Best Mac antivirus

Looking for the best antivirus for Mac? You've come to the right place.

Although the Apple Mac operating system (macOS) has been built to withstand malicious attacks, and there have been comparatively few viruses written to target Macs specifically, Mac users could be exposed to a rise in new viruses and malware in future. With Mac ownership increasing, criminals will likely target the Mac ecosystem more if they aren’t already.

With cyber threats likely to grow in number, sophistication and severity, it can't hurt to invest in Mac antivirus for peace of mind. The best Mac antivirus, including the best free Mac antivirus, will also protect from phishing attacks.

Our Mac antivirus lab test involves subjecting the software on test to tens of thousands of threats, including viruses and phishing attacks designed to compromise and steal your data. We repeat the test four times each year, and our results are based on a full year of testing, giving you confidence that the best Mac antivirus software has performed consistently.

Wondering whether it's worth upgrading your Mac? Find out about specs, what you get for your money and how to get a great deal - see best MacBooks.

Best free antivirus for Mac

Thanks to our tests, we know which free antivirus is the best for Mac users. Our tests have also uncovered one that have poorer virus and phishing protection, so make sure you read our test results before you install.

Which? members can log in to see our full free antivirus for Mac results. Not yet a member? Join Which? to unlock these reviews, along with all of our online reviews, including laptops, computer monitors, electric cars and more.

Why you should trust our Mac antivirus tests

Callum Pears, Which? antivirus expert 

'Mac devices are typically overlooked when it comes to antivirus, but we are well aware of the potential for future increases in Mac-specific malware, so continue to monitor how Mac antivirus handles malware and phishing. We also examine their scanning capabilities, design and ease of use, how annoying ads are or how complicated the purchase process is and what features are included. 

'Our final test score combines all of these factors, giving you the most comprehensive picture of Mac antivirus possible and making it easy for you to choose the best Mac antivirus protection, and avoid ones that aren't so good.'

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Best Mac antivirus overall

The top-scoring best Mac antivirus in our tests is a malware killer that cleanses or quarantines any malicious software. Unlike some antivirus we've tested, it also worked very well when instructed to scan the Mac or any connected USB device. Plus it detected all the phishing sources we exposed it to - this works on all browsers except Edge.

We prefer this year's design over last year's. A clean and clear new interface has been introduced - it's fairly basic, but makes it straightforward to navigate and use.

Features are a noticeable weaker aspect. There are relatively few offered, considering it's a paid-for antivirus. Parental controls have been removed this year. On the plus side, the renewal price stays the same - so what you pay in year one is what you will pay in year two.

It's relatively simple to buy, but be careful not to include any add-ons you don't want - such as the VPN, which you have to pay for. The renewal policy is clear and the price doesn't spike from year one to two (one antivirus we tested increases by 200%). Renewal options are also available to change on the order page, so you don't have to go digging through settings later on. 

Expert Verdict: Powerful protection is offered here, but the limited number of extra features make free Mac antivirus, which isn't that far behind in terms of protection offered, a tempting alternative.

Only logged in Which? members can see the results of our lab tests and find out which Mac antivirus is best. Which? is a not for profit organisation - every member subscription helps fund our charity's campaigns to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. Not yet a member? Find out more, including how you can join Which?.

Best Mac antivirus paid

Antivirus software doesn't come cheap. However, because of our tests, we can help you save money. Make sure you compare our full Mac antivirus results before you use your credit card and pay for the software.

If you do install paid antivirus software and want to stick with the same one and get a good deal when you renew your subscription, make sure you have automatic renewal switched off – look out for 'special offer' emails in the final months of your subscription and see if you can haggle with the company.

Which? members can log in to see our full paid antivirus for Mac results. Not yet a member? Join Which? to unlock our best Mac antivirus reviews, along with all our online reviews, including laptops, computer monitors, electric cars and more.

Popular antivirus for Mac

These are the three most popular programs.

Avast Security for Mac (free)

Avast’s free Mac security suite is a basic package that promises protection from viruses, ransomware and phishing attacks. As with all free software, there are ads and pop-ups, but does that take away from an otherwise promising free antivirus product?

Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac

Norton’s Mac security is included in all its subscription tiers. We’ve tested the Windows option and how it handles malware designed to attack that operating system, and we ran a separate test to see whether its Mac antivirus is worth the cash, too. 

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

With all the basics and then some, Bitdefender is increasingly challenging the other big names to dominate the antivirus market. Has its antivirus for Mac impressed this year and does Bitdefender continue its rise up the ranks? 

You can join Which? to find out how these packages performed in our tough tests. We’ve put all of these packages through our full suite of tough lab tests to find out how they score on measures such as live protection, anti-phishing and cleaning malware, as well as rating them on how easy they are to use, and even on the annoyance of any pop-up ads.

Do Macs need antivirus?

Relatively few viruses target Macs, and macOS has built-in protection to help it withstand malicious attacks.

But you could still be exposed to a rise in malware in future. As macOS ownership increases, criminals are now actively targeting the Mac ecosystem. Apple has been proactive at suppressing current threats, but a number have become persistent. One of the more notable is a virus called Adware, which bombards you with ads linking to malicious websites that can fully infect your Mac.

Apple can currently dictate what is made available on its app store and monitors existing apps for any stowed malware and other malicious software - a level of control not found on Windows. MacOS also includes App Sandbox, which keeps your apps separate from system components, so it’s easier to remove one app if it gets infected by a malicious program.

Ultimately, though, if you're looking for more in-depth online security, antivirus will be a necessary upgrade. Security measures offered by macOS are better than nothing, but based on our tests there are noticeable flaws that leave it vulnerable, most notably, weak phishing protection. The best free Mac antivirus provides top-notch protection and, provided you can put up with the occasional ad, gives you peace of mind that won’t cost a penny. 

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Mac antivirus features compared

Below, we've arranged all the antivirus software we've tested alongside the key features you might expect to find. Scroll past our table to find out more about what each feature means.

• Anti-phishing Whether the software provides a browser extension that protects you from phishing attacks.
• Password manager Whether you get access to a password manager tool, either within the main software or via a web browser extension.
• Parental controls Install this software on family members' devices to control their access to the internet and programs at specific times of day.
• Backup Some antivirus includes additional safe storage to backup files, folders and pictures, storing them on the antivirus' cloud. This also helps secure important docs from ransomware attacks as the backups are stored within the antivirus company's secure databases and or cloud service. If you don't renew your antivirus subscription, you'll lose access unless you resubscribe, or the data may be deleted entirely after your subscription ends. Be sure to check the T&Cs for confirmation.
• Tune-up: Whether this software can scan and clear your device of junk files or duplicated files, folders and pictures, which the manufacturers claim helps prevent devices slowing down. Some also monitor applications and deactivate those not in use.

How do I check my Mac for viruses?

If you’re concerned that your Mac is already infected with malware, here are a few signs to watch out for:

• Your Mac is running much more slowly than normal
• You notice new apps and or browser extensions you don't remember downloading
• Random pop-up notifications and ads appear
• You receive odd security alerts without running any system scan
• Stored contacts receive random messages from you that you haven't sent
• Your files are locked down and ransomed to restore access (never do this as you still may not gain access after you pay)

If any of the above sounds familiar, you need to take action. Start by doing the following:

First, open Finder and check your Applications folder for any strange apps you don't remember downloading. Delete these, and then empty your Trash Bin. Follow the same steps in your Downloads folder.

Next, download a quality free Mac antivirus that's capable of thoroughly scanning your computer while offline. Avoid a paid-for version, as your payment detail may be compromised and sent to the criminals behind the malware. 

Once the antivirus is installed, disconnect your Mac from the internet and reboot it in safe mode. Run a full system scan to catch any malware viruses on your hard disk and delete them. You can then once again reboot your computer. It would be advisable to update your passwords, as these may have been compromised. 

If you had any USB memory sticks connected at the time you think your computer was compromised, it would be best to give these devices a full scan with antivirus, too.

How we test antivirus software

Our test involves subjecting every piece of software to tens of thousands of threats, including viruses, ransomware and phishing attacks designed to compromise and steal data. We repeat the test four times each year, and the scores you see below are based on a full year of testing, giving you confidence that our recommendations have performed consistently. 

For more, see our guide on how we test antivirus software. 

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