Software · head to head
McAfee Total Protection vs Microsoft Defender
McAfee Total Protection
Software
Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions
- From
- $29.99/year
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Defender
Software
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- On request
- 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); Microsoft Defender the overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which McAfee Total Protection and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | McAfee Total Protection | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29.99/year | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | quote |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web |
| Founded | 1987 | Unknown |
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 McAfee Total Protection
- Real-time antivirus
- Firewall
- Safe browsing
- Password manager
- Secure VPN
- Identity monitoring
- Protection Score
- Parental controls
Only in Microsoft Defender
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 Microsoft Defender
- Internet Securitynot Microsoft Defender
- Identity Protectionnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft Defender 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
Microsoft Defender
- The overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead
- Full family and business protection requires a Microsoft 365 Family, Personal or Premium subscription rather than being included with the free built-in Windows version
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
Microsoft Defender
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender 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 Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from McAfee Total Protection on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is McAfee Total Protection or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Microsoft Defender at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or Microsoft Defender?
- McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Microsoft Defender at On request.
- Does McAfee Total Protection or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- 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 Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can McAfee Total Protection do that Microsoft Defender 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.
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.
SourceRelated pages
More on McAfee Total Protection
More on Microsoft Defender
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