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Certainly, if you’re feeling uncertain about it, the resounding recommendation is to install antivirus software on your Mac. While Macs generally have a lower susceptibility to viruses compared to their PC counterparts, prioritizing security remains vital. You don’t need to be extravagant when selecting antivirus solutions. In fact, there’s a plethora of cost-free alternatives worth considering. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the finest free antivirus applications for Mac users. Try these Best Free Antivirus Software for Mac.
The best free antivirus software for Mac can help keep viruses from getting into your MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, and other Apple devices. As the iPhone maker’s products have become more popular, malware, ransomware, and other online threats are less likely to affect them. Antivirus software for Macs is always a point of contention.
Best Free Antivirus Software for Mac
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes says that a typical Mac can be scanned in just under 30 seconds. If it finds something that seems odd, it will give you a list of possible threats. Then, you can tell Malwarebytes to ignore it or put the files in quarantine and delete them.
The free version of Malwarebytes can help you find malware threats quickly, but it doesn’t offer enough protection to use on its own. You’ll also get a 14-day trial of Malwarebytes Premium. If you want to use all of its features after that, you’ll have to pay.
Features
Pros
- Free version
- Good virus detection rates
- Intuitive user interface
- Minimal CPU usage
Cons
- No live chat support
- No firewall feature
Avast Security
If you have a Mac, Avast Security is a great free choice. It comes with a lot of features that work all the time to stop dangerous ransomware, viruses, and malware from getting into your Mac and making it less safe. While you’re browsing, Avast Security will let you know if you come across a site that could be dangerous, and it will also stop web trackers from getting in.
Avast will even stop you from getting malicious emails and let you know if your Wi-Fi connection has any security problems. Since Avast Security is free on its own, it holds back some extra features, like Wi-Fi intruder alerts and live ransomware shield support, for the paid Premium plan. Just make sure to be careful when installing the free plan.
Features
Pros
- Free version
- Comes with lots of useful features
- Performs well in independent lab tests
- Really easy to download and navigate
Cons
- You have to pay extra for a lot of features
- Big business plans are very expensive
Bitdefender Virus Scanner
Bitdefender Virus Scanner is a free antivirus programme for Mac that doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s still a good choice. This antivirus is great for scanning only certain apps or files. It also lets you skip files, which makes the scanning process go faster.
And if Bitdefender finds a threat, it will put it in a safe place or get rid of it. Bitdefender doesn’t work in the background, so you’ll have to manually tell the programme to scan. Virus signatures are automatically updated every hour so that you always have the most up-to-date protection. You can download Bitdefender software from here and use it.
Features
Pros
- Visual endpoint detection and response
- Plans for small businesses and enterprises
- Inexpensive personal plans
Cons
- Expensive business plans
- A little more demanding than other antivirus services
Avira Free Security
Avira Free Security is one of the best free antivirus programmes for both Mac and Windows because it doesn’t just think about the security of your Mac, but also the security of Windows users. It looks for malicious software that can hurt a Mac or Windows computer.
So, you won’t give malware to other PC users by accident. Avira is free, but it still has a lot of useful features. Your whole laptop or just certain files can be scanned by the real-time scanner. You can even set up the scanner to run at certain times if you want to do less work.
Features
Pros
- Outstanding results in lab tests
- Protection from ransomware
- Intuitive user interface
- Integrated VPN
- Useful browser extensions
Cons
- The free version lacks the web protection feature
- Delayed response times from customer support
Intego
In 2023, our favourite Mac antivirus is Intego. It finds 100% of Mac-specific malware, has a lot of useful extras that make Apple’s built-in security even better, and is very easy to use. Even though Intego isn’t completely free, you can try it for free for 30 days and get your money back if you don’t like it.
This gives you a lot of time to try out Intego and decide if it’s right for you. The firewall that comes with Mac is not as good as the one that comes with Intego. It changes the security settings automatically depending on whether you’re at home, at work, or on a public Wi-Fi network. This makes sure that you are always safe online.
Features
Pros
- Free 7-day trial version
- Lots of functions for macOS
- Good virus detection rates
- Live chat support
- Slick and modern design
- Real-time scanning
Cons
- Complicated pricing system
- A bit expensive
- No mobile applications
TotalAV Free Antivirus
The on-demand virus scanner in TotalAV Free Antivirus is very good. It uses a white-label version of Avira’s anti-malware engine, so we weren’t surprised that TotalAV found almost all malware in all of my tests. It is also very fast, and doesn’t slow down the system in any way.
TotalAV runs a system cleanup scan right after you download it, so this one scan can clean up years’ worth of junk files on your computer. When I tested the optimization tools, TotalAV found over 1,000 junk files on my Mac and almost 2,500 browser cookies that were slowing down both my Chrome and Safari browsers.
Features
Pros
- Great desktop app
- A basic free version
- Responsive and professional customer service
- Real-time protection to keep you safe at all times
- Optimization tools to help your devices run more efficiently
Cons
- Only protects a maximum of six devices
- The browser extension isn’t particularly user friendly
- Safe Search doesn’t always work
Norton 360 Deluxe
Norton is another well-known antivirus brand that works very well to protect Mac computers from malware. In fact, Norton 360 Deluxe is the best choice for people who use more than one device. It protects up to five Macs, Windows PCs, or mobile devices with one licence.
So, if you have a lot of Macs or MacBooks to protect, maybe a Windows laptop as well, and of course your phone, Norton has you covered everywhere. You get a lot of features with this, like strong antivirus protection, anti-ransomware, a smart firewall, and some cool extras like a password manager and dark web monitoring.
Features
Pros
- VPN with no bandwidth limits
- Streamlined mobile apps
- Hosted online storage for backups
- Powerful, self-sufficient firewall
- Virus protection promise
Cons
- Parental control unavailable on macOS
- Online backup strictly for Windows
Trend Micro Antivirus
Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac is another good option for keeping your Mac safe. Its antivirus engine is well-liked by independent testing labs, which say it’s usually right up there with the best. This program’s features include protection against ransomware, parental controls, protection for the camera and microphone, protection against phishing.
A social media privacy checker that watches how people use social networks for the many serious threats that are being sent through these channels. This package is also simple to use and easy to learn how to use.
Features
Pros
- Basic free version
- Free 30-day trial
- Good desktop app
- Strong protection against all internet threats
Cons
- No Windows webcam protection
- Browser extension is a little clunky
- Limited licensing choices
FAQs
Does Mac have a free antivirus?
The runtime protections in macOS are very advanced and work at the very core of your Mac to keep it safe from malware. This starts with built-in antivirus software that is up to date and can stop and get rid of malware.
Is Avast for Mac free?
Why is Avast the best free antivirus software for a Mac? The best free antivirus software for Mac is light, powerful, and designed to protect in real time against new and constantly emerging threats. It has features like spyware and ransomware protection.
What does Apple recommend for virus?
macOS has built-in antivirus software called XProtect that can find and remove malware based on its signature. The system uses YARA signatures, a tool that Apple regularly updates and uses to find malware based on signatures.
Is antivirus for Mac worth it?
Year after year, they have been shown to be effective at stopping and getting rid of viruses and malware. The answer to “Do Macs need virus protection software?” depends on what kind of device you have, what version of macOS you use, and how you use it.