That means some of the best antivirus software isn’t available for macOS, or, worse, isn’t any good. Our main concern is that a Mac antivirus won’t be able to stand up to the list of threats. Bottom Line: Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac gets top marks from the independent labs and in our own hands-on testing. With its handy Autopilot mode, you can set it, forget it, and have confidence.
Which Antivirus is Good for Mac in 2019
Admirers of Mac would tell that macOS devices do not need antivirus, and it is right to some extent. In terms of safety, the operating system developed by Apple surpasses Windows. You might wonder why. MacOS architecture consists of separate, isolated elements. If the virus gets to one of them, it can’t move further and reach the system core.
One more important fact: the number of Windows devices are bigger than those using macOS. Therefore, it is more favorable for hackers to create viruses for the OS, which may bring the maximum benefit.
On the other hand, Mac becomes more popular, and it involves developers of malicious apps. Statistics confirm this fact: in 2017, the number of viruses which are focused on macOS grew by 270%. If your work implies full-time Internet usage, reception, and file transfer – it is worth thinking of safety. And to be ensured, you do everything to avoid material and moral loss from malicious apps.
Overall, the installation of antivirus on Mac can be justified in terms of an additional barrier of security. It is a good tool for prevention distribution of Windows-focused malware, for example, when checking external drives. Mac-computer with the installed antivirus is some antivirus lock. It checks and, if necessary, removes malicious applications from the external device you connect to Mac.
When it became obvious that macOS is also subjected to virus threats, the antivirus brands began to offer the products for this platform. Of course, the need for antivirus installation on macOS can be challenged. Experienced users can give many arguments to defend this position.
On the other hand, those who started using this platform recently and those users of macOS who cannot rely on someone’s experience in terms of safety, are interested in what antivirus for this operating system is better to use. And in our review, we will try to show differences between several antiviruses existing in the market for macOS.
Top-5 Antiviruses for Mac
Intego
TotalAV
Norton
Avast
Bitdefender
Intego Antivirus
Intego is an antivirus designed for Mac that allows you to scan your drive and identify infected files that can harm your system, or get to other computers and infect them. Because of the Mac App Store restrictions, the application cannot perform real-time scans and can only access folders it has granted access to. For maximum protection, it is recommended for you to provide access to your entire drive.
Intego supports running manual scans of your Mac and automatic daily scans. You can perform a full scan of all folders and files, or a quick scan of the necessary directories where infected files may be located, such as Documents or Downloads.
Intego provides decent protection for your device, daily automatic checks, scanning external disks, and quarantine for dangerous files. This antivirus also updates the virus database before scanning that can be time-consuming and impact your system performance.
Intego Advantages for Mac
Best Antivirus For Macbook
High-level protection
A decent set of features
Designed for Mac specifically
Intego Disadvantages for Mac
Can be pricey in comparison to other providers
Limited free version functionality
TotalAV Antivirus
TotalAV is a full-featured antivirus, which provides the possibility to scan specific files, folders, hard drives. Besides, it offers a set of additional options for removing and quarantining any software, which antivirus considered as a potential threat. Antivirus also provides real-time protection that blocks and quarantines any suspicious files. Although the scanning process is slow enough, antivirus works unobtrusively in the background and uses very few system resources.
The developers of TotalAV managed to include the extensive functionality into a rather compact and simplistic interface. The full scan of the system is started directly from the main menu. You can also quickly establish exceptions using other menus. The malware signature database is continuously updated so that antivirus can “catch” the latest threats.
While the price with discount seems to be appealing ($19.95), the renewal will cost you much ($99.95). It is a rather sharp difference. Besides, even though the free version provides good functionality, it lacks many useful features. So, you will have to purchase the subscription.
One more thing is that this provider is new on the market. And, although it made some impressive steps, it doesn’t have proper third-party lab tests. So, we can judge about its reliability and security only from our experience.
TotalAV Advantages for Mac
Lightweight
Good real-time protection
Simplistic interface
The basic but decent free version
Malware signature database that is updated continuously
TotalAV Disadvantages for Mac
Slow scanning process
Expensive subscription renewal
No third-party lab tests
Norton Antivirus
Norton antivirus perfectly combines ease of use with the ability to access advanced tools quickly. As a result, macOS users can perform basic system scans efficiently, like any scheduled scans or scans of specific areas. The program offers standard protection against spyware and advertising software and can block malicious sites and prevent tracking the user’s activities on the Internet. Norton antivirus allows you to delete malicious files in a single click. Last but not least, you get decent protection for a somewhat reasonable price.
At the same time, Norton implies a relatively long installation process and the intensive use of system resources during the upgrade. This software has a somewhat cumbersome interface, though it is easy to manage. On the right, there is a navigation bar that displays system status, scheduled tasks, quarantine view option, and other functions. The virus signature database is updated continuously, although the process may take a little while. The application consumes a lot of resources, but this disadvantage more than pays off the appealing price tag and advanced functions.
Norton Advantages for Mac
Appealing price
Advanced antimalware tools in free version
Constantly updated signature base
High-level protection
Norton Disadvantages for Mac
Long installation process
System resources consuming
Cumbersome interface
Avast Antivirus
It is a well-deserved leader among similar antivirus providers for Mac. The product was initially developed for Windows, but today there are versions for all popular platforms in the world. Avast antivirus for Mac presents a two-level verification system. The first one searches for viruses in the system and, if any, removes them entirely. The main task of the second level of verification is to ensure the security of the user when using networks.
Avast antivirus is one of the most popular antivirus products. It is an effective free antivirus for home use. It is offering a set of tools for scanning the system and individual files and external drives for malware, checking emails, attachments and a variety of Internet activity (Internet pages, downloads, cache Java scripts, etc.), as well as protecting against phishing attacks.
The application has an easy-to-use interface with a navigation bar on the left that contains five main options. Also, it has a real-time graph that displays the status of the computer. During free version installation, users are offered to install two additional programs — Avast Internet Security and Avast SecureLine VPN. It is not necessary to install them, so be careful if you do not want to pay extra money.
The product is compatible with macOS version 10.5 and later. The program also includes a special component WebRep, which checks the security of Internet resources. The plugin runs in conjunction with browsers, integrating in auto order. Avast scans all files with which the user works, and if they are at risk, the antivirus will protect your Mac.
Avast Advantages for Mac
Classic and simplistic interface
Easy installation process
Top security level
Rich free version
Reasonable price tag
Avast Disadvantages for Mac
Impacts system performance
Offers some additional features during installation
Pop-ups and advertising in free version
Bitdefender Antivirus
Bitdefender antivirus, developed based on the antivirus engine with the same name, offers several features that allow deep scanning of the system or its specific areas. With proper resolution, the program can check even critical areas, such as the Mac loader or the system library, to avoid a long scanning process if the time is limited. Moreover, this antivirus solution automatically updates the database before the scan starts and allows you to exclude certain areas of the system from the scan process.
Otherwise, Bitdefender antivirus functionality is quite limited. Antivirus automatically cleans or quarantines suspicious files, and can quickly scan various archives and files for malware, including PDF, PKG, ZIP, and RAR formats. All options are displayed in the interface, including three scan modes and the update button, which can be used instead of automatic updates.
Bitdefender Advantages for Mac
Appealing price
Impressive lab tests results
Great real-time protection
Perfect usability
Bitdefender Disadvantages for Mac
Free Antivirus For Mac
Lacks essential features like a firewall or parental control
Sometimes mistreat licensed programs and files with malware
Our Verdict
In general, the considered functions of the antiviruses listed in comparison have to ensure the safe functioning of macOS as the direct potential victim of the attacks of malicious applications. At the same time, the number of Mac-focused malicious apps remains significantly smaller in comparison with the number of their Windows-focused “fellows.”
However, we still recommend you to use an additional level of protection for your Mac. Our winner today is Avast, which offers a great functionality of free version, minimalistic design, and high-level protection. You’ll get a reliable antivirus for a reasonable price tag, which, despite its possible disadvantages, will make you security stronger and solid.
$19.99 12 months
Intego is the perfect, easy-to-use and highly capable Mac antivirus for an average macOS user who needs descent protection.
Perfect for Mac
Device Tune-up
9.7
$59.99 12 months
One of the industry leaders, Avast offers robust protection from all types of malware along with numerous add-ons.
Ransomware shield
Data-shredder
9.6
Editor's choice 2018
With 100% malware detection rate Kaspersky offers, you will always be on the safe side. This lightweight customizable solution has everything one may expect from a modern antimalware software.
Safe Money
Password Manager
9.5
Mac users tend to believe that their computers running Mac OS are resistant to malware. But experts say that 100% protected devices do not exist. The international community of Windows users is much wider. Therefore, there is no surprise the majority of scammers and hackers focus on this operating system. But again, it doesn’t mean that if you have a computer with Mac OS, you will never be attacked by scammers or infected with Trojans.
Macs are not protected from ransomware, which is one of the most complex and hard-to-get-rid-of malware types. They can suffer from password theft, and finally, they can face a problem of a stolen iPhone or iPad backup. Meanwhile, a strong antivirus for Mac will help to resolve the issue at the root, preventing the vast majority of potential threats. Keep on reading to learn how to pick out the best antivirus for Mac.
What is the Best Antivirus for Mac?
Our ratings are compiled with a glance to all the criteria mentioned above, as we always try to make every review independent and completely unbiased. But you can have some personal preferences and requirements, so we recommend reading comprehensive reviews before deciding on a particular antivirus product.
1. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is a powerful all-in-one product with a range of useful features on board. It is effective against all types of malware, including annoying adware and dangerous ransomware. Bitdefender boasts its advanced multi-layered ransomware protection; its Safe Files feature will protect your vulnerable files even if you are infected.
The Mac client of Bitdefender has a laconic user-friendly interface, which makes managing your protection easy and straightforward. It is scanning your Mac for potential threats continuously in the background mode. But there’s no reason to be concerned about the performance issues, as Bitdefender doesn’t have any noticeable impact on the system.
When it comes to features, apart from the top-notch malware protection, Bitdefender offers a built-in VPN client, anti-phishing protection, and a smart Autopilot feature (something like a built-in security advisor). Thanks to the improved adware protection, no browser plugin or add-on will ever be installed automatically. With Bitdefender, you get total control over your security and privacy.
Among other things, Bitdefender offers to test its product for 30 days for free, which is quite generous. If you make up your mind to buying the full version, there’s good news for you: the first-year pack comes with an impressive discount of 42%.
Pricing:
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac – $59.99 ($34.99 for the first year)
2. Kaspersky Antivirus for Mac
Kaspersky Total Security for Mac is your choice if you are looking for guaranteed protection (need more information? here is our Kaspersky review). It offers safe online banking, parental control, and password protection. Its Internet Security suite is enough for the basic Mac OS malware protection.
The benefits of Kaspersky products include state-of-the-art protection from all types of known and zero-day cyber threats and its virtually unnoticeable impact on the system. The scanning itself is a sort of slow, but it doesn’t cause any serious performance issues. Kaspersky is an award-winning product that consistently scores high (close to 100%) in independent lab tests.
Though the interface of Kaspersky apps is sometimes described as old-fashioned. However, it is simple and easy to navigate. There is still a field for improving, but you shouldn’t experience any difficulties with using the software.
Kaspersky offers enough flexibility regarding its pricing plans. Therefore, its Internet Security suite is available for 3 or 5 devices for the period of 1, 2 or 3 years. One license of Total Security pack can cover 5 or 10 devices.
Pricing:
10 Best Antivirus For Mac
Kaspersky Internet Security (3 devices, 1 year) – $79.99 ($47.99 for the first year)
Kaspersky Total Security (5 devices, 1 year) – $99.99 ($59.99 for the first year)
3. Avast Antivirus for Mac
Avast for Mac is the best free Mac antivirus; also it offers a premium option (about it in Avast review). It is an effective and reliable product with a powerful antivirus engine. In most lab tests, Avast shows consistent results. Its effectiveness is at 99+ percent. Both free and paid editions are lightweight, and none of them overloads the system.
With Avast Free for Mac, you get advanced antivirus and anti-malware protection, as well as a bunch of useful bonuses, such as web shield, e-mail protection, Wi-Fi scanning, and scheduled scanning. It covers all the essential needs of a Mac user. If you need more intelligent security features, consider Avast Security Pro for Mac. This pack includes smart ransomware protection and the function of continuous Wi-Fi inspection.
Avast client for Mac is easy to install and use. Its upgraded interface looks smart and simple. Even inexperienced users won’t have any difficulties with security managing via the Avast app.
If you are not sure whether it makes sense to switch to the Pro version of Avast, there is good news for you. Their refunding policy is quite loyal with the guaranteed money-back period of 30 days.
Best Antivirus For Macbook Air
Pricing:
Avast Security for Mac Pro – $59.99
4. Norton Antivirus for Mac OS
Norton antivirus is a reliable antivirus for Mac, but it has certain limitations that you need to consider before buying this product. On the plus side, Norton gives a 100% guarantee of virus protection. If you are infected for whatever reason, you’ll get your money back at any time.
Even basic packs of Norton software include a built-in firewall. Also, there are automatic updates for the maximum protection level. Another strong point of Norton is its excellent support service that is available in the 24/7 mode. Finally, Norton scores very high in all lab tests. Independent experts have repeatedly confirmed its effectiveness.
On the minus side, Norton products have a noticeable impact on the system performance. It is one of the most resource-demanding antivirus options around. Also, it is restricted concerning features if compared to its counterparts. There’s no parental control, no password manager, no Wi-Fi scanning, and no enhanced online security features.
If you are ready to get on with certain limitations, Norton can become a top choice for you thanks to its state-of-the-art malware protection and lifetime money-back guarantee. But keep in mind that it is quite expensive if bought for more than one device, so maybe first you need to read about this antivirus more in Norton review.
Pricing:
Norton Standard – $69.99 ($39.99 for the first year)
Norton Deluxe – $89.99 ($49.99 for the first year)
Norton Premium – $109.99 ($54.99 for the first year)
5. Intego Antivirus for Mac OS
Intego for Mac is the provider that focuses on developing a security solution for Mac OS (Intego review). If you need full, reliable protection for your Mac computer, then consider Intego Mac Internet Security X9 suite. It is perfectly integrated with Mac OS and runs smoothly in the background mode without any noticeable effect on the system.
It is a full-featured solution that protects your device from almost 100% of viruses, worms, and other sophisticated forms of malware adapted for Mac. Useful extras include a firewall feature, anti-phishing, app scanning, anti-spyware, and automatic protection from new and unknown devices. The function of parental control is a nice bonus.
The app itself is easy to use, thanks to its intuitive design and clean, uncluttered interface. When it comes to usability, Intego is one of the best options for Mac around. Another benefit is a free trial period for you to get acquainted with the product and decide whether it meets your requirements or not.
Pricing:
Mac Internet Security X9 – $49.99 ($39.99 for the first year)
Things to Consider When Choosing an Antivirus for Mac
With so many options on offer, selecting the Mac antivirus that will meet all your demands can become a challenge. There are several criteria for you to rely on when making a choice. Let’s review the most important ones.
Effectiveness in combating malware. Essentially, the task of any AV software is always the same regardless of the operating system used. It must detect and neutralize or destroy malware before it does any harm. Several independent labs such as AV-TEST and AV-comparatives tested the speed and quality of identifying and deleting viruses. The results of the latest tests are regularly published on the lab sites and in numerous antivirus reviews.
Performance and load on the system. Nobody wants to suffer from the speed drops caused by an antivirus running in the background mode. The overall speed of scanning and an impact on the system can be measured with the help of benchmarks.
Features. Scanning for viruses and malware destroying are the critical feature of any antivirus software. However, different products offer different sets of additional features. For many Mac users, an opportunity of a non-stop background scanning can be useful. Features of automatic scanning of emails and external devices are also important. Finally, some users may opt for the products, offering such extras as an ad-blocker, a built-in VPN, a password manager, and more.
Price. There are different options available – from a free version to premium options with advanced security features. It all depends on how much you are ready to spend on your Mac protection, and what features of AV software matter for you.
Usability. A modern app must be convenient and easy to use. Nowadays, most providers offer one-click solutions with minimum buttons.
How We Test Antivirus Software
To single out the products we cover in this review, we’ve tested all the popular and less known anti-malware solutions compatible with Mac OS. The preparatory work has two stages. The first one includes gathering information. We use reliable, trusted sources, such as independent testing labs. The second stage is real-life testing. It means that we install software on computers with the latest version of the operating system and test it in different modes.
During the examination, we estimate the speed and impact on the system. Also, the behavior of the software when it encounters viruses, the reaction to visiting websites containing potential threats, manual and automating computer scanning modes, usability, and design are considered. Based on the results received, we write a review and compile a ranking of AV software providers.
Do I Need Antivirus for Mac or Not?
Best Antivirus For Mac Mojave
The truth is that Mac computers are less vulnerable to malware threats than the devices running Windows OS. A few years ago, it was generally considered that Mac OS war resistant to all existing viruses. Moreover, Apple didn’t allow installing any third-party software, including popular antivirus programs. Finally, some years ago, specialists from one of the major companies providing anti-malware solutions found out that over 500 thousand new Mac devices were infected with Trojans.
Good Antivirus For Mac Free
The next year, the situation repeated. In 2016, the first cases of infecting Macs with ransomware were recorded. All those cases demonstrated that no 100% protected operating system exists.
And still, the risk of catching a virus remains relatively low for the Mac owners. If you follow the general rules of online security, you may never suffer from any malware, as well as thousands of other users worldwide. Chances are a built-in Mac protection tools will do.
When do you need antivirus for Mac? Well, it depends. A general rule is the following: use an extra layer of protection in the form of antivirus software always when you realize that the cost of losses in the case of infecting will be much higher than the price of an AV software pack.
Final Thoughts
Bitdefender For Mac
If you’ve made your mind up to buying antivirus for your Mac, decide for yourself what features you need and how much you are going to spend. Read full reviews of the chosen products and make a decision. Keep in mind that most providers offer either a trial period of 24 hours to a week, so you will be able to test the program for free. If there is no trial period, check their refunding policy for a money back guarantee period.
More and more owners of Mac computers come to the understanding of the fact that a good antivirus today is a must-have. It is vital even for the most protected devices in the world if you strive for the highest level of your data protection.