The McAfee Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about McAfee 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.
McAfee
The Insider’s Guide
Antivirus, VPN and identity monitoring for PCs, Macs and phones
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from McAfee’s own pages.
Made by McAfee, LLC · 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 McAfee’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on McAfee’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
2.8
GPA, above 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade
McAfee sells security subscriptions for home users that cover PCs, Macs, phones and tablets. Plans pair malware and scam protection with a VPN, and the McAfee+ plans add identity and credit monitoring, personal data cleanup and $1M identity theft coverage. A free mobile app scans Wi-Fi networks, the device and your identity.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about McAfee, taken from its own pages and our grades.
But we couldn't read its prices, and the free app only scans.
- 1
Best for scam checks and identity monitoring across devices
McAfee pairs antivirus with a VPN and checks on scam texts and emails, and McAfee+ adds identity monitoring and data broker cleanup.
- 2
There is a free plan
The free McAfee Security mobile app covers one device with a Wi-Fi scan, an identity scan and a system scan.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
- 4
Scam Detector
Flags risky texts and emails, explains what is wrong with them, and blocks harmful sites even after an accidental click.
- 5
Secure VPN
Encrypts traffic on public Wi-Fi and lets you connect through other countries. Included from the Basic Protection plan up.
- 6
Safe browsing and device scans
Blocks malicious websites automatically, scans the device and Wi-Fi networks for risks, and guides you through fixing what it finds.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 10 of 14
That is against the other antivirus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace McAfee 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.
McAfee at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- McAfee, LLC
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 239,324 ratings
The report card
Best for scam checks and identity monitoring across devices
McAfee pairs antivirus with a VPN and checks on scam texts and emails, and McAfee+ adds identity monitoring and data broker cleanup. Its app is the highest rated in this category, 4.72 from about 239,000 App Store ratings. But we couldn't read its prices, and the free app only scans.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No plan prices on record: mcafee.com turned our reader away, so there's no two-year figure for a household, and C is the grade for no stated price. The only price we have is McAfee+ Advanced in the iPhone app, $199.99 a year or $19.99 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The free McAfee Security app covers one device with a Wi-Fi scan, an identity scan and a system scan. That's a look, not protection: safe browsing, the VPN and scam detection all need a paid plan. |
| Features | B | Scam Detector for texts and emails, safe browsing, a VPN from the Basic plan up, breach alerts for up to 10 emails and cards, and on McAfee+ data broker cleanup and $1M identity theft cover. McAfee notes not every feature is on every device. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.72 from about 239,000 App Store ratings, the highest score from the biggest crowd in this category. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. No web app, integration list or API 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 McAfee is for
- Great if scam texts and phishing emails worry you more than viruses
- Handy when you want old accounts and data broker listings cleaned up for you
- Good for households covering PCs, Macs and phones on one subscription
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want real protection for free, as the free app only scans
- Pricey if you go for McAfee+ Advanced in the iPhone app, at $199.99 a year
Good to know
Good for
- Households that want one subscription across PCs, Macs and phones
- People who want scam text and email checks alongside antivirus
- Buyers who want identity monitoring and data broker cleanup in the same plan
Worth knowing
- McAfee's website refused automated reads on 2026-10-17, so its plan prices are not listed here; check mcafee.com before buying.
- In the iPhone app, McAfee+ Advanced is sold as an in-app subscription at $199.99 a year or $19.99 a month.
- The free app only scans; safe browsing, the VPN and scam detection need a paid plan.
- McAfee notes that not every feature is available on every device, location or plan.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
McAfee's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
The free McAfee Security app covers one device with a Wi-Fi scan, an identity scan and a system scan.
We could not confirm McAfee’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. mcafee.com has them.
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
Antivirus, VPN and identity monitoring for PCs, Macs and phones. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, malware protection.
McAfee notes not every feature is on every device.
- Scam Detector
- Flags risky texts and emails, explains what is wrong with them, and blocks harmful sites even after an accidental click.
- Secure VPN
- Encrypts traffic on public Wi-Fi and lets you connect through other countries. Included from the Basic Protection plan up.
- Safe browsing and device scans
- Blocks malicious websites automatically, scans the device and Wi-Fi networks for risks, and guides you through fixing what it finds.
- Identity and credit monitoring
- Watches for up to 10 email addresses, ID numbers, passport numbers and bank cards in breaches; McAfee+ adds transaction and credit monitoring.
- Personal data and account cleanup
- McAfee+ Advanced finds sites selling your information and old online accounts, and can ask for removal or delete them for you.
- Identity theft coverage
- Higher plans include $1M identity theft coverage, restoration help from a licensed professional, and security freeze and credit lock tools.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
McAfee is made by McAfee, LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
10/14
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
McAfee's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 13 of 14) and worst on value for money (C, above 3).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 15 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. McAfee’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 14
- CFree plan and trialAbove 3 of 14
- BFeaturesAbove 4 of 14
- AEase of useAbove 13 of 14
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 14
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 McAfee 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.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- 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. McAfee’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
Norton 360, Bitdefender, TotalAV, Trend Micro and Avast
The 5 tools McAfee is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Norton 360
Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup.
- McAfee has a free plan. Norton 360 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Norton 360 also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
Bitdefender
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
- 2.0GPA
TotalAV
From $99/yr
Antivirus with tune-up tools, plus VPN and ad blocking on higher plans.
- McAfee has a free plan. TotalAV does not.
- Only TotalAV lists a browser extension.
- TotalAV also covers password manager, disk cleanup and ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.6GPA
Trend Micro
Free plan · from $29.95/yr
Antivirus suites for PCs, Macs and phones, up to an ID-theft bundle.
- Only Trend Micro lists a browser extension.
- Trend Micro also covers password manager.
- 3.0GPA
Avast
Free plan
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
9
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 McAfee free?
McAfee has a free plan. The free McAfee Security mobile app covers one device with a Wi-Fi scan, an identity scan and a system scan.
What platforms does McAfee work on?
McAfee is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
How is McAfee rated?
McAfee's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 239,324 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does McAfee have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. McAfee is listed for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Is McAfee open source?
McAfee is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Who makes McAfee?
McAfee is made by McAfee, LLC.
What are the alternatives to McAfee?
The closest alternatives to McAfee in our directory are Norton 360, Bitdefender, TotalAV, Trend Micro and Avast.
How does McAfee compare with other antivirus apps?
McAfee's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 10 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 3.
Could I make my own version of McAfee?
To replace McAfee 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 McAfee’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 McAfee's App Store and Google Play listings on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. mcafee.com turned our reader away, and timed out when we went back to check it. 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 McAfee, LLC. Prices change, so check mcafee.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
- McAfee, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mcafee
- 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, "McAfee: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mcafee
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mcafee/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after McAfee, 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 McAfee’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. McAfee is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by McAfee, LLC. Prices and plans change: check mcafee.com before you buy.