Macworld
It wasn’t long ago that Macs were considered secure enough on their own. But as Apple devices have grown in popularity, macOS has become an increasingly attractive target for attackers. Today’s threats are less about traditional viruses and more about phishing, fake updates, malicious downloads, and scams designed to trick users into installing malware themselves. At the same time, AI tools are accelerating vulnerability discovery and exploit development, making rapid patching more important than ever.
Apple includes built-in protections such as XProtect and Gatekeeper, and macOS security is stronger than ever. However, these defenses mainly target known threats and can’t fully prevent social-engineering attacks or credential theft. Modern antivirus tools – with features like anti-phishing protection, malicious site blocking, behavior monitoring, and password and identity safeguards – therefore remain essential for Mac users. To see which ones actually defend against today’s threats, we’ve tested the leading antivirus apps for Mac and you can see our recommendations below.
Get the best Mac antivirus: Intego ONE
We’ve tested the top Mac antivirus software using real-world scenarios, performance benchmarks, and independent lab results, alongside usability, performance and reliability checks. Use this guide to find the best antivirus for your needs. Below are our expert picks for 2026, including the best overall, best value, and best free options.
Best Mac Antivirus in 2026: At a GlanceThe best antivirus for Mac in 2026 is Intego ONE, thanks to its Mac-specific design, strong protection, and low performance impact. Norton 360 and Bitdefender are also top alternatives.
Scroll down for full reviews and testing results.
How we test Mac AntivirusWe test Mac antivirus software using real-world scenarios and independent lab data from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
Starting with a clean macOS system, we downloaded malware samples and visited malicious websites to measure protection against online and offline threats, including Windows-based malware.
We also assessed system performance, ease of use and macOS integration, along with features like ransomware protection, VPNs and firewalls.
Only products that deliver strong protection without slowing down your Mac make our top recommendations.
Best Mac Antivirus: Benchmarks AntivirusAV-Test ProtectionAV-Comparatives ScoreOur Malware DetectionPerformance Impact (Our Tests)Scan SpeedOverall ScoreIntego6 / 6Approved99%LowFastest4.7 / 5Norton 3606 / 6Approved100%MediumMedium4.7 / 5Avast One6 / 6Approved99%MediumMedium4.5 / 5Moonlock5.5 / 6Not available100%LowFast4.4 / 5Surfshark6 / 6Approved100%LowFast4.4 / 5Avira Free5.5 / 6Approved97%LowFast4.4 / 5AVG Internet Security6 / 6Approved99%LowMedium4.5 / 5Bitdefender6 / 6Approved100%LowFast4.5 / 5ESET6 / 6Approved95%LowFast4 / 5Avira6 / 6Approved97%LowFast4.4 / 5We compared independent lab results with our own real-world testing to identify the best Mac antivirus software for 2026.
Best Mac Antivirus: Our top picks tested and rankedWe’ve tested and reviewed the best Mac antivirus software below. Our summaries explain how each product performed, why it ranks where it does, and its key features – with links to our full, in-depth reviews.
Updated July 3, 2026.
1. Intego ONE – Best antivirus for Mac usersPros
- Extremely fast malware scanning
- Excellent firewall control options
- Strong macOS-focused protection
Cons
- No phishing protection or parental controls
Intego ONE is a powerful Mac-focused security suite with excellent malware detection, extremely fast scan speeds, and strong firewall controls. Designed specifically for macOS, it works alongside Apple’s XProtect and Gatekeeper protections. The Complete plan also includes a VPN and a companion iPhone app with useful security and privacy checks.
Why we picked it as our top choice
Intego ONE stands out for its outstanding malware protection, exceptionally fast scans, and powerful firewall controls. In our tests, it detected almost every threat from more than 130 malware samples and scanned more than 877GB of data in under 10 minutes. Recent updates have also improved performance during malware cleanup and resolved several earlier bugs.
Key strengths include:
- Excellent malware detection, including ransomware protection.
- Extremely fast scans, processing millions of files in minutes.
- Powerful firewall with detailed network monitoring and customizable rules.
- Improved quarantine performance and system responsiveness.
- Useful iPhone VPN and security checks with the Complete plan.
- Clean, user-friendly interface designed specifically for macOS.
Intego delivers excellent real-world protection while giving Mac users more control over network activity than many competing security suites.
Key features
- Antivirus: Full, quick, and custom scans, scheduling, and automatic USB scanning (Essential, Advanced & Complete).
- Firewall: Network monitoring, connection alerts, and customizable allow/deny rules (Essential, Advanced & Complete).
- VPN: Access to 51 global server locations, with Lightway protocol options on Mac (Complete).
- SmartClean: Disk cleanup, application uninstaller, and system optimization tools (Advanced & Complete).
- iPhone security: VPN, Wi-Fi security checks, connection speed tests, and security and privacy assessments (Complete).
Who’s it for?
Intego ONE is ideal for Mac users who prioritize excellent malware protection, fast performance, and detailed control over network activity without the complexity of more technical security applications.
Intego is ideal if you:
- Want strong, Mac-specific malware and ransomware protection.
- Need advanced firewall controls and network monitoring.
- Prefer fast scans with minimal performance impact.
- Want a VPN and basic security checks for your iPhone as well as Mac protection.
Considerations & drawbacks
- No dedicated phishing protection, spam filtering, or parental controls.
- Quarantine cleanup can still leave occasional files requiring attention.
- The interface cannot be resized or expanded to full screen.
- The iPhone VPN lacks advanced features such as a kill switch and multiple protocol choices.
- No Windows or Android protection.
Verdict
Intego ONE remains our top antivirus recommendation for Mac users, combining excellent malware detection, remarkably fast scans, and powerful firewall controls. Recent improvements have addressed several earlier performance problems, while the addition of iPhone VPN and security tools makes the Complete package more appealing. It lacks some extras offered by competing suites, particularly phishing protection, but its core Mac security performance is outstanding.
Read our full Intego ONE review
2. Avast One – Best for malware and phishing protectionPros
- Excellent malware protection
- Outstanding Email Guard
- Capable VPN
- Comprehensive security suite
Cons
- Excessive upselling and fragmentation
- Basic AI Assistant
- Occasional malware detection gaps
- Some interface limitations
Avast One is a comprehensive security suite for Mac that combines antivirus protection with phishing defense, a VPN, and privacy tools in a single application. It helps protect against malware, malicious websites, and email threats while keeping system impact low, making it a strong all-round security solution for everyday users.
Why we picked it
Avast One impressed with excellent malware detection, outstanding phishing protection, and a capable VPN that has little impact on Mac performance. Features such as Email Guard, Web Guard, and Real Site provide effective real-world protection against spam, phishing, and fraudulent websites.
Key strengths include:
- Excellent malware protection
- Outstanding phishing and spam filtering
- Effective VPN with low system impact
- Comprehensive security feature set
- Strong web and email protection
Email Guard, Web Guard, and Real Site work particularly well together, providing some of the strongest real-world phishing and scam protection we’ve seen.
Key features
- Real-time malware protection
- Email Guard for phishing and spam detection
- Web Guard and Real Site website protection
- Integrated VPN
- AI Assistant for security advice
Who’s it for?
Best for Mac users who want a feature-rich security suite with particularly strong phishing protection.
Avast is ideal if you:
- Want all-in-one security rather than a basic antivirus
- Need excellent phishing and email protection
- Want a built-in VPN
- Prefer security software with minimal performance impact
- Value comprehensive web protection
Considerations & drawbacks
- Frequent upselling throughout the app
- Confusing, fragmented subscription options
- AI Assistant provides limited value
- Missed some malware installers during testing
- Some interface limitations
Verdict
Avast One is one of the strongest all-round security suites for Mac, combining excellent malware protection, first-rate phishing defenses, and a capable VPN. Its confusing subscriptions, constant upselling, and underwhelming AI Assistant prevent it from being an easy recommendation, but its core protection is excellent.
Read our full Avast One review
3. Norton 360 – Best all-round, multi-platform security suitePros
- Virus Protection Promise
- Instant reassurance for scams
- Includes Norton’s VPN and Password Manager
Cons
- Some features Windows only
Norton 360 is one of the most comprehensive security suites available for Mac, combining antivirus protection with a wide range of additional features, including a VPN, password manager and AI-powered scam detection.
A well-known and trusted name in cybersecurity, Norton also offers its Virus Protection Promise, meaning you’ll get your money back if it can’t remove a virus from your device.
Why we picked it
Norton stands out for its all-in-one feature set and excellent lab performance, making it ideal for users who want complete protection across multiple devices.
Key strengths include:
- Top scores in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives (June 2025)
- All-in-one suite: antivirus, VPN, password manager and more
- AI-powered Genie Scam Protection for real-time threat advice
- Strong cross-platform support (Mac, iOS, Windows, Android)
- Good value considering the breadth of features
The addition of Norton’s Genie Scam Assistant is particularly impressive, offering real-time help with suspicious emails and messages — a useful tool as phishing attacks become more sophisticated.
Key features
- Real-time antivirus, anti-malware and ransomware protection
- Built-in VPN for secure browsing
- Password manager
- Genie Scam Protection (AI assistant)
- Dark web monitoring (on select plans)
- Multi-device support
Who’s it for?
Best for users who want a full-featured security suite across multiple devices.
Norton is ideal if you:
- Want an all-in-one security solution
- Use multiple devices (Mac, iPhone, Windows, Android)
- Value extra features like VPN and identity protection
- Want real-time help spotting scams
Considerations & drawbacks
- macOS version feels less fully featured than Windows version
- Some features (e.g. cloud backup) are not available on Mac
- Interface and settings can feel complex for beginners
- In our testing, missed a small number of threats and struggled with some file types (e.g. ZIP files)
- Browser protection didn’t block all suspicious links in testing
Bottom line
If you want a feature-rich, all-in-one security suite, Norton 360 is one of the best options available. While it’s not as Mac-focused as Intego, it offers excellent protection, powerful extras and strong cross-platform coverage, making it a great choice for households with multiple devices.
Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review
4. MacPaw Moonlock – Great antivirus protection for beginnersPros
- Excellent malware detection
- Fast scanning performance
- Useful built-in VPN
- Helpful security guidance
- Clean, focused interface
Cons
- Leaves some support files behind
- No phishing website blocking
- No scan time estimates
- Trial requires payment information
Moonlock is MacPaw’s dedicated antivirus and security app for Mac, combining malware protection with a VPN, system security checks and educational guidance. It aims to keep Macs protected from malware and online threats while helping users understand and improve their overall security without unnecessary complexity.
Why we picked it
Moonlock impressed with excellent malware detection, effective real-time Active Protection, a capable VPN and helpful educational resources. Rather than simply blocking threats, it also teaches users better security habits, making it particularly approachable for less technical Mac owners.
Key strengths include:
- Excellent malware detection and removal
- Active Protection blocks threats before installation
- Built-in VPN with solid performance
- Helpful security education and guidance
- Flexible purchase options, including a one-time licence
We particularly like how Moonlock’s Security Advisor focuses on helping users develop better security habits through clear, practical guidance.
Key features
- Quick, Balanced and Deep malware scanning
- Real-time Active Protection
- Built-in VPN
- Network Inspector for blocking traffic from selected regions
- System Protection and Security Advisor with security recommendations
Who’s it for?
Best for Mac users who want strong malware protection with straightforward security tools and guidance rather than an overwhelming all-in-one suite.
Moonlock is ideal if you:
- Want effective malware protection with minimal fuss
- Appreciate built-in security guidance and learning resources
- Prefer a clean, Mac-focused security app
- Want integrated VPN protection
- Like the option of a one-time purchase instead of only subscriptions
Considerations & drawbacks
- Security Advisor is more informational than practical
- Menus and navigation can be confusing
- Scan scheduler only allows 15-minute intervals
- VPN defaults to the nearest server automatically
- Some features and options are buried in the interface
Bottom line
Moonlock delivers excellent malware protection backed by effective Active Protection, a capable VPN and useful security guidance. While its