Safety
McAfee

McAfee

8.77
Very Good
Our verdict:
Comprehensive suite with antivirus, VPN, and deep ID protection. Can be pricey and slightly slower on older devices.

Overview

McAfee is a long-standing cybersecurity company known for its antivirus solutions. Today, McAfee’s consumer lineup is split between the traditional Total Protection suite and the newer McAfee+ plans. McAfee Total Protection is positioned as a basic security package for individuals, offering core device and identity safeguards. In contrast, McAfee+ plans deliver “complete privacy, identity and device protection,” available in both individual and family editions. In practice, this means McAfee has options ranging from a single-device basic plan up to comprehensive family plans with advanced identity monitoring. McAfee’s software is cross-platform, supporting Windows PCs, Macs, Android and iOS mobile devices (even Chromebooks via Android app). The company has a strong reputation in the industry – its antivirus engine protects over 600 million devices worldwide and has earned awards from sources like PCMag and CNET. Overall, McAfee’s lineup is structured to scale from essential antivirus protection to all-in-one suites with identity theft safeguards under the McAfee+ brand.

Features & Capabilities

McAfee’s security products are feature-rich, combining malware defense with an array of privacy and identity tools. Key features include:

  • Malware & Virus Protection: All plans provide real-time antivirus to defend against viruses, spyware, ransomware, and other malware. McAfee scans files and downloads continuously, and it includes a two-way firewall and web protection to block dangerous websites and phishing attempts. A new Scam Detector feature uses AI to warn you of fake or phishing texts, emails, and voice scams in real time, adding an extra layer of fraud prevention across your devices.

  • Identity Monitoring & Theft Protection: McAfee+ plans introduce robust identity theft safeguards. This includes 24/7 identity monitoring (tracking your personal info like emails, IDs, bank accounts for data breaches) with instant alerts. If identity theft occurs, McAfee provides restoration assistance and insurance up to $1 million for related losses on Standard tiers, going up to $2 million on its top-tier family plan. Higher plans also check your credit (with credit bureau monitoring and credit score reporting) and can lock or freeze your credit files to prevent fraud. McAfee’s identity coverage is a standout – it operates in the background to alert you of identity risks and includes a “lost wallet” service to help cancel and replace IDs or credit cards if your wallet is stolen.

  • Privacy & VPN: All paid plans include Secure VPN access for private browsing. The VPN encrypts your internet connection (even on public Wi-Fi) to prevent eavesdropping, with no data limits on usage. McAfee also offers a Personal Data Cleanup scan, which finds your personal information on data broker and people-search websites; on higher tiers, McAfee will actively remove or request removal of that data for you. A related tool, Online Account Cleanup, helps identify old or risky online accounts linked to your email. Additionally, McAfee’s Social Privacy Manager can check and adjust privacy settings on your social media profiles (this feature is included in McAfee+ Premium and above). All these tools aim to keep your digital footprint and online habits more private.

  • Password Manager: McAfee includes a secure Password Manager in its plans. It allows you to store logins in an encrypted vault and auto-fill them across devices, encouraging the use of strong, unique passwords without the hassle of remembering them. This helps protect against account breaches.

  • Parental Controls: For families, McAfee provides parental control features (available in family plans like McAfee+ Family tiers). Parents can monitor and limit kids’ screen time, filter inappropriate websites, and see what the kids are doing online. Each family member (up to 6, with 2 adults and 4 children on family plans) gets their own protected account under the subscription. This setup is great for households – for example, parents get full identity monitoring and kids’ devices are covered with web safety and usage rules.

  • Device Optimization & Extras: McAfee’s desktop application provides a Protection Score metric – a simple gauge of how secure you are (based on whether you enabled features like firewall, VPN, etc.). While the core suites focus on security, McAfee does offer a separate PC Optimizer tool (for an extra fee) to clean up junk files and improve system performance. Unlike some competitors, system tune-up tools are not built into McAfee’s standard plans (so you won’t find things like file cleanup or speed-up utilities in Total Protection or McAfee+ by default). The emphasis is squarely on security and privacy features.

It’s worth noting that McAfee’s user interface ties these features together in a friendly way. The McAfee app on Windows, Mac, and mobile is unified – for instance, the mobile app includes antivirus scanning, VPN, and identity monitoring on a single dashboard. Important protections like the firewall and real-time scanning come pre-enabled, making initial setup straightforward. Overall, McAfee’s feature set covers virtually all aspects of security: device protection, online privacy, and identity theft defense, in one package.

Free vs. Paid Versions

McAfee does not offer a completely free antivirus package for indefinite use on PC or Mac – its protection is primarily paid subscription software. That said, new users can take advantage of a free 30-day trial of McAfee’s all-in-one protection suite. This trial allows you to experience McAfee’s Premium features (including VPN, identity monitoring, and multi-device protection for up to 5 devices) at no cost for a month. After 30 days, the software will require a paid subscription to continue protecting your devices. McAfee also provides some free tools on its website, such as a web protection browser extension, security scan, and a password generator, but these are supplementary and not full antivirus solutions.

Once the trial expires or if you need long-term protection, you’ll choose from McAfee’s paid plans. The entry-level paid plan is often branded as McAfee Basic, covering 1 device with essential antivirus, VPN, and identity monitoring features. Stepping up, McAfee Total Protection – Essential plan covers 5 devices for one user and includes the core security suite (antivirus, firewall, VPN, password manager, etc.) plus basic identity monitoring. The newer McAfee+ tiers (Premium, Advanced, and Ultimate) are all paid plans that build on this foundation with more features and higher coverage limits. Notably, McAfee+ Premium (Individual) supports unlimited devices for one user, and McAfee+ Family plans support unlimited devices for up to 6 members. All paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. In summary, while McAfee lacks a perpetual free version, it offers a robust trial and a range of paid tiers to fit different needs – from basic single-PC protection to expansive family-wide security.

Paid Tier Highlights: The paid plans mainly differ in the number of devices and the breadth of identity protections. For instance, Basic (1 device) and Essential (5 devices) focus on device security and simple ID monitoring. McAfee+ Premium adds Social Privacy and covers unlimited devices for one person. McAfee+ Advanced brings added identity theft insurance ($1M coverage) and credit monitoring features. McAfee+ Ultimate is the top tier, with the highest identity theft coverage ($2M for family), three-bureau credit monitoring with daily scores, and even a personal McAfee Assist live support session for setup. Family versions of Premium, Advanced, Ultimate mirror these features but extend protections to multiple profiles (each adult in the family gets their own identity monitoring and credit alerts, for example). It’s a scalable model – you pay more for more devices and more comprehensive identity/privacy tools. McAfee’s pricing is competitive for first-time subscribers (heavily discounted in the first year), but keep in mind that renewal rates in the second year will be higher, as is common with antivirus suites.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Comprehensive Protection Suite: Even the base McAfee plans include more than just antivirus. You get real-time malware protection, anti-phishing defenses, and ransomware guards in all tiers. Higher tiers bundle in a VPN, password manager, identity monitoring, and credit protection, meaning one subscription covers a broad range of security needs without requiring separate services.

  • Multi-Device & Family Coverage: McAfee is ideal for households with many devices. The Essential plan supports 5 devices, and McAfee+ Premium and above cover unlimited devices for one user (or the whole family on family plans). You can protect all your Windows PCs, Macs, phones, and tablets under one plan, and the family options give each user their own privacy and identity safeguards.

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: McAfee works on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even Chromebooks (via Android app). The experience is seamless across devices – for example, the mobile app’s safe browsing and anti-malware scans performed quickly and effectively in tests. This makes McAfee a one-stop solution for all your gadgets.

  • Identity & Privacy Focus: The newer McAfee+ features (ID monitoring, Personal Data Cleanup, credit freeze/lock, etc.) add significant value for users concerned about identity theft. Few traditional antiviruses offer such extensive identity theft insurance and data broker removal services. McAfee can alert you to breaches involving your data and help restore your identity if theft occurs – a big plus if you want peace of mind beyond virus protection.

  • User-Friendly Interface: McAfee’s software is designed for regular users. Setup is straightforward with a guided tour, and the interface clearly highlights protections (with explanations for features and a color-coded protection score). Important features like the firewall, auto-scans, and updates are enabled by default. Managing settings or devices is relatively easy via the McAfee dashboard or mobile app, which is intuitive and informative.

Cons:

  • No Permanent Free Version: Unlike some competitors, McAfee doesn’t have a free ongoing tier for PC/Mac users – after the 30-day trial, you’ll need a paid subscription. This might not suit those who prefer free basic protection (Windows’ built-in Defender or other free AV products). McAfee’s value is best realized when you’re willing to invest in an annual subscription.

  • Performance Impact & Scan Speed: McAfee’s full system scans, while thorough, can be a bit slow and resource-intensive. In one test, a full disk scan took around 30 minutes to check ~360,000 files. During deep scans you might notice a slight slowdown, especially on older PCs. However, quick scans and background scans are faster, and the impact is generally manageable for most users.

  • Lacks Built-in System Tune-up Tools: The security suite focuses on security (which it does well) but omits PC optimization utilities that some other suites bundle. If you’re looking for junk file cleaning, startup optimization or a file shredder as part of your antivirus package, McAfee will prompt you to buy a separate PC Optimizer. This keeps the security app streamlined, but it’s a downside if you expected those extras included.

  • Premium Features Drive Up Cost: The most advanced features (like full-service personal data removal, 24/7 credit monitoring, $2M insurance, etc.) are only in the higher McAfee+ tiers, which come at a higher price. For example, Ultimate Family (the top plan) can be quite expensive on renewal. Users with only basic needs might find the lower-tier (Essential or Basic) sufficient, but the suite does encourage upselling to realize its full potential. It’s wise to evaluate if you truly need the advanced identity features for the price.

  • Minor Mobile Limitations: While protection on mobile is strong overall, certain features vary by platform. For instance, iOS devices have more limitations (due to Apple’s restrictions, McAfee on iPhone works more as a privacy and web protection app since iOS itself curbs third-party virus scanning). Android gets the full benefit of antivirus scans, and Windows gets the complete feature set. This isn’t unique to McAfee, but it’s worth noting if your primary device is an iPhone or iPad – the experience will be focused on safe browsing, VPN, and identity checks rather than virus scanning (since iOS doesn’t really allow viruses).

Conclusion & Recommendations

Bottom line: McAfee offers a well-rounded security solution that goes beyond just antivirus. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for one subscription to cover all your devices and digital life. The combination of device protection, identity monitoring, and privacy tools in the McAfee+ packages is McAfee’s main strength – it delivers all-in-one peace of mind, especially valuable for families or individuals with a lot of sensitive info online. For example, if you want to keep your PCs malware-free, your phone’s browsing secure, and also get alerts if your Social Security Number or other personal data leaks, McAfee+ can handle all of that in one suite. The Family plans are particularly attractive for households: up to six people can each have their own logins, identity monitoring, and personalized protection settings under a single plan. Parents will appreciate features like parental controls and the ability to cover unlimited gadgets, from laptops to smartphones, without juggling multiple licenses.

That said, McAfee might be overkill for purely basic needs. If you have just one computer and aren’t concerned about identity theft or a VPN, you could either use McAfee’s Basic/Essential tier or consider a simpler/free solution. But if you do bank online, shop online, or store personal data digitally (which most of us do), the added layers McAfee provides – like scam protection, financial monitoring alerts, and insurance – can be worth the investment for the added reassurance. McAfee is also a strong fit for those who value ease of use; it’s largely “set and forget,” with automation for updates and a clear interface.

In conclusion, McAfee Total Protection and McAfee+ together form a versatile lineup suitable for users seeking more than a bare-bones antivirus. McAfee has kept pace with modern threats by integrating identity and privacy features into its security suite. If you’re looking for a trusted, all-in-one security suite that can protect your devices and watch over your personal data at the same time, McAfee is a solid choice. Just make sure to pick the plan that matches your needs (e.g. Individual vs. Family, and Premium vs. Advanced depending on how much identity protection you desire). With its comprehensive approach and user-friendly design, McAfee provides honest, practical protection for everyday users in an increasingly complex digital world.

McAfee Antivirus at a Glance: A comprehensive security suite blending traditional antivirus with identity theft monitoring, VPN, and family safety features – ideal for users who want broad protection across all their devices.