McAfee is a well-known name in cybersecurity and frequently appears on best antivirus software lists. While the initial price is attractive and McAfee’s security ratings are generally good, small details can significantly impact convenience and usability. This hands-on review of McAfee+ Premium examines the installation process, app usability, and customer service responsiveness.
Pricing and Plans
McAfee's pricing tiers and family plan options.
Security software pricing is a key factor when choosing the right solution. McAfee offers a range of plans, each with family plan options. McAfee Essential, a basic antivirus plan for one device, costs $30 for the first year and renews at $90. For five devices, McAfee Essential is $40 for the first year, renewing at $120. This plan includes a VPN, password manager, and a browser extension for online malware protection.
While McAfee offers a 30-day free trial, several reliable free antivirus options are available as alternatives to Windows Defender.
McAfee+ Premium, priced at $50 for the first year and $150 upon renewal, protects an unlimited number of devices for one user. The “plus” adds privacy monitoring for accounts and social media, alerting users to potential issues. Dark web monitoring is also included.
For those seeking identity theft insurance and financial monitoring, McAfee+ Advanced ($90/$200) and McAfee+ Ultimate ($200/$280) are available. The Ultimate plan doubles the insurance coverage to $2 million, includes $25,000 in ransomware coverage, and protects against bank account takeover.
McAfee also offers these tiers as family plans, covering two adults and providing parental controls for managing children’s antivirus accounts. Family plan pricing starts at $70 for Essential, $120 for Premium, and $250 for Ultimate.
Design and Installation
The McAfee Windows app interface.
McAfee+ Premium installs quickly and easily. The Windows app prompts users to install the McAfee WebAdvisor browser extension for threat warnings and download scanning. The app then facilitates VPN setup for location masking and privacy protection, allowing users to easily select the fastest virtual location.
VPN settings can be customized to connect automatically on unsecured Wi-Fi networks, connect always, or remain a manual toggle. A “Safe reconnect” feature blocks internet access if the VPN connection is disrupted.
The app interface is straightforward, with all features accessible from a left-hand toolbar. A protection score is readily available, and a panel provides access to various protection features. Subscription details and general settings are also easily accessible.
While the password manager (McAfee True Key) requires separate installation, the process is generally smooth. A minor issue encountered during testing, where True Key recognized the account as a free version, was quickly resolved with customer support. Although the app’s narrow side panel can feel slightly cramped, overall usability remains good.
Features and Performance
McAfee's AV-Test scores.
Strong, reliable protection is paramount for antivirus software. McAfee Premium has performed well, achieving a perfect score in AV-Test evaluations for the past four years. However, Norton antivirus boasts a longer streak of perfect protection, highlighting McAfee’s minor issues in March 2020 and more significant challenges in 2016 and 2017.
McAfee blocking malware on Wicar.org.
Spot tests conducted on Wicar.org confirmed McAfee+ Premium’s ability to identify and block harmless threats, displaying warning pages to prevent accidental infection.
McAfee's VPN masking location.
VPN functionality was also tested. Connecting to a server in Peru and searching for “vegan restaurants near me” yielded results for Lima, Peru, confirming the VPN’s ability to mask the actual location.
Customer Support
McAfee's customer support options.
McAfee+ Premium provides 24/7 customer support via phone and live chat. Testing the live chat revealed a 13-minute wait time, shorter than the initial 19-minute estimate. The support agent quickly provided the missing True Key activation code. While the website refers to a “chatbot,” the interaction appeared to be with a live agent. Overall, the support experience was positive.
Privacy and Security
McAfee's privacy options.
McAfee shares some user data with third-party advertisers. This includes information such as name, address, email, login credentials, payment details, and bank account information. Users can opt out of data sharing via McAfee’s data request form. While no significant increase in spam email was observed after signup, the extent of data sharing is a potential concern. No record of a McAfee data breach was found, suggesting user data is secure from hackers.
Conclusion
McAfee offers a competitive antivirus solution with a range of plans to suit various needs. McAfee+ Premium, with its unlimited device coverage, is a compelling option. While the initial price is attractive, the significant price increase upon renewal should be considered. The software is easy to install and use, and customer support is readily available. However, potential users should be aware of McAfee’s data sharing practices and consider opting out if desired.
