Antivirus

Best Antivirus for Mac 2026

Macs get malware too. We tested the leading suites on macOS for detection, speed and native feel — these are the ones worth installing.

Hands-on tested No pay-to-play scores Updated June 10, 2026

1

Editor's Choice — Mac

TotalAV
Best for Mac OverallSave 80%

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions worldwide, with unbeatable first-year value.
- Outstanding real-world detection rate
- Includes VPN, firewall and system tune-up
- Easy setup across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
- Unbeatable first-year value
9.7
Outstanding

$99.00 $19.00
Get Mac Deal On the provider's secure site
2

Bitdefender
Save 50%

Consistently collects top marks from independent testing centres around the world.
- Class-leading independent lab scores
- Very light on system resources
- Multi-layer ransomware protection
- Strong parental controls
9.4
Excellent

$109.98 $54.99
Get 50% Off On the provider's secure site
3

Norton
Save 60%

One of the most trusted names in security, with strong protection and a virus-free guarantee.
- Excellent malware and phishing protection
- Built-in AI-powered scam detection
- Virus Protection Promise (money-back guarantee)
- Best-in-class parental controls
9.2
Excellent

$119.99 $29.99
Get 60% Off On the provider's secure site
4

Avira
Save 45%

German-engineered protection with a genuinely capable free tier.
- First-class malware protection
- Capable free version available
- Lightweight background updates
- Includes VPN and tune-up tools
8.9
Very Good

$109.99 $59.99
Get 45% Off On the provider's secure site

Compare at a glance

Compare at a glance
#	Product	Score	Best for	VPN included	Price
1	TotalAV	9.7/10	Best for Mac Overall	Yes	$19.00	Get Mac Deal
2	Bitdefender	9.4/10	Best Lab Scores on macOS	200MB/day	$54.99	Get 50% Off
3	Norton	9.2/10	Best for Mixed Households	Yes (unlimited)	$29.99	Get 60% Off
4	Avira	8.9/10	Best Free Option for Mac	500MB/month	$59.99	Get 45% Off

By Daniel Marsh, Senior Security Editor · Reviewed by Aisha Khan, CISSP, Security Analyst · Updated June 10, 2026

"Macs don't get viruses" stopped being true years ago — adware, browser hijackers, info-stealers and cross-platform phishing now target macOS daily, and Apple's built-in XProtect catches only a fraction. We ran each suite on Apple-silicon Macs and scored macOS-specific detection, system impact and how native each app feels.

How we rate antivirus

Scores are not pay-to-play. We combine independent lab results with our own hands-on testing of detection, performance and usability. Affiliate links never change a ranking.

Protection (40%) — real-world malware, ransomware and phishing detection.
Performance (20%) — impact on boot, file copy and browsing.
Features (20%) — VPN, firewall, password manager, identity tools.
Value (20%) — first-year and renewal pricing, devices covered.

Do Macs really need antivirus?

Apple's XProtect and Gatekeeper provide a baseline, but independent macOS lab tests show third-party engines catching substantially more — especially adware and potentially unwanted apps, the most common Mac infections. If you bank, work or shop on your Mac, dedicated protection is worth it.

What matters on macOS

Native Apple-silicon builds (no Rosetta), low memory footprint, web and phishing protection that works in Safari, and removal — not just detection — of adware. All four picks above meet that bar.

One subscription, every device

All of our picks cover Mac, Windows, Android and iOS on one plan — compare full pricing on the main antivirus ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Macs need antivirus at all?

Yes — macOS malware grows every year, led by adware and info-stealers. Apple's built-in protection is a baseline, not a complete defence, and it offers no phishing protection outside Safari's own checks.

Will antivirus slow down my Mac?

The suites we recommend run natively on Apple silicon and add no noticeable lag in daily use. We measured boot, file-copy and browsing impact on an M-series MacBook for every product above.

What infects Macs most often?

Adware and browser hijackers by a wide margin, followed by fake-app trojans and credential-stealing malware spread through phishing. Classic self-replicating viruses are rare on macOS.

Does one licence cover my Mac and my other devices?

Yes — every suite here sells multi-device plans covering macOS, Windows, Android and iOS under a single subscription.

Our #1 pick: TotalAV

Get 80% off TotalAV Premium 2026

9.7

Get Mac Deal

In-depth reviews of every pick

TotalAV 9.7/10 Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions worldwide, with unbeatable first-year value.
Bitdefender 9.4/10 Consistently collects top marks from independent testing centres around the world.
Norton 9.2/10 One of the most trusted names in security, with strong protection and a virus-free guarantee.
Avira 8.9/10 German-engineered protection with a genuinely capable free tier.

All Antivirus reviews →

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How we make money: when you sign up with a product through a link on this page, that company may pay NerdBible a referral fee. Fees never decide the order. Testing does, and every product is scored the same way whether or not it pays us.