Short on time? Here’s the best antivirus with a VPN in 2024:
- 🥇 McAfee: excellent internet security suite with one of the best antivirus scanners on the market and a secure VPN that maintains fast connection speeds, works with streaming services like Netflix, and is easy to use across all devices.
Many good antiviruses include VPNs in their plans, but most of these bundled VPNs aren’t great — some aren’t secure enough, some aren’t fast enough, and some are only good for basic online activities, like web browsing.
But the good news is that there are a handful of antiviruses that have both top-notch malware protection and also come bundled with top-quality VPNs that provide excellent security and privacy features and maintain fast speeds for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
When you purchase an antivirus that offers a VPN, you’re getting two quality internet security tools at the price of one. This way, you don’t have to worry about managing two different accounts or contacting different customer support teams to settle any troubleshooting questions.
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Quick summary of the best antiviruses with VPNs:
- 1. 🥇 McAfee — Best overall antivirus with a VPN in 2024.
- 2. 🥈 Norton — Advanced internet security with a feature-rich VPN.
- 3. 🥉 TotalAV — Excellent virus protection with a good streaming VPN.
- 4. Bitdefender — Cloud-based antivirus with a blazing-fast VPN.
- 5. Avira — Lightweight antivirus and a good VPN for torrenting.
- Bonus. MacKeeper — Good Mac antivirus with a decent VPN for browsing.
- Comparison of the Best Antiviruses with a VPN.
- How to Choose the Best Antivirus with a VPN in 2024.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Antiviruses with VPNs.
🥇1. McAfee — Best Overall Antivirus with a VPN in 2024
McAfee has a great malware scanner, excellent web protections, and a secure and user-friendly VPN.
McAfee’s antivirus scanner offers excellent anti-malware protection, detecting all of the malware samples I hid on my device, and it comes with features like anti-phishing and identity theft protection to keep you safe on the web.
McAfee’s VPN comes with industry-standard VPN features, including:
- 256-bit AES encryption — makes your data unreadable to prying eyes and is the same encryption used by banks and governments.
- Kill switch — automatically disconnects you from the internet if your McAfee VPN connection drops, preventing your data from leaking online.
- Unlimited bandwidth — McAfee doesn’t set a limit on how much data you can use each month. This allows you to spend as much time online (browsing, streaming, and torrenting) as you want while connected to a VPN server.
McAfee Safe Connect VPN is very easy to use, even for someone who has never had a VPN. It has a Fastest Server option that connects you to the fastest server based on your location — when I connected to a server via Fastest Server, it accurately connected me to a server in my country. It’s also really simple to manually connect to a server in one of McAfee Safe Connect’s 25+ countries.
McAfee Safe Connect VPN is pretty good for streaming. I could access multiple Netflix libraries, and it also works with other popular streaming sites, like Amazon Prime, Disney+, and HBO. And thanks to McAfee Secure VPN’s good speeds, I didn’t have any lag while streaming in HD.
Unfortunately, McAfee Safe Connect VPN doesn’t support torrenting, and I’m not a fan of its privacy policy (it stores records of your IP address and your browsing history).
All of McAfee Total Protection antivirus plans include McAfee Safe Connect. The Single Device plan covers 1 device and includes a malware scanner, a firewall, True Key password manager, file shredder, identity protection, and PC optimization tools for $84.99 / year. McAfee’s Multiple Devices plan, which adds 5 devices and is priced at $49.99 / year, is great for couples or individuals with multiple devices. Also, I really like the Family Coverage plan, which costs $59.99 / year and adds parental controls — it’s a good option for large households or families looking to protect many different devices. McAfee backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
McAfee’s antivirus is very effective at protecting your device against malware, and the Safe Connect VPN is secure, fast, and easy to use. McAfee’s scanner detected every malware file in my tests, and the internet security suite also comes with great features like a firewall, file shredder, identity protection, optimization tools, and a password manager. While McAfee Safe Connect has 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and works with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, it doesn’t allow torrenting and it collects user data like your IP address and online traffic. McAfee has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all of its plans.
🥈2. Norton — Advanced Antivirus Protection with a Feature-Rich VPN
Norton is one of my favorite antiviruses in 2024, and its VPN includes a wide range of cool extra features.
Norton uses a massive malware directory, as well as heuristic analysis and machine learning to detect malware. During testing, Norton consistently detected and removed 100% of the malware samples.
I’m a big fan of the extra features that Norton Secure VPN offers. It comes with split-tunneling, a good ad blocker, Tor support, and a Wi-Fi Secure feature that identifies dangerous networks and lets you know when you connect to one.
In my testing, Norton Secure VPN maintained fast speeds on local servers, but my speeds on distant servers were slower than with McAfee. I didn’t experience any significant slowdowns with Norton Secure VPN while I was connected to my local server, but I had moderate decreases in speed on servers in Asia and Europe — it took up to 5 seconds for websites to load and I experienced some buffering while streaming content.
When it comes to streaming, Norton Secure VPN is inconsistent. I was unable to watch content on streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime in my country, but my colleagues in the US and Europe were able to access both streaming services.
Like McAfee’s VPN, Norton Secure VPN doesn’t support torrenting — Norton actually disconnected me from the VPN when I opened one of my torrent clients. I also don’t like that it logs your IP address.
Norton offers several plans, but its best-value internet security package is Norton 360 Deluxe — it’s competitively priced at $49.99 / year*, and you get coverage for 5 devices (including all major platforms), an excellent malware scanner, web protection, 50 GB cloud backup storage, a firewall, a password manager, parental controls, a privacy monitor, web camera protection, and dark web monitoring.
US users can also check out Norton 360 with LifeLock Select (priced at $99.99 / year*) and Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus (priced at $299.88 / year*), which add ID theft protections, such as stolen wallet protection, credit monitoring, social security number and credit alerts, financial loss protection up to $1 million, and much more.
Norton backs each plan with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Norton provides excellent protection against the most advanced malware threats, detecting all of the malware files in our tests, and Norton Secure VPN is a good VPN with a lot of extra features. Norton also includes an array of security features like web protection, 50 GB cloud backup storage, a firewall, password manager, parental controls, and much more. Norton Secure VPN is secure and comes with great extra features like split-tunneling, an ad blocker, Wi-Fi protection, and Tor support. But it’s inconsistent at accessing popular streaming services, doesn’t support torrenting, and logs your IP address. Norton covers each purchase with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Norton Secure VPN review
🥉3. TotalAV — Excellent Virus Scanner with a Good Streaming VPN
TotalAV offers excellent malware protection and its Safe Browsing VPN is works with the top streaming services.
TotalAV’s anti-malware system uses a white label version of Avira’s scanner, one of the most advanced malware engines on the market. During my tests, TotalAV’s antivirus scanner detected most of my malware samples, which is pretty impressive.
TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN includes 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. It also provides WebRTC and DNS leak protection.
I was impressed with TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN speeds — it’s one of the fastest VPNs on this list. Websites instantly loaded on local and even most distant servers, and movies and TV shows started right away and didn’t buffer.
While testing TotalAV’s VPN, I was able to access Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and my colleague in the UK was able to watch content on BBC iPlayer. Safe Browsing VPN allows torrenting on all of its non-US servers, and it works with all of the popular torrenting clients like Utorrent and Vuze.
TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN is available with TotalAV’s Internet Security and Total Security plans. Both plans include a malware scanner, real-time malware protection, phishing protection, system tune-up tools, a browser manager and cleaner, and a disk cleaner. TotalAV Internet Security is the best overall plan — it’s reasonably priced at $39.00 / year and covers up to 5 devices. TotalAV Total Security costs $49.00 / year, covers 6 devices, and adds an ad blocker and a password manager, but this plan is pretty pricey compared to similar plans from other antiviruses like Norton. All TotalAV products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
TotalAV has excellent virus protection and a good VPN for streaming. TotalAV’s antivirus scanner has near-perfect malware detection rates, and TotalAV Safe Browsing VPN has excellent security features, very fast speeds, works with Netflix and Amazon Prime, and supports torrenting on all non-US servers. TotalAV also comes with phishing protection, system tune-up tools, a password manager, and other internet security tools. It backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Bitdefender — Advanced Antivirus Scanner with a Very Fast VPN
Bitdefender has an excellent malware detection scanner and a VPN with the fastest speeds on this list.
Bitdefender’s cloud-based virus scanner uses machine learning, along with traditional signature-based scanning, which provides 100% malware detection.
Bitdefender’s VPN is powered by standalone VPN provider Hotspot Shield and is included for free with some of Bitdefender’s antivirus bundles, but I’m not a fan of the free version — you only get a lousy 200 MB per day and you don’t have the option to manually pick which server you connected to (Bitdefender automatically connects you to the fastest server based on your location). Upgrading to Bitdefender Premium VPN’s paid plan gives you unlimited data, allows 10 simultaneous connections, and access to 1,300 servers located in 45+ countries.
The best thing about Bitdefender Premium VPN is that it uses the Catapult Hydra protocol, which is Hotspot Shield’s proprietary protocol that is very fast — I had lightning-fast speeds on all servers for browsing, torrenting, and gaming. Even on distant servers, websites loaded almost immediately, YouTube videos began right away, and I was able to download files fast.
Unfortunately, Bitdefender’s VPN failed to access streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime. If you’re looking for an antivirus with a VPN that works with popular streaming sites, I recommend McAfee or TotalAV.
Bitdefender antivirus has several reasonably-priced paid plans, and some of them come with the free version of Bitdefender’s VPN. Priced at $29.99 / year, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is the cheapest plan and is a good option for Windows users who are looking for basic malware protection — it covers up to 3 Windows PCs and includes a malware scanner and anti-phishing. Bitdefender Internet Security ($42.49 / year) adds a firewall, webcam and microphone protections, and parental controls, while Total Security ($49.99 / year) adds coverage for 5 devices (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS).
Users looking for unlimited data should upgrade to Bitdefender’s Premium Security plan, which is priced at ($79.99 / year) and offers the best overall value (and it’s one of the best internet security suites in 2024). You can also get the premium version of the VPN as a standalone purchase. Bitdefender backs all purchases with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Bitdefender comes with lightweight and advanced malware scanning, and its VPN has the fastest speeds on this list. Bitdefender also comes with anti-phishing and anti-ransomware protection, a firewall, webcam and microphone protection, and parental controls. Bitdefender’s free VPN that is bundled with the internet security packages only allows 200 MB per day, but Bitdefender Premium VPN allows unlimited data (and is available as a standalone purchase or as part of Premium Security). All Bitdefender plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Bitdefender review
Read the full Bitdefender Premium VPN review
5. Avira — Lightweight Antivirus with a Good Torrenting VPN
Avira has a powerful antivirus scanner and a great suite of cybersecurity features, including a VPN (Phantom VPN) that’s easy to use and good for P2P traffic.
Avira uses a cloud-based antivirus scanner alongside a large malware directory and heuristic analysis, and it also has a perfect malware detection rate against all sample malware files.
In addition to standard security features like a kill switch, 256-bit AES encryption, and a clear no-logs policy, Avira Phantom VPN also has:
- IPsec and OpenVPN protocols.
- 1,400+ servers located in 35+ countries.
- Unlimited data.
Phantom VPN is good for torrenting — it supports P2P traffic on all of its servers and works with all of the top torrent clients. And it has servers spread out evenly all over the world, allowing most users to find a nearby server for the fastest download speeds. Before I began torrenting, I ran leak tests while connected to servers in 10+ countries, and thankfully 0 leaks were found.
When it comes to speed, Avira Phantom VPN maintains good speeds across most servers — my websites instantly loaded on local servers, and I experienced only minor buffering when watching HD videos on YouTube on most servers.
One of the biggest drawbacks of Avira Phantom VPN is that it doesn’t work with top streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ (unlike other bundled VPNs like McAfee).
Avira Free Security is Avira’s free antivirus package that also includes Avira Phantom VPN, but it limits you to only 500 MB of data per month, which is barely enough to watch a 30-minute TV show. That being said, Avira Free Security is the one of the best free antivirus out there and is great for someone looking for a lightweight antivirus scanner, real-time protection, and safe shopping protection (but it only covers 1 PC and not any mobile devices).
Avira Prime is the only paid plan that includes Phantom VPN, which has unlimited data, and the plan is a great value for users who want to protect up to 5 devices (including mobile devices). Priced at $59.99 / year, Avira Prime also has an excellent password manager and some of the best speedup and cleanup tools on the market. All of Avira’s plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Avira is an excellent antivirus program that has a powerful cloud-based malware scanner, and it also comes with a decent VPN. In my tests, Avira’s malware scanner flagged all of my test malware, whereas Avira Phantom VPN provided me with fast speeds and an excellent torrenting experience. Unfortunately, Avira’s VPN doesn’t work with popular streaming services. Avira also includes cybersecurity tools like a password manager and system optimization tools, and backs all purchases with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bonus. MacKeeper — Good Mac Antivirus with a Basic VPN
MacKeeper is a lightweight antivirus for Macs that includes a secure and fast VPN.
MacKeeper’s integrated antivirus scanner detected most of my malware samples — however, it’s important to note that MacKeeper can’t detect rootkits.
MacKeeper’s VPN, called Private Connect, has nearly 300 servers located in 50+ countries, allowing users to connect to a server in a nearby location to get the fastest speeds. I really like Private Connect for secure general browsing — it includes unlimited data, has a minimalistic dashboard that is user-friendly, uses a secure protocol (OpenVPN), and comes with DNS and WebRTC leak protection.
Also, when you combine MacKeeper’s antivirus features, you also get an ad blocker, which helps websites load faster and provides a smoother user experience. I like how Private Connect has dedicated P2P servers, but Private Connect isn’t as fast as the other brands on this list, so it took longer than I expected for files to download (a 20 GB file took almost 40 minutes).
Unfortunately, I couldn’t access Netflix, Amazon Prime, or any other top streaming apps. But I was most disappointed with Mackeeper’s privacy policy. It’s very vague and states that it collects user data and user activity but doesn’t define what that actually means. Also, MacKeeper says that it may share your data with other companies, consultants, and contractors.
Unlike all of the other antiviruses on this list, MacKeeper includes all of the same features in each plan and the only difference is the number of macOS devices it covers. There’s a 1-month plan and 12-month plan for 1 Mac, and a 12-month plan that covers up to 3 Macs. MacKeeper’s plans start at $10.95 / month — and they include an antivirus scanner, adware cleaner, StopAd (ad blocker), ID theft guard (email monitoring), performance optimization tools, and system cleanup tools. While the plans are on the pricey side, MacKeeper is still a good antivirus suite for users looking for a Mac-specific antivirus. Each plan includes a 14-day money-back guarantee, which is the shortest refund time on this list,
Bottom Line:
MacKeeper is a good antivirus for Macs with an integrated VPN that’s good for providing secure browsing. MacKeeper’s malware scanner flagged almost all of the malware in my test, and you also get cool features like an adware cleaner, ad blocker, email breach monitoring, optimization tools, and system cleanup tools. The VPN is easy to use, has decent speeds, and supports torrenting on dedicated P2P servers, but MacKeeper isn’t good for accessing streaming apps and has a questionable privacy policy. All of MacKeeper’s plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full MacKeeper review
Comparison of the Best Antiviruses with a VPN
How to Choose the Best Antivirus with a VPN in 2024
- Malware protection. Each of the antiviruses listed here have the most up-to-date protection against advanced threats, including trojans, spyware, and ransomware.
- VPN features. A good VPN needs to have industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption (used by banks and militaries), a kill switch (shuts down your internet connection if your VPN connection drops), and a strict no-logs policy (to prevent the provider from keeping logs of your online traffic). Also, I only recommend VPNs that maintain fast speeds for browsing, streaming, and torrenting.
- Ease of use. All of the antiviruses and VPNs on this list are easy to download and install, and each one comes with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and find features. All of the antiviruses here are well designed and have intuitive dashboards that allow you to easily locate and enable/disable features.
- Additional features. I only recommend antiviruses that offer extra features (in addition to an excellent malware scanner and a VPN). The antiviruses on my list include great security features like an advanced firewall, anti-phishing protection, data breach monitoring, identity theft monitoring, parental controls, and a password manager. The VPNs on my list offer extra features like split-tunneling, an ad blocker, and more.
- Value. All of the antivirus programs listed here offer affordable plans that include a VPN, a lot of other features like anti-phishing protection, password managers, and parental controls, accept multiple forms of payments, and back each purchase with a money-back guarantee.
Best Antiviruses with VPNs — Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best antivirus with a VPN?
McAfee is my top pick for the best antivirus with a VPN in 2024 — it has a powerful malware engine and features a VPN that is secure and fast, has unlimited data, and works with top streaming sites like Netflix. McAfee’s VPN includes industry-standard VPN security features, like a 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch, but its logging policy could use some improvement. All McAfee plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
That being said, each antivirus on this list includes a pretty good VPN. Norton has a ton of extra features like split-tunneling and an ad blocker. TotalAV is pretty good for streaming, Bitdefender has the fastest speeds on this list, Avira is great for torrenting, and MacKeeper provides good security for browsing on Mac computers.
Do I need an antivirus and a VPN?
You don’t have to use an antivirus and VPN, but I strongly recommend that you use both — combining an antivirus and a VPN gives your devices maximum protection from getting infected with malware, and they help minimize the risk of a hacker stealing your personal information.
An antivirus protects you against online threats such as trojans, ransomware, spyware, rootkits, and other malicious software. Also, antiviruses come with other great security features like a firewall, identity theft protection, anti-phishing, parental controls, password managers, and more.
When you connect to a VPN server, all of your online traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel (making your data unreadable to prying eyes) and your actual IP address is replaced with a virtual IP address from the location where you’re connected — providing you with extra privacy while you’re online.
While my top choices for an antivirus with a good VPN are McAfee and Norton, all of the providers on this list include VPNs that are secure, easy to use, and have pretty fast speeds.
Are standalone VPNs better than ones packaged with an antivirus?
Yes, a top standalone VPN is better than most VPNs that are included in an antivirus suite. But when you purchase a quality antivirus with a really good VPN, you’re getting 2 excellent internet security tools for the price of 1. All of the VPNs from the antiviruses on this list provide really good value for someone who is looking for a decent and secure VPN that’s packaged with a top-flight antivirus.
If you’re looking to bundle a quality antivirus program with a secure and fast VPN, there are some great options out there. McAfee and Norton are two of the best antivirus programs on the market for protecting your devices against malware threats, and they both include a VPN with excellent security features, fast speeds, and intuitive interfaces.