6 Super Secure Paid Antivirus Apps for Mac in 2020

Don’t believe everything you read online—Mac computers can get viruses. Sure, there might be a lower level of risk than on a Windows machine, but the threat is unquestionably large enough to require a high-quality antivirus app.

Several free antivirus apps exist, but if you want to make sure you have the best level of protection available, you need a paid app.

Here are the best paid antivirus apps for macOS in 2020.

1. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac

Trend Micro has been a leading name in the antivirus world for many years. The company offers a range of solutions for desktop and mobile operating systems.

Two macOS packages are available: Maximum Security for Mac ($80/year) and Antivirus for Mac ($50/year). They have some key differences.

For example, the Maximum Security plan supports up to five devices, includes Trend Micro’s Pay Guard feature (for online payments), has a built-in password manager, and can protect both desktop and mobile devices.

In contrast, Antivirus for Mac is aimed at people who only want to protect a single macOS machine; only one device is allowed.

Both plans protect against ransomware, email scams, and social media privacy issues.

2. Avast Premium Security

Avast Premium Security has three plans available for Mac users.

The basic package ($70/year) will only protect a single macOS machine; the $90/year premium plan can protect up to 10 devices and lets you register PCs, Macs, iOS, and Android devices.

The top plan—called Ultimate—costs $100/year and adds Avast SecureLine VPN. We don’t recommend using this plan. There are better paid VPNs available that cost less than the $10 difference between the Premium and Ultimate plans.

Savvy MakeUseOf readers will know that Avast also has a free antivirus plan—but there are some critical differences between the paid and free versions. Most notably, the free app does not protect you against ransomware, phishing scams, webcam spying, or online payment threats.

3. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac

Kaspersky has an overwhelming number of paid antivirus plans available, but most Mac users will want to decide between Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Total Security.

The Internet Security package includes protection against viruses and ransomware, webcam hacks, and online payment threats. It can be installed on both desktop and mobile devices.

If you opt for the Total Security plan, you’ll get everything included in the cheaper plan, plus a suite of tools aimed at keeping kids safe. The tool includes a “bad content” blocker and a GPS tracker. This package also comes with a password manager and backup software.

Perhaps the most significant selling point of Kaspersky, however, is the ability to choose how many devices you want to protect, meaning you’re not going to end up paying for protection you don’t use. Internet Security starts at $35/year for one device, and incrementally increases to $55/year for five devices. Total Security runs from $40/year to $60/year.

4. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

Bitdefender’s Mac product isn’t as comprehensive as its Windows solution, but it’s still one of the best paid antivirus suites for Mac. It also outperforms many of its competitors in AV-TEST’s independent antivirus testing, scoring full marks for protection, performance, and usability in the most recent round of results (June 2020).

We especially like some of Bitdefender’s dedicated Mac features. For example, the company’s Time Machine Protection tool adds an extra layer of security to your backups, ensuring you don’t fall victim to backup-based ransomware issues.

There’s also an adware blocker, a browser extension that can assess a site’s security on-the-fly, anti-phishing protection, and even cross-platform virus detection.

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac costs $60/year and can protect up to three Mac computers. It will not cover iOS mobile devices.

5. Airo

The four paid Mac antivirus apps we’ve looked at so far are all part of a wider product line-up from their respective companies. Airo is different—it is the only company on our list that focuses exclusively on antivirus for Mac; it does not make products for Windows or mobile devices.

Airo’s suite, which costs $50/year, includes real-time threat detection and prevention, a safe browsing tool to protect against phishing scams, and support for up to five computers.

And don’t worry, just because Airo is a less-recognizable name, it still managed to bag a perfect score when AV-TEST most recently (at the time of writing) tested the suite in December 2019.

5. Norton 360

Norton 360 comes in five different versions. The standard plan ($80/year) protects one device from standard web threats. In contrast, the most expensive package (Ultimate Plus, $350/year), lets you register an unlimited number of computers and mobile devices, and extends the coverage to both your online privacy and your identity.

For the best balance between cost and features, consider the Deluxe plan. It costs $100/year and supports up to five Macs and iOS mobile devices.

The package includes dark web monitoring, 50GB of cloud backup storage space, a password manager, parental controls, and protection against webcam attacks.

6. ESET Cyber Security for Mac

Our last entry is ESET Cyber Security for Mac. Two paid plans for Mac are on offer: ESET Cyber Security and ESET Cyber Security Pro.

The basic plan ($50/year) will cover you against malware, ransomware, and network hackers on one device. You can add extra devices for $10/year per device.

If you sign up for the ESET Cyber Security Pro plan instead, you’ll also get protection on your non-macOS devices, such as Windows and Linux computers and Android smartphones.

One of ESET Cyber Security’s best features is its low draw on system resources. Antivirus suites are notorious power hogs, but ESET slashes the consumption by ditching popups, scheduling maintenance for overnight, and offering a battery-saving mode.

Which Is the Best Paid Antivirus for Mac?

It’s a near-impossible question to answer. You need to think about the features you want, the number of devices on which you want to run your antivirus, and how much you’re willing to pay.

If you had to push us, we’d probably opt for ESET or Kaspersky, but make sure you do your own research before committing. Remember, almost all paid antivirus will offer a free trial.

If you’d like to learn more about Mac security, make sure you check out our other articles on the best free antivirus apps for Mac and our analysis of the controversial MacKeeper security tool.

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