Aura Antivirus Review 2025: Is It the Ultimate Cybesecurity Suite?

Aura packs plenty of features into its security suite, giving you antivirus protection, identity theft coverage, crediting monitoring, and even providing coverage for multiple devices and people.
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4.3
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Aura Antivirus's website

Antivirus Software
Aura Antivirus
Save up to 53%
  • Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
  • Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
  • Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support

Aura Antivirus offers basic antivirus protection that's enhanced by its identity theft protection suite. The antivirus features are real-time threat protection, multiple scan options, and automatic malware quarantine. Depending on your plan, Aura Antivirus offers a password manager, ad blocking, financial transaction monitoring, credit protection, and even comprehensive identity theft protection

Aura Antivirus successfully blocked the malware test files we threw at it. However, it failed the phishing protection test and doesn't have any third-party test results to back up its security. 

We'll walk you through the Aura Antivirus suite to help you decide if it's worthwhile antivirus protection. 

Pros
  • Offers up to $1 million in identity theft insurance (with the Ultimate plan)
  • Base plan includes a secure VPN 
  • Plus and Ultimate plans include a password manager, file vault, ad blocking, and more
Cons
  • Aura Parental Controls software isn't included
  • No third-party testing is available

In this article
At a glance
Our experience
Who is Aura Antivirus best for?
Prices and subscriptions
Security features
Test results
Compatibility
Customer support
Alternatives
FAQs
Bottom line

At a glance

Price $35.99-$59.99/first yr
Free plan No
# of devices protected 3 - 10
Malware scans Yes
Real-time protection Yes
EICAR test results 2/3
Firewall No
Phishing protection Yes
Compatibility Windows, macOS, Android
Extras VPN, password manager, ad blocker, identity protection
24/7 customer support Yes
Learn more Get Aura Antivirus

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.

We last tested Aura Antivirus on January 13, 2025.

Multiple Threat Protection with $1M Identity Theft Insurance
4.3
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Aura Antivirus's website
Antivirus Software
Aura Antivirus
Save up to 53%
  • Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
  • Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
  • Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support

Our experience

We tested Aura Antivirus on a Lenovo laptop running Windows 11. Signing up only took a few minutes, and downloading the application was fast and easy. The interface was simple to use, and we didn’t notice any lag time when running scans, even having numerous browser tabs open simultaneously.

It took a little under seven minutes to run a full scan and check over 260,000 files. Aura found some threats and immediately quarantined them. Afterward, we could review and delete them or leave them in quarantine for up to seven days.

Aura Antivirus full scan results (no threats found)

The scanning was easy, and we had no issues navigating the interface. Again, you won’t be able to schedule a scan with Aura antivirus, but you can run a manual scan any time you want. Fortunately, there's real-time protection running in the background to check for any malicious software.

All the antivirus options are turned on by default, so there’s not much for you to do. You can toggle on Online Security from the main dashboard for virtual private network (VPN) protection. 

It was also nice to have the dark web monitoring and data broker removal features ready when we logged into the Aura dashboard.

Aura Antivirus overview of security steps taken
Aura Antivirus advanced security steps

Who is Aura Antivirus best for?

  • Recommended for users who want basic antivirus coverage along with additional cybersecurity tools.

Aura is great for users who want options, whether you need antivirus protection as an individual or want something to protect your entire household. There are three different security plans to fit various needs. The Ultimate plan comes with $1 million identity theft insurance.

The most economical plans are billed annually, so keep that in mind when you select the best option for you. Since Aura has many standard features, we think this cybersecurity suite may check all those security boxes for most people.

Aura Antivirus cost

Aura Antivirus ranges from $35.99-$59.99/first yr. The Antivirus plan starts at $35.99/first yr, the Antivirus Plus plan starts at $47.99/first yr, and the Ultimate plan starts at $59.99/first yr. These are all billed annually, so it’s something to be aware of before purchasing.

The starting prices are a bit high if you compare them to the well-established antivirus services.

  • Norton 360: Starts at $29.99/first yr. 
  • TotalAV: Starts at $29.00/first yr.
  • McAfee: Starts at $39.99/first yr.

But these also have much higher end prices:

  • Norton 360: Most expensive plan is $99.99/first yr.
  • TotalAV: Most expensive plan is $49.00/first yr.
  • McAfee: Most expensive plan is $249.99/first yr.

For those who may be more on the fence and don’t mind spending a bit extra, you can choose the monthly option. Just note that paying for an entire year of antivirus protection upfront may be off-putting, but the savings and peace of mind can be worth the price.

Antivirus Antivirus Plus Ultimate
Monthly price (billed annually) $35.99/first yr $47.99/first yr $59.99/first yr
# devices supported 3 5 10
Compatible with Windows, macOS, Android Windows, macOS, Android Windows, macOS, Android
Manual and auto scan
Phishing protection
Real-time protection
Ransomware protection
VPN
Identity monitoring
Identity theft insurance
1-bureau credit monitoring
Learn more View plan View plan View plan

There's also a 60-day money-back guarantee on all annual plans.

Security features

Aura comes standard with most features you’d want from a security suite. It focuses on being an all-in-one software, giving you antivirus protection, a VPN, a password manager, as well as identity and financial fraud protection. 

The password manager offers safe storage and retrieval for online credentials, and the financial fraud protection gives users more peace of mind when shopping or banking online.

Malware and antivirus scan

Aura's antivirus protection offers manual and real-time scans that run in the background to keep your device safe. You won’t be able to schedule a scan, but you can choose from the following options:

  • Quick scan: Scans folders where threats are commonly found. 
  • Full scan: Scans all files and folders on your hard drive. 
  • Custom scan: Scan the files you specify or a USB drive.

We had no issues running Aura’s antivirus scan on our PC laptop. It checked over 260,000 files in around seven minutes and notified us of threats placed in quarantine.

Aura Antivirus lsit of scan options

Phishing protection

Aura offers the Safe Browsing feature to automatically block suspicious websites and prevent you from accessing harmful phishing websites. It's a browser extension available for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

Aura browser extension showing options for password management and online security

Once you've downloaded the extension, the toggle to block malicious sites will already be on. From there, Aura will notify you when it has stopped a potentially malicious download and explain why.

Real-time protection

Aura’s real-time protection scans every file you attempt to add to your computer. That means that before you can download new software, Aura will ensure it’s safe. The Safe Browsing extension can also block ads and trackers.

The caveat is that it’s only available for PCs, so if you’re a macOS user, you won’t have this feature. Since we were testing this software on our Macbook Air, we couldn’t verify its potential.

Ransomware protection

One of the ways hackers try to steal your data is with the use of ransomware. Much like the name implies, these cybercriminals hold your data for ransom until you pay them whatever fee they request. 

Aura checks for all kinds of malware, including ransomware. The threat will be isolated and quarantined to keep your device secure if anything is detected. 

After seven days, the files are automatically deleted. There's no setting to enable this protection, so it’s ready to work when you set up your account.

Anti-fraud protection

Aura's Ultimate antivirus plan comes with a variety of fraud and identity protection tools. You'll get one-bureau credit monitoring, credit lock, bank fraud monitoring, and financial transaction monitoring. The adult on the plan also gets $1 million in insurance that covers fees and losses resulting from identity theft. 

There's also a U.S.-based team to help resolve these issues and mitigate the damages. Aura makes the process simple if you have the misfortune of needing the service, with a few easy steps to follow to get help.

Bonus features

This antivirus comes with extra features that enhance your online security. Some of these may persuade you to pay for Aura’s all-inclusive cybersecurity solution.

Spam call and message protection

Aura uses AI to scan for unknown calls and messages before your phone even rings. If you’re bothered by annoying spam calls and messages throughout the day, this feature adds the layer of protection you need to keep those communication attempts at bay.

VPN

When using public Wi-Fi, everyone needs a secure network for better online protection. Aura’s VPN is easy to set up, and you can choose when to use it.

Aura Online Security VPN (turned on)

Privacy assistant

To help you stay safe online, Aura removes your private information from data brokers and search listings. These sites can sell your data, increasing the chances of placing it into the hands of scammers.

Aura data broker removal page (19 requests completed, 14 in progress)

Password manager

Aura’s password manager is another protection layer that helps you store your online credentials in a secure location. You can access passwords across devices, and it’s built into the software, so there’s nothing for you to do. You can even import accounts from another password manager if needed.

Aura password entry page

Aura Antivirus test results

To confirm Aura's claim, we put its scanning and malware protection capabilities to the test. First, we conduct antivirus scans and measure how long it takes. Aura proved to be among the speediest antiviruses we've tested.

We also conduct EICAR (European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research) testing. This allows us to test how well an antivirus can detect and block threats using fake malware and phishing files. Aura caught the malware with ease, but failed to block phishing.

We typically rely on third-party testing sites to help give an accurate illustration of how the program performs. However, Aura has not yet submitted its antivirus product for third-party testing. We hope to see how Aura performs next to antivirus giants in the future.

Scan speed

  • Result: Fast

Aura Antivirus has three types of scans available: a quick scan, a full scan, and a custom scan. 

The quick scan was finished in an instant, taking almost no time. The full scan was also incredibly fast, taking well under 10 minutes to go over 260,000 files. Just note that there were two false positives, with Aura flagging Turbo VPN and AVG Antivirus in our downloads. 

Scan type Time spent
Quick scan 11 seconds
Full scan 6 minutes, 48 seconds

EICAR test results

  • Result: 2/3

The three EICAR tests we ran were for malware detection, drive-by malware downloads, and phishing page detection. Aura easily caught and quarantined the two EICAR malware files. 

Aura Antivirus showing a list of quarantined threats.

However, Aura couldn't block the fake phishing link with the Online Security tool. We downloaded the Safe Browsing extension, which has a toggle for malicious site blocking. Unfortunately, the EICAR link still slipped past Aura.  

Aura Antivirus EICAR results (fail) for phishing pages detection.

Test Aura score
Malware detection Pass
Drive-by malware downloads Pass
Phishing pages detection Fail

Test results as of 01/13/2025.

Aura Antivirus compatibility

When searching for the best antivirus protection for your family, you may need compatibility for various devices. Aura works with almost any device, making it easy for multiple users who share a plan. 

These are the devices you can use Aura antivirus on:

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Android

The Aura Safe Browsing extension is available for the following browsers:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge

Aura Antivirus customer support

During testing, we didn’t need to contact customer support, but if you do, there are some options for service. If you’d rather investigate an issue yourself, Aura has a Help Center that contains numerous categories with corresponding online guides for assistance.

You can also use the 24/7 phone support option or chat with a specialist from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. 

We reached out to Aura's chat support with a question about the Safe Browsing extension. There were seven people ahead of us in the queue, and it took about 15 minutes to reach our agent. 

Once we connected with our agent, they were friendly and quick to reply. 

Live chat conversation with Aura customer support

Top alternatives

One of the hardest parts of finding the right antivirus is sorting through the availability. Many of them have similar features, but sometimes prices and compatibility can vary, among other options. 

If Aura doesn’t fit your needs, here are some alternatives you might like more.

Antivirus
Star rating
4.7
4.6
4.8
Price Free–$49.00/yr (first year only) $29.99–$249.99/yr $29.99–$99.99/first yr
# of devices protected 4 - 8 Unlimited 1 - 10
Malware scans Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
EICAR test results 2/3 3/3 3/3
Firewall
Phishing protection
Compatibility Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Extras Password manager, ad blocker, VPN Parental controls, performance optimization tools, VPN Password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls, privacy monitor, identity theft protection, cloud backup
24/7 customer support
Learn more Get TotalAV Get McAfee Get Norton 360

FAQs


+

Is Aura better than Norton?

Aura is better than Norton if you have more than 10 devices to protect. Aura has a Family plan that includes antivirus and covers up to 50 devices for five adults. Plus, you’d have to purchase additional coverage — like identity theft protection — separately with Norton. Aura offers a comprehensive cybersecurity suite. Learn more about Aura vs. LifeLock in our detailed review.


+

Is Aura protection good?

Aura includes features like a VPN and private browsing, alongside broader security suite options, such as $1 million worth of identity insurance coverage. With all the options you get with this software, we think the protection is more than just good.


+

Is Aura better than McAfee?

If you are looking for an emphasis on identity protection and credit monitoring, Aura is better than McAfee. The tools included will alert you to fraud and notify you of sensitive data found in public records or on the dark web.


+

Is Aura a legitimate company?

Aura is a legitimate company. Although there are no third-party testing scores available, that doesn't mean it isn't a credible antivirus program. Companies must pay for the testing services, so some antivirus products don’t include them.

Bottom line: Is Aura Antivirus good?

Overall, Aura Antivirus is solid but might be too bare bones for fully comprehensive antivirus protection. It scanned our device in record time, blocked malware downloads, and includes lots of features to keep your identity safe and your device more secure.

Unfortunately, Aura failed our phishing protection test, even after we downloaded the Safe Browsing extension. And if the price is too high for your needs, see how Aura compares to our top alternatives:

Multiple Threat Protection with $1M Identity Theft Insurance
4.3
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Aura Antivirus's website
Antivirus Software
Aura Antivirus
Save up to 53%
  • Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
  • Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
  • Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support
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.
Steph Trejos is an Editor at All About Cookies, leveraging her expertise in the cybersecurity field. She holds a B.A. in English: Editing, Writing, and Media, as well as Media/Communications Studies. With over five years of professional writing experience, she has garnered recognition for her work on anti-financial crime topics, such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and cyberthreats.