The Total Defense Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Total Defense 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.
Total Defense
The Insider’s Guide
Antivirus and internet security suites sold by the year
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from Total Defense’s own pages.
Made by Total Defense · checked Nov 13, 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 Total Defense’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Total Defense’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade
Total Defense sells three consumer security suites: Essential Anti-Virus for Windows PCs, Premium Internet Security and Ultimate Internet Security, which cover Macs and Android devices as well. Each is sold for one, two or three years, and the vendor lists free US-based tech support, a 60-day refund window and a 30-day free trial with no credit card.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Total Defense, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Prices are shown as discounts with no end date and no renewal price.
- 1
Best for Windows antivirus with a 30-day free trial
Essential Anti-Virus is Windows only, and Mac and Android cover starts at Premium.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $39.99 per year for 3 PCs (sale price shown, $59.99 crossed out; renewal price not stated).
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial, no credit card needed, per the vendor's homepage.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Android.
- 5
Real-time malware protection
All plans protect against viruses, spyware and ransomware, with on-demand and real-time scanning.
- 6
Anti-phishing
The Premium and Ultimate plans block suspicious websites, per the comparison table.
- 7
Online backup
Premium includes 10GB and Ultimate 25GB of secure cloud storage.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 32 of 56
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 Total Defense 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.
Total Defense at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $39.99 per year for 3 PCs (sale price shown, $59.99 crossed out; renewal price not stated)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial, no credit card needed, per the vendor's homepage.
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Android
- Made by
- Total Defense
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for Windows antivirus with a 30-day free trial
Total Defense sells antivirus and internet security by the year, with a 30-day trial that needs no card. Essential Anti-Virus is Windows only, and Mac and Android cover starts at Premium. Prices are shown as discounts with no end date and no renewal price.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $39.99 a year for 3 PCs on sale, about $3.33 a month, in the middle of this category. The crossed-out $59.99 has no end date and no renewal price is given. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 30-day free trial with no credit card, per the homepage. There is no free plan. |
| Features | C | Essential covers viruses, spyware and ransomware for Windows only. Mac and Android start at Premium, and online backup is 10 GB or 25 GB on the dearer plans. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but it is a consumer antivirus you install and run. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac and Android on the dearer plans, with no iPhone and no integrations on record. |
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 Total Defense is for
- Fits if you want a card-free month to try a Windows antivirus first
- Works for 3 PCs on a yearly price
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Android and want the cheap plan, since Essential is Windows only
- Pricey if you go to Ultimate at $109.99 a year
- Watch out: prices are shown as discounts with no end date and no renewal price
- Tight if you want the virus-removal assurance without auto-renew, as it applies only to customers on Automatic Renewal
Good to know
Good for
- Households wanting one yearly license across PCs, Macs and Android phones
- People who value phone support from a US-based team
Worth knowing
- Essential Anti-Virus is Windows only; Mac and Android coverage starts with Premium.
- The 1-year and 2-year prices are shown as discounts from crossed-out prices with no end date, and no renewal price is stated.
- The virus-removal assurance applies only to customers enrolled in Automatic Renewal.
- Supported Windows versions on the Essential page are Windows 11 (64-bit), 10 and 8.1.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3.33
A month to start, paid by the year
Total Defense is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39.99 per year for 3 PCs (sale price shown, $59.99 crossed out; renewal price not stated).
Essential Anti-Virus, 1 year
$39.99
per year for 3 PCs, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Windows-only protection against viruses, spyware and ransomware. Shown as $20 off a crossed-out $59.99.
Essential Anti-Virus, 2 years
$79.99
for 2 years for 3 PCs, renewal price not stated
Same product on a two-year term; the page crosses out $89.99.
Essential Anti-Virus, 3 years
$119.99
for 3 years for 3 PCs, renewal price not stated
Same product on a three-year term, with no discount shown.
Premium Internet Security, 1 year
$69.99
per year for 5 devices, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Covers PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets, and adds 10GB of online backup. Shown as $20 off a crossed-out $89.99.
Ultimate Internet Security, 1 year
$109.99
per year for 10 devices, renewal price not stated
Covers PCs, Macs and Android devices and adds 25GB of online backup.
Trying it first
30-day free trial, no credit card needed, per the vendor's homepage.
Read from totaldefense.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Android
Antivirus and internet security suites sold by the year. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: file sync, malware protection.
Essential covers viruses, spyware and ransomware for Windows only.
- Real-time malware protection
- All plans protect against viruses, spyware and ransomware, with on-demand and real-time scanning.
- Anti-phishing
- The Premium and Ultimate plans block suspicious websites, per the comparison table.
- Online backup
- Premium includes 10GB and Ultimate 25GB of secure cloud storage.
- Family protection
- The comparison table lists family protection for children on the Premium and Ultimate plans, not on Essential.
- US-based support
- Free installation and upgrade help by phone or email, weekdays 9am to 5pm Eastern, according to the support section of each product page.
- Virus Protection Assurance
- A program for customers enrolled in the Automatic Renewal Service; the vendor says it will remove a virus for free or refund the money.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Total Defense is made by Total Defense.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
32/56
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
Total Defense's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 23 of 56) and worst on features (C, above 7).
Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 11 of the 34 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 57 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Total Defense’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 8 of 56
- CFree plan and trialAbove 24 of 56
- CFeaturesAbove 7 of 56
- BEase of useAbove 23 of 56
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 21 of 56
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 36 antivirus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Total Defense 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 Total Defense 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 costs $39.99 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Total Defense’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, McAfee, VIPRE, Avast and ESET
The 5 tools Total Defense 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.
- Only Norton 360 lists an iOS app.
- Total Defense also covers file sync.
- Norton 360 also covers password manager, vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.8GPA
McAfee
Free plan · from $119.99/yr
Antivirus, VPN and identity monitoring for PCs, Macs and phones.
- McAfee has a free plan. Total Defense does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only McAfee lists an iOS app.
- Total Defense also covers file sync.
- 2.4GPA
VIPRE
Free trial · from $14.99/yr
Home antivirus in three tiers, from basic scanning to a VPN bundle.
- Only Total Defense lists macOS and Android apps.
- Total Defense also covers file sync.
- VIPRE also covers vPN.
- 3.0GPA
Avast
Free plan · from $77.99/yr
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate.
- Avast has a free plan. Total Defense does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Avast lists an iOS app.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
ESET
Free trial · from $12.99/yr
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count.
- Total Defense also covers file sync.
- ESET also covers vPN.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Total Defense free?
No, Total Defense is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial, no credit card needed, per the vendor's homepage.
How much does Total Defense cost?
Total Defense lists 5 plans. Essential Anti-Virus, 1 year: $39.99 per year for 3 PCs, sale price shown, renewal price not stated.
What platforms does Total Defense work on?
Total Defense is available on Windows, macOS and Android.
Does Total Defense have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Total Defense is listed for Windows, macOS and Android.
Does Total Defense have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Total Defense is listed for Windows, macOS and Android.
Is Total Defense open source?
Total Defense is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Total Defense?
Total Defense is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Total Defense?
The closest alternatives to Total Defense in our directory are Norton 360, McAfee, VIPRE, Avast and ESET.
How does Total Defense compare with other antivirus apps?
Total Defense's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is Total Defense good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Total Defense C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 11 of the 34 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Total Defense?
To replace Total Defense 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 Total Defense’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Total Defense's own pages on 13 November 2026. 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 Total Defense. Prices change, so check totaldefense.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Total Defense, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/total-defense
- 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, "Total Defense: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/total-defense
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/total-defense/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after Total Defense, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 57 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 Total Defense’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. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Total Defense is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Total Defense. Prices and plans change: check totaldefense.com before you buy.