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McAfee Total Protection vs Cisco Duo

McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Software

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cisco Duo logo

Cisco Duo

Software

Trusted access for all users, all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cisco Duo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year); Cisco Duo free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users

Where they differ

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

Attributes where McAfee Total Protection and Cisco Duo differ
AttributeMcAfee Total ProtectionCisco Duo
Starting price$29.99/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded1987Unknown

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 McAfee Total Protection

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

Only in Cisco Duo

Nothing recorded that McAfee Total Protection does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirusnot Cisco Duo
  • Internet Securitynot Cisco Duo
  • Identity Protectionnot Cisco Duo

Cisco Duo

No use cases recorded yet. See the Cisco Duo review.

Where each one falls short

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

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

Cisco Duo

  • Free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users
  • Licenses cannot be bought individually above the free tier: under 100 users they are sold in increments of 10, and over 100 users in increments of 25
  • Duo Premier, the top tier with the most adaptive access controls, costs $9 per user per month on top of the per-increment purchase requirement

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Cisco Duo

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cisco Duo review.

Which should you pick?

Choose McAfee Total Protection if

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

Choose Cisco Duo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cisco Duo review

Questions people ask

Is McAfee Total Protection or Cisco Duo better?
Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Cisco Duo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or Cisco Duo?
Cisco Duo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/year for McAfee Total Protection and Free for Cisco Duo.
Does McAfee Total Protection or Cisco Duo run on more platforms?
McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Cisco Duo runs on Web.
Can I use Cisco Duo for free?
Yes. Cisco Duo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year.
What is McAfee Total Protection best used for?
McAfee Total Protection is most often used for antivirus, internet security, identity protection. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what Cisco Duo is typically brought in for.
What can McAfee Total Protection do that Cisco Duo 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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