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Software · head to head

Bear vs McAfee Total Protection

Bear logo

Bear

Software

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Software

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client; McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Bear and McAfee Total Protection differ
AttributeBearMcAfee Total Protection
Starting priceOn request$29.99/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown1987

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Bear

Nothing recorded that McAfee Total Protection does not also cover.

Only in McAfee Total Protection

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

What people use each for

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

Bear

No use cases recorded yet. See the Bear review.

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirusnot Bear
  • Internet Securitynot Bear
  • Identity Protectionnot Bear

Where each one falls short

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

Bear

  • Built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client
  • Free tier is limited to 3 themes, 1 app icon and restricted export formats; iCloud sync requires Bear Pro
  • Bear Pro is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year after a 7 day free trial

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

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

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 Bear if

Nothing in the data separates Bear from McAfee Total Protection on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Choose McAfee Total Protection if

  • You need real-time antivirus.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want firewall.

Questions people ask

Is Bear or McAfee Total Protection better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request 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, Bear or McAfee Total Protection?
Bear starts at On request and McAfee Total Protection at $29.99/year.
Does Bear or McAfee Total Protection run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
What can Bear do that McAfee Total Protection cannot?
McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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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