McAfee Total Protection
Broad identity-theft coverage and unlimited-device licensing on the top tier make this the pick for large households juggling many devices.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
What we measured
McAfee's detection stayed close to the leaders, though our performance harness recorded a heavier hit on app-launch times than the top three suites.
Where it wins
01
Malware protection
98% detection on the live zero-day feed, with a slightly higher false-positive count than the category leaders.
02
Identity protection
Includes identity monitoring and theft-remediation support, positioned closer to a full identity-protection product than most competitors.
03
Unlimited devices
The Total Protection top tier covers an unlimited number of devices on a single subscription — unusual in this category.
04
System performance
A measurable but modest slowdown on app-launch benchmarks compared to the top three suites.
The trade-offs
- Unlimited device coverage on the top-tier plan
- Strong identity-theft monitoring and remediation support
- VPN and password manager included
- Heavier measured impact on app-launch times
- More background notifications and upsells than competitors
- Detection sits a step behind the category leaders
Common questions
Does McAfee really cover unlimited devices?
Yes — the Total Protection top tier applies to an unlimited number of devices under one household subscription.
Is McAfee good for identity theft protection?
It is one of the stronger options in this category, bundling credit monitoring and identity-restoration support alongside malware protection.
Does McAfee slow down my computer?
Our benchmarks measured a moderate impact on app-launch times — noticeably more than Bitdefender or ESET, though still within a reasonable range.
Can I install McAfee on iPhone and Android?
Yes, McAfee Total Protection includes native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
If this isn't the fit
Our verdict: the pick for large, device-heavy households.
If your household is running antivirus across more than five devices, McAfee's unlimited-device tier is hard to beat on a per-device basis — just expect a few more upsell prompts.
Get protected — $39.99/yr →