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Webroot fits people who want light, quiet protection on older PCs or a mix of devices. It is legitimate antivirus software from OpenText, a large public software company, and it's known for small, fast cloud-based scans. The catches: plans auto-renew at roughly double the first-year price, the most common complaints are about cancelling and surprise renewals, and Webroot hasn't appeared in AV-TEST's Windows home user results since 2019, so there's little recent independent lab data on how well it blocks malware. Turn off auto-renewal after you buy if you don't want to be charged the higher price, and remember the 70-day refund window.
Your options
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Webroot This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review People with older or slower PCs who want light, low-maintenance antivirus across a few devices and will manage renewal themselves.
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TotalAV This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Alternative People who want an easy antivirus app across several phones and computers and will manage the renewal date themselves.
- Owner
- Webroot, an OpenText company; OpenText acquired it in 2019 through its purchase of Carbonite3
- Price
- Essentials from $34.99 the first year for 1 device ($49.99 after); Premium $64.99 ($129.99 after); Total Protection $89.99 ($179.99 after), as listed October 20261
- Refunds
- 70-day money-back guarantee on all consumer products, including auto-renewal charges, requested online with your invoice number2
- Devices
- Windows PCs, Macs, smartphones, Chromebooks and tablets; some features are Windows only or mobile only1
- Identity features
- Premium and Total Protection add identity, dark web and credit bureau monitoring and up to $1 million in fraud expense reimbursement, underwritten by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida1
- BBB
- Webroot Inc., Broomfield, CO: A+, not accredited; 53 complaints in the last 3 years (October 2026)5
- Independent lab tests
- AV-TEST's most recent Windows home user result for Webroot is from June 2019 (protection 2 of 6, performance 5.5 of 6, usability 4 of 6)7
Pros
- Small, fast scans that rarely slow your computer
- Low first-year prices, from $34.99
- 70-day money-back guarantee, longer than many rivals
- Covers Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Chromebook
- Higher plans add identity monitoring, VPN and backup
Cons
- Renewal prices are about double the first-year price
- Auto-renewal and cancellation are the top complaints
- No recent AV-TEST results to show how well it blocks malware
- Some features work only on Windows or only on mobile
- Cloud backup covers just one PC or Mac
Best for: People with older or slower PCs who want light, low-maintenance antivirus across a few devices and will manage renewal themselves.
Skip it if: You want antivirus with strong recent independent lab scores, or you know you'll forget to turn off auto-renewal.
Webroot vs. competitors
| Company | Cheapest plan, first year | Top individual plan, first year | Refund window | Recent AV-TEST results | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webroot | $34.99, 1 device | $89.99 Total Protection, 5 devices | 70 days | None since June 2019 | Visit site |
| Norton | $29.99 AntiVirus Plus, 1 device ($59.99 at renewal) | $49.99 Norton 360 Deluxe, 5 devices ($124.99 at renewal) | 60 days on annual plans | Visit site | |
| Bitdefender | $29.99 Antivirus Plus, 3 devices | $59.99 Total Security, 5 devices | 30 days | Read review |
Antivirus software we reviewed
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Webroot This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review BestGuide rating: 4.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with older or slower PCs who want light, low-maintenance antivirus across a few devices and will manage renewal themselves. -
TotalAV This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want an easy antivirus app across several phones and computers and will manage the renewal date themselves. -
AVG BestGuide rating: 4.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Windows users who want a free antivirus with strong lab results, or a cheap first year of protection for one PC or a 10-device household. -
Malwarebytes This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want light, well-tested antivirus with web scam blocking, or a free second-opinion scanner to clean up an infected PC. -
PC Matic This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who mainly use well-known programs and want inexpensive, low-maintenance protection on several devices. -
ESET This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want proven antivirus that stays light on older or lower-powered computers, without paying for a large bundle. -
Trend Micro Best for: Families who want scam protection and parental controls across many devices, including Chromebooks. -
Intego This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Mac owners who want a native antivirus and firewall in one app, especially families covering several Macs.
Webroot pricing at a glance
Webroot home plans, as listed October 20261
| Plan | Devices | First year | Renews at | Main extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials 1 Device | 1 | $34.99 | $49.99 | Antivirus, firewall, Web Threat Shield, password manager |
| Essentials 3 Device | 3 | $41.99 | $69.99 | Same as above |
| Essentials 5 Device | 5 | $44.99 | $89.99 | Same as above |
| Premium | 5 devices, 1 identity | $64.99 | $129.99 | Adds identity and credit monitoring, PC cleanup |
| Total Protection | 5 devices, 1 identity | $89.99 | $179.99 | Adds VPN, parental controls, cloud backup for 1 PC or Mac, scam reimbursement |
| Premium Family | 10 devices, 10 identities | $124.99 | $249.99 | Premium features for a family |
| Total Protection Family | 10 devices, 10 identities | $149.99 | $299.99 | Total Protection features for a family |
First-year prices were part of a Cybersecurity Awareness Month sale. Plans renew automatically at the higher price unless you turn auto-renewal off. If you bought Webroot through Best Buy or Geek Squad, Best Buy handles your account and refunds.
Webroot, step by step
Pick a plan
Choose Essentials for antivirus only, Premium to add identity monitoring, or Total Protection to add VPN and backup.
Buy and download
You get a keycode and a download link. The keycode also appears under My Account in the Webroot program.
Install on each device
Install on PCs, Macs, phones or Chromebooks up to your plan's device limit.
Decide on auto-renewal
Plans renew automatically at the full price. You can opt out on Webroot's auto-renewal page using your keycode, and protection lasts to the end of your paid term.
Request a refund if needed
Within 70 days of a purchase or renewal charge, use Webroot's online refund form with your invoice number, which starts with WIN, E, C or R.
Webroot legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Webroot is real antivirus software owned by OpenText, a public software company that bought Webroot’s parent, Carbonite, in 2019. Webroot Inc. is based at 385 Interlocken Crescent in Broomfield, Colorado, and its BBB profile shows an A+ rating (not accredited) with 53 complaints in three years. On Trustpilot it has 4.4 out of 5 from 1,460 reviews, though Webroot invites customers to review.
Be careful with phone numbers. Search results for Webroot cancellation and refunds include pages listing “helplines” that are not Webroot’s. Use the support and refund links on webroot.com. The FTC says real security warnings never ask you to call a phone number.
How much Webroot costs
Webroot Essentials starts at $34.99 for the first year on one device and renews at $49.99. Premium, which adds identity monitoring for one person, is $64.99 the first year and $129.99 after. Total Protection, which adds a VPN, parental controls and cloud backup, is $89.99 the first year and $179.99 after. Family versions cover 10 devices and 10 identities.
Those first-year prices were sale prices in October 2026. The real long-term cost is the renewal price, so compare that number, not the discount, with other brands.
How well Webroot protects you
Webroot checks files against its cloud database instead of storing large virus definition files on your device, which keeps the program small and scans quick. All plans include Real-time protection. Scanning that runs constantly in the background and checks files as they open or download. Compare antivirus software against viruses, Phishing. Fake emails, texts or websites that try to trick you into giving up passwords or payment details. Compare antivirus software and Ransomware. Malware that locks or encrypts your files and demands payment to release them. Compare antivirus software, a firewall and network monitor, and Web Threat Shield to block risky sites.
The weak spot is outside testing. AV-TEST’s most recent Windows home user result for Webroot is from June 2019, when it was certified but scored 2 out of 6 for protection. We found no newer results there. Without current lab data, you’re relying mostly on Webroot’s own claims.
What customers say about Webroot
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Light on system resources and fast background scans
- Quiet protection with few pop-ups
- Helpful support when customers reach an agent
- Years of use without infections, per long-time users
Common complaints
- Hard to cancel and confusing account pages
- Unexpected automatic renewal charges
- Hard to reach a person in support
- VPN connection and online portal problems
Auto-renewal and how to cancel Webroot
Webroot plans renew automatically. To stop that, use Webroot’s auto-renewal opt-out page with your keycode, which you can find under My Account in the Webroot program. Your protection keeps running until the end of the term you paid for.
If you bought through Best Buy, Geek Squad or Total Tech Support, Webroot says Best Buy manages those accounts, so you need to contact Best Buy instead.
Webroot refund policy
Webroot offers a 70-day money-back guarantee on all consumer products under its license agreement, and its refund form lists auto-renewal charges as a reason you can choose. You need the invoice number from your receipt, which starts with WIN, E, C or R, and the amount. For an opened retail box, Webroot asks you to mail the disc, keycode and a receipt dated within 70 days to its Broomfield, Colorado office.
If you missed the 70 days, contact support anyway and, if that fails, dispute the charge with your card issuer.
Webroot complaints
The pattern is consistent across Trustpilot and the BBB: people like the software but not the billing. The most common complaints are confusing cancellation, renewal charges people didn’t expect, trouble reaching a human and problems with the VPN or online account portal.
To avoid most of this, buy with a card you monitor, turn off auto-renewal right after you buy if you want to decide later, and set a reminder about 30 days before your term ends.
Who should skip Webroot
If you use Windows, keep it updated and are careful about downloads, Microsoft Defender is free and built in. If you want a paid suite with recent independent lab results, look at brands that appear in current AV-TEST rounds. And if you already have identity protection elsewhere, Webroot Premium and Total Protection mostly duplicate it.
Alternatives to Webroot
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Microsoft Defender (Windows Security)
Free and built into Windows 10 and 11; enough for many people who keep Windows updated and avoid risky downloads.
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BitdefenderLower entry price and covers more devices on its cheapest plan, if you want a paid suite.
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Better if you want antivirus bundled with LifeLock identity protection from one company.
Next steps
Webroot reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Webroot, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Webroot a good antivirus?
It is light and fast and covers most device types, and Trustpilot users rate it 4.4 out of 5. The drawback is that its most recent AV-TEST Windows result is from 2019, so there's little current independent data on detection.
Is Webroot safe and legit?
Yes. Webroot is owned by OpenText, a public software company, and has an A+ BBB rating. Use only webroot.com for support and refunds, because many third-party pages list fake Webroot helplines.
How much does Webroot cost per year?
As listed October 2026, Essentials is $34.99 for the first year and $49.99 after, Premium is $64.99 then $129.99, and Total Protection is $89.99 then $179.99.
Who owns Webroot?
OpenText. It acquired Webroot in 2019 when it bought Carbonite, which had bought Webroot earlier that year.
Does Webroot slow down your computer?
It's designed not to. Webroot checks files in the cloud rather than storing big definition files, so scans are short and the program is small. Users on Trustpilot often praise its light footprint.
How do I cancel Webroot auto-renewal?
Use Webroot's auto-renewal opt-out page with your keycode, which appears under My Account in the Webroot program. If you bought through Best Buy or Geek Squad, contact Best Buy.
Can I get a refund from Webroot?
Yes, within 70 days. Webroot's guarantee covers all consumer products, including auto-renewal charges, and you request it online with your invoice number.
Does Webroot include a VPN?
Only Total Protection and Total Protection Family include a VPN, for 5 or 10 devices. Webroot also sells Secure VPN separately.
Does Webroot work on Mac and iPhone?
Yes. Webroot plans cover PCs, Macs, smartphones, Chromebooks and tablets, but some features, such as PC cleanup and parental controls, are Windows only, and text scam detection is mobile only.
Is Webroot better than Norton?
Webroot is cheaper in the first year and has a longer refund window (70 days versus Norton's 60 on annual plans). Norton bundles LifeLock identity plans. Compare renewal prices and recent lab tests before choosing.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Webroot: compare home plans and prices (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Webroot: refund your purchase (70-day money-back guarantee) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Webroot: About Webroot, an OpenText company (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Webroot: automatic renewal opt-out (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Webroot Inc. business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Webroot reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- AV-TEST: Webroot test results, home Windows (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Norton: store prices and cancellation and refund terms (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Bitdefender: Total Security prices (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Microsoft Support: Stay protected with Windows Security (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC: How to spot, avoid and report tech support scams (accessed October 12, 2026)
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