The F-Secure Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about F-Secure in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
F-Secure
The Insider’s Guide
Finnish antivirus and VPN suite that renews at the new-customer price
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from F-Secure’s own pages.
Made by F-Secure · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from F-Secure’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on F-Secure’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 4 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade
F-Secure is a Finnish security company selling home protection for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. Internet Security covers antivirus, ransomware, banking and scam protection, and F-Secure Total adds an unlimited VPN, a password vault and identity monitoring. F-Secure says Total renews at the same price a new customer pays.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about F-Secure, taken from its own pages and our grades.
But the VPN, password vault and identity monitoring only come with Total, and the free option is just a scanner.
- 1
Best for a renewal price that matches the first one
It covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $49.99 per year for 1 device (Internet Security).
- 3
There is a free plan
F-Secure Online Scanner scans and cleans a Windows PC for free, on demand; it is not ongoing protection.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
- 5
Antivirus and ransomware protection
Protects against viruses, ransomware, spyware, infostealers and other malware, with a gaming mode on Windows.
- 6
Scam protection
Rates online stores, blocks scam and phishing sites, and filters scam text messages on phones using AI detection.
- 7
Banking protection
Checks that banking sites are genuine and secures the connection while you bank or shop.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 4 of 14
That is against the other antivirus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace F-Secure you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
F-Secure at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $49.99 per year for 1 device (Internet Security)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial of the full version of F-Secure Total
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- F-Secure
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.4 on the App Store, 493 ratings
The report card
Best for a renewal price that matches the first one
F-Secure is the honest-pricing pick here: Total renews at the same price a new customer pays, and two years of Internet Security for five devices cost $124.99. It covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. But the VPN, password vault and identity monitoring only come with Total, and the free option is just a scanner.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Internet Security for 5 devices is $124.99 for 2 years, about $5.21 a month, just above the dearer quarter of antivirus. Total for 5 is $149.99 for 2 years and renews at that same price, which hardly any rival here promises. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The free Online Scanner cleans a Windows PC on demand but doesn't guard it, and Total has a 30-day free trial. Nothing free protects you day to day. |
| Features | B | Antivirus, ransomware, banking and scam protection on every plan, with scam text filtering on phones. Total adds an unlimited VPN, a password vault and identity monitoring. The VPN's kill switch skips the iPhone. |
| Ease of use | C | 4.41 from about 490 App Store ratings: middling for this category, and not many people behind it. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. No web app, API or integration list on record, so it stops at B. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who F-Secure is for
- Great if renewal price hikes make you cross, as Total renews at the same price
- Handy when you want to pay for 2 years at once at a lower yearly rate
- Good for people who prefer a European company working under GDPR
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a VPN on the cheaper plan, as it's Total only
- Not for you if you want free day-to-day protection, as the free scanner only cleans up
Good to know
Good for
- Buyers who want a renewal price that matches the advertised one
- Households covering up to 5 mixed devices with a VPN included
- People who prefer a European company under GDPR
Worth knowing
- The VPN, password vault and identity monitoring come only with Total, not Internet Security.
- The free Online Scanner only cleans a PC on demand and does not protect it continuously.
- The same-price renewal promise is stated for Total; the Internet Security page does not say what it renews at.
- The VPN kill switch works on Windows, Mac and Android only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.17
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
F-Secure has a free plan. Paid plans start at $49.99 per year for 1 device (Internet Security).
Online Scanner
$0
Free on-demand scan and cleanup for Windows PCs.
Internet Security, 1 year
$49.99
per year for 1 device
Antivirus, ransomware, banking, shopping and scam protection. $64.99 for 3 devices, $69.99 for 5.
Internet Security, 2 years
$89.99
every 2 years for 1 device
Internet Security paid 2 years at a time. $114.99 for 3 devices, $124.99 for 5.
Total, 1 year
$69.99
per year for 1 device
Adds unlimited VPN, password vault and identity monitoring. Renews at the same price. $79.99 for 3 devices, $84.99 for 5.
Total, 2 years
$124.99
every 2 years for 1 device
Total paid 2 years at a time, renewing at the same price. $144.99 for 3 devices, $149.99 for 5.
The free plan
F-Secure Online Scanner scans and cleans a Windows PC for free, on demand; it is not ongoing protection.
Trying it first
30-day free trial of the full version of F-Secure Total
Read from f-secure.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Lower yearly rate on 2-year plans
Total for 1 device is $124.99 for 2 years against $69.99 a year, and Internet Security is $89.99 for 2 years against $49.99 a year.
Stated on f-secure.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Finnish antivirus and VPN suite that renews at the new-customer price. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: password manager, vPN, malware protection.
Antivirus, ransomware, banking and scam protection on every plan, with scam text filtering on phones.
- Antivirus and ransomware protection
- Protects against viruses, ransomware, spyware, infostealers and other malware, with a gaming mode on Windows.
- Scam protection
- Rates online stores, blocks scam and phishing sites, and filters scam text messages on phones using AI detection.
- Banking protection
- Checks that banking sites are genuine and secures the connection while you bank or shop.
- Unlimited VPN
- Total includes F-Secure VPN with no traffic limit, virtual locations and a kill switch on Windows, Mac and Android.
- Password vault and identity monitoring
- Total stores and autofills passwords, flags weak or reused ones, and watches the dark web for leaked personal data with expert help.
- Same price at renewal
- F-Secure says a Total renewal costs the same as a new subscription rather than rising after the first year.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
F-Secure is made by F-Secure.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
4/14
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
F-Secure's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 4 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on features (B, above 4 of 14) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 4 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 15 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. F-Secure’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 14
- CFree plan and trialAbove 3 of 14
- BFeaturesAbove 4 of 14
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 14
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 14
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 11 antivirus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. F-Secure is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace F-Secure you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 8 of the 14 other antivirus apps grade higher. It costs $49.99 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- A password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. F-Secure’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Bitdefender, ESET, Kaspersky, Norton 360 and Malwarebytes
The 5 tools F-Secure is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Bitdefender
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier.
- 2.6GPA
ESET
Free trial · from $12.99/yr
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count.
- F-Secure has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only F-Secure lists an iOS app.
- F-Secure also covers password manager.
- 2.2GPA
Kaspersky
Free trial · from $64.99/yr
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers.
- F-Secure has a free plan. Kaspersky does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Kaspersky lists a Linux app.
- Kaspersky also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
Norton 360
Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup.
- F-Secure has a free plan. Norton 360 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Norton 360 also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.2GPA
Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- F-Secure also covers password manager.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is F-Secure free?
F-Secure has a free plan. F-Secure Online Scanner scans and cleans a Windows PC for free, on demand; it is not ongoing protection.
How much does F-Secure cost?
F-Secure lists 5 plans. Online Scanner: $0.
What platforms does F-Secure work on?
F-Secure is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Does F-Secure offer any discounts?
F-Secure publicly lists the following: Lower yearly rate on 2-year plans.
How is F-Secure rated?
F-Secure's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.4 out of 5 from 493 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does F-Secure have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. F-Secure is listed for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Is F-Secure open source?
F-Secure is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does F-Secure have a free trial?
Yes. 30-day free trial of the full version of F-Secure Total.
Who makes F-Secure?
F-Secure is made by F-Secure.
What are the alternatives to F-Secure?
The closest alternatives to F-Secure in our directory are Bitdefender, ESET, Kaspersky, Norton 360 and Malwarebytes.
How does F-Secure compare with other antivirus apps?
F-Secure's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 4 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 2.
Is F-Secure good value for money?
ToolGPA grades F-Secure C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 4 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of F-Secure?
To replace F-Secure you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from F-Secure’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from F-Secure's own pages on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by F-Secure. Prices change, so check f-secure.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- F-Secure, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/f-secure
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "F-Secure: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/f-secure
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/f-secure/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after F-Secure, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 15 antivirus apps we grade, compared
- Avast Insider's GuideFree antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate3.0 GPA
- AVG Insider's GuideFree antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate2.8 GPA
- Bitdefender Insider's GuideAntivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what F-Secure’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. F-Secure is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by F-Secure. Prices and plans change: check f-secure.com before you buy.