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Cybersecurity · head to head

Avast One vs McAfee Total Protection

Avast One logo

Avast One

Cybersecurity

All-in-one protection for your digital life

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Cybersecurity

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Avast One has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Avast One ransomware and Wi-Fi vulnerability protection only on paid plans; McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
  • They diverge on capability: Avast One covers Antivirus, McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Avast One and McAfee Total Protection actually diverge.

Attributes where Avast One and McAfee Total Protection differ
AttributeAvast OneMcAfee Total Protection
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Free tierYesNo
Founded19881987

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Avast One

  • Antivirus
  • VPN
  • Data breach monitoring
  • Email Guardian
  • Webcam Shield
  • Ransomware Shield
  • Performance optimization
  • AV-Comparatives Award

Only in McAfee Total Protection

  • Real-time antivirus
  • Safe browsing
  • Password manager
  • Secure VPN
  • Identity monitoring
  • Protection Score
  • Parental controls
  • Edge

Both cover

  • Firewall
  • Windows Security
  • macOS
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • AV-TEST Certified
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Desktop support
  • Mobile support
  • English language support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Avast One

  • Antivirus
  • Internet Security
  • Privacy Toolsnot McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirus
  • Internet Security
  • Identity Protectionnot Avast One

Both are used for antivirus, internet security, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Avast One

  • Ransomware and Wi-Fi vulnerability protection only on paid plans
  • Free plan VPN is limited, no data breakthrough monitoring
  • Rebuilt app in May 2026 may have stability issues

McAfee Total Protection

  • Significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
  • Customer support responsiveness issues reported as reason for switching
  • Renewal billing can be aggressive with auto-renewal defaults

Pricing, plan by plan

Avast One

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Antivirus
    • Limited VPN
    • Privacy tools
  • Silver$2.99/month
    • Enhanced antivirus
    • VPN
    • Device cleanup
  • Premium$4.19/month
    • Full antivirus
    • VPN with 55 servers
    • Password manager
  • Premium Plus$11.67/month
    • All Premium features
    • 30 devices covered

McAfee Total Protection

$29.99/year
  • Basic$29.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • 1 device
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • 5 devices
  • Premium$49.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • VPN
  • Advanced$74.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • VPN

Which should you pick?

Choose Avast One if

  • You need antivirus.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want vpn.
Avast One review

Choose McAfee Total Protection if

  • You need real-time antivirus.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want safe browsing.
McAfee Total Protection review

Questions people ask

Is Avast One or McAfee Total Protection better?
Neither clearly leads. Avast One starts at Free and McAfee Total Protection at $29.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Avast One or McAfee Total Protection?
Avast One has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Avast One and $29.99/year for McAfee Total Protection.
Does Avast One or McAfee Total Protection run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Avast One for free?
Yes. Avast One has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year.
What is Avast One best used for?
Avast One is most often used for antivirus, internet security, privacy tools. Of those, privacy tools is not what McAfee Total Protection is typically brought in for.
What can Avast One do that McAfee Total Protection cannot?
Avast One covers Antivirus, VPN, Data breach monitoring, Email Guardian. McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Safe browsing, Password manager, Secure VPN. Both handle Firewall, Windows Security, macOS, Chrome.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Avast One: Is Avast One free?

Yes. Avast One offers a free tier with antivirus, VPN (limited), and privacy tools. Paid plans start at $2.99/month for Silver and $4.19/month for Premium covering up to 5 devices.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: How much does McAfee Total Protection cost?

McAfee Total Protection introductory pricing ranges from $29.99/year (Basic) to $74.99/year (Advanced), but renewal costs jump to $84.99/year after the first year.

Source
Avast One: What does Avast One include?

Avast One provides antivirus, VPN, password manager, device cleanup, Wi-Fi security, data breach monitoring, and protection against AI-generated scams and deepfakes.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: What is the trial period for McAfee Total Protection?

McAfee offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service risk-free for two months.

Source
Avast One: Does Avast One have ransomware protection?

Ransomware protection is available only on paid plans, not the free tier. Free users get antivirus and basic protection only.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: How many devices can I protect with one McAfee Total Protection subscription?

Device coverage varies by plan: Basic covers 1 device, while other plans protect 5 to unlimited devices depending on the tier selected.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: Does McAfee Total Protection include VPN?

VPN is included in higher-tier McAfee plans if you opt for auto-renewal.

Source
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