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Cybersecurity · head to head

McAfee Total Protection vs Ring Neighbors

McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Cybersecurity

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Ring Neighbors logo

Ring Neighbors

Government

Community Safety Network

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ring Neighbors 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); Ring Neighbors neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)
  • They diverge on capability: McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Ring Neighbors covers Video Request Portal.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which McAfee Total Protection and Ring Neighbors actually diverge.

Attributes where McAfee Total Protection and Ring Neighbors differ
AttributeMcAfee Total ProtectionRing Neighbors
Starting price$29.99/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
Founded19872013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Ring Neighbors

  • Video Request Portal
  • Community Alerts
  • Geographic Requests
  • Case Management
  • Resident Opt-in
  • Ring Devices
  • CAD Systems
  • Social Media

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirusnot Ring Neighbors
  • Internet Securitynot Ring Neighbors
  • Identity Protectionnot Ring Neighbors

Ring Neighbors

  • Citizen Servicesnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Records Managementnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Public Safetynot McAfee Total Protection
  • Civic Engagementnot 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

Ring Neighbors

  • Neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)

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

Ring Neighbors

Free
  • Public Safety PortalFree
    • Video Requests
    • Community Alerts
    • Case Management

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 Ring Neighbors if

  • You need video request portal.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want community alerts.
Ring Neighbors review

Questions people ask

Is McAfee Total Protection or Ring Neighbors better?
Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Ring Neighbors at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or Ring Neighbors?
Ring Neighbors has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/year for McAfee Total Protection and Free for Ring Neighbors.
Does McAfee Total Protection or Ring Neighbors run on more platforms?
McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Ring Neighbors runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Ring Neighbors for free?
Yes. Ring Neighbors 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 Ring Neighbors is typically brought in for.
What can McAfee Total Protection do that Ring Neighbors cannot?
McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. Ring Neighbors covers Video Request Portal, Community Alerts, Geographic Requests, Case Management. Both handle Web 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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