Software · head to head
McAfee Total Protection vs Private Internet Access
McAfee Total Protection
Software
Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions
- From
- $29.99/year
- Rated
- -
Private Internet Access
Software
Long-standing VPN service with a large server network and flexible multi-year plans
- From
- $11.99/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); Private Internet Access monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- They diverge on capability: McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which McAfee Total Protection and Private Internet Access actually diverge.
| Attribute | McAfee Total Protection | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29.99/year | $11.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | windows, mac, linux, ios, android |
| 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 Private Internet Access
- Split tunneling
- Kill switch
- Ad and tracker blocking
- Dedicated IP add-on
- Bundled antivirus add-on
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
McAfee Total Protection
- Antivirusnot Private Internet Access
- Internet Securitynot Private Internet Access
- Identity Protectionnot Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access
- Encrypting traffic on public Wi-Fi with a kill switchnot McAfee Total Protection
- Blocking ads and trackers network-wide via MACEnot McAfee Total Protection
- Maintaining a consistent connection identity with a dedicated IP add-onnot McAfee Total Protection
- Committing to a long-term plan for a lower effective monthly ratenot 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
Private Internet Access
- Monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- Dedicated IP and antivirus are paid add-ons rather than included features.
- Headquartered in a jurisdiction whose privacy reputation some competitors market against, despite audited no-logs claims.
- App interface is less streamlined than some higher-priced premium VPN competitors.
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
Private Internet Access
$11.99/month- Monthly$11.99/month
- Billed month to month
- Full server network access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 1-Year$3.1/month
- Billed annually at $37.19
- Full server network access
- 2-Year$2.19/month
- Lowest advertised rate, billed every 2 years
- Full server network access
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 Private Internet Access if
- You need split tunneling.
- You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- You also want kill switch.
Questions people ask
- Is McAfee Total Protection or Private Internet Access better?
- Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Private Internet Access at $11.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or Private Internet Access?
- McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Private Internet Access at $11.99/month.
- Does McAfee Total Protection or Private Internet Access run on more platforms?
- McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Private Internet Access runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- 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 Private Internet Access is typically brought in for.
- What can McAfee Total Protection do that Private Internet Access cannot?
- McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling, Kill switch, Ad and tracker blocking, Dedicated IP add-on.
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 Private Internet Access
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