Best antivirus for Mac 2025: Security apps tested vs Apple Xprotect & Gatekeeper
Description
How we test Mac Antivirus
To thoroughly test Mac antivirus software, we combine hands-on evaluation with data from independent security labs. We assess malware detection, usability, performance, and value for money. We start with a clean macOS installation and download known malicious software and visit malicious websites to evaluate protection against online and offline threats. We then assess performance impact and user experience. We also evaluate the usefulness and accessibility of the software’s tools, including VPNs, password managers, firewalls, and parental controls. Finally, we look at how well the software detects and deals with Windows viruses and other types of malware.
Updated November, 27, 2025: This article is regularly updated and we aim to assess each suite on a yearly basis or when new features are launched.
It wasn’t so long ago that many users believed Macs didn’t need security software. Not only was the platform thought to be inherently secure by design, but the vast majority of computer users were running Windows, so that was where the money was for malware writers. Several high-profile attacks and a surge in popularity later, and now even Apple acknowledges macOS is a target, building in security tools like XProtect and Gatekeeper for basic protection from known Mac malware.
Trouble is, it’s really not the known threats that keep us awake at night, and the dangers are not limited to malware. The most dangerous digital security threats are the ones we don’t see coming – those are the ones that will be successful in stealing our data, our privacy, our identity, and our money.
See our top pick in Mac antivirus software
BLACK FRIDAY 2025 ANTIVIRUS DEALS
It’s Black Friday week and many of best Mac antivirus apps we have reviewed are discounted until Cyber Monday on December 1, so now is a great time to get a good deal.
- Intego’s has 70% off its Mac Premium Bundle X9 (which includes Virus Barrier, NetBarrier, Mac Washing Machine, Content Barrier and Personal Backup), bringing the price down to $29.99/£23.99 annually. Get Intego’s deal here: Mac Premium Bundle X9.
- Norton has taken 73% off Norton 360 Standard, bringing the price down to $24.99/£19.99 for the first year. Get Norton’s deal here: Norton 360 Standard.
- Avast has 60% off, bringing the cost to cover one Mac down to $31.08/£25.99 for a year. Get Avast Premium Security here.
- ESET has 50% off ESET Home Security. ESET Home Security Essential is now $24.99/£31.49 a year. Get ESET’s deal here: ESET Home Security (U.S.) / ESET Home Security (U.K.)
- Surfshark has 88% off. You can get Surfshark One for 27 months for $59.13/£42.93. Get the deal here: Surfshark One.
Investing in a decent security suite for Mac is a smart move, adding an extra layer of protection and being safe rather than sorry. We tested Apple’s own solution against a raft of malware and although it did an OK job keeping us safe, we proved that there were times when a questionable application could be installed without warning. A good analogy is to think of XProtect as the lock on your Mac’s front door, while paid antivirus is its alarm system and security cameras. With virus – also adware, spyware, trojan, and ransomware – definitions updated several times a day (far more frequently than Apple’s offering), you get real-time protection from all new and emerging threats.
In our tests of Apple’s malware-protections, our only option was to wipe our Mac and return to the back up we made before the reckless behavior – and hope we hadn’t passed anything on. Apple doesn’t offer customer support or virus removal guarantees when the worst happens, nor does it protect you from cross-platform threats across all your devices. With paid antivirus software you get all this, plus more: extra features might include web and phishing protection, software updaters to patch vulnerabilities, VPNs, password managers, parental controls, secure cloud storage and backup, and dark web monitoring.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your Apple computer from digital threats. We thoroughly test all Mac antivirus products for usability and functionality, and consult independent lab data to determine which is the most reliable and trustworthy security product for your Mac. No-one is better placed to guide you on which antivirus to choose for your Mac than Macworld, the leading authority on Mac products and products built for Mac.
Best antivirus for Mac reviewed and ranked
Jump straight to a Mac antivirus product for more details:
- Intego Mac Internet Security X9 – Best value security tool for a single Mac
- Norton 360 – Best all-round, multi-platform security suite
- Surfshark One – Best for privacy, and unlimited device protection
- Avast Premium Security – Best for AI-powered Mac security
- AVG Internet Security for Mac – Best for trialing Mac antivirus
1. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 – Best antivirus for Mac users
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Pros
- Built for Mac with simplicity in mind
- Easy to set up and customize
- Solid malware protection
Cons
- Mac only
Best Prices Today:
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