Best Antivirus For Mac In 2023 | Top 11 Mac Antivirus Software

Review and compare the top best Antivirus for Mac with features, pricing to select the ideal virus protection for Mac:

Computer viruses are small programs that perform malicious activities. Whether you own an office or home personal computer, you must install an antivirus app to protect against computer viruses.

Antivirus applications monitor and scan the computer to detect possible viruses. Your personal information and applications stored on the computer will be at risk without a reliable antivirus application.

In this tutorial, we will review the best antivirus software for Mac. You can read the description, features, and price of the best virus protection for Mac devices.

Antivirus For Mac – Review

The following table shows the market share of the best antivirus software:

FAQs About Antivirus Software

Q #1) What is antivirus software?

Answer: Antivirus software helps protect you against hackers. The software will scan and remove malicious applications created by cybercriminals. The software will also protect your computer against adware and ransomware attacks.

Further reading =>> How to remove the WebHelper Virus

Q #2) Why do Mac devices need antivirus software?

Answer: A common myth regarding Mac devices is that they don’t get infected by viruses. While the risk of antivirus is less for a Mac than for Windows devices, but the reality is Mac devices can also get viruses. You must install an antivirus app to protect your computer.

Q #3) What are the different types of antivirus protection?

Answer: Most antivirus apps monitor the computer for antivirus, Trojans, Worms, and malware. Some also have advanced protection features that monitor the computer network for suspicious behaviors.

Q #4) Is free antivirus enough to protect your Mac device?

Answer: Most free antivirus software only offers basic protection. Although the basic protection will be enough for most users, corporations should get a pay-for antivirus that has advanced protection features. A free antivirus app is not enough for sophisticated threats such as ransomware.

Q #5) Does Mac have built-in antivirus?

Answer: Mac devices have built-in antivirus software called XProtect. The proprietary antivirus software of Apple scans files for malware and viruses using a database that is updated daily. The built-in antivirus software is good but does have advanced protection features.

Q #6) Is an antivirus app sufficient to protect my computer?

Answer: Antivirus application is just one measure to protect your computer. You should also take additional protection measures such as not clicking on suspicious emails and using a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN) app when sending or receiving personal and financial information.

List of the Best Antivirus Software for Mac

Here is a list of popular virus protection for Mac:

1. TotalAV Free Antivirus
2. Intego
3. Norton 360
4. McAfee
5. AVG
6. Malwarebytes for Mac
7. Avira
8. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
9. Sophos Home
10. MacKeeper
11. F-Secure
12. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac
13. Kaspersky Internet Security
14. Avast
15. Clario
16. Airo

Comparison of Top Virus Protection for Mac

Best Mac antivirus reviews:

#1) TotalAV Free Antivirus

Best for protection against multiple online threats and optimization of MAC devices.

TotalAV Free Antivirus provides protection against viruses, spyware, adware, and malware. The software offers basic protection against online threats. In addition, it includes optimization tools to boost the performance of your computer.

Features:

• Malware, adware, spyware, and virus protection
• Online threat protection
• Mac cleaner & optimization

Verdict: TotalAV Free Antivirus offers adequate protection against most online threats. The software offers great value for money due to advanced protection against several online threats with affordable subscription costs.

Price:

• Antivirus Pro: $2.42 per month
• Internet Security: $3.25 per month
• Total Security: $4.92 per month
• Trial: No | 30-day money-back guarantee

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#2) Intego

Best for Protection against all forms of threats

Intego is software that can not only combat Mac malware but also neutralize cross-platform threats. Easy to set up and configure, this software provides a Mac system with 24/7 protection. This is a tool that’ll identify threats like malware, viruses, adware, etc., and block or eliminate them in real time. You also get zero-day protection as Intego can easily fight new and emerging threats.

Features:

• Web online security
• Anti-phishing protection
• Ransomware protection
• Zero-day protection
• Automated scans

Verdict: With Intego, you get anti-virus software that was tailor-made to deal with all forms of threats affecting a Mac system. Once deployed, it runs 24/7 to keep your Mac safe from all sorts of old and new threats.

Price:

Premium Plans for Mac are as follows:

• Internet Security X9 – $39.99/year
• Premium Bundle X9 – $69.99/year
• Premium Bundle + VPN – $89.99/year

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#3) Norton 360

Best for robust protection against several online attacks including antivirus, data theft, and hack attacks.

Norton 360 is one of the most trustworthy antivirus software for Mac devices. The app comes with online security, a smart firewall, email spam protection, anti-phishing, and data theft protection.

With the Fire guard feature, you can password protect your files to prevent unauthorized access to confidential files. The intelligent Location Access feature adjusts the protection based on where you are using the computer.

Features:

• Smart Firewall
• Secure VPN
• Password manager
• SafeCam
• Cloud backup

Verdict: Norton 360 is a reliable antivirus application for Mac devices that offers protection against several online threats. The antivirus software works on both current and previous versions of the Mac operating system.

Price:

• Standard: $7.08 per month
• Deluxe: $8.75 per month
• LifeLock Select: $12.50 per month
• Trial: Yes | 30-day

#4) McAfee

Best for Cross-Platform anti-virus protection.

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McAfee offers you an anti-virus platform that can protect your Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS devices from all sorts of threats. Once launched, the software facilitates real-time protection. This basically means that the software works round the clock to keep your devices protected from both online and offline threats.

Features:

• Multi-device protection
• Complete Internet Protection
• PC Performance Optimization
• Encrypted File storage

Verdict: McAfee’s antivirus software is powerful enough to provide a wide array of protection benefits. We recommend this tool if you wish to protect your devices, identity, and privacy.

Price:

• MAV Plus: $34.99/year
• MTP 10 Device Plan: $64.99/year
• MAV Plus 2 Yr: $19.99/year

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#5) AVG

Best for Real-time virus detection.

With AVG, you get a powerful, easy to use anti-virus software that can protect your Mac devices against all sorts of threats. These threats could entail viruses, malware, ransomware, adware, etc. Once launched, the software runs in the background to catch threats in their tracks. The software scans programs for threats, catches them, and neutralizes them in real-time.

Features:

• Block unsafe links and downloads
• Scan programs and files in real time
• Automatic security updates
• Anti-phishing protection

Verdict: AVG features a robust detection technology that can easily detect advanced viruses in real-time. The software can be used to perform in-depth scans of your Mac system to catch threats and neutralize them effectively.

Price: The tool is available to use for free. For added internet protection, you’ll need to pay $3.89/month to secure 1 Mac device.

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#6) Malwarebytes For Mac

Best for protection of Mac devices against most online threats including viruses, adware, spyware, and ransomware.

Malwarebytes for Mac protects your machine against a whole range of online attacks. The application will remove adware and other types of online threats from your device. It has a robust scanner that detects the latest viruses, Trojans, worms, and other malicious apps.

Features:

• Malware removal
• Ransomware protection
• Malicious sites protection
• VPN protection

Verdict: Malwarebytes for Mac is a top-rated app that offers the best virus protection for Mac devices. The application can quickly scan the device removing malicious apps from your device.

Price:

• Basic: Free
• Premium (1 device): $3.33 per month
• Premium (5 devices): $6.67 per month
• Premium + Privacy: $8.33 per month
• Trial: Yes | 14-day

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#7) Avira

Best for real-time protection against online attacks on Mac devices for free.

Avira is the best Mac antivirus that you can download for free. The antivirus app can block and remove all the latest online threats. It also offers data protection through its encrypted VPN. You can safely download and buy stuff online with this antivirus for app software.

Features:

• Malware protection
• VPN protection
• Boost device performance
• Ad tracker removal

Verdict: Avira offers excellent online protection against most online attacks. The ad tracker feature works great. If the app also offered ransomware protection, we would have placed it at the top spot. Still, it is a great antivirus app that can protect your PC against the most serious online threats.

Price:

• Basic: Free
• Premium (5 devices): $7.75 – $9.99 per month
• Premium (25 devices): $10.025 – $12.99 per month
• Trial: No | 30-day money-back guarantee

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#8) Bitdefender Antivirus

Best for protection against Mac-related online threats particularly ransomware attacks.

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers robust protection against multiple online threats. The application boasts of Time Machine Protection (TPM) which is not offered by most other antivirus apps for Mac devices. Other notable features of the app include VPN, adware removal, and ransomware protection.

Features:

• Ransomware protection
• Adware removal and block
• VPN protection
• Online protection
• Time Machine Protection (TMP)

Verdict: Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is another affordable antivirus application that offers robust online protection. The unique feature of the antivirus app for Mac is the TPM protection to prevent ransomware attacks.

Price:

• $3.33 to $7.50 per month
• Trial: Yes | 30-day

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#9) Sophos Home

Best for malware and ransomware protection on Mac devices for free.

Sophos Home is free antivirus software that comes with malware protection, parental website filtering, and online protection. The software also offers a remote management feature to protect multiple devices from a single console.

Features:

• Malware protection
• Parental website filtering
• Mac Web protection
• Remote management
• Ransomware protection

Verdict: Sophos Home offers good protection, but it is not the best. Online tests show that the app does not offer adequate anti-phishing protection. If you are not concerned about phishing attacks, the software will meet your needs.

Price:

• Basic: Free
• Premium: $4.99 per month
• Trial: Yes | 30-day

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#10) MacKeeper

Best for Real-Time anti-virus protection.

MacKeeper software can protect your devices from almost all types of online threats out there. Once launched, the software runs 24/7 in the background trying to thwart malware infiltration and safeguard data on your Mac. In just a few clicks, the software can get rid of whatever infection it identified during its scan.

Features:

• 24/7 Device Protection
• Automatically Block Suspicious Entities
• VPN Service
• Ad Blocking

Verdict: With MacKeeper, you get a lot more than just simple antivirus software for your Mac. You can use this software to remove adware, browse anonymously via a VPN, and discover data breaches in time to fix them.

Price:

• $5.57/month for the annual plan
• $10.95/month for the monthly plan

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#11) F-Secure

Best for Banking Protection.

F-Secure is a platform that you can use to protect your Mac from both malware and virus attacks. Most people generally rely on F-Secure for banking protection as it deploys automatic security measures to protect your online transactions.

It also helps you accidentally enter a potentially harmful website with the help of 24/7 browser protection.

Features:

• Real-Time Threat Protection
• Banking Protection
• Browser Protection
• Parental Controls

Verdict: F-Secure is an easy-to-set-up and launch anti-virus solution for both your Mac and Windows systems. You can even use it to protect your mobile phones from all types of threats around the clock.

Price:

• 30-day free trial
• 1 device/year: $24.99
• 3 devices/year: $34.99
• 5 devices/year: $44.99

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#12) Trend Micro Antivirus

Best for protection against ransomware, phishing websites, and other online threats.

Trend Micro Antivirus has a simple visual interface to protect against complex attacks. The antivirus app comes with basic and advanced online protection with AI technology. The child protection feature helps you shield children against phishing and other attacks.

Features:

• Ransomware protection
• Advanced AI learning
• Email scam protection
• Payment protection
• Child online protection

Verdict: Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac is an affordable solution to protect against multiple online threats. The app comes with advanced protection against several online threats including malicious websites, emails, and antivirus.

Price:

• Antivirus + Security: $3.33 per month
• Maximum Security: $7.50 per month
• Trial: Yes | 30-day

Website: Trend Micro Antivirus

Further Reading => A Perfect Guide to Mac Security

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#13) Internet Security

Best for overall protection against all types of online attacks at an affordable cost.

Kaspersky Internet Security is a suite of tools to protect against different online threats. It offers malware protection, anti-phishing protection, and safe payments protection. The app also comes with a free VPN for secure online browsing.

Features:

• VPN protection
• Malware and anti-phishing
• Secure payments
• Hacker protection

Verdict: Kaspersky Internet Security has obtained top scores by independent antivirus testing firms for its malware and anti-phishing protection. It is the best free antivirus app for Mac devices that provides robust protection against most online threats.

Price:

• Starts at $3.33 per month for 1 device

Website: Kaspersky Internet Security

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#14) Avast

Best for protection of Mac devices against antivirus, malicious websites, and public Wi-Fi networks.

Avast comes with a host of different features protecting users against almost all types of online threats. The basic free version protects against web and email threats, online viruses, and public Wi-Fi threats. The premium version offers advanced protection including Wi-Fi and ransomware attacks.

Features:

• Wi-Fi intruder alert
• Malware protection
• Ransomware protection
• Web & email shield

Verdict: Avast is a reliable name that has been offering protection against online threats for more than a decade. The software comes in both free and paid versions you can select based on your requirements.

Price:

• Basic: Free
• Premium: $5.83 per month
• Trial: Yes | 30-day

Website: Avast Antivirus

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#15) Clario

Best for protection of digital identity, phishing, and unsecured Wi-Fi.

Clario offers advanced protection against a host of different online attacks. It is one of the best antivirus apps for Mac and iOS devices. The app offers real-time protection against malware. It identifies and blocks phishing websites. This antivirus app for Mac devices also protects against identity thefts.

Features:

• Mobile protection
• VPN
• Anti-malware
• Data breach monitoring
• Ad-blocking

Verdict: Clario offers one of the best virus protection for Mac devices. The antivirus software comes with advanced protection against viruses, adware, and online threats.

Price:

• $5.75 to $12 per month
• Trial: No | 30-day money-back guarantee

Website: Clario

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#16) Airo

Best for securing Mac & iOS devices against malware, identity, and data theft for free.

Airo is a free antivirus app for Mac devices that offers basic malware protection. The app also provides privacy. This antivirus software for Mac also features advanced online protection with AI technology.

Features:

• Malware protection
• AI technology
• Privacy & Data Protection
• Adware protection
• Online protection

Verdict: Airo offers adequate protection against most online attacks. The identity protection feature is invaluable that free antivirus software does not offer. The only thing missing from the app is protection against ransomware that is a growing online threat today.

Price: Free.

Website: Airo

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Conclusion

We have reviewed different types of antivirus software so that you have a wide choice for selecting the best virus protection for Mac devices. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, Malwarebytes for Mac, Sophos Home, and Avast are recommended if you want the best Mac antivirus app with ransomware protection.

The best free antivirus app for Mac devices include Avira, Sophos Home, and Avast. If you want an antivirus app with the identity protection feature, we recommend Clario and Airo. Malwarebytes for Mac, Kaspersky Internet Security, Bitdefender Antivirus , and Avira offer the best overall protection against online threats.

Research Process:

• Time taken to research this article: It took us about 7 hours to research and write on the best Mac antivirus software so that you can select the best one.
• Total tools researched: 25
• Top tools shortlisted: 11