Webroot Antivirus Review 2024: How Does It Stack Up?

For an affordable antivirus with no frills, Webroot is a good option. It offers everything you need from an antivirus, like a firewall and real-time protection for a low starting cost of $29.99/yr (first year only).

But how does this software perform compared to the best antivirus programs? Keep reading to find out how Webroot SecureAnywhere antivirus can help keep your devices safer.

Webroot antivirus at a glance

3.6

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.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Webroot's website

Antivirus Software

Webroot

• Fast, cloud-based scans
• Ransomware reversal technology
• Internet Security Plus plan required to clean device

Our experience

Overall, we found Webroot antivirus easy-to-use and had no issues. The download and setup process was straightforward, only requiring us to enter a keycode to complete the process, which was sent via email.

Once setup was complete, there was nothing we needed to do. All the toggles for real-time protection, web protection, firewall, and more were already toggled on.

We ran multiple scans using both full and quick scans, changing some of the options along the way to test for fluctuations in performance. The quick scan was done in the blink of an eye, only lasting two seconds. 

However, the full scan took over 30 minutes. When we selected Start scan, there was a pop-up explaining that full system scans aren't needed due to its real-time scanning. 

Despite the slower than usual scan speed, Webroot didn't slow our device so we were able to continue running other tests. The only threats it detected were the EICAR test files we downloaded, so there were no false positives either.

We didn't find the scan scheduler in the PC security tab, it's actually in the Advanced Settings window. But other than that, Webroot worked how we expect antiviruses should: limiting performance impact on our device, detecting malicious files, and keeping all the necessary features toggled on for peace of mind.

Who is Webroot best for?

• Recommended for busy individuals who want an affordable antivirus with no frills.

Webroot is a solid program that’s easy to use. If offers all the standard antivirus features like a firewall, password manager, and multiple scan options. It earned a high score during third-party testing for its malware protection and includes always-on protection for identity theft.

Webroot pricing starts at $29.99/yr (first year only) for the Webroot Basic, but you’ll need to upgrade to Webroot Plus and above for smartphone coverage. 

Speaking of features, one of our favorites was the minimal effect Webroot has on your system resources. That comes thanks to Webroot’s cloud-based architecture, which means it won’t use much disk space when scanning your machine. 

Webroot antivirus cost

Webroot antivirus ranges from $29.99–$124.99/yr. There are four standard plans: Webroot Basic, Webroot Plus, Webroot Premium, and Webroot Premium Family. 

All plans come with the basic antivirus features like real-time protection, a firewall, and phishing protection. After the Basic tier, all plans come with smartphone compatibility, performance optimization tools, and a password manager. 

Webroot's starting plan is about the same as most antivirus plans. See how it compares to some of the most popular antivirus programs:

• TotalAV: $29.00/yr (first year only)
• Webroot: $29.99/yr (first year only)
• Norton: $29.99/yr (first year only)
• McAfee: $39.99/yr (first yr only)

The Premium plans also come with Allstate identity theft protection. So you'll identity monitoring, one-bureau credit monitoring, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. 

See what features come with each plan in the following table:

Featured Webroot alternatives to consider

Antivirus
Best for	Best overall antivirus software	All-in-one software	Comprehensive security	Best value
Starting price	$29.00/yr (first year only)	$35.99/first yr	$29.99/yr (first year only)	$3.19/mo (billed annually)
Features	Zero-day scans, anti-phishing, ransomware protection, password manager, ad blocker	Antivirus protection, VPN, password manager, security for multiple devices	Antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, password manager	Antivirus protection, VPN, private search engine, data leak alerts
Learn more	Get TotalAV	Get Aura	Get Norton360 Antivirus	Get Surfshark Antivirus

Webroot Internet Security Plus features

Webroot offers all the features you need from an antivirus: multiple scan options, a firewall, and protection from threats like phishing and ransomware.

Malware and antivirus scan

With Webroot antivirus, you get a complete suite of scans. You can run full scans for times when you want to be more thorough, or quick scans if you just need to skim the top.

The program also allows you to manually scan for viruses anytime you want. If you’d like, you can do back-to-back scanning. You can also go into the Advanced Settings tab and set your preferences for scheduled scans.

Phishing protection

All Webroot security software comes with the Web Threat Shield, which provides real-time anti-phishing monitoring. You’ll also need to download the browser extension in order for Webroot to flag unsecure sites as part of its phishing protection.

We downloaded the Chrome browser extension and entered our Webroot keycode. Our Google search results were automatically updated to show whether a site was reputable or not (indicated by a green checkmark). There was no need to restart Chrome or our device.

Firewall

All Webroot antivirus plans come with a firewall and network connection monitor. Since a firewall checks all the information that goes in and out of your computer for malicious processes, it’s a good tool to have in combination with antivirus protection.

According to the Webroot site, the firewall works with the Windows Defender firewall to monitor traffic. The Webroot firewall checks the data traveling from your computer ports, while Windows Defender monitors data going into your computer.

Webroot’s firewall was toggled on when we downloaded the program. Your regular activities won’t be disrupted since the firewall works in the background. If the firewall detects any suspicious traffic, you get an alert and can then block the traffic or allow it to run.

Real-time protection

Webroot's real-time protection will keep your device safe from cyberthreats around the clock. The Realtime Shield feature is toggled on by default. The Web Threat Shield also protects your device in real time by blocking you from accessing malicious sites.

Ransomware protection

All Webroot antivirus plans come with ransomware protection and a unique way of dealing with suspected ransomware.

If the antivirus program comes into contact with an unknown app, it separates the app into a bubble that prevents it from making any system changes to your device. Webroot also monitors unknown program and keeps track of what changes they make to your system, almost like a backup.

Bonus features

Although Webroot is among the more basic antivirus programs, it does offer some additional features:

• Password manager: Some Webroot plans include LastPass. This feature can create strong passwords for you, store those passwords, and autofill them as you log in to your accounts.
• Identity theft protection: The Premium plans include Allstate Identity Protection. You'll get identity monitoring features, one-bureau credit monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, and 24/7 restoration services. 
• VPN: Webroot doesn't include a virtual private network (VPN) with any of its standard plans. However, Webroot Internet Security Complete is a bundle with Webroot's WiFi Security VPN and antivirus for $93.99/yr (first year only).

Webroot antivirus test results

There are three types of tests we review for each antivirus: we run scan speed tests, we conduct EICAR tests ourselves, and we review third-party test results. 

Webroot had average scan speeds, with a lightning-fast quick scan and a much slower full scan. It passed all the EICAR tests with flying colors, showing it can protect against malware and phishing. Although its third-party test results are mostly outdated, the most recent ones show that it provides satisfactory protection.

Scan speed

• Result: Average

We ran a quick scan and a full scan with Webroot to determine its speed performance.

Webroot's quick scan was done before we knew it, taking only two seconds. However, Webroot's full scan took over 30 minutes, which is in the slower range. 

For reference, most of the antivirus programs we've tested take more than five minutes or than 20 minutes to scan. Webroot warned us that full scans aren't necessary due to its real-time protection, but we still want to be able to run a full scan if needed. 

EICAR test results

• Result: 3/3

The European Institute for Compuer Antivirus Research, or EICAR, allows you to test your antivirus at home without downloading real malware. Its created a database of test files for a number of cyberthreats. 

We ran EICAR tests for malware detection, drive-by malware downloads, and phishing pages detection.

Webroot passed all three tests with no issues. It either blocked a file from downloading and put those files in quarantine, or blocked us from accessing a malicious webpage. 

AV-TEST results

• Result: Webroot's AV-TEST results are several years old, and they're just satisfactory.

AV-TEST is the first independent organization we refer to for third-party tests. It reviews antivirus programs for how well they can protect against malware, how well they can perform without slowing computer speeds, and how accurately they can identity real threats (and not false positives).

Webroot hasn't submitted its programs to AV-TEST for several years now, so we wouldn't rely on these results to inform its current programs. 

For Windows, it had received a less than satisfactory score for malware protection, and some dings for slowing speeds and for detecting false positives. For Android, it had a satisfactoy malware protection score and detected one false positive. 

AV-Comparatives results

• Result: Webroot's AV-Comparatives results are over 10 years old, with lower results on real-world protection but top performance impact results.

AV-Comparatives is another independent organization we refer to for its antivirus testing. It runs a number of tests for real-world protection, malware protection, and performance impact. It also tests antivirus apps for their mobile security abilities. 

These results are even older than the AV-TEST results, so take them with a grain of salt. For Windows, Webroot had the lowest protection rate out of over 20 antivirus programs. However, it was at the top for performance impact. 

Webroot's Android app was also approved by AV-Comparatives. 

SE Labs test results

• Result: 98%

Although the AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives results are dated, Webroot does get regularly tested by SE Labs. It checks antivirus products for protection accuracy, legitimate accuracy, and false positives. 

Webroot had a high score of 74 against general attacks and 24 against targeted attacks, totalling to 98%. It also had 0% false positives, leading to a total accuracy score of 98%. 

Webroot compatibility

Webroot is compatible with standard operating systems:

• Windows 7 and later
• macOS 10.12 Monterey and later

Note that you won't have access to apps for your Chromebook and the Webroot Mobile Security app unless you purchase Webroot Plus and up:

• iOS 13 and later
• Android 7 and later
• Chromebook

Finally, the Webroot Web Threat Shield extension is available for the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

Webroot customer support

Webroot has several options for customer service, but unfortunately none of them are available 24/7. You can send a message to support, which is similar to email, or you can call a customer support representative. Support is available from Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST.

We did message support, and we received message back within 10 minutes. We asked if Webroot has parental controls, but the agent seemed to have misinterpreted our question. Instead, they gave us a guide on how to allow Webroot to run alongside parental controls. 

For self-help, you can refer to Webroot's knowledge base, which has lots of online guides to reference. Additionally, you can contact Webroot on Facebook or Twitter — or ask fellow Webroot users on the forums.

Top alternatives

Webroot is a no-frills antivirus, but what if you want a program with all the bells and whistles? Learn more about some of our favorite programs we recommend:

Antivirus
Star rating	4.3 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.	4.0 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.	4.3 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.
Price	$29.00–$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

Bottom line: Is Webroot antivirus good?

With an affordable price point, Webroot is a good antivirus software to get if you need antivirus protection but have all your other cybersecurity bases covered. The benefits of this antivirus are ease of use with tons of features at a reasonable price. If you want a low-cost, no-fuss antivirus, you truly can’t go wrong with Webroot.

But if you’re on the hunt for a more robust anti-malware program, such as one that comes with a built-in VPN, webcam protection, or other security features, you may want to check out our list of the best antivirus software.

Check out our comprehensive comparisons for more information:

• Webroot vs. Norton 360
• Webroot vs. Bitdefender

3.6

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.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Webroot's website

Antivirus Software

Webroot

• Fast, cloud-based scans
• Ransomware reversal technology
• Internet Security Plus plan required to clean device

Author Details

Patti Croft

About the Author

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