Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
McAfee Total Protection vs Surfshark
McAfee Total Protection
Security & Cybersecurity
Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions
- From
- $29.99/year
- 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); Surfshark smaller server network (4,500+ servers) compared to larger competitors like NordVPN
- They diverge on capability: McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Surfshark covers Unlimited devices.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which McAfee Total Protection and Surfshark actually diverge.
| Attribute | McAfee Total Protection | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29.99/year | $1.78/month |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux |
| Founded | 1987 | 2018 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Surfshark
- Unlimited devices
- CleanWeb ad blocker
- MultiHop
- Camouflage Mode
- NoBorders mode
- Kill Switch
- Bypasser split tunneling
- Rotating IP
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Desktop support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
McAfee Total Protection
- Antivirusnot Surfshark
- Internet Securitynot Surfshark
- Identity Protectionnot Surfshark
Surfshark
- Vpnnot McAfee Total Protection
- Privacynot McAfee Total Protection
- Security Suitenot 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
Surfshark
- Smaller server network (4,500+ servers) compared to larger competitors like NordVPN
- Lower brand recognition compared to established VPN providers
- Limited customer service availability in some time zones
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
Surfshark
$1.78/month- Starter$1.78/month
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- 4,500+ servers
- Basic VPN
- One$3.59/month
- VPN
- Antivirus
- Personal data leak alert
- One+$4/month
- All One features
- Incogi included
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 Surfshark if
- You need unlimited devices.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux.
- You also want cleanweb ad blocker.
Questions people ask
- Is McAfee Total Protection or Surfshark better?
- Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Surfshark at $1.78/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or Surfshark?
- McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Surfshark at $1.78/month.
- Does McAfee Total Protection or Surfshark run on more platforms?
- McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Surfshark runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, 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 Surfshark is typically brought in for.
- What can McAfee Total Protection do that Surfshark cannot?
- McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. Surfshark covers Unlimited devices, CleanWeb ad blocker, MultiHop, Camouflage Mode. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Desktop 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.
SourceSurfshark: Does Surfshark maintain a no-logs policy?
Yes. Surfshark does not log browsing history, visited IP addresses, bandwidth usage, or network traffic. This policy was independently verified by Deloitte in 2025.
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.
SourceSurfshark: How many simultaneous device connections does Surfshark allow?
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections on all subscription plans, enabling protection of every device in a household with a single subscription.
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