Individuals typically ask if Macs actually need antivirus software program, each due to a false impression that Apple gadgets are “virus proof” and since macOS already comes with a built-in AV.
In fact, a Mac’s tightly managed working system and sandboxed apps are more durable to breach than Home windows methods, nevertheless it’s not fully resistant to threats. And whereas Mac’s built-in antivirus software program, Xprotect, gives completely sufficient safety for dwelling customers, it lacks superior security measures, centralized administration, and reporting, which is limiting in companies and different massive organizations.
On this article, I evaluate the six finest antivirus software program suppliers for Mac primarily based on safety capabilities, ease of use, and efficiency that can assist you select the proper possibility for your enterprise.
Prime Mac antivirus software program comparability
Each antivirus for Mac gives safety from malware together with viruses, trojans, and adware, and lots of the suppliers on this listing embrace this service in a free model of their software program. The choices I selected additionally present extra security measures like a VPN to allow non-public looking and ransomware safety to forestall unauthorized adjustments to necessary recordsdata. Two of crucial options for companies, nonetheless, are a centralized platform to handle AV throughout the group and multi-device plans that supply reductions for safeguarding a couple of Mac.
| Beginning worth | Centralized administration | Multi-device plans | Ransomware safety | VPN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender | Free, or $59.99 per 12 months for as much as 5 gadgets | With Small Workplace plan | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Malwarebytes | Free, or $44.99 per 12 months per machine | With Groups plan | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Avast | Free, or $31.19 per 12 months for one machine | With Necessities plan | Sure | Sure | No |
| ESET | $34.99 per 12 months for one machine | With EDR plan | Sure | No | Sure |
| Avira | Free, or $26.99 per 12 months for 1 machine | No | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Surfshark | $36.26 per 12 months per machine (24-month subscription) | No | No | No | Sure |
Bitdefender: Finest total
Bitdefender gives a variety of antivirus merchandise for Mac, together with a free on-demand virus scanner that’s correct and straightforward to put in, use, and take away. Paid plans add automated risk detection (together with adware and ransomware) and a VPN, in addition to safety for Time Machine backups. For small companies with lower than 10 Macs, I like to recommend the Small Workplace Safety plan, which unlocks entry to a centralized, cloud-based administration portal for a really affordable worth. Total, Bitdefender gives an important steadiness of safety, options, and usefulness, which is why it earned an ideal rating in AV-TEST’s most up-to-date evaluation.
Why I selected Bitdefender
Bitdefender gives an important collection of AV merchandise to suit any enterprise measurement or use case. It earned excellent 6/6 AV-TEST scores for defense, efficiency, and usefulness, and the corporate has a stellar repute within the IT business.
SEE: Finest Mac Password Managers (TechRepublic)
Pricing
- Free: On-demand virus scanning for one machine.
- Whole Safety: Automated risk safety, adware blocking, ransomware safety, and 200MB per day of VPN bandwidth for $59.99 per 12 months for as much as 5 gadgets or $69.99 per 12 months for as much as 15 gadgets.
- Small Workplace Safety: Provides centralized cloud-based administration, webcam, and microphone safety for $104.99 per 12 months for as much as 10 gadgets.
- Final Small Enterprise Safety: Provides Rip-off Copilot, limitless VPN site visitors, and e-mail safety for $189.99 per 12 months for 3 gadgets (minimal).
Options
- Ransomware safety.
- VPN.
- Time Machine backup safety.
- Adware blocker.
- Browser safety.
- Anti-phishing.
- Webcam and microphone safety.
- Centralized, cloud-based administration.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Gives centralized administration at an inexpensive worth. | Some AV merchandise are Home windows-only. |
| Supplies enterprise-grade options for bigger corporations. | Gives so many merchandise and plans that it may be complicated to search out the proper one. |
| Contains free model and 30-day free trial of paid plans. |
Malwarebytes: Finest for supplemental risk detection
Malwarebytes first gained recognition within the IT subject for offering a free scanning utility that’s adept at catching uncommon malware different antivirus instruments miss. Each its free and paid software program are suitable with different AV and safety instruments (together with Xprotect), so you’ll be able to double-up on safety or run on-demand scans to scrub up after a recognized virus an infection. Malwarebytes additionally works nice as a standalone AV resolution, with paid plans that embrace further options like phishing and rootkit safety and a VPN. There’s even a Groups plan that gives centralized administration, month-to-month safety reviews for auditing functions, and precedence enterprise help.
SEE: 6 Finest Open Supply Password Managers for Mac in 2024 (TechRepublic)
Why I selected Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes performs properly with different antivirus options, so it’s a pleasant supplemental AV for customers who want further safety, comparable to journalists doing analysis on the Darkish Net. It’s additionally recognized for catching uncommon threats that different options miss, so it’s nice for cleansing up after a recognized an infection or breach.
Pricing
- Free: On-demand malware scanning for one machine.
- Fundamental Safety: Provides safety from malware, phishing, advertisements, and rootkits for $44.99 per 12 months per machine.
- Safety + VPN: Provides VPN for $60 per 12 months per machine.
- Household System Safety: Identical options as the fundamental plan however for 10+ gadgets, beginning at $120 per 12 months.
- Groups: Provides centralized administration, month-to-month reviews, and precedence enterprise help, beginning at $119.97 per 12 months for 3 gadgets.
Options
- Ransomware safety.
- Phishing safety.
- Advert blocking.
- Rootkit safety.
- VPN.
- Customized machine safety recommendation.
- Centralized administration.
- Month-to-month reporting.
- Precedence enterprise help.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Works effectively with different AV options. | Paid plans could be dear. |
| Catches uncommon threats different instruments miss. | No multi-device reductions until you improve to a Household or Groups plan. |
| Supplies month-to-month safety reviews for audits. |
Avast: Finest free antivirus for Mac
Avast is an AV supplier for Mac that gives maybe probably the most complete free resolution available on the market. Free customers get an on-demand scanner, automated firewall, browser, e-mail, and ransomware safety, and a utility that scans Wi-Fi networks for vulnerabilities. Paid plans are additionally very fairly priced, and companies can acquire centralized administration capabilities beginning at simply $31.37 per 12 months. The app itself may be very simple to put in and use no matter technical means.
SEE: The 7 Finest iPhone VPNs (TechRepublic)
My solely caveat in recommending Avast is that the corporate was just lately fined by the FTC for improperly amassing and promoting consumer information.
Why I selected Avast
Avast gives a complete free antivirus possibility that features further options you gained’t get with XProtect. All variations of the AV app are simple to put in and use, with intuitive interfaces even inexperienced persons can grasp with ease.
Pricing
- Free: On-demand malware scanning, ransomware safety, Wi-Fi community inspection, firewall, and browser and e-mail safety for one machine.
- Premium Safety: Provides e-mail rip-off safety, superior ransomware safety, and Wi-Fi community monitoring and risk evaluation for $31.19 per 12 months for one machine, or $39.99 per 12 months for 10 gadgets.
- Important Enterprise Safety: Provides centralized administration, information theft safety, and 24/5 stay help for $31.37 per 12 months for one machine, with reductions for added gadgets.
Options
- Wi-Fi vulnerability detection.
- Firewall.
- Browser safety.
- E mail safety.
- Ransomware safety.
- Password leak alerts.
- E mail rip-off safety.
- Centralized administration.
- Information theft safety.
- 24/5 stay help through e-mail, chat, or cellphone.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Complete free software program with a number of further options. | Fined for promoting buyer information. |
| Inexpensive paid plans with centralized administration. | No VPN providing. |
| Intuitive, beginner-friendly app. |
ESET: Finest for big corporations
ESET gives a full vary of safety merchandise for Mac, together with its standard, no-frills NOD32 antivirus that gives real-time and on-demand safety. You’ll have to improve to a Premium or Final plan to get further options like a password supervisor, VPN, and id theft safety. Centralized administration isn’t accessible until you go together with one of many ESET PROTECT XDR (prolonged detection and response) plans. ESET doesn’t supply a free utility, and all of its merchandise are on the costly aspect. You may, nonetheless, add extra gadgets to any plan (together with NOD32) for a steep low cost, which isn’t the case with many different choices on this listing.
SEE: 20 Mac Terminal Instructions Each Consumer Ought to Know (TechRepublic)
Why I selected ESET
ESET gives AV and safety merchandise to fulfill all kinds of enterprise wants, together with an enterprise-grade XDR platform. You may also add a vast variety of gadgets to even probably the most fundamental AV plan at a steep low cost in comparison with different choices.
Pricing
- NOD32 Antivirus: Actual-time safety and on-demand scans for $39.99 per 12 months for one machine with reductions for added gadgets.
- Important: Provides safety for browsers, smartphones, and sensible properties for $34.99 per 12 months (promotional worth) with reductions for added gadgets.
- ESET Premium: Provides a password supervisor and information encryption utility for $41.99 per 12 months (promotional worth) with reductions for added gadgets.
- ESET Final: Provides a VPN, metadata clean-up, and id theft safety for $125.99 per 12 months for five gadgets with reductions for added gadgets.
- ESET Defend Entry: Provides centralized administration, next-generation antivirus, community filtering, peripheral machine management, and anti-phishing and server safety for $211 per 12 months for five gadgets with reductions for added gadgets.
Options
- Anti-phishing.
- Browser safety.
- Smartphone and sensible dwelling safety.
- Password supervisor.
- Information encryption.
- Metadata clean-up.
- Identification theft safety.
- VPN.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can add limitless gadgets to any plan. | Pricing is excessive for the class. |
| Gives enterprise-grade XDR for big corporations. | Useful resource-intensive app may decelerate your machine. |
Avira: Finest customizable AV
Avira is uncommon amongst free AV instruments in that it gives real-time safety along with on-demand scans, which implies it actively scans recordsdata and functions for viruses with none consumer intervention. Avira additionally gives a paid plan that features anti-phishing, advert blocking, and ransomware safety for an inexpensive worth. Once I put in the Avira app, I used to be capable of choose from a big collection of free add-on options and integrations, together with a VPN, a safe password generator, and a cloud sandbox analyzer that lets you execute suspicious recordsdata in a secure setting to check for malware earlier than operating them in your Mac. What I particularly appreciated was that I may select to not set up further options that I don’t want, saving area and decreasing efficiency impacts.
SEE: 5 Suggestions for Securing Information When Utilizing a Private Mac for Work (TechRepublic)
Why I selected Avira
Avira gives a whole lot of free add-on options that you just often solely discover in enterprise-grade options. The installer enables you to pick-and-choose which options to put in, so you’ll be able to create a personalized safety resolution on your Mac.
Pricing
- Free: Actual-time safety, on-demand scans, cloud sandbox analyzer, safe password generator, VPN with 500MB month-to-month restrict, and junk file remover.
- Professional: Net safety, anti-phishing, anti-ransomware, and advert blocking for $26.99 per 12 months for 1 machine (promotional worth) or $5.99 monthly. Reductions for added gadgets.
Options
- Cloud sandbox analyzer.
- Safe password generator.
- VPN.
- Junk file remover.
- Browser safety.
- Anti-phishing.
- Anti-ransomware.
- Advert blocking.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Complete free AV possibility. | No centralized administration. |
| Extremely customizable app with a number of free add-ons. | Doesn’t present options for bigger organizations. |
Surfshark: Finest light-weight antivirus app
Whereas Surfshark is usually recognized for its VPN service, it additionally gives AV capabilities as a part of its Surfshark One safety platform. The app may be very light-weight, putting in shortly and operating with out taking on too many processing or reminiscence sources. I may simply run a scan whereas concurrently utilizing resource-intensive functions for gaming, video streaming, and even VR. Whereas Surfshark lacks options like centralized administration, multi-device reductions, and ransomware safety, all plans do embrace limitless use of its top-rated VPN service.
Why I selected Surfshark
Surfshark’s light-weight software gained’t decelerate your machine, making it an important possibility to be used circumstances the place efficiency is the highest precedence. All Surfshark One plans additionally embrace a premium VPN service for no further cost.
SEE: How one can Run a Cybersecurity Threat Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)
Pricing
- One: Malware safety, webcam safety, VPN, private information masking, information breach alerts, and an ad-free search engine for $2.69 per machine monthly for twenty-four months, $3.39 per machine monthly for 12 months, or $15.95 per machine for one month.
- One+: Provides information elimination from firm databases and folks search websites for $4.29 per machine monthly for twenty-four months, $6.09 per machine monthly for 12 months, or $17.95 per machine for 1 month.
Options
- VPN.
- Webcam safety.
- Different ID private information masking.
- Information breach alerts.
- Advert-free search engine.
- Information elimination from firm databases and folks search websites.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Light-weight app gained’t impression efficiency. | No centralized administration. |
| Contains limitless premium VPN service. | Lacks business-grade options. |
How do I select one of the best Mac antivirus software program for my enterprise?
Earlier than selecting an AV, it’s necessary to contemplate your causes for changing (or supplementing) the built-in Xprotect antivirus utility.
When you have a whole lot of Mac customers in your setting and wish a approach to centrally handle safety for all of them, then a business-focused resolution like Bitdefender or ESET is your finest wager. In case you want a rescue device to completely clear up after a virus an infection or ransomware assault, Malwarebytes is a wonderful alternative as a result of it really works alongside different AV options. For budget-conscious companies with out many Mac customers, Avast and Avira supply complete safety with cool bonus options. In case you’re in search of a premium VPN service with AV capabilities built-in, then Surfshark One gives probably the most inexpensive all-in-one plans.
Total, Bitdefender gives one of the best steadiness between safety, options, and price, with merchandise to fulfill the wants of practically any enterprise.
Methodology
I selected the suppliers on this listing as a result of they every offered a novel set of options for Mac gadgets. I compiled safety, efficiency, and usefulness information from AV-TEST and skim actual buyer opinions from boards like Reddit. I completely reviewed public-facing product pages and, when potential, downloaded free trial variations to check particular person options. In some circumstances, I’ve first-hand expertise utilizing these merchandise in an expert capability, which I supplemented by studying business boards and publications to evaluate their capabilities from an IT administration perspective.