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McAfee suits households that want antivirus, a VPN and identity monitoring under one subscription. It is legitimate, effective antivirus: AV-TEST gave McAfee Total Protection a perfect 6 out of 6 for protection, performance and usability in every 2026 Windows test through August. The tradeoff is cost after year one: the five-device Total Protection plan is $39.99 for the first year and $119.99 at renewal, and McAfee bills 30 days before your term ends. Most BBB and Trustpilot complaints are about those automatic renewals, so turn off auto-renew or set a reminder the day you buy.
- Starting price
- Total Protection, 1 device: $29.99 first year, then $89.99; 5 devices: $39.99 first year, then $119.99 (mcafee.com, October 5, 2026)1
- McAfee+ plans
- Unlimited devices; first-year prices from $49.99 (Premium Individual, renews $149.99) to $249.99 (Ultimate Family, renews $424.99)1
- Auto-renewal
- Charges your card 30 days before an annual term ends; McAfee emails a reminder 30 days before the charge; cancel at least 31 days before expiration to avoid it1
- Refunds
- Full refund within 30 days of first purchase or 60 days of a renewal charge; not available on monthly plans1
- Lab results
- AV-TEST: 6/6 protection, 6/6 performance, 6/6 usability for Total Protection in February, April, June and August 2026 (Windows)2
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, iOS and Android1
- Ownership
- Private since March 1, 2022, when an investor group led by Advent International and Permira completed a buyout valued at over $14 billion3
Pros
- Perfect AV-TEST protection, performance and usability scores throughout 2026
- Covers Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
- VPN, identity monitoring and scam detection included in Total Protection
- Full refund within 30 days of purchase or 60 days of a renewal on annual plans
Cons
- Renewal prices are about three times the first-year price
- Charges renewals 30 days before the term ends
- 450 BBB complaints in three years and a 1.3 Trustpilot score, mostly about billing
- Frequent upgrade prompts and marketing emails
- Monthly plans have no money-back guarantee
Best for: Households with a mix of PCs, Macs and phones that want antivirus, a VPN and identity monitoring in one plan and will manage the renewal.
Skip it if: You only need antivirus on one Windows PC, where free Microsoft Defender may be enough, or you don't want to track an auto-renewal.
McAfee vs. competitors
| Company | AV-TEST, August 2026 (protection / performance / usability) | BBB rating | Price model |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAfee Total Protection | 6 / 6 / 6 | Not rated | Low first year, higher auto-renewal |
| Norton 360 | 6 / 6 / 6 | A+ (Gen Digital, accredited) | Low first year, higher auto-renewal |
| Bitdefender Total Security | 6 / 6 / 6 | A+ (not accredited) | Low first year, higher auto-renewal |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus | 6 / 5.5 / 6 | Not applicable | Free, built into Windows |
McAfee pricing at a glance
McAfee plans, first-year and renewal prices on mcafee.com as captured October 5, 20261
| Plan | Devices | First year | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Protection | 1 | $29.99 | $89.99 |
| Total Protection | 5 | $39.99 | $119.99 |
| McAfee+ Premium Individual | Unlimited | $49.99 | $149.99 |
| McAfee+ Premium Family | Unlimited | $69.99 | $169.99 |
| McAfee+ Advanced Individual | Unlimited | $89.99 | $199.99 |
| McAfee+ Advanced Family | Unlimited | $119.99 | $269.99 |
| McAfee+ Ultimate Individual | Unlimited | $199.99 | $279.99 |
| McAfee+ Ultimate Family | Unlimited | $249.99 | $424.99 |
First-year prices are for new customers. Renewal prices may change, and McAfee says it notifies you in advance. Vermont residents must opt in to auto-renewal.
McAfee, step by step
Pick a plan
Total Protection covers 1 or 5 devices; McAfee+ plans cover unlimited devices and add more identity and privacy tools. Note the renewal price, not just the first-year price.
Install on each device
Download from your McAfee account onto Windows, Mac, iPhone or Android devices and sign in to activate.
Turn off what you don't need
Adjust pop-ups, browser extensions and notifications in settings. Many complaints are about upgrade prompts and alerts.
Manage auto-renewal
Turn off auto-renewal in My Account if you want to decide later. Otherwise you're charged 30 days before the term ends.
Ask for a refund in the window
Request a full refund within 30 days of first purchase or 60 days of a renewal charge. Monthly plans don't qualify.
McAfee legitimacy and licensing
Yes. McAfee, LLC is a long-running security software company based in San Jose, California. It was a public company until March 1, 2022, when an investor group led by Advent International and Permira completed a buyout valued at over $14 billion, and it now focuses on consumer products. Its software is real and effective: independent lab AV-TEST gave McAfee Total Protection 6 out of 6 for protection, performance and usability in each of its 2026 Windows tests through August.
Be careful with pop-ups or emails saying your McAfee subscription has expired or your PC is infected. Scammers use the McAfee name in fake renewal notices. Manage your account only by typing mcafee.com yourself, and never call a number from an unexpected pop-up.
McAfee price and renewal costs
McAfee prices low for the first year and much higher after. On mcafee.com in early October 2026, Total Protection for 5 devices was $39.99 for year one and $119.99 at renewal; for 1 device it was $29.99, then $89.99. McAfee+ plans with unlimited devices ran from $49.99 to $249.99 for the first year and renew at $149.99 to $424.99. Two-year terms are also offered at a discount.
Renewal is automatic. McAfee charges your card 30 days before your annual term ends and emails a reminder 30 days before that charge. To avoid a renewal, cancel at least 31 days before expiration or turn off auto-renewal in My Account. McAfee’s Virus Protection Pledge, which refunds your current term if it can’t remove a virus, requires staying on auto-renewal.
What McAfee includes
Every plan includes antivirus with web protection and a firewall for Windows, plus Mac, iPhone and Android apps. Total Protection adds Scam Detector for text, email and video scams, Secure VPN and identity monitoring with alerts. McAfee+ plans cover unlimited devices and add tools such as Personal Data Cleanup, Social Privacy Manager and identity theft coverage and restoration, with up to $1 million of coverage listed on Advanced plans. Family plans cover up to 6 members.
If you already use a password manager and VPN you like, you may be paying for overlap.
What customers say about McAfee
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Strong lab scores for malware protection with little slowdown
- One subscription covers PCs, Macs and phones
- Bundled VPN, identity monitoring and scam detection
- Well-rated mobile app
Common complaints
- Automatic renewal charges customers say they didn't expect or authorize
- Renewal prices far above the first-year price
- Hard-to-get refunds and a slow cancellation process
- Pop-ups and upsell emails urging more purchases
- Hard to reach a helpful support agent
Refunds and how to cancel
McAfee gives a full refund if you ask within 30 days of your first purchase or within 60 days of a renewal charge. It doesn’t give partial refunds, and monthly subscriptions don’t qualify. To stop future charges, sign in to My Account, open auto-renewal settings and turn it off, then save the confirmation email.
If you were charged a renewal you didn’t expect, contact McAfee within the 60 day window first. If that fails, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer and file a complaint with BBB or your state attorney general.
Complaints and what customers report
BBB lists 450 complaints about McAfee, LLC in the last three years and currently shows it as not rated. Trustpilot scores it 1.3 out of 5 from 3,481 reviews, and McAfee hasn’t replied to negative ones there. The themes repeat across both sites: renewal charges customers say they didn’t authorize, renewal prices well above the first-year price, slow refunds, a hard cancellation process, and frequent upsell pop-ups and emails.
The pattern points to billing, not protection. Lab scores are strong. The fix is to know your renewal date and price before you buy.
Do you need McAfee at all?
Windows includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus at no cost, and AV-TEST scored it 6 out of 6 for protection in August 2026, with 5.5 for performance. If you have one Windows PC, keep it updated and use common sense online, Defender may be enough. McAfee’s value is in covering several devices and bundling a VPN, scam detection and identity monitoring in one account.
Alternatives to McAfee
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus Free and built into Windows, with a 6 out of 6 AV-TEST protection score in August 2026; enough for many single-PC users who don't need a VPN or identity monitoring.
- Norton 360 Matches McAfee's lab scores and bundles similar extras, from a company with an accredited A+ BBB profile. Read review
- Bitdefender Perfect AV-TEST scores and a strong record on system performance if you mainly want antivirus. Read review
- Aura Worth comparing if identity theft monitoring and insurance matter more to you than antivirus. Read review
McAfee reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is McAfee worth it in 2026?
For multi-device households that want a VPN and identity monitoring bundled in, yes, at least at the first-year price. Its 2026 AV-TEST scores are perfect. Compare the renewal price before year two, since it roughly triples.
How much is McAfee per year?
On mcafee.com in October 2026, Total Protection for 5 devices was $39.99 the first year and $119.99 at renewal. McAfee+ plans ranged from $49.99 to $249.99 for the first year.
Why did McAfee charge me early?
McAfee bills annual renewals 30 days before your term expires and emails a reminder 30 days before that. You can get a full refund within 60 days of a renewal charge.
How do I get a refund from McAfee?
Contact McAfee within 30 days of a first purchase or 60 days of a renewal for a full refund. Monthly subscriptions aren't eligible, and McAfee doesn't give partial refunds.
How do I turn off McAfee auto-renewal?
Sign in to My Account on mcafee.com, open auto-renewal settings and turn it off. Keep the confirmation email in case you're billed later.
Is McAfee better than Norton?
Both scored 6 out of 6 in AV-TEST's August 2026 tests for protection, performance and usability. Choose on price, renewal cost and extras; Norton's parent Gen Digital has an accredited A+ BBB profile.
Is McAfee better than Windows Defender?
McAfee adds multi-device coverage, a VPN and identity tools. For protection alone, free Microsoft Defender scored 6 out of 6 in AV-TEST's August 2026 test.
Does McAfee slow down your computer?
AV-TEST gave McAfee Total Protection 6 out of 6 for performance in every 2026 Windows test through August, meaning little measured slowdown.
Is a McAfee renewal email a scam?
Often, yes. Scammers send fake McAfee renewal and virus alerts. Don't click or call; check your subscription by going to mcafee.com yourself.
Does McAfee work on Mac and iPhone?
Yes. McAfee plans cover Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Features vary by platform.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- McAfee: Total Protection page and plan prices (Internet Archive capture, October 5, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- AV-TEST: McAfee test results, Windows home users (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SEC: McAfee Corp. Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, acquisition completed (March 1, 2022) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: McAfee, LLC business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: McAfee reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: McAfee: Stay Secure and Private (accessed October 12, 2026)
- AV-TEST: Norton test results (accessed October 12, 2026)
- AV-TEST: Bitdefender test results (accessed October 12, 2026)
- AV-TEST: Microsoft Defender test results (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Gen Digital Inc. (Norton) business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Bitdefender business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
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