Top 5 TotalAV Alternatives 2026

TotalAV is a reliable product for device security, but it may not be the software you need. From our research, we found that the best TotalAV alternatives are Bitdefender, Norton, McAfee, Avast, and AVG.

With Bitdefender, you get comprehensive Windows and Android security. Norton has several robust security suites, with a password manager, performance optimization tools, a VPN, and more. McAfee provides a wide array of features, and it's a great option for families who want superior parental controls.

We’ll cover the pros and cons of these five antivirus products so you can make an informed decision when choosing the best TotalAV alternative.

The top TotalAV alternatives

Compare the best alternatives to TotalAV

Antivirus
Best for	Windows and Android	Features	Value	Free plan	Multiple devices
Starting price	$34.99/first yr	$39.99/first yr	$29.99/first yr	$31.20/first yr	$35.88/first yr
Free version
Firewall
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Parental controls
Learn more	Get Bitdefender	Get McAfee	Get Norton	Get Avast	Get AVG

Bitdefender: Best for Windows and Android devices

What we liked

Bitdefender is the best antivirus for Windows and Android users who want premium features with their antivirus software. It works with macOS, but some functions aren’t available. If you’re looking for online banking tools, Bitdefender includes those and also has a VPN for encrypted web traffic. 

You can try the free version or choose from one of the three subscription plans. If you opt for Bitdefender Total Security, you’ll have coverage for five devices. The Antivirus Plus and Internet Security options work only with Windows.

The Bitdefender features are easy to use. The interface is organized, and malware scans are fast, with no noticeable system interruptions. A full scan took less than 40 minutes with numerous browser tabs open and videos streaming.

What we didn’t like

It’s annoying that Bitdefender is divided into two parts when setting up the software. You have the Bitdefender Central browser hub and the antivirus application. To set up parental controls, you must log into Bitdefender Central to install the feature, but that’s a small hurdle to overcome.

Bitdefender specs

Price	$34.99/first yr
Free version	Yes
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	Yes
Extras	Password manager, VPN, and identity theft protection
Learn more	Get Bitdefender

Test results

Star rating summary

Norton: Best value

What we liked

Norton 360 has four main plans. They all include ransomware protection, cloud backup, and a secure password manager. Depending on the subscription you choose, you can cover up to 10 devices, get more backup space, as well as dark web monitoring protection.

We liked Norton’s fast scanning: It ran through over 600,000 files in under 10 minutes. Many antivirus plans don’t come with cloud backup, so we felt that was a bonus with Norton. We also loved the secure VPN to hide our internet data from unauthorized users.

What we didn’t like

There’s not much to dislike about this antivirus suite. If we must be picky, some users may not enjoy the multi-tab navigation when using the portal for the first time. To us, it means more features to explore.

Norton specs

Starting price	$29.99/first yr
Free version	No
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	Yes
Extras	Password manager, VPN, and identity theft protection
Learn more	Get Norton

Test results

Star rating summary

McAfee: Best features

What we liked

McAfee offers an all-inclusive antivirus package with features like a firewall, a VPN, identity monitoring, and a secure password manager. You also have 24/7 expert customer support and can choose from four subscription plans, with coverage ranging from one machine to unlimited devices.

We liked how many features come standard with McAfee. It also has real-time scanning that runs in the background, so you have more peace of mind while on the internet. Scanning is quick, and the firewall makes online browsing more secure.

What we didn’t like

Since we tested McAfee on a MacBook, we did have to change to a different web browser to access some of the identity features. It took some time to figure this out, but customer support gave us the solution, and after using a different browser, everything worked.

McAfee specs

Starting price	$39.99/first yr
Free version	Yes
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	No
Parental controls	Yes
Extras	Password manager, VPN, and identity theft protection
Learn more	Get McAfee

Test results

Star rating summary

Avast: Best for multiple devices

What we liked

Avast can cover up to 30 devices, with a firewall included for Windows. If you don’t need parental controls but want solid protection for online shopping and browsing, Avast is a good investment.

There are four plans to choose from, and one is free. All plans include phishing and real-time protection. Avast One and Avast One Platinum include unlimited VPN access. If you’re looking for a product that’s easy to use, Avast offers some of the best virus protection for Mac.

Avast is easy to navigate and showed no lag time when performing malware scans. The Network Inspector and Ransomware Shield are on by default, so there’s no complicated setup. It’s also impressive that the Personal Privacy section allows users to choose how and if they want their data shared.

What we didn’t like

Avast comes with a Stay Safe Virus Guarantee that refunds your money if your device gets infected with a virus that Avast cannot remove. The catch is that you must enroll in the subscription’s auto-renew feature, which some users may not like. It also has the most expensive starting price of our top five choices.

Avast specs

Price range	$35.88/first yr
Free version	Yes
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	No
Extras	Malicious site and web tracker alerts
Learn more	Get Avast

Test results

Star rating summary

AVG: Best free plan

AVG is one of the best free antivirus software products available. It works on any device and includes real-time protection and a firewall. With AVG, you get webcam protection, a secure VPN, and anti-tracking features, depending on the plan. 

There are two paid options, which are Internet Security and Ultimate. If you want the VPN, tracker blocker, and optimization tools, you’ll need the Ultimate plan.

What we liked

With its enhanced firewall, AVG alerts you to suspicious activity. The scanning speed is impressive, checking over 300 files in one second. You can also use the Scheduled Scans feature to set up routine malware checks.

What we didn’t like

Some of the features may require additional navigation. While testing, we had to investigate and adjust the settings to learn how the features worked. The support pages were out of date, so they weren’t much help.

AVG specs

Starting price	Free
Free version	Yes
Firewall	Yes
Phishing protection	Yes
Ransomware protection	Yes
Webcam protection	Yes
Network protection	Yes
Parental controls	No
Extras	VPN, Wi-Fi security, and website security
Learn more	Get AVG

Test results

Star rating summary

How to cancel a TotalAV subscription

If you’ve decided to switch providers, it’s easy to cancel your TotalAV subscription. The steps may be slightly different depending on your payment method.

If you used PayPal or a card, you’ll need to log in to your account and go to the My Services section. From there, you can manage your account, including the option to cancel. If you used Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store, you can cancel from your Settings app under the Subscriptions tab.

Bottom line

If you’ve used TotalAV and are ready to switch to a different paid antivirus program, or if you only need the features that come with a free option, Bitdefender is one of the best alternatives we’ve found.

Some of them offer free and paid subscriptions. Others, like Norton and McAfee, only have paid plans, but you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck. The best antivirus software doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but it will keep your data out of unauthorized hands.

TotalAV alternatives FAQs