AVG – Number of Downloads & Rating on CNET Download.com June 2017 Avast has higher editor’s rating – 4 stars (meaning excellent), while AVG has 3.5 stars (meaning very good). The user/community rating is also better for Avast – 4.5 stars, while AVG has 4 stars. AVG – Number of Downloads & Rating on CNET Download.com June 2017 Avast has higher editor’s rating – 4 stars (meaning excellent), while AVG has 3.5 stars (meaning very good). The user/community rating is also better for Avast – 4.5 stars, while AVG has 4 stars.
(Last updated on August 28th, 2019)
McAfee or Avast, which antivirus software is a better pick in 2019?
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Overall, Bitdefender is our #1 antivirus software for 2019 (and beyond), because of its excellent, flawless performance in all independent lab evaluations, particularly those conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
Right now, we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package available in the market. Apart from providing excellent anti-malware protection, it offers all the advanced premium features and utilities that must be there in a high-end package -- and best of all, it offers excellent value for money. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, or smartphones) with just one license.
If you need protection for more than five devices, we highly recommend Bitdefender Family Pack 2019. It will cover all the internet-capable devices in your household with the Total Security suite, so your family is protected no matter what goes wrong.
In this guide, we’ll go over McAfee and Avast and compare the two in a head-to-head competition to see which software is a better option.
In a rush? Look at the breakdown below. It’ll give you a quick summary of the winners in each category. You can scroll down to the individual categories for details.
A Quick Rundown of Winners in Each Category
1. Features
Winner: McAfee. McAfee offers all the advanced security-related features and utilities with its flagship premium product, while Avast reserves its important features and tools for its high-end products.
2. Malware Protection
Winner: McAfee. Overall, McAfee offers better anti-malware security than better than Avast, as evidenced by independent lab tests.
3. System Performance
Winner: Tie. Independent tests confirm that both McAfee and Avast are excellent in terms of the impact on system performance; both software put a very minimal (almost negligible) strain on systems.
4. User-Friendliness
Winner: Tie. Both McAfee and Avast offer a simple, easy-to-use user interface.
5. Pricing
Winner: McAfee. McAfee gives you more bang for your buck; you can get more licenses for less money through McAfee.
6. Customer Satisfaction
Winner: McAfee. McAfee has slightly better customer satisfaction ratings than Avast.
Short Verdict
Both Avast and McAfee offer several feature-rich antivirus suites to meet your protection needs. Independent tests prove that both software provide top-notch protection against all sorts of malware threats, but McAfee is slightly better than Avast in terms of the impact on system performance.
We have reviewed and rated most (if not all) antivirus software packages out there, and we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package you can buy right now. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, or smartphones) with a single license of this suite.
If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 is the best option for you.
If you're just looking for Mac-specific protection, we recommend Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 2019 for complete peace of mind.
Now, let’s delve into the details.
1. Features
These days, almost all cybersecurity companies offer a slew of advanced security-enhancing features and tools as part of their security packages.
The product is called Avast Free Mac Security 2018 (version 11) and same as the Windows version it’s completely for free. It doesn’t even require, so you can just download, install and use it without any hassle. Avast security for mac os 10.7.5.
First, let’s see what McAfee brings to the table in terms of features.
McAfee Total Protection (works on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS) is the company’s flagship and most popular security offering. It has a unique purchasing model in that it can be bought in bundles of 1, 5, or 10 devices depending on your preferences. No matter which bundle you select, you will get top-drawer malware protection along with a full set of advanced features and utilities.
The package has a smart two-way firewall that monitors all incoming and outgoing network connections and blocks all sorts of sophisticated attacks. The Vulnerability Scanner is also part of the software; it checks for security flaws and holes that hackers can potentially exploit and use, such as outdated software.
The TrueKey Identity Manager (lets you store all your passwords and sensitive details for in a secure vault) and a file shredder (allows you securely delete confidential files) are also jammed into the suite, along with the Network Manager tool that protects your WiFi against intruders and hackers.
The file encryption utility is also there as well; it lets you encrypt your sensitive files so no one can have access to them without authentication. There’s also a full suite performance optimization features; these features help your computer run faster and more efficiently, so you can focus on doing things that matter to you.
Finally, the suite comes with a full suite of parental controls. These features allow you to monitor the browsing habits of your children and control which websites they can (and cannot) visit. You can also set daily time limits on their computer use, to prevent them from spending all day in front of the computer.
Another suite that the company offers is McAfee LiveSafe. There’s no difference between LiveSafe and Total Protection in terms of features offered, but the former allows you to protect unlimited devices with a single license. But the major downside of LiveSafe is that it comes at a slightly higher price point. (You’ll see prices later in this guide.)
Now, let’s see what Avast offers in terms of features.
Unlike McAfee, Avast offers separate products for Windows and macOS. We’ll cover the Windows-only products first.
Avast Free Antivirus is the company’s first antivirus software. As the name suggests, you can use it for free for as long as you want, but there aren’t any advanced features and utilities jammed into this package. However, the product does protect against different types of digital threats, including viruses, ransomware, worms, spyware.
Next up is Avast Internet Security, the company’s first premium antivirus offering. It offers top-notch protection against all sorts of malware threats, plus several useful advanced features and functions. There’s a smart firewall that protects your computer against unauthorized access and hacking attempts, an email filter that can keep junk mail from clogging up your inbox, and the WiFi Inspector tool that protects your network against hackers and intruders.
The Sandbox utility is also part of the suite; it lets you run suspicious files and software in a secured portion of your computer, so you don’t risk the rest of your computer when installing new software or opening new files. The Real Site utility is also incorporated into the suite; it protects your network and prevents fake DNS routing from taking place, which is a common tactic that hackers use these days to steal financial details and other sensitive information.
Another level up is Avast Premier. This suite includes everything that is found in the previous suites, plus a webcam protector that stops people from secretly spying on you through your webcam and an automatic software updater. The Data Shredder utility is also included; it allows you to securely erase your sensitive files so no one can recover them.
Finally, there’s Avast Ultimate – the company’s top-tier security package. This package has everything that comes with the Premier suite, plus there’s a VPN that you can use to anonymously browse the internet and access content that is restricted in your geographic location.
The Avast Cleanup utility is also jammed into the Ultimate suite; it cleans junk files and improves the performance of your computer.
For Mac users, there’s Avast Security for Mac. This suite comes in two versions, Free and Premium. The freeware is very barebones in terms of advanced features and utilities but does offer “essential malware protection.” The Premium offering comes with advanced ransomware protection and the WiFi Intruder Alert feature.
If you’re interested in Avast’s business-specific solutions, click here for more information.
Winner: McAfee. Overall, McAfee is the winner in this category as it offers all the advanced features and tools with its flagship product. Avast’s best features are only found in its high-end suites.
2. Malware Protection
Is avast for mac safe?. Malware defense is one of the most important aspects you should consider when purchasing antivirus software.
But how to tell which software boasts better anti-malware defense? We can examine how both McAfee and Avast fared in the recent lab evaluations conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives – two highly regarded independent organizations in the antivirus space.
In AV-Test’s April 2019 evaluations, all antivirus products were evaluated in three different areas: Protection, Performance, and Usability.
In the Protection test, McAfee received a perfect 6 out of 6, showing exceptional anti-malware capabilities.
Avast’s performance was slightly less appealing; it got a 5.5 out of 6, which is a good score but not a perfect one.
AV-Comparatives, another reputable independent organization, also conducts several thorough tests to evaluate the performance of various security software brands.
In their recent Real-World tests, both McAfee and Avast fared exceptionally well; both software received the highest ADVANCED+ award because of their impressive protection rates and low false positives’ count.
Winner: McAfee. It’s a close call, but McAfee is the winner in this category as it fared better than Avast in the AV-Test evaluations.
3. System Performance
There’s no doubt that malware defense is important, but if a security software becomes a burden on your system and slows down your routine tasks and activities, it’s not worth your money.
Let’s examine how much impact both McAfee and Avast on system performance.
In the Performance category of AV-Test evaluations, McAfee came up with another 6-star rating, an excellent system performance score.
Avast also got a full score in these evaluations, matching McAfee.
In the AV-Comparatives April 2019 performance test, both software secured the highest ADVANCED+ award because of their exceptional impact scores.
Avast for mac review. Winner: Tie. Both McAfee and Avira are neck and neck in terms of system performance.
4. User-Friendliness
All the factors we have discussed so far are important, but if a software has a clunky, outdated user interface, it’s likely that you won’t enjoy using it.
First, let’s examine McAfee’s user interface.
McAfee’s interface is simple, bright, and sleek – in colors of blue, gray, and white. There’s a horizontal menu at the top that allows you to access all the features and functions with just a few clicks. Links to Notifications, News, Help, Settings are also there on the right side of the menu.
On the main screen, you’ll find a large green checkmark in the top left corner if everything is okay. The checkmark will change into a red warning sign when there’s an issue.
At the bottom, there are blocks for running a scan, updating apps, removing browser cookies/trackers.
Now, let’s examine Avast’s interface.
Avast uses a dark, modern-styled interface that is both simple and intuitive.
There’s a vertical menu on the left with four different tabs: Status, Protection, Privacy, and Performance. The Status window is what you see when you open the interface. You will find your protection status in the center, as well as a button to run a quick scan. The other tabs have relevant features and options.
The link to Settings is available in the bottom-left corner.
Winner: Tie. Overall, it’s a tie in this category as both software offer a simple, easy-to-use interface.
5. Pricing
Now, let’s look at the prices of the security suites offered by both companies.
McAfee Total Protection, the flagship product from McAfee, comes at different price points; $24.99 per year for 1 device, $39.99 per year for 5 devices, and $44.99 per year for 10 devices.
McAfee LiveSafe protects unlimited devices for $99.99 per year.
| McAfee Security Products | Prices |
|---|---|
| McAfee Total Protection | Check Price |
| McAfee LiveSafe | Check Price |
| McAfee Small Business Security | Check Price |
| McAfee Business Products | Check Prices |
Avast Free doesn’t cost anything, but it doesn’t offer much value. Avast Internet Security, the first worthwhile software from the company, costs $59.99 per year for 1 PC. Avast Premier comes at $69.99 per year for 1 PC.
Avast For Mac Free Download
Avast Ultimate, the full-blown antivirus solution, costs $119.95 per year for 1 PC.
How to turn firewall on for avast mac antivirus. Hackers can use Trojan viruses and keylogging software to access your computer and steal your personal data such as your history, passwords, and banking details by recording your sessions and keeping track of your keystrokes. What does a firewall do? They can also harness the power of your computer to run illicit activities without your knowledge (yes, your PC can be a part of the problem – strange, but true). Why use a firewall?
Avast Security for Mac, the company’s only offering for macOS users, costs $59.99 per year for a single Mac.
| Avast Security Products | Prices |
|---|---|
| Avast Pro Antivirus | Check Price |
| Avast Internet Security | Check Price |
| Avast Premier | Check Price |
| Avast Ultimate | Check Price |
| Avast Security for Mac | Check Price |
| Avast Business Products | Check Prices |
Winner: McAfee. Avast for mac add website exception. McAfee offers better value for money; you can get more licenses for less money through McAfee than through Avast.
Free Avg Mac
6. Customer Satisfaction
One last aspect we will consider is customer satisfaction. Let’s see what the actual customers of both McAfee and Avast think of their products.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a well-known site that collects customer reviews for all companies and averages them out into an A to F letter grade rating. Both McAfee and Avast have an excellent A+ rating from the BBB, which indicates exceptional customer service and high levels of user satisfaction.
Winner: Tie. Both software have comparable customer satisfaction ratings.
Final Thoughts
Avg Or Avast For Mac
Avg For Mac Download
Plus, it comes with premium customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 is the best option for you.
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