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Security & Cybersecurity · head to head

McAfee Total Protection vs Signal

McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Security & Cybersecurity

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Signal logo

Signal

All industries

Speak Freely

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Signal 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); Signal signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account
  • They diverge on capability: McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Signal covers End-to-end encryption.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where McAfee Total Protection and Signal differ
AttributeMcAfee Total ProtectionSignal
Starting price$29.99/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
CategorySecurity & CybersecurityAll industries
Founded19872010

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 Signal

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Disappearing messages
  • Screen security
  • Group chats
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • File sharing
  • No data collection

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirusnot Signal
  • Internet Securitynot Signal
  • Identity Protectionnot Signal

Signal

  • Private messagingnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Secure group communicationnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Confidential conversationsnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Journalism communicationnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Family messagingnot 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

Signal

  • Signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account

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

Signal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • End-to-end encrypted messaging
    • Voice and video calls
    • Group chats

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 Signal if

  • You need end-to-end encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want disappearing messages.
Signal review

Questions people ask

Is McAfee Total Protection or Signal better?
Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Signal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or Signal?
Signal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/year for McAfee Total Protection and Free for Signal.
Does McAfee Total Protection or Signal run on more platforms?
McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Signal runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Signal for free?
Yes. Signal 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 Signal is typically brought in for.
What can McAfee Total Protection do that Signal cannot?
McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. Signal covers End-to-end encryption, Disappearing messages, Screen security, Group chats. Both handle Cloud deployment.

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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Related pages

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