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Burp Suite vs McAfee Total Protection

Burp Suite logo

Burp Suite

Software

The leading toolkit for web security testing

From
Free
Rated
-
McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Software

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Burp Suite has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Burp Suite the automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools; McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
  • They diverge on capability: Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner, McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Burp Suite and McAfee Total Protection differ
AttributeBurp SuiteMcAfee Total Protection
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsDesktop, ApiWindows, macOS, iOS, Android
Founded20041987

Identical on both: 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 Burp Suite

  • Web vulnerability scanner
  • Proxy interceptor
  • Intruder
  • Repeater
  • Sequencer
  • Decoder
  • Comparer
  • Logger

Only in McAfee Total Protection

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

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Desktop support

What people use each for

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

Burp Suite

  • Manual web application penetration testing through an intercepting proxynot McAfee Total Protection
  • Automated scanning for web vulnerabilities on the Professional editionnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Extending testing with community-built BApp extensionsnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Enterprise-wide dynamic scanning through Burp DASTnot McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirusnot Burp Suite
  • Internet Securitynot Burp Suite
  • Identity Protectionnot Burp Suite

Where each one falls short

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

Burp Suite

  • The automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools
  • BApp Store extensions require the Professional edition
  • DAST and the agentic testing product are separate enterprise offerings with no published price
  • Professional is licensed per user per year rather than perpetually

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

Burp Suite

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Essential manual tools
    • Proxy
    • Repeater
  • Professional$449/year
    • All Community features
    • Burp Scanner
    • Advanced manual tools
  • Enterprise$6995/year
    • CI/CD integration
    • Scheduled scans
    • Role-based access

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 Burp Suite if

  • You need web vulnerability scanner.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Desktop, Api.
  • You also want proxy interceptor.

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 Burp Suite or McAfee Total Protection better?
Neither clearly leads. Burp Suite 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, Burp Suite or McAfee Total Protection?
Burp Suite has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Burp Suite and $29.99/year for McAfee Total Protection.
Does Burp Suite or McAfee Total Protection run on more platforms?
Burp Suite runs on Desktop, Api. McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Can I use Burp Suite for free?
Yes. Burp Suite has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year.
What is Burp Suite best used for?
Burp Suite is most often used for manual web application penetration testing through an intercepting proxy, automated scanning for web vulnerabilities on the professional edition, extending testing with community-built bapp extensions, enterprise-wide dynamic scanning through burp dast. Of those, manual web application penetration testing through an intercepting proxy and automated scanning for web vulnerabilities on the professional edition are not what McAfee Total Protection is typically brought in for.
What can Burp Suite do that McAfee Total Protection cannot?
Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner, Proxy interceptor, Intruder, Repeater. McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. Both handle Cloud deployment, Desktop support.

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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