TotalAV vs. McAfee 2024: Which Antivirus Giant Takes the Crown?

After thorough testing and looking at third-party scores, we concluded that McAfee was better than TotalAV.

McAfee is premium antivirus software that includes some features families might appreciate. Although there’s no free version, McAfee has four different paid options to fit almost any budget, starting at $39.99/first 2 yrs. That and the higher Windows test scores make it a better antivirus program than TotalAV.

Still, TotalAV is a good solution for users wanting effective malware protection but may not need unlimited device coverage. The paid plans start at $29.00/yr (first year only), making it affordable for most people who want to test the product.

Let’s dive into all the details so you can choose the best antivirus program tailored to your needs.

TotalAV vs. McAfee review at a glance

One of the main differences between these antivirus products is the number of devices you can cover. McAfee offers unlimited device protection, while TotalAV maxes out at eight.

Some users may think TotalAv’s cost is too high to cover only three to eight machines. You also won’t get parental controls with TotalAV, so if you’re looking for a more family-centered option, TotolAV may not be the best fit.

• TotalAV: Best for budget-conscious users wanting online malware protection for up to eight devices.
• McAfee: Best for anyone looking for a suite of features, including family security options

TotalAV vs. McAfee compared

Star rating	4.7 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at $29.00/yr (first year only)	Starts at $39.99/first 2 yrs
Max number of protected devices	8	Unlimited
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Opera, Amazon Fire	Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, ChromeOS
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read Total AV Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

TotalAV pros and cons

TotalAV has proven itself a reliable product, scoring well in third-party tests. It offers robust protection from various types of malware. It has optimization tools to make surfing the web smooth as well as an ad blocker.

McAfee pros and cons

McAfee has the advantage when it comes to devices. Depending on your plan, you can cover an unlimited amount, making it a great choice for large households. Along with reliable antivirus, you can sign up for extras like data removal and identity theft protection.

Which antivirus is the better value?

Both antivirus products offer great value, but TotalAV has slightly better pricing.

	Our Pick
Price range	$29.00–$49.00/yr (first year only)	$29.99–$249.99/yr
Best value plan	Total Security for $49.00/yr (first year only)	Essential plan for $39.99/first 2 yrs
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

One of the first things you may notice when viewing the price table is that McAfee can be quite a bit more expensive than TotalAV. McAfee also has unlimited device protection, while TotalAV only covers up to eight devices.

If you want the McAfee Ultimate option, you’ll pay $199.99/first yr, but that is the best subscription offered. You’ll get credit monitoring, credit lock, and a host of other identity theft features with that plan.

McAfee includes only paid plans; there’s no free version. TotalAV has a free plan, which is good if all you need is a basic antivirus scanner. You need antivirus protection, so even the minimum is better than nothing.

Both antivirus products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That gives you time to test the software and get a full refund if you don’t like it.

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Features

		Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Parental controls
Password manager	Yes, with the Total Security plan
VPN	Yes, with Internet Security and Total Security plans
Ad blocker
Device optimization tools
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

While both TotalAV and McAfee offer all the standard features you’d expect from an antivirus, they start to differ when you consider what kind of extra bells and whistles you can get.

TotalAV comes with a device optimization tool and ad blocker with all plans, while McAfee doesn’t offer those features at all. That said, TotalAV’s password manager and VPN are limited to the more premium tiers, but come standard in most McAfee plans.

The major thing that McAfee has that TotalAV doesn’t is parental controls, which can be a huge benefit to families. As a parent, antivirus protects you from malware, but it won’t protect your children from online predators. McAfee’s parental controls give you a way to monitor their online activity and include features that let you manage content and screen time.

Finally, important features that McAfee has that aren’t listed above are identity theft and data removal services. These only come with Advanced and Ultimate plans (which start at Offer Pricing Tier 1 Cost), but they’re a huge part of your overall online security.

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Test results

We rely on third-party testing when reviewing antivirus products because it gives us a clear picture of how the software will perform in real-world environments.

For this comparison, we used AV-TEST scores, which is an independent and comparative test that antivirus software can pay to have done to their software. This measures the program’s ability to detect malware as well as its impact on performance.

TotalAV vs. McAfee malware protection scores

		Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score	17/18	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18	N/A
AV-TEST Android score	18/18	18/18
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

Total AV: Windows Jan-Feb 2024/macOS March 2022/Android March 2024

McAfee: Windows Jan-Feb 2024/Android March 2024

While McAfee wasn’t included in the last rounds of macOS testing, its scores in the Windows and Android tests are impressive.

TotalAV scored lower for Windows than McAfee, which may be due to the protection tests for zero-day malware attacks. The industry average is 99.9 percent, but TotalAV scored only 98.2 percent in January. In February, however, it scored 100 percent.

McAfee outperformed TotalAV, receiving 100 percent in both January and February. Still, TotalAV shows good antivirus protection in real-world scenarios, receiving perfect scores in performance and usability.

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Compatibility and customer support

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Edge, Safari, Opera	Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Online guides, email, phone, chat	Online guides, chat, phone, forums
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review

TotalAV has an interface that’s simple and easy to use. Features are intuitive, and we only found a few downsides while testing the product, the worst of which was it would crash a few times when we tested the password vault.

When testing McAfee, we found that the scanning was seamless, with no device performance interruptions noted. The only hiccup we noticed was being unable to access some of the identity features. We placed a call to customer support, and they told us to switch browsers, which had us working with all the identity features in no time.

Both products offer 24/7 customer support, but McAfee even has social media avenues to receive assistance, which is a bonus. You can also only access the TotalAV customer service chat by scouring their Terms of Service, while McAfee encourages you to contact them with a much more streamlined support section.

TotalAV vs. McAfee FAQs

TotalAV vs. McAfee: Which is better?

After thorough testing, reviewing the features of both products, and seeing the third-party test scores, McAfee is the better overall antivirus.

In full transparency, we believe TotalAV and McAfee both offer excellent security protection. TotalAV may be better if you want budget-friendly options or a simple interface without as many frills and don’t need parental control features.

Alternatively, if you want a security suite that includes identity protection and theft coverage, better customer service, and parental controls, McAfee could be your antivirus program one-stop-shop.

TotalAV and McAfee alternatives

We have some alternatives you might want to consider if neither of these products works for you. All of them offer trustworthy security protection:

• Bitdefender: Bitdefender is great for Windows and Android users who want premium features at an affordable price. These include safe online banking, a secure VPN, and multi-layer ransomware protection.

  Get Bitdefender | Read Our Bitdefender Review

• Avast: Avast is one of the best free antivirus programs available and includes a free browser extension to avoid phishing scams. It also has paid plans for more premium options.

  Get Avast | Read Our Avast Review

• AVG: AVG has multiple features like a firewall and parental controls to protect users from computer viruses and data threats.

  Get AVG | Read Our AVG Review