TotalAV vs. McAfee 2024: Which Antivirus Giant Takes the Crown?

McAfee gives you unlimited device coverage with family features, while TotalAV provides effective, budget-friendly options. In this expert guide, we compare the two so you can make the best choice.
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Best for affordability

4.3
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On TotalAV's website

Antivirus Software
TotalAV
First year discount on paid plans
  • Real-time protection from viruses, malware, and online threats
  • Blocks tracking cookies and ads, proactively monitors for data breaches, and option to schedule smart scans
  • 100% compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems on up to 3 devices
  • Lacks firewall protection

Best for overall features

4.0
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On McAfee's website

Antivirus Software
McAfee
Save $90 on a 2-year plan
  • Premium antivirus, scam, and web protection, plus a VPN, identity monitoring, and secure password manager
  • Added peace of mind with 24/7 expert online support and McAfee’s Virus Protection Pledge
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS on up to 5 devices

After thorough testing and looking at third-party scores, we concluded that McAfee was better than TotalAV.

McAfee is premium antivirus software that includes some features families might appreciate. Although there’s no free version, McAfee has four different paid options to fit almost any budget, starting at $39.99/yr (first yr only). That and the higher Windows test scores make it a better antivirus program than TotalAV.

Still, TotalAV is a good solution for users wanting effective malware protection but may not need unlimited device coverage. The paid plans start at $29.00/yr (first year only), making it affordable for most people who want to test the product.

Let’s dive into all the details so you can choose the best antivirus program tailored to your needs.

In this article
Overview comparison
Prices
Features
Test results
Compatibility and customer support
FAQs
Which is better?

TotalAV vs. McAfee review at a glance

One of the main differences between these antivirus products is the number of devices you can cover. McAfee offers unlimited device protection, while TotalAV maxes out at eight.

Some users may think TotalAv’s cost is too high to cover only three to eight machines. You also won’t get parental controls with TotalAV, so if you’re looking for a more family-centered option, TotolAV may not be the best fit.

  • TotalAV: Best for budget-conscious users wanting online malware protection for up to eight devices.
  • McAfee: Best for anyone looking for a suite of features, including family security options

TotalAV vs. McAfee compared

Star rating
4.3
4.0
Starting price Starts at $29.00/yr (first year only) Starts at $39.99/yr (first yr only)
Max number of protected devices 8 Unlimited
Malware scans Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Opera, Amazon Fire Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, ChromeOS
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read Total AV Review

Get McAfee

Read McAfee Review

How we test and rate antivirus software

We use our proprietary grading rubric in all of our testing, which considers ease-of-use, third-party testing scores, internal testing scores, price, compatibility, and features offered, among other metrics. 

This means that our testing process is designed to ensure that the product isn't too confusing, protects as it claims, and offers you a lot for a reasonable price. We download and run each program on our own computers on home networks, just like you would. Our ratings reflect the real-world performance of the antivirus product. This ensures that we can recreate a similar experience for you and give our best advice on whether or not it's worthwhile.

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

TotalAV pros and cons

TotalAV has proven itself a reliable product, scoring well in third-party tests. It offers robust protection from various types of malware. It has optimization tools to make surfing the web smooth as well as an ad blocker.

Pros
  • Highly-rated protection from multiple threats
  • User-friendly interface and overall app
  • Real-time protection to ensure your activity and devices are always safe
Cons
  • Only protects a maximum of 8 devices, which may not be enough for some households
  • Doesn't include advanced firewall protection

McAfee pros and cons

McAfee has the advantage when it comes to devices. Depending on your plan, you can cover an unlimited amount, making it a great choice for large households. Along with reliable antivirus, you can sign up for extras like data removal and identity theft protection.

Pros
  • All plans include real-time protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware
  • Covers unlimited devices starting with McAfee+ Premium plan
  • Consistently high third-party test scores
  • Additional features like a VPN, password manager, and identity theft protection
Cons
  • Full scan was extremely slow and affected computer performance
  • Features are limited for macOS

Which antivirus is the better value?

Both antivirus products offer great value, but TotalAV has slightly better pricing.

Our Pick
Price range $29.00–$49.00/yr (first year only) $29.99–$249.99/yr
Best value plan Total Security for $49.00/yr (first year only) Essential plan for $39.99/yr (first yr only)
Money-back guarantee Yes — 30 days Yes — 30 days
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get McAfee

Read McAfee Review

One of the first things you may notice when viewing the price table is that McAfee can be quite a bit more expensive than TotalAV. McAfee also has unlimited device protection, while TotalAV only covers up to eight devices.

If you want the McAfee Ultimate option, you’ll pay $199.99/yr (first yr only), but that is the best subscription offered. You’ll get credit monitoring, credit lock, and a host of other identity theft features with that plan.

McAfee includes only paid plans; there’s no free version. TotalAV has a free plan, which is good if all you need is a basic antivirus scanner. You need antivirus protection, so even the minimum is better than nothing.

Both antivirus products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That gives you time to test the software and get a full refund if you don’t like it.

Winner: TotalAV wins, coming in a little lower with the prices offered. Otherwise, this would be a tie, as they have the same features and a money back-guarantee.

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Features

Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Parental controls
Password manager Yes, with the Total Security plan
VPN Yes, with Internet Security and Total Security plans
Ad blocker
Device optimization tools
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get McAfee

Read McAfee Review

While both TotalAV and McAfee offer all the standard features you’d expect from an antivirus, they start to differ when you consider what kind of extra bells and whistles you can get.

TotalAV comes with a device optimization tool and ad blocker with all plans, while McAfee doesn’t offer those features at all. That said, TotalAV’s password manager and VPN are limited to the more premium tiers, but come standard in most McAfee plans.

The major thing that McAfee has that TotalAV doesn’t is parental controls, which can be a huge benefit to families. As a parent, antivirus protects you from malware, but it won’t protect your children from online predators. McAfee’s parental controls give you a way to monitor their online activity and include features that let you manage content and screen time.

Finally, important features that McAfee has that aren’t listed above are identity theft and data removal services. These only come with Advanced and Ultimate plans (which start at Offer Pricing Tier 1 Cost), but they’re a huge part of your overall online security.

McAfee Identity Theft Monitoring

Winner: McAfee wins with more overall features offered, including those that aren't even in the above table.

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Test results

We rely on third-party testing when reviewing antivirus products because it gives us a clear picture of how the software will perform in real-world environments.

For this comparison, we used AV-TEST scores, which is an independent and comparative test that antivirus software can pay to have done to their software. This measures the program’s ability to detect malware as well as its impact on performance.

TotalAV vs. McAfee malware protection scores

Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score 17/18 18/18
AV-TEST macOS score 18/18 N/A
AV-TEST Android score 18/18 18/18
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get McAfee

Read McAfee Review

Total AV: Windows Jan-Feb 2024/macOS March 2022/Android March 2024

McAfee: Windows Jan-Feb 2024/Android March 2024

While McAfee wasn’t included in the last rounds of macOS testing, its scores in the Windows and Android tests are impressive.

TotalAV scored lower for Windows than McAfee, which may be due to the protection tests for zero-day malware attacks. The industry average is 99.9 percent, but TotalAV scored only 98.2 percent in January. In February, however, it scored 100 percent.

McAfee outperformed TotalAV, receiving 100 percent in both January and February. Still, TotalAV shows good antivirus protection in real-world scenarios, receiving perfect scores in performance and usability.

Winner: McAfee is the winner, scoring higher on Windows than TotalAV. The results are the same for Android.

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Compatibility and customer support

Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox
24/7 customer support
Customer support options Online guides, email, phone, chat Online guides, chat, phone, forums
Learn more Get TotalAV

Read TotalAV Review

Get McAfee

Read McAfee Review

TotalAV has an interface that’s simple and easy to use. Features are intuitive, and we only found a few downsides while testing the product, the worst of which was it would crash a few times when we tested the password vault.

When testing McAfee, we found that the scanning was seamless, with no device performance interruptions noted. The only hiccup we noticed was being unable to access some of the identity features. We placed a call to customer support, and they told us to switch browsers, which had us working with all the identity features in no time.

Both products offer 24/7 customer support, but McAfee even has social media avenues to receive assistance, which is a bonus. You can also only access the TotalAV customer service chat by scouring their Terms of Service, while McAfee encourages you to contact them with a much more streamlined support section.

McAfee Customer Support Section

Winner: McAfee wins this round, as the software seems a little smoother and easier to navigate. It’s also much easier to access customer support.

TotalAV vs. McAfee FAQs


+

Is McAfee or TotalAV better?

Both of these products offer good antivirus coverage. We think McAfee is better if you want identity protection and parental control features, since TotalAV doesn’t have those.


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Which antivirus is better than McAfee?

McAfee is hard to beat with all the features it includes. A better software may depend on what you need. If you want a free version, McAfee does not offer that, but TotalAV, AVG, and Avast all have free plans.


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Is McAfee as good as TotalAV?

McAfee is a bit better than TotalAV. It has higher third-party test scores and includes several features that TotalAV does not offer.

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Which is better?

After thorough testing, reviewing the features of both products, and seeing the third-party test scores, McAfee is the better overall antivirus.

In full transparency, we believe TotalAV and McAfee both offer excellent security protection. TotalAV may be better if you want budget-friendly options or a simple interface without as many frills and don’t need parental control features.

Alternatively, if you want a security suite that includes identity protection and theft coverage, better customer service, and parental controls, McAfee could be your antivirus program one-stop-shop.

TotalAV and McAfee alternatives

We have some alternatives you might want to consider if neither of these products works for you. All of them offer trustworthy security protection:

  • Bitdefender: Bitdefender is great for Windows and Android users who want premium features at an affordable price. These include safe online banking, a secure VPN, and multi-layer ransomware protection.

    Get Bitdefender | Read Our Bitdefender Review

  • Avast: Avast is one of the best free antivirus programs available and includes a free browser extension to avoid phishing scams. It also has paid plans for more premium options.

    Get Avast | Read Our Avast Review

  • AVG: AVG has multiple features like a firewall and parental controls to protect users from computer viruses and data threats.

    Get AVG | Read Our AVG Review

Online Protection With VPN Access and Identity Monitoring
4.0
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On McAfee's website
Antivirus Software
McAfee
Save $90 on a 2-year plan
  • Premium antivirus, scam, and web protection, plus a VPN, identity monitoring, and secure password manager
  • Added peace of mind with 24/7 expert online support and McAfee’s Virus Protection Pledge
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS on up to 5 devices
Author Details
Patti Croft is a seasoned writer specializing in technology, with three years of experience. With a B.S. in Computer Science and a background as a technical analyst and security specialist, she covers a range of topics like data security and parental control software.