Best Antivirus Software for Mac 2021

There's a common misperception that Mac users are immune from viruses and other malware. It's true that Windows 10 and older versions of Windows are more popular than macOS, and thus hackers target Windows computers more often. But that doesn't mean you're free and clear if you own a Mac. Peter Stelzhammer, co-founder of independent security testing lab AV-Comparatives, says that Macs are just as vulnerable as Windows machines to online attacks. These come in myriad forms and can include:

Malicious files in general are called "malware." You also need to look out for other kinds of attacks, such as "phishing." This is where someone sends you an email or text with a link to a fake (but real-looking) website. If you click on it and enter personal information like a bank account or Social Security number, the person operating the site can steal it.

There are things you can do to protect yourself, such as using strong passwords. But in addition to common sense internet security practices, you should also invest in a good Mac antivirus program. Antivirus software scans the information and files sent to and from your computer when you're online. The software will warn you not to click on a suspicious website or file, and it will try to quarantine and eliminate any malicious file that you accidently download. Many antivirus programs also come with a virtual private network (VPN), which disguises your online activities; a firewall, which monitors network traffic; and parental controls to protect children.

To help protect you online, here's the Best Antivirus Software for Mac of 2021:

#1 Webroot
#2 Bitdefender
#2 Intego
#4 Kaspersky
#5 Norton
#6 ESET
#6 AVG Technologies
#8 Trend Micro
#9 F-Secure

The Best Antivirus Software for Mac of 2021

The following are the Best Antivirus Software for Macs of 2021. If two prices are separated by a slash, the first price pertains to the first year of a subscription, and the second price pertains to each subsequent year.

Webroot: Webroot's antivirus software packages start at $29.99/$39.99 for one year and a single device with basic malware protections and a few extras. At the high end, these plans cost up to $179.99/$239.97 for a more complete set of protections, a password manager, and 25 GB of cloud storage covering up to five devices for three years. The company sells a separate VPN package called Webroot WiFi Security for Windows, macOS, and Android ($39.99/$59.99 a year for three devices or $59.99/$79.99 a year for five devices).

Read more about Webroot or check out the top Webroot promo codes.

Bitdefender: Bitdefender's five different antivirus packages, each with different prices depending on the number of devices (usually three, five, or 10) and subscription length (one, two, or three years). These packages range in price from $19.99/$39.99 for one device for one year for Antivirus Plus to $89.99/$149.99 for 10 devices for one year for Bitdefender Premium Security.

Read more about Bidefender or check out the top Bitdefender coupons.

Intego: Intego sells four consumer macOS antivirus packages in a variety of multiyear/multidevice subscription configurations, covering just macOS devices or macOS devices plus a single Windows device. They range in price from $39.99/$49.99 for a single-year, single-device subscription to $149.99/$184.99 covering three devices for two years.

Read more about Intego or check out the top Intego coupons.

Kaspersky: Kaspersky antivirus software packages are available with three-, five-, 10-, or 20-device coverage in one-, two-, and three-year subscriptions. Prices range from $39.99 for three devices for one year of Kaspersky Internet Security ($79.99 upon renewal) to $74.99 for 10 devices for one year for Kaspersky Total Security ($149.99 upon renewal). The company also offers a basic free antivirus program called Kaspersky Security Cloud Free.

Read more about Kaspersky or check out the top Kaspersky coupon codes.

Norton: Norton has five primary antivirus/identity theft protection that range in price from Norton 360 Standard ($39.99 for the first year and $79.99 thereafter) to Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus ($299.99/$349.99). If you just want antivirus protection, Norton Antivirus Plus is available for $19.99/$59.99.

Read more about Norton or check out the top Norton coupons codes.

ESET: ESET sells three antivirus software configurations in one-, two- or three-year subscriptions. The cheapest option costs $39.99 a year for basic malware defense for one device; the most advanced option comes in at $449.97 a year for the Smart Security Premium package, which covers 10 devices for three years.

Read more about ESET or check out the top ESET promo codes.

AVG Technologies: AVG sells two paid subscription antivirus software packages. AVG Internet Security runs on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Subscription prices range from $39.99 ($69.99 after the first year) for one computer to $49.99 ($89.99 after the first year) for up to 10 devices. AVG's premium Ultimate package includes a VPN and AVG PC TuneUp. It covers 10 devices for one year for $79.99 ($119.99 thereafter). AVG also sells its VPN and PC TuneUp products separately.

Read more about AVG Technologies or check out the top AVG coupons.

Trend Micro: Trend Micro's Antivirus for Mac (one year, one device: $29.95/$39.95) offers "Advanced AI" protections against viruses, ransomware, phishing emails, and suspicious or malicious websites. Its Maximum Security package (one year, five devices: $39.95/$89.95) protects multiple desktop and mobile operating systems, covers either five or 10 devices, and includes a password manager.

Read more about Trend Micro or check out the top Trend Micro promo codes.

F-Secure: F-Secure sells two Mac-specific antivirus software packages, F-Secure SAFE and F-Secure TOTAL. Prices range $34.99/$69.99 for F-Secure SAFE (three devices for one year) to $129.99 a year for F-Secure TOTAL, which covers seven devices and includes both a VPN and password manager. F-Secure's separate VPN, FREEDOME, costs $34.99 to $119.99 a year depending on the number of devices covered and subscription length (one or two years).

Read more about F-Secure or check out the top F-Secure coupons.

How to Buy Antivirus Software for Mac

In your search for the best antivirus software for your Mac, follow these steps:

For more information, see How to Buy Antivirus Software.

Do I Need Antivirus Software for Mac?

Everyone who owns a computer connected to the internet should get antivirus software. However, you still need to behave safely online. John Hawes, chief operating officer of the international nonprofit Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), says that using weak passwords or taking other risks while hoping your antivirus software will protect you is like driving an otherwise safe car "with your eyes shut." Using hard-to-guess passwords, ignoring email attachments from strangers, and avoiding giving out your Social Security number or other personal data unless you're sure the recipient is legitimate are a few easy things you can do to protect yourself online.

However, these measures won't provide the highest level of protection. That's where antivirus software comes in. Stelzhammer says antivirus programs are able to detect both new and existing threats that you might not notice until it's too late. These threats are multiplying and changing constantly; Andreas Marx, a managing director at testing lab AV-Test, says more than 350,000 new kinds of malware are invented every day. Antivirus software thus provides a critical layer of security that will complement your safe online behavior.

What Should I Look for in Antivirus Software for Mac?

When purchasing antivirus software, look for the following features and characteristics:

Performance/Reliability: Your antivirus program must be able to identify, block, and remove threats like viruses, worms, adware, and phishing attempts. For a list of effective antivirus programs, see our Best Antivirus Software for Mac of 2021 and Best Antivirus Software of 2021 ratings.

Pricing/Value: Antivirus software should have the features you need and ideally not ones you don't, so you don't have to pay for them. The annual renewal price is most important, rather than the introductory first-year price. Your antivirus software should cover all of your computers, tables, phones, and other devices.

Comfort/Ease of Use: Take advantage of the software's free trial to make sure it's easy to use and doesn't affect your computer's performance. During the free trial, also contact customer service to make sure they're helpful and responsive.

How Does Antivirus Software for Mac Work?

The term antivirus software is somewhat misleading, according to Stelzhammer of AV-Comparatives. That's because it guards against not only viruses, but also other types of malware like worms, adware, and ransomware. In addition, a good antivirus program will watch for phishing attempts that try to steal your personal data by getting you to enter it on a fake website.

Because of the variety of online threats, antivirus software uses several different methods of detecting them. These include, among others:

Signature Analysis: With this fingerprinting-like technique, real-time antivirus signature analysis records a piece of malware's unique signature. It then uses that information to help identify new, similar threats.

Heuristic Analysis: Many hackers know how to defeat signature analysis. That's where heuristic analysis comes into play. With this approach, antivirus software looks for files that are behaving suspiciously in a way that matches known malware.

Sandbox Detection: Some antivirus software, if it encounters a suspicious file, will open and run it in a secure area called a "sandbox." This will prevent the file from harming your computer if it turns out to be malware.

Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence: Machine learning and artificial intelligence are two relatively new ways for computers to identify malware and other threats. The software then adds information about these threats to its detection database.

Behavior Monitoring: Hawes, of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization, explains that behavior monitoring involves watching the traffic between your computer and various devices like disk drives and printers to "stop them when they do something suspicious" and even undo any authorized changes these external devices make.

For more information, see How Does Antivirus Software Work.

Best Antivirus Software of 2021

If you have a computer running Windows 10, Windows 7, or another version of Windows, we've researched the Best Antivirus Software of 2021. Click on the company names below for more information about the antivirus software that each offers.

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Still looking for more information about antivirus software or trying to find the best antivirus software for you? Explore the directory below to learn more.

How U.S. News Evaluated Antivirus Software

We explain what matters most to consumers, experts, and professional reviewers when it comes to antivirus software. Then we provide an unbiased evaluation of antivirus software available at the time of review. Our goal is to empower consumers with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions. More information about our 360 Reviews methodology for evaluating antivirus software companies is here.