Best antivirus software for Apple Macs

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

Although the Apple MacOS operating system 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 viruses and malware in the future. With Mac ownership on the increase, criminals are now actively targeting the Mac ecosystem.

Our Mac antivirus lab test involves subjecting 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.

Below, we’ve featured the very best free Mac antivirus and paid-for Mac antivirus software, along with all the programs we tested this year and a features comparison table so you can see which software is right for you. 

Wondering whether it's worth upgrading your Mac? Find out about specs, what you get for your money and how to save at our best MacBooks

Best free antivirus for Mac

Thanks to our tests, we know which free antivirus program is the best for Mac users. Our tests have also uncovered one that has poor virus protection and completely lacks 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.

Best paid antivirus for Mac

Antivirus software doesn't come cheap. However, because of our tests, we can help you save money as we've discovered a very affordable Best Buy. Make sure you read our Mac antivirus results before you get out your credit card and pay for the software.

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

Popular antivirus for Mac

We’ve put all of the packages below 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. Log in or join Which? to find out more and get our expert verdict.

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, ads and pop-ups are present, but does that take away from an otherwise promising free antivirus?

Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac (Initial price: £30 / Renewal price: £85)

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

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac (Initial price: £25 / Renewal price: subject to change)

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

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.

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

Do Macs need antivirus?

Relatively few viruses target Macs and macOS has been built to withstand malicious attacks.

But you could still be exposed to a rise in malware in the future. Ownership is on the increase, so 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 then fully infect your Mac.

Built-in protections, such as Apple limiting what third-party software can do and controlling hardware standards, are more effective than 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, if you're looking for more in-depth, dedicated security online, antivirus will be a necessary upgrade. So the best free Mac antivirus, provided you can put up with some ads when scanning, should be more than sufficient. At least for the present.

In fact, we were so impressed by what's provided in some of the free software on offer, we awarded them the Which? Great Value badge. This is a sign of how effective and well designed some free antivirus has become. Increasingly, they even rival paid-for software.

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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