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Review 2026
Each company is evaluated across five criteria. Scores are weighted and combined into a single BestGuide Score out of 5. See how we rate the brands.
Key Takeaway
MacKeeper earns an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0 from BestGuide, ranking among the top Mac-centric security suites for its broad, all-in-one toolset. Its strongest criterion is Services (90%), reflecting antivirus plus a VPN, ad blocker, ID-theft monitoring, and cleaning tools in one dashboard, backed by a near-perfect malware detection rate in independent testing. The trade-offs are missing malicious-URL protection and pricing that runs higher than some Mac-only competitors.
Best For: Mac users who want one dashboard for security, privacy, and performance — plus 24/7 live chat — rather than juggling separate apps.
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MacKeeper is an all-in-one Mac security and optimization suite developed by Clario Tech, which has owned the software since 2019 and is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates. It bundles antivirus and adware protection, a VPN (Private Connect), a StopAd ad blocker, ID Theft Guard breach monitoring, and cleaning tools like Safe Cleanup and Smart Uninstaller into a single dashboard, with built-in 24/7 chat support. MacKeeper is Apple notarized and holds ISO 27001 certification, and the company reports more than 65 million downloads.
Developer
Clario Tech
Platform
macOS 10.15+
Downloads
65M+ (reported)
See If You Qualify
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MacKeeper runs on macOS 10.15 or later and needs about 100 MB of free space. You download it from the official site and follow a guided install that usually takes under two minutes. The app is Apple notarized, meaning it has passed Apple's automated security checks.
Once installed, the MacKeeper dashboard sits in the menu bar for one-click access to every tool. The first step is a comprehensive scan that checks for malware, adware, duplicate files, junk, and performance issues, with on-demand malware scans that finish quickly on modern Macs.
MacKeeper runs real-time antivirus and adware protection alongside a VPN (Private Connect), the StopAd ad blocker, ID Theft Guard breach monitoring, and cleaning tools — all managed from one dashboard, with 24/7 chat support from Mac experts built in.
MacKeeper fits Mac users who want one app for security, privacy, and performance instead of installing several.
Not ideal for users who need advanced firewall controls or malicious-URL protection (both missing), or budget-focused buyers wanting the lowest-cost Mac-only antivirus.
Strong Malware Protection
MacKeeper delivers real-time antivirus and adware protection with a near-perfect malware detection rate in independent testing, placing it among the top Mac security tools.
All-in-One Dashboard
Antivirus, adware cleaner, VPN, ad blocker, ID-theft monitoring, disk cleaner, and performance tools all live in a single interface, so there's no juggling separate apps.
24/7 Live Chat Support
A built-in chat window gives round-the-clock access to MacKeeper's privacy and security experts — a step beyond typical antivirus software.
Private Connect VPN & StopAd
An integrated VPN (Private Connect) and the StopAd ad blocker add privacy on top of core protection, though the VPN's country-selection interface is clunky.
ID Theft Guard
Monitors for data breaches 24/7 and alerts you if your information is exposed.
Pricing & Plans
MacKeeper offers a free 7-day trial of its RAM cleaner, then paid plans for full access — commonly listed around $71.40/year for one Mac and $89.40/year for three, or about $14.95/month. Pricing varies by promotion, and introductory rates typically renew at a higher price, so verify current terms before subscribing.
Pros
Cons
Yes, MacKeeper is legitimate software, developed by Clario Tech, which has owned it since 2019 and is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates. The app has been Apple notarized since 2020, holds ISO 27001 certification, and earns near-perfect malware-detection results in independent lab testing, with no known security vulnerabilities in its current version. Historically, MacKeeper drew criticism for aggressive advertising, including a 2014 class-action lawsuit over scareware-style pop-ups, but under Clario Tech's ownership it has shifted to more transparent practices and earned independent certifications. It is not a scam — it delivers real protection and privacy tools — though some advanced features like malicious-URL filtering are still missing.
MacKeeper earns an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0, reflecting a strong all-in-one feature set and excellent malware-detection results in independent lab testing. Its best strengths are near-perfect detection, a broad toolset spanning a VPN, ad blocker, and ID-theft monitoring, and built-in 24/7 live chat with Mac experts. Its weaknesses are the lack of malicious-URL protection, an awkward VPN country-selection interface, and pricing that runs higher than some Mac-only competitors — with introductory rates that renew at a higher price. For Mac users who want convenience and a comprehensive suite, MacKeeper is a solid choice; those who need advanced protections like URL filtering or the lowest cost should compare alternatives.
BestGuide rates MacKeeper 4.3/5.0, praising its near-perfect malware detection and broad feature set while noting missing malicious-URL protection and higher pricing.
Yes for Mac users who want an all-in-one suite with strong antivirus protection and 24/7 support. Budget-focused users may find cheaper Mac-only alternatives, and it's worth checking the renewal price before subscribing.
MacKeeper offers more than typical antivirus — a VPN, ad blocker, and ID-theft monitoring — but lacks malicious-URL filtering, which is standard in competitors like Bitdefender or Norton that also cover more platforms.
Yes. MacKeeper is Apple notarized, ISO 27001 certified, and has no known vulnerabilities in its current version. The 2014 scareware lawsuit predates current ownership and no longer reflects the product.
Yes. MacKeeper provides real-time antivirus and adware protection, 24/7 ID-theft monitoring, and a real-time ad blocker, with a near-perfect malware detection rate in independent testing.
Plans are commonly listed around $71.40/year for one Mac and $89.40/year for three, or about $14.95/month, after a free 7-day trial of the RAM cleaner. Pricing varies by promotion and introductory rates renew higher, so verify current terms.
MacKeeper is developed by Clario Tech, which has owned it since 2019 and is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates
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