The Webroot Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Webroot 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.
Webroot
The Insider’s Guide
Lightweight cloud antivirus, with identity and VPN bundles
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from Webroot’s own pages.
Made by Open Text Corporation · 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 Webroot’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Webroot’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
2.6
GPA, above 7 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade
Webroot is OpenText's consumer antivirus, a cloud-based scanner that uses machine learning and is built to stay small on the device. Essentials covers antivirus, a firewall, scam protection and a password manager; Smart Protection adds a VPN and identity monitoring, Premium adds credit monitoring and fraud reimbursement, and Total Protection adds cloud backup and parental controls.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Webroot, taken from its own pages and our grades.
What comes next is the catch: Webroot doesn't say what it renews at, so the second year is a guess.
- 1
Best for light antivirus for older, slower PCs
Webroot is a small, cloud-based antivirus built not to slow a computer down, and every plan includes a firewall and a password manager.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.92 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $34.99 per year for 1 device (Essentials), first term; renewal price not stated.
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial, no credit card required
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
- 5
Cloud-based antivirus
A cloud-based, machine-learning antivirus aimed at zero-day threats; Webroot says its scans are quick and the app takes little space.
- 6
Firewall and Web Threat Shield
Every plan includes a firewall and network monitor, plus blocking of risky websites, phishing and ransomware.
- 7
Scam protection
Text scam detection and breach alerts on phones; Smart Protection and Total add Scam Check, ID Check before payments and a 24/7 scam hotline.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 7 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 Webroot 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.
Webroot at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $34.99 per year for 1 device (Essentials), first term; renewal price not stated
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Open Text Corporation
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for light antivirus for older, slower PCs
Webroot is a small, cloud-based antivirus built not to slow a computer down, and every plan includes a firewall and a password manager. Five devices on Essentials are $44.99 the first year. What comes next is the catch: Webroot doesn't say what it renews at, so the second year is a guess.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Essentials for 5 devices is $44.99 the first year, shown against $89.99, and Webroot doesn't state the renewal price. If year two is that $89.99, two years cost $134.98, about $5.62 a month, above the dearer quarter of antivirus. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan, but a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed. Two weeks is enough to see whether it slows your PC. |
| Features | B | Cloud antivirus, a firewall, web threat blocking and a password manager on every plan, then a VPN and identity monitoring from Smart Protection, and cloud backup on Total. Parental controls and the cleaners are Windows only. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. It's built to install quickly and scan fast, and Webroot says it takes up little space. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone. Text scam detection is phones only and parental controls Windows only, and there's no 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 Webroot is for
- Great if you have an older or slower PC that heavier antivirus bogs down
- Handy when you want a password manager on even the cheapest plan
- Good for US buyers who want identity theft cover with their antivirus
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to know your renewal price before you buy, as it isn't stated
- Not for you if you want a VPN on the cheapest plan, as it starts at Smart Protection
Good to know
Good for
- Older or slower PCs that need light antivirus
- Households covering Chromebooks along with PCs, Macs and phones
- US buyers who want identity theft cover with their antivirus
Worth knowing
- Every price is a first-year price, shown against a higher regular price; Webroot's pages do not state what plans renew at.
- The VPN starts at Smart Protection and covers only 3 or 5 devices depending on the plan.
- Parental controls and the activity and clutter cleaners work on Windows PCs only.
- Text scam detection and breach alerts work on iOS and Android only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.92
A month to start, paid by the year
Webroot is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $34.99 per year for 1 device (Essentials), first term; renewal price not stated.
Two weeks is enough to see whether it slows your PC.
Essentials
$34.99
per year for 1 device, first term; renewal price not stated
Antivirus, firewall, scam and breach alerts, password manager. Shown against $49.99. 3 devices $41.99 ($69.99), 5 devices $44.99 ($89.99).
Smart Protection
$53.99
per year for 3 devices, first term; renewal price not stated
Adds VPN, identity and dark web monitoring for 1 person, and up to $25k scam reimbursement. Shown against $89.99; 5 devices $69.99 ($99.99).
Premium
$64.99
per year for 5 devices, first term; renewal price not stated
Essentials plus credit bureau monitoring and up to $1M fraud expense reimbursement for 1 person. Shown against $129.99; 10 people $124.99.
Total Protection
$89.99
per year for 5 devices, first term; renewal price not stated
Premium plus VPN for 5 devices, parental controls and unlimited cloud backup for 1 PC or Mac. Shown against $179.99; 10 devices $149.99.
Trying it first
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Read from webroot.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
30% to 50% off the first year
Essentials $34.99 (from $49.99), Smart Protection $53.99 ($89.99), Premium $64.99 ($129.99) and Total Protection $89.99 ($179.99) for the first year.
Stated on webroot.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
Lightweight cloud antivirus, with identity and VPN bundles. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, password manager, vPN, malware protection.
Parental controls and the cleaners are Windows only.
- Cloud-based antivirus
- A cloud-based, machine-learning antivirus aimed at zero-day threats; Webroot says its scans are quick and the app takes little space.
- Firewall and Web Threat Shield
- Every plan includes a firewall and network monitor, plus blocking of risky websites, phishing and ransomware.
- Scam protection
- Text scam detection and breach alerts on phones; Smart Protection and Total add Scam Check, ID Check before payments and a 24/7 scam hotline.
- Password manager
- A password manager comes with every plan, alongside protection for personal details typed into AI chats.
- Identity protection
- Higher plans monitor the dark web and financial accounts, add credit bureau monitoring and give US-based restoration help with up to $1M in reimbursement.
- Cloud backup and parental controls
- Total Protection adds unlimited cloud storage for one PC or Mac and parental controls, which run on Windows only.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Webroot is made by Open Text Corporation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/14
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
Webroot's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 7 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 value for money (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $2.92 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 2 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 15 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Webroot’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 14
- CFree plan and trialAbove 3 of 14
- BFeaturesAbove 4 of 14
- BEase of useAbove 2 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. Webroot 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 Webroot 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 $34.99 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.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Webroot’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
Trend Micro, Norton 360, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes and Sophos Home
The 5 tools Webroot is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Trend Micro
Free plan · from $29.95/yr
Antivirus suites for PCs, Macs and phones, up to an ID-theft bundle.
- Trend Micro has a free plan. Webroot does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Trend Micro lists a browser extension.
- 2.8GPA
Norton 360
Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup.
- Norton 360 also covers 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 has a free plan. Webroot does not, though it has a free trial.
- 2.2GPA
Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans.
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. Webroot does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Webroot also covers password manager.
- 2.4GPA
Sophos Home
Free trial · from $59.99/yr
Business-grade antivirus for up to 10 Windows PCs and Macs.
- Webroot also covers password manager and 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 Webroot free?
No, Webroot is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
How much does Webroot cost?
Webroot lists 4 plans. Essentials: $34.99 per year for 1 device, first term; renewal price not stated.
What platforms does Webroot work on?
Webroot is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Does Webroot offer any discounts?
Webroot publicly lists the following: 30% to 50% off the first year.
Does Webroot have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Webroot is listed for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Is Webroot open source?
Webroot is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Who makes Webroot?
Webroot is made by Open Text Corporation.
What are the alternatives to Webroot?
The closest alternatives to Webroot in our directory are Trend Micro, Norton 360, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes and Sophos Home.
How does Webroot compare with other antivirus apps?
Webroot's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 7 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 2.
Is Webroot good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Webroot C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.92 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 2 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Webroot?
To replace Webroot 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 Webroot’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 Webroot's own pages on 17 October 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 Open Text Corporation. Prices change, so check webroot.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
- Webroot, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/webroot
- 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, "Webroot: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/webroot
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/webroot/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after Webroot, 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 Webroot’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. Webroot is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Open Text Corporation. Prices and plans change: check webroot.com before you buy.