Trend Micro Review 2024: A Full Security Suite That May Surprise You

Trend Micro is full of useful tools and features that not only keep you safe but also enhance your experience. It offers lower prices than most of its competitors but still packs in many of the same features like phishing protection and a password manager. We wish it had a firewall, but it does boost Microsoft Defender, at least.

Whether you’re a gamer who wants to mute notifications while playing or a grandparent wanting to keep your grandkids safe online, Trend Micro has a setting for that.

Trend Micro review at a glance

Price	$19.95–$54.95/yr
Free plan	No
# of devices protected	1 - 10
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection	Yes
EICAR test results	3/3
Firewall	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebook
Extras	Password manager, identity theft protection, VPN
24/7 support	Only with Premium Security Suite
Learn more	Get Trend Micro

Our Trend Micro experience

We tested Trend Micro Maximum Security on a laptop running Windows 10. While we do test antivirus for Mac and mobile devices, we decided to focus this Trend Micro antivirus review on the Windows product.

We had no issues downloading the free trial and were impressed to see there was no credit card needed to begin the trial. This means we didn’t have to worry about forgetting to cancel and getting charged later for a subscription. 

After downloading, we were prompted to install the browser extension to protect against phishing. We then dove into a full scan.

The initial scan took a lot longer than other products that we’ve tested. Trend Micro was scanning our system for viruses and malware as well as performance updates, which is good to know for future scans.

When we ran the scan again, and it only took a few minutes If you want to customize the initial scan by choosing your drives or particular files on those drives, you have the option to do that.

Once we were done scanning our computer, we began testing the rest of the features. There were a lot of different things to play with on Trend Micro’s dashboard. 

Our favorites were the data theft prevention features. We liked that we could input pieces of our geographic and financial information to allow Trend Micro’s intuitive AI to scan the web for misuse. 

If you have kids, this feature will help keep them safe by watching to see if they share their home address. This is achieved by entering bits of personal information so the intuitive AI can monitor the data being sent. 

Overall, Trend Micro offers a lot of nice features we don’t see often when testing antivirus products.

Who is Trend Micro best for?

• Recommended for anyone looking for comprehensive cybersecurity protection

Trend Micro has a lot going on. It’s a feature-rich antivirus program that not only promises to protect you from viruses and ransomware but also wants to help stop phishing attempts and protect your financial transactions. 

Add in online child protection, device optimization, and a password manager, and you have a comprehensive protection product. If you aren’t sure how antivirus software works, this is definitely more than what you usually get.

This is a solid choice for anyone wanting their cybersecurity product to work on a variety of levels. The features are enough to keep you protected, and the extras enhance your experience. If you’re looking for something with a lot of bells and whistles, Trend Micro might be for you.

Trend Micro cost

Trend Micro's price ranges from 10. There are four tiers to choose from that vary depending on features, device count, and compatibility: Antivirus + Security, Internet Security, Maximum Security, and Premium Security Suite.

If you want the most out of your Trend Micro subscription, the Maximum Security product is the one to get. It's the first tier with compatibility with more than just Windows and it includes some extras like a password manager and dark web monitoring.

While the Antivirus + Security tier is a great pricing option at $19.95/yr, we feel like you get the most value for your money with the Maximum Security for $49.95/yr 

Even at that price, Trend Micro comes in at the lower end of pricing when you factor in features. Competitors like McAfee, Norton, and Bitdefender are all comparable but might not be as feature-rich at the same price point. 

Trend Micro actually has the lowest starting price of the three; McAfee starts at $39.99/first 2 yrs, Norton starts at $29.99/first yr, and Bitdefender starts at $24.99/yr (first year only).  

	Antivirus + Security	Internet Security	Maximum Security	Premium Security Suite
Price for first year	$19.95/yr	$39.95/yr	$49.95/yr	$54.95/yr
# devices supported	1	3	5	10
Compatible with	Windows	Windows	Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Chromebook	Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Chromebook
Manual and auto scan
Phishing protection
Firewall
Real-time protection
Ransomware protection
Parental controls
Performance optimization tools
Password manager
VPN

Trend Micro features

Trend Micro Internet Security’s features include malware protection, defense from vulnerabilities, protection for online banking, and privacy settings that bring ease of use to your online browsing experience. From social network monitoring to mobile apps, the virus and malware detection offered can bring you peace of mind while online.

Trend Micro isn’t just a cybersecurity product. It also comes with device optimization, anti-fraud protection, and parental controls in addition to other features like Mute mode, which allows you to work uninterrupted. But don’t worry, the antivirus and anti-malware features are just as robust as the extras.

Malware and antivirus scan

The trojan, malware, and antivirus scans from Trend Micro are pretty standard for security software. You have the ability to run a quick scan, full scan, or custom scan. 

The first full scan you run will take a while (ours clocked in at around 10 minutes), but subsequent scans shouldn’t need that much time. There were no issues with the scans, and we were comfortable with the antivirus protection results, given Trend Micro uses advanced AI learning to improve its product.

Phishing protection

Phishing protection comes in the form of the Trend Micro toolbar extension on your browser. While we didn’t find any suspicious links while testing, in theory the toolbar will notify you if something looks malicious.

When you’re searching online, it can be frustrating to have a tool like this block the site you’re trying to access. Remember, however, that if the toolbar is flagging it as malicious, it’ll likely cause you more problems than just finding another site.

Firewall

Trend Micro doesn’t include an actual firewall in its product, but it does contain a firewall booster to enhance Windows’ firewall functionality. When you install Trend Micro, the booster is automatically turned on to enhance protection. 

If you aren’t currently running the Windows firewall, you’ll need to turn it on for Trend Micro’s firewall booster to work. The booster will activate automatically whether or not the Windows firewall is active.

Real-time protection

It’s important to keep your Trend Micro product running in the background so you get full access to real-time protection. 

As files execute on your hard drive, Trend Micro analyzes and scans each one for anything potentially dangerous. This allows you to surf the web without file scanners, so you can open attachments, download programs, and install new software without worrying that something is infected with a virus or malware.

This isn’t exclusive to downloads and email; real-time protection means Trend Micro is analyzing every aspect of your browsing experience. If you happen to come across a website with malicious scripting encoded into its content, Trend Micro’s real-time protection will recognize it and block it from executing on your device. This is true for computers, tablets, mobile phones, and anything that can access the internet.

Ransomware protection

One of the first actions Trend Micro took after the download was setting up the Folder Shield. It's a feature that protects your device from ransomware by protecting specific folders from these cyberthreats. 

Trend Micro automatically protected our Documents, Pictures, and OneDrive folders, but you can add additional folders to protect. 

Anti-fraud protection

The anti-fraud tools are interesting and pretty intuitive. Most come already activated, like the Privacy Scanner, but you have the option to get more granular with Data Theft Prevention. Trend Micro allows you to add parts of account numbers to your financial accounts so its smart tools can recognize an attempt to steal credentials matching them.

You can also list your geographic information, like your city or address, and the intuitive AI will use it to recognize if your child is sharing sensitive information online. Add social media security and Pay Guard, and you have comprehensive anti-fraud tools at your disposal.

Bonus features

In addition to cybersecurity tools, you’ll enjoy a password manager, device optimization, a file shredder, Mute Mode, and other features meant to make your online experience more enjoyable.

• PC Health Checkup: This is integrated with a full scan but can also be run on its own any time you think your computer may be running slowly. 
• Secure Erase: This option is integrated into your Trend Micro product. It allows you to delete a file completely so it cannot be recovered.
• Mute Mode: This mode allows you to mute notifications on your desktop so you can work or game undisturbed.
• Password manager: This comes standard on the Premium  Security tier. It stores your passwords so you don’t risk exposing or forgetting them.
• VPN: Although a virtual private network (VPN) doesn’t come with most tiers, it is included with the Trend Micro Premium Security Suite.

Trend Micro test results

We run three types of tests with every antivirus product we review:

• Scan tests: Measure how long it takes to run various types of scans
• EICAR tests: 

Scan speed

• Result: Fast

Trend Micro has quick, custom, and full scan tests available. 

We ran the quick and full scans and found them to be fast with no impact on our device performance. We also found no threats or false positives.

The full scan also gave us results for our Optimization Level, providing a suggestion on how to speed up our computer startup time. 

Scan type	Time spent
Quick scan	1 minute
Full scan	8 minutes

EICAR test results

• Result: 3/3

EICAR stands for the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research. It has a database of test files that mimic malware, phishing links, and other cyberthreats so you can safely test antivirus programs without downloading real malware.

Test	Trend Micro score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing pages detection	Pass

Trend Micro passed all three tests with ease. The malware test files were instantly removed by the antivirus. As for the phishing pages, the Trend Micro browser extension instantly blocked us from loading the page and displayed a warning. 

AV-TEST results

• Result: Trend Micro had perfect scores across its platforms.

AV-TEST is one of the most trusted third-party review sites on the internet. It independently tests security products for their ability to protect your device from malware, have minimal impact on your device performance, and accurately assess cyberthreats.

Test type	Windows 10 score	macOS Sonoma score	Android 11 score
Protection	6/6	6/6	6/6
Performance	6/6	6/6	6/6
Usability	6/6	6/6	6/6
Date	June 2024	March 2024	March 2024
Link to test	Link	Link	Link

Trend Micro had perfect AV-TEST scores on its latest round of testing. This is true for its Windows, macOS, and Android programs. 

AV-Comparatives test results

• Result: Trend Micro was frequently at the back of the pack, but it still had solid results.

AV-Comparatives is another independent organization that test security software. For antivirus programs, it runs real-world protection, malware protection, and performance impact tests. It also reviews antivirus mobile apps for their protection abilities.

Test type	Mobile security	Real-world protection	Malware protection	Performance impact (Lower is better)
Score	100%	99.6%	97.11%	11.3
Platform	Android	Windows	Windows	Windows
Date	May - June 2023	February - May 2024	March 2024	April 2024
Link	Link	Link	Link	Link

Trend Micro was actually the lowest performing antivirus for the real-world protection and malware protection tests. In the real world protection test, Trend Micro detected 29 false positives, while the average was six. It did blocked 486 files, so it was tied with Bitdefender for fourth place. 

In the malware protection test, Trend Micro had a 97.11% detection rate, with 291 compromised files. For reference, the top antiviruses, like Norton and McAfee, had no more than 10 compromised files.

For the performance impact score, it was in the middle of the pack with an 11.3. For reference, McAfee received a 2.8, which was the best score.

However, the Trend Micro Android app did receive a perfect score from AV-Comparatives alongside Bitdefender, ESET, and Kaspersky.

SE Labs results

• Result: 95%

The final third-party tester we rely on is SE Labs. It has quarterly reports that compare various antivirus programs based on protection accuracy and legitimate accuracy, which add up to the total accuracy percentage.

Protection accuracy calculates how well an antivirus program either neutralizes or blocks cyberthreats. Legitimate accuracy calculates how accurately an antivirus program detects legitimate apps and URLs, rather than classifying them as false positives. 

Test type	Home Anti-Malware Protection
Total accuracy rating	95%
Date	2021 Q1
Link	Link

Trend Micro actually hasn't submitted itself for testing to SE Labs since 2021, so these results are outdated. 

Trend Micro received a 95% protection accuracy rating and 96% legitimate accuracy rating at the time. It was the third from the bottom out of 15 antivirus programs. 

Trend Micro compatibility

Trend Micro is available for a variety of devices and even includes a Chrome browser extension to help protect you from phishing and nefarious sites. While most products tend to forget macOS and iOS, Trend Micro not only includes compatibility for both, but it has also tested well on macOS based on AV-TEST.

Trend Micro is compatible with the following operating systems:

• Windows 10+
• macOS 11+
• Chromebook
• Android 5.0+
• iOS 13.0+

The Trend Micro Toolbar extension is available to download for the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari

Trend Micro customer support

Trend Micro offers live chat and email support, but its hours are limited. You can contact them Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST. Around the clock support, and phone support, is only available with the Premium Security Suite plan.

When we visited the Help Center. It might be one of the best tech support centers we’ve seen. You can choose what kind of support you need directly from the dashboard. Once you’re at the Help Center, there is an entire library of helpful information. 

Top alternatives

Trend Micro is an affordable and high-performing antivirus, but are you still wondering what else is out there? Take a look at some of our favorite antivirus programs:

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Trend Micro good?

Yes, we feel that Trend Micro is a good security product for home users. Whether you’re looking for simple protection or a robust security suite, Trend Micro delivers for a fair price. 

If you’re still not sure, check out our guide on the best antivirus. You can also see how Trend Micro compares to the following providers:

• Trend Micro vs. Norton
• Trend Micro vs. Bitdefender