology behind its VPN servers to unblock Netflix. Chances are, McAfee VPN will struggle with other streaming services too.

US to US US to CA US to EU US to AU
Did it work with Netflix?
Test results as of 10/21/2024.

DNS and WebRTC leak tests

  • DNS leak test results: Pass
  • WebRTC leak test results: Pass

This is the one place where McAfee Safe Connect actually improved since our last test in 2023. Originally, it failed the WebRTC leak test, but this time around it did pass with flying colors.

For context, Domain Name System (DNS) is the internet’s address book. It allows us to type in website addresses, and the computer uses DNS to translate that into internet language and guide us to the right website. Computers read each other’s IP addresses during this exchange, and Safe Connect kept ours hidden. That’s a bonus!

If DNS is the address book, then WebRTC is the internet’s phone book. It’s the technology we use to make video and voice connections online. Whether you’re using Zoom or recording your voice sans video, you’re using this technology. 

McAfee Safe Connect VPN's DNS leak test results

McAfee Safe Connect VPN's WebRTC leak test results

Kill switch test

  • Kill switch test results: Pass

This is usually the part where we use IPleak.net to see if our real IP address shows up when switching servers with the kill switch on. Turning on this functionality has frozen the app in the past, so we didn't have high hopes.

This time though, McAfee Safe Connect VPN kept our real IP address a secret. We switched from a server in Argentina to a server in Mexico and there were no leaks. 

McAfee Safe Connect VPN's kill switch test results

McAfee Safe Connect VPN compatibility

McAfee claims compatibility with both Microsoft and Apple products. You should be able to use the VPN on your computer or phone if it’s running one of these operating systems.

According to their customer support, McAfee Safe Connect is compatible with:

  • Windows
  • Android
  • iOS
  • macOS
  • Chrome OS

McAfee Safe Connect VPN customer support

McAfee does boast 24/7 customer support, which is available through chat or phone. Thankfully it was relatively easy to get connected with an agent, and is accessible through their support page.

Live chat and phone

We connected to a live chat agent almost immediately at 1 PM Eastern Time on a Tuesday. Though the agent was nice and tried to help, our question seemed a bit more technical than what they're used to so it took a bit to clarify what we wanted and to get an answer.

McAfee Smart Connect Customer Service

If your question is related to more standard things, like issues connecting or billing questions, then this chat option is likely good enough.

Online guides

Though McAfee has plenty of guides, they actually relate to everything McAfee and not just the VPN. This made it more difficult to find relevant answers and their search function wasn't the best we've seen.

Top alternatives

If you’re searching for a VPN provider with a lot of features and tight security, you may notice that Safe Connect doesn’t fit the bill. The options below are some of the best VPN services available, which include all the security features a VPN should offer. We would recommend any of these as an alternative to Safe Connect.

Price $2.99–$17.99/mo $1.99–$17.95/mo $2.03–$6.99/mo
Max # of connected devices 10 Unlimited 7
# of servers 6,800+ servers in 111 countries 3,200+ servers in 100 countries Unlisted in 100 countries
VPN protocol NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 OpenVPN, IKEv2. WireGuard
Encryption AES-256-GCM AES-256-GCM AES-256
No-logs policy
Headquarters Panama The Netherlands Romania
Netflix access
Learn more Get NordVPN Get Surfshark Get CyberGhost

McAfee Safe Connect VPN FAQs


+

Is McAfee VPN good?

No, McAfee’s VPN isn’t good. It offers some basic protection and a few features like a kill switch and different VPN protocols. Otherwise, there isn’t much to it, and it kept crashing on us during testing.


+

Is McAfee VPN good for streaming?

No, McAfee VPN isn’t good for streaming. We were unable to unblock Netflix with it on most servers and were denied access to the Netflix site entirely when connected to an Australian server. 

In addition, there was considerable lag time on all servers not located in North America (where we are), which means you’d have streaming interruptions if you were able to get a streaming site to work.


+

Is McAfee VPN free?

McAfee VPN does have a free option, but you're limited to only one server and 250 MB a month. You can also get it bundled with your antivirus for the same price as buying either one on its own.

Bottom line: Is McAfee Safe Connect VPN good?

Overall, McAfee Safe Connect isn't a good VPN provider. If you bundle it with your antivirus, it may be ok for low-risk activities, like online reading, but we wouldn’t recommend it for high-risk activities or anything that needs a reliable connection.

If you’re looking for a strong and secure VPN service, we recommended NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, which can keep your IP address and online activity hidden. You’ll also likely notice faster speeds and better webpage loading times. VPN users are usually interested in online privacy and safe internet access, especially if your connection drops.

A VPN is an important tool to use when online, so you want to make sure you’re using one that keeps your data private. Even though we’re fans of McAfee’s antivirus security, we just can’t get behind McAfee Safe Connect.

4.1
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On McAfee Safe Connect VPN's website
VPN
McAfee Safe Connect VPN
  • Easy to use
  • Bundled into McAfee security suite
Author Details
Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.
Kalleigh Lane is a passionate digital security advocate and the Lead Editor at All About Cookies. After completing her Master of Arts in English Literature, Kalleigh has gained over 5 years of editing and writing experience in the fields of cybersecurity, tech, and finance. She has been featured in major media outlets such as The Globe and Mail and CTV News, emerging as an advocate for digital security.