Moonlock Review 2025: A Lightweight Mac Antivirus That Actually Delivers

Moonlock is a genuinely strong Mac-only antivirus that prioritizes clarity, speed, and real-time protection rather than bloated toolsets. In testing, it delivered extremely fast scan times with almost no system impact and results that were easy to understand.

With pricing starting at $37.80/yr and licenses available for up to 5 Macs, Moonlock is a competitively priced, lightweight security suite built for macOS. Its real-time protection, ransomware defenses, firewall, VPN, and network inspection tools make it a compelling option, especially if you want something sleek, unobtrusive, and highly intuitive.

In our Moonlock review, we cover pricing, features, performance, and more.

Moonlock review at a glance

Price	$37.80-$117.60/yr
Free plan	7-day free trial
# of devices protected	1 - 5
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection	Yes
EICAR test results	2/3
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Compatibility	macOS
Extras	VPN, Network Inspector, system protection, security advisor
24/7 customer support	Yes
Learn more	Get Moonlock

We last tested Moonlock on December 11, 2025.

I tested Moonlock on a MacBook Pro running macOS 15.6.1, and installation was about as smooth as it gets. After signing in to my MacPaw account and granting macOS permissions, the app was ready to scan within seconds. There were no extra downloads, no upsells, and a clean, native-feeling interface. It took a moment to locate the scan-customization menu, but everything else was straightforward.

Scan performance was the clear highlight. The quick scan finished in 10 seconds, the full scan in about 2 minutes, and neither impacted system responsiveness. CPU usage never rose much beyond 20%. While file counts weren’t displayed, Moonlock blocked EICAR files in real time and stopped the drive-by malware test before it was downloaded. Threat explanations were clear, quarantines were automatic, and no false positives appeared.

I also tested the firewall, network tools, ransomware protection, VPN, and optimization utilities. All were simple to activate, though the firewall lacked customization and didn’t clearly indicate its status. Phishing protection also failed the AMTSO test page.

Still, overall usability was excellent, and performance tools worked without introducing confusion or risk. With no mobile apps and a strictly Mac-only approach, Moonlock delivers one of the most polished, lightweight experiences of any Mac antivirus I’ve tested.

Who is Moonlock best for?

• Recommended for Mac users who want powerful malware protection without confusing upsells or complicated scan results.

Moonlock is a strong fit for Mac users who want fast, real-time protection without the clutter of larger antivirus suites. Its lightweight design, clear alerts, and macOS-native feel make it ideal for anyone who values speed, simplicity, and minimal system impact.

It’s best for people who want solid malware defense, ransomware protection, a firewall, and network inspection, without a pile of extra utilities they’ll never touch. If you want reliable, low-maintenance security that stays out of your way, Moonlock is an easy recommendation.

Moonlock cost

Moonlock starts at $37.80/yr for one Mac, which is competitive for a lightweight, Mac-focused antivirus. That entry plan includes all of the core features, real-time protection, ransomware defenses, firewall, network inspection, and the VPN, without needing cross-platform add-ons.

Plans for 2 or 5 Macs lower the per-device cost, making Moonlock a cost-efficient option for multi-Mac households or small offices. Even the top-tier licenses remain reasonably priced compared to larger AV suites that charge more for features that most Mac users won’t use.

	License for 1 Mac	License for 2 Macs	License for 5 Macs
Price for first year	$37.80/yr	$58.80/yr	$177.60/yr
# devices supported	1	2	5
Compatible with	Mac	Mac	Mac
Manual and auto scan
Phishing protection
Firewall
Real-time protection
Ransomware protection
Parental controls
Performance optimization tools
VPN
Learn more	View plan	View plan	View plan

However, Moonlock offers a lifetime pricing tier, which competitors don't. That means users can get a lifetime subscription for a one-time fee. The caveat is that the lifetime plans don't include major upgrades or new features, so those would be an additional cost. The lifetime plans are $105 for one device, $168 for two devices, and $336 for five devices.

Moonlock features

Moonlock stands out for its strong real-time protection, fast scans, and clean macOS-native interface. Its lightweight engine blocked manually downloaded malware and drive-by downloads in testing, and it adds useful extras like a VPN, country blocking, and macOS security guidance.

Its main weaknesses are limited firewall controls and a missed AMTSO phishing-page test, putting its phishing protection a step behind top competitors.

Malware and antivirus scan

Moonlock offers manual and scheduled quick and full scans, and both were extremely fast in testing, 10 seconds and 2 minutes, with minimal system impact. It doesn’t show file counts, but results were accessible, detections were well explained, and suspicious files were quarantined immediately. All EICAR files were blocked or contained, and no false positives appeared.

Phishing protection

Moonlock includes built-in phishing and spam detection with clear pop-up alerts when threats appear. However, it failed the AMTSO phishing test, allowing the simulated page to load. Spam detection was accurate, and items can be marked safe manually. Overall, its phishing protection is serviceable but not as strong as its malware defenses.

Firewall

Moonlock’s firewall provides basic network protection but feels underdeveloped. It runs in the background with minimal indicators and offers little customization, no clear alerts, and no easy way to create app-specific rules. It still adds a useful baseline layer of filtering, but power users may find it limited.

Network protection

Moonlock’s Network Inspector gives you clear visibility into outbound connections, with a standout country blocker that lets you restrict traffic from specific regions. Setup is quick, and the dashboard is easy to read. It’s not a full vulnerability scanner, but it offers helpful insight into how apps communicate with external servers.

Real-time protection

Moonlock’s real-time protection runs continuously, monitoring files, downloads, email attachments, and system activity. It blocked malware downloads instantly during testing and automatically quarantined threats. There’s no ad blocker, but it protects against malicious scripts, installers, and drive-by downloads. Real-time protection is on by default, with an option to toggle it in the interface.

Ransomware protection

Moonlock bundles ransomware protection into its real-time engine, watching for unauthorized encryption or file modification attempts. When threats are detected, Moonlock isolates the malicious process and secures affected files. The feature is enabled automatically and doesn’t require configuration. No ransomware-specific issues occurred during testing, and Moonlock clearly communicates when a threat is neutralized.

Bonus features

Moonlock includes several additional tools that add meaningful value, particularly for privacy-focused users:

Network Inspector

Shows active network connections, highlights potential risks, and allows country-level blocking. This feature is good for monitoring unknown background traffic.

VPN

Moonlock includes a built-in VPN for encrypted browsing. Virtual private networks (VPNs) are designed to prevent your IP address and traffic from being exposed on unsecured networks. Moonlock's included VPN is powered by ClearVPN, which MacPaw also owns.

System Protection

This feature audits macOS security settings (like FileVault, firewall status, and app permissions) and walks you through tightening weak spots. It’s especially helpful for non-technical users.

Security Advisor

A guidance hub offering practical recommendations for safer online behavior, things like password hygiene, update reminders, and privacy practices.

Moonlock test results

To evaluate Moonlock, we combined hands-on testing with any available third-party lab data. Our tests covered real-time protection, EICAR benchmarks, phishing simulations, and performance measurements. When available, we also reference results from AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs, which offer standardized, real-world insight, though not every vendor participates in every cycle.

Scan efficiency

• Result: Found no EICAR files during manual scans because real-time protection blocked them before scanning could begin.

Moonlock’s scan performance was outstanding: the quick scan finished in 10 seconds and the full scan in about 2 minutes, all with CPU usage staying near 20% and no impact on responsiveness.

While it doesn’t show file counts, the results were clear and easy to read. Real-time protection blocked all EICAR files before they could be scanned, automatically quarantining them and explaining each threat. No false positives appeared.

	Quick scan	Full scan
Time spent	10 seconds	2 minutes
# of files scanned	Not displayed	Not displayed
Did it find EICAR files?	No – blocked before scanning	No – blocked before scanning

EICAR test results

• Result: 2/3

Moonlock passed two of the three EICAR tests, blocking both manually downloaded malware and drive-by downloads before they reached the system, with clear alerts and automatic quarantines. Its only miss was the AMTSO phishing test, which it allowed to load, an important gap if phishing protection is a priority, as many competitors block all three benchmarks.

Test	Moonlock score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing pages detection	Fail

AV-TEST results

• Result: Strong macOS performance with near-perfect protection and excellent usability.

AV-TEST evaluates antivirus products for protection, performance, and usability, scoring each category on a 0–6 scale. In its latest macOS report, Moonlock earned 16/18, showing strong protection, moderate performance impact, and perfect usability. Moonlock has been tested only on macOS, not Windows or Android.

Test type	Windows score	macOS score	Android score
Protection	N/A	5.5/6	N/A
Performance	N/A	4.5/6	N/A
Usability	N/A	6/6	N/A
Total	N/A	16/18	N/A
Date	N/A	September 2025	N/A
Link to test	N/A	Link	N/A

Moonlock’s 5.5/6 protection score indicates high reliability against macOS threats, placing it comfortably alongside more established competitors.

Its 4.5/6 performance score is slightly lower, suggesting a minor system impact under laboratory conditions, though in hands-on testing, we experienced virtually no slowdown during scans.

The perfect 6/6 usability score means Moonlock generated no false positives during AV-TEST’s evaluation, an important metric for users who rely on antivirus tools to make accurate, low-friction decisions.

Overall, Moonlock’s AV-TEST results reinforce what we observed during manual testing: strong real-time protection, clean operation, and a user experience that stays out of your way.

AV-Comparatives test results

• Result: No published AV-Comparatives results for Moonlock.

AV-Comparatives runs large-scale, real-world tests across categories like malware protection, performance, and mobile security. Moonlock hasn’t participated in any of these test cycles yet, so no scores are available, a common situation for newer or Mac-only antivirus tools. The absence of results reflects non-participation, not poor performance.

SE Labs results

• Result: No published SE Labs scores for Moonlock.

SE Labs runs attack-chain simulations that measure protection accuracy, false-positive rates, and overall effectiveness, tests that closely mirror real-world attack behavior. Moonlock hasn’t been evaluated by SE Labs, which is common for Mac-only products since most cycles focus on Windows and require vendor participation. The lack of results simply reflects non-involvement, not poor performance.

Moonlock compatibility

Moonlock is built exclusively for macOS, so all features, from malware scanning to VPN and network tools, run directly on Apple computers. There are no companion mobile apps or browser extensions, making this a strictly desktop-focused antivirus.

Supported platforms:

• macOS 13 or later
• Mac desktops and laptops (Intel & Apple Silicon)
• No Windows, iOS, or Android apps
• No browser extensions

Moonlock customer support

Moonlock offers support through live chat, phone, and a website form, and all options are available on any plan. The online guides are straightforward and easy to follow, covering setup, permissions, and troubleshooting. In testing, customer service responded after about an hour, so while the resources are solid, response times may vary depending on when you reach out.

Top alternatives

If Moonlock isn’t the perfect fit, several other antivirus tools offer broader platform support or stronger phishing protection. Here are a few top options worth considering.

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Moonlock good?

Yes, Moonlock is a strong, user-friendly Mac antivirus with excellent real-time protection and extremely fast scans. It’s lightweight, intuitive, and performs very well in malware and drive-by download tests. The main drawbacks are its weaker phishing protection and limited firewall customization.

Moonlock is a great choice for Mac-only households or anyone who wants a clean, fast antivirus that doesn’t bog down the system. If you need cross-platform protection or more advanced phishing defenses, consider alternatives like Bitdefender, Norton, or Intego.

If you want to compare top options, you can explore our best antivirus recommendations for a broader view of what’s available.