Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
McAfee Total Protection vs CrowdStrike Falcon
McAfee Total Protection
Security & Cybersecurity
Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions
- From
- $29.99/year
- Rated
- -
CrowdStrike Falcon
Security & Cybersecurity
Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity
- From
- $7.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year); CrowdStrike Falcon falcon Go tier limited to maximum of 100 devices
- They diverge on capability: McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which McAfee Total Protection and CrowdStrike Falcon actually diverge.
| Attribute | McAfee Total Protection | CrowdStrike Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29.99/year | $7.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Founded | 1987 | 2011 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & 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 McAfee Total Protection
- Real-time antivirus
- Firewall
- Safe browsing
- Password manager
- Secure VPN
- Identity monitoring
- Protection Score
- Parental controls
Only in CrowdStrike Falcon
- Next-gen antivirus
- Endpoint detection and response
- Threat intelligence
- IT hygiene
- USB device control
- Firewall management
- Threat graph
- Real-time response
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
McAfee Total Protection
- Antivirusnot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Internet Securitynot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Identity Protectionnot CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Small endpoint deployments via Falcon Go with per-device pricingnot McAfee Total Protection
- Mid-market organisations via Falcon Pro or Enterprise with advanced threat detectionnot McAfee Total Protection
- Organisations requiring custom managed detection and response via Falcon Completenot McAfee Total Protection
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
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Falcon Go tier limited to maximum of 100 devices
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR requires custom quote; pricing not published
- Higher tiers (Enterprise and above) feature gatekeeping for threat hunting and identity protection
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
CrowdStrike Falcon
$7.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the CrowdStrike Falcon 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.
Choose CrowdStrike Falcon if
- You need next-gen antivirus.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want endpoint detection and response.
Questions people ask
- Is McAfee Total Protection or CrowdStrike Falcon better?
- Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and CrowdStrike Falcon at $7.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or CrowdStrike Falcon?
- McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and CrowdStrike Falcon at $7.99/month.
- Does McAfee Total Protection or CrowdStrike Falcon run on more platforms?
- McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- 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 CrowdStrike Falcon is typically brought in for.
- What can McAfee Total Protection do that CrowdStrike Falcon cannot?
- McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Endpoint detection and response, Threat intelligence, IT hygiene.
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.
SourceMcAfee 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.
SourceMcAfee 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.
SourceMcAfee Total Protection: Does McAfee Total Protection include VPN?
VPN is included in higher-tier McAfee plans if you opt for auto-renewal.
Source